Great Falls tribune., 1922-02-23
MINERS AND R. R.
MEN WILL ALLY
To BACK STRIKE
Leaders Of Unions Set
Up Deal for Full Aid
When Coal Men Quit.
Lewis Says, However,
No Walkout on Part of
Rail Forces Is Asked.

Chicago, Feb. 22.-(By The AS
sociated Press. .)-Leaders of mine
and railroad labor unions, in a
joint session "Wednesday, voted to
form "a protective alliance
through which the United Mine
Workers of America would receive
"the full support" of majority Of
the nations railroad employees in
the minors strike proposed for
April T.. The alliance as yet does
not call for sympathetic rail
strike, however.
After discussion lasting
through the morning, the delegates
unanimously adopted resolution
to form protective alliance and
appointed committee of five to
draw up the agreement. This COM
mittee will report back to the
secretary later.
The members of this committee
were Assistant Grand Chief Wills,
of the locomotive engineers and
firemen; President Ryan, of the
railroad carmen; Secretary Roth,
of the railway telegraphers; Vice
President Dempsey, OF the long
sh0remen. and Vice President Muir
ray, of the miners.
The Mine Workers do not want
the nations railroad employees to
join them in a strike, John L.
Lewis, president of the miners,
said in the address opening the
conference. Mr.. Lewis spoke of
what he termed 1.-The coming
strike" of miners and said his or
ganization wanted only the full
moral support of the carriers
employees.
Mr.. Lewis, without suggesting
any specific program, told the del
egates he felt the miners and rail-
road workers should form "some
definite coalition which would re-
act to the benefit of both"
If the railroad workers ever
went on strike, he said, it would
not be necessary for the miners
officials to make declaration of
support by the mine workers. The
miners would, of their own accord,
give support" to railroad strike,
he said.
1--WE do not ask the railroad
workers to 90 on sympathetic
strike to help u.s. he added, "but
we do ask their support"
II Unions in Plan
The agreement, joined in by the Of
cers of II big unions, asserted the
urpose of the leaders was Ito apply
very honorable method to obtain
adequate" wages for both the miners
nd the transportation workers, and it
reated an executive committee to de-
de on the course of action by the var
,us unions whenever any emergency
the wage struggles of any of the
llied groups.
The plan as adopted. does not be-
arious organizations.
All attending the meeting declined
, say whether the alliance meant
ore than pledge of moral support
mong the various groups, and said
le question was largely one for fu-
ire decision.
The II organizations that are par
es to the agreement are the United
inc Workers of America, the Broth
hood of Railway Carmen of America.
he Order of Railway Conductors, the
lternational Brotherhood of Station
" Firemen and Oilers, the Interna-
onal Brotherhood of Blacksmiths,
rop Forgers and Helpers, the Switch
ems Union of North America, the
International Association of Machin-
Is, the Brotherhood of Railroad Sig
almen of America, the International
of Electrical Workers of
merica, the Brotherhood of Locomo-
We Firemen and Engineers, the Order
Railroad Telcgraphers, the Brother
)od of Railroad Trainmen, the Rail-
,ad Employees Department of the
Federation of Labor, the
of Locomotive Engineers,
le United Brotherhood of Mainten-
ice of Way Employees. the Brother
,od of Railway Clerks, and the Inter
ltional Association of Longshoremen.