The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-01-31

JranSaCC, ne IOuuQ a ullLeTeuC
of diverting attention from real
to imaginary issues from Sam
my Gompers. But while Com
pers gets away with it at A. F.
of L. conventions where rank
and file delegate is almost as
scarce as virtue in a bawdy
house, in this convention there
is different atmosphere. Most
of the delegates are workers.
True, there is a powerful and
loyal pay roll brigade here.
From the highest to the lowest
they stand like Spartans with the adj
ministration. No charge of ingrati-
tude or Of "biting the hand that
feeds them" can be leveled against
them. But the boys who are more
acquainted with the physical prop
critics of a pick, than with the hotel
Hobbies where many of these or
eanizers are alleged to spend their
DAYS organizing the coal diggers, are
not always fooled by the tactics Of
the administration. So long as
Lewis dealt with issues that only the
more class conscious and politically
minded of the delegates could see the
value Of, he was safe and his red
fireworks were useful. But when
the convention got to where the vital
every day interests of the coal dig
gers were involved, Mr.. Lewis dis
covered that red herrings could no
longer avail.
Feels Place Full of "Reds"
Before Van Bittner began reading
the report Of the committee Of Con-
stitution this morning, delegates from
Ohio were spreading the report that
there were hundreds of men in the
convention hall who we're not dele
gates, but were taking part in the de-
liberations and voting. One Ohio
man was heard to say, eve must
clean up this convention before we
leave. If we cannot do Z any other
way, we must use force" CUES
toned what the trouble was, he re-
piled, that the place was full OF
'reds and that on the previous night
$500 more were shipped from Pitts
burgh. At this rate, unless trans
portation broke down owing to such
heavy demands on rolling stock il
would only take little time until the
''reds" had things entirely their own
way.
That the Ohio lad was not talking
thru his hat was proved when Dele
gate Savage, secretary of that District
made a savage attack on those who
'awere abusing their privileges as
guests" and voting. His motion to
20 into closed session was carried
When the visitors were ordered to
leave the hundreds Of fallen enemies
dwindled down to three guests who
picked up their hats and walked.
The nonsense was for the purpose
of influencing the delegates against
the progressives and helping tc
create the impression that the pro
gressive strength was augmented by
foreign armies from Pittsburgh anC
other enemy territory.
This farce being over Van Bittnel
commenced reading his report. Mr.
Bittner is one of the most faithful
employees Of the International presi-
dent and is used to do jobs that most
of the hardened payrollers refuse tc
do. The preamble to the constitution
which reads as follows was adopted
without change:
"There IS no truth more obviou:
than that without coal there could
not have been such marvellous socia
and industrial progress as marks
present day civilization.
Believing that those whose lot il
is to toll within the earth's recesses
surrounded by peculiar dangers anc
deprived Of sunlight and pure air
producing the commodity which
makes possible the worlds progress
are entitled to protection and the full
social value Of their product, we have
formed "The United Mine Workers
of America" for the purpose Of
establishing by lawful means, the
principles embraced in the body OF
this constitution"
The miners hear very little Of the
"full social value Of their product
at this convention from those who
are now leading it. Not a syllable
has fallen from the lips OF any one
Of the leading officials Of this conven'