The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-10-26
|. A. OF M. HEADS
EXPULSION EDICT
BRINGS PROTEST
Local Unions Against
Banning Progressive

ed by the "Compromise" President A
0. Wharton and the vote manipulation
f. G. Dawson, have learned nothing
from the last struggle between the
Johnston and Anderson forces and are
again instituting the same old policy
of expelling those who disagree with
their DO NOTHING. policy and their
surrender policy to the bosses. The
Johnston leadership adopted policy
of expulsion but it takes Wharton and
Dawson to put it into effect and they
are proceeding in regular Mussolini
fashion to get rid of their opponents
although they have not yet tried the
castor oil methods.
The newest example set by our
'hard working" international officials
is the recent order of the executive
council expelling Andrew Overgaard,
secretary of the Metal Trades Pro-
gressive Committee after his own
lodge had exonerated him by an over
whelming majority.
The facts of the matter are briefly
these:
Wharton and Executive Council Over
rules Lodge and Expels Overgaard.
After Lodge 800 of which Over
gard is member, had considered
charges preferred against him by q
reactionary business agent, mem
Der of the same lodge, the member
ship voted lit to 43 for his acqaittal.
The business agent appealed the case
TO the International president, Whar-
ton, who set aside the decision or tins
lodge and fined Overgaard $4,000 for
ISLANDER" The lodge was notified
( to that effect on July 7th.
The lodge Immediately protested
against this action and supported
Overgaard, who appealed the case to
the executive council, while paying the
fine in order to be strictly within the
law" Before the appeal was sent to
the "high court" in Washington, how
ever. the lodge was notified by Cen
eral Secretary Dawson, "that the exc
cutive council met on June goth and
expelled Overgaard for his 'Commun-
istic' activities and for being a men,
her of the Workers Party, although
Overgaard in written statement to
Wharton declared he was not men,
her of the party, but declaring he
would fight for progressive measures
which would strengthen the union ac-
cording to the rights and privileges
guaranteed by the constitution of the
l. A. of NJ.
The fact is that the issue of Com
munism was only raised as an excuse
TO get rid of one militant leader of
the opposition.
The Real Cause for the Expulsion.
The real reason for the expulsion
is that Overgaard and the progressive
clements in District have been lead
ing the struggle against the policy of
surrender to the bosses through the
establishment of the B. & o. Plan in
the contract shops, against introduc-
tion of physical examination in the
Goss plant the biggest union shop in
Chicago, against the signing of the
thfee-year agreement with a paltry
3 cents increase in wages in 1925,
nothing in 1927 and nothing in 1929
Fought for Progressive Program.
The progressive elements fought
for real campaign to organize the
unorganized, Strengthening the union
generally through amalgamation and
establishing labor party in this coun-
try in order to be better able to fight
against the bosses injunctions, etc.
Overgaard being one of the leaders
for these progressive policies had to
be gotten rid of somehow and failing
to accomplish their aims by constitu-
tional means, our high court in Wash
ington used the axe.
Lodge 800 Appeals to Membership.
Lodge 800 is appealing the case to
the membership and have circularized
all locals of the I. A. of M. with the
facts in the case. The statement sent
out by the lodge points out that even
witnesses for the business agent, who
preferred charges against Overgaard.
tsdmitted practically every charge
made against the district officialdom
waA correct; further it calls attention
to the recent Andersen expulsion and
warns the membership that if this
case IN allowed to stand unchallene ed,
every progressive who dares to raise
,hig voice against the officialdon, is in
anger of being expelled.
\ Protests Come In.
The high-handed manner in which
the executive council expelled Over
gard without even giving him a
chance for hearing must be the sig
nal for protests from all over the
country or everyone of us is in danger
of falling victims of Davison's and
Whartons Justice"
AS this is written lodges are al
ready beginning to send in protests to
the grand lodges notifying No. 800 of
their action which is requested in the
statement. All progressive and left
wing clements should do all in their
power to acquaint the membership
with the facts in the case before the