The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-09-19
.OCONNELL HITS
I. HIS PIPE and
Il STRIKES FADE
Nothing to Do But Draw
His Salary
Especial to The Daily worker)

DE XVI 8 MlCnsy sept 10
Mr.. James O'Connell, former
president of the international
Association of Machinists, and
now president of the Metal
Trades Department of the
American Federation of Labor,
amused the machinists' con-
vention here by telling the dele
gates about his present occupa-
ton.
He stated: 81 am now prac-
tically a pensioner. / go to con-
ventions like this, make a talk
that the men like. Then l go
home, smoke my pipe and draw
my salary"
Delegates Oppose LaFollette.
After this introduction of himself,
he went into the political situation to
prepare the ground for the endorse
ment of LaFollette by stating that by
polling large vote for him in this
campaign, it would scare the powers
to be, even tho he didn't believe La.
Toilette would be elected and it might
not be possible to throw the election
into the house of representatives
''The days of strikes are over. La.
Dor organizations are becoming great
financial institutions and corporations
Labor leaders who lead strikes have
passed and today they must be men
who understand finance and banking
After this voice from the grave had
been heard the resolution on endorse.
ment of LaFollette and Wheeler sub.
mitted by the General Executive
Board was adopted by the convention
but it was far from being unanimous
Probably not less than 30 delegates
voted against the resolution.
Emme Replies to o'conneI.
Delegate Emme, from st. Paul, in
his argument against the resolution
stated: Il recognize that what l have
to say on this matter will not change
the vote of this convention, but !
warn the delegates against placing
their hope on LaFollette and then be
disappointed when he fails and may
not even be able to throw the election
into the House as our past president
admits.
mr.. O'Connell pleads the bank.
ruptcy of industrial organization.
refuse to accept his declaration of
bankruptcy" Emme stated. 81 know
that our industrial organizations can
be built up again. I don't want the
workers to build faith in LaFollette,
90 that when this bubble bursts they
will find themselves in the same pre-
dicament politically.
Nearly every measure that LaFol-
lette stands for has been passed in
the state of Wisconsin, and yet do
any of you delegates look to Wiscon-
sin for mecca of organized labor?
THE working class of the state of
Wisconsin is just as much exploited
as that Of any other state, if not
worse"
Emme called the attention Of the
delegates to the fact tnaG nearly all
speakers were mentioning the class
struggle and the sooner we would
base the labor movement on that prin
ciple. the better off we would be.
Demonstration Doesn't Come.
The delegates were listening atten
lively while Emme spoke and the dem
onstration expected for LaFollette by
some delegates did not materialize.
Delegate Otis, from Pittsburgh, the
industrial hell of the United States
stated that the reason his local voted
down LaFolette was that he did not
represent the working class, that he
was not a labor candidate and that
what he stood for did not mean any
thing to the working class, and fur
thermore, on his national committee
only two bona flde labor representa-
tives were put on.
Delegate Garner, from Hammond
Ind, called the attention to the fact
that on the committee were men like
Rudolph Spreckles, with an outstand
ing record against labor and pleaded
for a real working class political
party.
Labor Party Postponed"
When the resolution committee