The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1930-11-20
statement of the National Bureau of the
Marine Workers Industrial Union)
Don't Be Fooled Twice!


Marine Workers Industrial Union)
A SELF styled opposition" group in the M. w.
n + U. is attempting to utilize the organiza-
tional weaknesses and shortcomings OF our union
as a basis to split our union and to launch an
attack not only against the leadership and pro-
gram of our union, but also against the revo-
lutionary line and leadership Of the Trade Union
Unity League, the American section of the Red
International of Labor Unions This group,
composed of John S. Morgan Joe Golden, and
John Anderson in their attempt to prevent the
building of the Marine Workers Industrial
Union, have issued so-called rank and file
appeal which is in the main distortion OF
facts and urfounded charges, and which in
stead of offering constructive criticism to help
overcome the unsatisfactory situation in the
NJ W. l. u, advocates program OF action that
would lead to the liquidation of our union.
Before analysing the program of Morgan &
Co., which is based on the opportunist line OF
the renegade Cannon, Lovestone groups it is
necessary to expose the unprincipled attack and
tissue of lies of the so-caled opposition. 1t is
significant that the opposition group has insti-
tuted slanderous attack against the M. w. I. U.
similar to that pursued by Matthew VOL OF the
A. F. of L. and the Fish Congressional Commit
tee. BY raising the red DOGGY OF Moscow gold
effectively they have aligned themselves with
the enemies of the working class who are seek
ing to illegalize all militant working class or
carnations particularly the red unions affiliated
to the T. u U. L.
The oppositions infamous document charges
Comrade Harvey with arnling organizers of the
M w. L. U. with blackjacks. This is a deliber-
ate lie, being circulated by Morgan & Co., none
of whom were in Baltimore at the alleged &C.
currence. Such charges as this are worthy only
of agent provocateurs of the police, and GER
tainy would not be made by revolutionary
fighters of the working class.
In the so-called appeal Morgan g. Co. charge
"the foisting upon the organization of the ter
ribly bureaucratic machine and the wiping out
of all semblance of democracy" yet it is sgnifi-
cant that this bureaucratic machine" was
unanimously elected at the rank and file ma
tonal convention in April, 1880, an election in
which Morgan and the rest voted to "foist" the
present bureaucracy" on the union.
While 1t is true that because of our loose or
ganizational structure certain bureaucratic
methods of work have crept into our union, it
is certain that these will not be eliminated by
the leadership of bureaucratic group COM
posed of Morgan, Golden and Anderson Bu-
reaucracy will only be eliminated on the basis
OF mercess self criticism. Self criticism which
will result in self correction. And this can
only be done in the process of fighting oppor-
tunism in practice in carrying the program of
the M. w. I. U. out in our daily activities It
cannot be done by attempting to split the union.
We must unity our ranks building militant
organization which will mobilize and lead the
marine workers in a counter offensive of mass
struggle to resist the starvation and wage cut
ting policy of the Bosses to fight to improve
our working conditions and standards of living
as well as to wage relentless struggle against
the whole system OF capitalist exploitation.
Since the national convention in April of this
year, our union has made certain steps forward.
It has recruited hundreds of seamen, longshore-
men and harbor boatmen, including large
number Of Negroes 1t has established head
quarters in the principle ports, has actively par
ticipated in the longshoremens strike in New
Orleans, in the strike of the seamen in SUI
perior, etc, and has broadened its influence
among thousands of marine workers.
However, it must be stated, that in building
our union, in giving independent and revolu-
tionary leadership to the organized and unor-
ganized marine workers. our union has pro-
crossed far too slowly. 1t has Jagged behind
the mood Of the workers for struggle. And be-
cause Of our organizational shortcomings and
tactical mistakes, we have failed to fully utilize
the favorable objective situation to strengthen
and build our union The fact that we have
failed to apply the revolutionary strike strategy
of the r. I. L. U. in the New Orleans strike and
in the recent Philadelphia situation have failed
to stabilize the unemployed councils and to mob
ilize the employed and jobless marine workers