The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1930-07-03

The Struggle in the Anthracite
By BARD
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NJ. U. did not see fit to send in an N. M. U.
organizer for period of over eight months
ever since the daily-changing Lovestone rene
gade, Myrescough, quit the field. Perhaps
it was expected that the miners would rally
to us as soon as we call upon them to leave
the pits and strike-the masses would rally
to the "messiahs" come to lead them out of
the wilderness of Lewis Boylan.
The Strassburg resolution on "Strke
Strategy points out that the Communist Par
ties and Red Trades Unions must estimate
the situations in the different industries and,
finding the one that offers the most immedi-
ate and favorable possibilities Cor sections of
an Industry, must concentrate their forces
there. This was not done insofar as the an
thracite was concerned-not even one organizer
being supplied to field comprising over 150,-
900 miners. And while some movements were
developed, as, for instance, in Tamaqua, this
was not the result of our workout because
of the immediate situation prevailing there.
But being spontaneous movement-it reached
high point and then despite of all we could
do, the movement petered out. This. is the
case with almost all spontaneous movements
of the workers.
Now, again, another spontaneous movement
of thousands of miners in the affth- lcte The
cause of the struggle is the growing mass
unemployment existing in Pittston and other
sections The strike is aimed to alleviate the
acute misery and suffering of thousands of
miners and their families While he slogan of
Equalization of work" will not and cannot
solve the situation and is actually reformist
in character nevertheless the fact remains
that the strike is sign of the growing con-
seriousness of the miners to the problem of
unemployment and an effort to meet the stu
alton The task of the National Miners Union
and the Party, while supporting the strike
of these miners, is to raise the slogans of the
6-hour day and 5-day week, unemployment in
surance, minimum weekly wage of $35
week, against the speed-up system, etc. This
the N. M. u and the Party are doing and at
the same time pointing out the insufficiency
of the central demand of the men.
Role of n M. u.
Where is the Party and the National Min
ers Union in the present situation? What is
the role of the Party and N. M. U. in the
present strike? While its is true that the agi-
tation and propaganda of both have had their
effects over sections of the anthracite miners;
while 1t is true that there are quite a few
Party members, and whole groups of the N.
M. u. involved in the strike, nevertheless we
are still isolated from the main stream of
the struggle Neither one of the two organiza-
tons have any members on the General
Grievance Committee to put forth the N. M.
U. program. Our members and supporters do
not hold any decisive positions in the strike.
We are now making real strenuous efforts to
overcome eight months of delay and neglect.
We have now the task to strengthen our or
ganization to the point where we will be able
to control sections or the whole of the strike
To the extent that we are able to overcome
the weaknesses of the past delay and negli-
gence, to that extent will we be able to as.
sumo leadership over these striking miners.
Weaknesses of the Strike.
The strike is suffering from all the weak
nesses and shortcomings of every spontane-
Gus movement. While it is true that the min
ers went right over the head of the corrupt
fascist U. M. W. A. Boylan-Lewis machine
in calling the strike, nevertheless the Griev-
ance Committee is composed mainly of old
U. M. w. A. elements who wish to confine the
struggle within illegal" U. M. w. A. bounds.
The strike lacks perspective---it lacks real
militant leadership. The Grievance Commit
tee has now brought back Cappeini--the most
corrupt gang-leader and fascist that the an
thracte has yet produced. The brazen, trait
orous role of this faker was Immediately re.
vealed when his first words addressed to the