The daily worker., 1926-09-30
SHOE WORKERS
CONVENTION IN
BITTER FIGHT
Left Wing Hits Hard at
Reactionaries
BY HERBERT BENJAMIN.

nrst convention OF the Shoe Workers
Protective Union since its merger
with the United Boot and Shoe Work
ers over the expulsion policy and In
competency of the president and sec
retary-treasurer
Delegates from the largest locals of
the organization, particularly those OF
Haverhill and New York, are making
determined effort to reinstate P.
Pascal Cosgroys, organizer Of the New
York district OF the organization, who
was notified just two days before the
convention opened that he has been
deprived of membership rights. SINH
larly, hard fight is looming for the
reinstatement of David Bancroft of
Haverhill, Mass.
Shows Up Nolan's Report.
A minority report was presented by
the committee charged with the duty
Of reporting on the presidents report.
In scathing six-page statement, the
committee showed that the organiza-
tion, far from making progress under
the present administration, has lost
every strike outside of New York and
many members and locals. The state
mont showed that these losses were
due to the wrong policies advocated
and practiced by the president and
secretary.
An especially bitter attack was
made against the DISQUALIFICATION
schemes which the president in his
report recommended.
Class Collaboration Scored.
Delegates from Haverhill and New
York point out that the interests of
the workers are being sacrificed and
that they are robbed OF their fighting
spirit by the president and secretary,
who seek to curry favor with the
bosses Attention is called to the re-
port of the president, wherein he is
compelled to admit that subsequent
events prove that the membership
exercised better judgment" than he
when they refused to accept the
peace pact" offered by the bosses of
Haverhill.
But in the same report the presi-
dent goes on to boast OF joint field
day participated in by the Employers
Association, the chamber of commerce
and civic organizations as a means of
establishing good will" between the
employers and their exploited slaves.
This he regards as a great achieve
ment and is, in fact, the only achieve
ment of which his report boasts.
ExpuIsions Aid the Bosses.
The expulsion Of Cosgrove is an
effort to eliminate a man who repre-
sents the workers who oppose these
policies of collaboration between the
bosses and union officials. 1t comes
on the heels of an election in which
he workers launched a "sticker" cam
paign to elect Cosgrove against Fitz-
gerald, the present secretary-treas-
urer. Fitzgerald incidentally was
never elected to this office, but was
appointed on the resignation of the
regularly elected secretary-treasurer
David Bancroft. the other expelled
member. was nine years business
agent OF the wood-heel makers of
Haverhill. He built up this organiza-
tion from SO to over 1000 members.
His expulsion by the general council
was the result OF his support Of the
insistent demand by the rank and file
OF his local, that the administration
take steps to organize the craft in
other cities. The charter OF this local
was revoked by the administration
and was not returned till after Ban
croft was expelled.
Despite the fact that he was ex-
PEELED the members OF his local
elected him by an overwhelming ma
jority, also in "sticker" campaign,
to continue to serve as their business
agent. But the administration went
to court TO secure an injunction to
prevent his serving and appointed the
man he defeated to the once.
Unfortunately, the opposition failed /
to organize its forces in advance and
the delegation is divided on all kinds
OF petty craft questions. This Is util-
lied by the machine, which has good |
OF coming out the victor.
Cosrrove Wins Floor for Appeal.
BUFFALO, N. Y, Sept. rs. - Dele
gates to the convention OF the Shoe
Workers Protective Union voted Ssis
against 30 TO permit p. Pascal Co.'S
grove to appear before the convention
to appeal against his expulsion. The
machine created a near riot when
they sought 70 override this decision
by a show OF hands vote. The ma
chine Is backed by the small locals
that have sent hsnd-picked delegates.
President Nolan was finally forced
10 admit that this effort to override
the will Of the majority y illegal and
cossrovs wss psssas>sed 70 sppesr.
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