The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-01-26
Two Major Campaign Issues.
(BY A. MAcINIsT ". O.

Two Major Campaign Issues.
IT WO major issues were the Dis
i trict Organization Committee,
and he Baltimore and Ohio Plan in
the Speedaumatic Company, con-
tract shop. The progressive contend
ed that the District Organization
Committee, under progressive leader
ship, had increased the membership
Of the union considerably (Which had
been admitted in the District Council
by the business agents some time be-
fore). Also that the plan brought in
by the progressives for this commit
tee and adopted by the District Coun-
ell was splendid one admitted even
by the District Council, sub-commit-
tee elected by it failing to bring in
even one change or Improvement. AS
campaign stroke, the District Coun-
ell abolished the District Organiza-
ton Committee, after denying its ac-
complishments.
TT HE substituted district council
\ plan called for local organi-
cation committees (which was moth
ing new, since they were also called
for by the original plan Of the dis
trict organization committee), a
central machinery to consist of heads
of local lodge organization commit
tees, the lodge presidents being re-
commended for heads of committees.
The district council had sabotaged
the request Of the district organi-
ger, by assigning business agent
with no organizing ability. The bust
ness agents had failed to stimulate
the shop workers to plug the shops
in their vicinity. And despite this,
the progressives had some real or
ganizing work.
The Speedaumatic B. & o. Plan.
/ TT HE other issue dealt with the
i Speedaumatic Company, where the
worker employer cooperation plan
was introduced (meaning the extern
sion to contract shop of the B. G. o.
Plan formerly in practice only on
some railroads). This was the only
place in the entire country where this
was done.
1t was explained by the district
council that the president of the firm
had asked the grand lodge for such
a plan. Captain Boyer, the b. & o.
Plan originator, drew up the agree
ment. The business agents did not
bring this to the local lodges for dis
cussion. They called in the workers
in the Speedaumatic Shop, advising
them to consent. After this, the dis
trict council refused to hold it over
for one meeting, until the delegates
had chance to consult their lodges,
The plan was pushed through.
M 0W, every meeting of the COM
IN pany and shop representatives is
concerned with elimination of waste,
increased production, better machin-
cry, etc. Ullman did not dare to come
cut openly for the plan, but wanted
it given a chance. The workers have
had two lay-offs since the plan was
adopted. The progressives fought
the introduction of this plan, and con-
tended that this meant a gradual de-
velopment toward company unionism
The progressives pointed out that
the way to better union conditions
was not to increase production for
| the boss, but to carry on an organi-
cation campaign throughout the in
dustry. They warned the member
ship against this plan, which the
officials had foretold would be ex-
tended to other shops, if in their
opinion, it proved satisfactory.
Progressiyes Poll Strong Vote.
lnF the total Of slightly more than
O1900 votes cast, the progressives
drew an average Of all offices OF
thirty-five percent $3.50, varying
from 400 for sergeant-at-arms
down to 201ss6 for one of the bust
ness agents. The progressive vote fol
the various offices was as follows;
For district president, .Waterworth
400; vice-president, Iverson SS1s 9e'
recording secretary, Weydert 1870,
treasurer, Schlesinger $40; sergeant
OF arms, Schlimback 1870; business
agents, Reir $3.50, Holt 201a9o.
E0R all the offices except business
l. agent, it was two cornered fight
In the race for business agent, how
ever, two independent candidates
crept in. The combined opposition
vote to the machine was not suffi
cient TO win, Ullman and DAILY, sue
cessful machine candidates for re
election as business agents getting
60eo and 500 respectively, or al
average vote Of 5S%. Breivogel, in
dependent, got 11e6, but the other
Independent, Radovan, got 249e
which was higher than that obtained