The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1929-12-07
Illinois Miners Can Not
Wait Till Strike Date

(Conttnued from Page One)
at Moscoutah, and for all the de-
mands of the second state conven-
ton of the N. NJ. u, held in Octo-
Der, at Belleville. These demands
are for the six-hour day and five-day
week, no more penalties inflicted or
docking of the miners by the bosses,
Is minutes rest in every hour and
employment of larger crews on me-
chanical leaders or conveyances; no
Ispeed-up, no check-off, no arbitration
of grievances, but settlement of all
grievances by the pit committees;
abolition of the "bug lights" (the
little safety" lights that are worn
on caps), $50 a week social insur-
ance for unemployed miners, to be
paid for by the bosses or the state;
equal pay for young miners, full
social, industrial and political equal
ity for Negro workers, and no dis
elimination Of any sort because of
age, color, creed or nationality.
Leave U. NJ. W. A.
The delegates from all parts of
Illinois at the Bellevile convention
also voted for all local unions to
take down the United Mine Work
ers' Of America charters and affili-
ate with the N. M. u, for complete
rank and file control of the union,
and for officers salaries to be the
same as miners wages.
Fishwick Strike Breaking.
AS was expected, the U. NJ. W. A.
has acted Immediately in the in
terests of the coal operators, and
Harry Fishwick, president of the
Illinois District of the U. M. w. A.,
has issued a statement to the press
that the miners general statewide
strike will be quite vigorously op-
posed" by his organization.
The National Miners Union ma.
tional office, through Secretary
Treasurer Pat Toohey is distribut-
ing to the miners this answer.
"Fishwick's declaration reveals
clearly his role as representative
not Of the Illinois coal miners but
of the operators. The fact that he
responded so heatedly to the an
nouncement of the miners strike
proves he is first and foremost anxi-
Gus to guard the interests of the
bosses. At the same time the en-
ployers look upon Fishwick as their
unofficial agent, whose purpose is
to stem the militancy of miners, and
throw confusion into their ranks.
That the bosses consider Fishwick
their man is seen in the spectacle
of a number Of coal operators going
into court in the Lewis and Fish
wick row and fighting for the con-
tinuation of his rule in Illinois.
Fishwick's declaration proves he and
his corrupt gang fear the National
Miners Union.
The N.M.U. considers there is one
enemy, the operators, and the UNI.
WA. officials are their agents"
N. NJ. U. Rallies Support.
The National Miners Union state.
nent concludes with a prediction
that the Illinois miners will over
whelmingly support the strike.
The National Miners Union is
mobilizing all of its forces to sup
port the Illinois struggle and a num-
Der of organizers who were in other
districs have just been sent into the
strike zone. At the Zeigler Tri-
district convention last Sunday, the
Indiana delegates pledged for the
miners of their State that they
would also join the strike to prevent
any use Of Indiana coal for strike
breaking purposes.
Chicago T. U. U. L. Supports.
The National Miners Union yes
terday received a message promis-
int full solidarity from the Chicago
membership of the Trade Union
Unity League. A mass membership
meeting in Mirror Hall, Tuesday,
addressed by National Organizer