The Connecticut labor news., 1924-02-16
MINERS TO INSIST ON 4-YEAR CONTRACT AT
 JOINT CONFERENCE
Would Renew Present Scale ir Biturninous Field-Lewis Sus-
 tained in Convention.

Renewal of the present wage agree ment in the biturinous coal field for { four-year periad as a means of insurine stability to the industry and guarantee to the public of steady production wa: the policy accepted by an almost unani- nous vote of 1000 delegates at the bien- nial convention of the United Mine Workers of America at Indianapolis which closed two weeks session last week.
 President John L. Lewis and the scale committeeman were given practically a free hand in the negotiations with op- orators scheduled to begin at Jackson vile, Fla, on Monday, February II.
 "The representatives of the United Mine Workers will attend the confer ence at Jacksonville hopeful that their policy of peace may receive favorable consideration" said President Lewis, "The wage demands as enunciated by this convention should receive the in- dorse1nent of all thoughtful citizens"
 They represent a constructive policy, designed to insure peace within the in- dustry for a period of four years and will give ample time for necessary read justment An agreement should be ne gotiated in sufficient time to allay any feeling of public apprehension and pre- 0f <roI.rrftNo 2 ffor April 1, when the existing agreement expires"
 A movement to reinstate Alexander Howat, deposed president of the Kansas district, was defeated by the convention after a stormy debate. Howat avs pre- sent and attended to gain the floor to address the delegates, but was ruled out by President Lewis on the ground that he is not a member of the organization. The charter of the Kansas district was revoked and Howat busted by the exec utive board some two years ago on, the cfarye that he had fostered an illeyal strike and had endeavored to form a dual organization.
 It would appear that Howat's only chance to regain membership in the miners organization is to accept the verdict of the convention and go to work in the mines of Kansas or elsewhere. Howat served term in prison for re- fusal to comply with provisions of the Kansas industrial court law. This was the second attempt of Howat to obtain a hearing of his case in the miners con- vention.
 jority against removing the ban on the Ku Ktux Klan. The constitution pro- hibits, under penalty of expulsion, any member of the United Mine Workers joining the klan. ...
 Secretary of Labor James J. Davis, addressed the convention and advocated a fve-year contract, restriction of ir1lrni- grafton, and the setting up of Judge Landis" in every mining district to pre- vent strikes growing out of interpreta- tions of contracts.
 A movement to strip President Lewis of much of his power of taking from him the right to appoint organizers and minor executives was defeated in roll call vote by 2,236 to 2,106. In a roll call each delegate casts the vote for each 100 members represented.
 Other victories won by Lewis was the defeat of movement to deprive him of power to discipline insubordinate unions or districts and their officials and de- feat of a proposition to increase the number of delegates in futur econven- tions. These were interpreted as de- feats for the radical" element of the organization.
 The organization also voted down resolution intendede to depose Ellis Searles as editor of the United Mine Workers Journal and provide that only practical coal miner could hold the job
 Candidates indorsed by President Lewis were elected to the world mining congress at Prague, Czecholslovakia, in June. They are Walter Nesbit, secre- tary-treasurer of the Illinois district and President Thomas Kennedy of District 7, Pennsylvania.