Arizona republican., 1922-03-24
LEWIS CHARGE SERIOUSNESS
AND COMMERCIAL ORGANIZATIONS
TRYING To CRUSH UNION LABOR
[RepubIIcsn A. p. Leased Wlre1


NEW YORK, March 2S-Charges
that big business and So called Amer
ican organizations" OF the country are
engaged in deliberate attempt TO
crush organized labor, were made here
today by John L. Lewis. president Of
the United Mine Workers of America
Mr.. Lewis statement came at the
close of a three day session of the
mine owners and workers wage arbi-
tration committee which ended with
out any agreement which would halt
the impending strike of 100000 an
thracite and bituminous miners
April /.
Agreement Of miners and operators
upon a wage scale for the 5000 an
thracite employees. who will maintain
colIiery properties while the strike is
in progress. was the sole result Of
todays session. This agreement was
in the form of a contract stipulating
that the 5000 men shall receive the
present scale while the strike is on,
their wages for the strike period TO
be governed retractively by the scale
upon which settlement of the strike
shall be based.
The committee of eight adjourned
tonight to permit Mr.. Lewis and the
dozen anthracite chiefs chosen as dis
trict representatives to attend a con-
ference of the general policies COM
mittee of strike ways and means
scheduled to begin at Cleveland to-
morrow.
When sittings of the wage arbitra-
tion committee are resumed Monday,
the labor section will be prepared to
submit specific data supporting their
l9 demands for higher wages and bet
Ad' working conditions. it was an
nounced tonight by the miners.
Up to this time, it was said, the
operators have refused to amplify
their original statement that they
would demand q, general reduction, or
to state which of the miners demands
they would challenge.
Mr. Lewis charges that organiza-
tions throughout the country We're
working to overthrow the unions was
made in connection with an an
nouncement that the Rail and Miners
Protective Alliance had been formed
to combat such an attempt.
Among the foes of the United Mine
Workers and other affiliated unions,
he said, were the national chamber
of Commerce, the United States Steel
Corporation, Associations of Mine
Operators, and sponsors of the Amer
lean PLAN which he characterized as
wholly American
The miners chief indicated that the
Rail and Miners Protective Alliance
would be one of the implements of
last resort to be called upon should
a protracted refusal of the bitumin-
Gus operators to discuss wages with
the miners, threaten disintegration Of
the unions.
Fear Government Oppression
INDIANAPOLIS, March 23-Attor-
ney General Daugherty's warning TO
coal miners against violence during
the strike set for April was inter-
preted tonight by William Green, Sec
retary treasurer of the United Mine
Workers as indicating that the forces
of the government would be used
against the strikers for the benefit
of coal operators, who Mr.. Green as
serted constitute the only group
which thus far has committed Yio-
lence."
THE only impression which can be
obtained from an analysis of the atti-
tude of the government" said a for
malstatement issued by Mr.. Green.
'fs that if necessary. the miners will
be coerced and the forces of the gov
ernment will be used against them
in order to guarantee a production
of coal but the coal operators may
commit violence by refusing 10 carry
out their contract and at the same
time receive the protection Of the
government"
In addition to his formal statement
replying to the attogSey general, Mr..
(Conlinued on Page Two)