The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-11-09
TheMask IsOff!

AAliOUCOo W AllfCobl6oGC OllS llflIlS COIl-
ditiors, and other Sernblanceg Of ac-
tivity.
One reason the UTW chiefs were
SO anxious TO get the voting over with
Friday was that while the dirty work
was going on, theye waited outside,
with their presence kept secret from
the honest but puzzled membership
inside, a delegation from the United
Front Rank and File Strike Com
mittee with full facts about the fake
ballot, and with an offer of solidarity
with the rank and file and for fight
under elected leaders chosen by the
workers without regard to union
membership. A letter had been sent
by the united front strike committee
by special messenger to the UTW,
the committee wanted TO come in and
speak on the matter contained in the
letter. Both letter and the presence
Of the committee were concealed
from the members of the UTw in the
ldll py tnelr officials.
The letter was sent and similar
committees were sent, to two small
Ter union Friday. The Loomfixers'
Union received both, and Fred Bied-
enkapp, spokesman for the commit
tee addressed the meeting Of $50
loomfxers and secured nearly
unanimous response IN favor of mo
voting In the boss balloting.n The
cittee to the American Textile Work
ers Union, also small concern with
membership chiefly In the Pacific
mills, was barred from the meeting
by officials of the union. The letter,
and an explanation OF yesterdays
treachery and triekery by officials Of
the UTW and American Union, are
being printed in leaflet form and will
be widely distributed among Law
renee strikers Saturday, Sunday and
Monday.
The UniteI Front Rank and File
Committee letter, Is addressed to all
Lawrence locals Of all unions, and
says:
Complete unity Of action by all
strikers is the need OF the hour now.
We are in decisive period of our
strike after five weeks OF struggle
and unbroken solidarity.
1--WE must stop this ballot strike
breaking"
The letter then explains how the
fake ballot is meant to divide the
strikers and start back-to-work
movement, and declares: "An propos-
ais to take votes now on the question
Of a return to work, are strike break
Ing moves, no matter where they
come from. There is no such thing As
a fair wage cut ballot"
The letter points out that: There
have been no desertions from our
ranks Of any Importance. The big
mills cannot open; we have them
closed. But we are divided into va
rious unions and many Of the strik-
ers do not as yet belong to any union.
The leadership Of the strike is there
fore divided. This plays into the
hands Of the mill owners and their
tools like the Citizens Committee. If
we were united around one central
leadership the bosses would not dare
to try such methods as the wage cut
ballot"
The letter Of the United Front
Rank and File Strike Committee then
proposes that in all local unions of
every organization. the following
propositions be discussed and voted
upon:
81. Unity of Action by ALL the
strikers against the wage-cut-unity
Of action of ALL strikers against all
strike breaking proposals such as the
mill owners abbot.
"This united action can be brought
about by mass elections Of delegates
from all mills and all departments
Of mills to the Central Rank and File
Strike Committee. We propose that
these elections be held at once, the
most able, militant workers being
chosen on the basis Of their records.
1--WE propose that the Elected Rank
and File Strike Committee shall be
the central leadership of our strike.
20. Joint action on the picket lines
to be brought about by the election
Of picket captains for the various
mills blythe strikers at these mills,
and the direction of mass picketing
by the elected Rank and File Strike
Committee.
%. Joint action against all arbitra-
ton proposals. All meetings with mill
owners or their representatives are to
be only through teh elected Rank
and File Strike Committee. All meet
ings about settlements must be open.
All proposed settlements must be yot-
ed on by all the strikers.
"A. joint action through the elected
Rank and File Strike Committee for
the spread of the strike. We should
and we can spread the strike TO all
American Wooden Company mills, and
worsted mills in Massachusetts,,
Rhode Island and New Hampshire.
IS. Joint action In the collection
and distribution Of strike relief. ta)
Relief to be given to all needy strik-
ers whether they belong TO union or
not, and no matter to what union
thew belong. (b) To carry o,t this