The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-11-16
Labor Union Notes and News
CA Review of Local Trade Union Activities)
By JOHN THOMPSON

Coal strikes have always attracted
national attention 1t is their nature.
One of them--the 1923 strike, gave
Roosevelt the first record breaking
presidential majority since the Civil
War. 1t also cannonized the greatest
/ bundle of mediocrity and common
place cant that ever flashed across the
American skies, in the person of John
Mitchell.
Coal strikes have repeatedly de-
veloped great sacrifices and great
heroism on the part of the nameless
toilers, They have also brought to
the surface some crude as we'll as
some consummate scoundrels. In no
other industry has the political labor
fakir thrived so richly at the expense
Of the workers than in the coal mine
regions of Pennsylvania and Illinois.
To be a secretary or president of a
miners union or president or secre-
tary Of mining district meant to be
richly rewarded by the political pow
ers that be with easy jobs and high
salaries.
Farrington's Treachery.
Farrington's treachery in Illinois
was not exceptional. President Lewis
as a creature of the republican ma
chine and as a friend of Coolidge is
notorious. Mr.. Lewis has two broth
ers well placed. at the public trough,
rot because of their real or imagin-
airy abilities, but for no other reason
than that they are brothers of John
L. Lewis.
Will the present strike figure in the
coming presidential elections? It
does look that way. The wires from
Pittsburgh, Pa, tell us that Gov.
John S. Fisher of the keystone state
was invited to address the special
conference called to discuss the condi-
tions in the anthracite fields. Gift
ford Pinchot, who would not do any
thing for free speech or for the
rights of strikers while he was gov
ernor of the steel trust state, although
a progressive and liberal, has been
invited to tell what he can do and per-
haps what he does not know.
Publicity Stunt?
Why politicians should be invited
to take part in a discussion on a
purely economic and industrial ques-
ton is hard to explain, except as a
publicity stunt, considering the innate
snobbery of the A. F. of L. leader
ship and the slave mind that has
been characteristic of it since it's
foundation.
Perhaps back in the heads of these
officials there is somewhere an idea
of demand for some form of state
ownership of the mines. If that is so
then we can well pardon the Green
led green-goods brigade now making
a noise in Pittsburgh. For it will
show they are on the right road
Whether honest or dishonest or CROP
ing for new light and better meas
ures to pull the coal strikers out of
the mess they are in, the United
Mine Workers Union leadership with
few exceptions is now only reaping
what it has sown.
GREEN'S Value Doubtful.
1t is doubtful in view of the chang
ing economic conditions that Presi-
dent Green will be able seriously to
improve matters or prevent the in
augeration of regional agreements
and contracts.
To the workers of Greater New
York and indeed of the rest of the
country and from a class struggle
point of view, the conference of the
A. F. of L. executive council and
high officers of the different big in
ternational unions on the injunction
applied for by the New York and
Brooklyn traction companies is far
more important than whatever DELHI
erations the leaders may take part in,
or the conclusions they may arrive at,
appertaining to the coal strike. For
progress is not achieved in decaying
or out-of-date industries.
National Issue In n. Y.
The traction situation is different.
Local and municipal though it is,
there are incorporated in the contest
between the Amalgamated and the
traction interests of Brooklyn and
Manhattan great national principles.
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