The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-06-23
OFFICIALS URGE
REVISED SCALEi
NEW AGREEMENT
History of Betrayal Is
Pictured

Especial TO The DAILY WORKER.)
HERRTN, Ill, June 22.--What is
seen as back to work move inspired
by the Illinois operators acting to-
gether with the Lewis-Fishwiclz ma
chine, iS the demand made public
yesterday of the officials of the local
mine union for "a release from the
present policy pursued by the admin
istration of John L. Lewis, interna-
tional president in the matter of the
existing wage scale
The resolution condemns the pres
ent day wage basis for mechanical
mining devises for the coal miners
of the state and demands that con-
tract on a tonnage basis shall be set
up. 1t also demands that the policy
committee be assembled with the OBJ
ject of releasing the Illinois district
from the present agreement" The
machine pretends the miners who
are employed are operating under the
Jacksonville SCALE, but actually the
pay is much less.
There appears to be no doubt that
the move is to be used by Lewis as
means of abandoning even the SEM
blance of continuing the strike and
to throw the blame on the miners
themselves.
The Lewis-F ishwick machine was
recently ousted from the control of
the organization and the union taken
over by rank and file district con-
vention at which George Voyzey, mil
slant mine leader was chosen presi-
dent.
SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,, June %. -
Increased activities are manifest
amongst the Illinois rank and file
coal miners in their struggle for con-
troll Of the local unions, while the
old Fishwick administration is more
openly coming out for wage cuts.
This represents two lines of activ-
tiles heading for definite and decisive
clash. They have been expressed
in the special sub-district conference
held by the rank and file members,
on the one side, and on the other by
he recent meeting held by the dis
triet executive board, sub-district Of
cials and scale committee of the
Tishwick administration held at the
american Annex Hotel in ST. Louis,
-S-fo ~
The special sUb-district conventions
held gave particular attention to or
ganizing for the coming elections,
and to take over all. offices down to
the local unions.
Wide Representation
The first convention held in the
Staunton sub-district had represen-
tation of forty-six delegates coming
from nine local unions representing
thirteen mines. Tho next special con-
vention was held in the Belleville sub
district with thirty-nine delegates
present. The third convention of the
Franklin county sub-district held at
Christopher, Illinois, had total OF
seventy-two delegates present. Sim
liar special conventions are being
held in all the rest of the sub-dis-
tricts.
At the meeting of all the officials
of the Fishwick administration about
one hundred being present, the whole
desperate situation of this official
dom became apparent. Trained in
treason to the working class, but now
having reached a point where the
movement which will finally eliminate
them has grown by leaps and bounds,
thar nv fnl1inpr
selves. A serious break is develop
ing between the Fishwick administra-
ton and the national Lewis admin
istration.
Fishwick Opens.
At this meeting held by all these
deposed Illinois officials at the Amer
lean annex hotel in st. Louis, Mo-,
Mr.. Fishwick opened by calling for
reports on the situation in the vari-
GUS sub-districts. The reports made
were uniform in character: "Only a
fraction of the men working, none of
whom are on full time; great dis
satisfaction amongst the rank and
file miners bordering on open rebel
lion. The Save-the-U Union movement
Is everywhere" This was the gist of
the report made.
Like chickens without head they
were going around in circles. They
did not seem to have great fears of
the wage cuts threatened by the oper-
ators, but they did fear this move
snent. In fact the only remedy they
could offer to save themselves and