The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-03-13
By JACK TOMBSTONE.


THE betrayal of the anthracite coal
miners by the Lewis administra-
ton cannot be judged by itself as an
isolated act committed by leaders who
had misjudged situation. To get the
proper perspective, so as to under
stand correctly the magnitude of the
crime perpetrated upon the miners,
particularly, but against the working
class as a whole, we must look back
over the few years that Lewis has
been president of the United Mine
Workers of America.
When we trace the misdoings OF
John L. Lewis since he became presi-
dent, we see that this latest act was
the. climax of a series of betrayals
that have demoralized the fighting
miners organization and gradually re-
duced it to a mere appendage of
Wall Street.
ENIRST, what was the situation in
1 the anthracite, did the situation
warrant retreat from the original
demands put forward by the tri-dis-
trict convention, and if so, were the
miners in such defeated frame of
mind, that it was necessary to accept
such an outrageous agreement. Let
US analyze the entire situation.
There is no question that after
nearly six months of bitter struggle
the miners conditions were very bad,
but the morale of the strikers was
excellent, they were in fighting
mood. Out of $4,000 strikers not one
had deserted the ranks, nor was there
single thought expressed about
going back to work.
Coupled with this strong fighting
spirit Of the strikers, the labor move
ment was rallying to their support.
True the support was only moral and
financial, but this was the immediate
need of the strikers. At the time
Lewis was signing the agreement.
machinery was being set up that would
have fed, clothed and housed the
miners for an indefinite period.
1t can be said, that in spite of the
priyations suffered by the strikers.
the day on which this black agree
ment was signed, they were
stronger, more militant and willing to
tight, more united in purpose than in
any other period during the strike.
Not only that, but the persistent ef
iQrts OF the progressive miners were
bearing fruit, the miners, slowly but
surely were becoming conscious of
the class nature of the struggle.
The three district grievance COM
mittees had consolidated their forces
they gave official expression to the
feeling of the rank and file. They
had sounded the note of warning TO
the Lewis machine that the miners
would not stand for a settlement less
than the demands of the tri-district
convention, they were just beginning
TO establish themselves, as the lead
ing strike committee. Then came the
betrayal. This was the strategic mo-
ment for Lewis to commit his vile
deed If he had waited two weeks or
a month, it could not have been ac-
complished, at least not SO quietly.
THE uninitiated will say, if il was
the purpose of the Lewis admin
stration to serve the coal operators
why did they not sign the agreement
without going thru such a heartbreak-
ing strike. In the first place a strike
could not have been avoided, the
miners in convention made demands
and. these could not be abandoned
without at least pretending to strug-
gle for them. Second, the anthracite
miners had some confidence in the
leadership of Lewis, this was his only
stronghold in the entire coal mining
held. ct is no longer.) Third. this
is an old maneuver of Lewis. call the
miners on strike, starve them into
submission or maneuver in such a