The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-08-20


IN Pioneer camps ghich are grad
ed States. The picture shoqos
Y.
conditions, for higher wages, and for
shorter hours. 1t should fight for
the 5-day week with the 8-hour day
and make this part Of the union
agreements. The strike benefit sys-
tenn should be reestablished in
preparation for coming struggles
The system of donations should be
abolished. The strike fund must
not be used for any other purpose,
nor shall any sums be borrowed
from the strike fund.
5. Democracy In the Union.
(a) Our union. must become
democratic; the membership must
run the organization. Not less
democracy, but more democracy is
the need. Defeat the Proposal to
Elect Our Officers In the Conven-
ton. This proposal would give
greater power to small group of
officials who could manipulate con-
ventions. Instead, we must retain
the present method of election of
Grand Lodge officers through a
referendum; more power to the
membership.
(b) Stop the Expulsion Cam
paign of the Officialdom. Support
complete expression of opinion for
our members on all working class
m t t8rs reinstatement of all
brothers SUSPENDED or expelled for
advocating views different from the
administration.
(c) Biennial Conventions. The
present system of four years be-
tween conventions denies the rank
and file sufficient opportunity to
participate in making the policies
Of our union. We propose conven-
ton every two wears.
6. For a Labor Party.
We need political party of labor
that will fight for our interests. The
old parties both REPRESENT capital
end fight labor. At present. in
functions are used to break strikes.
We must STRUGGLE against jriunc-
tons by open violation, by continued
picketing
We must fight for Relief For the
Unemployed. The convention must
fight unemployment by launching q
movement to decrease the hours of
labor; by demanding governmental
insurance against unemployment.
administered by the workers and
financed by tax on profits: and by
cooperation with councils of unem-
ploved to demand protection and re-
lief. The parties of capital do moth
ing for the unemployed. We must
eupuort the demand for a Labor
Party.
Brother Machirists:
Our present policy has been tried
for many years, lone enough for a
couplete test. It has been fully
tried out bv our entire administra-
ton. by our staff of international
officers. 0ur present policy is a
complete failure.
Our responsible officers no longer
think in terms of militant unionism.
Our platform and preamble, under
which VIE conducted heroic struggles
and built up the organization, have
been scrapped Organizing for bet
ter paw. shorter hours, improved
shop conditions. etc. has been
superseded by the slogan Of 'union
hanks. union enhancement coonera-
ton plan" etc. In fact, our officers
have abandoned the fundamental
principles Of trade unionism.
AS a result, the character of our
once militant organization has been
completely changed. Yesterday, we
we're progressive ard militant. To-
day, we are stagnant and dying. And
our officials make things worse by
nxpelIing those who demand return
to militant methods.
Brothers. Let us cease to be an
organization in name only. 1t is
! time TO call llaII' ~ 10 Ni'iN w
face realities. It is high time to
stop backing up, and to start going
ahead.
The salvation of tho ]. A. of M
lies with the rank and file member
ship and not with its present leader
ship. Therefore. it is up to the
membership to see that the coming
convention adopts a program that
will rebuild. strengthen and CONSOLE
date the !. A. of NJ.
We call upon every lodge in the
association to endorse the above pro.
gram and instruct their delegates to
the coming convention to fight for
. its adoption