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~ HUTCHESON BUT ASSASSINATING HIS OPPONENTS Article 4 Answering Duffy’s Letter By J. W. JOHNSTONE. The expulsion of Wm. Reynolds of Detroit was quickly followed by the expulsion of F. W. Burgess, business agent of Local 8, Philadelphia, ‘ana campaign manager for Willis RB. Brown, candidate in the last election for general presffént of the Brother- hood, ; In this case the method of proced- ure was chahged. They decided that it would be better to make it appear as if some semblance of investigating the charges placed against Gurgess was being made. The charge was of the usual nature of circulating “scan- dalous and scurrilous literature” against Hutcheson during the election campaign. So thousands of dollars were spent in sending a fake committee into Philadelphta in order to give some le- gality to the verdict of expulsion that had already been reached. This method, to Hutcheson, did not appear ¥o crude as in the other cases. “Impartial” Committee—Oh, Boy! Just imagine, if you can, an “im- Dartial” committee composed of First Vice-President Cosgrove, Gen- eral Secretary Duffy, General Treas- urer Neall, and G. B. B. * Members Williams and Martell, rendering a ver- dict against the administration of which they area part. Sectetary Duffy, in his circular let- ter to the locals and district councils, disposes of the Burgess case in the following manner: “The case of F, W. Burgess, Local 8, Philadelphia, Pa., is a different one (than Chicago, etc—Ed.) He issued scurrilous and defamatory literature prior to the last election of general officers, in violation of Par. J, Section 9, of our general constitution. A com- mittée of five, of which I was one, went to Philadelphia in January, on authority of the general executive board, to investigate this matter. It was found that F. W. Burgess did violate Par. J. Sec. 9. The committee had the evidence in the handwriting pt F. W. Burgess in their possession.” ‘How Can Hutch Be “Defamed”? The literature sent out by Burgess criticized Hutcheson and pointed out specific acts committed by Wm. L. Hutcheson which were detrimental to the Brotherhood. As an example of what Duffy considers “scandalous and defamatory,” we quote the following from the document which Duffy says the investigation committee had as evidence: “To be specific, he (Hutcheson) has ordered members expelled from the U. B. on the grounds that they were members of or aiding members of the Workers Party or Communists with- out. charges or trial, notwithstanding that the ritual distinctly says that the obligation does not ‘interfere with our political opinions.’ Hutcheson As Strike Breaker. “One memorable and far-reaching incident in 1916, was when the gen- eral president expelled 68 local unions at one time, then brot in Brotherhood men from all over the country to act as strikebreakers. This was done be- cause the members refused to accept the deal made by the general presi. dent with the Contractors’ Associa- tion that forced the members to re- turn to work for 50 cents a day less than the 14,000 men were receiving foug days after the strike started. It is supposed that the general president had good and sufficient reasons for making this deal but the members did not see the advantage in working fot 50 cents a day less when the strike was already practically won without his interference.” F. W. Burgess said many other thingsabout the Hutcheson admints- tration other than the above quota- tions, which every carpenter who takes an interest in the organization in the New York district knows is true. There is no doubt that if the charges made by Burgess against ee were not based upon facts lutcheson would not have violated nor would-he have had any need to riolate Sec. 55 of the constitution, Who Got the $85,0007 Robert T. Brindel, grafter and ex. caar of the New York Building Trades, and now paroled from a penitentiary sentence in Dannemora, was a close associate of Wm. L. Hutcheson, and, at the time of the deal made by Wm. L, Hutcheson with the Contractors’ association of New York, built a new and expensive garage while a member of the Contractors’ association said that it cost them $85,000 to get this Carpenters’ agreement. But of this ‘mistionship betwen Hutcheson and Brindell I will go into more detail in wother article, One by one, Hutcheson is picking out his strongest political opponents, and expelling them under one pretext or another. The constitution stands in his way, so therefore he ignores it. To try to legally expel these op. ponents of his would be impossible and would only serve to expose hir|~ corrupt, administration. F. W. Bur CENTRAL TWO VIEWPOINTS; CLASS STRUGGLE OR SURRENDER Levin Speaks for the Bosses’ Interests By A MILITANT. On Tuesday March 17th Local 39 of the Amalgamated Clothing Work- ers of America had an “educational” meeting. The speaker of the evening was Samuel Levin, manager of the Chicago joint board. Samuel Levin, carrying out the policy of Hillman’s administration, was at his “best” at this particular meeting in showing how to dodge the class struggle and show the work- ers that class collaboration is the only way out. Old Stuff—And Rotten Hé told the membership of the un- fon that their interests and the inter- ests of the bosses are identical. The poor manufacturers are suffering, many of them are being driven out of business and forced into bankrupt- cy. The fault of the pitiful condi- tions of the bosses is due to the hor- rible woolen trust! Levin, like John L. Lewis, seeing that the above alone is not sufficient reason to befuddle the membership as to their real reason for their plight, raved about the “surplus of tailors” in the industry. Levin boasted of thé famous Amal- gamated agreements with the manu- factures, especially the clause that calls for negotiations and changes during the time of agreement. Here a member interrupted him and showed Levin, how this clause worked in favor of the manufactures last year and a readjustment was put into ef- fect. “Be Satisfied” Says Sam Levin told the membership that as conditions are in the industry, better- ment is out of the questions and the workers should be satisfied with things as they are. When Levin was: thru, discussion followed. Members of;the left wing took the floor and put forth a. differ- ent viewpoint; that of struggle and class consciousness instead of class collaboration. vat “No Surrender” Cries Left Wing The first thing that the left wing showed was that the workers in. cap- italist society should not, be respons- ible for the interests of the employer. Instead industry should be responsible for the workers. They further showed that it is the evolution of industry that is driving the small manufacturer out of busi- ness and out of the trade. The big- ger ones, always growing more power- ful and continually taking the market for themselves. The union should point this out to the masses, and teach them that they have nothing to gain from the little boss} he is their enemy as well) as the big corporation. Centralization of industry, which is an inevitable thing, wll some day be a benefit to the working class when they take control of industry, In reply to Levin’s point that there are too many workers in the trade, the figures of the union shows that the A. ©, W. of A. lost 45,000 members since 1919 and since 1921 the mem- bership has been stable and at about 133,000. Left Wing Demand 40-Hour Week The intensification of labor, piece work and new machinery is to blame for unemployment. The solution lies in the working class themselves tak- ing control of production. But at present the most appropriate demand is the 40 hour week. The union leaders should not act ds agents of the bosses, but should lead the workers in the struggle against the bosses, A Clear Division The viewpoint of Levin and the viewpoint of the left wing are differ- ent. One, a viewpoint the petty bour- geosie, and the other of the struggle against the bourgeoisie—There is a clear diviston. Militant:—The DAILY WORK- ER invites you to write more art- icles upon the problems of the needle trades workers. ge! the campaign manager of Willis K. Brown, knew Hutcheson and his game too well, so he had to go. Now the same so-called “investi- gating committee” is investigating Joseph Lapidus, campaign manager for Morris Rosen who was the left- wing candidate for general president Exactly the same charges are being placed against him as were placed against Burgess, This will be the subject matter of my next article, PITTSBURGH, PA, To those who work hard for their money, | will save 50 per cent om all { * their dental work. DR. RASNICK DENTIST 645 Smithfield Street, DISTRICT IT'S HELL HUTCH, BUT YOU ASKED FOR MEDICINE “G. E. B. Cannot Expel” Says Court DETROT, Mich—Wm. Reynolds of Carpenters’ Local 2140 and president of the district council in the “post war” period of the fakers’ injunction fight, does not recognize that the capi- talist court added anything to his standing in the Carpenters’ Union by | its decision, his deference being to} the rank and file decision and not tc his honor. But as Hutcheson and his local pall- bearers, Botterill, Sharrock and the jelly fish which thot it was a sword fish, “prayed” for an injunction, stat- ing in their application that they were “plaintiffs without aid, save in a court of equity,” they should relig- iously observe the decision of that} court, part of which is as follows: No Authorization from District Council. “1. There was no authorization by the Wayne County Carpenters’ Dis- trict Council for the institution of this suit by any formal resolution, using its name for that purpose. “A careful reading and interpreta- tion of the constitution and bylaws of the district council, discloses no au- thority in the president and secretary as such, and court is of the opinion and judgment that what occurred at a meeting of the district council subse- quent to the filing of the suit, indi- cates that no such authorization could have been obtained. “2. A careful examination of the constitution, by-laws and rules of the United Brotherhood and of the district council, fails to dislose any general au- thority in James W. Sharrack,. indi- vidually, and Harold R. Fish, individ- ually, to institute and file an injunc- tion suit of the character disclosed by the bill herein: and the court finds each of them respectively is unauthor- ized and void. ‘Under the heading “4,” the court said: G. E. B. Cannot Expel. - “The court has examined the con- stitution and laws of the United Brotherhood and extensive arguments have been had thereon by both coun- sel at the trial. It may be stated that the court has been unable to find and no reference has been had by counsel to any express provisions in said constitution and laws, authoriz- ing the executive board specifically to expel a member of the order. “The court finds and determines specifically, that the general execu- tive board has no authority, even by the. most liberal construction of the constitution, to expel a member. ’ A DAILY WORKER sub means another Communist, The T. U. E. L. is short on copies of the following Labor Heralds: March, April, May, and October, 1923. ‘We ask the readers of this page to send in these copies so as to complete our files. Mail to the Trade Union Educational League, 1113 Washington Blvd., Chicago. Thanks, We Have Just Been Notified: That the latest issue of The Communist | lows: ENGRAVER TELLS | OF WORST BOSS HE WORKED UNDER To the DAILY WORKER: Th worst boss I ever had the displeasure of running up against was the most despicable piece’ of humanity in the} form of a straw boss—or foreman in the engraving department of a well- known watch case company here in the middle west with some 30 odd en- gravers under his control, ’ Some of thé methods used by this} PITTSBURGH, Pa..— Progressive Jealous minded 100 per cent snob, to| miners in District No. 5 are out to break the hearts and minds of the en-/clean house of the reactionary offi- gravers under his contro! were as fol-/cialdom, A conference of the progres: sives held in Pittsburgh last Sunday decided to urge the locals to initiate EASTERN HOUSE CLEANING CONFERENCE ON FOR DISTRICT 5 Wreckers “and Robbers Threaten to Expel 2 Double-crossing Boss. |and that he is doing all he can to help} and determines that the appearance of | -graver to come all the way from Mas./ All work was done on a piece work basis on bold—and so-called white gold cases, the kind that some people think look so beautiful as they gaze) in the jewelers’ window. The engrave- ers at one time received a fair days’ pay for their work, up until this snob, who has all the car marks of a rat, became their foreman. Mr. Gonif, I will call him for short, is an expert on what is known as double crossing. He pretended to be your best friend, he was using every known method to cut them down. Obeys Orders. The engravers at one time made $1.00 to $1.50 per hour, but now they have all they can do to make half that much. I realize that Mr. Gonif, being a straw boss, is a product of the sys- tem, and has to do what he is told in order to hold his job. But he goes way beyond what he is told and in- vents many schemes to make it mis) erable for those under his control. He had a spy system composed of a few dirty suckers that worked in other parts of the factory, who would report to him anything they happened to see or hear in connection with any of the men in his department. The late Rus- sian czar had nothing on Gonif. Workers Strike. At one time he used the squeeze process to such an extent that the workers couldn't stand it any longer, and some of the bolder ones told him so, and when"they got fired for their trouble, the fest of the men revolted then and thet@'and quit their jobs in e body,” but” the coiild pack their tools and get out of the shop the firm had things all fixed up again, by re- instating the discharged men and rais- ing some of the prices a little, and it seemed like afvictory for a while at least. Until Gonif began to use some of the cards hé still had up his sleeve. Sends Work Away. One of the first was to send all the work he could away to be done by en- gravers in New York and Massachu-| setts, and in that ‘way cause a short-| age of work, so the engravers did not, have to work more than 2 or 3 days| a week for a long time. And when they did see fit to give them full time he took good care to cut the price as fine as possible. Another of his dirty stunts was to promise one thing and hand out an- other, and when the firm hired an en- his men get a living wage, but thd to] sachusetts, who proved to be an ex-| pert in his line, Gonif thru Jealousy | invented all kinds of lies to report to the superintendent, like a school teacher to her principal in order to bring discredit and a cut in wages to the new man, in which as usual, he was successful, Tried to Scare Men. He also had an idea that he could seare the’ men by looking at them which was quite amusing. The engrav- ers got so disgusted that they began to leave one by one to take other and better jobs. The man from Massachu- | setts secured what he thot was a good job with a firm making gold cuff links, in a small town in southwestern IIli- nois and felt very happy at the thot of getting away from Mr. Gonif for good, It was a good job and every- body in the shop seemed to be happy and content until one day news came International No. 8 will be in our hands within the next few days. 'f you want the latest issue of the official organ of the executive com- mittee of the leading world Com- nunist body, get No. 8 Send in your orders at once. We have been advised we can begin shipment on Monday, March 23. _ SINGLE COPY 25 CENTS Sub Rates: $2.50 a Year $1.25 Six Months a Order from the sole agent in this country, The Daily Worker Literature ‘Departament Washington Bivd. Chicago, Il, that Gonif had been hired to come down there and take charge of en- graving. Caused “Unrest.” The watch case concern had at last got wise to the fact that he was caus- ing too much: trouble and unrest among their help who were happy a special impeachment convention, About seventy delegates represent- ing the largest locals of the district responded to the call to protect their union and help the men that are im- prisoned at Moundsville, West Vir- ginia, The gang had half a dozen drunken plug-uglies to intimidate the dele- gates. They were told either to come in and behave because the progres- sives have nothing to hide, or get out, so they took the latter tip and zot out. The officialdom is so determined in keeping themselves in office even to the extent of wrecking the whole or- ganization, that they sent out a cireu- lar to every local threatening the in- dividuals that participate in the con- ference with expulsion and the re- voking of the charter of the locals DISTRICT | PLYMOUTH, MASS, WEAVERS WIN TWO-LOOM FIGHT Solidarity’ Is : Urged to Hold Gains Won PLYMOUTH, Mass.— In an ex- clusive story in the DAILY WORKER was told how the Puritan mills (Amer- ican Woolen Co.) of Plymouth’ had | planned to take the weavers run one fancy ‘and one plain on a two loom basis. A few weavers got in touch with the National Office of the Amalgamated Textile Council and arranged a meet- ing. At this meeting James Reid spoke and got them to elect a com- mittee to tell the agent that they would not run this kind of work on two looms. All the weavers remain idle and did not run any looms until ten o'clock the following Monday morning until the agent arrived. This show of solidarity impressed the agent and he told the committee that he would not attempt to run them until later. He inferred however that when the weavers had time to think they would run them as he ordered. The workers then went to work and the looms were left idle, the workers who operated them were given work on other looms. Wednesday, March 4th, the weavers again met and heard sending delegates. The last district convention was packed by bartenders’ organizers, and any one the officialdom could secure. A resolution was passed denying the membership a right to meet and dis- cuss their grievances. The worst criminal syndicalist laws have nothing on this gag law. And on this basi: they hope to discredit some of the best fighters in the organization. Wreckers and Robbers. After a thoro discussion on the in- activities of the officials and the part played by them in wrecking the treasury of the district, the confer- ence urged all locals to initiate im- peacement proceedings by demanding a special district convention. One delegate after another gave proof of various irregularities, from grievances of the working conditions to handling of the organization's funds. One of the flagrant betrayals that was pointed out is the desertion of the miners serving in the Mounds. ville penitentiary, who are incarcer- ated for the organization and are be- trayed by the officials. No Reduction of Wages. In very strong miners’ language the conference went on record against anyone advocating revision of the present wage agreement based on con- templated reductions. Everyone pres- ent was determined to fight to ¢he very end the operators and anyone else who tries to lower the wages of the diggers. In order to prove what class the government supports, the progressives demand that the government’s action of 1919 be reversed ad applied to the operators. In the miners’ strike, the department of justice declared the fight of the miners for a living wage illegal, and ordered them back to work, with which Lewis complied. Make the Government Open the Mines! Today, the miners want the same department to order the mines open- ed by the operators and rive work to thousands of miners that have been thrown out of work because no profits were coming to the coal barons. A publicity committee was elected to carry on the campaign for the re- lease of the Moundsville prisoners. Every miner present was determined to let every miner in the district know the result of the conference. The following day the capitalist press, in an article on the conference of the progressives, quotes Fagan as saying that those participating in the conference will be expelled. This does not frighten the progressives any, they are the more determined to gO after the officialdom, when he left. On the new job it was only a short time before he began to pull off some slimy stunts. One of course was the institution of a piece work system, which was instrumental in cutting our wages in half. A spy system sprung up and dissat- isfaction again became the order, of the day. He has now been on that job about a year and the firm is now on its last legs all but wrecked and the whole thing, if the truth were known, was brot about by the underhand workings of this same Mr, Gonif. So there is one boss I am damn glad I don’t have to»work for any more.— George H, Bodine. _ Elgin, Ml. pasa dlillconcliins Write us a\letter—tell us how you work, what are your wages and shop cohditions—and then order a bundle for distribution in, shop. NOTE We have been for- tunate in securing a large shipment of this working class drama, by a master propagan- dist at a specially low rate that enables us to sell it at a mark below the usual selling’ price. Take advantage of it, again.” the full report of the committee and voted to lay the report on the table until the following Thursday, March 12, They also voted to have the commit- tee empowered to act as an organizing committee with power to call strike if there was any move to start the looms in dispute. Thursday came and with it an immense meeting and a signing up galore in union membership. The following morning the issue was defin- itely settled in favor of the weavers. The disputed work is now being wove on a one loom basis. This seems to indicate that we will not have to fight the Amercian Woolen Co. on this issue. The battle will now be centered on the independent mills, one of which the Nemasket of Middleboro, is.now entering on the seventh month of a strike against this system. Organization Is Urged All weavers should line up actively with this movement in the wolen and worsted mills, it is the first time in Page Three UNION OFFICIALS ATTACK MILITANT TEXTILE WORKERS Defend Lawrence Mills from United Front By FRED E. BEAL. (Secretary of the United Front Com mittee of Textile Workers) LAWRENCE, Mass., March 19—The United Textile Workers’ Union held a meeting here in the Building Trades hall. The meeting had been adver- tised in the capitalist papers for three days, but only a dozen actual textile workers showed up. Michael J. Guilfoyle, president of the local Dyers’ and Finishers’ Union of the U. T. W. was chairman. Robert Watt of the Building Trades acted as secretary. Speech An Attack on Militants Thomas F, McMahon, president of the union and principal speaker, spent the greater part of his two hour speach in attacking the militant work- ers and their leaders, past and pree- ent. The latter part of his talk was tdken up in attacking the United Front Committees formed and active here, and in other textile centers, His claim and insinuations that these com- mittees aré formed to destroy thé Uinited Textile Workers’ Union & successfully refuted at the close ¢f his talk. “Some of our radical friends say that the employers are parasites, but this is not true; it is the workers who refuse to join a union that is the par- asite,” declared McMahon. McMahon denied that he had much use for legislation. He said that conditions were worse in Lawrence than in any other textile town or city in New En- gland. For this condition of affaira he blamed the radicals! During his two hour talk very little was said about what the mill barons are doing to the workers. Questions were permitted. I asked the chairman for permission to explain to the workers présent how and why the united front movements had been formed. Immediately McMa- hon jumped up and said that no |speech making would be-allowed. I |then asked if he could cite one in- stance where the United Front Com- mittees here in Lawrence or elsewhere ever had made an attack upon the United Textile Workers’ Union. This he was unable to do. At this point a reactionary labor |faker named Menzie demanded that I be thrown out of the hall: A. Mis- serville of the Barbers’ Union came to years that we have had a chance to give the two-loom system a set back. We can now make definite gains if we will only line up the worth while fellows in every mill for a general move. The machinery has been built. A conference of weavers from over 100 mills is now being arranged to work out the plans and organize the proper committee to function as committees of action. While the Amalgamated ‘Textile Councils are the active movers they however, are getting the co-operation of many small independent unions and their own membership is present in nearly every woolen and worsted mill in more or less numbers. my defense and wanted to know why I couldn’t tell my side of the story. McMahon again took the floor and said that no representative of the Third International could make a speech in this hall remarking—“Thank god I am in a hall where I can’t be thrown out.” A his point the meeting was closed. Workers Party leaflets were distribut- ed to the departing workers, some of whom asked me where our offite was located. The United Front Textile Workers’ Committee held a successful mass meeting for the Pacific (cotton) Mill workers last Friday evening. Meetings will be held at the mill gates on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in which Comrade Weisbord But Better Than Money is the Unity of the Silk Workers PATERSON, N. J.—The national or- Sanization of the Associated Silk Workers’ Union is prospering. A dance in Paterson Armory netted pro- ceeds from 9,000 tickets. The dues of the members are now 75 cents instead of 50 cents. Ten cents of the increase goes to pay per capita tax to the national or- ganization which is attempting to get all silk workers into the union to im- prove conditions generally and enable the Paterson victors in the recent strike to maintain their gains. Give your shopmate this copy of the DAILY WORKER—but be sure to see him the next day to] to fght the union demands if a s get his subscription. will appeal to the workers to show a united front of the workers against the united front of the mill bosses. More power to the Workers (Com- munist) Party! More Needle Workers May Strike Next Week NEW YORK-—Pleaters and stitch- ers, tuckers and novelty workers of the International Ladies’ Garment Workers Union threaten to strike after March 24 if the present negott- ations with employers do not end sat- istactorily. ¥ The workers ask a 40-hour week with increased wages. At the present the week is 42 hours with single time for the first two hours overtime. Em- ployers ask a 44-hour week. The em- Ployers’ association has voted $30,000 ike is called. Singin By Upton Sinclair About which Mike “It is terrible, bitter truth, and some of the scenes brought the tears to my newspaper sterile eyes..... “The play has great sweep, and a real power in moving the heart. Some of the scenes are like a real experience—the loss of one’s friend by death, the pangs of loneliness or prison experienced 16 CENTS A COPY. from The Daily Worker Literature Department . 1118 W. Washington Bivd, Jail Birds TTT A Drama in four Acts Gold says: Chicago, Il,