The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-09-19
OPEN WAR IS
DECLARED BY
MINERS Union
Illinois Workers Leaders
Are Attacked in Edict
From Lewis.
CHARGE FRAUD, GRAFT
Frank harrington Also Is
Bitterly ASsaiIed by
Labor Chief.
CHARGE FRAUD, GRAFT

By United Press
WEST FRANKFORT, ILL.,, Sept.
19.-The international adminlstra-
ton of the United Mine Workers Of
America issued an open, declaration
of war today against the state ad-
miniStration of the United Mine
Workers of Illinois.
The declaration was in the form
of a statement by John T. Jones,
provisional president of sub-district
No. 9 here, and spokesman in I'LL
noiS for John L. Lewis, international
president.
Jones statement declared "the
Illinois miners can not go forward
or make any progress whatsoever
until A. G. Lewis and President
Fishwick and Walter Nesbit have
severed their connection with the
United Mine Workers of America"
A. G. Lewis is general counsl for
the Illinois union, FiShwick is state
president and Walter Nesbit state
secretary-treasurer
Good Faith Doubted
Although Jones once before ct
tackled Fishwick, and threatened
custer proceedings. he did so on that
occasion on specific groundsthe ap-
pointment of Harry Madden to the
executive boar dof sub-district No. !.
This time Jones oenounces Fish
wick ad his associates on general
principles, and inferentially attacks
the good faith of both men as union
officials.
Jones attcaks Frank harrington,
former state president, bitter foe
of the Lewis administration, as a
" traitor" and charged that he acted
as president while employe dby the
Peabody Coal Corporation.
"Since we acquired the records
and other documents in hte SUBJ
district" Jones continued, I'VE find
that the allegations we made in our
election contest before the former
sub-district No. board we're true"
The sub-district has been involved
in a squabble over the leadership
of it's former officials, D. G. Cobb,
president; Heza Hindeman, vice.
president, and E. P. Louden, secre-
tary-treasurer.
President Lewis revoked the sub
district charter after those officials
refused to account to him for GER
tain real estate. Jones, John Bel
cher and John Brown were appoint
ed provisional officers after court
battle.
Charge Vote Fraud
1.-THE records of the former secre-
tary-treasurer disclosed that they
cast more votes in some local unions
in Franklin county than they had
members, and that the provisional
officers we're elected legally.
AN election will be held in pro-
visional sub district No. when the
provisional officers have uncovered
all the graft and corruption perpe-
trated by the former sub-district
officers and he accounts have been
audited properly"
Against A. G. Lewis, general state
counsel of the union, Jones brought
the cherge that $265 which was to
have been distributed among miners
for wage claims never was turned
over to the men.
Another paragraph contains the
charge that A. G. Lewis once ap-
peared in court representing de-
PENDANT, the Beaverton Coal Com
rany, against a union member who
had sued for money he claimed was
due him.
Another charge was that A. G.
Lewis and Fishick we're responsible
for the injunction obtained against
Jones, Belcher and Brown when
President Lewis sent them to take
charge of the sub-district.