The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-07-31

conditions of the workers can be ex-
pected only from Communists and
from the militants in the T. u. E. L.
The program of action proposes that
the district board calls a special dis
trict convention to take up as a first
point unemployment amongst the
miners within the district and neces-
sary measures of relief.
10000 Miners Unemployed in Pa.
There are a total of 273 mines in
District 5, approximately only so of
which are working, most of these are
only working part time. 1t is re-
ported that 10000 miners are unem-
ployed in the state most of them hav-
ing been unemployed for months and
during the period of work were en-
ployed only part time. Many miners
families are on the verge of starva-
ton. The policy of John L. Lewis, fol
lowed by all his lieutenants, of at
tempting to drive a great number of
miners out of the industry will have
dire consequences now when other in
dustries are making retrenchments
and daily throwing workers into the
streets looking for jobs.
The militant elements contend that
effective measures for relief of these
many unemployed miners can and
must be secured, while they also point
to the record of the district and inter-
national officials who have not yet
lifted a finger to obtain relief. They
are proposing and have been propos-
ing for long time, as one effective
remedy, the shorter work day with no
reduction in wages.
Unemployment Relief from State.
They have demanded in the past and
now reiterate their demand that in
dustry should bear the burden of sup
porting its unemployed and the fed
eral, state and local governments
should take measures to establish
funds for relief of the unemployed to
be administered by the unions.
The second point proposed to be
solved by this special convention is
the demand for preparation for an &C
tive fight against the attempt of the
operators to enforce the 1917 scale in
the district and to break down work
ing conditions.
Fight Open Shop.
The Pittsburgh Coal company,
which has closed down all of its So
mines formerly operated under the
union agreement, not very long ago
elected new officers. These officers
were elcted on pledge to smash the
union. They are undoubtedly trying
to make good. 1t is being rumored
that number of these mines are to
open early in August with notices
posted that the 1917 scale will go
into effect. At any rate facts are
available aplenty to prove the active |
preparations made by the operators to |
reduce wages.
The militant miners rightly contend |
that if the membership is Just kept /
waiting for slow starvation it will not |
be able to make the best of the fight.
They propose that measures be taken |
to strengthen the union in every re-
spect and to keep the membership on |
the alert so that whatever form of re-
sistance the conditions may require |
the membership will be actively NOV
ing with a stronger feeling of class |
solidarity.
Best Defense an Attack.
They contend that the best way to
meet an attack is by an offensive
rather than meekly giving up one posi-
ton after another and that to meet
the united coal operators it is neces-
sary to make campaign to organize
the unorganized miners and to estab-
lish union control and union condi-
tons everywhere.
The third point proposed for the
special convention to take up is def
mite settlement of all the grievances
obtaining in the mines which are now
working such as the question of dead
work, loading of cars, etc. Today in
many. instances the system of check
waymen does not function. Miners are
required to load bigger cars for less
pay than the agreement calls for, with
less pay for dead work. In almost
every controversy on existing griev-
ances the district officials have thrown
up their hands exclaiming I'VE cannot
do anything, we have no power" This,
the militants maintain, is to turn tail.
accept defeat in advance, and will
strengthen the operators in their fight
against the union.
Relief for MoundsvilIe Prisoners.
The fourth point proposed to be
taken up is the securing of relief
measures for the families OF the
Moundsville prisoners and an active
for their immediate release.
A number of members are yet being
kept in the Moundsville prison for
their participation in the Cllfftonville
march in 1922 In behalf of the striking