The daily worker., 1932-03-21


reading Of greetings from the revolu-
tionary miners union Of Scotland,
Germany an drFnaeshe.c eTketaoin
Germany and France. These eSpe-
cially hailed the Kentucky strike.
Stone, young West Vieginia miner
reported that the wage scale in his
section is even less than 221ac a ton,
due OF cheating on weight. In expos
ing the UNiWA official he told of one
case in whcih they turned back the
scale $50 pounds on every ton. There
are over 10000 unemployed miners
in Scots Run section. The National
Miners Union is not yet sufficiently
entrenched in the mines, and has a
tendency to depend too muchon the
spontaniety of the workers. Over
1900 in this field applied to join the
National Miners Union in the last
six months.
Mrs. HoWart, Negro woman from
Brownsville, Pa, stressed the import
anie of building womens' auMliaries
and told how they had forced relief
from the city charities.
Wakner, a young miner from West
ern Pennsylvania, told of cheating on
scales in the Langeloth mine. He
stressed the Importance OF youth work
and showed how the bosses try to
play them against the older miners.
On his motion, the convention sent
telegram to the Governor Of Ken
lucky protesting the terror and de-
manding the release Of the imprison-
ed leaders and miners.
Joe TaSh of Southern Illinois told
how the opposition groups are being
built in the UMWA in Illinois; how
the miners in the UMWA are for
militant struggle against the takers
and the bosses. HE told Of 16 UMWA
locals holding mass meetings and pro-
tested the. arrest of NMU members
in Illinois and demanded the repeal
of the criminal syndicalism laws. The
UMWA agreement expires on April
1st and that with the aid of the
Walker fake opposition and Lewis, a
80 to SO per cent wage cut Is ex-
pected. The main task Of the union
is to prepare united front strike
against this wage cut. Mass meetings
throughout the field are being called
| yxtiffa tI1is
Dorsey, a young Negro delegate
from the Panhandle Of West Virginia,
reported a cut on March Is from 80
to SAC a ton. 1.-THE terror won't halt
The NMU." The main danger in West
Virginia is the West Virginia Miners
Union.
George Wagner, a young miner
from PoWhatan Point, Ohio, describe
an interesting development in ta-
conducting of local struggles, telling
of the chalk system whenever there
is a grievance in the mine, such as
loose timber, loose rock, etc, the NMU
members chalk it up In the mines as
demand to fight for) On his mo-
ton the convention sent a telegram
to the Governor of Michigan, protest
ing the murder of four unemployed
workers at the Ford plant
Mahan, delegate from the Brush
Creek section OF Kentucky electrified
the convention by his splendid mill
tant speech. He told how he was
taken for a ride" and thrown into
Jail at two o'clock one morning. This
don't stop me from staying 100 per
cent for the NMU."
He told how Wontn and children
are living in tents with big NMU signs
stretched across the front OF them
while machine loads Of thugs were
riding up and down, our children
said, Papa, you stick TO the NMU!
Nt's not very pleasant to watch the
thugs throw our food to the winds.
But tht time is near at hanr when
these cars will take back seat The
time is near at hand when the NMU
will go over the top in the hills OF
old Kentucky"
A delegate from Illinois, not an
NAlU member, but a representative OF
the opposing group in the UMWA,
told how Lewis used the fake Ed
munson opposition and the IWW to
confuse the miners. The Illinois min
ers are rs per cent for the NMU but
art kept in the UMWA by the check
off.
Robinson, young Negro miner OF
West Virginia, told of the role of the
UMWA which cut down the miners
time. limited them TO three cars a
day, and cut the wages in the UMWA
in West Virginia mines below those
in the non union mines. we are go
ing to build the NMU in West Vir-
ginia or die trying. We have to break
down the lack of confidence among
the Negroes" These delegates pro-
posed kilograms to the Governor of
California demanding the release of
tht scottsboro boys. These were sent
the convention.
Makki, from the metal mining dis
trict, is describing the misery of the
metal miners, reported that they are
only working eight days month,
averaging $3.50 day.
Hickman, Kentucky deiegatt told
OF 7 warrants for his arrest and a
death warrant against him, Only
starvation and terror is forcing the
miners back TO work, III II takes q
Rooshian Red To fight, I'm as red