New-York tribune., 1922-02-12
Rail Unions to
Meet Miners
Il, Conference
lewis Announces Is of 10
ORGANIZATIONS Have Ac-
cepted Invitation to Dis
cuss Alliance Proposal
Feb. 2l Is Fixed as Date
Move Contcmrlatcs Posi-
bic General Strike That
Aims at Complete Tie-Up
s..eto, psspo,ca 10 The T-aoune

INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. l1.-Fifteen o.
,s. sixteen major railroad unions
~h,eh were invited BIZ the United Mine
v,-scr, Of America TO meet in con
ts-.nce ard discuss a proposal for a
Ddsfersive alliance" against wage rc-
,uc.ions in both Industries have &C
rsn.ed the invitation. John l.. Lewis,
International president Of the mine
xorkers. under whose signature the IN
vi.stor was sent out from lnolanapo-
u. last week, announced to-day.
IN letter to the rail union heads
Mr.. Lewis fixed the time OF the con-
ference for February 2l, at p. m,
calling the representatives OF the ra'l-
-osd unions to meet with the m'ne
workers representatives at the Great
North Hotel in Chicago. MY Lewis
said there ARE reasons to believe that
.ne remaining organization Will also
.d.;se OF rs acceptance at an early
Gate'
Metal Workers Also Invited
copy Of the circular letter to the
r.i'rosd unions calling the conference
Vas sent to one outside union. the
Ams)camated Sheet Metal Workers. Of
which John J. Hynes, of Chicago, is
nresident. This union already has sig
nifed its willingness to cooperate in
,he movement, it was said at the
mine workers Office.
Officers OF the mine workers would
mot say which railroad union had not
vet accepted the invitation. However,
they said that 1t was not one of the
larger railroad organizations. The big
brotherhoods have. without exception.
accepted the invitation.
"The practically unanimous accent
,ncc b. the represents of the rail
road Organizations of the vitat;on by
the United Nine Workers Of America is
especially gratifying.' Mr.. Lewis said,
commenting or the coming conference.
1T indicates that the organized rail
rosd workers and nine workers have a
profound appreciation Of tie nccessitv
icr closer corporation and reflects s.
1etermnation 10 utilize every proper
means Of protecting The interests OF
he men employed in these basic in
dustries. l. is my firm conviction that
the Chicago meeting viii be fruitful Of
results that will reflect credit upon the
associated organ cations and demon
strate the capacity OF labor INTELLIGENT
+ organized for the prom otion OF its
iesls"
Step Toward Possible Strike
The calling of tho conference is an
o.aer step towards 4 possible general
strike OF miners and railroad union
members, IN an effort to compel mine
operators and railroads to desist from
plans for wage reductions. The mine
operators, IN mary fields. are planning.
without further action to put reduc-
tons ranging from so to 40 per cent ia
effect when the mine wage scale ex
pres March 81. IN his letter of Janu-
ary u to the railroad unions. Mr.. Lewis
tailed Of attempts of railroads to cause
tu-ther reductions in the rail wage
schedules. The non-union mines. which
comprise about 80 per cent of the total
in the country. have in the past helped
the country through coal shortage
when The union miners have gone out.
With transportation tied up. how
ever. the non-union mines would be
compelled to close, along with the
others. and all coal production would
cease.
The acceptance by the railroad d
lnions Of the miners invita- tion does
rot bind chem for tho proposed defen-
sive alliance. but several o. the union
presidents have made public statements
on the proposal and in
dicating that it will have q favorable
reception at the conference.