The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-04-25
SUB-D|STRICT
A IS MEETING
AUBURN NOW
Unemployment Burning
Issue at Meet
BY THOMAS MYERScoUCH,
Secretary, Progressive Miners

BY THOMAS MYERSCOUGH,
Secretary, Progressive Miners
Committee.
AUBURN, ILL.,, April o.
Meeting in the coal diggers hall,
the miners of Subdistrict No. a,
better known as the Springfield
Subdistrict of the Illinois Mine
Workers, are in convention
here.
No sooner was the gathering
called to order by President
Freeman Thompson, than he
proceeded to read his report. AS
copies of the report were being
distributed by the messengers,
the president humorously drew
! attention to the fact that the re-
/ port was inside a red cover.
The report was lengthy, covering
the many different phases of the min
ing industry.
John L. Lewis, president of the
United Mine Workers, was quoted as
saying, on one of his frequent visits
to Washington, d. c., that coal legis-
lation was not expected at this SEES
sion of Congress, and that he could
see no necessity for any, as the public
was well supplied with coal"
Perhaps it was because oil has SUI
perseded coal as national issue>t that
Lewis was prompted to make that
statement
] President Thompson recommended
that the constitution be amended to
provide for the retention of eligibility
by members to their rights in the sub
district when they are forced by I'M
employment to seek work elsewhere.
Much space is given in the report tc
the question Of the foreign born work
er and the Coolidge message to Con
gress.
Call for Labor Party.
Pointing out the inability of the
present system to cope with the needs
Of the world, and to it's constant re-
fusal to do anything of a remedial
character at home, Thompson de-
mands that something be done to
bring about amalgamation. He very
forcibly declared that I'VE must have
one union in each industry, and one
alliance of all such unions the world
lover" AS a means to that end, he
made strong plea for the active par
ticipation of all labor organizations
in the formation of real live Labor
Party.
The reports of Vice President Tom
Perry and Secretary ]. ]. Watt, both
working class documents which
touched on the urgent needs of the
miners, including those unemployed,
were also read. Both mentioned the
Howat case and the Lewis "stabiliza-
tion agreement" The miners here in
Illinois think the latter should have
meant sterilization" for if the mines
continue to shut down there won't be
any work to be found in these parts.
Vicious Docking" Discussed.
The report of the committee on Off
GERS report was sailing gracefully
along in the afternoon session until it
came to that part covering the penal
ization of miners by docking" from
the pay envelopes of the miners fines
for loading dirty coal. 1t was charged
that the contract was violated by both
miners and operators representatives
but in the settlement reached only the
miners were "gypped." They were
forced to refund money, while the op-
orators were "let out" by paying com.
pensation for illegal suspension.
During this discussion, Watt, secre-
tary of Sub-distrct 4, read much cor
respondence between President Far
rington and himself. He charged Dis
trict Board Member "Joker" Young
with the responsibility for many un-
favorable decisions, declaring that
Young was present to defend himself
After Watt concluded, he moved that
Young, who is not a delegate, be given
the floor. He made a pitiable speech
in his own defense, admitting that he
had done wrong, but used the words
technically wrong" for a defense of
his decisions. Joker" in answer to
questions, admitted to similar and
more recent decisions, all of which
prove that he is well nicknamed.
Continued on Page Two.)