The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-02-10
FAKERS DISRUPT
CENTRAL BODY
IN MINNIE APOLIS
Smith States Harthill for
Cramer's Job
(speeIaI to The palIy WORKED

MlNNEAPOLlS, Feb. D. After
three years work, Paul ]. Smith has
succeeded in changing the name of
the Minneapolis Trade and Labor AS
sembly to the Central Labor Union
Of Minneapolis and Hennepin County.
He has also succeeded in expelling
few Communists from the central
body and in getting lively scrap un-
der way.
According to all indications the
fight has barely started The object
of the reactionaries led by Smith is
to secure strsnglehold on the CEN
trail body, so that they can form a
united front with the Citizens ALI
ance, an employers organization that
has built up one of the most efficient
organizations of stool pigeons in the
country.
Former Police Chief.
Smith has, as one Of his chief lieu
tenants, notorious faker by the
name Of Lewis Harthill, who is run
ming hold-up sheet called Minnesota
Harthill was police chief under Van
Lear. He is stupid person, and is
very easily satisfied, as far as titles
are concerned, but it takes a lot Of
money to make him sleep easy. All
he wants now is the editorship of the
Labor Review, which is run by Robly
D. Cramer.
Cramer has done everything pos
sible to please his foes, but unfortun-
ately, Harthill wants his job, and tho
Cramer did penance in sackcloth and
ashes for his past progressive sins,
Harthill will not be satisfied until he
steps down from the editorial chair
of the Labor Review.
Stevens Back Again.
The fight is an interesting one. Dan
Stevens, veteran leader of the Paint
ers' Union and former secretary of
the assembly was back again with a
new set of credentials the meeting
after that at which he was expelled.
His credentials were turned down, of
course. But Stevens will be back
again and again.
Smith has written a new constitu-
ton for the new central body. One
Of its provisions excludes "Commun-
lists, members of the l. W. w. and
other dual or revolutionary organiza-
TONS" The present officers of the
central body may hold office until
next May. After then, elections will
take place annually.
Trade unionists are wondering who
is paying Smith for his work here.
For three long years he has not turn
ed in the name of new member to
the trade unions, tho he is drawing
his salary as an Organizer" Is he
getting paid by the Citizens Alliance?
The question is pertinent and Mime
apolis trade unionists would like to
hear what Smith has to say in reply.
Another provision in the constitu-
ton prevents Cramer from acting as
an officer of the Central Labor Union
or representing that body as a dele
gate. Hitherto, Cramer was the rath-
er automatic delegate from the assem-
bly, to all political gatherings at which
the council was represented. This
clause bars him from being a dele
gate to the farmer-labor federation.
He is now member of the state CEN
trail committee and of the city CEN
trail committee of the federation.
Threat to Lift Charters.
Paul Smith, the A. F. of L. dicta-
tor, declared that if the local unions
insisted in sending Communists to
the Central Labor Union as delegates,
after warning that they were unsatis-
factory, the International officers of
the locals would be called upon to
take appropriate action, which means
lifting the charters of the locals. It
is now a fight to the bitter end be-
tween the progressives led by the
Communists and the reactionaries led
by the GEARS" Of the A. F. of L.