The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-02-02
One-Man Locals Exposed
(continusd from pare l.l

N1A. Dub SUCH q CldlIu uOeS not
agree with the facts.
The Albany mine has long been
operating non-union. Albany is on
the edge of the great uon-union coke
region. A year ago the coke re-
gion strike was called off by the
international Union, even tho there
were some seventy local unions, and
by the InternationaI's own ad-
mission-nearly three thousand men
are still out; the coke region men
claimed that many more were still
on strike. Certainly a strike of
only eleven men is not being con-
tinued. If these mysterious eleven
men are on strike in Feeney's local,
are they getting relief? If they
are not on strike, why should they
be completely exonerated month
after month?
The rank and file have the right
to know who elected Feeney dele
gate, and who is paying his ex-
penses. A local which can pay per
capita on only one member can GER
tainly not pay delegates expenses.
| Is the International standing the
expense7 DO the miners wish their
funds to be used to bring delegates
from one-man locals, to vote with
the machine and defeat the wish
es of the real rank and file dele
gates?
Feeney, the Prize Straddler
The coke region, a former strong
hold Of non-unionism, came out
practically solid in April, 1922, and
remained so until after the Cleve-
land Agreement. The coke region
operators refused to recognize the
union and the strike was continued
until called of, January IS, 1922.
The coke region is now in the same
old unorganized condition.
Feeney's efforts thus came to
naught. In fairness, it must be said
that this does not prove that Feeney
cannot organize. One Of the chief
reasons for losing these regions was
the Cleveland Agreement, which
took away from these sections the
powerful backing of a nationwide
signing of contracts with the Con-
solidation Coal Company, the Hill
man Company, and other compan-
les, of some Of their mines, with
out compelling them to sign at the
same time for their mines in the
coke region. or in other non-union
territories. The neglect Of relief
in the coke region was also great
blow to the strike.
After the Cleveland Agreement,
the International and District No.
organizations failed to furnish
adequate relief, and Feeney went on
the war-path. He helped to 'hor+
ganize two outlaw mass meetings
of miners to raise relief. He pro-
posed to run for President of Dis
trict No. against the Administra-
ton candidate, Pagan.
But Feeney's rebellion soon sub
sided. He withdrew from the race
for President, and spoke for Pagan.
He is now a staunch supporter of
the machine, which belongs to the
coke region workers he helped to
organize.
Feeney-Expense Account Artist
In the twenty-five months period
from February 1, 1922, to De-
cember 1, 1923, Feeney has drawn
from the International treasury, &C
!. cording to Secretary Green's reports,
$500 salary and $5,s6s.72 expenses,
or total Of $11,14S.72. This is at
the rate of s506.76 per month. He
lives in Charleroi, where he usually
gets his breakfast and supper at
home, and travels by train to
Brownsville, where his Office is. The
round trip fare Is S1.60. Feeney
has done very little travelling thru
the coke region, either during or
after the strike. Fayette County, in
which most Of the coke region lies,
Is well supplied with railroads and
trolley lines. You can go from one
end to the other for a couple Of
dollars. TO make an expense ac-
count Of some ten dollars per day
: under these conditions requires
therefore no small degree of mag
nation. In the six months, Feb
ruary I, 1922. to August 1, 1922
: 1.-THE strike began April ~. Feeney
received 5000 salary. This seems
strange, In view Of the general un-
Outstanding that the coke region or
ganizers were working during the
! strike only for their expenses. In