The Daily Worker Newspaper, February 11, 1925, Page 3

A { THE DAILY WORK ER Page Three SECTION OF THE TRADE UNION EDUCATIONAL LEAGUE UNION MEMBERS = |W#A EXPELLED BY W. H. HUTCHESON Tried and True Union Men Got No Trial The names below are a list of the victims of Czar Hutcheson’s expulsion Policy. His lieutenants boast that this ‘is only a beginning. All of these vic- tims are old-time members, many of them were active in the union when Hutcheson was still in didies. They were expelled without a trial. If there is any fight in the member- ship of the carpenters’ union they will resent the. czaristic rule of Hutcheson and demand the immediate reinstatement of the expelled good union men. If not, they had better shut up, saw wood and do just what Hutcheson tells them to do, or else they will be next, In Los Angeles, Local No, 158, two business agents, J. W. Walker and Fred Miller, and one trustee, EB. N. Diebler, were expelled along with A. Renner, A. Nelson, A. Abramamson and D. Z. McClure. Sixteen Los Angeles Victims. Th Los Angeles Local No. 1976, the secretary, J. Reiss; the business agent, N. Karpiloff and Members L. Babin and M. Bragin were expelled. In Local 424, A. Super; in Local 1848, Brother Corell, and in Local No. 884, Brothers Castner, H. Jacques and J. Newman were expelled, All without a trial, remember. ‘The Five In Chicago. In Chicago, Local No. 181, five mem- bers were expelled, including Niels Kjar, A. T. Jacobson, Matt Peterson, Nick Olson and Andrew Westerson. Detroit and Philadelphia. In Detroit Michigan, Hutcheson -has expelled and had a capitalist court issue an injunction against Wm. Reynolds, president of Local 2140, and vice-president of the Detroit district council. In Philadelphia. the business agent of Local No. 8, F. W. Burgess, who is also delegate to the Philadelphia district council, is expelled. And merely for daring to oppose Hutche- son in the recent election, All with- out trial, remember. Members of the Carpenters’ Union, do you tan these men reinstated? If 80, soing?. What is your pene doing Aig sates 7 their rein- statement? Let us know and we will Publish it on this page. Now look at the militant painters. You can see they are smart, because they are well red. And you can't brush aside this statement because it certainly is true that they add a lot of color to the movement. er pr IT'S REMARKABLE, BUT— Everytime the left wing activities are mentioned in the executive offices of the A. F. of L. it just makes Wm. Green. s+ 6 HERE’S THE REASON— When you order a bundle of this is- sue of the DAILY WORKER contain- ing the T. U. E, L. page, you have a lot of fine paper for wrapping—the trade union fakers. see ONE OF THESE FINE ELEC- “TION DAYS— The reactionary electrictians are in for an awful shock when the left wing has the volts. ” ee 6 TEMPORARILY— The shoe workers in the east are under the bosses’ heels. But they are the sole of the trade union movement there and they will run their industry some day cause they stick to the last. ne @ WHICH REMINDS US— Some trade union leaders must have had training as baseball umpires, be- cause— They force the workers to make at least three strikes before they call them out. oe, BUT— If you haven’t read the article by Jack Johnstone in the February is- sue of the Workers’ Monthly called “The Pan-American Fig Leaf,” then you don't know the naked truth under- lying his statements. You had better get it. onf IT'S CERTAINLY TRUE, THAT— Trade union bureauc-rats feed on the poor cheese who supports them, oe @ TOOT! TOOT! The railroad workers are one group in the left wing that hasn’t gathered up steam yet, But when they get further wage cuts, just watch them rail at their leaders, and become conductors of a militant campaign, to break the power of their misleaders, so they can run the road, No fare—this is where we stop with COAL MINING T IS WRONG IN THE INDUSTRY AND THE WAY OUT FOR THE MINERS By Freeman Thompson and John Watt (There is great unemployment and consequent suffering among the union miners in the bituminous coal fields. At the conference with the operators’ association held in Jacksonville, Florida, last year when a three-year agreement was signed by the officials of the United Mine Workers of America, John L. Lewis agreed with the operators that the industry must be “deflated.” starving out some 200,000 miners. problem. He accepted the operators’ scheme of This was his solution of the miners’ Freeman Thompson, president of Sub-district 4, of District 12, state of Illinois, and John J. Watt, secretary, have a different view of the problem. spent their lives digging coal. They explode several of the pet theorles tionary officials and set forth the industry. They take issue with this plan of driving out men who have analyze conditions in the coal fields, of the coal operators and the reac- left wing program for the mining The following series of articles contain a wealth of material dealing with technical but highly interesting facts having a vital bearing on the subject as well as a militant program.—Ed, Note.) Article 1. An organized movement is now be- ing conducted by the coal operators and organizations that favor the “open shop” drive, to frame the minds of the workers to accept a reduction in wages so that the four competitive districts, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio an Western Pennsylvania may be able to compete against the non-union dis- tricts south of the Ohio. river, who they claim on account of a wage scale that is considerably lower than our wage scale, are able to take the markets that formerly belong to the four competitive states. The Illinois operators, associations of commerce, etc., seem confined to having the miners of Illinois accept a wage reduction and similar moves have been made in other states, but the mine workers are standing firm, knowing that a reduced wage scale is not the remedy and will only put them in a much worse plight than they now are in, as a reduced wage scale would not increase the amount of coal used, nor would it prevent those who are working in the non-union districts (who have not the benefit of a union to protect them) from accepting fur- ther reduction in the wages they are now receiving, so in the end of such an experiment the mine workers would be face-to-face with the same problem that they now have. Wages and Coal Prices . The scale of wages paid to the mine workers in the state of Illinois is not responsible for the sub- mand for coal, neither pais & normal demand for Illinois coal be laid to the door of “competing dist- tricts,” to the contrary, the govern- ment in a report issued on January ‘10th, 1925, explains the reasons for sub-normal demand for Illinois coal and the reasons we believe are logical and food for thought for all mine workers, However, before going into the reasons given by the government for sub-normal demand for Illinois coal, we wish to clear your minds of the operator’s “nightmare” called “cheap Kentucky coal that is taking our mar- kets away from us.” Many of you we know, believe that the reason you are not employed is due to “cheap Ken- tucky coal” that is flooding Illinois, this however is not altogether the case. “Cheap Kentucky Coal” For your benefit we have made a partial survey of certain points with- in and near to Illinois in regards to non-union competition and the letters we have received from these points speak for themselves and cannot be disputed. We have written to .the other side for this information, the letters all being of similar nature, asking for practically the same in- formation, and addressed to the sec- retaries of the various chambers of commerce, therefore we shall quote ‘the letter to these secretaries and their replies thereto, which we ask that you carefully read and study: Springfield, Illinois, October 30, 1924, Chamber of Commerce, - Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Dear Sirs: I note in the Chicago Journal of Commerce where consilerable Hast- ern Kentucky coal is being used in Cedar Rapids. I am after information concerning this matter. Will you fur- nish me with figures of what it costs to buy coal in Eastern Kentucky and also the freight rates per ton from beginerlirnerttoerat clade Central Illinois coal? en eee a clipping of the Chi- cago Coal Market which will give you an idea of what I am trying to find pek-tp euasiniosinn, Oct: saad market. You will note that the freight rate from Eastern Kentucky to Chi- cago is $2.16 and coal, Lump $2.75, ag rate is $1.65, coal $2.75, total Any other information as to why Kentucky coal is sold in your vicinity will be appreciated. I am, very truly yours, JOHN J. WATT, Secy-Treas, Here is the Reply Addressed to Secretary Watt. Cedar Rapids, Iowa, November 21, 1924, Dear Sir:— Sometime ago you requested us to to furnish information and figures We referred this matter to cur traffic department and received the following information: Upon inquiry I find that consider- able coal from Eastern Kentucky is used in Cedar Rapids, and a relatively small amount of Central Illinois coal. The reason given is that Hastern Ken- tucky coal is more efficient, and con- sumers are demanding coal that gives the most heat for the money invested. The attached letter refers to rates from Eastern Kentucky to Chicago as being $2.16, however the correct rate is $3.09 to Chicago. The present rate to Cedar Rapids is $5.15 per ton via the shortest route. This rate is high in comparison to rates to other Iowa points, for example, the rate to Water- loo, Marshalltown and Des Moines is $4.53 per ton, and the rate to Mason City is $4.86 per ton. This rate dis- crepancy will be corrected. The price of coal at Cedar Rapids is not uniform at all dealers, but the prevailing prices are: domestic consumption. Eastern Kentucky $11.00 Central Illinois. .... . 8.50 These prices include delivery at all points in the city and placing of coal in consumer’s bins or cellar. You will note that there is a margin of about $2.50 between Eastern Kentucky and Central Illinois coal. Yours respectfully, Chamber of Commerce, Chas. D. Marson, Sec’y. Here is a Reply from St. Paul, Minnesota. Dear Sir:— “In complidtice ‘with Your request of the 15th inst., we take pleasure in giving you below the carload rates on bituminous coal to St. Paul, Minn., from respective districts. We regret very much that we cannot give you the cost at the mines or the selling price in this vicinity. ‘ Northern Lllinois Central Mlinois .. Southern Illinois ‘Western Kentucky.. Eastern Kentucky » 4 (Via Certain Routes) Eastern Kentucky . 5.40 (Rate prescribed by Interstate Com- nierce Commission) Arkansas (Group 9).. West Virginia there are any further rates which you desire we will gladly furnish same to you upon request. Yours very truly, H. Mueller, Traffic Director. Here Is a Reply from Bloomington, Illinois. December 8, 1924. Dear Sir:— We have your letter of the 6th re- questing information to coal used in Bloomington. We are unable to ad- vise you the amount of coal used in Bloomington but for your information wish to advise the present rate from Springfield, Ulinois is $1.42 per ton and from Lincoln $1.14 per ton. Lump coal from these two points sells at an average of $6.00 per ton. The rate from Eastern Kentucky points is $3.19 to $3.34 per ton and from Virginia flelds $3.34 to 3.41 per ton. This coal sells from $7.50 to $8.00. In this connection we might state that the Bloomington association of commerce has filed with the Illinois commerce commission a complaint against the present rates from Spring- field and Lincoln and this case is being heard at the present time in Chicago. We no doubt will be gran- ted some reduction and at the present time we are unable to state just what rate will be granted. Yours very truly, Bloomington Association of Com- merce, E. L, Henninger, Mgr. Traffic Bureau. And Here is a Reply Received from Decatur, Illinois, January 9th, 1925. Dear Sir:— As near as we can determine there are in the neighborhood of 35,000 tons of Kentucky coal consumed annually at Decatur, about one-half of this quantity going to foundries and gas plants, the balance being utilized in As far as I can determine the price of Eastern Kentucky coal, which is used here, ranges from $2.75 to $3.25 per ton and the freight rate is from $3.19 to $3.34 per ton, The price at the mine in Spring- field field, I am informed ranges from $2.75 to $8.25 per ton and the freight the cost in Cedar Rapids of Hastern|rate from Lincoln’ and Springfield is coal. $1.10. So far as I can find the mine at Niantic is shut down and the move- ment from Danville and Taylorville is negligible. There appears to be a material increase in the use of Ken- tucky coal here and I am advised that Kentucky has almost entirely sup- planted Southern Illinois coal in this market. However, as a matter of in- formation, this situation may be somewhat affected by the fact that fuel oil is becoming quite a factor for domestic use. I trust that the infor- mation herein outlined, which covers the situation in a general way, is of value to you, Yours very truly, M. J. Brion, Mgr. Traffic Bureau. Here is Another Letter from Decatur, Illinois. January 15, 1925. Dear Sir:— Referring to your letter of January 12, | am informed that the selling price of Eastern Kentucky coal at Decatur ranges from $7.00 to $9.00 per ton and Illinois coal from $5.25 to $6.25 per ton. Yours very truly, M. J. Brion, Mgr., Traffic Bureau. The Riddle In view of the prices people are willing or are forced to pay for this “CHEAP KENTUCKY COAL” the riddle is how much of a wage reduc- tion must we miners in Illinois take to force them to buy Illinois coal, when scab coal is selling from $2.00 to $3.75 a ton higher than Illinois coal. Before answering this problem, remember that the solid price the miner receives for a ton of coal is $1.08 and from that amount he must take out all expenses incured in the mining of that coal. At any rate the price you are re- ceiving, (this awful war time wage that the operators keep yelling about) would not cover the difference if you gave it all back to him and some on top of that. So much for this “cheap” Kentutky competition. Now let’s an- alize the reasons given by the gov- ernment for SUB-NORMAL DEMAND FOR ILLINOIS COAL. The report reads in part thus: Illinois January 10, 1925. Market Conditions—General, “The weather continues to be and will probablyremain for the next three months«the chief determining factor of work time in all indepen- dent mines im Hlinois. Sub-normal demand for steam coal by industries heretofore served ex- clusively by tlinois mines has been quite notable throughout 1924. This condition is explained, or at least totally, by “business to compet- ing districts. “To the contrary, close investigation develops the following facts: A. Subnormial industrial activity. B. Extensive and growing econ- omics in coal use. Cc. Some ee, of other fuels. * D. Very saijeked increase in the use, by smaller industrial plants, of purchased power from public utility companies, and finally E. The rapid growth of captive and industrial output of mines. The above facts sifbmitted in this government report cannot be contra- dicted as contributing to the sub- normal demand for coal, each fact given is a story in itself, but should be defined briefly in order to show the effect it is having on the sub- normal coal consumption in Illinois. Fact (A) Sub-normal Industrial’ Activity: We see evidence of that in our own state, even in our immediate vicinity, factories and mills closed down or work part time only. Government re- ports shows that in the steel indus- try the recent summer, that furnaces in blast totaled only 144, as compared with 298 the previous year, and that is one industry that uses considerable coal. Shoe factories, textile mills, many closed, some working part time. This is nation wide, only such crafts as the building trades and road build- ing have held their own and they are small users of coal. No one doubts the statement of the govern- ment on “Sub-normal industrial ac- tivity.” Fact (B) Economics in Coal Usage: Experiments in properly firing boil- ers on locomotives and in the indus- trial has tended to economize in the use of coal by industries and also in buildings and apartments more scien- tifical arrangement of the heating ap- paratus so as to spread more heat over a larger area with a smaller amount of coal used. ‘This causes lesser demand for coal. Fact (C) Substitutions for Coal: No one will dispute the fact that electricity and oils are playing a pro- minent part in displacing coal both for transportation, manufacturing and domestic use. Fact (D) Power: Industries and residences and build- ings, heretofore using coal for heat and power are now being supplied with electrical power by public util- ity companies who have wires spread all over the state, selling power direct to such places..This industry is dis- placing the use. 3 coal to a large ex- tent. Industries Purchasing DETROIT FAKERS’ TOOL RUNS AMUCK WITH CHAIR LEG, LOSES APPETITE FOR GORE AT ONCE DETROIT, Feb. 9.—Hutcheson’s henchmen in Detroit have, in the last week. fallen back to the last line of defense, the employment of their more stupid supporters as common thugs. At a meeting of Local 19 last Monday night Andy Frohman, a member of that local with more bulk than courage or sense, made a lying statement to the effect that Reynolds, the expelled member of No. 2140, did not want a trial. To Be Regretted. When the statement was branded as a lie by Reynolds, this yellow cur who weighs 30 pounds more than Reynolds, broke up a chair and with a leg of it attacked Reynolds. He got in one blow with his club and then Reynolds and everyone in reach got to him simultaneously. He got away without any very serious injury, which is to be regretted, and has since shown no disposition to fight Hutche- son’s battles with chair legs. He is entirely unequipped for any other sort of struggle. Many old reactionaries who have not attended meetings for years, some with very good reasons for staying away, are being rounded up by the machine and used to bolster up the autocratic: rule of President Ball of Local Union 19. These old harpies have all at once felt a supreme concern for the union, and take the attitude that any ideas later than 1880 or any militant strug- gle must be fatal to the organization. The fossils and a few lickspittles such as Sharrock and Fish constitute the sole support of the stool-pigeon Botteril. The meeting of the district council on Thursday, Feb. 5. was guarded by three cops and watched over by Lawler Carson of Indianapolis, who seems to have taken up permanent residence here. Reynolds was granted the floor by Sharrock, in spite of the injunction, and read an appeal which he is sending to Hutcheson, Rey nolds prefaced the reading of the appeal by branding as malicious lies all those statements that he would not appeal his case. or that he did not want a trial. He stated that the constitution for- bids the circulation of “begging let- ters” and that this appeal instead of being a “begging letter” was an em- phatic demand that the constitution be observed and his rights be EDITO! NOTE Material sent ih for the T. U. E. L. section not appedting in this page will be printed in tomorrow's issue, * restored. No “Democracy” Here. ‘When Brown, of Local 2140; inquired of the chair what steps were required to remove the president from office, the chair, President Sharrock, re- fused to answer. A committee from 1191 instructed by that local to take up the matter of lifting the injunction against Reynoldss was refused the floor in case they wished to speak on “any phase of the Reynolds matter.” In Detroit at present, a majority in every local union and a majority of the delegates to the district council are behind Reynolds in his fight for reinstatement. In Local Union 1805 and the district council, where the would-be czar, Sharrock, reigns as president, this renegade and tool of reaction blocks the will of the ma- jority by autocratic rulings from which he recognizes no appeal. In Local 19, an old reactionary, President Ball. has consistently de- feated the will of the majority by the same method. He is now under charges and will be up for trial this coming week. All other local unions have gone on record pnanimously, to support Rey- nolds and to repudiate the unconstitu- tional action of the general executive board. League Building - Trades Militants Fight Wage Cut The building trades of Kansas City, Mo., are facing a threatened cut of 12 per cent. The employers feel that due to the ruinous jurisdictional strike be- tween the carpenters and the sheet metal workers, called last year by Wm. L. Hutcheson, has demoralized the unions so much that they can put it over. The rank and file, however, think differently about it, they are begin- ning to see the need for a united front of building trades workers as the only means to stop the ever increasing encroachment of the contractors. Some of the leaders wanted to talk the proposed cut over with the em- ployers but the rank and file would not allow it. They are accepting the slogan of the T. U. BE. L.: “Strike Against Wage Cuts!” Two Illinois U. M. W. Locals Give Returns Late returns in the U. M. W. of A. national election shows the following: Far Prosident. Divernon, IIl., O'Fallon, Il., Local 146 Local 3621 John L. Lewis.. 61 3 Geo, Voyzey ... a 13 For Vice-President. Phil Murray 4. 48 4 Arley Staples 3 u For Seoretary-Treasurer. Wm. Green sua 68 6 Joe Nearing .. 64 2 “NOT GUILTY,” BY BLATCHFORD, WANTED BY |. W. W. PRISONER A fellow worker in Walla Walla penitentiary, one of the numerous 1. W. W. prisoners, wants a copy of Robert Blatchford’s book, “Not Guil- Can any reader of the T. U. ection supply this want? The book is out of print as far as we know. If you have a copy, donate it to the cause. Send it in to the T. U. E. L. office, 1113 W. Washing- ton Bivd., Chicago, Ill., and we will forward it to this victim of the class struggle. A MINER TELLS HOW FARRINGTON STOLE ELECTION Crooked Tellers and Duplicate Ballots By A COAL MINER. Frank Farrington, president of the Illinois miners, each election becomes more expert in stealing the election for himself and his slate. Last year they were satisfied to erase the cross for the left wing candidate and mark in one for the administration candidate, Had Duplicate Ballots. This is rather crude, however. So this year Farrington’s henchmen were supplied with a duplicate set of bal- lots. and tally sheet, so all they had to do was to agree among themselves how many votes they would allow the progressive candidate, prepare the falsified ballots before election and proceed to change the ballot boxes. Of courses, this necessitated control of the tellers and Farrington, altho most of the miners in the district are opposed to him, controls a sufficient number of locals to steal enough votes to count himself into office. Bare-Faced Stealing A good example of this was exposed in my own local 224, of Lincoln, Ill. The tellers reported that Joe Tumulty, the progressive candidate for district board member, only received 26 votes as against Joker Young's, Farrington candidate, 185. However, 78 men in the mine where I work signed a peti- tion that they had voted for Tumulty: At the meeting of local 224, Brother Tumulty condemned the fraudulent election. There were not very many present, considering the size of our membership, but when Tumulty asked all those who had voted for him to stand up, 58 of the few present stood up as having voted for him. So you see, comrades, the real fight we have on our hands. But we are getting stronger, more mature. We have licked Farrington in two elections and the next one we will make sure that he cannot count himself in. We, of course, contested the elec- tion and our representatives went over the ballots and found that almost every one had been marked by the same person. The hand writing being the same. Build the DAILY WORKER! Jensen Uses Slick Trick to Put Over His Scab Agreement Last year President Hutcheson and Harry Jensen, president of. the car- penters’ district council, signed a Landis award “open shop” agreement without consulting the membership It took away the right to strike and abandoned many working conditions vhich were the result of many hard ought victories. Now the carpenters are voting whether or not they will accept a compromise wage increase of from $1.26 to $1.87%4 per hour. Most of the skilled trades in Chicago have been receiving for the past year $1.50 per hour, This wage increase offered to the carpenters carries a joker with it; to accept the wage increase means that they also accept the agreement. Of course, most of the rank and file do not know of this subtle maneuver, The T. U. B. L. is carrying on a propaganda against the acceptance of the agreement. The DAILY WORKER, carrying a story on the agreement, will be sold and distributed at the local meetings on the days on which the vote is taken, Red Revel Masquerai 1, 37 South Ashland Avenue Corner of Monroe and Ashiand Bivd, February 28, UNIONS, BASIS OF NEW ORDER, NEED A PARTY . Craft and Industrial : 48 . Union Limitations By N. LENIN. While capitalism transmits a heri- tage to socialism of century old craft and trade distinctions among the workers, it, at the same time brings out the trade unions within which, in time, can and will develop broader industrial forms embracing whole in- dustries; and which will abolish all trade and craft distinctions, eventually bridge the gulf between intellectual and manual labor. The workers then become universally educated, trained and equipped to accomplish all their necessary tasks. Communism tends toward and must accomplish this, but thru a long process of development. To go into raptures over this inevitable growth and to expect these industrial unions of themselves to grow into a full fledged and perfect Communist society is as criminally foolish as to expect a four-year-old girl to become a mother. At the best, this is ridiculous and puerile, and at worst, a nasty crime. Realism Needed—Not Fantasy. We should and must begin to con- struct Communist society, not out of fantastic notions nor from artificially and man-created materials, but from such materials as are at hand and inherited from capitalist society. It is self-evident that this is a difficult task to accomplish, but any other means to achieve this end is pure cir- cumvention and unworthy of serious consideration. The trade unions in the early period of capitalism represented a great ad- vance by the working class. during the transition from their helpless and unorganized condition to the begin- ning of class unity. When a higher form of class unity of the proletariat begins to develop the revolutionary political party of the proletariat would be unworthy of its name if it failed to understand how to connect their leaders with the working class and the masses in one integral whole. It is inevitable that the trade un- _ fons will ‘show reactionary craft narrowness and conservative charac- teristics, But there can be no other Process of development of the prole- tarlat than thru the trade unions and the reciprocal influence of the work- ing class party. Functions of Communists in Trade Unions. The conquest of political power by the proletariat is a tremendous step forward. The mission of the party is to educate the trade unions to use new tactics instead of old ones to lead them, and at the same time to remember that the unions are and will be for a long time “schools of Com- munism” and preparatory schools for the realization of the proletarian dictatorship. The unions are necessary to achieve the solidarity of the workers in order to take over the administration of all the industries of the entire country by the working class as a whole and not by the individual trade or indus- trial unions. Patient Leadership Required. Even under the proletarian dicta. torship some forms of reaction are unavoidable within the trade unions, Not to understand this means not to have the slightest conception of the fundamental conditions obtaining in the transition period from capitalism to Communism. To fear this backwardness of the trade unions, to attempt to circum- vent it, to try to escape, is nonsenst- cal and indicates a lack of faith in the role which the proletarian vanguard must assume as the instructor, the leader, and the beacon which attracts to the new life the lowest strata and the backward elements of the masses, the working class and peasantry. To postpone, however, the realiza- tion of the dictatorship of the prole tariat, until the last reactionary trade unionist or workingman relinquishes his craft or trade union bias, would be @ profound mistake, The Art of Politics. The art of politics, the proper un- derstanding by Communists of their problems, consists in correctly consid- ering and discounting the conditions and the moment when the proletarian vanguard may successfully conquer political power; to be able to imme diately obtain sufficient support from the’ non-proletarian elements of the laboring masses, and afterward to be able to safeguard and maintain their power and to extend it, educating, leading and attracting the whole labor ing masses. ag OT