The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-03-24
MINERS LAY
final PLANS
IN HARMONY
Consider Action for Nation
Wide Coal Strike-Pre
United Front, Despite Sec
tional Trouble.
LEWIS STANDS PAT
fBv Associated pressa.


plans for the nation wide strike of
bituminous and anthracite miners on
April L, were considered today by the
general policy committee of the
United Mine Workers of America with
indications at the opening of the meet
ing that the union forces would pre-
sent united front, despite any Sec
tlonal trouble. The meeting will con-
tinue through tomorrow.
Frank Harrington, president of the
Illinois district, and opponents of In
ternational President John L. Lewis.
Declared before the meeting that he
would abide with committee decision,
adding that Illinois miners would
strike and stay out until some of
these fellows who are so keen for a
strike holler to quit
Mr.. Lewis was prepared to ask the
committee to affirm the action of him
self and other international officers in
issuing a strike call which action Mr.
harrington asserted was "premature'
| indicating that he planned to raise this
question before the committee. Mr.
harrington declined to say whether
he would press for the rights to ne
| gotiate single state wage agreement
! with operators.
Behind Closed Doors
The meeting was held behind closed
doors, but it was understood steps
would be taken to finance and conduct
the strike without leadership from the
I, time 1t starts, April l.
Full power to conduct the affairs OF
the union during the suspension of the
work was vested in the policy commit
| tee by the miners in convention at In
! dianapolls last month. The commit
tee also has the authority to negoti-
ate for new wage agreement be-
/ tween the miners and operators
| One of the most important aues-
| tfons expected to be decided by the
committee is whether district unions
| shall be allowed to enter into sepa-
| rate agreements with the mine own
| ers. At their Indianapolis convention
the miners voted against regional con-
! ferences.
EactionaI Fiqht
The subject was expected to bring
| to the fore the long-standing factional
| fight between President Lewis and
Frank harrington, president of the Illi-
nois miners. Harrington was said to
be prepared to demand regional con-
| ferences be permitted. He is said to
| have many supporters
! Mine owners who live here xpressed
hopes that Lewis and Farrington
| would reach an agreement. They
claim that the future of the coal trade
of the Great Lakes is affected by the
controversy.
For years Ohio and Pennsylvania
| operators have shipped annually on
| an average of 10000, 600 tons of coal
valued at approximately 100000 0OO
to the northwest. They point out that
should the Illinois miners and operat-
| ors reach a separate agreement, th4
Illinois mine owners would have the
advantage of those of this section in
furnishing fuel to the northwest
The Illinois operators have express
ed their Willingness to negotiate an
agreement.
Where Coal Goes
Between SO and so percent of the
eastern Ohio and western Pennsyl-
yania, while the remainder comes
from other districts in these states
Kentucky and West Virginia OF that
mined in eastern Ohio 80 percent goes
! into the lake trade
The policy committee was expected
TO arrange affairs in such shape that
the strike once it started would run
automatically. Steps also were to be
taken it was understood which will
make 1t unnecessary for the interna
tional officials to send out orders from
indianapolis or for the committee to
remain in session.
Calls for Assessment.
Another proposal calls for the as
sessment of strike dues to swell the
S2,o00.000 war chest. which it is esti-
mated already is available "Fullest
cooperation" of the American Fedora.
ton of Labor has been assured, and It
is claimed more than 10000 union
railroad employees have entered the
alliance with the miners
| The policy committee is composed.
of 116 members They include the
| three international officers, "a men,
| bers of the scale committee of the
central competitive field = western
nois-and three representatives from
/ each of the outlying districts.
WASHINGTON, March 24-Pres-
| dent Harding and his cabinet were
urged, in a telegram taken to the
White House today by Representative
/ Upshaw, Democrat, Georgia, to take
/ action to compel mine operators to
meet the miners in wage conference
before the present contract expires on
March 81. or, in event of refusal of the
operators to do SO, for the govern
ment to take over the mines and oper-
ate them until the operators agree to
such a conference.
The telegram was from E. L. Quinn.
of the Atlanta tGa-) federation of
trade. and Mr.. Upshaw requested that
the matter be brought before the cabi
net at its meeting today.
An investigation has been insti.
/ tuted by the interstate commerce COM
mission. according to announcement
today, into the reasonableness of prac-
| tically all rates on coal in the western
! portion of the United States