The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-04-02
Lewis EXPOSED
IN SECRET deal
With OPERATORS
Illinois Miners Reveal
New Betrayal
Especial to The Daily Worker

Proof that John L. Lewis, president
of the United Mine Workers. made a
secret agreement with the Illinois
Coal Operators Association to reduce
wages Of the miners in District 12 was
revealed here today by the Save-the-
Union Committee of the district on
the eve Of the departure of a local
delegation to the Pittsburgh Confer
ence tomorrow.
One hundred delegates from every
section of the state was the quota of
this district. Delegates travelled by
train, by bus and automobile. Others
hitch-hiked. Con to Pittsburgh" was
the slogan.
General Strike April 1.
A general strike Of all Illinois mine
workers has been called by the Save
the-Union Committee to begin Safur-
day night. No separate agreements
will be tolerated. Every mine which
will continue to operate will be picket
ed. The statement of the committee
follows:
"The most base sell-out of the iii
nois miners contemplated by the Lewis
machine and his District No. IL lieu
tenants has been frustrated by the
growing rank and file Save-the- Union
movement. 1t is now a proven fact
that Lewis had promised the Illinois
coal operators wage cut by April
first, and only the growth of This
movement prevented it.
Proof of Lewis Sell-Out.
"When few days ago w. J. Jen-
kins, the newly elected president of
the Illinois Coal Operators Associa-
ton, definitely announced the 'onen-
shop as the policy of the organization
and refused any further negotiations
with the union except on the basis of
& wage cut, he also charged that
Lewis has wilfully given the Illinois
operators the wrong impression of his
real Intentions after his definite
promise that he would take it UPON
himself to guarantee that Illinois
would secure needed relief by April l.
Undoubtedly Lewis gave this
promise to the operators in good faith
but subsequent events interferred with
his plans. He counted without the
movement of the rank and file.
"That the policy of the temporary
Illinois district agreement was a trap
by the operators to take these miners
out Of the fight until such time as
they could concentrate all their eff
forts on an outright 'open-shop' fight
was foreseen by the Save-the- Union
Committee 1t has now come true.
The officials stand further exposed;
they have given no answer to this last
declaration of war upon the union,
but the rank and file are preparing to
meet the fight under their own lead
ership.
Rank and File viii Strike.
"Strike notice has been posted at
tie Illinois pitheads, signed by the
Save-the- Union Committee, District
IL. They declare:
The district temporary agree
ment expired April first.
The operators propose a wage
cut.
They threaten to smash the
union.
This is the result of the policy
of betrayal of the officials.
Our answer is strike.
Join hands with our striking
brothers in Pennsylvania and Ohio.
There must be no separate agree
ments.
illinois miners, down tools April
first!
Join in the national strike.
Against wage cuts-for a nation
ial settlement.
Beat back the attacks of the
bosses.
Save the Union
while the rank and file miners
prior to the beginning of the Save
the Union movement were unwillingly
adjusting themselves to the alleged
necessity of accepting a wage cut,
influenced by the propaganda Of the
operators and the officials, the tide