The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-02-09
SECOND SECTION

the Nova Scotia miners with having
accepted wage reductions, while he
brought into the pockets of Che an
thracite miners the large sum of
$44,OOO,000 year in wage increases.
That the Nova Scotia miners
looked beyond wage increases to the
ultimate emancipation of the en-
tire workingclass, where the pro-
dueers could determine their own
wages, while struggling for improved
conditions in the meantime. was lost
sight of in face of the fact that
they receive less wages now than
the miners of America under the
leadership Of John L. Lewis.
The delegates were in theological
accord with Mr.. Lewis. They were
not concerned with their emancipa-
ton from wage slavery; they only
thought of selling their labor power
for the highest possible price.
The point Lewis stressed most in
dealing with the violation Of the
agreement between the British En-
pire Coal Company and the District
26, was that a violation of an
agreement between the coal ope-
raters and any section of the union
weakens the confidence Of the coal
operators in the integrity Of the
union, thus rendering the making of
contracts more difficult and the pc
RODS Of unemployment thru strikes
more frequent.
In the fight against Howat Lewis
did not over stress the fight against
tho Industrial Count 4 k,.k 1.sI
heavy emphasis on the lack Of
friendly relations between the coal
perators and deposed Kansas Of
ficials for which he blamed the
miners leaders.
So far as Lewis is concerned, the
miners union is a business. of which
ne is manager. His commodity is
the labor power Of the members.
Any department head who antagon-
yes the buyers of that commodity
commits crime that merits the Sc
verest punishment. The managers
OBJ is to keen the miners satisfied
so that they will give maximum serv-
&c to the buyer.
The Artillery Preparation
Z The coal diggers are not afraid
II radicalism as such, therefore the
Did leaders picture to them broken
and demoralized union with reduced
! wages the result if ever the radicals
| gain control. The first two days of
| he convention were practically con-
sumed in psychologizing the delegates
against tine radicals, and the radical
leaders who took the floor to stem
this torrent of red phobia somehow
got confused in the minds of the
less mentally alert with the destruc-
we DOGGY man, which was manu-
factured by Mr.. Lewis. Immedi-
ate.y. after he laid down the psyche
'ogical barrage he sent forward his
shock troops with the most dan
gerous resolutions and passed them
safely thru the enemy lines while
he latter were still groggy from the
| effects of the poison gas.
Being successful in his first brush
With the progressive foe, Mr.. LOWS
oozed confidence, which resulted in
Giving him the support of the neu-
raj mass, which always belongs to
| the strongest.
His Vulnerable Point
John IL. Lewis stands brazenly
on a platform, the only plank in
which is the alleged ability to sell
the miners labor power to the coal
operators at the best possible price.
But he has no solution Of the prob
lens that confront the miners in
the introduction of new machinery in
the mines, which is increasing the
production of coal per man to an
unprecedented degree, thus throwing
hundreds of thousands Of miners out
of work.
That is the big problem for the
miners, the problem of unemploy-
ment.
Here the radicals hammer with eff
fectiveness. They have a program.
They come forward with the imme-
date demand of six hour day and
the naturalization Of the mines.
While Lewis claims there are over
100000 men too many in the coal in
dustry, the radicals say mo, there
are too many coal miners oitside