The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-03-01

deadly tired and worn but his eyes
shooting sparks that belied the slow
drawl of his voice, / had the feeling
that ! was gazing at man already
dead.
Campbell spoke of the friendly at
titude of the Pittston authorities. 1t
seems that he believed they were ac-
tually trying to protect him. He had
helped to elect the mayor-a republic
can.
The police were trying to find the
murderers of Lillis and the gunner
who shot Grecio, Campbell said. 1--WE
must force the Pennsylvania colliery
to start work." he went on. "They
are trying to starye us out" he said,
land now we need money to defend
Bonita and must get our men to
work"
Marked for Death.
He was marked for slaughter as he
sat there in the dimly lighted room
with three of his fellow-unionists-an
old man and two young miners. They
had to elect president to take Bon
ita's place, they said. They talked
about the difficulty of getting a can
didate and the risks he would run. All
agreed that Bonita's successor would
be inviting death. "Well, if we can't
get anyone else I'll take the job" said
the youngest miner. They all agreed
to this.
The little gathering broke up. /
shook hands with Campbell and wish
ed him luck. We drove down the street
and the young miner who had nomin-
ated himself for sudden death rode a
little way with us. "Is anybody stay
ing with Campbell tonight?" | asked
him. "No," he said, "they won't
bother him."
A week later the same street echoed
with the rattle of machine guns and
the roar of shotguns. Alex Campbell
and Pete Reilly died.
Chicago methods, if not Chicago
gunner, had come to Pittston.
The Line of Struggle.
In European countries only civil
war which shakes the foundations of
capitalist government produces such
open slaughter. In the United States
the mere struggle against corruption
in a union brings forth these ruthless
assassinations of workers.
1t is not civil war in the anthra-
cite. 1t is murder calmly planned and
coldly executed and paid for from
the war chests of the coal operators,
condoned by their creatures holding
official positions in the United Mine
Workers.
Alex Campbell and Pete Reilly laid
down their lives for honest and mill
tant unionism. The full implications
of the fight they were waging were
not understood by them. Neither did
they estimate correctly the murderous
reactionary character of the forces
whose grip on the union they were
breaking. But they fought as best
they could, they died on the front of
the class struggle.
The soil in which the mass move
ment of the coal miners for honest
and effective unionism is growing has
been rsoistened lavishly with the blood
of murdered militants. No more was
needed and the life stream of Camp
bell and Reilly will rise in a crimson
tide which will drown their murder
ers.
Responsibility Feared.
For the first time in the history Of
the United Mine Workers in the an
thracite it will be impossible for the
leadership of the union
to escape the responsibility for its
acts. Living, Campbell
had the loyal support of dozens of
militant miners. Murdered, with the
responsibility Of the Lewis-Cappelini
coal company machine clear to every
coal digger, Campbell's death becomes
a mighty weapon in the hands of |
union miners whose wrath has been |
slow to gather but who now know
that Campbell was killed because he
symbolized for the traitorous leader
ship and their masters, the coal bar
ons, the upsurge of the membership |
against the corruption in which the
official leaders wallow.
Militant Miners Organize.
Under the leadership of the Save
the Union Committee and its correct
program the anthracite miners are
organizing to avenge Alex Campbell,
Pete Reilly, Thomas Lillis, Samuel
Grecio. The miners here are organic
ing to free Bonita, MENDOZA and Mo-
leski and administer crushing blow
to fascist reaction.
The miners are organizing to |
avenge their murdered brothers by
driving from the union the officials
whose hands are stained with the
blood of murdered miners.
The workers who died for militant
unionism in the anthracite will be
avenged by the defeat Of reaction
and the building of union free from
capitalist control.
The struggle in the anthracite is