Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-14
FIGHTS ARE EvADED
BY FUR WORKERS
...t ~ 81
Confusion Jars Convention,
But Police Keep Order
by Request.

1TtSeICc VI ptdIn-ClOlneS men Iul
nished by the Police Department at
the request sOf the International Fur
Workers Union of the United States
and Canada, in session at A. F. of L.
headquarters, today averted fistic en-
counters such as marked yesterdays
riotous session.
Exclusion from participation in con-
vention proceedings of OUTLAW" dele
gates representing Locals 10l, 105, 40
and rs of New York, whose mem
berS are under suspension, was &C.
eomplished. however, only after con-
fusion that threatened repeatedly to
break out into personal fights between
opposing factions. Protests OF MOD
rule" and packing" OF the creoen'
tails committee by leaders of the rad
ical group only served to speed up the,
operations Of the convention ssteam
roller" 4
Adoption of the report of the ere.
dentials committee, barring the, 30
delegates of the left wing" by a
vote of 81 to was followed by ring
ing appeal to the international union
to "cut out the cancer of communism"
that threatens to "eat the flesh and
bones" Of the labor movement.
Lawyer Makes Appeal.
Joseph Berack. counsel of the union
during the Boston strike, who made
this appeal. warned the fur workers
that their union is the last one that
must settle finally and definitely
whether or not you are going to be
dictated to by a group of men and
women outside the labor movement
known as the Communist party"
When capitalists and the central
executive committee of the Communist
Party are allowed to dictate in union
affairs as they did during the Boston
strike, Berack declared, and President
William Green of the American Fed
Grafton Of Labor is shut out" then is
the time to drive the last nail in the
coffin to seal up Communism in the
needle industry and the labor move
ment."
Berack's demand that the Interna.
tional Fur Workers help the entire
labor movement to eradicate this cam
GER" threw the accredited delegates
into an uproar directed at the then 81
lent group of So on tie left side of the
chairman's table.
Threat of Election.
Several times during today's session
Oizen Shaektman. president and pre-
siding officer of the union, came al
most to the point of blows. with Harry
Englander Of Toronto, chief spokes.
man for the radical group. +.
Englander is member of the gen.
eral executive board, a former vice
president of the union and is a mem
Der of the credentials committee, de-
spite the fact that he led the oppoSi-
ton to the adoption of it's report.
When he referred twice to the fact
that the convention was being run by
mob rule" Chairman Shacktman re-
piled belligerently. The third time
you mention mob rule here. you are
going to be elected"
II still recollect yesterdays meet.
ing" Englander replied. referring to
the fact that several delegates nursed
bleeding noses. He stood his ground.
however. and warned that the action
of the credentials committee in bar
ring the New York delegates would
break the international union"
Protest Is Vehement.
At one period, during Englanderss
vehement protest against the action
of the convention, the chairman inter-
rupted him to demand: Are you work.
ing i'm a shop?" Highlander admitted
that he was not.
He got back at the chairman in the
same way a few minutes later by put.
ting to Shacktman the same question,
mo, l am not" the union leader adj
mitted. IL
Members Of the New York faction,
protesting vainly that they had not
been legally suspended, were hooted
down by the regulars" one woman
in particular protesting against the
action of the convention amidst loud
beating of fists on tables, shouts of
Communists, Reds" and Put them
out" 1t looked for while as If the
demonstration would not continue
purely verbal"
The upshot of today's otherwise
peaceful proceedings was that Chair
man Schacktman told the debarred
faction that they would be given a
hearing at the proper time and at the
proper place." but that in the mean
while the faction of this convention
is final.'
AS guests" of the convention, the
group Of New Workers may sit in at
the sessions provided they keep the
peace"
The convention will adjourn, as a
result of formal vote, not later than
June 16.