New-York tribune., 1922-02-16
Miners Union
Split by Howat
And Supporters
Convention Forgcis Strike
Demand in Angry Debate
Over Move to Reinssa!c
Leader of Kansas Forces
Secession Threat Raised
Illinois and Indiana Would
Deal independently With
Owners; Lewis McnaccJ
r,om Stor Corrcspondcnt

From q Stor Correspondent
'NDlANAPOLlS. Feb. 15.-AIl con.
slderaton of wages and other in,nor-
can't matters involving the prospect of
general coal strike was swcnt fem
poraHly aside in the convention of
the United Mine Workers TODAY. when
AMID the most turbulent scenes eyer
witnessed in Il national catherine Of
that organization the case of Alex
ahder Howat and the Kansas miners
supporting him was clamorous.v in
Jectcd INTO the proceedings cf the dele
gates to the exclusion of ali other
business.
Most CT tho injecting was done by
Howat himself, but he was encrgctical-
ly aided and abetted by Frank Far
rlngton, chief Of the Illinois minors.
IN his claim that he and his Kansas
supporters had been wrongfully cx-
PEELED from the union and in appeal
ing for reinstatement IN presenting
his contentious Howat found his chief
adversary III John l.. Lewis, president
OF the NINE workers, who. in dcclar-
ing that the action taken against the
hansan and mis- adhercnts had been
entirely III accordance with the organ
lzation's rules. made the charge that
his own life had been threatened in
connection with the controversy.
1000 Delegates in Uproar
1t was mostly case of Lewis and
Howat face to facc-a picture breath
lcssly awaited by organized labor gem
orally for several weeks but there was
plenty of action on the dc. The 1000
delegates chcercd and booed, yelled and
missed. praised and threatened accord
ing to their sympathies as the two chief
hgurcs IN the drama held the center Of
the stage. and at least in one instance
the tense feelings reused found relief
in fist fight.
When the smoke of combat had
partly lifted from the scene in the late
afternoon it WAS found that Lewis, de-
spite several tight situations involved
IN the parliamentary conflict inter-
weaving the display of verbal pyro-
technics, continued to hold the balance
OF power, although the strength shown
by Howat on the floor was greater than
1t had been supposed he could muster.
Tomorrow Lewis and IIowat will
meet again and demon strations of even
more passionate intensity are expected
The next question before the CON
vention, unless additional obstructive
tactics are adopted, will be the presen-
tation of the full report of the crcdcn
tials committee, which. among other
things, omits the names of Howat and
the 125 Kansas adhercnts he brought
with him from the list Of delegates en-
TITLED to sit in the assembly,
While the Lewis forces regard the
Howat contingent as practically de-
featcd, there is one matter which is
causing them concern. This is the
opinion voiced from the Illinois camp.
which is led by Farrington now the
most powerful supporter Of The Howat
cause, that the Illinois and Indiana
miners might do well to enter into
negotiations for new contract indie
pendently with the operators Of the
would be agreeable to such course
through announced dissatisfaction over
the preliminary decision not to meet
the miners, which was forced chiefly
by the Ohio and western Pennsylvania
operators. Such course is STRONGLY
opposed by Lewis and the other ma
tional officers Of the union, who realize
That a united front must be maintained
If the organization is to entertain any
further hope of winning its demands.
There is strong fear that this phase
oil the situation, coupled with the Ho-
wat imbroglio, might lead to an at
tempt at secessionist movement,
with an lllinois-Indiana Kansas group
as its nucleus.
May Cost harrington Power
Some observers are of the opinion
that efforts to checkmate any such move
may be made along the theory that it
Will be wiscst to take steps to crush it
before it can gain really formidable
strength, possibly even to the extent
OF endeavoring to strip Harrington OF
his present powers as soon as the Howat
matter is cleared from the PROCEEDINGS.
In making his charges that he had
been the victim Of death threats.
Lewis said:
81 don't know how many of these 125
men who are sitting in this hall, given
the courtesics of the convention, may
have been engaged in the organized
-