The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-12-26
APPEAL FOR
RELIEF TO
ANTHRACITE
Green Asks All Local
Unions to Assist
Continued from page u

generously. In addition, we request
that all central bodies appoint com
mittees to devise ways and means by
which funds may be secured. The
needs of the anthracite miners are
pressing. They must have money now.
All funds contributed will be spent
economically and by duly accredited
representatives Of the United Mine
Workers of America in the distribu-
ton of relief"
The contributions are to be re-
ceived by Frank Morrison, secretary
of the federation, at Washington.
Progressives First to Urge Relief.
For month after month, before
Green awoke to the necessity of aid
ing the anthracite strikers, the Pro
gressive Miners Committee and the
organs of the Workers (Communist)
Party were urging all labor unions to
give, not merely moral and financial
relief, but the direct and material sup
port of strike action to compel the
operators, who are trying to crush
the miners union, to yield to the col
lective power of the working class.
Especially did the progressive
miners demand, and they still de-
mand, that the strike in the anthra-
cite be made complete by withdraw
al of the 5000 or 5000 maintenance
men and the closing down of all the
washeries.
Jailed for Asking Complete Strike.
The true nature of the opposition of
the United Mine Workers officials to
all progressive ideas and proposals
was so vindictive that high officials
aided in the capitalist courts of Scran-
ton in testifying against leaders of
the Progressive Miners Committee,
members of the union, and had the
capitalist judge sentence them to Jail
because the progressives had called
for withdrawal of maintenance men
and closing of the washeries.
Particularly did the traitorous dis
trict president, Cappellini, attack the
progressives and urge the police to
arrest and prosecute them when they
demanded a complete strike and no
arbitration.
Locals Demanding Action.
But now the anthracite locals are
taking up the demands of the Progress
sive Miners Committee. At Scranton
Saturday, the general grievance
ommittee of the Hudson coal COM
any, meeting in the Labor, Temple,
emapded that the strike be made
omplete, the washeries, stripping
md other operations in violation of
he agreement be suspended.
A hot criticism was made of the
policy of the officials, John Boylan of
the district executive board was pres
ent and tried to defend the officials
neglect in allowing the washeries and
small mines to run. He urged peace
full" means, regardless of the thous-
ands of hungry children shivering in
The icy blasts of mid-winter.
The committee also gave a left
handed slap at arbitration by condem-
ming the county legislators for try
ing to bring about a settlement by
that method.
No peace" In War on Children.
While Boylan is advocating peace"
the war on the babies and wives of
the miners goes on. Turnout the 500
square miles of anthracite mining ter
ritory the specter of starvation is
knocking at hundreds of homes.
Families are without food, children
are continually crying of hunger, their
frail bodies are barely covered with
clothing, they lack underwear, stock. |
ings, shoes and overclothes for the
chill Of winter weather.
Neighborhood groups are trying to
take care Of the neediest cases. Local
union treasures are exhausted and
the international union has heretofore
ignored the necessity of relief. Now
in the sharpest period of deprivation
IS the first seeming desire shown to
give relief.
The spirit of the miners is too
proud to be insistent on their needs.
or TO make them known. They bear
their suffering in silence. Today, the
offer Of relief to the strikers by vice
president S. ID. Dimmick of the Glen
Alden Coal company, was rejected as
an insult. The solidarity of labor
everywhere is the need of the anthra.
cite strikers.