The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-06-22
MINERS
ARE Determined
TO RENEW FIGHT
Conference Accepts
Hodges Resignation
BY Our London Correspondent.

held since the lockout, was revealed
in their challenge to the Baldwin gov
eminent over the anti-Trade Union
bill.
The delegates at Kingsway Hall,
London, unanimously decided to car
ny on their tasks of strengthening
the Miners Federation and of carry
ing on their trade union tasks to fight
for their members irrespective Of
whether or not the Trade Union bill
is passed by the government.
! saw A. j. Cook yesterday and he
emphasized the determination Of the
miners delegates to fight the govern
ment both on the Trade Union bill
and the 8-hour act.
"The only opposition to the official
resolution" declared Cook, was a
demand for militant action. This was
voiced by a Durham delegate, Louis
Martin, Of Pelton Fell, who showed
that the government got such a
fright during the General Strike that
it was anxious to see that a similar
strike would be impossible in the fu-
ture He urged for militant action
to oppose the bill. As a result of
rank and file pressure the resolution
against the bill was strengthened and
its effect now is that the miners will
ignore the bill and carry on with the
work as if it had not been passed.
"Our conference also realized that
capitalism has completely broken
down in the coalfields as elsewhere.
"As first step towards a prae-
tical solution of the mining situa-
ton, with its. private ownership and
chaos, the delegates agreed upon the
policy of naturalization of mines
and minerals without compensation
for royalty owners.
"In the reports from the districts
it was shown how the miners and
their families are suffering. Those
who are employed, in many instances,
are only working three days per
week. Some men are only working
one day per week. Thousands are I'M
employed-and in nearly every in
stance these are the one who were
the best fighters in the Federation.
"Victimization does not end with
starvation. Evictions are taking
place too, and forms of persecution.
soft words and eloquent appeals
to the government and owners will
not stop the persecution now taking
place in the coalfield.
/ HKNa x,a,,oA xo,.,o,.
of the Miners National Union backed
up by 100 per cent organization.
Then we will be able to speak to the
owners and the government in the
only language they understand.
Zone the most remarkable
things that took place in the confer
ence was the detailed criticism and
exposure of Frank Hodges made by
w. P. Richardson. The report an
nouncing the resignation of Hodges
as international secretary was carried
unanimously.
No Pals for Hodges.
"Not one voice was raised to de-
fend him. This shows that the Brit
ish miners are determined to have a
fighting international-and one that
will include our Russian comrades.
"The government should pay at
tention to the determination of the
miners delegates to strengthen their
contact with the Russian Workers
This decision was arrived at in the
same week that the Soviet represen-
tatives were driven from Britain
International Labor unity will pre-
vail over the national hate and
treachery of the Baldwin govern
ment.
international unity and action in
conjunction with naturalization will
end the chaos and misery now exist
ing in the coalfields of the world. =
Another Wage Attack.
"Last year | said, reduced wages
and increased hours would not HELM
the mining industry. We now see
what has happened The miners are
faced once more with attack on their
wages. The explanation is simple
With lower wages, longer hours, and
intensified production British coal
forces down wages in other countries
"France, Belgium, Germany, Amer
lea, Poland, are all faced with wage
reductions and unemployment. The
French government has retaliated by
closing their doors to British coal.
"The only way out is for an Inter.
national Miners organization that
will engage upon a struggle to ar
range the hours, wages, and working
conditions. This would end the pres.
ent cut-throat competition that is
starving the miners in every capital
list country in the world"
\ German DepOrted From