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


The beginning of the opposite move
ment in Chicago dates back to the
team work between Hutchinson and
Jensen In June. 1924, in forcing upon
the Chicago carpenters an agreement
In words and effect Identical to the
Lands scab award.
Jointly these two also carried on
their efforts to crush the opposition
to this agreement thru expulsions, but
here they struck a snag. The mem
bers expelled from Local 1s1 were re-
instated The local membership was
solidly behind the reinstated members.
Because of the building boom exist
ing ever since the war, the contractors
have not been In a position to very
effectively force the open shop
features of the agreement Of 1924
upon the union.
The belief that the agreement Sc
cured closed shop conditions helped
Jensen to carry the election in 1924.
But the progressives who then com
menced to organize, maintained their
organization and carried on their
propaganda for real conditions.
A Non-UnIon Union Agreement.
This year. Jensen renewed the
agreement Of 1924 with the famous
clause 10 relating to stoppage of work
or strike being eliminated, but re-
tanning all the other "open shop
clauses. Nothing was put In its place
guaranteeing the right to sympathetic
strike, which by the way is a part of
the constitution Of the building trades
department. In other words, as the
agreement stands, carpenters may
even be compelled to work with non
union men of their own trade.
The progressive group existing since
1924 made its preparations for this
years elections. A new group in op-
position to the Harry Jensen rule ap-
peared just prior to the elections and
it became possible for the two groups
to unite on the basis Of a program of
progressive trade demands and also
emphasizing the right to freedom OF
minority expression and opposition to
illegal suspensions and expulsions, as
well as for the shorter work day and
for the organization Of all mills with
union material only to be used on the
jobs.
Opposition United.
A joint slate was agreed upon and
an active campaign engaged in with
the progressive program distributed on
the jobs thruout the city.
While several office seekers, pure
and simple, naturally became in.
terested in this movement expecting
an easy way Of getting positions, but
noticing that only candidates were
wanted ready to stand up and fight
for a progressive program they soon
lost interest in the matter.
This consolidation of all the oppost
ton forces ready to make an honest
fight to eliminate the corrupt in.
huences Of the Harry Jensen admin
lstration threw CONSERVATION into the
forces Of the latter. Harry Jensen
went to great trouble distributing
propaganda material applying the RED
paint thick and heavy, stating that al
these progressives were better known
as Communists, Bolsheviks, anC
Reds" saying that the candidate.
were hand picked by the reds in &
caucus dominated by the reds.
Vanishing Ballots.
This, however, failed completely il
Its intention to scare away the ranl
and file members. They seemed to full
ly understand the correct interpreta
ton of the program submitted by the
United progressive caucus. They
showed that in their votes cast. The
progressive president for the District
Council was elected by a majority
vote, but one local voting strongly fol
the progressive slate happened to be
In arrears with its per capita tax. Its
vote was eliminated while the votes
cast by Local 1856, also a majority foi
the progressive slate, mysteriously
disappeared.
With little prospects Of the appea
being sustained by the general exc
cutive board. this leaves the fight a
precisely the same point as before tbs
elections. However, with this differ
ence. An additional example OF cor
ruption has been set by the Harr,
Jensen administration, the rank ant
file members have received additiona
evidence, not only of that fact, bu
: also of the need OF choosing an ad
ministration following a much NOR,
progressive program and honestl,
fighting for the material interests o
the union.
Membership Ready For Progress.
The opposition forces have becom,
united around such a progressive pro
gram. The rank and file have shown
their readiness to respond and Will
further consolidation OF all the Cd
position forces thru the future &C
tivities and with additional clarlfica
ton to make the unity not only on,