The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-02-21
MEET MARCH z
Wage Conference With Oper-
atOrs Called by Mine Head.
Rail Brotherhood Leaders I'm
certain as to Stand.

Chicago. Feb. 21.-President John
L. Lewis, of the U. NJ. W. A, today
asked coal operators of the central
competitive field, comprising the
states of Illinois. Indiana, Ohio and
also of western Pennsylvania to meet
with union officials at Cleveland on
March for a wage conference which
he said might avert the impending
strike.
Similar requests have been rejected
by some operators who said that they
wished to discontinue collective bar
gaining with the miners.
Lewis Presents defense Alliance"
Railroad brotherhood leaders. in
cluding officials of the big four
went into conference here today with
open minds to hear Lewis defence
alliance" idea.
railroad unions and the miners to re-
sist contemplated wage reductions.
The conference was called by Lewis.
Mr.. Lewis said there was nothing
destructive" in the defense alliance
proposal he was to outline to the rail-
way union leaders. This was taken to
indicate that Lewis would not ask the
railroad men to support his idea to
the extent of backing the miners with
q sympathetic strike.
Strike Can Be Averted, If
The leader of the miners indicated
that he was confident that a coal strike
can be averted if the operators will
attend the conference. If the opera
tors refuse to meet with the miners
on or before March 81, the strike April
L is inevitable, he declared
The joint conference was provided
for in the formal demands of the min
ers for new wage contracts formulated
at their convention in Indianapolis last
week.
one call was sent by Mr.. Lewis to
the operators who signed the present
agreement in New York, March 81,
1920, and the other to officials of vari-
Gus coal operators associations IN
Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and lin
nois In their new demands, the min
ers as for a stx-hour day a five-day
week and continuance of the present
scale of wages.
"How Far?" They Ask.
The railroad union officials frankly
admit they do not know how they
will stand on the proposition ana
would not know until the question was
thoroly mulled over. They said they
did not know how far Lewis would
want them to go.
Generally, the belief was that the
idea would be given the moral sup
port of the rail unions.
If, however. the alliance contern-
plated anything so drastic as sympa-
thetic strike April 1 with the miners
in the event the threatened coal strike
inaterializes, that would be distinctly
another thing. it was pointed out.
Rail Heads Don't Agree.
That there was a difference of opin-
ion on the proposition was evident. Z.
F. Cradle, international president OF
the Maintenance of Way Brotherhood
said he was in hearty accord with the
idea. On the other hand, T. C. Cash
en-, international president of the
Switchmen's union. said he was
"hopefuP'-but there was one thing
about it, he added, the coal miners
will have to show they can agree
among themselves before they seek to
make agreements with others
Il think the real solution of our
trouble is over at the conference -
said Cashen, referring to the session
of the progressive" labor groups
from all over the country, meeting
elsewhere in Chicago.