The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-01-27
HEAD
FLAYS j. s.
RATE BODY
President Lewis Launches
Attack on. Interstate
Commerce Board.
FAV0RITISM Is CHARGED
Miners Official Refers to
Indiana Situation.

The Interstate Commerce Commits
sion in it's rate fixing has discrim-
mated against union coal fields so
as to permit nonunion operators t.
enjoy lower freight rates, President
John l.. Lewis charged at the United
Mine Workers of America conven-
ton in Todmlinson Hall today.
President Lewis launched his at
tack upon the commission in in
Producing a supplementary report to
his annual report.
THE coal industry OF Kentucky,
Tennessee, Virginia and West
Virginia, is founde dnot only upon
the exploitation of serf labor, but
also upon special privileges in the
form Of discriminatory freight
rates." said Lewis.
Special FavOrs
These special favors, granted
originally by the railroads in order
to boost their coal tonnage at the
expense of other shippers, have been
confirmed by the Interstate Com
merce Commission without regard to
cost of service, length of haul, or
any of the other factors which are
commonly held to be controlling in
such cases.
I'm fact, the commission has not
only maintained the unjust and dis
criminatory advantages enjoyed by
these southern districts, but by the
application of an improper method of
rate adjustment, has actually great
ly improved theri competitive posi-
ton
Markets Invaded
Lewis charged that as a result of
this "inequitable and unscientific
method of adjusting freight rates
that has permitted the operators of
Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia and
West Virginia to invade markets
which lie hundreds of miles outside
their natural shipping zones"
Turmoil broke out at the conven-
ton this morning when Powers Hap
good, Harvard University graduate
miner, attempted to take his fight to
be seated as a delegate to the con-
vention floor.
Police were forced to calm some of
the participants.
The outbreak occurred when the
resolutions committee reported un-
favorably on a resolution presented
by the Cresson Pa) local, denoun-
cling the administration.
Hapgood attempted to speak In
support of the resolution which
charged the administration is per-
scouting individuals opposed to the
administration. 1t asked that the
editor Of the United Mine Workers
Journal be instructed to allow adj
ministration opponents use of the
journals columns.
Hapgood claims to be delegate
from the Cresson local.
President John L. Lewis refused
Hapgood the floor when he declared
he was delegate and demanded to
know why the credentials committee
had not considered his claim.
He was escorted to the rear of the
hall, where the Pennsylvania dele.
cation sits and police were forced to
separate his opponents and followers
as they milled around him. The con.
vention was in an uproar.
Lewis threatened to oust Hapgood
from the hall as he made another
attempt to speak and declared "any.
one who thinks he can violate the
rules and disturb this convention is
fool"
The report Of the resolution com.
mittee was accepted and the resolu-
ton condemning the administration
killed.
The miners Wednesday voted not
to recognize the Soviet-Russian gov
ernment. The resolution committee
recommended that every member
"courageously resist the onslaughts
of these eneies and serve notice that
the union will not tolerate interfer-
ence" from the soviet.