South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-01-18
MINERS CHIEF
WARNS AGAINST
BACKWARD STEP
Charges Nationwide Propa-
ganda Against Unions in
Convention Address.
Blames Gouging of Public in
Coal Prices on Railroads
and Operators.

BY Associated Press.
SHAMCKIN. Pa. Jan. 17.-John
L. Lewis. international president %
the United Mine Workers Tuesday
told the Anthracite Miners wage
convention that there must be no
backward step iu their attitude to
ward the demand OF coal companies
10 reduce wages. Delivering what
the delegates in the convention re-
garded as a keynote speech for the
organized minors OF the country. Mp.
Lewis declared.
When I say that We viii take no
backward step Z say u with ar ap-
probation OF what that policy means
and II Il requires an Industrial oon-
hict 70 avoid taking a backward step
then the Industrial conflict may
come"
Mr. Lewis r. presiding az the hard
coal miners convention which VIII
formulate wage and other demands
10 be presented to the coal operaf-
ors before March 81. when the pres
ent contract expires. Wage agree
ments in the soft coal fields expire
az the same time for the first time
in many years. Predictions have
been made by hard coal miners that
instead OF agreeing 10 a wage reduc-
ton the anthracite men viii demand
increases, among other things.
After the convention ad5ourned
Wednesday. a representative or the
general committee OF anthracite
operators gave out a statement that
''fuI time operations OF the anthra-
cite mines on the scale heretofore
maintained win not Doe possible ir
the coming year without adjustments
which will permit reducing the price
TO the consumer
THE conclusion iH unavoidable"
the statement said, chat fun time
production cannot be maintained un-
/ less wages are reduced.
Reduction Idle TAX.
After stating that there are more
than 200 600 men On the bituminous
mining industry who are entirely de-
/ prtved OF the opportunity o. em-
/ ployment and that the great major
fly Of the rcl laiuder in the bitumfn-
GUS industry are working broken
time. Mr. Lewis said the talk OF re-
ducing the wages Of men I'm the in-
dustry who are now enduring the
privations OF poverty and destitution
is idle
The minds OF the business men
and statesmen 81 America" Prest
Lewis continued. must devise some
other method OF correcting the evils
in the bituminoUs mining industry.
THE anthracite miners have been
TO some degree, more fortunate than
their bltuminous brothers 90 that
they have had a greater opportunity
for employment
Nevertheless. tho schedules they
are paid are less and they are com
PEELED to perform vastly greater
amount Of work for the same rela-
tive compensation The acute IN
dustrial and financial depression has
not affected the anthracite region 90
such a degree as the bitumlnsu5 re
gions
The opportunity for steadier
work" Mr.. Lewis said. should not
initiate against the anthracite mine
workers seeking 10 improve their
conditions Continuing he said
Conditions Need Correction.
There are conditions in the an
thracite mining industry which need
correction, there are adjustments IN
the wage scales which must be
made. Your scale com n1ittee which
viii be created by this convention
viii give consideration 20 al these
things and undoubtedly viii pro
claim for an adjustment 81 several
Of these things.
ct IS necessary that there be =
greater uniformity in the wages
paid 20 the various classification of
labor IN the anthracite fields. u ~
equally necessary that the hours 81
labor be made uniform and that the
men engaged IN the classifcations o.
labor where they are now working
excessive hours be provided 70 have
the shorter work day IL is Ike
wise essential that the anthraciLe
mine workers be given consideration
for improved wage scale schedules
which now are in existence.
NO Backward Step"
"One thing must be sure. not
only in the bitUrnlnous coal feIds or
America. but in tho anthracite coal
fields az we'll Tn this day there
must be no backward step hy the
mine workers OF this country IL
makes no difference 20 the organized
mine workers that wac reductions
have taken place in other industries
and 81 makes no difference % the
(Conunued on page FOUR