The daily worker., 1925-09-17
PAINTERS union
PASSES GAG LAW
ON MEMBERSHIP
Reaction Wins Fight in
Convention

FbutlOu Oh inc bFOlu5TuOOu Ol EdluJ-
ers, Decorators and Paperhangers of
America is drawing to a close. The
thing that saved 1t from complete re-
dictionary mediocrity was the appear
ance for the first time of militant
though weak Numerically speaking)
left wing. This group livened up the
convention fighting militantly for pro-
gressive measures and against the re-
dictionary proposals of the administra-
ton. .sl sasaIskF
Reaction triumphed but not without
struggle. The old officials were re-
turned to office. The salaries Of the
general president and secretary were
increased $1,000 more per year. The
term of Office extended from two to
four years, conventions to be held
every four years instead Of biennially.
A red batting clause was added to the
constitution aimed to expel the Com
munists or any militant members un-
der the guise if they oppose the prin-
Mlples of the A. F. Of L.
4 The administration came to the con-
vention determined to place the Off
cial seal of the convention on their
proposed fight against the progress
ives, ostensibly the Communists, but
under this head they lump all pro-
gressives who stand for Amalgama-
tion, Labor Party, Recognition of So
Wet Russia, International Trade Union
Unity, Defense Of Glass War Prison
gers, ETC., and for class struggle as
/ against class collaboration.
The central point in the convention
j was the fight against the reds. That
the 600 odd delegates were not all
STOOLS of the administration is shown
I in the fact that the proposed amend
5tment to the constitution aimed
sagainst the reds had to be referred
back twice to the laws committee and
a recounting of noses was taken be-
fore it was railroaded through. This
was only accomplished after a hectic
thirty minutes speech by President
Hedrick followed by cutting off of
all debate.
President Hedricks opening speech
was made on Monday Sept 7th in
which he stated, speaking of the de-
velopment of the painters union and
referring to the division in the Canad-
ian labor movement, 1t was not easy
in the beginning, we we're all divided
as they are in Canada today. Reli-
gious, political, nationality and race
questions abounded and the success
of the trade union movement in the
United States has been because we
forgot religion, we forgot politics and
we forgot race"
Il met two old members at this CON
vention whom l have known any
where from 25 to 80 years and If any
one should ask me what their reli-
gion or their politics is, l could not
say, as 1 have never asked them, and
this should be the attitude of our
brotherhood.
"AlI we should be interested in
knowing Isl: Have you worked a
sufficient Ienght of time and are you
able to command the average scale
of wages and are you of sound
health and that is about the end of
our investlgaton-and that is why
our organization has been sue
cess"
This is quite true All shades of
political thought were allowed express
sion within the organization. No in
ternal struggles were tolerated on the
questions of race, nationality, religion
or politics. But this is quite differ
ent speech than the one made by
President Hedrick one week later, on
Monday September 14th, in which he
urged the delegates to place an
amendment to the constitution to ex-
pei from the organization those who
do not endorse the particular brand of
politics advocated by the administra-
tion and by the A. F. of l.. They had
to sugar coat the amendment by say
ing Members of the Communist Par
ty who oppose the principles of the
A. F. of l..
This was done to win over the un.
sophisticated delegates who could not
see that under this cloak that all pro-
gressives who were fighting against
the perversion of the principles Of or
ganized labor by the bureaucracy can
and will be expelled under this amend
ment
AS an example, the basic principle
upon which organized labor is built
is that of struggle, any attempt to
divert this into class collaboration is
a betrayal of the labor movement and
is. In opposition to the principles upon
which the movement is built.
The entire left wing from the pro-
gressives to the Communists will and
are opposing this betrayal. For this
they are being expelled from the
Machinists, Furriers, Ladies Garment
Workers, Amalgamated Clothing
Workers, the miners, under the guise
that they are opposed to the princi-
pies of the A. +. of L., and now the
rairtfaro have anfarad tho rod haitir o