The Daily Worker Newspaper, March 31, 1926, Page 3

. THE DAILY WORKER Page Three ( THIS PAGE ts Devoted to the Activity and Interests of the Trade Union Edacational League (T. U. B. L.) North American Section of the RED INTERNATIONAL OF LABOR UNIONS (R. LL, U.) THE T. Represents the Left Wing U.E.L. of the Labor Movement. ite Purpose Is to Strengthen the Labor Unions by Amalgamation of Existing Unions, Organization of the Unorganized, and by Replacing Reactionary and Class Collaboration Polloles with a Unified Program for the Transformation of the Unions Into Organs of Revolutionary Class Struggle for the Overthrowal df Capitalism and the Establishment of a Workers’ and Farm ers’ Government. “STRIKE ASSESSMENT MUST BE PAID,” IS CALL OF THE PROGRESSIVE MINERS Statement Issued by the Progressive Miners’ Committee, District No. 5 ‘A NUMBER of miners, members of the United Mine Workers, of America, fail to pay the monthly assessment levied by the union for the purpose of giving assistance to the men who are out on strike in several mines against the. 1917 scale, The Progressive Miners’ Committee considers it necessary to issue this appeal to all members of the United Mine Workers of America generally and to the progressive miners in partic ular, urging them to do everything possible that the assessment be paid regularly by each and every one who is employed. The progressive miners especially must carry on a most ener- getic campaign of education among their fellow miners so that they will realize the necessity of paying the assessment regularly, Leaders’ Policies Hit. “ The Progressive Miners’ Committee does not at all approve of the methods employed by the heads of the miners’ union to combat the wage cuts. The heads of our organization, for in- stance, committed a crime against the anthracite miners when they permit- ted the maintenance men to remain at work while the rest of the men were out for months and months, The anthracite strike should have been linked up with the struggle against the 1917 scale in the bituminous field At least the isolated strikes in Dis- trict No, 5 should be linked up with one another and spread thruout the district. Nothing was done by the union heads to combat the use of armed guards in the striking regions, to fight against the use of of tear gas bombs against the striking miners and their families. Nothing or little ‘was done to arouse the public senti- ment against the outrages of the operators, and to get the rest of or- ganized labor behind the striking miners. The United Mine Workers of America is a powerful organization and is in a position to stop the at- tempts of the open shoppers to reduce our wages and to smash the union if the proper policies and tactics were employed. Th Progressive Miners’ Committee, however, realize that the failure of the union officials to carry on a more aggressive and effective struggle against the wage cuts cannot and must not serve as an excuse for not paying the assessment. The rank and file, who are out on strike against the 1917 scale, and their wives and chil- dren must not be allowed to suffer because of the officials. We must carry on a struggle within the organ- ization for the adoption of a correct policy, for a more vigorous and sys- tematized campaign against the 1917 scale, not only in district 5 but in other districts as well, but the assess- ment msut be paid. We must also demand a monthly report of all money received thru the special assessment and of all money spent out of this special assessment, which would show that it was spent for the striking miners and their interests. The re- port should be posted in halls where the local unions meet. The struggle against the 1917 scale is the concern of all the miners, The struggle, in order to be effective, needs money which the men them- selves must supply. Failure to pay the assessment means to give aid and comfort to the operators, to work against the interests of the United Mine Workers of America and against the entire rank and file of the organ- ization. Every honest miner must see to it that the assessment is paid regularly and promptly. Let us show the operators that we are ready to fight against the wage cuts to the very limit. Progressive Miners’ Committee, District Five, nLeretlgiaeenepineesiase “Trade unions are the reservoir of the majority of the socially decisive part of the proletariat.”—C, 1. Thesis. Helpers’ | Club of Brooklyn, New York calls on all helpers to join | | the club. Meetings every FRIDAY night, 8:30 p. m., | COMPANY ADS MISLEAD MANY COALDIGGERS ment Is Miners’ Share RAMAGE, W. with the following fantasy: . “Those Days Are Gone.” MINERS WANTED—Best condi- tions in the state. GOOD SCHOOLS, CHURCH, Y. M. C, A., Hospitals and Amusements. Apply at Office The Spruce River Coal Co, (+ and now. Miner’s Pay Entry work, per ton ....70¢ 49c Machine mining .....+.63¢, 44c Motormen, per day ....$7.18 $5.00 Trackmen .. 7.04 4.88 Tipple men ination) "OOO 4.32 Many Miners Unemployed. true. This company, other large rivals. The mines operate tions. no food in their homes. The $10 a week or so they are getting at part- store bills. By ERNEST ETTLINGER, HE Passaic strike, which is now entering its ninth week, finds the workers, conducting a militant, aggres- sive fight against the mill owners and their hirelings, the city officialdom of Passaic and neighboring. mill towns. In spite of unexampled terrorism, bru- tality and coercion, the lines of the strikers hold firm and their courage remains untarnished. Not since the strike of the Paterson workers in 1913. has such an exhibi- tion of militancy and courageous fight- ing been witne: by the American workers and the struggle of these strikers is awakening a tremendous response améng the workers and will have a far reaching effect on future Terrorism Fails Bosses. ‘The mill owners fondly believed that the use of clubs, tear bombs, drench- ing of women and children with ice- cold water would quench the spirits of the strikers and force them to re- turn to work. In this they have be sadly mistaken. The violence served no other purpose than to stiffen the determination and strengthen the will of the workers to hold out at all costs until their demands were granted, The brutality and terrorism of the henchmen of the mill owners h: a tremendous effect not only in Pas- saic but thruout the country. So out- Trageous hag the attitude of the police been that the New York metropolitan press has ‘been forced to condemn the terrorism practiced in the mill towns, Low Wages; Unemploy- Va—(FP)—A big weather beaten sign on the lawn of the company Y. M. C. A,, across the railroad track from the depot at Ram- age,.a coal town on the Little Coal river in Boone county, is lettered over The sign stands as an ironical re- minder of union days when conditions, as working conditions go, were ‘com- paratively good. The openshop sys- tem now prevails and the changes may be partly measured by compari- son of some of the wage rates then Union Days ‘Today And MINERS WANTED is no longer one of the smaller concerns, has lost markets to the Boone County Coal Corp. and only two and three days a week. The men say its policy is less ruthless than some of the other concerns. It uses neither state police nor private thugs, but it is not giving good condi- Several miners told of having time work for nonunion wages does not keep them abreast of the company had |which expresses concealed hostility. CANADIAN PAPER WORKERS DEMAND WAGE INCREASES Plan to Unite Crafts Into Industrial Union MONTREAL—(FP)—Terms. to be presented to the employers and pros- pects of a single industrial unYon for ‘the paper mill industry were dis- cussed at a gathering in Montreal of delegates from all parts of Canada, the United States and Newfoundland representing thousands of workers of the paper industry. The present agreement expires May 1. A resolution that the employers be asked to renew the present agree- ments, with the understanding that the wages of men in departments where the rate is below the union scale be adjusted was accepted by an almost unanimous vote after long dis- cussion, A joint meeting of all the branches of the industry todk place March 13, when an understanding was reached whereby the crafts interested would work in harmony. A general organi- ation campaign is to be proceeded with immediately. As a result of mod- ern machinery and the keen .compe- tition in the industry, the opinion has been expressed by those closely in touch with developments , that the time is not far distant when there will be one industrial organization in- stead of the many different craft unions. The officers of the unions will commence negotiations with the mill owners immediately, If you want to thoroughly} un- derstand Communism—study it. Send for a catalogue of all Com- munist literature. PLL EAT IT FIRST! By William Gropper. The bosses will do anything to keep from giving the workers higher wages AMALGAMATION NOT “NEEDLE idea of the “Needle Trades Alliance.” promulgated. None of us, however, opposed it— we wanted to test the sincerity of the “alliance” promoters. The “result, a natural death of an “alliance” long gone and forgotten. Why? Because it was not what the workers desired— it did not bring the tailors closer to- gether—its structure was clumsy—it was a sham effort by people in office being forced to do something they themselves did not want, The tailors want amalgamation! The tailors recognize the necessity of amalgamating the needle trades unions; they see the need of it when they are on strike against their em- ployers where unity on the part of the workers is most needed; they feel the need of it when heavy taxes are laid upon them; they realize that amalga- mation means economy. There are several aspects which I will attempt to emphasis when deal- ing with amalgamation. Amalgamation Means Strength in Strikes. You, sisters and bothers, who read the columns of our “Tailor” and ..ob- serve the news of the strikes which our union is confronted with, can eas- ily analyze the entire situation. The last strike, the Parkersburg strike, brings the necessity of amalgamation that much closer home, TRADES ALLIANCE” IS NEED OF AMERICAN NEEDLE WORKERS By MAX J. SILLINSKY, | When the movement for amalgamation grew trong three years ago, the leadership of the various unions attempted to stave, it off by introducing the Every progressive worker who is con- yinced that amalgamation of the needle trades? ts absolutely imperative, realizes the weakness of that so-called “alliané8*” which the leadership were, a whole local on st one shop—a shop mak- -known as cheaper line ng. The work that. was r shop could’be made, and was mad6Sin other shops in different parts of {8 country. Did we control the othér shops—if we did not#why not? The ansWer is lack of unity in our trade, ‘chi and disorder caused chiefly because six unions operate in one and tie jame industry. The right hand Knoweth not what the left hand doeth. One has only to survey the entire , r field to find strikes lost primarily because the unions were split jip. It there was amalgamation in the clothing trades, the Parkersburg strike would long have ended in a victory for our sisters and brothers in that city. How can we workers who are split up with craft unions expect to beat the bosses who have their or- ganization solidly united against us? Amalgamation of all unions of one industry is the only plan whereby the organized Workers in an industry can present a real united force against the employers. Amalgamation Means Economy in Unions. Instead of, having seven adminis- to quote Brisbane, who, as representa- ‘can Federation of Labor refuses to tive of the capitalist class, expresses the fears of that class in regard to the strike. He states: “Somebody should warn owners of mills in Passaic that they a ning risks. This nation was inter- ested when gas bombs first ap- peared in the big war, It will not be pleased to of employers fighting a strike, legal In its charao- ter, using gas bombs against thelr workers, and turning heavy streams of cold water on women and chil- dren, when tear gas failed to do the work, “We are doing pretty well in this country. Industrialists are not ex- actly starving to death. They should warn the Passaic idiots against, up- setting the apple cart.” A. F. of L. Attitude. What has been the attitude of the American Federation of Labor to- wards the strike, the miserable condl- tions existing in the mills, and the terrorism practiced which is in com- plete violation of the democracy which the American Federation of Labor pro- fesses to adhere to. Has the bureau- cracy of the American Federation of Labor attempted to support the strike, to unify it, and Broaden its character? No, it is conspicuous by a silence ‘The bureaucracy of the American Fed- eration of Labor, which refuses to have anything to do with the Russian working ¢lass, shouting that it Is gov- erned by an auto: , ie strangely the displayed recognize the Russian working class, which is building up its social struc- ture for the Mbenefit of the masses of the people, in full agreement with the “d "of the gun and club in Passaic, With the brutalities of the cossacks of. Pennsylvania, and the op- pression direeted against the workers in West Virginia. The attitude) of the leadership of the American Federation of Labor towards the Passaie)|strikers has beén ex- pressed in the action of the Central Labor Council of New York, Jersey City and other places, which have re- fused to aid the strikers because the latter were not organized in the Amer- ican Federation of Labor. The cry of the employers, that the strike was Communistic, has been taken up by the officialdom to justify its policy of opposition to the strike, McMahon, president of the United Textile Work- ers, well illustrates the position of the bureaucracy towards the strike in his speech at the New York Central Labor Counell, where he stated that while conditions among the textile workers in Passaic are pitiful, the American Federation of Labor cannot do anything for the strikers until the tatter organize in the American Fed- eration of Labor and break away from their socialistic and Communist form of orgunization, McMahon Aids Textile Barons, MeMahon’s militancy expresses it- self by his willingness to take wage trations with seven sets of officers and offices, with as many sets of local of- ficers and business agents, and again that many sets of organizers and all the paraphanalia of union manage- ment, by amalgamation, we would have one administration for all needle workers, one set of officials, one set of business agents—one set, nation- ally and locally. Economy is impera- tive if we are to function as a fight- ing organization of the workers. Confidence of Unorganized Is Essential. There is no real union man who does not want to get the unorganized into the union. But what difficulties he faces when he knows that the workers will question why we have so many unions in one trade, causing useless expense and ridiculous juris- dictional disputes. If the organized workers cannot agree among them- selves, how can they ever expect to gain, the confidence of the unorganized workers and draw them within the ranks of the union? The “Needle Trades Alliance” was the first faulty step taken by the of- ficials towards getting unity of action. Some of them had no intention of cre- ating a united front or of proceeding to the next logical step, amalgama- tion. On the contrary, the punpose was to sidetrack the idea of amalga- mation. The “alliance” no longer ex- ists—in reality, it never did exist. The time has now come to take the real necessary step for unity of the needle workers, amalgamation, Those in our union who oppose amalgamation spread false ideas that amalgamation will be handing over the Journeymen Tailors’ Union to the Amalgamated Clothing Workers— that is nonsense. If amalgamation is achieved, the Amalgamated will be as much dissolved or absorbed as the Journeymen Tailors’ Union. All the The Passaic Textile Strike and the A. F. of L. Passaic, Yet it would be uti-Marxian to at- tribute the reactionary attitude of the American Federation of Labor solely to its leadership. In order to really understand the American Federation of Labor one must understand that it is composed of craft organizations con- taining a majority of skilled workers. Its form of organization is anything but democratic, and power is vested in the hands of the international pres- idents and their official family, who run the unions to suit themselves, Corrupt Skilled Workers. In no country is the disparity be- tween the wages of the skilled and unskilled workers so acute as in the United States, and it is this disparity in wages that accounts for the con- servative attitude of the American Federation of Labor. It is the skilled workers who are the Americans, it is the unorganized unskilled workers who are the immigrants, and the American skilled worker corrupted by the crumbs which the American cap- italist class threw to them in the form of higher wages and better conditions, look down with contempt upon the un- organized foreign workers. It is the basic industries who employ the vast unskilled working class ‘population, and it is there that exploitation is most intense and forms the basis of the vast profits of American capital- ism. Rank and File for Strikers. Yet slowly but syrely,a differentia- tion is taking place between the work- ers organized in the American Fed- eration of Labor and the bureaucracy therein, While the, bureaucracy is Union Steamfitters. May Strike in N. Y. NEW YORK, March 29. — Union steamfitters’ helpers have voted to re- sort to a strike if employers do not grant their demands for higher wages. The men have been making $7 a day and ask a sliding scale up to $9. The New York Building Trades Councli, to which they are affiliated, has agreed to support the strike if it is forced. Wage Increase for Builders in Boston BOSTON, March 29.—House carpen- ters are to get 15 cents an hour more beginning April 1; mill and shopmen are to get 10 cents an hour increase for the first year, 12% cents for the second, the new agreement between Boston building trades employers and the carpenters’ union provides. The union sought a uniform 15-cents raise at first. needle trades unions will be combined into one, with departments for the dif- ferent trades. Order wil be intro- duced for the first time in this coun- try in the needle trades; as for ex- ample, it already exists in Germany. All the needle trade workers will stand shoulder to shoulder in all strug- gles—a blow against one will be a blow against all. With united strength, we will steadily improve conditions for the workers; economy and confidence of the membership and the unorganized wlil be established; the union will draw in all the unor- ganized tailors of whom there are tens of thousands in the United States; the union will become a real power, functioning in the interest of the workers of the entire industry. openly advocating class collaboration, the rank and file in the unions are be- ginning to recognize the need for or- ganizing the unorganized, industrial unionism, and greater militancy. Among the rank and file of workers, both inside and outside the American Federation of Labor, the militant struggle of the Passaic workers is meeting with their unstinted approval and enthusiasm. This is evidenced by the action of the joint board of the International Ladies’ Garment Work- ers’ Union of New York, representa- tive, as it is, of the wishes of the rank and file, by donating $1,000 to the strike, by the bazaar organized by the workers of New York City to raise funds for the strikers, and by the com- ment and discussion one hears in the unions and shops regarding the splen- did fight waged by the Passaic work- ers. A change is taking place in the American working class, a change slow by comparison with the process taking place in the rest of the capital- ist world, yet all indications point to a growing activity among the American workers. Members for Class Struggle. While the trade union officialdom are openly marching to the right, ad- vocating a policy of surrender to the employers, the rank and file are veer- ing towards a fighting militant policy against the aggressions of capitalism. The strike of the Passaic workers, their militancy and courage will un- doubtedly affect the future struggles of the American workers and increase their determination in the fight against American capitalism, CARPENTERS THO EXPELLED, WIN BY CLEVER TACTICS Detroit Progressives Fight for Unity DETROIT, March 29.—There are be tween 10,000 and 12,000 carpenters in Detroit working at the trade. The number in the unions varies at differ- ent times. At present the unions have about 2,000 members, but they are divided into two unions. The Brothers hood of Carpenters and Joiners of America have about 1,200 to 1,800 members while the independent oF expelled locals have about 700, leav> ing 8,000 to 10,000 unorganized. One can readily see that the carpem- ters of Detroit are not well organ ized. This is mainly the result of the action of the International officials, Like most reactionary leaders they have established a machine which they use to control the organization te their liking. If a member or local has the temerity to oppose the official machine it means suspension or ex pulsion. Good Tactics, Locals 2140 and 1191 of Detroit are so situated at the present time. Find- ing themselves outside of the brother hood they were forced to join to gether with a joint board to work out a policy of action. As a result the 6X» pelled locals have continually gained in membership while the brotherhood locals have gone down in membership and finances until they are practically broke. It ig reported that their busi- ness agents are being paid by the international office. Naturally the expulsion policy ‘did not work out to the advantage of the brotherhood or even the official ma chine. We cannot expect a reaction- ary officialdom to think very clearly or work to the advantage of the rank and file. They only consider them> selves in determining a plan of action. ry to Split Progressives. After their defeat in all their at tempts at expulsion in Detroit they are advancing peace proposals to Local 1191. Local 2140 is Teft out im these considerations. Why? Because the international officials do not want these two locals working in harmony either inside the brotherhood or out- side. They must dividé them at all costs. The progressives must be split up so that Brother Reynolds will not be admitted into the brotherhood or considered at all. If they can keel Brother Reynolds, the eae of Local 2140, out of the union it will mean that any one disagreeing with the official machine will be expelled, The expulsion policy must be maine tained even tho they wreck the union! Locals Build Up. It was not from choice that Locals 1191 and 2140 are independent locals, Self-preservation dictated the terme,. By establishing the joint board eome> By establishing the joint board com- posed of members elected from both locals, they were able to unify their forces and work out a plau of action, taking in control of jobs, organization, and working toward a reunited cate penters’ organization in Detroit. As a result of this action these two locals have succeeded beyond expectar tions. They have increased their mem- bership while the brotherhood locals have continually lost members. Their morale is good and they have ® healthy spirit while the morale of the brotherhood is very low. Now the of- ficial machine realizes its mistake and is trying to correct it by a policy of splitting the two expelled locals; splitting the progressives so that the reactionaries can control the situation and no one will dare oppose them, Expelled Locals Growing, Two two expelled locals control eighty or ninety per cent of the union work in this city. This naturally means that they must grow: Meme bers are continually transferring from the brotherhood locals to the expelled locals and many new members are joining. They have organized two new jobs by carryitig on a strike suc cessfully. This has not been done be fore for several years by the carpem> ters of Detroit. Willing to Come Back, Locals 2140 and 1191 are well aware that # Detroit is to become a well organized city it can only be achieved by @ reunited carpenters’ organiag tion in the brotherhood of carpenters and Joiners of America, Their policy has been to work to that end without expulsions or arbitrary penalties of any kind. When the brotherhood of ficials realize they cannot split the } expelled locals or whip them into line, and that Detroit cannot be organized: without the progressives, they will find Locals 1191 and 2140 only too willing to co-operate and work for & real union of carpenters in the of Detroit. A I appeal to all rank and file can penters to support this program, 4 Vocational Teachers __ Seek Shorter Hours NEW YORK, March 29.—Vocational teachers In New, York schools ta. work half an hour less a day and | an additional half hour off when courses which they arg ta