The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-12-18
BY CHARLOTTE ToDEs

BY CHARLoTTE TODES
BOSTON, Mass. Dec. 1.-THE Shoe
Union Amalgamation Convention Sat
urday adopted resolution against az
fliation with the American Fedora
ton of Labor. The resolution recon-
mended the establishment OF an In
dependent National Shoe Union cp-
posed to affaliation with the A. F. OF
L. or the IT. U. U. l.. for an indefinite
period unless changed by a referen-
dunn vote of the membership.
A storm of applause created the
declaration of Paul Saffagio, chair
man of the day session, warning the
CLIQUE in control of the Convention
that he would fight any tricks which
would pave the way for affiliation
with the A. r. Of L. "If Mr.. zim-
norman and company think they are
going to drive us into the A. F. of l..
1 want to tell you delegates, he is
not"
Industrial Union Leads Fight
The chairnlan's warning came af-
ter the Industrial Union delegation
had battled against q resolution in
troduced by the Committee calling
for an independent national union
and demanding that the Industrial
Union would go Immediately from the
T. U. U. L.
The resolution, which had been
signed by all members Of the Resolu-
tons Committee, except the Indus
trial Union delegates, failed to include
any reference to affiliation with the
A. r. of L. A minority report sub
mitted by the Industrial Union dele
gates had declared against afflliation
with the A. F. of L.
Attack of Zimmerman Clique
Fred Biedenkapp reminded the de-
legates that all decisions Of the Con-
vention we're subject to a referendum
vote Of the membership and that i'm
mediate withdrawal from the T. U.
o. L. would be violation Of the prin-
ciples Of the referendum which was
made condition Of the amalgama-
ton. The ballot voted upon by the
membership of the various unions
participating in the Convention had
stated that amalgamation would not
take effect until March l, to enable
the membership of each organization
to ratify the Conventions decision
by referendum vote.
A food of denunciation against the
New York Shoe Union by New Eng
land members of the Provisional
Committee followed Biedenkapp's
statement. They produced signed
statement by members Of the New
York Provisional Committee declar-
ing their willingness to abide by de-
cisions of the Convention.
Delegate Hallett from Boston went
so far as to declare the Industrial
Union delegation lnrepresentatiye of
the New York shoe workers, and at
tackled the leadership of the Indus
trial Union. At this, the New York
delegates arouse in a body and loudly
protested the statement demanding
an immediate retraction. The whole
convention was thrown into a turmoil.
The New York members of the Pro-
visional Committee declared they had
signed the statement with the under
standing that the conditions laid
down by the referendum ballot would
be enforced and had taken it for
granted that a referendum vote would
be taken following the convention, to
ratify this decision. Zimmerman, who
denounced trade union democracy
and rank and file control as bunk"
admitted that the question Of affilia-
ton with the A. r. OF L. was elimi-
mated at this time, but that they in
tended to have amalgamation right
now and not wait for referendum
vote by the membership. He called on
the chair TO rule that the convention
was a supreme body empowered to
overrule any previous decision re-
garding referendum vote. The rul-
ing was empaatically denied by the
chairman. Following this, delegate
after delegate from the New York
union arose to condemn the machine
politics of the convention and to ex-
press confidence in their leadership.
Statement of Industrial Union
Sam Ziebel, speaking for the In
dustrial Union delegation as whole
said as follows:
"Our stand Is for accepting the
decisions Of the convention provid-
ed there is no aifiliation with the
A. F. OF l.. as well as the T.U.U.L.
The structure and principles Of the
T.U.U.L. are for unity and amalga-
nation. This Is what the T.U.U.L.
calls for. If you referring to the
clique in controD want to make po-
liticaI capital out Of an attack on
the T.U.U.L., you are only hurting
amalgamation. We say II you want
another Boot and Shoe Union after
amalgamation, we are opposed. II
you arc for an industrial union on
class struggle basis, we say yes.
Under any conditions, we demand
all decisions go TO the membership
for ratification"
He read from the T.U.UL. state
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