The daily worker., 1932-03-21

around with the thugs spotting NNIU
members.
Winnegar, an Indiana miner, said
that in 1922 tht UNfWA had $1,000
members in Indiana. They now have
under $500 members in six months
The Indiana miners face a big wage
cut in April. He scored the tenrency
to hide the face of tht NNAU and its
political program in Indiana.
Jack Stachel, Assistant National
Secretary of the Trade Union Unity
League, brought TUUL greetings to
the convention. He explained the
role of tht TUUL as collective Or
ganizer. He exposed the role of the
A. F. of L. and the Musteites in all
industries. while the NNdU led the
biggest mine struggle in 1881, still the
majority of miners on strike were
not led by us. We did not win de-
mands in the Pa. Ohio strike, because
Of loose organization. Mistakes in
this strike included insufficient Or
ganizational preparation; few dues
payments, the demands at the be-
ginning Of the strike remained the
same throughout the strike. We must
know our strugglt before entering a
struggle. The TUUL is also to be
criticized for insufficient mobilization
Of workers in other unions in support
Of the miners. The Kentucky strike
was not well prepared and was based
too much on the sblacklisted and I'M
employed miners. This latter mis-
take is also seen in the anthracite
The unemployed cannot strike; we
should mobilize them to fight for re
lief.
IF we learn from these lessons this
convention will be the beginning of
Transforming the NNfU from loose
body to powerful organization and
will bring the UMWA members closer
to U.s."
Ross, a Negro mnier from Jellicoe,
Tennessee, told how the boss promised
the Negroes 81 day extra to keep
out of the NMU. Ninety per cent of
tn Tennessee miners approached join
ed the NNU Immediately. IRE Red
Cross threatened to cut off $3.50 a
week "relief' if they joined the NNIU.
He said the women in the auUliaries
play big part,
A delegate from Central Pennsyl-
vania told how the UMWA officials
outlawed recent strike there of UNI
WA members.
Bell, a young Western Pennsylvania
lminer showed the role of Father Cox,
Who in a speech in Uniontown called
or the United States to declare war
on Japan.
Fred Seiders, western Pennsylvania
district secretary, stressed the neces-
sity to bring forward rank and file
minrs into the leadership.
Bob Sivert, district secretary of
Eastern Ohio, said after the 1881
strike spirit of pessimism developed
among the leadership which is not
entirely smashed yet. I'VE failed TO
follow up our gains in the strike and
to entrench ourselves inside the mines
by leading struggles on the basis Of
local demands"
Frank Borich's summary of the
discussion concluded the session. He
said the discussion at this conven-
ton showed tremendous advance
over previous conventions. Before
we simply made agitational speeches;
now we discuss how to build the union
and to lead struggles. Weakness of
the convention are that only one-half
of the locals are represented; only
% Negro delegates. The first step
after the convention must be to begin
preparation for strikes by developing
immediate local struggles of the
miners, not only on wage cuts, but
also on conditions and grievances in
side themines. We must also develop
struggles of the unemployed miners
for relief and insurance"
|
PITTSBURGH, Path greetings
Of the Communist Party of the USA
were brought to the Third National
Convention of the National Miners
Union by WilliamW. Weinstone, on
behalf of the secretariat. The dele
gates, most of them not members OF
the Communist Party, enthusiastically
cheered him when he pledged the
support of the Communist Party to
the miners struggle and told of the
role of the Communist Party as the
vanguard of the working class.
Ben Bernard, organizational secre-
tary Of the National Miners Unior
reported on organization. AS was
done by h,secretary Of the union
and many Of the delegates, he stress,
ed the necessity of the NMU en-.
trenchnig itself in the mines. HI
pointed out that though we are baset
mostly on the unemployed, yet ou
union does not give sufficient leader
ship to the masses of the unemploy
ed" He pointed out as a weakness
that I'VE carry on the work from thu
top" The NMU must develop BIZ
crops of volunteer organizers whicl
Bernard pointed out was the almos
complete lack Of dues payments u
the national office of the Nationa
Miners Union "The per centage o
members we have inside the mine