The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-12-02

race the situation. Here Is widespread
Reorganization, and ruin. The very
life OF the union depends on organ
izing the unorganized districts. But
Lewis has absolutely failed to do this,
even worse, he has lost nearly half of
the men who were organized a few
years ago. He has not lacked for CO.
operation, for at one time or another,
most Of the district officials have been
his appointees.
Lewis has not lacked for organ.
izers. He has spent millions for or.
ganizers. He can and he has appoint
ed whoever he wishes, and as many
as he wishes.
Lewis has not lacked for money.
Whenever he wants to, he places an
assessment, and in every case, the
miners pay it, in full.
Lewis has not lacked for support,
for every time he ordered q strike,
the union miners, and in times past,
the non-union miners, struck and stay
ed on strike until he gave the word to
go back,
But in spite of all this, Lewis has
not only not organized the non-union
miners, he has lost 100000 union
miners.
The Only Two Possible Conclusions.
What possibilities are there" de-
manded Howat. There are only two.
Either he can organize and will not,
or he can not IL he wishes to. In
either case. it is time to put him out
Of Office. Eight years trial is enough.
No corporation would give any man
that much of a trial. We should de-
mand at least as much of our Of
ficials.'
Howat stated that he had just come
from the anthracite, where 10000
men have been sold into slavery for
five years thru a contract which does
not include the check-off and does in
clude compulsory arbitration.
Howat described the use of arbitra-
ton in labor disputes, showing how it
is always weapon of the employers
where the unions are strong and milit-
ant. 1t is method of preventing
them from using their strength. The
operators do not wish to bother with
arbitration where the union is power
less. They then rely on direct meth
DDS Of union smashing.
Must Maintain Union Control.
The question of maintaining the un-
ion conditions and scale in territory
supposedly unionized was discussed.
The speaker pointed to the weaken
ing of union control in the anthracite,
in Ohio, and in Illinois. He called it
a shame that a district so completely
organized as Illinois could not compel
more respect from the employers. II
used to WISH" he said, while we were
fighting the court law and compulsory
arbitration in Kansas, that we had
one hundred thousand union miners
down there, as you have in Illinois.
We could have turned that state up
side down. In fact we nearly turned
it upside down with ten thousand.
Howat's Own Case.
'Howat spoke only briefly on his
own case. He was convicted and
thrown into jail in Kansas for order
ing as district president, strike to
secure back pay due a miner, a
widows son. Lewis sent an arbitrary
telegram to Howat and Dorchy, the
secretary treasurer of District IA,
Kansas, declaring them deposed from
office. There was no trial, no charge
even, and no investigation. Howat
and Dorchy were also expelled.
Removed From Ballot Again.
Ever since then he has been fighting
for reinstatement with full rights. He
went to work as q coal digger, and
Joined the union again. Twice his
name has been taken off the ballot by
Lewis orders, altho Lewis has no con-
stitutional authority to do such a
thing. His name was on the ballot for
district president in the election this
year, with nominations of 80 per cent
of the locals. While he was on his
present tour speaking for John Brophy
for president, and the program he has
outlined. Lewis wired to the district
officials in Kansas instructing them to
remove Howat from the race and say
ing, II am surprised that you even
considered putting his name on that
ballot" More than that, all locals who
have voted for Howat, are now by
Lewis order disfranchised. And this
after five years OF ceaseless persecu-
toni
Rank and File for Howat
Tho Howat may not have gained a
hearing before the officials OF the U.
M. w. A., the members OF the rank
and file hear him gladly. The speech
was well applauded, and there is a
record of enormous meetings from
other parts OF the tour. Howat's other
dates in Illinois are at Auburn, Taylor
vile, Collinsville and perhaps other
points.
Joe Loda. president OF Local Union