The daily worker., 1926-05-08
THE FIRST PRIZE WINNER.
ANAL LGAMATION is
TURNED DOWN BY
A. C. W. LOCAL 144
Also Take Reactionary
Position on Amnesty
BY BEN GORDON,
(Worker correspondent)

AT the coming convention Of the
Amalgamated Clothing Workers to be
held in Montreal, Local No. 144 of
Chicago will not fight for amalgama-
ton or the week-work resolution, two
outstanding demands of the needle
trades workers thruout the country.
This was the decision Of the special
meeting called by that local.
recommendation in the form of
resolutions were passed by the local
to be used by the delegates as in
structions on how they should vote.
In place of the amalgamation resolu-
tion the local adopted a resolution
calling for a federation of needle
trades, scheme tried out before and
proven a failure.
1t will be remembered that the ANAL
gamation resolution was passed at the
previous convention of the A. c. w.
with instructions to the G. E. B. to
work towards that end. Yet at this
late date we heard brother advance
the antiquated argument that ANAL
gamation would mean the breaking up
of the existing unions.
The reactionaries also won out on
the resolution for the release Of poll
tical prisoners Of all countries. An
amendment was presented by Broth
er Green on this resolution which
proposed the changing of "of all coun-
tries" to "of all capitalist countries"
Brother Stollar, notorious for his
hatred of the Soviet Union, and others
took advantage OF this situation to
make their attacks upon Soviet Rus
sia and argued that there are also
political prisoners in the workers
government. The arguments we're so
vile that they even got under the skin
Of the opposition, and one after an
other, in speaking against the amend
ment, specified that they did not
agree with Stollar.
To the credit Of A. Wexler, presi-
dent of the local, he was the only
leading official who defended the
amendment. His reply to Stollar and
others was that they were to be pitied
because of their ignorance. only
workers who read nothing else but
such papers as the Chicago Tribune,
could advance such attacks on the
Soviet Union. Their minds are pois-
oned with the lying propaganda that
the Tribune gives to the gullible
American public" he said. He quot
ed from the report Of the Trade I'm
ion delegation of Great Britain, to
Soviet Russia where they prove that
those who are imprisoned by the
Workers Government are in the en-
ploy of capitalist governments of 9th
er countries and counter-revolution-
aries who aim to destroy the first
workers government.
The machine under the leadership
of Nicholson succeeded in defeating
the amendment. The original resolu-
ton was adopted.
In spite of all this local 144 stands
out as the most progressive local in
the Chicago organization. A number
of resolutions progressive in charac-
ter were passed at this meeting, such
as the resolution on the Labor Party,
the 4O-hour week, rank and file or
SdulLdl4Ol COAuAl4ALIOCo W VI 6aAAAO IhO
unorganized workers connected with
the mems clothing industry, against
expulsion and complete amnesty for
those members who were expelled be-
cause of political opinions contrary
TO the administration.
This resolution urged that the con-
vention goes on record "for full and
unconditional amnesty for all cases
resulting from political conflicts on
policy and methods of organization
and that all members that have been
expelled or suspended be reinstated
and be placed back on jobs wherever
removed and their fines remitted."
Resolutions demanding the return Of
full citizenship to Debs and many 9TH
er resolutions of similar character
were passed.
THE AMERICAN ASSOCIA. Ill