The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-12-09

italist society
But the persecution Of Alex Howat
and the fighting miners Of Kansas did
not stop with his removal from office.
Lewis appointed provisional district
Executive board composed of individ-
uals cordially hated by the great mass
of the miners and when the strikes for
the release Of Howat and for the main
tenance OF contract clauses continued,
the whole district was reorganized and
the bulk of the miners deprived OF
their rights In the union.
Howat himself and the rest Of the
militant officials we're expelled.
LoneNFIght Begins.
Then began the long fight OF the
Kansas miners for reinstatement--a
fight in which Howat again took the
lead upon his release from Jail. 1t
must be remembered that up to the
present time no charge of violating
the constitution OF the United Mine
Workers has been officially preferred
against Howat or his supporters.
They simply were removed from Of
fee and expelled from the union by
Lewis himself in complete defiance Of
all rules Of the union which state spe-
cifcally that the international presi-
dent has no Jurisdiction over such dis
trict matters.
AS a matter Of fact, it is unconstitu-
ltional for the international president
to pass on such matters until they
have been dealt with by district con-
vention.
District Convention for Howat.
Howat has been upheld by district
convention since his removal in spite
Of the discrimination practiced by the
Lewis machine.
Supported by an overwhelming ma
jority Of the membership, including
the powerful District IL of Illinois
with 100000 members, Howat carried
the fight into the local unions. At
the 1922 convention, Lewis, with the
aid of the powerful army of organizers
he had brought to the convention, and
in spite of huge majority in favor
of Howat, ruled that the case could
not be heard.
Howat continued the struggle. Far
rington, who had supported the rein
statement of Howat because of his
own fight with Lewis and because Of
the strong sentiment for Howat in
Illinois, made his peace with Lewis
and deserted Howat.
The Lewis Method.
At the 1924 convention, after days
Of delay, Lewis adjourned the gather.
ing on the last day when Howat asked
for the floor. A majority Of the dele
gates remained in session and pledged
themselves to continue to support the
struggle of Howat and the Kansas
miners.
Howat was then informed by the
international executive board that he
could become a member OF the United
Mine Workers again only by going to
work in the mines. This concession
carried with it no restoration Of his
rights in the union. He was to be
treated as a new member as were all
of his Kansas supporters with one
lone exception. This exception was
made undoubtedly because the miner
in question moved out OF Kansas into
the Missouri district.
Howat Digs Coal.
So Howat went back TO work in the
mines. He secured job with much
difficulty because OF the hostility OF
the operators and at present is work
ing in a mine where the coal seams
are only thirty inches deep-"brushing
the top" as miners call these thin
seams. He is probably the only min
ers' union official Of any prominence
who has gone back to the mines.
working at the face" for two years
Howat qualified for district Office
again. He was nominated by 80 per
cent Of the membership as before
stated. CAS- a matter OF fact he has
been nominated by these huge majori-
ties every election held since his re-
moval from office but always kept
from the ballot by rulings OF the hand
picked Lewis district machine).
It Is known to everyone that How.
ats name on District II ballot is the
same as election and herein lies the
secret of the desperate measures used
by Lewis.
Bad Conditions In District.
At present there are from 1900 TO
1000 miners in District IA who are
not in the union Howat could organ
lie them in month after taking Of
fce. They are not scabs but are
former union miners who have lost
confidence in the union since 1t was
wrecked and the remnants placed d.
rectly under the control of the Lewis
machine.
Contr,A provisions are not enforc-
ed. The security Of employment which
the Kansas miners enjoyed during