Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-01-17
LEWIS CHALLENGES
COAL OPERATORS
Idle to Talk Of Reducing Miners
Wages, He Declares in Sha-
mokin Convention
MAY ASK 20 P. C. ADVANCE
p. & \. Photos

Shamol.in. Pa. Jan. lit is idle
to talk Of reducing the wages of the
coal miners Of the country, John J.
Lewis. international president of the
United Mine Workers, told the Anthru-
cite Wage Convention. which opened
here today. lie recognized. he said.
that there lis an organized propaganda
to reduce the wages of the miners. but
there can be no backward step in the
progress of the United Mine Workers Of
America.
IF an industrial conflict must come
20 protect the interests OF the mine
workers and guard their honor" Mr..
Lewis exclaimed, then an industrial
conflict must come
The mine workers Of the country,
President Lewis added. stand ready and
willing 70 negotiate new wage contracts
In the bituIninous and anthracite fields
10 replace those that expire March 81.
ii the operators Of the country will
not respond to the invitation then there
will be no contracts, and. the RESPONSE
bility will not rest with the United Mine
Workers.
Will Ignore Non. Unionists
at makes no difference" Mr.. Lewis
said amid cheers. ''if non union men
in the mining districts and in other
industries accept wage reduction. We
do not propose TO follow tho nom
union men down the ladder to the
m0rass Of degradation. We DO not pro-
pose 10 have the union yardstick
applied to our measure Of the standard
OF living.
/ 1T is idle to talk about reducing the
| wages OF men in the face Of the fact
that approximately 100000 miners IN
the soft coal fields Hrc idle. and many
other thousands are working broken
time. The miner must eat. and lie must
have living wage
Mr.. Lewis said conditions in the an
thracite region demanded wage read
justmcnts, elimination Of certain in
qualities in existing schedules and
shorter hours for those who are work
ing more than eight day. II has been
sought to make the miners responsible
for the price OF coal, be declared. but
the miner receives but u relatively
small portion of the cost.
Conditions in Two States Compared
Tho international president con.
tra,tcd conditions in the organized
pcnnsylyan!a hard coal fields with
those in the un0rgani2nd regions o
W pSt ' l"elIllb. uniting tll llluI III
anthracite men were meeting undcl
conditions where representatives OF tn
community. and the churches wer
present to welcome the delegates, h
said the convention was open 10 all T.
express themselves as they wish, Will
in some parts Of West Virginia fire.
assemblage and free speech were denc
mon who want to better their condi
tions.
Welcoming speeches were made b.
.hc Rev. Dr. II. NJ. Hassett, of 81
Edwards Catholic Church, Shamokin
the Rev. G. W. Wormer, Of the Metho
dist Episcopal Church in Ha2letoM, an
Dr. 4. G. Shissler, chief burgess Q
ShnmOkin.
Delegates 10 tho convention Cypec
that an increase Of 90 per cent will b
asked by the miners before the "onvCn
tion udjourns. Leaders in the as
srmblugc say, however, that their dc
,uands will be in keeping with publ
r0licv. and based on sane reasoning.
I, is believed here that the anthra
! cite industry will be suspended Q
April /. Coal companies have larG
stocks on hand, and IL any ditIi
! culty in agreeing on terms is expert
! cnccd the unions will be satisfied wit
, a snort shutdown until the future
v ! gpttlCHd