The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-10-21
(Continued from page y

pau LOT Ju6 miners OIL lllluOlS T al
rington had agreed with the operators
on substantial reduction in wages
but it would wreck the strike thru
out the country.
At that John L. Lewis charged Far
rington with strikebreaking and ac-
cepting money from the operators. Is
is surprising that the coal diggers
would come to the conclusion that
their president is on the payroll of the
operators, considering his actions?
The operators were highly appreci-
alive of his efforts in their behalf dur
ing the 1922 strike Harrington never
has any trouble with the coal barons.
His chief cause of worry is the pro
gressive element in the union. On
them he vents his wrath.
Opposed Special Convention.
In March 1917, ballots were sent
out from the Secretary reasurer's
Office, calling for special conven-
ton to consider the Northern Illinois
machine agreement. This agreement
aroused much opposition among the
miners and resulted in several local
strikes, the men refusing to operate
the machines.
President Harrington walked into
the board room Of the district offices.
in Springfield and inquired if it was
true that ballots calling for spe-
cial convention were sent out. He
was answered in the affirmative. He
then made the following remark: "If
every God damn son of a
in the organization votes for a spe-
cial convention there is not going to
be. any called. If these God damn
hastards are trying to break up the
organization, I'll break it up for them
myself"
There were present when this state
ment was made: John L. Lewis,
Springfield; James Pitman, Carrier
Mills, James Box, Virden; G. ]. Prick,
Marion and c. S. Stohlberg, Spring
field.
Contempt for Membership
This statement reveals the mental
attitude of Gear" Harrington toward
the rank and file. He has the most
utter contempt for the masses and
while this contempt is shared by the
oficialdom of the United Mine Work
ers of America, outside of the pro-
gressives, harrington is less success
full in camoufaging his attitude than
the rest.
Let the miners pay the dues that
cover Farrington's salary and keep
their mouths shut, is his guiding
thot.
The miners who worked the So
called long wall mines of Northern
Illinois were tricked into the agree
ment by harrington, but when they
learned what had been imposed on
them they revolted. But Harrington
had them tied up in knot and sold
according to the constitution. When
they revolted, he took down the rules
and brutally informed them that he
would force them to work under the
agreement or fill their places with
scabs.
This is where constitutions come in
handy to the labor takers. Harrington
did not bother about violating the
constitution when he traded the min.
ers' votes to Frank L. Smith, the
republican party candidate for gov
ernor. But the sacred agreement
with the boss must be kept for the
sake of Farrington's bank account
and his future prospects. The coal
operators like to deal with man who
can force the miners to take whatever
they feel like giving them. It pays
them to have man like that as pres
ident of the Miners Union. But
he must be able to deliver the goods,
so harrington did not let the grass
grow under his feet in placing the iron
heel on the miners who refused to
work under the machine agreement.
harrington Speaks
Instead of hurting epithets at Far
rington, we have followed the policy
in these articles of letting the big
labor faker speak for himself. We
have placed the versatile agent OF
the coal barons on the stand and al
lowed him the privilege of reading his
own indictment The following letter
to Mr.. Peter Grubich, Secretary L. u.
$40, LaSalle, Illinois, is as brazen
piece Of work in behalf of the coal
operators as we dare say, the Oldest
member Of the Illinois miners union
can recollect. The threat to cruelty
the men who had struck, on the cross
OF gold, furnished by the coal barons
Of Illinois was bad enough But Far.
rington was not satisfied with that. He
also decided to smash their fellow
workers who assessed themselves to
keep the bread in the mouths of their
comrades wives and children while
they were standing up for their rights
against the operators.
The Tell-Tale Letter.
The letter follows:
"Springfield. ILL.,, Feb IA. 1917