The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-01-28
LEWIS Payroll
CROWD ATTACKS
HApGOOD AGAIN
Stree Speech Is Dead
In Convention
Continued from Page y

Union" forces in an effort to de-
stroy utterly his power and pres
resistance TO Emperor Lewis.
Under Lewis orders, international
officers had slugged Powers Hapgood
numerically and threatened physical
violence against every left winger in
the convention.
PrOgressives in Counter Attack
In spite Of the blows Of the Lewis
machine, the progressives came back
today for a powerful counter-attaclS
en- masse. Led brilliantly by Brophy,
Stevenson, Alex Howat, Hapgood,
Pat Toohey and William Bremen,
progressive forces lined up for solid
resistance to Emperor Lewis.
Stevenson, running mate Of Brophy
in the recent miners election, hit
straight at the center of Lewis con-
troll in a ringing speech which set
the hall in pandemonium. Called a
"slimy friend" Of Brophy, he shouted
in Lewis face that he could and
would reveal the true sliminess of
his gangster rule in packing the con-
vention with several hundred dele
gates from dead districts.
Panie-striclen when he saw the
veil about to drop from his corrup-
ton, Lewis halted Steyenson's biting
attack by pounding wildly with his
gavel. The platform gang gathered
about Stevenson, who had appealed
from the decision that he was out of
order. Nainly endeayoring to speak,
he was forced from the stage.
Lewis Offers LabOred Defense.
No sooner had Lewis concluded a
labored defense Of his refusal to pub
lish the election returns of 1924, than
Stevenson was on his feet, rushing
I'D the aisle to hurl the lie at Lewis
for the "slimy friends" reference.
"I'm as clean a man as John L.
Lewis" he shouted
"A damn sight cleaner" came a
shout from the hall as he sailed into
the emperor, standing not more than
three feet from him.
Yes, Pm for John BrOphy and I'll
let my record in the Miners union
stand alongside that of any menu
ber.r he cried out. And as for
slime, | could reveal things about
this convention that stink to high
heaveE.T
Lewis Packs the Convention.
"Teu II tell H." came from the
floor. Stevenson launched out to tell
how West Virginia, Tennessee and
Kentucky. with not more than 1000
dues paying members, had a bigger
representation here than District 5,
Western Pennsylvania, whose presi-
Gent earlier in the day had boosted
Of having $4,000 members.
Reaction snarled out again in the
resolution committees substitute for
a dozen resolutions favoring Soviet
union recognition. The machine does
not allow hostile resolutions to come
to the floor, but presents substitutes
which confuse the issue and bewilder
the delegates.
The anti-Soyiet substitute in un-
measured terms denounced the work.
ers and peasants for setting up a
workers government instead of a
democracy. Stale charges that left
wingers disrupt American unions be-
cause they fight employers represen-
tatiYes in the unions were rung in.
The New York furriers and ladies'
garment workers were cited as eX-
amples and socialist opposition to the
left wing both in New York and Eu-
rope emphasized.
Kennedy Speaks for Lewis.
"The American labor movement"
concluded the gang committee, "must
purge itself Of this discordant and
destructive element which overnight
would destroy our organization
Secretary Thomas Kennedy, under
study to Lewis, followed with an un-
bridled attack, in which he coupled
the left wing with private detectives
and the coal operators. He endorsed
the New York so-called committee for
the preservation OF trade unions,
formed by Abraham Beckermah ana
his aides in the needle trades, and
called for constitutional action to
criye the left wing from the miners.
President Lee Hall, Of Ohio, de-
manded the immediate expulsion Of
All Communists from the convention.
Emperor Lewis promised him that
the constitutional committee would be
receptive to an amendment barring
all members Of the Workers Party
from the union.
Resolution Is Jammed Thru.
In wild hysteria engendered by
these heated attacks in which lett
wing delegates were not allowed 70
take the floor to back the original
resolution on the Soviet Union, the
lengthy substitute resolution was rail-
roaded thru before progressive forces
could catch their breath.
Stevenson shouted lusty ''no." In