Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1922-02-23
RADICAL MINERS
RUN CONVENTION
Delegates to indianapolis Meet
Vote Strike April |.
LEADERS, PLEA OvERRIDDEN
Both Bituminous and Anthracite Fields
Are Affected by the Order-Plan
for Longer Work Day
Is Beaten.

indianapolis, Feb. 20.-Subject to
referendum vote by all members of
coal mine unions, a nationwide strike
on April / was ordered Saturday by
the convention Of the United Mine
Workers of America, which then adj
journed sine die.
Turbulent scenes marked the see
sions, only the strenuous demands for
fair play and order by Mother
jones' ninety-two-year-old union Or
gambler, quoted the supporters of
Alexander Howat, deposed Kansas
miner president and permitted the
meeting to get to work on the new
wage agreements.
Both bituminOus and anthracite
fields are affected by the convention
order, which says that unless a new
wage is agreed upon, to continue for
two years from April l, 1922, the union
men are to vote on a strike.
In the face of drastic warnings that
the organizations were heading
straight for disaster, the convention
ordered the adoption of a six-hour day
and fve-day week, this clause to be
inserted in the new agreements.
The "eight-hour day underground"
recommended by the scale committee
was thrown into the junk pile.
Those present also approved de-
mandS for the retention of the present
basic wages for soft coal miners and
increases for hard coal men. The in
creases include 20 per cent raise for
tonnage men ana 81 a day for day
men.
Overtime Must Be Paid For.
The convention had already unani-
mOuSly adopted the demands for pay
and a half for overtime, with double
pay for Sunday and holiday labor, in
sisting, too, that the wages be paid
weekly. The penalty clause which
fines operators or miners who violate
the agreements also was removed by
ballot.
Philip Murray, international vice
president, and Fred Mooney of
Charleston, w. Va, secretary of district
II, were among those who vigorously
opposed making demands that would
tend to ALLEVIATE public sympathy.
eff we cucumber our demands with
the six-hour day and five-day week we
are in for a thorough steam clean
ing" said Mooney, who was recently
indicted in connection with West Vir-
ginia disturbances But if you are
bent on committing suicide go to it. !"
And John Hessler, president CT the
Indiana Mine Workers, bolstered these
appeals for temperate demands. He
said:
Don't go before the public with
proposals we cannot successfully de-
fend; don't commit us to topheavy
program Those who support this
move will create the disastrous condi-
ton that met us two years ago.
Country Is Ready Now"
"Also don't lose sight of the fact
that we are not so we'll equipped for a
fight as we were then. Two years ago
there was coal shortage-the country
was freezing. Today it has an enor-
nous surplus Of fuel"
Delegates Watts Of Springfield, ILL.,,
and George Turney of West Virginia
were among speakers who advocated
the substitute demands. They con-
tended the time to gain better hours
is opportune.
The mine union leaders will meet
with rail union chiefs in Chicago Tues.
day. A defensive alliance will be dis
cussed.
The meeting closed amidst an anti
administration demonstration. The
temper of the convention was evidenced
in other minor amendments to the
scale committee report. In two in
stances it insisted the word demand
be substituted for recommend"
A motion to have the conventions
recommendation be final in authorizing
a strike, as heretofore, was defeated
only after hard contest.