The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-01-30
LEWIS Grip
ON union IS
WEAKENING
MIlltantS Win In Hard Fought
Battle At Indianapolis
By JOHN FITZGERALD
al Correspondent Of The Daily worker)

/ BY JOHN FITZGERALD
(StaR Correspondent Of The Daily worker)
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.-John
L. Lewis and his machine re-
ceived a crushing defeat when,
after a stormy session, the con-
vention voted down the report
of the constitution committee
headed by Van Bitner.
The constitution committee
report recommended non-con-
currence in resolution lis,
from PursgIove, w. Va, call
ing for the election by referendum
vote of all organizers and field work
ers. The resolution specified that
these officials should be prorated ac-
cording to the numerical strength of
the nationalities composing the MEM
bership of the union.
| Machine Beat by 80 Votes.
| After John Hindmarsh, of River
ton, Ill, had delivered telling
| speech against the report Of the
committee, James Watt, of Spring
field, one Of the progressive leaders
in the convention, took the platform
q and, ansid enSouraging cheers. moved
the previous question. The previous
question carried by large majority
and the vote on the committee re-
| port was then taken. The count
was 730 in favor and 760 against.
| The administration then staged
demonstration for a roll call and
many of the progressives voted in
favor of it declaring that the great
| majority of the local unions had
pledged their delegates to work and
/ fight against the appointive power
clause in the constitution. They pre-
dicted that the amendment provid-
ing for the election of international
organizers would carry by heavy
majority.
Whole Day for Roll Call
The roll call may take one whole
day or even longer. If IL ends in a
defeat of the administration it is the
opinion of both administration and
progressive delegates that the power
Of John L. Lewis in the United Mine
Workers is broken.
III Wlio humOr8
II Shortly after Chairman Van Bitner
Of the constitution committee began
to read the report, Delegate Savage,
secretary Of the Ohio district, moved
that the convention go into executive
session allowing only press cor
respondents to remain. The reason
given was that divers persons of
red proclivities, not delegates.
were voting. Rumors were spread
that 800 "reds" had been imported
from Pittsburgh the previous even.
ing.
i The motion carried and all visit
ors were ordered to leave the hall
exception being made in favor Of
wives Of delegates.
Capeliim Unpopular.
Rinaldo Cappellini, president of
the anthracite district, until his cleo
ton an enemy of the Lewis machine,
does not appear to be very popular
at this convention. He was howled
down when he tried to put Delegate
Oates Of Pittsburgh in corner.
Oates expressed in no uncertain
terms his disgust with the attempt
Va OnPPcAiHt 70 COmt 70 the rescue
Of the hard pressed administration.
Delegate Prentiss, colored, an ap-
pointee, upheld the appointive power
clause, declaring that colored men
would be Disseminated against in the
election Of organizers.
An outstanding Characteristic Of
this convention Is the superb loyalty
Of the appointed organizers to the
Lewis machine. As Delegate Hind
marsh pointed out, they support the
administration on every issue. big
Lewis iseuawks.
After the previous question had
been carried Lewis tried TO state
that he had been given no oppor-
tunity to state his views but the
delegates did not want any more ora
tory.
Duncan Mcdonald spoke here
Monday night to an audience Of
three or four hundred delegates and
replied TO attacks made on him by
the convention. His speech was
witty and instructive and he was
loudly applaudsd
Alex Hswat was an interested
member Of the audience.