Evening star., 1942-10-09
Miners Convention
Votes Full Support.
Of War Eifoft
ssys@s
No Mention Made of
lckes' Request for
Sx-Doy Work Week

~ the Associated Press. 10,
CINCINNATI, Oct. s.-With Johr
Lewis leadership twice tested
Anu twice found 1lrm, the United
Nine Workers OF America moved
on to new fields Of possible contro-
versy today rs their 37th conven-
ton took up q long list Of proposed
resolutions.
In quick succession, the conven-
ton went on record unanimously
today In expressing '.heartiest &C.
cord with all-out support Of our
Allies" In the war effort, adopted
Without dissent a substitute resolu-
ton leaving the question OF deporta-
ton Of Harry Bridges West Coast
labor leader. entirely In the hands
OF the courts and urged lowering OF
the minimum age for social security
benefits from IS to S..
AN a resolution which made NO
mention of Secretary Ickes recent
call for q six-day week in the coal
mines, the convention pledged unan-
imously all our creative power to
support our armed forces and the
wll;to carry on so (our) country
49,. will endure"
Miners currently work a five-day
35-hour week and Lewis has said he
would authorize extension of the
hours only if it were essential to the
war effort. s
The official UNIV stand is that
mining and transportation work
together most efficiently on the 35-
hour week.
Appointive Power Continued.
eMr. Lewis. UNIV chief for q
years, won his second battle in "a
honrs when delegates voted late
yesterday to continue the interna-
tnnaa executive board s. power to ap-
point district presidents and sec
retary-treasurers if it thinks that
advisable.
Eight of the 81 districts elect all
officers and the others name all but
to top two.
Climaxing a five hour debate on
autonomy, Mr.. Lewis asked the 1890
delegates to give me lift" in pro-
vtding the best available district
officers. He contended that they
comprised his cabinet" and Il want
able men to assist me-"
twenty-five speakers backed Mr..
Lewis stand against 49, principally
from West Virginia, who demanded
autonomy in the interests of de-
mocracy.
Roll Call Vote Refused.
The standing vote showed IAN
overwhelming majority" backing up
the Resolutions Committee recon-
n1endation against full autonomy,
Mr., Lewis announced as the minor
ity showed unsuccessfully for a roll
call.
Earlier. the convention instructed
5000 anthracite miners in Pennsyl-
Vania to end strikes which Mr.. Lewis
declared were totally unwarranted."
The convention, which voted We'd
nesday to withdraw from the Con-
gress of Industrial Organizations,
eho found occasion yesterday to
disparage Philip Murray, who sue
ceeded Lewis as CIO president.
Murray Custer Approved.
It adopted a report approving the
Executive Boards removal of Mur-
ray as UNIV vice president several
months ago. *
your committee, the report said,
believes that John OLeary new
UNIV vice presidenD viii contribute
more to the well-being of the mem
bership of our union and will be of
more assistance to the international
union than any one who has filled
this Office for decades of time"
Murray was UNIV vice president
tor ~ years.
The Resolutions Committee re-
ported 1912 production OF bituminous
coal and Ignite up to September 80,
1912, was 433 1000 900 tons, or II per
cent ahead of the comparable 1941
period, and anthracite 100000
tons, or per cent greater.
The convention also referred to
the International Executive Board
nine resolutions from District S,
Pennsylvania, criticizing District
President P. T. Pagan for alleged
remarks concerning administration
of union affairs.