The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-19
MINE STRIKE CALLED TO BE SUBJECT TO. VOTE OF WORKERS: <:
Renewal of & Uay. Five-Day WeEN roposaI Is Adopted as Part of Policy of
 the United Mine Workers
By Associated Press

By Associated Press
 Indianapolis, February 18.-Re- newal of the demand of union coal miners for six-hour day, five-day week, proposal that was made be- fore the 1919 strike, was adopted today by the convention of the United Mine Workers of America as a part of the policy the union will seek to have included in new wage agree ments, effective April l.
 The convention action for the shorter work day, however. was the only real change in the wage policy proposed by the unions scale com mittee which centered the unions policy proposals toward retaining present basic wages for soft coal miners and gaining increases for an- thracite workers under threat ot a general strike. The strike and wage proposals by the committee were adopted by overwhelming votes. The strike declaration, however, provided
 
 vote of the union membership before any walkout is ordered by officials.
 In declaring for the six hour day the delegates overrode the committee recommendation for an eight-hour day underground and also voted down a proposal limiting actual work time to seven hours a day. Bitter criticism of the unions officers was made by delegates in urging adoption of the sixhour day, but several of ficials took the floor appealing for favorable action on the committees eight-hour demand.
 Opposes Six-Hour Day
 Vice President Philipp Murry asked for the defeat of the six-hour day proposal so the union "can de- fend it's demand before the American people," which Fred Mooney, secre- tary of the West Virginia district, declared that adoption of the six hour day meant suicide" John Hessler and Lee Hall. presidents of the Indiana and Ohio districts, re- spectively, also fought the six-hour proposal. But the delegates argued that the six-hour proposal means more continuous work and called on the officers to "carry out our wishes"
 Whether the six-hour day demand obtains for the anthracite districts was an unanswered question raised from the floor by a delegate who pointed out that the anthracite work CTS were not pressing the proposal. President John L. Lewis, replying to the question, said he was unable to advise the delegate as to the six hour day as affecting anthracite workers.
 Aside from the action of the six hour day, the delegates also record ed an intention to stiffen up some of the minor demands recommended by the scale committee by substituting demand" for recommend" where it appeared in the committee report.
 Other Demands Adopted
 Its other demands as adopted in- cluded the following:
 Removal Of 'inequitable differen- tials" in wages which would result in increased wages in some fields; pay and one-half for overtime work; double pay for Sunday and holiday work: elimination of the automatic penalty clause of present agree ments providing for fining miners or operators for violation of con tracts, and all new contracts to ob- tain for two years, beginning next April l.
 As soon as it completed the adop- tion of the scale demands, the con vention 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 reject ing Howat's appeal by vote of B. 074, to 1855, was read amid disorder, which subsided somewhat when Frank Harrington, president of the Illinois miners and the anti admins tration leader announced that all Illinois delegates would hold sep arate meeting here tomorrow after noon.
 Rump Movement Talked
 Harrington did not announce the purpose of the meeting, but some delegates who had supported Howat talked of a trump" movement with in the union. Later Mir. Harrington said the meeting was for the purpose of electing the Illinois members of a wage scale committee and he re- fused to confirm or deny that the meeting was called in the interest of Howat. Close followers of Earring ton denied that any Trump move ment- was contemplated. The roll call ending the convention consid- eration of the Kansas case was marked by an outbreak of disorder during the morning that blocked all action for a time. but quiet was re- stored by a speech of Mother Jones, a s2-year-old union organizer, who beseeched the delegates to give re- spectful consideration to their off cials. who had expelled Howat. and that the convention settle down to its main work-the adoption of it's wage policy.
 President Lewis, in formal state ment after the sine die adjourn ment said extensive efforts" had been made to pack the convention SC that it would overthrow the expulsion of Howat. "The attempt to terror ize and stampede the convention failed miserably," he said. The or- ganization will now be able to go forward with it's wage policies anc apply itself to it's proper affairs. In Conformity with the policy laid down by the convention I shall in few days, issue another call to tho operators of the central competitive field for meeting at an early date to work out a wage agreement, Y possible.' ~