The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-05-16


the demand for the six-hour day and
five-day week.
Hardly one of the thousands of
locals but had a resolution in the con-
vention demanding such, but they
were spurned and never Incorporated
in our demands. The contract was ac-
cepted after the fiasco at Jacksonville
because the miners did not know what
else to do, and after the capitalist
press had propagandized the country
and the labor takers had INDUCED in
a red batting orgy. 1t is safe to say
that if the miners had been permitted
to vote on the contract before it was
signed, if they had been asked, Are
you satisfied to accept this as a con-
tract?" they would have sent it down
to defeat amidst their contempt and
scorn. The miners will continue to
fight for a six-hour day and five-day
week.
1t is interesting to note the reasons
given by the labor bureaucracy why
they did not fight for a shorter-hour
week was because of the competition
of the unorganized field ]. L. Lewis
said it was impossible to organize
them, therefore, according to that,
it will be impossible to ever get a
shorter workday.
The present gesture at organizing
is camoufage designed to fool the
militant miners and attempt to have
them believe serious attempt at or
ganizing is being made.
If John L. Lewis wanted to organize
the West Virginia field and the other
fields at this time, John, with his vice
president, Murray, would lead an army
into West Virginia that would organ
ize 1t in six months or less. With
concentration on the one district,
Lewis at the head, assisted by Muir
ray, the international executive board
and field workers, auditors, organizers,
district presidents, vice presidents,
district board members and field work
ers, sub-distyict presidents and vice
presidents. and add to that the aid
of class conscious workers with the
many union men who are only waiting
a chance to organize, and the battle
would be won in a short period of
time.
IN view Of the fact that we have no
L contract now, since the operators
have violated it on every hand, shut
down the mines in violation Of it to
create condition among the miners
that will make them glad to accept
a reduction in wages when they feel
like offering them the proposition-in
view Of that fact we viii not be violat-
ing our sacred" signature if we throw
every mine in America idle at this
time. Do that and we win not have
to go any further than West Virginia
The few remaining fields would jump
at the chance to follow such lead.
The whole of the nations coal in
dustry at a standstill would make it
easy for John L. Lewis to sign up a
six-hour day and five-day week for the
American mining industry, and not for
a part of it only. That is the kind
of policy worthy Of the president Of
the fighting miners, and John L. Lewis,
1 say to you now, be not afraid of
support; we guarantee we would go
thru hell with you on an organizing
campaign of that kind, If necessary.
At the present time of writing, the
miners officials are indicted for viola
ton of an ancient injunction secured
by the West Virginia Coal Company
during the reign Of Moses, and the
energy OF the officials, = their time and
the miners money win be spent with
high-priced lawyers, and irrespective
of the outcome Of the lawsuit, more
injunctions will be issued, and so on.
ad minimum
The only way to kill the Injunction
evil is to let the lawyers stay at home,
and with our leaders at our head, the
miners of West Virginia, coupled with
n few thousand miners that would