The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-03-26
SECTION OF the TRADE UNION EDUCATIONAL LEAGUE

ever more helpless in dealing with its
trade problems. The employers, on the
other hand, are becoming more power
full and are putting forth new challen-
ges to the union The contracting sys-
tenn, against which the rank and file
warned the offlcialdom, has become
dominant factor and is eating away
at the very vitals Of union conditions.
The little sweat shops have increas-
ed and multiplied like mushrooms UNI
der the summers rain. The period of
employment is continually on the de-
crease, and is followed by long sea-
son Of total unemployment.
Wages are being officially and uni
officially reduced, and exploitation in
the needle trades is becoming more
ruthless. The fallacious policy, or lack
of policy, pursued by the officials of
the international, has reduced the UNI
ion to such a state that even Tam
many politicians, such as Governor
Smith, etc, are hailed as the saviors,
the new messiahs of the union.
The hopes Of the workers for bet
ter livelihood are becoming paler. A
radical change in the entire structure
and policies of the union, has become
the crying need of the hour, if the
union is to be saved from the pres
ent chaotic conditions. The militant
workers in the international, who re-
present the most active and devoted
elements insisted on the changes in
order to meet the new conditions. Elk
pulsion was the shameless answer.
Expulsion Made Things Worse
The Iefts were expelled, but the
conditions of the workers have be-
come even more deplorable. The en-
tire machinery of the union for the
past two years has been directed to
force the local unions to obey the
orders of Sigman and company. Local
unions were mercilessly destroyed.
Thousands of dollars contributed by
the workers for organization work
have been wasted In the struggle
against the militants.
The wedge between the rank and
file and the officialdom is becoming
ever more distinct, and their interests
Numerically opposed. Every organ
ization campaign undertaken, was
done without plan and merely as a
cover for the destructive work carried
on by the officials. The militants tho
outside of the union have, neverthe-
less, like true rebels, done their duty
toward the workers, and were found
on the picket lines and in the front
ranks of every struggle.
Union Forced to Retreat
Weakened and demoralized as a
result of the internal struggles, the
unions were forced to retreat in face
of the organized strength of the en-
ployers. Would the officials of the
international have had the vision and
the courage to face the results of their
destructive policies, particularly or
the expulsion of the most active and
energetic elements who constitute the
very life blood of the organization,
they would welcome back into the
union the expelled members, and
adopt the policies advocated by them.
But. these officials will rather see the
union go to destruction, than admit
their mistakes. This fact is once
more demonstrated by this new deci-
sion of the G. E. B.
The age long and undisputable truth
that ideas based on progress cannot
be suppressed by the methods of Pal
mer and Sigman, was once more cor
roborated. The program advocated
by the left wing answers the most
vital needs of the workers in the in
dustry, and finds its response amongst
the active workers in every organize
ton.
The urgent need of a radical change
in the system of organization is still
more greatly emphasized by the de-
yelopments in the industry itself.
slgman and Company Are Bankrupt
The present leaders have no defin-
tie plans of meeting the difficulties
and leading the union out Of It's pres
ent chaotic and helpless condition.
Neither have they any substantial
criticism to offer against the plans
advocated by the militants, such as,
Industrial instead of craft unions the
shop delegate system, etc, plans
which were not born in the idle minds
of closet philosophers, but came as
result of years of experience, and are
alredy recognized as the inevitable
process of reconstruction by the labor
movement of Europe.
It is nothing short Of absurdity to
attempt to suppress the movement
for union reconstruction by methods
of expulsion. Still more absurd is the
present order Of the q. e. B. to re-
admit the militants while denying
them the right to express their ideas
on union problems or to hold office in
the union.
Cac Onnonent Refore Armament