The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-01-31

Lnc IMPRESSION LIldJ ne was at u ldDOI
gathering, and not attending meet
ing of some chamber of commerce.
Van Bittner continued reading his
report without experiencing any con-
siderable trouble until he ran up
against article nine, section five,
which provides that. Gle (the In
ternational President) may appoint
such organizers, field and office work
ers as may be necessary to conduct
the affairs Of the International
Union"
There were several resolutions on
this matter all advocating the cleo
ton by referendum vote of all or
ganizers and field workers. Some of
the resolutions were rather loosely
drawn up and contained charges that
hundreds" of organizers were vast
ing their time in organized fields
while there were none in non-union
territory. When Van Bittner was
requested to read the resolutions on
the mater and give an explanation
for his recommendation to non-con-
cur, he picked out the most loosely
drawn and vulnerable and gave as
a reason for the adverse recommen-
dation that the resolutions were
brought up by "detractors Of the ad-
ministration" This statement was
stupid and Van Bittner was jeered at
and booed from all over the large
hall.
Popping Ticklish Question
Delegate Jimmy Cakes, an old min
err and former organizer, asked Van
Bittner if he thought it was right for
man who had six sons, not mbnbers
of the union, but had taken bust
ness course, that their father, pro-
vided he was district secretary,
should have the power to appoint
them to Office in the union. Van
Bittner thought it Would be a sorry
state of affairs when a father could
not put his own sons on the payroll.
Many officials looked quite in
dignant at this question and ex-
pressed themselves as being of the
opinion that the soul Of a man who
could put such a question, would
make an electron look like a noun
tain in comparison.
Delegate Oates was showered with
official indignation but it fell off his
shoulders like coal dust. He walked
back and forth in front Of the plat
/ form while shouts of "sit down" came
from the payrollers and he continued
to hurl pertinent questions at the
officials on the platform. He had
Van Bittner non-plussed.
What Oates had on his chest was
this: William Feeney, secretary of
District a, employed his son as book
keeper tho the boy was not a men,
Der of the union. He received as
salary $4,000 a month. The SEN
sitive souls Of the payroll brigade
were deeply wounded over this de-
Election of Delegate Oates who
cashed his last official check on or
about January 10, when he was dis
charged as organizer.
John L. Lewis declared that
more foul insult could not be leveled
against a union man than to cast
aspersions on him for employing his
own son.
John c. Leary, International Board
member in Feeney's district, took
the platform and defended the APP
pointment Of Feeney's son declar-
ing that he was good boy and the
international auditors would testify
that he was good bookkeeper. The
auditors, like good fellows, arose
and did the right thing. The officials
were putting up a united front but
the rank and file kept hammering
away vigorously.
capellini Gets Floor Again
Now, there arose in the convention
man who is getting to be known as
renegade" Rinaldo Capellini, presi-
dent of District /, who delivered a
TRADE against the reds during the
Nova Scotia debate and by the way
made an ass of himself.
Capellini tried to do the administra-
ton a favor by attempting to rattle
Jimmy Oates. "How long have you
been on the payroll" he asked Oates.
Oates was so long on the payroll that
he forget how many half centuries
it was since he started in, so he grew
quite angry and told Capellini that
he would not stand any nonsense
from an upstart like him. "Capellini,
1 CdpcAnAlg nS AhutbSAS0 AZ 0AoB eoss
When the tumult and the shouting
ceased, Capellini had taken his seat
with very detected look.
William Feeney, secretary Of Dis
trict 4, came to the platform in his
own defense. He asserted that he
was the father Of two children of
whom he was proud. 81 have made
a bookkeeper out of one of them and
will If I can out Of the others. I
have not made bootleggers out of
them and that is moro than Delegate
Oates can say for his" Feeney said.
This rally did not have the slightest
effect on Delegates Oates. Those
who expected to see him covered
with confusion we're disappointed.
"What the blazes could they do" he
piped up when they were refused
work, but bootleg. II was the only
available occupation open to them"
! Delegate Fred Mooney of District II.