The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-09-10
Relief for the Miners
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continued from page u
among the u NJ W. bureaucrats, underlings in the
official hierarchy graft, too, and some as far
down as the local relief committees have been found
out giving money at least on paper to men that do
not exist outside of their account books, or are
scabs in the mines. And such things further reduce
the actual relief payments.
So in western Pennsylvania local relief organiza-
tions, committees and conferences, based on the
local unions sprang up; their purpose beng TO make
appeals to other bodies organized labor through
out the country. There has never been any attempt
to approach individuals The district relief confer
ence that resulted from these local conferences does
not do it and the appeals all out in the name OF
the District Conference, the Miners Relief Confer
ence, located in Pittsburgh. The M X. Z. deals
with organized bodies of workers only, both as to
solicitation of funds and distribution of funds and
food and clothing. Only committees authorized by
the local unions and able to their seal, have
right to ask for relief: This local control OF reilet
distribution, under the supervision of the central
district body seems most suited to the peculiar con-
ditions in the mining field and results in a maxi
mum efficiency.
The Miners Relief Conference of Pittsburgh was
not easy to organize. Most determined and unfair
sabotage was committed upon it by the union Of
ficialdom. 1t seems that the latter not only Will
not provide relief themselves, they have an intense
dislike for anybody else who wants to do it.
The first local conference called a sub-distrct
conference inviting subdistrict and district union
officials, well
Murray. Few of them came, but their agents APP
peared and by filibuster tactics tried to disrupt
the conference or steer it into position where 1t
could be declared dualistic, and forbidden by the
officials.
The sub-district conference called district con-
ference which met in Pittsburgh, during the first
of July, and represented 81 local unions, though
the underground campaign against it instituted by
officaldom kept still more from coming.
The district officials would not come to the con-
ference though again their absence was made an
excuse for descriptive objections by their agents
Some time was taken in putting down the attempts
to break up the conference
The district officials advised that no permanent
organization to collect money be formed, but that
the conference confne itself to merely requesting
the A. F of L. to give help The conference con-
strued this to mean that it could apps: any part
of the A. F. of L. and declare Itself = permanent
organization to approach all groups of organized
workers. and other organizations through its eXecu-
tive committee. .f4-lH
That was two month";, ago Since then the dis
trict executive has decided to maintain neutrality
towards the M. r. c., and in grudging way per-
mts some cooperation. When the local relief COM
mttees (officiaD have not money enough from the
union, the NJ. R. c. is allowed to make up the
balance.
The International vice-presdent in charge of the
strike in Pennsylvania, Murray has not officially
ruled on the proprety of being saved from starva-
ton through the M R. c. but hinders its work,
era organizations investigating appeals from the
M. r. C. for donations:
Dear Sir:
Responding to the inquiry contained in
your communication of August End, 1 viii ad-
wise you that the so-called Miners Relief Con-
ference of western Pennsylvania is not bona
fide organization recognized by the United
Mine Workers of America. Our union has
relationship whatever with the people who
sponsoring this movement.
Every truly yours, Philip Murray,
'Vice- President"
The socialist party hestated about assisting the
M. r. c., they invited to do, then saw Dis
trict President Pat Fagin, and were advised by him
to start dual relief. committee. So far they have
not done this.
In Illinois the to organize similar confer
ence was blasted by denuncation from the district
president, Harry Fishwick, who offered to expel
anybody who had anything. to do with the affair
Fishwick maintains his power, did his predeces-
sor, Frank harrington, the operators $4,000 a
year man, by terrorism and explosions, by bullets