The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1929-12-06
Great Response to Call
to Strike in Illinois


Illinois. Local unions are pouring
in letters telling of progress in the
preparatory work. Strike commit
tees of rank and file miners, those
in the N, M. U. and those not in it,
are being rapidly organized all over
the state.
The district office is not at this
time announcing all of the points
at which preparation is under way
as past experience has shown that
when this is done, the forces of In
ternational President Lewis of the
U. M, W. A., and of District Presi-
dent Fishwick of the same organ
ization, cooperate with those of the
state and the employers to oppose
it. However, definite reports from
Springfield, Staunton Belleville and
West Frankfort territories show
that many local miners are pre-
pared for the strike date, Decem-
Der 8.
A New Day Dawns.
This date is on the lips of every
one; it is the watch word the dawn
ing of new day for the coal miners
of America; it is the symbol of the
fight to push back the employers
exploitation, to end the coal opera
ltors' company union, the old United
4 Mine Workers of America, to re-
, juvenate the militancy of all coal
diggers and to erect an industrial
union, the National Miners Union,
the champion of the mine workers.
Applaud Unity League.
Illinois miners on the eve of
their greatest struggle applaud the
quick action of the national appara-
tus of the N, M. U, and of the Trade
Union Unity League to mobilize all
miners and all other workers in
their aid.
During the last two weeks, six To-
cal unions, numbering $500 men
have gone on spontaneous ("wild
cat") strikes against coal operators
abuses, The N. M. U. sees this,
places itself behind their struggle,
and points out that the statewide
strike is the way to win.
Picket Lines.
The strike call, issued officially
by the Grievance Committee of the
a Illinois District of the National
Miners Union outlines the organ
ization of the strike, and stresses
especial ythe necessity of organic
ing picket lines and strike COM
mittees. 1t states in part:
''This strike means immediate in
tensive organization of all the miners
of the N. M. U. to spread the word
and organize strong strike commit
tees and mass picketing. Call i'm
mediate local meetings where your
delegate to the Zeigler Conference
will make a complete report on the
proceedings of the conference,
Organize strike committees not only
with N. M. U. members, but include
sympathetic miners who still be-
long to the U. M. w. of A.
arrange for mass picketing.
Have all miners go down to the
mines on Monday morning with
everybody they can get=-their
wives, sweethearts, sisters and their
children. Do not underestimate
this, Strikes were never won with
out mass pieketing, and women and
children on the picket line have won
many battles. Your call to strike
to every miner should be smash the
check-off and recognize the Ma
tional Miners Union as the only
union of the miners. Fight for the
Belleville Convention demands!"
Six-Hour Day.
( The demands of the Belleyille
convention are for the six-hour day
and five-day week, abolition of the
wage cuts, the speed-up, the check
off, the bug lights and dangerous
conditions underground. They de-
mand that the bosses and the state
provide $35 a week unemployment
pay; give Is minutes rest period in
every hour and put bigger crews on
conveyors. They demand the end
of penalty and docking systems, and
no more discrimination because Of
age, color, creed or nationality espe-
cially they insist in full social, in
dustrial and political equality for
Negro miners. They are against
arbitration and for settlement of
disputes by the pit committees.
Welcome Workers. Relief.
The call ends with burning slo-
gans; "Smash the check-off" Slight
for the Belleville Convention de-
mands," Eight the yellow mislead-
ers, the Fishwick and Lewis ma
Chimes" Flight for the recognition
of the National Miners Union"
"Organize strike committees" Rally
the miners for mass picketing."
The miners of Illinois are enthu-
siastic over the official reports that
the Workers International Relief
and the international Defense have
pledged their support. These or
carnations are remembered for
their great service to the 1927-192S
strik