The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-08-23
Continued from page y

5prluBu0lu M n 9 rB GOuCatlOuHl
League had gotten under Franks
thick hide and he was more than
grooming over the thots of the miners
gaining any kind OF information other
than he and the editor OF the Illinois
Miner were ready to give them.
Afraid Of Debate.
o yes, # is illegal to get any kind
Of information covering Franks ac-
lions except that he wants to give
you, and he doesn't like the idea Of
Thompson, Parry OF Watt running
over the state Tearing at the vitals
Of your union" But he can't get up
enuf nerve or courage to meet these
individuals anywhere in the state TO
back up the claims that they are NAH
ing.
o. no, not Frank, about as close
as he will meet Thompson, Parry or
Watt is in the closely guarded COZ
umns of the Illinois Miner, and then
he reserves this sheet all to himself.
Why is 1t, rank and nIe, that Frank
FarIngton will not meet these men
and explain to you In their presence,
how they are tearing at the vItaIs Of
your unlon7"
Remember this is the same scoun-
drel, this man Frank Harrington, who
a very short time ago accused John
L. Lewis Of doing the very Same
thing. We don't dare say such things
about Lewis now. oh no. Frank has
just little while to stay in the United
Mine Workers 90 he 10 laying of Of
John L. Lewis for the present.
Harrington in his demetra states
that:
First: "If they (Thompson and
Waltz and their families are to be
cared for why not include all Of the
others who are in an even more des-
perate plight than they7
Our answer: What is Frank Far
rington doing for the families that are
even in more desperate plight than
Thompson and Watt? Nothing what
ever, but Thompson and Watt wher-
ever they go are telling. the miners
that they must at once demand an
equal division Of work and shorter
] day and week, and that If they do not
do so the union is blown UP. Frank
\ used to feel the same way about the
s. hour day but in the last Interna-
tional convention he turned right
about face and now speaks of the 6
hour day as a nice ideal and a nice
issue to grandstand on, in fact this is
how the proceedings of that conven-
, ton quote him in part:
President Farington: (page 761)
1.-THE shorter work day is nice as an
ideal f. it gives a man a splen-
did opportunity to grandstand, but
we are dealing with a condition gen.
tIemen, and not with an IDEAL"
But just for a moment let us see
what Franks former position was in
regards to the 6 hour day. On Febru-
airy 21st, 1919, Harrington issued let
ter which in part reads;
"a am cinvinced we will get no
substantial relief until a six-hour
y day five days per week for all the
mine workers of the country with
no double shift work on coal allow
ed except as necessity may require,
and development for increased ton
mage should not be regarded as be-
{ ing, necessity. We must wage an
aggressive, incorporating organ
tied fight to attain that end. Moth
+ ing short Of that will bring the
needed relief. To achieve this re-
s form is vital and paramount and the
full strength of our union should be
e used to attain this end. Other
things are secondary, nothing less
will do"
Was harrington grandstanding when
he wrote that letter? Let us see by
the convention records:
Delegate Thompson, District No. IL.
FREEMAN Thompson page 1859 81
would like to ask Delegate harrington
question. Did I understand You.
President harrington, to say that you
sent out curcular letter some eight
years ago bearing on the subject-mat-
| ter Of six hour day for the coal min.
err"
Delegate harrington: Eyes, your I'M
derstanding is correct. l would not
be positive as to the exact number Of
years ago, but did send out such a
circular"
Question by Delegate Thompson:
Were you then grandstanding at that
tine?" harrington did not answer.
Ne Some Questions.
So, rank and file, we ask you what
is Frank Harrington doing for you or
your families?" What has become of
the Old Age Pension that harrington
and machine so successfully ditched?
What has become of the district
funds? What has become of the
shorter. work day? Why are your
standards and conditions being low
cred now by Frank Harrington and
his machinery? Why this $S.04 rate
even in tonnage mines?s IA