The daily worker., 1926-09-11


and the defeat which the labor in
terests suffered has been gradually
recognized" The coal miners have
learned the truth out of their own
bitter experiences. The tide Of op-
position to President Lewis and his
surrender is rising.
One indication of the growing op-
position to Lewis is now seen in
the fact that William ]. Brennan,
former president of Anthracite Dis
trict. No. One, United Mine Work
ers Of America, has announced him
self as candidate for secretary
treasurer of the international union
in the struggle against the Lewis
regime. The first paragraph in
Brennan's program is a reputation
Of the anthracite agreement, with
special opposition to sections three
and four.
1t was the proud boast of the
Lewis machine. which includes the
present ecretary-treasurer Thomas
Kennedy, who helped put over the
anthracite agreement, that arbitra-
tion had not been agreed to. Yet
the worst kind of arbitration is pro-
vided for in section three, that
Brennan especially attacks.
This section sets forth that issues
In controversy shall be referred to a
board of two men with full power
and without reservation or restric-
tions." Neither one Of these two
men is to be connected with the
United Mine Workers of America"
unless this can be agreed to, and the
mine owners certainly will not
agree. The miners are merely to
name three men and the mine own
ers three men. The miners select
one man from the owners list and
the owners one man from the min
ers' list. 1t Is certain that the coal
barons will get the man from among
the three on the miners list who is
the most favorable to them, who can
be most easily Influenced to support
their cause, or lean in their direc-
tion. If Lewis can be guilty of the
anthracite surrender, then it will
not be difficult for the mine owners
to find their man" among three
names that the Lewis administra-
tion would offer them to select from.
On the other hand the three names
that the mine owners will offer can
be depended on to be 100 per cent
for the coal barons. If a third man
is drawn in, he is selected by these
two already picked. The chances
are, therefore. all on the side of his
being another mine owners man.
No more vicious method of arbitra.
tion was ever conceived.
1t is to this triumvirate, packed
on the side of the mine owners, that
future disputes as to wages must be
submitted, altho President Lewis
has assured the miners that their
wages cannot be reduced during the
five years life Of the anthracite con
tract. This is only another decep-
tion. The miners have already had
their eye-opening experiences with
the Jacksonville agreement covering
the soft coal fields, under which the
mine owners have as usual forgot.
ten all about the sacred right of
contract" and slashed wages wher-
ever the mine workers have failed
to offer resistance.
AN this should help convince the
coal diggers everywhere thruout the
Jurisdiction of the United Mine
Workers Of America that President
Lewis. who is now up for re-elec-
tion, is doing the dirty work of the
employers inside the union, Just as
Frank harrington, the suspended
president Of District No. 12 Olli-
nois), after doing all the damage he
could inside the union, contracted to
Join the employers ranks and fight
the miners from the outside for
$4,000 per year.
Harrington was put on the skids
and his exit from the union was a
hurried one. President Lewis comes
up for reelection in December. The
miners should make sure that Lewis
follows harrington into the discard,
at least insofar as the miners union
is Concerned .ntW