The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-07-07
PROGRESSIVES
TO FILL POSTS
PENDING VOTE
Delegation to Help in
Organizing New Union
(By a Worker Correspondent

ANNA, Kan. (By mall in SplIe
of the efforts of the Barr-Skahan ma
chine, Lewis tools in Kansas, to sab
otage the special district convention
of the UMWA, a good convention was
held on July LIST here and the reac-
tionary district officials were indicted
and removed and temporary district
officials elected.
Although some locals were held
back from sending delegates through
the lack of finances, the convention
met with 29 delegates present from
over Is locals. The interest of the
rank and file was manifest in the
large attendance of miners through
out it's proceedings. From beginning
to end the convention showed real
fighting spirit and proved that the
Kansas miners will no longer submit
to the terrorism and bulldozing of the
Lewis clique.
Delegates after delegates took the
floor to expose Lewis treacherous
policies which wrecked the miners
union in District IA long before the
present strike. The effect of these
policies nationally was brought home
to the delegates and visitors in a
scathing indictment of the Lewis out
fit by Freeman Thompson, progress
sive leader of the Illinois miners, and
member of the National Convention
Arrangements Committee.
A resolution of indictment was
adopted unanimously, charging the
officials of District IA with ineffi-
cheney, incompetence and misbehavior,
and their offices were declared vacant.
1t was pointed out that secretary
treasurer, Harry Barr, was arrested
in 1926 and held in Jail for "intoxi-
cation" The temporary officials
elected are: Tom Wakefield, of Null
berry, president; Joe Studdard, of
Arma, vice president, and Stephen
Walsh of Pittsburgh, Kansas, secre-
tary- treasurer.
The reports of the delegates
showed that the Kansas miners are
determined to send large delegation
to the National Miners Convention
to be held at Pittsburgh on Septem-
Der GIG and to help in organizing a
new, militant miners union.
I am sending you, also, the indict-
ment against the Lewis gang.
Indictment of District IA Officials.
Whereas, the officials of District
IA have served the interest of the
operators and have been a milestone
around the necks Of the miners, hav-
ing betrayed the miners time and
time again, ard
Whereas, Harry Burr, secretary
treasurer, is incompetent and is
charged with drunkenness and disor-
derby conduct while in office, in Feb,
on the oath day, in the year of 1926,
he was arrested and held il Jail for
"intoxication" and the stcSting of
elections by the holding up of the
mail, as was done in 1924 to keep a
miner from running for Joint Board
member who had a sufficient num-
Der of votes at the post office to as
sure his election; to the throwing off
the ballot all oppositional candidates
in order to have his name listed to
assure his election. In all cases where
unions nominate men who stand for
the rank and file Burr used any meth
Cd to eliminate them from running
for office. In the 1926 election Cor
ona Local 1868 was induced to with
draw the name Of Brennan and put
up another candidate whose name was
thrown off on technicalities. This
practice has been carried out and all
the rank and file candidates have
been swept before election, thereby
enabling Burr tc perpetuate his rule
and stifle all democracy in the union.
The unscating Of bona fide delegates
at convention is a regular practice
to retain office and power.
Whereas, James Skahan, known to
us as president of District Ia, is
charged with doing nothing but sur
rendering job conditions in the dis
trict until we have reached the stage
of semi-company union, and
Whereas, the other officials, in
ternational board member, interna-
tional organizer and all other APP
pointees and henchmen and hangers
on of the Lewis machine and Burr
and Skahan are charged with uphold
ing the separate and individual agree
nlent which is crushing our union
They are also guilty Of lavish expen-
diture of our funds.
Whereas, the officials are deemed
guilty of these crimes against the
membership of District IA and in Sc
far as the members concerned are SC
charged and hereby indicted, there
fore be it resolved,
That we declare their offices va.
cant and place on the order of bust.
ness of this convention the election OF
temporary president, vice president
and OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES to serve un-
til an election can be held when the
truly rank and file selection of all
district officials can be made, wher
appointive power will no longer exist
S.