The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-01-26
MINERS CHIEF
DEMANDS FOOD
FOR JODLESS
Hoover'S Dole to Nations
Big Business ASsaiIed by
State Labor Head.
RELIEF PLEA UNHEEDED
Green Attacks Wage Cuts
as Blow at Return
Of Prosperity.
We want food

The sooner America realizes that
we want food, whether it comes
from taxing of millionaires anc
bilhonaires, or through work, the
sooner this nation will get around
that corner we have been looking
for the last two years"
This call from Thomas N. Taylor
president of the state federation OF
labor, was cheered by 1000 dele
gates to the biennial convention of
the United Mine Workers of Aneri-
ca, opening at Tomlinson hall to-
day.
Taylor characterized the newly
created $4,000, 100000 government
aid credit corporation as a dole for
big business"
Denied, Because It's Dole"
Our government contributes mil
lions to the relief of stocks and
bonds, but when we ask for relief
for the unemployed. we can't have
1t, because that is a dole.
We most Wan6 Jobs but when VIC
look ABOUT and see millions starving
while our granaries are full; mil
lions freezing, with cars loaded with
coal; and millions unclothed, with
the shelves full of clothing. we re-
alize that there is something funda-
mentally wrong.
l don't care what you call it.
whether we get it by appropriation
OF by work, 1t makes not difference
We want food"
Difference Is Cited
Discussing lack of state and fed
eral aid for the needy, Taylor said.
When bank in Indianapolis fails
mat Is national question, yet when
u IS matter of unemployment re-
lief, statesmen say that it is a local
question"
just before noon adjournment
William Green, president of the
American Federation of Labor. was
introduced, and delivered a short
address, in which he pointed out the
tauacy OF the theory that economic
relief will come through wage re-
duction.
The mine workers have felt the
severe hand of unemployment more
IMAM any other working class" he
said.
Indignation swells within me
when l see millions starving while
There Is sufficient food for everv-
one, and realize that there is
something fundamentally wrong
with our economic, political and in
dustrial program.
Assails Wage Cuts
We today feel the effect of the
application of unsound remedies.
On every side you hear that the
proper remedy for our economic ills
Is the reduction of wages.
If wage reductions constitute the
remedy and the cure, then the min
ing industry should be the most
prosperous in the world.
This industry is an object lessor
10 the contrary" Green said.
He characterized the stupidity ex-
hibited by the managers of this in
duStry as "unequaled."
The period when the miners or
ganlzation was strong and wages
were maintained on fair basis was
when the operators made money
because there was a stabilized wage
scale, but when the slashing oc-
Cured then came the period of loss.
Clash Over Rules
But one outbreak featured the
morning session, and that came
when members of the Illinois dele.
cation, long insurgent, attempted Il
set aside a report Of the rules com.
mittee In which discussion period.
were limited to five minutes.
Led by Peter Markunous anc
George Craggs of the Illinois fields
the fight was intensified wher
President John L. Lewis declared
that the rules could not be amend
ed after adoption, but would hav,
TO be voted down first and thei
changed.
Markunous then asked that the,
be voted upon, section by section.
Lewis was unable to decide on tn,
voice vote and called for a shown.
of hands. This also proved Difficult
TO judge and a division was asked
The revolt failed by a vote of So
for the rules to 222 against.
The Illinois delegation stavet
away from the 1890 convention ant
appeared this year as a result of
court order enjoining the nationa
organization from interfering will
management of the state group.
Mayor Voices Welcome
Two hundred delegates from tn
anthracite district near Scranton
Pa, have arranged for separate
conferences with Lewis. Vice
President Philip Murray. Secretar,
Thomas Kennedy and presidents o
three anthracite district organiza
lions, because their problems ar
peculiar to their own region.
This committee will meet will
six operators, should agreement b
reached on an equalization plal
to provide part-time employment
for a larger number of miners thar
now are working.
The first session today opene
with benediction invoked b
Monsignor Francis H. Gavisl
Adolph Fritz. secretary of the Stat
Federation OF Labor, presided a
temporary chairman. while tn
miners were welcomed by Mayo
Reginald H. Sullivan on behalf c
the city; William Holmes on behal
Of the Central Labor union, an
Taylor on behalf of the Stat