The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-11-15

business between the dlStflcJ OmclalS
and the local, the district officials
always settled the matter over the
telephone.
Don't Like Progressive Candidates.
B This year, when Local 1924 nomi-
mated list of progressive candidates
for the district offices, the officials
were over anxious to get something
on the candidates or on the local so
that either or both could be penalized
and the progressive opposition out
lawed by decree-their decree.
The mine has not been worked for
over a year, and last January trav-
cling auditor examined the locals
books and gave them clean bill. On
October "a the books were audited
again while the pit was still shut
down. The charges against the local
fled by Organizer Dobbins were dated
Nov. 3. Thus the frameup arrange.
ment is seen.
A Shopping Committee.
Several board members and organic
ers descended upon Canonsburg and
buttonholed all the members they
could get hold of. trying to get them
to say that the local meeting, at which
the progressive candidates were nomi-
mated, was not held at all-that the
nominations were made at some al
legged 'illegalg meeting without the
knowledge of the membership.
Almost everyone, fortunately, was
either at the meeting or knew It was
held in regular form. But the officials
evidently had been working with one
of their own kind in the local, and
this fellow, the financial secretary,
stated that he was not at the meet
ing and knew nothing of a meeting.
This character furnished the officials
an excuse upon which to base charges,
recited in them to be based upon sin
formation received"
official Stool Pigeon a Liar.
On Monday President Gresko and
Secretary Toohey accompanied by
about half the membership Of Local
1924, went to Pittsburgh for trial
in the district office. These members
came to testify that the meeting at
which nominations were made had
been attended by them and had been
regularly called. Toohey had posted
notices five days before the meeting
ond xx,;+oaecoc xr,o~o ~ Iood e. $500
that the financial secretary had been
notified, and that in addition one no.
tice had been posted on the telephone
pole in front of this informer's house.
There were in the trial" room;
seven board members, Pagan. Harget
and Patton, president, secretary and
vice-president, and several organizers
and auditors. When they saw the
cloud of witnesses, they evidently de.
cided not to ask much about the al
legged "illegal' meeting, but questioned
Toohey for two hours about his mem.
bership, when he paid his dues, when
he last. worked. etc.
Financial sec'y. Laid Frame-Up.
Toohey showed receipts that during
the four months he worked in the
summer, he paid his dues. Pagan
looked at the report of the auditor,
which stated that the local financial
secretary had paid no tax to the dis.
trict during the year, yet had applied
for exoneration for the whole local
while there were quite a few members
paying dues which he did not enter
in the records OF the local.
These members all have receipts for
their dues paid to the financial secre.
tary. But Pagan hauled out the con.
stitution and began like lawyer to
argue that the members Of locals are
responsible for anything which may
befall their local, as though the mem
bers were to blame for the frameup
the reactionaries' man, the financial
secretary, had put over on the miners.
Like Duncan Macdonald Case.
This case is a parallel to that of
Duncan Macdonald OF the illinois dis.
trict, and the fact that Phil Murray
was present indicates that there is q
drive on to repress every sign of op-
position by the progressive miners
against the Lewis machine and the re.
dictionary district officials.
II Is clear that this persecution is to
keep two candidates OF the progress.
Continued on next pase.)