The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-04-15
HOLDING MERGER
CONVENTION OF
z SHOE UNIONS
Result of Negotiations
Covering Year
Especial 70 The Daily Worker

BOSTON, Mass, April Ia The
convention Of the Shoe Workers Pro-
tective Union and the United Shoe
Workers Union to frame a constitu-
ton satisfactory to both organiza-
tions, has opened here.
After negotiations covering almost
a year, both organizations were ready
to go into convention, the United
Shoe Worker referendum being over
whelmingly in favor of entering a
convention to frame a constitution.
Seventy-seven delegates gathered in
the Building of the Shoe Protective
Union, about thirty from the United,
and the remainder from the Protec.
tive.
Amaleamatlon Nearing.
No delegates were present from
any other shoe organization; the hope
Of some that at this convention there
would be delegates from many other
independent shoe unions proving un-
warranted.
If both organizations agree on a
constitution, it will mean the union,
according to Secretary Treasurer
Ryan of the Protective of 10000 mem
hers in the Protective, and $500 in
the United, making a total Of $4,000.
Already the Protective is the larg.
est in membership of the independent
shoe unions, and with the increase
comes closer to the Boot and Shoe
Workers figure, from $4,000 to 49,
900.
The first day, outside of welcoming
speeches, was given over to the cleo.
ton of committees on rules and con.
stitution. Walter Rice of the S. W.
P. u, Of Marblehead, was elected
permanent chairman; and John Haley
Salem, Mass, United Shoe Workers
vice-president. On the Constitutional
Committee are Frank Buxton, Frank
Ryan and George Culbert Of Haver,
hill; John Oldham, Rochester, N. Y;
P. Turner and H. Pulmeyer of St
Louis, Mo-; Joseph P. O'Rourke OF
East Boston; Michael Meaghan, Sa.
lem, Mass. Speeches were made by
Austin e. Gill, General Agent, and
William J. Ryan, Sec. Treas, Of the
S. w. P. u; and Thomas Lynch, Sec.
Treas, and John Oldham, Organizer
OF the United. All expressed satisfac.
ton over the step to be taken, and
stated that this merger meant the
hope Of organizing the unorganized
shoeworkers of the country. In a
special interview granted to the rep
resentative of the DAILY WORKER
Ryan hailed the convention as the
first step in amalgamating all the
shoeworkers. He gave no further
details, but the method Of amalga
mating the organizations will be the
same as in this convention. He said
that the present merger would not
bring about any astonishing changes
because the industry was entering a
dull period.
Few Months Needed.
The next few months would be
spent getting the new organization to
function. The successful completion
OF the merger would put heart into
shoe centers that have suffered from
the manufacturers offensive Rochest
ter in particular. The most import
ant change brought about at this con
vention would be the establishment
Of the organization on national ba
sis. Cat present, the Shoe Workers
Protective Union is an organization
administered by the Shoe Council
composed Of delegates from the Ha,
verhill locals, and other locals in the
state Of Massachusetts,. Otherwise
according to Ryan, the convention
would mark no new departure in pol
icy. The drawn up constitution will
go out to the rank and file on a ref
ferendum and be ratified before 60
ing into effect.
There is much questioning about
the planned Amalgamation Conven
ton before May LIST, which was to
convene on the call of independent
shoe unions, according to the resolu
ton unanimously adopted at the
March 2Srd rank and file conference
in Lynn, detailed account Of which
is given in the first issue (April) Of
the Progressive Shoe and Leather
Worker.
The Haverhill rank and file dele
gates voted unanimously for the anal
gamation convention, with the excep
ton Of Local 9. which withdrew its
delegates before the March 9Th meet
ing. The general officials at the pres
ent convention in Haverhill, the "con
stitutional convention" as II is called
by Haverhiil newspaper, will un
doubleday oppose any attempt to have
their organization participate in the
planned May Convention.
The passing OF the resolution IL
only the first step in fight to brins
about the amalgamation convention
with all independent shoe unions rep
resented. The militants in all the
shoe centers are pinning their hopes
on the Progressive Shoe and Leather
Worker as the unifying force in THIS