The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-10-20
BY JOE TASH

THE problems confronting the National Miners
Union in the Illinois coal fields, while not by
any means being solved have been to a great eX-
tent, simphfied with the application of the united
front policy, opening road towards unity OF the
Illinois miners and action based upon militant
program under the general leadership Of the
NMU., but actually led by the miners them
selves through their unity committees of action
The success of the coming struggles OF the Hi
nos miners depends on our ability to draw the
ranks of the miners together with the further
application of the united front tactic from be-
low, and our ability to expose repettions of what
has taken place in Illinois time and again,
namely the betrayal of the miners through
movements led by petty fakers the recent one
being the so-caIed rank and file movement"
headed by Ray Edmondson. The most effective
method to expose these takers and prevent them
from placing themselves at the head OF move
ments only to betray them will be our united
front policy for it will unite the miners on the
basis of program creating determination to
carry struggle for this progr-~' and elininat-
ing those who oppose it.
To make possible the assurance against fur
ther betrayals, and to realize the theory of our
united front policy in action uniting and lead
ing the miners in their struggles, depends on our
understanding of this policy and our ability to
put it into effect. Where how, and when shall it
be applied, on what basis, etc,
At the meeting of the National Committee Of
the Trade Union Unity League, held in Pitts
burgh recently, much criticism was made of our
activities of the NMU in the Illinois coal fields.
An impression was created that the policy
reached by the Pittsburgh national unity con-
ference held last July was not being carried out
in Illinois. Statements were even made that the
united front movement that was given birth i'm
mediately after the conference, was now being
abolished. 1t was pointed to the fact that the
Unity Committees that were organized were re-
Gently transformed into locals Of the N-M.U.
Some comrades note this with alarm, and jump
to the conclusions that the established united
front policy has been ignored.
At the time the Unity Committees were organ
lied in Illinois, the strike in the east was at its
height. The basis of the Unity Committees at the
time, rested on the issues of the strike itself,
while at the same time we pointed out to the
miner, in the South that it was necessary to de-
velop struggles at home, and use the Unity Com
nittee as mediums to unite the miners on the
basis of their own issues, and bring about uni
form action. Some conrade in the Illinois coal
fields went to extremes. They laid too much en-
p0aSlS on ODlCy committees ana ignored the
building of the NMU. What was the situation
in the northern part of the state? The comrades
here we're building Unity Committees in stua-
ton where we had not one member of the Union
in the entire section of that field. Unity they
claimed, rested with the miners of Pennsylvania,
Ohio and West Virginia. This basis everyone
will agree, am sure is not a basis upon which
we are to develop united front movement OF
the Illinois miners, while the strike in the east
was taken advantage of and a major issue
around which the Unity Committees at the time
we're established, certainly the real living and
existing basis for the united front lies princi-
pally right here in Illinois, coming to the sur
face in the form of Grievance Committees and
issues arising in the day to day life of the miners.
1t was therefore necessary to call to the atten-
ton OF the comrades in the north the fact that
they we're nursing animal that would die for