The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-01-28
BIC FIGHT IN
MIN EAPOLIS
SHAKES UNIONS


made TO the hand-picked "investiga-
ton" committee of the Minneapolis
Trades and Labor Assembly which re-
ported adversely upon their right to
be seated as delegates from their
local unions. The committees recon.
mendation was defeated and the dele
gates were seated, but unseated at a
later meeting:
AT the meeting Of the Trades and
Labor Assembly held on Wednesday,
January 9TH, we Dan, w. Stevens and
VIM Mauseth, had our credentials
protested on the grounds that we were
members of the Workers Party and,
therefore, owed first allegiance to that
organization. The protest implied
that because Of the fact Of the al
legged membership in the Workers
Party, it would be impossible for us to
function in the interest Of the Amer
lean Federation of Labor. In order
that there may be no misunderstand-
ing to our position, we wish to make
the following statement:
First, we are members of the Work
ers (Communist) Party and believe
in the principles of that party. We
seriously disagree with those who feel
that it is impossible for Communist
to function for the best interest of
the trade union movement. We con-
tend that our activities in the trade
union movement in which we have
carried out the things in which we
believe, prove that the principles of
the party are in the interest and not
to the detriment of the trade union
movement.
"The Workers Party is Interested
in the overthrow of the capitalist
system. It realizes, however, that be-
fore this can be accomplished there
must be a strong trade union move
ment with power to control the in
dustries of the country. We, there
fore, have fought in the past and win
continue to fight in the future to
build the American Federation of La,
Dor and make it an effective instru-
ment in the struggle against the en-
ployers.
w have Fought against all schemes
which had for their purpose a ten
dency to create in the minds of the
workers a feeling that their interests
were the same as the bosses. We have
tried to show the workers that the
bosses were organized against them
as evidinced by the citizens alliance
in Minneapolis. We have tried to con-
vince them that they must carry on a
continuous struggle against the en-
pIoyers, if they were to improve their
conditions.
eve have fought to get the trade
union movement to constantly carry
on a militant struggle for increase
in wages and against any reductions
in wages or lengthening of hours We
have fought against injunctions when
ever the capitalist state has used its
power to compel the workers to go
back to work in industrial disputes.
This is evidenced in the case of
Stevens in the Wonderland Theater
case.
"All of our activities in the past
have met with the unanimous ap-
prevail of the Workers Party and if we
are seated in the Assembly we viii
continue to fight along the same lines
as we have in the past.
'In the Assembly at the present
time you have delegates who, in addi-
ton to representing local union, are
supporters of or hold membership in
the republican party, the democratic
party. the farmerIabor party, the
LaFollette movement, the socialist
party. II the policy Of excluding del
egates because of their political be-
liefs or Affiliations is followed, it means
the disruption of the entire labor
movement.
"A labor movement is organized to
carry on the everyday struggle against
the employers for better wages, shor-
ter hours, and better working condi-
tons. The sole requisite for mem
bership is that one be a worker in
some particular craft II you attempt
70 JAR ptOple DeCdunc VI EtiibiOuS Ut
political views, you finally get It down
to the point where only that portion
OF the wage workers who accept the
political or religious views of the rul-
ing group may become members OF a
trade union. That can never succeed.
1--WE are not attempting to cam
outage our beliefs or affiliations be-
fore this committee. We want you
to understand frankly that we are
members OF the Workers Party; that
we bellve In the program Of the Work
ers Party but we contend that as
workers we are entitled to member
ship in the trade union movement
and that any effort 30 bar us is an ef-
fort on the part OF those in control
of the local labor movement TO disrupt
and destroy the trade union move
ment
"Fraternally submitted,
"Dan w. Stevens, Del. Painters