The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-03-26

surrounded by peculiar dangers and
ducing the commodity which makes
possible the worlds progress, are en-
titled to protection and the full social
value of their product, we have formed
the United Mine Workers of Ameri-
ca for the purpose Of establishing by
lawful means, the principles en-
braced in the body of this constitu-
ton"
The preamble gives specific reasons
why the union was formed. The reas-
ons are ~ the work is hard and dan
gerous; (2) the need of protection;
CD to secure the full social value of
their product and az to secure these
things, the miners must organize.
Unions Accomplishments.
These are the reasons for the ex-
istence of the union. Are these reas-
ons still good? The United Mine
Workers of America as it now exists
is the result Of the miners fight and
struggles. Every union that was or
gained in this country had the same
purpose, l. e., to organize to better the
working conditions and secure high
er standard of living.
The union has accomplished much
but 1t must still be on the advance.
The United Mine Workers Of America
is one Of the strongest organizations
in America despite the fact that the
of1cialdom has the rank and file di.
vided, by signing separate agreements
that expire at different times. If col
or, creed or nationality has no place
in the union, the separate agreement
has no place in the union. Both are
equally bad.
Conditions improved.
The United Mine Workers of Amer
lea managed TO greatly improve the
working conditions and secured high
er wages. Today the scab fields pay
day labor low as So a day. One of
the great dangers in the union is the
tendency which the officers manage
to instill into the minds of the miners
the slogan Of mo backward STEP"
The idea Of hold what you've got" is
all right, but the miners union be-
came powerful only when it was on a
forward march. Our motto should not
be pacifist motto of mo Backward
Step" but step Forward"
Unequal Wages and Conditions.
Inequality of earnings hampers us
to a certain extent. In the bituminous
fields we do not have an equal chance
to work. In the anthracite we have
unequal conditions. The plan of the
hard coal industry is such that it is
impossible to make an equal wage,
with some men sometimes doing twice
as much work as others. The living
conditions are such that every cent
earned goes for store bills.
Miners Go to 5oneyard.
The miners go to the grave yards
for being faithful slaves. The oper-
ators even in slack time are able to
coin four billion dollars a year profit
Our remedy, 100 per cent union
is the only answer. An intensive or
ganization is needed. Organizing the
is not a small job. A
real campaign which will penetrate
into the heart of the non-union field
must be started with the support of
all labor behind it. II a militant pol
Icy will not be pursued, soon there
will be no miners union.
In view of the above facts what
have we got to OFFER, what do we stand
or? We stand for the following:
1. Progressive leadership of the I'M
on, under the control of the rank
md file.
2. A shorter work day, nve-day
week and six-hour day.
8. A labor party and the national
cation Of the mines.
4. Unionization campaign.
5. Unity with the railroad workers.
6. An increase in wage to meet the
.ost OF living.
z. Election OF all officials.
8. National agreements.
8. Free expression of opinions as
by the constitution OF the
10, Reinstatement of all expelled
miners.