The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-08-14

4
Transport Union deeply interested in
the work of the Anglo-Russian com
mittee and sympathetic with its aims.
There are several sections of Brit
ish unions in Ireland that are not I'M
der the control of the Irish Trade
Union Congress. In fact the con-
gress, even tho it is clothed with
more power, in emergency situations,
than the A. F. of L., is nevertheless
very much like the rope of sand"
that Samuel Gompers compared the
federation to at the Montreal conven-
ton.
Is there left and right wing in
the Transport Union?
Undoubtedly there are left and right
tendencies, as in all organizations, but
the left has not yet assumed organ
lied form. William O'Brien, general
secretary, gave me one explanation
why such was the case.
He attributed this phenomenon to
the rebellion, the Black and Tan Ser
ror, and the civil war between repub-
licans and free staters that followed.
The members of the union, or many
of them, participated in all those ac-
tions. O'Brien was arrested and inn
prfsoned after the rebellion, with
practically all members of the execu-
tive. With bombs bursting in air"
burnings, executions taking place
| daily and nightly, there was little time
I to devote to inner union politics. The
big job was one of defense against
the external foe.
WITH the final military defeat of
w the republicans, the union mem
bers naturally began to look for some
thing else to fight about. It looked as
| If left wing was in the process Of
formation. Several active members
of the union were in the Communist
Party. In fact William O'Brien and
Cathal O'Shannon were originally
members of the Communist Party, as
they were members of the Irish social
list party, which James Connolly or
ganized. Cathal O'Shannon is editor
of the Voice of Labor.
No sooner was the civil war over
than another obstacle to the develop
ment of a left wing appeared. This
was bitter fractional fight which
ended in the organization Of the Work
ers' Union of Ireland. That war Is
still on, without any indication of a
truce, armistice or peace. The most
progressive of the transport union
members who were not affiliated with
the virus Of dual unionism stayed with
the parent organization and raised the
slogan of unity. AS the secessionists
laid claims to the mantle Of radical
ism, many of the healthy but unsea-
soned progressivss split with the /. T.
G. w. U. The result has been almost
disastrous for the trade union move
ment as a whole and a deterrent to
the development of left wing.
Nevertheless, my opinion is that the
Transport Union is the center of grav-
ity Of the Irish labor movement, and
that from within its ranks viii be de-
veloped the leadership that viii play
the big and leading part in the class
ptAubSAC III AAClauU III tnc Aului6s
The Workers Union of Ireland does
not exist outside of the city of Dublin
to any considerable extent. How many
members it has on it's rolls appears to
be a mystery. In many respects 1t
reminds me of the o. B. u. that was
organized by Ben Legere in Law
renee, Massachusetts. Ben was a re-
sourceful fellow and while he re-
manned in Lawrence he was usually
able to stage demonstration OF some
kind. Incidentally, he was an actor
by profession. Ben's members did not
have to bother much about paying
dues. Their moral support and ideo-
logical kinship was sufficient. But
when Ben left Lawrence the o. B. u.
disappeared.
The Workers Union of Ireland ex-
poets its members to pay dues, but
the executive relies more on a rather
| hourishing coal business than ON dues