The New York herald., 1922-02-19
Action Affects Workers i'm
Both BituminOus and An
thracite Fields.
FORMER FOR OLD SCALE
Mother Jones Quells Disorder
During Ballot on Expelling
the kansas Rebels

INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 1S.-Renewa of
the demand of union coal miners for
a six hour day. five day week, a pro-
posal that was made before the 1919
strike, was adopted to-day by the con-
vention Of the United Mine Workers
Of America as part of the policy the
union will seek to have included in
new wage agreements, effective April
1. This demand had TIE united oppo-
sition of the unions leaders. including
all district presidents
The conventions action for the
shorter work day, however, was the
only radical change in the wage policy
proposed by the unions scale com
mittee, which centered tie unions
policy proposals toward retaining
present basic wages for soft coal
miners and gaining increases for an
thracite workers under threat Of a
general strike.
The strike and wage proposals by
the committee were adopted by over
whelming votes. The strike declara-
ton, however, provided for it's SUBJ
mission to a referendum vote of the
union membership before any walkout
is ordered by officials.
Fight ON Six Hour Day.
In declaring for the six hour day the
delegates overrode the committee recon-
mendation for an eight hour day under
ground, and also voted down proposal
limiting actuol work time to seven hours
a day. Bitter criticism of the unions Of
ficers was made by delegates in urging
adoption of the six hour day, but several
officials took the floor, appealing for
favorable action on the committed s
eight hour demand.
Vice President Philip Murray asked for
the defeat of the six hour day proposal
! SO the union "can defend It's demand be-
fore the American people" while Fred
Mooney secretary of the West Virginia
district. declared that adoption of the
six hour day meant suicide"
John Hessler and Lee Vail. presidents
OF the Indiana and Ohio districts. re-
| spectively, also fought the six hour pro-
posal. But the delegates argued that
the six hour proposal meant more con-
tinuous work. and called on the officers
to carry out our wishes"
Whether the six hour day demand OBJ
tains for the anthracite districts was an
unanswered question raised from the
floor by a delegate, who pointed out tha [
the anthracite workers were not pressing
the proposal.
some of the Demands.
President John L. Lewis replying TO
| the question, said he was unable to ad-
wise the delegate as to the six hour day
as affecting anthracite workers.
Aside from the action of the six hour
day the delegates also recorded an inten-
tion to stiffen up some OF the minor
demands recommended by the scale COM
mittee by substituting demand for
Recommend" where it appeared in the
committee repor..
Besides the worlSday and wage propo-
sails adopted b. the convention it's other
demands as adopted included the fol-
lowing:
Removal OF "inequitable differontials'
in wages which would result in in
creased wages in some fields. pay and
one-half for overtime work. double pay
for Sunday and holiday work. elnnina-
ton of the automatic penalty clause OF
present agreement providing for filming
miners or operators for violation OF con-
tracts and all new contracts to obtain
for two years. beginning next April l.
AS soon as II completed the adoption
OF the scale demands the convention was
ready to adjourn, but disorder broke out
as an attempt was made TO report the
official vote by which the convention
earlier in the day refused to consider the
appeal OF Alexander Howat and other
expelled Kansas miners for reinstatement
in the union. The official vote rejecting
Howat's appeal was 2.07S to 1856. II
was read amid disorder.
The disturbance came when admins
tration votes were cast by men whose
names did not appear on the printed
report OF the credentials committee. sup
porters OF Howat charging the roll had
Continued on Page Eighteen.