New-York tribune., 1922-04-09


81 am unable to follow your mental gyra-
tons replied Lewis, cor TO ascend with you
into your mathematical realms However. it
would not.
There WAS 4 tittcr abou; the room. Tho
complexion o. the gentleman from Texas
turned several shades toward crimson. but he
kept on.
II understand" he said, "tba the wages Of
the miners have been increased no less than
- per cent since 1913"
Nj, -------, answered the center Of the
coal strike, "the miners of the United States
arc gifted with number Of talents hut they
cannot cat percenta ges"
chorus of chuckles greeted this come
back, and Congressman from MARYLAND
turned about in his scat. winked at the preae
gallery and said, "Haw,' BY this time the
gentleman from Texas was wiling 10 cali it
day and he relieved of further en-
barrassment by fellow Congressman with
more chummy line of questions
The chief value OF this verbal passagc-et-
arms was that 1t displayed that the sympathy
of the spectators excepting the few coz
operators present, was Enthusiastically with
Lewis. although he apparently had made no
Another instance Of the sort occurred du~-
ing the aforementioned stormy Indianapolis
convention. Newspapermen and trade journal
writers from all over the country covered"
that gathering. During the two-dav roll call
vote on the question of sustaining Lewis's rul-
ing barring the Howat case from considera
ton. amounting to vote of confidence in him.
the correspondents kept tally of their own on
the way the baoting was going When Lewis
was running behind and his chances of Win
ming seemed slim. every man at the press
table-even the representatives of the coal
operators publcations-expresse disappoint-
ment and disgust. When the talIies showed
that he had finally gone the credit side Of
the mark by few more than 100 votes how
ever there exhibition OF delighted
satisfaction among the scribes.
Probably one of the most unjust accusa-
tions ever made against Lewis was the charge
of radicalisn, raised by certain of the opera
tors during the bitumlnous strike Of 1919. 1t
is mentioned now merely because there are
signs that it may be raised again the pres
ent conflict grows hotter.
1t is true that there are radical clements
among the miners. So there IN nearly al
everything from peaceful Socialism, for the
workers to selling the government through
revolution and passing the country over to
Russia on a silver platter with watercress
around it, But Lewis is not one of these and
he will have none of them.
This was demonstrated at meeting Of the
miners representatives about year ago A
labor leader whose views on political actor"
have been undergoing a transformation from
light pink to dark maroon during The pas,
few years came to the meeting and asked per-
mission to address it.
Bill" replied the miners president, you
can go out there and talk your head Of, if you
want to- But the minute that yoa start rip
ping the Constitution Of the United States up
the back start advocating the cause Of the
Soviet government, in fact, The instant you be
gin pulling anything with the slightest shade
of red about it, I'm going to interrupt you and
chase you off the platform.
Bill was considerably huffed fer the mo-
ment, but he got over ii after bit and made
his speecn--and strictly according to the pre-
scrptjons
That Lewis does not hesitate to act against
anv radical "movements" within the miners
organization was forcefuliy shown during The
cone Big Union" disturbances in Canada. IN
1919 " hen the officers of one of the unions
Canadian districts declared for the 'One Big
Union organization, Lewis promptly revoked
the autonomy of the district and caused the
expulsion of the officials concerned.
1t was for different reason that Lewis
acted similarly in the case Of Howat and his
Kansas adherents, bat a princ pie consid
cred by him just as vital TO preservation Of
the unions integrity--the maintenance of it
contracts. 1t stand which cost Lewis
considerable popularity and aided the cam
paign of his rivals in the organization, espe
cially in view Of the fact that Howat was
sent to Jail by the Kansas Industrial Court
but he held firmly TO his guns in the matter
although knowing that the outcome might i'm
peril his control over the organization.
The United Mine Workers, declared Lewis
regards contract sacred obligation. i
will abide by its agreements
Since April the entire country mas beer
trying to convey idea along that line t.
the operators of the central competitive field.
As to whether the miners leader, aside from
all question of personality, skill in controlling
his own organization and other similar at
tributes has proved himself to be "a dangerou
opponent either at the bargaining table or OF