The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-04-18
DISTRICT ONE,
MINERS TURN To
81. PROGRESSIvES
Reject Traitors and Con-
Citation
BY PAT TooHEY.


United Mine Workers Of America,
largest of the three anthracite dis
tricts. will go to the polls in June to
vote for officers to replace the pres
emit administration headed by Rinaldo
Cappellini. He who promised the min
ers so much two years ago and was
elected as a radical on radical pro-
gram, has now degenerated into moth
ing moro than servile and depend
able tool of the syndicates who con-
troll the anthracite coal supply
For many years the anthracite re-
The bosses have consistently robbed
the miners all these years, while the
men have no redress with the ex-
ception Of turning their case over to
their district officers to fight for them
District officers of District 1, past and
present, do not differ from district Of
f1cers of other districts, being usually
spineless job-hunters and easy prey
for the employers. When case is
referred to the district office for adj
justment, usually the miner signs and
gives up in defeat long prior to the
hearing" Of the grievance.
A Bitter Lesson.
SO often, and with impunity, do the
bosses violate the contract and at
tempt to compel the miners to work
under damnable conditions that griev-
ances by the hundreds arise and keep
arising without adjustment. The con-
duct of their district officers in the
past, in fighting" these grievances,
supposedly representing the interests
OF the miners, have taught the rank
ind file bitter lesson.
They have been taught that before
they will get the wages due them for
work done, satisfactory adjustment of
their grievances, and to make their
organization an economic weapon to
fight their battles and not a meal
ticket and source of income for a
select crew of quacks and takers they
must select men from their ranks,
militant miners who have a thoro I'M
derstanding and knowledge of their
conditions and unhappy lot.
A Demagoa Unmasked.
This awakening was but dim two
years ago when Cappellini, the quack
and demagog, realizing that in order
to get himself elected district presi-
dent was to suddenly become a fighter
for the miners, exposing the corrup-
ton of the district, recounting their
many lost grievances and suggesting
his general grievance committee for
closer unity between the membership.
Not being able to see thru the faker
the men hailed him as their savior
and elected him by 10000 majority
over Bremen, the Lewis candidate.
Cappellini swore by every saint in
the calendar that if he was elected
he would make Alex Howat one of
his organizers. His conduct during
the past two years have shown him
for what he is. At the present time
the thousands of miners are in open
rebellion. Their grievances are still
unsettled or those that have been
heard and decided upon by the con-
cilliation board were invariably lost
and the decision in favor of the op-
orator.
Another Strike Rumored.
The outlaw strike of the 10000 men
offthe Pennsylvania Galleries was be- +,
cause Of unsettled grievances. Ru-
mors are that the men OF Glen Lyon
nave set a time limit of Is days for
settlement or they strike.
The grievances of the miners are
heard by the Cancellation board, COM
posed equally of miners and operators
and a referee. 1t is the same medium
OF grievance adjustment that Roose.
Welt instituted in the great 1902 strike. |
Grievances presented to the board |
from two months to five years remain |
unsettled. The Cancellation board is |
very beneficial TO the operators and II |
Is the miner who usually loses.
A most striking example Of this |
fact was recently when the board |
handed down its decision in the case
Of the Wanamie local, prohibiting the |
local from specifying the amount OF |
cars to be loaded by an individual |
miner.
The Progressive miners ticket, |
headed by Bernard zaleskas, con-