The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1929-12-03
General Strike in Ill.
Mines Called for Dec. 9

Continued from Page One)
and Fishwick. Gebert condemned
the fake progressives, Howat, Bro
ply, Haywood and Watt, who are
all lining up behind Fishwick to
fight against the N. NJ. U.
Negro, White Solidarity.
The conference enthusiastically
agreed with Gebert, and proceeded
to stress the need of solidarity be-
tween Negro and white miners and
the special problems of the young
miners.
The delegates in speechafterspeech
showed their realization that one
Of the biggest obstacles the opera
tors will throw in their way is just
the Lewis and Fishwick machines
in the U. NJ. w. A., which will use
every means to break the strike,
will unite with the coal operators
and the government forces. Mass
opposition from the rank and file
is relied upon, however, to break
down all resistance to the miners
struggle.
Henry Corbishley, secretary-treas-
urer of the Illinois District of the
N. NJ. u; Dan Singer, organizer;
George Kidd and Herchey, all promi-
nent in many struggles of the Hi
nois miners we're prominent speak
ers at the conference.
|. l.. d. Support.
A representative of the Interna-
tional Labor Defence, Newhoff,
pledged to the miners the full sup
port of the |. L. D. in this struggle.
The conference went on record
pledging a large delegation OF min
ers to attend the l. L. D. district
conference, December 8, in Chicago.
s.
The situation i'll Illinois has been
developing rapidly for several
months. At the end of the coal
strike last year, the Fishwick mach
inc sold out the Illinois miners. in
state contract with the bosses,
which provided for big wage cut,
and no protection underground. Coal
loading and cutting machines have
thrown nearly half the miners out
of work, and the U.M.W.A. makes
no provision to assist them.
Recently Fishwick, representing
the Illinois mine owners, fell out
with international President Lewis
of the U.M.W.A., representing othe"
coal operators, and each group is
fighting in the courts to displace
the other. Fishwick threatens to
form a new union. This fight is
for control Of the union treasury,
and the monopoly of selling out the
miners. The Illinois miners do not
want the U.M.W.A., and Fishwick's
control depends on the employers
simply deducting U.M.W.A. dues
from the miners wages and paying
them over to Fishwick.
Repudiates Watt.
President John Watt, Of the n.
M.U. betrayed the union, worked
AGAINST it, tried to split it, and has
been completely 6iscredited. He is
ousted from office by the N.M.U.
national board, which met in Pitts
burgh, November "a. and has been
repudiated by the Illinois state con-
vention of The N.M.U., by ali of a
series of sub-district conferences
called by the M.U., and BY the
only local union he once controlled,
the one at Staunton.
The rank and file at many UNI.
WA. locals have defied their Of
ficers, and refused to expel N.M.U
members from their meetings. There
have been a series of local strikes
over the worst grievances. Over
10000 new members have been
gained by the N.M.U. during recent
months.
A special emergency national con-
vention of the N.M.U. will probably
be called soon, to spread the strike
on a national scale. 1t was provided
for by the last national board
meeting.