The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-10-25
Youths Tasks
In the National
Miners Union
BY DAVE MATES.

/
young miners show their militancy
by heading picket lines, etc., but
were in the front ranks in the fight
against the reactionary Lewis
machine, which eventually betrayed
the interests of the miners by ac-
cepting the proposals of the coal
operators for a wage cut, as the first
step towards the complete destruc-
ton of trade unionism in the coal
mining industry.
Though at the outbreak Of the
strike there was practically no
League organization in the mining
regions, the Young Workers (Com-
munist) League set before it as its
main task the mobilization Of the
young miners for the struggle, and
building up the League, by active
participation in the strike. AS re-
suit of the Leagues activity the
young miners became the most mill
tant section of the battling coal
diggers.
Tasks of League.
Through the energetic effort and
work of the Young Workers (Com-
munist) League, a young miners
conference was held in Pittsburgh
on March IS which mapped out
plans for drawing the young miners
into more intense fight against
the coal operators, who were trying
to smash the United Mine Workers
of America, and lower the standard
of living of the miners and their
families, and against the agents of
the coal operators within their own
ranks, the Lewis administration. In
this the League met with great sue
cess for in the period that followed,
with the progressive movement con-
stantly growing, the young miners
were not only the staunchest sup
porters of the Save-the- Union move
ment, but also supplied to large
extent a fighting leadership for this
movement.
At the National Conference held
in Pittsburgh on April 1, many of
the delegates were young miners,
coming from all parts of the coun
try, and elected because of their
fighting spirit. In all the District
Conferences that followed upon the
close of the April l Conference, the
youth continued to play its active
role as fighting section for a pro-
gressive union under rank and file
control.
Young Workers Aid Union.
After the betrayal of Lewis, re-
sulting in the complete destruction
of the union, the young miners were
not slow in realizing the necessity of
building a new miners union, which
would really fight for the interests
of the coal diggers, and organize the
large masses of unorganized miners
and also give the young miners an
opportunity of voicing their de-
mands and needs. The Young
Workers (Communist) Lea que
pointed out that there were no hopes
for building up the wrecked U. M.
w. A., and that the only hope for
the miners, young and old, was the
building of a new miners union, UNI
der the direct control of, and fight
ing for, the rank and file of the
miners. The National Convention
held in Pittsburgh on Sept. showed
very clearly that the young miners
were against in the fight. Of the 120
arrested on the day of the Conven-
ton, large number were young
miners, mainly from Pennsylvania
and Ohio. Those who were fortunate
enough to be at the Convention
showed that they were determined,
despite all difficulties, to build this
new miners union.
Many Join League.
The League in Western Pennsyl-
vania has won many of the best mill
tant young miners into its ranks.
The youth in the coal mining indus
try needed no further proof that the
Y. w. C. L. was the only youth or
ganization that helped them in their
long period of struggle. In many
mining camps League units were es-
tablished and the League made
great progress in the organization
of the Young miners into the Y. w.
c. L.
The Y. w. C. L. has shown great
, activity in the present election can't
, paign. At all election meetings the
: League was represented with its
own speakers. The League speakers
also addressed the young workers at
factory gates meetings, as in the
case of Westinghouse plants, Jones
: and Laughlin Steel Works, etc. The
units arranged wide distribution of
! leaflets and other election matter
printed by the Party. This activity
shows that the new League mem
bership understands the necessity of
5 participating in the every day strug-
+, giles of the workers, and has utilized
l the election campaign to mobilize
2 the young workers for-struggle.
Pioneer Groups.
During this period the Pioneers
were also built up and at present
there are over dozen Pioneer
groups in the mining camps of
E Western Pennsylvania. The miners
!. children were for the first time
' drawn into the struggle against the
: coal operators and in support of