The Cordova daily times., 1922-02-21


 ernment with no federal machinery set up as yet with which to combat tieup of the mines. In the momentous walk out of 1919 events moved swiftly. The history of that great winter.time strike, in a nutshell, is as follows:
 The miners in international conven- tlon at Cleveland having demanded 60 per cent increase in wages, and two joint scale conferences having failed Lewis, on October Is. 1919. called a strike. A conference of miners and operators called by then Secretary of Labor Wilson failed and President Wilson denounced the impending strike as "unjustifiable and unlawful" Judge A. B. Anderson, in the United States district court at Indianapolis. issued temporary restraining order to avert the walkout but on Novem- Der 1, nevertheless. approximately 100000 bituminous miners dropped their tools
 Judge Anderson a week later issued a mandatory injunction ordering union heads to recall the strike order and on November Il, after an all-night conference, the miners chiefs agreed to an armistice and recalled the order. Then followed period of Federal mediation eliminating in tentative ac- ceptance of the Presidents proposal for IA per cent increase and ultimate ly in compromise on the 27 per cent increase on which present wages are based.
 "cHEck-oFF" LITIGATION CAUSES BITTERNESS
 The approaching convention here finds one hangover of that strike still unsettled-the charges of conspiracy against more than 200 miners, oper 1ators and companies growing out of the mine tieup The suit, however, is not expected to figure in the con- vention program
 Another case of litigation which, nevertheless, undoubtedly will come sharply to the front in the February conference, is the suit of the Border land Coal Corporation and other West Virginia concerns for an injunction abolishing the so-called check-off sys- tenn by which miners dues are col lected
 Striking at the very root of the min ers' organization. even at the founda- tion of all organized labor. the suit is of utmost importance to the mine workers. In it is involved fight of the union against the the open shop or non-unionism, and the open shop is cited by the operators as reason for cited by the operators as a reason for the proposed wage slash. The pro ducers insist the keen competition of the non-union fields where low wages prevail forbids continuance of the present scale.
 The check-off is recognized as a prime factor in holding the union to- gether and is extending its scope. JuRlsT's DECISION IS BEING REcAsT
 Judge Anderson in temporary edict ordered the abolishment of this keystone of the union organization. The circuit court of appeals at Chi cago instructed the Indianapolis court to recast the order as it had "gone too far" It is in the process of re- casting now.
 "The action of the circuit court Of appeals in declaring the check-off a legal and proper provision of the con- : tract will insure that it's retention will be. insisted upon by the organization, : high union official told the 1ntor- national News Service His view as to the appeals courts action, however, IS not shared in federal court circles, where the legality of the check-off is : reearded still as matter of proof" This same official declared that tie international union will have the full support of the mine workers of Kan l: sas and Illinois in any policy which may be followed" and he added that the factions of a few. disgruntled of ; ficers in these districts will not in . any way affect the loyalty of the rank and file of the membership to their organization and it's proclaimed policies"
 HOWAT CASE HAS DANGER
 Nevertheless, it is known that the
 activities of at least one of the SO
 called "disgruntled officers" is cause
 of TO little concern in high union cir 1 cles IInea sinesS Mas thiulY YeileG