The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-04-01
REDS ARE ISSUE
AT PITTSBURGH
COAL CONVENTION
Leaders, Under Fire,
Call Names at Radicals
lsDseI.I o NJ. D.IIy worL.rl

PITTSBURGH, Pa. March 81. -
Encouraged by their excess num-
oers, the Lewis machine, made dis
graceful the scenes Of the conven
ton of District No. 5, United Mine
Workers Of America, at today's ses-
sion here. Lies, insults and every
dirty trick in their category was
unloaded by Van Bittner, Billy
Feeney and National Board Member
O'Leary in their attempt to belittle
the efforts of the progressives to ex-
pose them for what they are.
The convention has never had its
equal in the opinion of old-timers
and there have been "some hot
ones" Workers Party Organizer
Fred H. Merrick came in for his
share of attack this morning, being
charged with much Of the RESPONSE
bility for the chaotic state Of affairs
in the Pittsburgh district. j. A.
Hamilton was again riddled and
charged with being a renegade
school teacher" willis Tom Myers
cough, William Cutler and Thomas
Ray got more than their share.
lmpeacnlng OlncIalS.
These attacks came as result
Of impeachment resolutions present.
ed by the Progressives against all
the principal officers Of District 5.
Pagan was tied to one of his In
dianapolis lies, when, in answer to
a question as to whether he had
stated in the National convention
that the only one telephone at Hills
Station, Pa, was in the Coal Co.
office. Pagan answered that he had
said so. Hills Station is the former
home Of Thomas Myerscough, secre-
tary of the Progressive international
Committee, and the statement con-
corning the zone phone" was made
to give the impression that Myers
cough used the Coal Co. telephone.
When Pagan admitted making the
statement, Delegate Cutler pro-
duced two telephone directories,
showing that the Hills Station Co
operation Association had its own
telephone, and stated that Myers
cough used that phone always.
Myerscough was the President of
that Association and It was a sue
cessful one until the Coal Co. Off
cials Of District joined forces to
get rid Of him.
O'Leary also recounted the visit
of Myerscough to the Coke Region
to volunteer his services in the
strike but stated that same was re-
fused because they did not trust
him.
Radical Didn't Fear Gunner.
Neither cid they say that after
ten bitter weeks in that camp. Lin
coin Hill, which eliminated when an
injunction was issued, Myerscough
was asked by Board Member
Hughes To go to Hills Station be-
cause the Pittsburgh Coal Co, had
imported an army of gunmen, who
with the State Police and State
Militia were playing havoc with the
men and women there. Myers
cough accepted the orders to 90
there when the officers Of the local
union made point blank refusal
to do anything and Myerscough
came out of that situation with fy-
ing colors.
In his many battles with the re-
dictionary forces in the Pittsburgh
district, Myerscough has flung his
record in their faces.
Must Face Rank and File.
Knowing that they have the num-
bers in this convention, they are at
lacking everyone they can think Of,
but they are going to have hard
time explaining things to the rank
and file. They can have a little fun
by poking jibes and insults at the
progressives at the convention. b,it
they have to collect their sustenance
from the men who work at the
union mines and not from those
who work in the scab mines Ia
which many Of the locals that the
pay-rollers are representing are at
tached. Feeney wenS down as low
as tne vermin, of which tribe he is
part, 70 md names for Jimmy
OAIeS.