The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-09-23
CARPENTERS IN
CONVENTION AT
INDIANAPOLIS
AmalgGmatiOn Urgent
Need of Union


INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 22.-
The tWenty-first convention of
the United Brotherhood of Car
pentsrs and Joiners of America
opened here today with Presi-
dent William L. Hutchinson
presiding.
John L. Lewis, notorious re-
dictionary. president of the
United Mine Workers of Amer
lea, made an address at the
morning session to the over 500
delegates who are assembled.
Jurisdiction Problem Up.
Among the many problems before
the convention is jurisdictional dis
putes. These disputes in the build
ing trades have left long and ruin
GUS trail Of Reorganization and demon.
alizat!on that will compel intelligent
discussion in the convention.
The carpenters have been the center
Of many Of these disputes, and so far
the only remedy offered is to leave
it to the joint board Of jurisdictional
awards or else for the unions to en-
ter life and death struggle.
Mother of these remedies lessen,
let alone solve, the problem The
board OF awards is a class collabora-
tionalist plan controlled by the bosses
and only aggravates the situation. In
tho ecrar I,ofrroo,, a. oo~,,o,,4o,. -
the sheet metal workers over the set
ting OF hollow trim, etc, this board
decided against the carpenters who
then refused to accept the award
Hutchenson'e refusal to accept this de-
cision was not, of course, because he
is against class collaboration, but
merely because the decision would
mean less members paying dues to
the carpenters.
X. c. Fight An Example.
The militants in the union also
point out that the other method is
suicidal and brings decentralization, the
destruction Of one Of the combatants
and the weakening of the other. That
10 CAdNtAe WHAT NAlt A4HAOg q , " ant "
see. The fight now going on in Kan
sas City, Mo, between these two or
CARNATIONS is an example of the stu
pidity Of settling disputes by this
method. The whole of the Kansas
s7sts. nEsSaeat. is .alEEaysa -ass.nst the
carpenters and if it is allowed to con-
tinue it can bring only destruction.
With the Capitalization of the build
ing industry, and the great changes
made in construction thru modern
and improved methods, the craft I'M
ions are continually coming into con-
fiict with one another, involving them
in struggles amongst themselves in
stead of against the bosses. With the
present state of development the craft
form of organization stands in the
way of the advancement of the work
ers. Their interests lie only in the
solidifcation of the ranks.
Jurisdictional disputes are quarrels
over per capita tax and the officials
who hold that it means more work for
the present members of the union are
merely spreading the buncombe. n
the carpenters union finally won the
right to the hanging of hollow metal
work, it would Just mean that those
who do this work would have to join
the carpenters union. 1t is a fight be.
tween officials for power and is detri
mental to the interests of the rank and
file. It strengthens only the employ
ers' associations.
AmaIgamation Only Solution.
The left wing is prepared to carry
on fight on the convention floor for
the only logical solution of the prob
lem, the amalgamation of the craft
unions into industrial organizations.
Jurisdictional disputes, it is indicated,
can never be wiped out until there is
a complete amalgamation of all work.
ers on a departmental basis, for the
simple reason that these disputes are
a disease arising from craft unionism.