| Show H. H Cl 0 TO Acting g President Lewis at Mine Workers' Workers Convention Bares Conditions By Associated Press CLEVELAND Sept Acting 9 Acting President President President Pres Pres- ident John L. L Lewis in his report to the convention of the United Mine Mina Workers Work Work- ers Of America today discussed the greatly Increased cost of living and the improbability of any sweeping reduction reduction reduction tion through belated federal action asa as asa asa a preface to his recommendation for a 1 cancellation of the Washington wage agreement in the bituminous field not later than November 1 and the negotiation negotiation negotiation of a new wage scale to be enforced enforced enforced en en- forced In case of failure to reach a satisfactory settlement by that time by bya a general miners' miners strike throughout the entire jurisdiction of the United Mine MineWorkers MineWorkers Workers of America The basis of the proposed agreement should be that outlined by the national policy meeting held at Indianapolis in March calling for the six-hour six day and five-day five week and substantial wage increases the rho report said DISCUSSES DIFFICULTIES In other parts of his report he discussed discussed discussed dis dis- cussed difficulties with the United States railroad administration resulting resulting resulting result result- ing from the efforts of ot Director General McAdoo and Hines to secure coal for railroad use below the rate fixed by bythe bythe bythe the United States fuel administration expressed fear that the success ss of such efforts would tend to force down miners' miners wages strongly condemned policies and principles of th the I. I W W. W. W a and declared against any c compro compromise s with elements seeking to spread such doctrines In the United Mine Workers Workers' organization FAVORS TARIFF He further recommended an effort to secure tariff legislation to cope with the problem of Mexican fuel oil which Is entering into serious competition with American merican coal and on account of Its Ite ta cheapness and the ease with which it may be delivered at seaboard Great Lakes and Mississippi l river points declared declared declared de de- It contains a threat to prosperity of those engaged in the coal industry An import duty of ot at least a dollar a barrel was desired to meet this competition competition competition compe compe- he said Coal production In 1919 1913 had fallen off markedly he said the output during the first seven months having been tons less than In the same months of 1918 This reduction was accompanied accompanied accompanied ac ac- companied by extensive for miners ACTION NECESSARY The astonishing increase In the cost of the necessities of life felt by bythe bythe bythe the miners with particular severity owing owing owing ow ow- ing to their life In isolated communities ties far from centers of distribution necessitated immediate action to enable mine workers to meet it The committee on policy already In March had drawn up a series of recommendations recommendations recommendations which he but no wage movement had been thought advisable this summer owing to the industrial depression The time for acion action ac ac- ac- ac tion jion ion had now come como In no way responsible responsible responsible sible for the failure of the senate to ratify the treaty treat of peace and thus officially officially terminate the Washington wage agreement the United Mine Workers should no longer be considered bound by that agreement He that the convention terminate terminate nate the Washington agreement not later than November 1 that in the event of no satisfactory basic agreement agreement agree agree- ment being reached by that date there be no sectional settlements by districts but that there be a complete cessation of ot mine operations throughout our en entire entire entire en- en tire jurisdiction and that any satis satisfactory factory basic agreement r reached ached in the central competitive field automatically affect all outlying districts Concerning nationalization of coalmines coal coalmines coalmines mines recommended by the same committee committee committee com com- On policy Mr bir Lewis said that the International officials had been unable unable unable un un- able to h have ve the desired draft legislation legislation legislation legisla legisla- tion prepared in time for the convention conven conven- tion |
