The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-02-20
PRESIDENT LEWIS.
tcontIau.d from paE. onel

with the contingent, which at times
became unmanageable. The aggres.
sire element will be cut down in
the next convention due to the fact
that one delegate will represent 800
members hereafter.
Saner heads failed to rule on the
working hours and the aggressive
element carried 1t. This is some.
thing that the miners have decided
they want for a long time. 1t IS
very doubtful whether 1t can be OBJ.
tanned at this time. however, in
view of the depressed business con.
ditions, Under the policy adopted
at the convention there Is plenty OF
rubber" inserted, which will give
the officers an opportunity to save
their organization in pinch.
Farringon failed to defend on
the floor Of the convention the re.
port Of the scale committee, which
he helped to frame and signed
when It came under fire on the
eight hour day. This would have
embarrassed him with the radicals
h. led.
There is a large element OF min.
ers believe that they will take a
cut II things generally take a drop
in proportion. but the vast major.
ity believe that the big factor In
keeping up the price OF coal is
due TO the exorbit3nt freight rates
and think they should come down
first before the miners should part
with any Of his wages.
Miners Weapon.
The central competitive fields
will again be the basis for the
adoption of q scale. If the opera,
tors OF Ohio and Western Pennsyl.
vania fail. to meet the miners, the
workers have a weapon with which
they will so before the bar OF pub
lie opinion. This weapon was writ
ton by the operators and miners OF
fictals jointly In the last agreement
and Is us follows:
"Resolved, That an Interstate
Joint conference be held prior to
April /, 1922: the time and plaee
OF holding such meeting is referred
to committee OF two operators and
two miners from each state here
in represented. together with the
international officers of the United
Mine Workers organization"
II the operators fall to meet the
operators 1t is apparent that one
Of the most serious industrial struE.
giles Is at hand IN which strikes,
lockouts and no doubt disorders
will be elements.
Illinois to Work.
While the miners appear disor
gauized, the operators are In little
better shape. Some OF those in
Illinois and Indiana, where the
operators never defeated the min
ers in strike, are willing to sign
up on the present wage scale SO
arc Michigan operators willing to
attach their names, according 10
reports. A number of coal men IA
Indiana admit that the failure OF
the operators to meet the union in
conference prior 10 April is &
breach of contract, Should gen.
eral cessation OF work follow the
mines OF Indiana and Illinois prob.
ably may be placed In position
to work as well as outlying districts
that sign up on the basis OF the
present wage scale.
This means that in the fields.
where strike is on the business
to the operators may be lost in part
while non-union fields Of Penn.
sylvania, West Virginia. Virginia
and Alabama will thrive during that
period. In the event OF Ohio ard
Western Pennsylvania stearing into
a prolonged strike. It may cos:
them a large block of the lako
trade. The situation at best Is
complicated BY its many angles.
Organization In Danger.
There is an element that believe,
general strike Is inevitable ant
that in the end the miners will &C
cept reduction of from 90 to 80
per cent. II is said on good author.
ity that one of tho former highe6t
officials OF the United Mine Work.
ers Of America would have gone
into the convention and advocated
a 20 per cent. reduction II it-wou!d
not have embarrassed President
Lewis in his fight with the radicals.
He Is quoted with saying that "tha
little grey wagon (hearse) will be-
at tho door"-of the United Mine
Workers OF America unless they re.
cede from their present stand.
There Is also a belief expressed
that there will be no strike, as T.:
will have to be decided by refer.
endum vote of the miners them.
selves, and that, realizing what the
organization is up against, tho Off.