The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-01-23
Roosevelt SUUiOr of
American Labor, Mine
Union Leaders Declare
President and MIRA Are Given High Praise at Opening of
National Convention Here; City May Lose Head
quarters Officers Report Reveals
Savior of American labor"

OCNlOl VI 1lCA4kulA 40OOAs
With this high praise for PreSi-
dent Roosevelt and the national re-
covery act. the biennial report of in
ternational officers of the United
Mine Workers of America was read
today at the opening sessions of the
thirty third convention in Tomlin-
son hall.
The report carried with it
threat to take the international
headquarters from Indianapolis to
Washington, in a recommendation
by national officers of the union.
office headquarters originally
were located in Indianapolis as a
matter of geographical convenience.
The shifting of production and de-
velopment of new mining areas
served to destroy the element of
convenience in the Indianapolis To-
cation. In past years the officers
of the organization have been re-
quired to spend increasing time in
the nations capital" says the re-
port.
The report declares that govern
mental regulation of the mining in
dustry is an assured fact and urges
the need for headquarters being
near the national seat of govern
ment.
West to Fight Move
International headquarters occupy
the eleventh floor Of the Merchants
Bank building.
Delegates from western mining
areas are expected to resist efforts
to move the international offices to
Washington, due to excessive rail-
cost to attend conventions.
The report credited the United
Mine Workers with giving major
aid in the codificatio of all indus
try under the NRA.
Dissension, bloodShed and cut
throat competition have been elm
mated under the New Deal, the
report asserts.
1T is a far cry from the deci-
mated industry of 1882 to the in
dustry of 1884, with mine workers
breathing the air of new free
DOM the report says.
Six-Hour Day Urged
Unemployment insurance and re-
tirement funds for officers and en-
ployes are new topics to be dis
cussed at the convention, the report
says. -,
A six-hour day will be sought with
a possibility of higher wage scales.
Rebellion in the Illinois fields was
termed practically settled with |
many said to be seeking reinState-
ment in the United Mine Workers.
The report scored company unions
of operators and expressed the be-
lief that their end is in sight
John L. Lewis, president; Philip
Murray, vice president, and Thomas
Kennedy, Secretary-treasurer, pre-
pared the report.
Scores Illinois Deserters'
Mr.. Lewis received the gavel from
the temporary chairman, Adolph
Fritz, secretary of the state tedera-
ton of labor, and Immediately |
buried the international union /
dead cat'-the rebel mine workers |
of Illinois-with the opening state
ment:
"A group of declining men in Hi
nois decided to destroy the United
Mine Workers. They destroyed
themselves. their reputation, and
they're scattered to the four winds. /
That shows thee United Mine Work
ers are stronger than ever before.
The coal mine workers have at
last been set free by the NRA,' Mr.
Lewis said as he praised the recov-
erv act and gave credit to his union
for promoting the NRA.
He took time out in his address
to introduce the band of miners
that played martial airs and greeted
celebrities with, I'VE have with us
TO-DAY band from the Monongah
field in West Virginia. They were
with us in 1927. That was the last
time. They told me they were 60
ing to organize West Virginia. west
Virginia is organized. That's why
they're here today
Gus Smith, ClarkSburg, w. Va,
band-leader of the all-miner or
SANITATION, was cheered by the 1900
delegates.
Despite placing the town OF Sui [