The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-04-29
Coal Miners Must Build
The Union and Also Help
Organize the Labor Party
By J. LOUIS ENGDAHL

mouth England. There is indication anywhere on
this ship that the organized that they have
the least semblance of a union.
Andrew Furuseth, head Of the International Seamens
Union has great faith in the United States government
Instead of spending his time and energies organizing the
seamen however, he has been perpetual lobbyist in
Washington, trying to get favorable legislation from
congress these many years.
Among the results have been that entirely satisfac
tory legislation has not been forthcoming and the union
has been practically banished from the high just
as the Lake Seamen's Union has lost its hold the
Great Lakes where faced the giant fist of the United
States Steel Corporation The fact that the United
States Lines aforementioned hasn't helped Furu
seth or the
Here is warning to the coal miners who, Disguised
and discouraged thru the repeated betayas of the adj
mnistration of President John L. Lewis, may turn to
legislative action alone forlorn hope thus forget
ting rebuild and strengthen the union where it has
been weakened. Thru long experience however, the
have learned that they must develop their pollt
cal as well as their economic power that the danger
is great here, in other industries that either
viii be neglected The present crisis must be no ex-
cepton
The present period of struggle thru which the coal
miners passing cannot help but sharpen and de-
veop the class consciousness of these workers They
not only the employers but many of their Of
fcals as WELL openly arrayed against them Those Of
fcials who have been most loyal to them like Alex
Howat in Kansas they outlawed by the Lewis adj
nlnistration.
Evans in his History of the United Mine Workers
Of America writes of the early struggles of the coal
miners that:
1.-THE failure of the miners to gain recognition and the
right to organize and bargain collectively furnished in
centive for the growth Of class consciousness The min
ers were of the opinion that wealthy interests fast
becoming the dominating influence in the country that
large corporations gaining ascendancy in the coal
market and that when the price of coal was OF
very little advantage to independent (smaer) operators
because the railroads took the lions share by increas
ing freight rates"
HE v trre in he
the socaed Morgan Pool" united the big mine owners
in the fight for their interests
Thus in the early history of their attempts at organ
cation when the miners found that their collective
ton was sufficiently effective to gain them recog-
milton and rectfy the conditions of which they COM
planned they turned to state legislatures for relief Atho
the miners, in this manner succeeded in getting the
Pennsylvania legislature pass eight-hour law in
1868, its effectiveness nullified by clause in
serted at the nstigation of mine owners which made
eight hours legal workday only where there was no
agreement to the contrary" Unless union power
fu enough to gain recognition and collective bargaining
there naturally would be agreement to the contrary
Nothing better illustrates the necessity of economic
power to force and bulwark legislative gains.
Just as in the industrial struggle however where the
reactionary ofcaldom continually crppes the class
ton of the workers. in politics these officials
continue function thru the old parties fighting every
effort of the workers to build their own independent po
ltcal action.
The present struggle will effectually expose this
"Cossacks Estate constabulary in Pennsylvania has
been turned loose against the union pickets at the Gal
latin mine of the Pittsburgh Coal Company. Pennsyl-
vana in the grip of the republican party machine that
President Lewis supports.
The statement of the Trade Union Educational League
entitled, ''win the Miners Strike!" truly says:
he government is making preparations to enter into
the strike in its traditional role of strkebreaker to
crush the workers and help the employers The miners
be fully conscious of the nature of the class sg
gle in which they engaged and which must be prose-
euted with the utmost determination and political con-
scousness in order victory for the miners
This is struggle which must heighten the political I'M
Outstanding Of the workers. accelerate the movement
for Labor Party. and pave the way for an energetic
struggle for the naturalization of the coal mines"
William Green former international secretary Of the
Miners Union, but the Bolshevik-baitng head of
The American Federation of Labor, at one time
democratic state senator in Ohio while over in Illinois,
Frank Harrington, while president of the Illinois dis
trict was always cog in the republican party machine
being finally involved in the huge corruption fund raised
70 nut Frank Smith in the United States senate
President John L. Lewis, also from Illinois, has al
WAYS been petted child of the republican party being
mentioned as a vice presidential candidate In 1924 and
later as likely timber to succeed Secretary of Labor Da
s in the presidents cabinet Yet miners need but
vev the pathetic condition of their union today, with
Tohn L. Lewis as president to know that John L. Lewis
as vce-presiden secretary Of labor in the capitalist
state would be of benefit, but instead only another
handicap for them
Miners conventions have repeatedly gone on record
IN favor of independent political action, but the official
don, allied with the capitalist parties has continually
sabotaged all steps in this direction Efforts OF the coal
miners 10 act locally have been frowned upon
Fryponsive Hobbies have been maintained during the
session Of the various state legislatures and in Wash
ington to watch and cajole the old party legislators