Evening star., 1922-02-18
MINERS IN TURMOIL
OVER HOWAT CASE
Convention Vote on Rein
statement of 0eposed Lead
er Marked by Disorder.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. February j..
Disorder broke out in the conven-
tion of the United Mine Workers ~
America today soon after the ron
call of absentee votes in the Kansas
case was begun, disclosing that the
credentials committee had increased
the eligible voting list by adding new
names as delegates.
While the disorder was at its height
Mother Jones, ninety-two years old.
organizer of the union, made her way
to the stage and pleaded with the
delegates for order. quiet obtained
while she was speaking, except Tor
the frequent applause. Before she
took the stage. administration forces
gained ten votes in district No. i, the
anthracite field about Scranton, IA.
and when a vote was cast by one
whose name was not on the printed
list of delegates, the disorder broke
out. Joseph Lynall of Peoria, HI.
rushed toward the stage. shouting
uestions at Vice President Philip
Murray, presiding.
Cry of "BuyinS" Heard.
where did you buy them. Murray
shouted Lynall amid the boots ana
howis of protest coming from tn"
Howat supporters.
In a moment Of quiet, Mr.. Murray
explained the committee had accepted
credentials that were submitted to-"
late for inclusion in the printed roll
call The explanation apparently was
not satisfactory 10 the Howat men
who continued the noise and l>Hna'i
advancing again toward the stag"
shouted Il can prove YOU added NOR"
names without proper credentials.
Then. Mother Jones addressed Tia"
delegates.
Don't you know. that the whole iu-
dustrial world is looking to you Tor
lesson" she began. You are wasting
time that means money and the chill
dren at home need it to feed them. w
are facing crisis in industritl orGani-
Zations You must realize that III"
enemy that We We're from the outside
is now boring from the inside.
81 don't indorSe any wrong. she re-
piled to a delegate who shouted that th'
union officers were acting unfairly in
There is not an officer that ] would
not raise hell with TO right wrong.
But you should not come here 10 howl
and hoot."
Praise for Howat.
She then praised Alexander Howat for
his opposition to the Kansas industrial
court .law and his other work as Il
member of the miners union. saying:
MY desire is to have = million
Alex Howats in the country"
Howat's fight. she said. had adver-
tised the "damable" Kansas law, All :
er the praise of Howat she conolud" "a
with a plea to the delegates for ~
derby conduct.
Voting was then resumed.
Administration Gains Votes.
The administration forces gained
fifteen votes when the roll call of
absentees had proceeded through rine
districts. increasing the unonhclat m.t-
jority over Howat to los,
Illinois miners 4district No. l2f raNr
forty votes to IlOwat and the unof' .
cial majority for the administration
was reduced to siNty-eight. The Vot-
ing continued lith several Interrupt
tions.
The administration regained tn"
loss it suffered in Illinois by gaining
the ma jority of ahsentees from eight
small districts, and when the Ala
hama delegation WAS completed tht
administrations unofficial majority
small districts remaining 10 vote.
Delegates then were doubtful that
any substantial change would result
from the call of absentees.
Wage Policy Up Next.
Unless upset by an unexpected re-
suit from the official tabulatlon OF
the roll call, the program was 10 pe-
gin work on the wage poiicy as soon
as the roll was completed. Leaders
among the delegates were unanimous
in the prediction Of an overwhelminR
adoption of the wage scale commit
tee report. opposing any wage reduc-
tions for soft coal miners and in
crsases for anthracite workers under
threat of a strike April l.
The surprising strength shown by
unwa, in his fight that forced the
roll call left the result in doubt yes
i terdav until the casting of the last
; ,pr.e 10 one, giving the administra-
| tion forces their victory by the mar
| row margin.