The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-03-28
MACHINE men
IN PLENTY AT
BIC CONVENTION
Payroll Brigade Rule
Pittsburgh Meet

Increasing the dues, the present as
sessment of one-half Of 1 per cent
to ! per cent, and an additional
assessment of $1.00 per year for .
building fund, are things intended
in this convention, by the machine
in charge of affairs in District No.
5. The machine has grown so large
that the present revenue, which is
already a drain on the miners Of
the district, is far from sufficient to
meet its exorbitant needs. The f.
nancial report submitted to the con-
vention and accepted by those who
spent it, is so glaringiy extrava-
giant, that, were it not for the slush
funds received from the Interna-
tional Union, the report, instead Of
showing small balance, would be
showing deficiency Of about
$4,000.
Fat Boys Violate Constitution.
The men who are here represent
ing the rank and file, and who are
sufficient to represent majority of
the membership of the district, are
protesting in vain against the over
whelming number of pay-rollers and
their henchmen, who are represent
ing no one except the machine.
These men are fanked by interna-
tional organizers from many other
districts, all of whom are voting.
To overcome these obstacles, the
delegates are planning to have the
rank and file leave the picks for a
sufficient length of time to change
things in the convention.
They plan to have the miners
come into Pittsburgh from their re-
spective camps" and sit in the con-
vention, taking as much play m
the affairs of the convention as the
pay-rollers are doing, even to the
extent Of voting. The claw and
Constitution" are being dome up
brown" by the machine, wherein it
applies to the progressive delegates,
but their interpretations Of same
are different when application is
asked for the Fat Boys.
Each session produces a bitter
battle and every issue is being rail-
roaded, while the delegates who are
not clear on the issues are becom-
ing so Disguised that they threaten
all kinds of things, even to the ex-
tent of going home to advocate the
keeping of the tax and assessments
at home. What will develop as the
battle wakes warmer is more than
can be forecast now, but whatever
does, will furnish no surprise.
Spend Money Recklessly.
The machine succeeded in seating
its organizers in the battle that
came with the credentials commit
tee report, and the next big event
will be the report of the constitu-
ton committee. Van A. Bittner,
who once presided over this dis
trict, but who was forced to resign
in 1916, will be chairman Of this
committee and to the wise, this is
sufficient. This "chief representa-
tive" of the international Union is
considered so valuable to the ma
chine, that when he was forced to
resign as president Of the Pitts
burgh district, he was given a job
by the then international president,
John P. White, and for his services
he is paid $1,000 a year more than
the ordinary organizers. He has
evidently served well, for he has
been retained ever since and is do
ing his stunts regularly.
1t is under the report of Bittners
committee that the question of in
creased dues and assessments will
be considered, so unless the rank
and file can be gotten into Pitts
burgh to prevent it, the miners will
find that they will be taxed so heav-
lily that it will be more of burden
than they can stand. The chances
are that much trouble will accrue
as result Of the vicious legislation
being attempted and passed here, at
least it. is promised and if It ma
terializes, the machine will find that
they have bitten more than sthey
can chew.
Rank and File Awakening.
The shutting down Of mines, the
slow work of those supposed to be
running and the already bad condi-
tons that prevail, and which were
refused airing" at the sessions yes
terday, will all tend to help the
miners come to realization of their
helpless plight and will force the
necessary courage to rid themselves
NJ the Y,,iaIaa darehf,, tha.v ,,o,,, L..,>