The New York herald., 1922-02-18
HOWAT LOSES FIGHT
With COAL Miners
Refused Reinstatement at
Indianapolis After Gal
liant Effort.
VOTE 1859 TO 1866
Ballot Ends Long Battle
Against Edicts OF Union
President.
LAST RETURNS TURN TIDE
Now the Kansas Leader De-
clares He Supposes He Will
Leave for Russia.
LAST RETURNS TURN TIDE

INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 17.-By margin
of fewer than 100 it's 1895 votes, the
delegate convention OF the United Mine
Workers of America here to-day refused
to consider the appeal of Alexander
Howat for the union reinstatement of
himself and other expelled Kansas min
ers
While the defeat was shown only by
unofficial tahulations OF the vote, Howat
tonight conceded he had been beaten,
as also did his principal supporter.
Frank Harrington, the leader of the
Illinois miners.
The official vote will not be COM
pleted until tomorrow, when the roll of
absentee delegates will be called, but
Mr.. Howat said he doubted that any
material change would result from the
additional balloting.
In effect, the vote approved the eX-
pulsion of Howat and his followers by
President John l.. Lewis. who said he
acted because of the refusal of the de-
posed Kansas leader to direct strikers
to return to work as was ordered by
The miners convention last fall.
Surprising strength was shown by
Howat during the days roll call. and
the result was not determined unoffi-
cially until $50 of the last 200 votes
We're cast against him. The final vote
was 1859 to 1866.
I'VE gave them a good fight said
Howat, and then he added: Il suppose
now l will have to get out of the United
States and go to Russia"
Mr.. Lewis said he was confident that
the unofficial vote was conservative, and
he interpreted the result ''as best for
the welfare of the union" Mr.. Earring
10 Ia L
ing Mr. Lewis's strength within the
union, for he declared the result means
that Lewis is a dead bird now"
Howat's unexpected strength discour-
aged the administrative forces early in
the day, a lead of only 500 being piled
up before the Illinois delegation, having
almost one-fourth of the votes in the
convention, began casting almost solid
vote for Howat BY polling only 23
votes in Illinois the administration forces
fell $50 votes behind Howat A half
score of smaller districts that followed
Illinois favored the administered ton, prac-
tically tying the vote. All except two OF
the last seven districts. having COM
bined vote of zoo, went against Howat,
causing his defeat.
Besides Illinois, Howat carried Wash
ington, Wyoming. Michigan, Montana,
the central Pennsylvania bituminous
field, known as District 21, comprising
oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas. All
other districts of the union voted for
the administration, but several gave a
surprisingly large vote for Howat.
AS soon as the official vote is COM
pleted tomorrow the union officials plan
to direct the convention toward its main
objection. the framing of the unions
wage policy. President Harrington Of
Illinois miners and the anti-administra-
1ion leader predicted tonight that the
wage policy would be settled before ad-
journment tomorrow by practically
unanimous Endorsement of the wage
scale committee report. favoring pol
fey Of accepting no wage reductions for
soft coal miners and increases for the
anthracite workers. backed UP with a
threat OF a nationwide coal strike on
April /. Mr. Lewis also predicted speedy
adoption of the committee report. but
thought the convention might continue
through Monday.