South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-03-04
WARNS MINERS
AGAINST STATE
WAGE PROGRAM
Lewis Declares Proposition Of
fered by Illinois Operators
Is Impossible.
SENDS OFFICIAL NOTE.
Ruling Applies to All Union
Men Affiliated With Cen
trail Mining Field.

INUIANAPDLIs. Ind. March a-
single state vase a-ret ments be-
tHeeu union coal miners and operst-
o.- such ss proposed by Illinois OPP
erator- are Impossible under the
policy adopted by the United Mine
Workers az America at their recent
INVENTION. Pres John l.. Lewis do
cared Friday night 10 a message
advising Illinois union officials 20 re-
Ioet tine operator proposals for
parate negotiations.
Mr. Lewis message was sent TO
Frank harrington. president of the
illinois miners. after the Illinois
leader had announced at Springfield
that The district executive board had
refused 10 act independently Of the
International union in negotiating a
wage agreement and that he had
wired PRIEST Lewis for instructions.
Answer suggestions.
While the message applied speci-
GcaIly tO Illinois. union officials said
Il answered any suggestions that
might be- raised for separate wage
agreements being negotiated in any
soft coal fields until after a settle
mcnt had been reached for the cen
trail competitive field comprising
Illinois. Indiana. ohio, and western
Pennsy wanna. As such. the message
contained the hrst official interpreta-
ton OF the unions policy, pointing
ont that the Interstate agreement
Tor the central field was ,o be the
basis OF al other agreements in soft
coal helds. including the states OF
the central field or outlying districts.
The problems now confronting
The mining industry said Mr..
Lewis message. ARE national in
scope and cannot be solved by the
operators and miners Of any par
ticular district
The message referred TO strike
referendum now being taken TO de
eide whether the coal miners shall
walk out ON April L. if no agreement
.s reached in the central Held. and
followed with the declaration that
She proposal Of the Illinois operat-
t-s contemplated "thc breaking up
az our forces into many separate
units Mr. FarriuEton's message
was not made public here. but i'm
asking advice from Nir. Lewis. the
Illinois leader referred 10 a section
OF the present Illinois agreement
providing for meetings or operators
and miners before April I
Clause Subordinated
This section. known as clause So
I'm the Illinois agreement. was said
bv air. Lewis to- bc subordineted 10
similar provision of the agree
ment for The central competitive
field. known as clause is. Efforts
bv Mr.. Lewis to get an interstate
Conference with operators under the
latter clause. according 90 the mes
sage have been ignored and fiaunt-
on by She operators.
The iczt az Mr. Lewis message
follows.
Under Jhe policy adopted 10y the
irrational convention held in In
r uanous. Feb. "a to is. inclusive
Is rot possible for representative
.f Ll-,Tict - Guuois) 90 enter into
separate NEGOTIATIONS with Illinois
operators Tor the purpose OF effect
.aC % new wage agreement with ia
central competitive deId as "a baL'
and in The event that no such agree
~ent is uesoti1tcd by April j. de
DIarts lu favor 90 a eenerdl SuSpen
Sion OF miuiue operations. this ac
ion being subject 90 a reIerend un
Vote of the United Aiue Workers o.
America. which is now beng taken
This 1rraugsmcut iu it's operation i