The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-10-30
On a Labor Faker's Trail


people other than the Herrin miners.
ION Saturday, September 81, com,
mittee from our Local appeared be,
fore Vice-President Murray in Indian
apolis, and asked for hearing before
action was taken to revoke the char.
ter, but were informed the Local must
first comply with the decision Of Far
rington before they would be given
hearing on the matter, Our Local
has complied under protest and will
fight this thing out to a finish. If
they can take members card by
reason of mistake of the Secretary
then no mans card is safe II he is not
on friendly terms with the Official
family.
1--WE challenge any Officer to meet
Mcdonald here. either in our Local or
in Public Meeting to discuss this
matter and find out who is wrong. II
is a plain violation of the laws of the
organization and If permitted to 90
unchallenged will set precedent that
spells the break up Of tho organiza-
ton. We will not submit quietly to
this decision and take this means Of
notifying the members throughout the
State, Mcdonald is a charter member
Of our organization. He held Office for
many years but it is not on this ac-
count we take the appeal but a matter
Of common justice. If our charter is
taken perhaps yours will be the next
as we learn every day of members
who did not pay the mis-named Her
rim" assessment.
Another Howat Case
1--WE ask every Local to take this
matter up and go along with us in
our fight against an action that is
worse in its violation of law than the
case of Alexander Howat Pretty soon
any member who does not agree with
the policies of the Oficial family will
be expelled from membership and a
blacklist established worse than was
in effect before the organization was
established.
"And for the information OF the rank
and file below is quoted President
Farrington's own language concerning
the expulsion of Alex Howat, read it
carefully and then compare his ac
ton on Duncan Mcdonald. This
language is taken from a speech made
by harrington at Muskogee, Oklaho
ma, May 10. 1922 and reads as follows;
ct don't understand the laws of the
United Mine Workers Of America to
mean that the President of our Inter
national Union can wire from New
York or Washington or some other
place to Tom, Dick or Harry out in
these various Districts and Mining
Camps, Dick or Harry. / expel you
from the organization, you have VOL
ated the contract. | don't think that
can be done legally in the Miners
Union, ! viii tell you why don't
think 1t can be done. Here is what
the Constitution says; Section l.,
Article IS, (He quotes section which
provides for charges and trial and
continues as follows) Now, Gentlemen
as God is my Judge, down to this day,
even at this minute, Alex Howat has
never been given trial as this sec
ton or our Constitution says he must
be tried, and l repeat that, as God is
my Judge, Alex Howat has never,
down to this minute, had fair trial
as prescribed by the laws of our or.
ganization.'
Continuing in his speech President
harrington declares that I claim that
Alex Howat is the victim of huge
political conspiracy to discredit him
with the rank and file Of this organiza.
ton, and by that means eliminate him
as the possible aspirant for election to
official position in our international
Union In the future
I'VE claim that this is the same
motive behind the expulsion of Dun.
can Mcdonald from our Union, be-
cause he is the strongest man that can
and will displace some Of the tyrants
that sit at the top OF the Mine Work
ers' Union in the future We ask that
your Local Union protest to the limit
this autocratie ruling and back us in
our demand for Special District Con,
vention to secure justice for Duncan
Mcdonald and to punish those res
ponsible for the breaking Of the laws
of District No. ~, by ordering Local
Union No. 44s to expel Duncan Melon
aid, without having preferred charges
against him or without giving him a