The Daily Worker Newspaper, October 30, 1924, Page 3

Thursday, October 30, 1924 Page Three THE DAILY WORKER fair and impartial trial. “Notify us of your action on this mat- ter, by addressing your communica- On a Labor Faker’s Trail EXPELLED BY FARRINGTON people other than the Herrin miners, | “Adopted by paces Union No, 448, “On Saturday, September 27, a com- | “October 6, 1924. <e ‘ . aie ied Miners Fighting For 5 4 His Reinstatement 8th Congressional Campaign Meeting FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 8 P. M. Greek-Italian Hall, 722 Blue Island Avenue SPEAKERS: GEORGE MAURER Candidate for Congress, 8th Congressional District. T. J. O}FLAHERTY Writer of “Aa We See It,” in the DAILY WORKER, AND OTHERS. Chicago Party and League Members! Poll Watchers Needed for Election Day. mittee from our Local appeared be: “WILLIAM McAULAY, fore Vice-President Murray in Indian- “WILLIAM JONES, apolis, ‘and asked for a hearing béfore “ROBERT HOLVEY, / action was taken to revoke the char- “Committee. ter, but were informed the Local must Accomplished Traitor first comply with the decision of Far-| This finishes a brief and condensed rington before they would be given a/ story of the career of one of the most hearing on the matter. Our Local!accomplished traitors to the cause of has complied under protest and wil] labor in the United States, a country, | fight this thing out to a finish. If|that boasts of a generous crop of labor they can take a member's card by | fakers, Since his entrance into the! reason of a mistake of the Secretary miners’ union, Farrington has an un-| then no man's card is safe if he is not broken record of loyalty to the master on frieindly terms with the Official class and treachery to the workers, | ARTY and League members are asked to. help the Party on election day, Nov. 4, by acting as poll watchers, This is to ensure an accurate count of all votes cast for the Workers (Communist) Party candidates, It, is easy to be released from work: on election day. The Party will need about 300 watchers. Are you ready to help? If you are, sign below and send it in to the Local Office, 166 W. Washington St., Room 303, CR aaa -— SSeS CUT COUT HERE —— — — — — — — — | | By T. J. O7FLAHERTY. (Article Sixteen.) While Frank Farrington was fighting John L. Lewis he could not very well afford to take on any more quarrels in his own balliwick. But when Gompers got busy strengthening the re- actionary lines against the ris- ing tide of progressivism, and Frank and John kissed and made up, the Czar of the Illinois Miners’ Union felt that the time was ripe to try conclusions with his enemies in District 12. Dunean MacDonald, former secretary-treasurer of the Illi- nois miners and former stat« president of the Illinois Federa- tion of Labor, has long been a thorn in Farrington’s side, Mac- Donald could not be bribed by the coal operators or muzzled by a job in Farrington’s ma- chine. MacDonald was not only hated by Farrington, but also by Lewis and in no less degree by the king of the labor fakers, Sam Gompers. Tore Into Sam. It was Duncan MacDonald, who bearded Gompers at the Rochester convention and’ gave the latter a tongue thrashing that he will remem- ber for the rest of his life, ‘In retal- iation, Gompers sent two organizers into Illinois, ostensibly to organize territory that was already 100 per cent organized but really to organize the election campaign in the miners’ union against MacDonald. Farrington has recently compelled Local 448 to drop MacDonald from the rolls on threat of revocation of charter. This the local did under pro- test. Farrington had hoped that the ste local would give him the opportunity he was looking for, to revoke its char- ~« ter, thus -killing» two birds with one getting rid of MacDonald stone, 1, ¢ and also of John Watt, treasurer of the Springfield sub-district and one of Farrington’s most implacable oppo-} nents. But Czar Farrington was dis- appointed. Farrington’s feud with MacDonald goes back to the time when the for- mer decided to aspire to the presi- dency of the union. He was opposed by Adolph Germer, at that time vice- President of the district. Farrington flooded the district with pamphlets at the expense of the international union with which he was connected in an official capacity. Stole the Votes. When the ballots were counted it was found that he was elected by about 900 votes. Later it was discov- Se eT TT PHILADELPHIA, ATTENTION! — BIG — SURPRISE BALL given by Central Branch, Workers Party New Traymore Hall Franklin St. and Columbia Ave. © Saturday, Nov. 1, 1924 Admission, 25 Cents Sharlips ‘Union Orchestra. CC 1 will be a poll watcher on November 4th, NAME: ADDRESS: as ered that he had stolen two thousand votes, Of this number there was posi- tive proof. How many more -he got away wi(® was never learned. It was found that oné local that had given Germer three votes for every one given to Farrington, did not send in the vote until it was too late. In three locals, the vote was reversed, giving Farrington Germer’s votes. This was done in several sub-districts and got away with thousands of votes. After Farrington got into office, he vegan to reward his friends and pun- sh his enemies. He immediately placed fourteen men on the payroll. Duncan MacDonald, ,secretary-treas- urer, protested on the ground that the men were doing nothing but building up_a personal machine for Farring- ton. John P. White,* international president, and Gompers flooded the state with organizers who confined their activities to knocking MacDon- ald and boosting Farrington. This drive resulted in the defeat of Mac- Donald and the election of the rubber stamp Nesbit, the present incumbent. Lots of Money. The treasury was in good condition at this time, and the friends and rela- tives of the official family had a jolly good time. The president was openly dealing with the capitalist politicians and getting paid for his activities, This he admitted before the special convention, called to place him: on trial for his deals with Frank L. Smith, at present chairman of the IIli- nois republican campaign committee, While Duncan MacDonald was in of- fice under Farrington, the latter was in the hubit of sneaking into his office and stealing the carbon copies of let- ters sent out during the’ day. ‘When MacDonald began the publi- cation of the Illinois Industrial Re- View, and started in to expose the grafters in the district office, Farring- ton made a deal with the almost de- funct Oklahoma Leader and loaned them $46,000 of the miners’ funds, ostensibly because they were fighting Howat's battles in the southwest. Arrangements were also made to sup- ply every member of the Illinois min- ers’ union with a copy of The Illinois Miner, a weekly publication, edited by_a-renegade socialist of the court- clown type. This paper costa between $80,000 and $90,000 a year and is used to boost Farrington and his machine. Machine Angry. Duncan MacDonald retained his membership in the union and received invitations to speak all over the state, This angered the gang who were in charge of the treasury, so they decided to “get” MacDonald. Far- rington called in his auditors, who are really traveling stool-pigeons for the “boss” and ordered them to get the goods on MacDonald. They were told to cheek up and find out how much the latter had paid into Herrin assess- ment fund. Lewis had informed rep- resentatiyes of District 12, that he would hold the assessment illegal. This was one of the issues between Lewis and Farrington that died when they made up last year. Some two years ago MacDonald was unable to attend his local meetings so he wrote the secretary asking how much he owed for a three-month period, as he was.in the habit of pay- ing his dues every three months. He paid the amount specified by the sec- retary. Later on he paid for another three months and then PY, secretary informed him that Fi "8 audi- tors were around to examine his books, They paid no attention to any account but MacDonald’s. On their|the Organization's laws or of ANY New York City Readers, Attention! ATTEND! ATTEND! Entertainment and Dance BY THE Greek Branch, Workers Party of New York AT 8:30 P. M. , TERRACE GARDEN. . 58th Street, Between Lexington .and 3rd Avenues. Box Seats $1.50 ~ Orchestra 50c Tickets for sate at Greek Branch, 348 W. 34th Street; Jimmie Hig: ins Book Shop, 127 University Place. LACK AND WHI Presented by the Greek _ Workers’ Dractatie Club, request for information as to how much. MacDonald paid on the Herrin assessment, the secretary informed them that he did not charge those members who were not then engaged in mining for this assessmént, this being the usual practice, The audi- tors found MacDonald in arrears four months on the Herrin assessment, but paid in advance on dues and other assessments. This was in February, 1923. In September, 1923, Farrington notified the local to drop MacDonald from membership, notwithstanding the fact that when he was notified of his arrears MacDonald paid up in full. MacDonald Intervenes. | The local refused to drop him and the matter hung fire for another year, Immediately prior to Labor Day, 1924, Farrington notified the local to have representatives present at a board meeting on Wédnesday, Sept. 3, to show cause why the charter should not be revoked for failure to drop MacDonald from membership. No charges had been filed against him, so the local refused to drop him. At their next meeting they again refused to comply with Farrington’s demand and MacDonald had to appeal to the focal to drop him in order to save their charter prior to the election. They finally consented to do this. Every provision of the constitution had been set aside in this autrocratic action, The laws of the union pro- vides for the manner in which charges suall be filed, The power to revoke charters is vested in the Internation President. On the question of sus- pension or expulsion owing to failura to pay dues and assessments the law reads: “Any member becoming three months in arrears for dues and assess- ments, unless officially exonerated from the payment of same, shall for- feit his membership,” ete, MacDonald was not at any time three months in arrears for dues and assessments. The secretary of the local offered to pay MacDonald’s assessment taking the blame for non-payment on himself. Special Convention. An appeal has been taken to the International Union and the local union hasgasked for a special district convention on the matter and has notified every local union in the state, Thus the autocrat of the Illinois miners has succeeded in winning a ‘temporary victory over a men who is hated by the coal operators as he is esteemed by the rank and file of the miners. Not alone do the miners demand the special convention for the reinstate- ment of MacDonald, but they also want an accounting of the $2,000,000 Herrin fund and insist that something be done for the unemployed, the greatest problem confronting the min- ers today. The following is an extract from the letter sent out by Local 448 to! every local union in the district call- ing on them to back up the demand for a special convention: The Legal Way “Our Local contends that if a mem- ber gets in arrears it is the duty of the local to drop him from member. | ship, but where a member pays what he is told is due the fault lies with} the Local Officers and not the member | affected. If any member is charged | with the failure to pay or other offense there is a provision in the law to goy- ern this. Section two, Article XVIII, provides as follows: “When any Lo- Christmas presents and other gifts to eal Officer or any member not an Of. ficer is accused of violating any of |mean that the President of our Inter- jnational Union ean wire from’ New jbe tried, and I repeat that, as God is never, | 5 down to this minute, had a fair trial | & our demand for a Special District Con, |vention to secure justice for Duncan family. “We challenge any Officer to meet | McDonald here, either in our Local or in Public Meeting to discuss this matter and find out who is wrong. It is a plain violiation of the laws of the organization and if permitted to go unchallenged will set a precedent that spells the break up of tho organiza- tion. We will not submit quietly to this decision and take this means of notifying the members throughout the State, McDonald is a charter member of our organization. He held office for many years but it is not on this ac- count we take the appeal but a matter of common justice. If our charter is taken perhaps yours will be the next as we learn every day of members who did not pay the mis-named ‘Her- rin” assessment. Another Howat Case “We ask every Local to take this matter up and go along with ts in our fight against an action that is worse in its violation of law than the case of Alexander Howat. Pretty soon any member who does not agree with the policies of the Official family wil! be expelled from membership and a blacklist established worse than was in effect before the organization was established. “And for the information of the rank and file below is quoted President Farrington’s own language concerning the expulsion of Alex Howat, read it carefully and then compare his ac- tion on Dunean McDonald. This language is taken from a speech made by Farrington at Muskggee, Oklaho- ma, May 15, 1922 and reads as follows: “I don’t understand the laws of the United Mine Workers of America to York or Washington or some other place to Tom, Dick or Harry out in these various Districts and Mining Camps, Dick or Harry, I expel you from the organization, you have viol- ated the con don't think that can be done legally in the Miner's Union, I will tell you why I don't think it.can be done, Here is what the Constitution says; Section 1, Article 18, (He quotes section which | provides for charges and trial and continues as follows) Now, Gentlemen as God is my judge, down to this day, even at this minute, Alex Howat has never been given a trial as this sec: | tion or our Constitution says he must) my judge, Alex Howat has as prescribed by the laws of our or-| ganization,’ | “Continuing in his speech President Farrington declares that ‘I claim that} Alex Howat is the victim of a huge with the rank and file of this organiza tion, and by that means eliminate him official position in our International | Union in the future.’ “We claim that this is the same motive behind the expulsion of Dun- can McDonald from our Union, be- cause he is the strongest man that can and will displace some of the tyrants that sit at the top of the Mine Work- ers’ Union in the future. We ask that your Local Union protest to the limit this autocratic ruling and back us in McDonald and* to punish those res political conspiracy to discredit him | & as the possible aspirant for election to|# 7 particularly to the miners, | Other specimens are undoubtedly |as crooked, but few, outside of the gas pipe brigade that brazenly operates in| the underworld, flaunts their crooked: | |ness before the public, | As these lines aro written the pro: | ‘gressives in District 12, and those who are sick of Farrington and his gang of looters and capitalist lackeys, | are marshalling their forces for thé ming election. All the power of the t operators, the machine of Len Small and the formidable aggregation of patriots on the district payroll will |be mobilized against them. But it is |impossible, that Farrington should be able. to continue his career of treason }to the miners any longer. While the ranks of the coal diggers are thinned with unemployment, this notorious ser- vant of the coal barons spends his time and his energy, boosting the uné| ispeakable Klan governor, Len Small |for re-election and paving with dollars his way back to the district office |for two more years. | The problem confronting the Illinois Mine Workers is similar to that facing |the members of practically évery un ion in America, Most ‘of the labor leaders are now bound with a golden rope to the capitalists. The Trade Union Educational League shows the |way, the militants and progressives j must follow if they are ro rid the un |fons of the labor fakers, oust the jagents of the bosses and make of the unions revolutionary instruments of jthe struggle against the capitalists for the emancipation of the workers. (Conclusion,) The DAILY WORKER will follow up thie series on Frank Farrington with |news of the progressive struggle In | District 12, The election for District officials of the Illinois Miners’ Union will take place thé first part of Decem- ber. The mine workers should order | bundies of The DAILY WORKER and help the fight to free the union from the grip of the coal operators. SC un anita The American workers WORKER which is giving aspirations of the working capitalism. ponsible for the breaking of the laws | of District No. 12, by ordering Loca) Union No, 448 to expel Duncan McDon ald, without having preferred charges against him or without giving him a RITE “The American Boom transgression against the Organiza tion or any of it’s officers or members, the charge must be first lodged with and prosecuted before the Local Un- ion of which the alleged offender is a member, ete.” Up to this time no charge has been preferred against MeDonald in compliance with the pro: visions of the Constitution. “An investigation made in many parts of the State as well as here in Springfield, develops the fact that many of the Locals did not charge the outside members for the much talked of “Herrin” assessment. One me ber here was found to be seven months behind in dues and was told to pay up and it would be all right. One Local was a year behind and then was exonerated for part of it, The Missing Boodle. “Up to this time no one outside of a very few knows who got the money collected for the Herrin fund. Some: thing like Two Million Dollars was collected and few know who were the beneficiaries of this fund. Before this case is finished we may find out who got it, how it was spent and how many automobiles it paid for as well ar ‘ \ »would by no means be able to with- Is at an End...” 6 Prof. B. Varga in his “The De- cline of Capitalism,” @ pamph! recelved from Europe. Also; "W not the militaristic-imperialist policy of Poincare gain the upper hand, which fact would lead to @ new ca- tastrophe of the mark, since the Rentenmark, an artificial creation, stand such a blow?” A most timely From the 4th to the 5th — World Congress. Report of the Executive Committee of the Communist International, cov- ering 45 different sections, including U. S., Canada, Mexico, Argentine, etc. It briefly summarizes the activities of the Executive Committee and its va- tious sections. ~The United Front, the Trade Unions, Agrarian Questions, etc. A year book of the C. 1. Single In lots of ten or more 16 cents. Order while the supply lasts, * Literature ent WORKERS PARTY OF AMERICA, 1118 Washington Bivd., Chicago, II. . T THE DAILY WORKER, 1113 W. Washington Blod., Chicago, Ill. SGoo 2 AGO ~F F THE NEW SUBSCRIPTION TO BUILD THE DAILY WORKER NAME STREET: CITY, COMMUNIST daily is a mighty weapon in the hands of the workers. teacher and leader at pne and the same time, ge but is also leading the proletarian struggle against capitalist exploitation. To “Bulld the DAILY WORKER” Is to mobilize the workingclass against Help “Build the DAILY WORKER.” year § 3.50-6 montis $200 3 montis Bring along that LaFollette booster and make a Foster voter! ee UVTNNUANONUCUONELANSHANOUANLONQUORNEOEEEOOEREEERGAQOOAOQNOUOOUEOUOOESAUQOOGOOOUO UD EREAOAUQUU UU GERALDO AH CAMPAIGN DEMONSTRATION UNDER AUSPICES FOSTER AND GITLOW CONFERENCE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 8 P. M. Workers Lyceum, 2733 Hirsch Boulevard SPEAKERS: S. T. HAMMERSMARK Candidate for Congress, 7th Congressional District. N. SHAFFER Manager of the Chicago Daily FREIHEIT. ARNE SWABECK District Organizer of the Workers Party. Come early and bring your friends, CAMPAIGN MEETING AUSPICES NORTH WEST BRANCH WORKERS PARTY. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 8 P. M. Odd Fellows Hall, 2517 Fullerton Avenue SPEAKERS: S. T. HAMMERSMARK Candidate for Congress, 7th Congressional District: ARNE SWABECK District Organizer of the Workers Party. AND OTHERS. Bring that friend along! SS It is It not only spreads know- need such a daily. They need therefore the DAILY expression, fearlessly and bravely, to the needs and mass ‘Alexander Bittelman, Member of the Central Executive Committee of the Workers Party. ° RATES ar F450 6 months §. een