The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-06-03

where the first lady Of Mexico"
Grady to do. The result was that
general strike was advocated by
Grady who had always held them
from a strike in times when there
was a chance Of winning.
Sabotaged the Strike.
This strike was never intended to
be won, and we have every reason
to believe was a frame-up between
the reactionary officials of the union
and the manufacturers. The strike
was declared about ten weeks before
the season would open with the idea
in view that after few weeks under
these conditions they would be will
ing to sign up under any conditions.
The strike had not been on three days
when Grady and other officials were
trying to send back whole depart
ments and crews on the quiet and in
many instances were successful. At
the same time the agents Of the reac-
tionaries were holding meetings with
the manufacturers at which it was
proposed that they make an agree
ment with the American Union COW
ering four locals which would leave
out the filters and lasters. This
would leave the manufacturers free
to hire whom they wanted in those
departments. In that manner they
would eliminate the fighters. Then
the officials of the union would prob
ably call their attention to the agree
ment calling for all employees to be
members of the American Union and
would be told to go ahead and organ
ize them. They would then have had
practically the same conditions as in
1919.
The plans did not work out. 1t is
true that the strike was lost but in
stead of eliminating the fighters,
only the fighters remained.
Reaction Defeated.
After the strike was declared off
there was an election held on July
9th, in which Chester w. Bixby and
Thomas J. Flood were elected gem
eral president and general secretary
respectively, on the issue of amalga-
mating with the Shoe Workers Pro-
tective Union. These officials took
their offices with the understanding
that no wages would be paid for the
purpose Of clearing up the affairs
Of the union and uniting them with
the Shoe Workers Protective Union.
Immediately after the election there
was a meeting held in the office Of
Franklin c. Haven, between him and
Reilly and Donovan, ex-agents of the
Goodyear operators and the finish
ers and packers locals, ex-president
Grady and William Ahearn, at which
Haven suggested that they see the
manufacturers as he stated that they
had been calling him up for several
days to see If he could not help
them to get another manufacturers
union. Franklin C. Haven is the at
torney who secured the charter in
1919 for the American" union and
who for about four years attended
all the council meetings and advised
for the manufacturers. Since then
an attempt has been made by these
reactionary leaders to form what
they call the Greater New York Shoe
Workers Union and they have al
ready got a charter from the state.
Consolidate Two Organizations.
There has been an agreement en-
tered into between the Shoe Work
ers' Protective Union and the "Amer-
lean" Union under the new admins
tration to have the membership of
the American transferred into the
Protective" and the members Of the
Protective" to organize an associa.
ton for the purpose Of owning prop
erty to be Incorporated and then thi:
corporation and the American Unior
which Is Incorporated, to merge To-
gether under the name, charter anc
bylaws Of the new corporation. AL
ready we have transferred severa
organized shops over to the "Protec
tive. These shops were organized
and had independent agreements az
they were not in the Manufacturers
Association, but we cannot finish th'
work of clearing up the situation anC
establishing one organization Of shoe
workers in this district unless WI
can raise the money necessary t
square the bills which we inherited
from the old administration.
Defeated Renegades.
After being defeated and discred
tied these renegades and agents Of