The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1930-01-09
HOW TO STRENGTHEN THE
ILLINOIS MINERS STRIKE



ipork, Of organizational slacbness, 1ohich pre-
rent the effective application of even the best
OF policies. There Is only one 1Cdy m l0hich thls
right dagger can be oUercoMe; that is through
the most rigorous self-criticSm from top to
bottom of Our organizations; the immediate
branding of all mistakes and taking Of meas
ares to preUcHt their repetition Such self
criticism mast be open before the 7oorkers, and
must be participated IN By the entire moUe-
ment. We expose rutblcSsiy our weaknesses IN
order that lge may oUcrconae them. We are
entirely undfroid of all the hooOlS of the enc
mics of our Increment, aUbo try to capitalize
these mistakes, these enemies are the bosses,
the trade atNion faLers, or the renegades.. By
boldly attacking our mistakes aUe strengthen
or ourselves for struggle against all our enc
mics and guarantee better mobilization and
organization of these struggles and of the
greater ones coming for lohich the present bat
ties are only prelude. The Communist Party
Ruites all members to study these criticisms
and contribute to them in a comradely spirit Of
joint 1Oorb in the overcoming Of all weaknesses.
The strike now going on in the Illinois coal
fields marks a definite advance in the work of
the National Miners Union. From mainly prop
uganda work the strike signalizes definite
open break, by masses of miners, with the
United Mine Workers of America and the
beginning of strike struggles in the coal indus
try under the leadership of the National Miners
Union. In these early stages of the strike
movement the Communist Party finds it neces-
sary to point out a number of serious errors
and shortcomings, and the necessity of over
coming them
For this purpose it is necessary to review the
various decisions made for the guidance of
Party members in the National Miners Union.
The policy outlined by the Party on Nov. %
briefly was:
"That our comrades shall propose and fight
for an immediate policy of developing the
especially favorable situation in Illinois, the
anthracite and West Virginia, into struggles on
the broadcast possible basis as as possible;
that the district convention in Illinois make all
the necessary preparations for strike. (a)
That in Illinois the policy shall be laid down
in the Belleville convention; while raising our
basic demands C hour day, etc. sharply, the
fight shall be conducted primarily around the
local demands (abolition of the check off, the
bug-light, and penalty system, recognition of
the union, etc.. The district committee shall
meet Immediately, finally prepare the demands
and in conjunction with the resident board issue
strike call for the district to enforce these
demands and make all the necessary strike
: preparations The policy shall be to spread the
struggle as far as possible in Illinois, and, by
means of the state conference, into kentucky
and Indiana, etc. Ii necessary, a special con-
vention shall be held for the purpose of extend
ing the strike. Successful extension of the
strike would involve more definitely raising
our major demands as immediate fighting
issues
This policy was not something new, it only
reiter,.ted and strengthened the general line
laid at meeting Of the Communist fraction OF
the executive board of the National Miners
Union, July 49, 1929, and again at the plenum
of the Party in a meeting of subcommittee
of the plenum held Oct. and 9. At these meet
ings among other proposals the following were
apodted:
q. That our mining policy in Southern Hi
nos be reaffirmed as outlined by the July Is
meeting of the Communist traction of the Ma
tional Miners Union executive board, which
was substantially adopted by the Union, which
is that we definitely move for decisive mass
break of the miners away from the u. NJ w. A.
to the National Miners Union. This break must
be well organized and of collective character
and must assume the form of a mass split in
view of the present situation existing in south
ern Illinois To realize this the following shall
be carried into effect:
o. That there be held Immediately in West
Frankfort Party fraction meeting consisting
&c all active comrades in southern Illinois who
fving the line of the Party to the membership
and active miner functonaries. A representa-
tive Of the district executive committee shall
attend this fraction meeting to present the
policy of the Party.
90 That we propose that the National Min
ers Union district executive board of Illinois
shall Immediately be called into session and
issue convention call to all Illinois miners for
the converting of mass rank and file miners
convention directly organized by and under
the auspices of the National Miners Union, to
occur no later than four weeks from date. This
convention shall be systematically and well
organized and the attention of the miners shall
be centered upon this convention. The conven-
ton shall be organized upon the definite basis
of split from the u. Nj. W. A. to the National
Miners Union, the stoppage of dues, the repu-
diation of the Lewis machine, for struggle
against the coal operators, for division Of
labor and raising the unemployment question.
All forces shall Immediately be modified to
make this convention successful and of mass
character. This convention will definitely sig
nalize the split.
"a In the meantime leaflet shall be
to the Illinois miners advertising the conven-
ton reasons for its being called and the aims
it hopes to accomplish
49, IN Illinois. Colorado Southern and an
thracite fields, the Union must Immediately
develop definite strike policies
The resolution adopted by the Polcom of Dis
trct on Dec. rs, while it offers many correct
criticisms and shows an understanding of the