The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-03-18

EASTERN DISTRICT

Still you did reinstate him and then
told us that a secret investigator
would visit Harrisburg and il our
statement was correct you would drop
him. We have heard nothing further
of this secret Investigator. We charge
that you should have made the in
vestigatiOn before you reinstated him.
If you still contemplate investigation,
Mr.. Speese will not be hard to locate
Tor a few years, because he is in the
Eastern penitentiary of Pennsylvania
as a result OF being convicted of en-
bezzling the so-called Labor Bank of
Harrisburg of $4,000.
"Speese became bank promoter
after we dropped him; so-called
labor bank was being organized and
naturally it was expedient to have it
promoters members of unions and in
order that they could the better reach
and mislead our members into buying
stock.
TELL us, Brother Dawson, is there
bond of fellowship between you
bank officials which led you to take
such extraordinary liberties in rein
stating Speese? Will you take equal
liberties in reinstating former rail
road scabs over the protests of lodges
which might not want them for mem
bers?
1.-THE fact that Speese was convicted
of embezzlement is proof that you
should have complied with our re-
quest and not reinstated him. This
might have saved Speese from the
penitentiary and it certainly would
have saved some of the workers some
money. For many of them bought
stock in this so-called Labor Bank
which is now defunct.
1--WE further condemn you for writ
| ing us upon the stationery Of the
grand lodge and at our expense to
ask us why we did not support you,
and to other lodges thanking them
for their support. We condemn you
also for sending out two other cam
paign letters at our expense. We are
sure you would not let your opponents
send their literature out OF your Of
fee and at the expense of the grand
lodge as you are doing.
"Our condemnation against the for
going misconduct is not against you
alone but should be shared by the
international president, for after all,
he is the head of the organization and
should be sufficiently close to all af-
fairs to prevent these acts which we
complain against.
an our opinion we believe it would
be more advisable if our officers paid
more attention to the affairs of labor,
whereby all the members could re-
ceive some benefits from their efforts.
So we think you are both untitled for
the positions you seek and these are
the reasons we did not support your
candidacy.
Trusting that this answers your
letter satisfactory, we remain
Fraternally yours.
(signed)-
M. cALLEN, President,
w. 3. VELDER, Vice President,
c. r. SHORT, Secretary,
c. S. DAVIDSON, Fin. Secretary,
G. r. OWENS, Comm. Chairman"
The reinstatement of Speese is not
the only crime that can be laid at the
door of the grand lodge officers or be-
ing responsible of keeping members in
the organization that they know them
selves are dishonest. While at the
same time real honest progressive
trade unions are expelled for advo-
eating progressive measures and OPP
posing the policy of the present Of
ficialdom.
It is to the interest Of labor takers
such as Johnston and Dawson to keep
within the organization such men as
Speese and expel men that challenge
the power of the takers. This will
continue within our organization as
long as the men support individuals
instead of candidates running on a
left wing program.
Build the Shop Committees!
Many letters of this nature can be
sent out, but if there is no organized
movement made. to bring the matter
to the attention of the rank and file
and remove those responsible for de-
frauding the members Of the organ
ization the letter will have no effect.
The shop committees, of all rank and
file workers, will be the means OF
turning the union over to- the mem
bers and putting all crooks and takers
outside the door.
Join the Workers Party!
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