The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-01-24
UNSEAT DAN ".
STEVENS FROM
MPLS. ASSEMBLY
Reaction Wins After a
Bitter Fight
Especial to The Daily workerl


MINNEAPOLIS, Mimi, Jan.
22.--Last nights meeting of the
Minneapolis Trades and Labor
Assembly here nearly ended in
a riot during the vote to unseat
Dan w. Stevens. Delegates
were on their feet cheering and
yelling at the top Of their voices.
The chairman and sergeants-at-
arms clamored for order, but
there was no way of stopping
the demonstration.
The near-riot came during the TAX
ing of vote to expel Dan w. Stevens,
Communist, on charges of conduct
unbecoming member Of the Trades
and Labor Assembly"
A complaint signed by Robley G.
Cramer and Budd L. McKillips, editor
and associate editor respectively, Of
the Minneapolis Labor Review, James
Fullerton. J. r. Powers, Gunnar Olson
and Fred Ripczinsky, member Of the
reactionary Lincoln republican, club,
charged that Stevens, in speech be-
fore the central labor body January IA
had "slandered the officialdom" of the
American Federation Of Labor, as we'll
as Paul w. Smith, special envoy Of the
federation. Stevens speech was pub
lished in recent issue of the DAILY
WORKER.
Given absolutely no opportunity to
defend himself, nor to produce proof
in substantiation Of the charges made
in his speech, Dan w. Stevens was
expelled from the Trades and Labor
Assembly by vote of "a to 30.
When delegates sought the floor in
order to defend Stevens, they were inn
mediately ordered to their seats. The
gavel was in constant use last night.
Whenever a left winger arose he was
raped out of order. Fair play, justice
and the square deal was utterly for
gotten in the haste of the reaction
aries to hang" Stevens.
The fact that Dan Stevens had spent
twenty years of his life in the labor
movement, sixteen of which were
served as an official Of this same CEN
trail body, made no difference to his &C
cusers. The skids had been well oiled
and the machine" was in perfect
working order. AS Communist
Stevens might stand in the way Of the
reactionary oficialdom in their attempt
to "sell OUT the workers to the war
mongers in preparation for the next
imperialist bloodbath.
he oIfv
Harris, of the Boilermakers' Union,
arose to explain his vote. From the
reactionaries and red baiters" came
the cries, vote, vote, are you yell
low?"
Harris. aroused at the attempt to
gag him from explaining, then made
the open charge that R. d. Cramer and
Budd L. McKillipps had called upon
him at his home and used undue in
fiuence, coercion and intimidation in
an endeavor to compel him to line up
with the reactionaries against Stevens.
The chair raped for order when the
cheering began.
Pandemonium followed which lasted
for fully twenty minutes. Chairs were
knocked over, hats and caps were
tossed into the air, while angry re-
dictionary delegates dashed hither and
yon trying to stem the demonstration
that had taken place.
During the excitement and turmoil
Paul W. Smith took the floor and de-
manded that Harris Office of registry
clerk be declared vacant. It carried
largely because Of the fact that at
no time did all delegates know what
they were really voting on.
The vote against Delegate Stevens
was taken by organization roll call,
each delegate arising and voting Eyes"
or mo"
In several instances assembly mem
bers answered mot voting" Roy
Weir, organizer, did so and Immediate
ly the cry was raised, whats the
matter, are you too yellow to vote
your convictions?" Such proved to be
the case, so bitter has become the on
slaught of the reactionaries against
anyone daring to oppose them or
their moves.
Stevens, after the vote had been
taken. finally got the floor after sever
al vain attempts, but was waved to
his seat after saying only few
words. Stevens said this much, how
ever:
Naturally l am going to demand
a trial before a trial committee. The
accusation has been leveled against
me that have made certain state
ments which cannot prove. Now, let
me say here and now, am not in the