The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-12-16
LEWIS Works
RED DOGGY ON
COAL STRIKERS
C0pelIini Thinks He
Has Been Framed
BY THOMAS MYERscoUGH.
Especial to The Daily Worker)

PlTTSTON, Pa, Dec. 49,
After definitely refusing the pro-
posaI of RinaIdo Cappellini,
president of District No. I, that
they select one of their number
to be appointed by him as a dis
trict organizer, this being recog-
nized as a ruse to defeat their
aims, the general grievance
committee of the local unions
on strike here, made a counter
proposal that a subcommittee
of ten meet with the district
officials and the international
board members sent here by
Lewis, to consider all the griev-
ances at issue and effect salts
factory settlement.
It is understood that this sub-com-
mittee win be made up of the presi-
dents Of all the striking locals. The
decision to make this their counter
proposal was reached at the meeting
on Wednesday, but it was reported
that the officials had refused to con-
slider it.
Strikers Meet Again.
Today the committee Of strikers met
again and word has reached them
from some source, that the officials
have decided to meet with them to-
morrow. Anyway, the decision of a
short meeting here today was that the
subcommittee would proceed to
Scranton tomorrow to lay all the facts
at issue before that august body of
officials, who are so anxious that the
profits Of the Pennsylvania Coal Co.
again begin to roll in.
For two days long sessions were
held by the district and international
officials in the Labor Temple at
Scranton, but no news except that ii
was impossible for a fly to sneak in
the meeting, came from there. 1t is
claimed that Cappellini blames the
present and other strikes on some of
Lewis appointees in this district, and
that they are created for the purpose
Of discrediting his administration.
Blannes Lewis Tools.
1t is said that he places most Of the
blame at the door Of one William
Brennan, who, it will be remembered.
was his opponent at the time of his
election to the presidency Of this dis
trict and who was appointed organizer
by Lewis as part of the peace terms
with Cappellini. 1t is at least admit
ted that the secret meetings were
held to iron the dirty linen, and it is
said that Cappellini is going to prefer
charges against Brennan and others
for disloyalty to the organization.
Lewis Blames Radicals.
Aside from these charges, it is said
that the commission sent here by
Lewis seeks to place the blame on the
progressive international committee
for the recent strikes, as well as for
the apparent mistrust that is begin
ming to manifest itself in this dis
trict. Without using names, this in
ference was made by its chairman,
Neal J. Ferry, the international board
member of district seven, anthracite
region, in his first interview with the
newspapermen on his arrival here,
saying that it was known to them
that an agent Of this group was in the
region and had been for some time.
This belief is confirmed by mem
bers Of the strikers committee, who
say that the charge is repeatedly
made to them that the strike is the
work Of the so-called "progressives."
While interviewing a prominent men,
Der Of the grievance committee this
morning, he was called aside and told
that he was being watched talking to
me, but he said that altho it is the
first time he has ever met me that hc
is over the age Of twenty-one and win
talk to me as long as he wants to,
providing ! am agreeable.
The Ultimate Aims.
The pity in this situation, as in
most others, is that the men affected
see only their immediate aims, but
the task Of teaching them that It is
only one OF many incidents IN the
class struggle and that the settlement
Of their immediate aims will only
effect temporary lull, to be followed
by more bitter struggle, will be
made easier in the degree to which
we succeed in winning their con-
fidence. 1t was easy to observe from
the facial expressions Of some Of
those have met that they had drawn
some terrible mental picture Of rad
icals, as result OF the things that
were said by Lewis in the Scranton
and Indianapolis conventions. This
wall Of fear, however, will soon be
broken down and when It Is, the days
OF Lewisism and The accompanying
treachery will 80 for ever.
= - - - 49, - m wm~w =