The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-09-10
Lewis Collapses From the
Strain and Weeps as the
Vote Is Taken.
CALLED A GREAT VICTORY
Delegates Told Union Labor
Has Won a Triumph in
the Settlement.

Special Dispatch TO THE NEW YORK HERALD
WILKES BARRE. Sept. 9.-Anthracite
mine workers in tri-district conven-
ton at 6:15 o'clock tonight unani-
mously adopted the Pepper Reed plan
for terminating the anthracite strike
A viva voce vote was taken, and when
the ayes" We're called the convention
was in one voice for adoption.
Many of the delegates were in tears
and John l.. Lewis. international pres
ident. completely broke down as the
curtain was about to fall on the con-
vention. Mr.. Lewis after a mastery
address collapsed from long mental
strain and physical exhaustion, and
tears trickled down his cheeks as he
referred to his father. an old miner
and stanch unionist, in whose steps
the son has followed.
BY great effort he recovered and in
few words upheld his hand. pleaded
before heaven and his "brothers in
ranks for speedy adoption of the
resolution
Mr.. Lewis Their stepped to the rear of
the platform. His associates led him into
one of the wings and there the chief of
more than 100000 miners collapsed af-
| ter one Of the hardest battles any labor
chief has ever endured.
All the Votes Are "Aye."
District President Thomas Kennedy
was in the chair at the time. He drew
picture Of Lewis's suffering and then
called for vote. AS the ayes" shouted.
the hundreds of delegates and miners
broke into demonstration for their in
ternational chief and district officers.
President Lewis in his address re-
viewed the struggle Of bituminous and
anthracite miners. He went over each
detail OF the situation. He told with
What effort the btuminous men had won
their fight and then switched to the an
thracite struggle. He declared he had
not given UP the hope of the check OF
and an eight hour day. but declared the
proposal before the convention was the
very best the miners could hope to get.
He pictured II as one Of the greatest
victories organized labor ever had won
In successfully holding out against ar
hitration and reduction in wages.
At various times he was Interrupted
by wild applause. Near the close of his
address he told of his physical and
mental suffering. He said he had blue
eyed. prattling boy in Springfield, ILL.,,
and he had not seen him for so long he
wondered whether the boy knew him.
Recalls John Mitchell.
Il have been out on the firing lines
he said. "and l have been fighting for
weeks and months. have given my
best and ] have no apologies to make
l am a physical wreck. ! have suffered
as John Mitchell and John White did
know now why after a few years OF
service they were forced to retire. Soor
as this convention is over l am going
home, back to that boy to rest and re-
cuperate. I pray God that you viii
adopt this agreement" Then he walked
away.
The contract between miners anf
operators will be signed at once. The
miners will be back at work Monday
and the production of coal will start or
as big a scale as possible, normal pro
duction being impossible before October
The ranks of insurgents went Il
pieces under the oratory and attack o.
Lewis. RinalIo Cappillni had preceded
| him and urged rejection of the treaty
but the picture of the stalwart Lewis
physical wreck, touched the hearts o.
the miners. his message stirred theil
souls and insurgents were repudiated.