The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-03-15
DISCUSS LABOR
PARTY, JOBLESS,
AT SHOE MEET
Wages, Hours, End of
Speed-up Demanded
(By a Worker Correspondent

/ Conference, held mere recently, Is
considered by the leaders of the pro-
gressive movement as the best ever
held in New England.
Every important shoe center IN
New England was represented, in
GLIDING Boston, Chelsea, Brockton,
Lynn, Haverhill, Salem and Peabody.
Some go delegates gathered in the
Scenic Auditorium and the very COM
position of the delegation indicated
the state of affairs in the industry.
The reports from those centers in
dictated the chaotic conditions IN the
industry. Not even remnant of
shop control, no attempt is made to
enforce union regulations and condi-
tions. Full day Saturday work and
Sunday work is on the increase, rate
cuts are common, the speed-up is ter
rifle. In the face of these condi-
tions the Boot and Shoe Workers
Union not only has failed to begin
organization work in unorganized
centers but is making no effort to
hold even the label shops. In Lynn,
where the Boot and Shoe Workers
were quite firmly entrenched, only
nine shops carry the label. A loss of
some 30 or 40 shops in the last year
or So The reporters were also bit
ter against the various peace
pacts," arbitration, Golden Rule and
Yellow Dog contracts, all of which
are becoming a real menace and
against which the Boot & Shoe makes
no effort to fight.
Defeat Bosses.
The most encouraging report came
from Haverhill where the workers,
in spite of sharp hostility of Presi-
dent Nolan and socialist Attorney
Bearak, struck against wage cuts and
against the decision of the arbitra-
ton committee. Not only struck,
but won decided victory in 10 days
and forced the bosses to retreat all
along the line.
All through the conference Haver-
hill was looked up to as model to
be followed by the other shoe CEN
tiers. The influence of the Haverhill
strike cannot be exaggerated. A dele
gate from Lynn expressed the opin-
ion that the state arbitration board
turned down the Creighton request
for a 121aGo cut because Haverhill
was flesh in their minds.
Considerable Sc n t m ent was
aroused by the reading Of telegram
signed by Chester W. Bixby, veteran
militant of the Shoe Workers Pro-
tective, and by William j. Ryan, one
of the leaders of the Haverhill strike.
Both regretted to be absent from the
conference and pledged full support
in building a powerful progressive
movement in the industry.
At this point Brother Polio intro
duced VIM. Z. Foster, secretary of
the Trade Union Educational League.
Foster analysed the shoe industry,
brought out the fact that the B. & S.
was three-fourths company union and
is an agency of the bosses. What
must be done is to mobilize all
forces for a final effort to sweep
out of power this gang of Crooks"
He characterized the Protective as
being guided by reactionary lead
ership and policies but nevertheless
different from the B. & S. He espe-
cially praised the Haverhill organi-
cation for its militancy.
He closed by urging the progress
sives to greater efforts at organi-
zation, electing a well functioning
committee, issuing bulletin, and to
intensity their activity for the or
ganization of the unorganized.
The program, which will appear in
full in few days, touches on the
situation in the industry and puts
forward the following slogans:
Abolition of piece-work and speed
up; the 4O-hour 5-day working
week; the organization of shop com
, mittees; the restitution Of the cuts.
The program also deals with the
internal situation in the existing
unions and clarifies the stand of the
Progressives towards the B. & S. and
the Protective. At the same time a
series of demands are proposed tend
ing to take the unions out of the
hands of the takers.
Condemn Injunctions.
lnJunctions and the anti-Strike
: proposals are roundly condemned
, while the Labor Party received fav-
orable action.
The question of the organization
of the unorganized and the organi-
cation of the progressives is dealt
with in great detail.
The unanimous adoption of the
program and the deep convic ion
that there is only one way of solving
the problems Of the shoe workers
and that is through the building Of a
powerful progressive movement,
promises we'll for the movement.
The conference elected tho follow
ing committee which will be known
as the Shoe Workers Progressive
Committee of New England. For
Boston--Roth, Klarfield, Crane and
Shapiro. For Chelsea,--A mmahian,
Fraady,1an Roth paahody HurnantiIs