The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-02-15
Howat Wins Victory Dur
ing Stormy Session
of Convention
ROLL CALL NECESSARY
Delegates May Act oa.
Wage Report at Meet
ing Tomorrow

tBy Associated Prnssll

| lby ASSoclAteus Prc8Hl Al -
INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 15. AieS
ander Howat, deposed Kansas min
ers' leader, won the pfeiifnifiArf
skirmish OF his fight, at5the spacia
convention OF the United Mint
/ Workers Of America here today
against tho action Of the union ID
ministration officers exlellInf
Howat and creating d proyisiunil
district government for the unioI
in Kansas.
The delegates decided to consid
slider Howat's application to over
ride the union orders and roll
call was ordered. delaying fina
decision until tomorrow.
Meanwhile ali conslderati tion a
wage scale matters was sdefet4sdi
Howat's victory, won at a stormy
session Of the convention, came aftI
er speeches by both the Kansai
leader and President Lewis. the siIltl
ter declaring his life had beeI
threatened u he presidediat the con
yention. Mr., Howat's appeal w;ls
for the convention, to give lin
fair trial. Willie Mr.. Lefgis, wht
opposed him, declared iiai tiie X slIl.
sas man was not compiling with
the laws Of the union "a pressinl
the appeal to the convention.
While the standing vote favored
Howat, delegates stlpportingthe ati
ministratton stated that many pen
sons not entitled to vote ghad dom
SO, particularly followers OF Howat
who were said to have been er
PEELED from the union.
Ho"at Makes Appeal
Howat began his own fight for
seat In the convention when tiie
session opened, his move dsIayina
consideration OF the wage scaleSre
port. The Kansas leader said ID
wished the convention to tlecltIa
by an appeal whether it would
sustain his expulsion and that 3
his followers, but in reply To- dues
tions OF President Lewis admitted
he had not filed an appeal IRON
the union executive board order
as provided by the unions constii
tuition. Howat contended he wai
only seeking a fair trial, which be
said was the cardinal princfple Of
the union. eve feel that when tiie
coal miners know the truth that
we Will receive Justice, SAID
Howat. 1--WE are asking Justice foi
the expelled miners.n
In ruling Howat's appeal not II
order, President Lewis said Zone
hundred million people are watch
ing, waiting for the policies thiit
will ensue from this convention
and now we are asked to set aside
our work to deal with i purely
internal matter and affecting thS
welfare Of few indiyiduals
Howat's partisans among tff
delegates started an 1proar. bui
It was sllenced by Lewis, who
continued, saying that H6wat and
other expelled Kansas miners
"can have an appeal any time brii
that 1t must be decided By tbs
unions executive board beforl
coming before the convention!
4 Lewis also ruled that Howat
I not being delegate, copid mo-
appeal the ruling barring his cass
from the convention, hut latel
lplaced his ruling before the dels
gates TO be. sustained or rejected
Pressing his fight 20 have tlfl
convention decide his expulsion
Howat said he had obeyed the on
ders OF the last convention BY dir
Getting strikers to resume work I
working conditions were utchans1
ed and he added that he mud oth
ers had neYerthel eless been sltickel
out OF 'the>union without trial
He also APPEALED to the delegates
saying that hes had been Con
demned and villified BY the dam
nable corporation press; by higl
union officials, BY coal OPERATOR
} and the Kansas Industrial courts
as no other mine worker in thl
country.
"I believe" continued Howat
that I'm entitled to a squari
deal. The only issue here rs whe
ther we are entitled TOD fair ant
impartial trial in this orgauiza
tion. Don't be Influenced by som,
Unconstitutional technicalities thai
! President Lewis may bring forth
After referring to his repeated
election by Kansas miners in lace
he said, Of the opposition sou CHI
to be aroused by coal operntora
i Howat concluded with this re
mark:
"The coal operators now aas
l going to ask the coal miners q
the country to do what they couii
fCnbtintIad an f5sifo E,{t,4t