Show I MINE WORKERS RA RATIFY TIff STRIKE PENALTY PLAN Agreement to Be in Force o Until April 1 i. i 1920 If War ar Lasts Till Then 1 n 1 giAtte o. o ss of ot ba bate te hIe the Mine ine Workers or of America In iJ biennial nia convention convention conven- conven conven ratified ratified rati rat tion thou today b by overwhelming overwhelming- vote ote fied lied the thc Washington agreement of or October Oc October tober C C. C which grants substantial wage advances to bituminous coal miners and nd provides provideR penalties for violation of ot contracts The agi agreement cement became ef effective ci- ci rt r- r t November XO 1 last and anel remains In force until April 1 19 1920 O unless ss the tho war ends before that date in which event O it automatically terminates The fight against the approval al of ot the agreement was based basell on the automatic penalty clause Inserted by the Joint conference of or operators and miners at atI Washington tol and approved ell b by Fuel Administrator Administrator Ad Ad- Garfield It fines ine men who violate contracts by going out on unauthorized un un- authorized st strikes strikes- Mine lIno o owners failIng fail fail- big Ing to enforce the clause clauso are also penalized pen pen- under tinder its terms tentHs John P P. White former president of oC the or organization and now assistant to Dr Garfield spoke for an nn hour In de defense defense de- de let let-isa of or the action atlon of or the International officers in accepting the clause He lie charged that the attack on tho the clause was waa in reality an assault on him In furtherance of ot organization politics The clause claue he said took toole way away none of or orthe the rl rights of the miners but on theother tho the other hand was as essential to tho the success and perpetuity of ot the union He lIe severely arraigned Alexander Howat at president of or th the Kansas minors miners who led leel the opposition |