The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-11-21

FNHE bankruptcy OF the omclaluom
4 Of the United Mine Workers Of
America can be best judged from first
hand observation in the strike fields
and from reading the columns of the
enemy press. This is the most or
derby strike we have ever known"
says a Scranton newspaper. This is
symptomatic of the propaganda which
all local papers are carrying. A news
time in another paper states that Hall
churches, catholic and protestant Of
fered prayer for curtailment Of the
strike in Landsford and .Coaldale yes
terday."
While this is the attitude of the
bosses press, unthinking workers
might expect the officials~of a labor
union to present a different view
point, militant defense Of the work
ers and Of the workers organization.
The very reverse, however, is the
case, in fact, the officials of the min
ers themselves in every public
speech or statement have worked
overtime to prove that it is a "respec-
table strike" waged in the interests
of "the whole community"
This was the key note of the
speech of John L. Lewis and the
lesser lights who appeared with him
before the striking miners at Nan
ticoke. The meeting was called by
the local scale committee drew some
5000 moners into town so that three
theaters were filed and crowd on
the streets listen to the speech by
means of radio equipment as did
those in the two lesser theaters.
TN line with the policy of the Lewis
I machine business men and priests
were in the forefront at the meeting.
After greetings by the mayor the
first speaker was Rev. Father Curran
of Wilkes-Barre who is credited with
settling" several strikes in this
region. The father stated he had
been on strike in 1869 and had
worked for $1.45 per day. This infor-
nation to the miners who are strik-
ing for an average of approximately
$500 per day seems to cheer the au-
dience considerably.
Kennedy and Murray, secretary and
vice president of the U. M. w. of A.
then speak. Murray creating furore
when in an argument in defense of the
check-off he suddenly turned on the
venerable father with the remark:
'Why even the church has the check
off," At this sudden onslaught the
fathers temperature rose visibly first
his face became red then purple and
he appeared in danger of apoplexy
almost, while Lewis stiffened into a
rigid attention with his black looks
of disapproval for his colleague who
had made such tactical blunder as
ito drag the question of church into
the argument. -
Lewis rising at 5;26 p. m. (many OF
the audience have been waiting for
him since 1890 a. m.) draws atten
ton to the late hour and then pro
ceeds with his speech in line with
all his previous utterances, which con
stitutes an attempt to prove the IRE
spectability" of this 100 per cent
American strike.
Relating again the incidents leading
TO the suspension of mining Lewis in
sists that the check-off must be the
basis of any settlement and instead Of
basing his argument Of an increase
in wages upon the need of the toilers
in the mines, seeks to prove by ex
amples of thelsale of coal how the
mine owners can well afford to pay
the increase in wages without any in
crease in the price Of coal ito the
public"
"rTHE PUBLIC" is always handled
l. with the utmost care by the