The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-03-01
HOW LEWIS IS
WRECKING The
Miners UNION
Conspiracy to Drop
100000 Members
(Second Article.)


When the Jacksonville agreement
tieing the miners up to a three year
contract was signed, the progressives
pointed out that the operators were
only abiding their time in order to
pave the way for an open assault
on the United Mine Workers of Amer
lea. Their predictions have come
true.
The story carried in The DAILY
WORKER yesterday and suppressed
by the capitalist press, shows that
the hour has come to begin the grand
attack in the minds of the coal OPP
orators. In what condition has John
L. Lewis policies left the union to
meet this attack?
At the last convention of the u. NJ.
w. of A. held in. Indianapolis, shortly
before the jacksonville pact was sign
ed, John L. Lewis declared that there
were 100000 miners too many in the
coal mining industry. His program
was, not to curtail the work day from
8 to hours, but to drive that num-
Der Of miners out of the industry. Ac-
cording to the figures submitted by
Secretary William Green, at the last
convention, it would appear that
Lewis has been successful.
The Figures Tell Story.
According to those figures the paid
membership in the bituminous dis
tricts affected by the Jacksonville
agreement before the agreement be-
came effective was 31e,71S. Eight
months after this agreement took eff
feet, the figures were 19s,70I or a
total loss in paid membership OF
11S,017. In view of the fact that the
figures quoted for the eight months
after the famous pact was signed in
cluded all those who worked FIVE days
or more, it is no exaggeration to state
that one-half of the above member
ship did not work over half time. The
report does not give the figures for
the anthracite districts.
Tho Lewis has Succeeded 10 driv.
ing at least 100000 miners out OF
the union since the last International
convention the bosses are not entire
ly satisfied. 1t is significant that
Lewis policy was first laid down by
the majority report of the United
States Bituminous Coal Commission,
in 1920, which stated that there are
too many mines and miners in the
coal industry and that the establish
ment of the 6-hour day would be an
economic crime.
Capitalist Agents.
Working in harmony with the re.
commentator of the majority report
of the government commission. writ
ten by coal operator men, the follow
ing statement was written by Ellis
Searles, John Moore and Thomas
Kennedy, representing the United
Mine Workers of America and sent 10
the United States Coal Commission.
1t was published in the Miners Jour
nal, June 1, 1923.
"Never was there a greater oppor.
tunity for a set OF employers to per-
form real service to the American
public than that which now presents
itself to the coal operators. If they
will close down 1000 Of the unneces-
sary coal mines that are now open
and operating systematically they will
reduce the number Of surplus miners
proportionally and thus reduce the
production cost of coal. This. in turn
would mean cheaper coal to the con.
sumner. That's what the consumer
is interested in. The United Mine
Workers of America cannot close
down these mines, because it has no
such right, power or authority. Nor
can It for the same reason. put 20o.-
Continued on page 81