The daily worker., 1925-12-17
Coal Strikes Fight PinchOt Plan

26, (which action was Officially endors-
ed by the executive board of District
No. 1-Cappellini's district) the policy
of silence and repression has been
carried out by the Lewis machine
with mathematical precision" to
quote a favorite phrase of Lewis.
Wherever members asked questions
or protested, they are promptly ST.
fenced. Several members have been
tried and threatened with expulsion
for simply distributing laflets calling
for full strike. In other cases off
cials have put thru resolutions call
ing off all meetings of local unions,
when members of said local unions
demanded some action in the strike.
Many local unions manage to transact
all the business in twenty or thirty
minutes, in other cases no meetings
whatever are held, the officers say
I'VE have no business to transact
during the strike" or 1--WE cannot af-
ford to pay the hall rent during the
strike" There are a number Of To-
cal unions that have not held meet
ings since the strike. When the min
ers ask for relief they are brow-beat-
en- by the local henchmen of the ma
chine. Cappellini threatened to expel
the Pontiac local if they use their
funds for relief. In the Pottsville
section, we have the spectacle of To-
cal union officials dragging their mem
bers before police magistrate and
making them swear affidavits before
they can obtain relief.
Lewis Prepares His Ground.
These examples Of the Lewis pol
icy are but an extension of his en-
tire policy in the international since
he took the helm. From Cleveland
to Harrisburg he took a long step.
but the entire policy Of. Lewis has
been bent to this end. In his public
speeches and statements during the
strike, Lewis has stated repeatedly, "I
VIII gladly recommend a five-year
agreement to my people" 1--WE have
always stood for stability in the in
dustry," and "We are ready at anv
time to meet the operators on a give
and take basis" These statements
OF Lewis given out in advance, prepar-
ed the way for the "Pinchot plan"
which was promptly accepted by
Lewis despite it's vicious character.
The suppression of the miners pro.
tests in the local union, together with
Lewis systematic propaganda in ad-
vance for the terms of the "Pinchot
plan coupled with the fact that no
effective relief or commfssary system
has been organized, with consequent
distress for many strikers and their
families, have prepared the way for
the acceptance of anything Of which
Lewis would recommend. This is
the key to the whole Lewis policy in
the strike to keep the miners in the
dark, and in suspense, and to sun.
press the meetings when protests
arise, and failing any ADEQUATE relief
system, to capitalize the "war-weari.
ness" of many of the strikers by nut.
ring over the "Pinchot plan" in order
TO get the boys back to work" in re
sponse to the demands of the pub
lie for "the adjustment Of the pres
ent controversy"
This destruction of the union how
ever, which is implied in the "Pinchot
Plann' will not be effected without
protest. The bosses having had three
or their major demands accepted b,
the scale committee are asking 70,
more and in answer TO their de
mand, local unions and policy com
mittees, all over the coal region. are
passing resolutions demanding thai
the maintenance men, and soft Goa
miners be pulled out. Such resolu
tions have been passed at Ayoca
Wilkes-Barre, Forrestville. Pine Hill
Primrose, Duncot and Branchdale.
Back Progressivesl
The miners are beginning to realiz,
that a real menace to their union 1,
involved in the present fight, and 4
given real leadership the miners will
fight to the end for "the union" The