Evening star., 1938-01-25
LEWIS DEN0UNCES
DOWNWARD TREND
Tells Miners Par|ey Wage
and Price Reductions
Will Be Fought.

Will Be Fought.
Two thousand cheering mine work.
ers today Endorsed a defiant pledge of
John l.. Lewis, president Of the United
Mine Workers and chairman of the
Committee for Industrial Organiza-
ton, that labor in America will fight
with all its power against wage and
price reductions in the face of the
current business decline.
Bitterly assailing those leaders of
industry and Government who have
indicated favor for a downward spiral
of prices and wages, Mr.. Lewis told
delegates at the thirty-fifth biennial
convention of the U. NJ w. that such
a policy would surely lead to "a COM
plete social and economic debacle in
this country"
Although President Roosevelt is
among those who have spoken in sup
port of lower prices as well as re-
duced wages in certain territories, Mr..
Lewis evoked new applause by re-
ferring to the Chief Executive as 1.-The
only President in our lifetime who
has ever given square deal to la
bor."
Mr.. Lewis was presented to the con-
vention by John P. Jones. president
of the Maryland-Dis of Colum-
bia Industrial Council, who brought
the delegates to their feet for the
first time by shouting that men like
William Green. John P. Frey and Bill
Hutcheson will not stop the progress
of the c. l. O." The men named are
leaders of the American Federation of
Labor.
Five Billion Housing Program.
Among recommendations contained
in comprehensive report submitted
to the convention by Mr.. Lewis and
his fellow officers was proposal that
$5,00o,000,0oo be appropriated for use
by the United States Housing Au-
thority in large scale. low cost hous-
ing program. Such funds, it was sug-
gested, could be taken from income
OF the old age pension pay roll tax
rather than levying new taxes.
T. The report also urged appropriation
Of $1.000,000,000 for unemployment
relief during the rest of the current
fiscal year and $4,000, 100000 for the
next fiscal year.
Regarding the finances of their own
union, the officers reported a balance
on hand last November 80 of $2.534,-
668.03. an increase of S236.64 over
the 1886 figure. This improved finan-
cial condition, it was specified. was
reached in spite of substantial ex-
penditures in behalf of President
Roosevelt in the 1886 campaign and
for organizing and strike purposes of
the c. I. o.
The officers made three other
recommendations of interest, as
follows:
1. That no changes be made in the
National Labor Relations Act.
2. That public contracts be let only
upon guarantee of observance of the
LABOR RelatlOnS Act, and
3. That the National Guard be spe-
cifically forbidden to participate in
industrial disputes under penalty of
withdrawal of Federal funds.
Green Is Issue.
Among matters of particular interest
on the miners convention docket is
the question of whether Mr.. Green,
president of the American Fedora
tion of Labor and for many years a
member of the u M. w., should be ex-
PEELED for fostering a dual union in
signing the charter of the Progressive
Miners of America.
The closing session of the Gas, By
Products, Coke and Chemical Work.
ers an affiliate of the U. M. w., mean
while, was to be featured by an address
by Representative Maverick, Democrat
of Texas.
Yesterday, the gas workers heard
Mr. Lewis predict that the end Of the
business slump will see huge influx
OF workers into the c. 10.
Mr.. Lewis, praising the part the
c. /. o. has taken in spreading the
labor movement in the -produc-
ton industries, said that organizing
was hampered by present business
conditions, which were throwing work.
ers out of employment.
Il predict" he said, that when once
more the economic tide turns that
the experience of workers in this new
depression will cause them to enroll
in untold thousands in these great.
modern industrial unions with which
your own is associated"
Reports 108 Locals Formed.
In his annual report to the conven-
tion, which is the first the Gas, Coke
and Chemical Workers have held.
James Nelson, the president, reported
that 108 local unions had been
formed, with 1926 members, and
that while the drive had gone far in
gas and coke, 1t has barely scratched
the surface of organizing the chemical
industry"
$500 TO GET DIPLOMAS
IN DISTRICTS SCHOOLS