The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1929-08-27

working class so that they may
be able to build up really pow
erful organizations for defen-
sive and offensive purposes. / un-
derstand this is the major task of
the coming Cleveland Trade Union
Unity Convention"
Stressing the organization of the
unorganized as the first task of the
Convention, the task second in i'm
portance, Budish declares, is the
knitting together of all "uncorrupt-
/ ed, class conscious elements" within
the reactionary and so-called "pro-
gressive" unions scattered through
out the country.
Commenting on the Music move
ment of which he was a founder but
whose policies he can no longer en-
dorse, Budish says "Now, when the
expulsion of Calhoun leaves not the
slightest doubt as to the disintegra-
ton of the so-called progressives,
this part of the work of the Cleve-
land Convention gains still greater
Importance"
Budish was editor of the official
journal of the capmakers' union
since 1916. He has fought the re-
dictionary policies of the A. F. of L..
officials, and was finally forced out
of the federation when he militantly
fought the Mahon-M -Mitten plan in
Philadelphia.
The Mahon brothers, in control of
the International Street and Elec-
trical Railway Employees Union,
Ilmade a deal with the Mitten inter-
ests whereby the union agreed not
Ito attempt to organize other lines
in exchange for permission from
the Mittens to organize a section
of their workers. These same Ma
hons are responsible for the betray-
al of the workers in the series of at
tempts to strike on the N. Y. C.
subway lines.
"The A. F. of L. follows a policy
which makes disintegration inevita-
ble," Budish declares in letter ad-
dressed to the Trade Union Educa-
tional League. GAS factor to or
ganize the approximately so to IS
per cent of the entire working class
that are at present unorganized, the
A. F. of L. may practically be con-
sidered non-existent.
"Worse," he continues, "their
strategy which is never based upon
the power of the organized work
ers themselves, but upon the as
sumed ability to convince the en-
ployer that it pays them to have
their workers unionized, is in itself
a serious hindrance interfering with
the organization of the workers.
Spontaneous movements Of the
workers are nipped in the bud by
that deadening spirit and disinte-
grating strategy. This strategy Of
the A. F. of L. is responsible for
the present state Of stagnation in
1.-THE existing unions. The labor or
Examinations are at best marking
time and in most cases are losing
one position after another. The
membership of the greater major
ity of the unions is continuously de-
creasing.
"Now, within most, indeed all Of
these unions there are some uncor-
rupted working class elements, there
are some class conscious elements
who are the only hope for re-
vival, a new life and vigor. But
they are scattered, unfortunately,
and cannot be really effective.
"For all these reasons" Budish
concludes, "and many more which
/ haven't the opportunity to 60 in
to, the Cleveland Convention is by
the nature of events destined to be-
come historical in the annals Of the
American Labor movement. It can
and should open new chapter in
its history"