The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-03-24
Wage Settlements by Dis,
tricts Big Issue in
Conference
HARRINGTON ACTIVE
Appeals For Right to Ne
gotiate Separate
Contract

CLEVELAND, March 24.-Meet.
ing behind closed doors the general
policy committee OF the United
Mine Workers here today discussed
arrangements for what President
John L. Lewis said would be the
greatest strike In history.
The committee has full power TO
conduct the affairs OF the union
during the suspension, which is
scheduled TO begin April l. and tn
negotiate a new wage scale. Fore.
most among the questions to be
considered was tho advisabilIty of
making wage agreements by dis
tricts instead OF for the whole CEN
tral competitive field. The In.
diannpolis convention which au.
thorized the committee voted
against district scales.
The long standing controversy
between Mr.. Lewis and Frank Far.
rlngton, president OF the Illinois
miners, was expected to crop Sout
at the meeting, but there were pre-.
dictions that these differences
would be composed. Lewis has
steadfastly stood out for the cen-
trail competitive field Rsreements
while Harrington has been looked
upon as the champion OF wage set.
Element By district.
The policy committee, which Sc
composed OF 116 union officers and
members from Western Pennsyl.
vanla, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois
the central competitive field-ant
three representatives from each OF
the nineteen outlying districts, is
expected to map out a prugrum
which will allow the strike. oncs
started, to operate automatically
without keeping the committee IN
session.
Another proposal before the com.
mittee calls for the assessment Of
strike dues to swell the S2,000,Oo0
war chest which It is estimated is
already available.
Lee Hall, president OF the Ohio
district, moved that the committee
affirm the policy OF no reduction
for soft coal miners, increases for
anthracite men and a contract for
the entire central competitive fields
The motion was pending at the
noon recess. Frank Harrington
urged adoption Of a flexible policy,
for the strike. saying that "wher
the men go back 10 work ana the
strike begins to crumble," Illinois
would like suck action as they saw
tit to preserve the district union.
I'VE will hold the line as long
as anyone" he declared, "but when
we see 1t has reached the point
where 1t is going to break, we are
going TO do what we can TO, pre-
serve the district organization"
William Roy Of Ohio answered
him with the assertion that min.
ers should stay out until our de-
mands are granted" and C. F.
Keeney and Frank Mooney. OF West
Virginia, added that the miners o!
their districts were ready to strike
as long as they had a crust Of
bread"
Do Not Fear Strike
PITTSBURGH, March "a
Steel and railroad executives Of
the Pittsburgh district do not fear
serious Inconvenience in the
event Of a coal strike and suspen-
sion OF mining in the union mines
OF Western Pennsylvania, It was
pointed out here today. .
The mills of the United States
Steel Corporation are supplied
with coal from mines operated by
its subsidiary companies and
taken to the plants on its own
railroad, or by the Monongahela
River. The field from which the
coal comes is operated on an open
shop basis, and 1t was staSed that
no fear was entertained that the
strike would extend to those
mines. Some independent COM
panies also operate their own
mines.
Railroads have been stocking
coal for some time in anticipation
OF strike. and have enough on
hand at terminals to meet re-
quirements, 1t was stated. Along
some Of the lines. particularly the
Pennsylvania system there are
numbers of non-union mines.
which can be drawn upon, should
II become necessary.