davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-08-26
Threat to Shoot
Militant Miners in
Illinois Union
Sheriff Backs PIMA
Officials Against
Opposition

CARLINVILLE, IH.-Open war
fare was declared upon all militant
rank and file members of the Pro
gressive Miners of America by its
officials and the sheriffs' forces at q
meeting held here recently, attended
by some 5000 miners.
There will be no more Communist
meetings in this county" said Sheriff
Fries in his speech, "and anyone
opposing the officials Of the P. M. A.
(meaning the Percy and Keck ma
chine) will be run out or Jailed
"Shoot Them!"
He called the left wing leaders in
the P M. A. rats, saying: 'sYou have
in Gillespie four or five rats like
Batuello Che is now chairman of the
state relief committee of the P. M.
Al who want to destroy the P. M.
A; and you know what to do with
those rats. If you can't get rid OF
them, shoot them!'
States Attorney Setter supported
these murderous threats. He was
followed by Ed. Bowen, editor of the
Progressive Miner" P. M A. paper,
who made vicious TRADE against
the Communist Party and the "dic-
tatorship of the proletariat.'
This meeting was called by the
officials of the P. NJ A, together
with officials Of Macoupin County
as a "red batting" gathering to start
open attack upon the left wing
leaders and militant fighters in the
P. M. A, who are opposing the class
collaboration policies of Percy ami
Keck and demand that the P. M. A.
miners Immediately prepare for
fight to get a higher scale Of wages to
meet the present imitation and higher
cost Of living.
The recent statement made by
Claude Percy, president of the P. M.
A., at Nilwood mass meeting, in
which he declared that the ''Pro-
gressiTe Miners of America must be-
come conservative union if it is
to survive" has been further carried
into effect yesterday here.
The recent statement of the Exec
utive Board of the P. M. A. endorsing
the N. R. A. and other Roosevelt
policies is now followed by a most
drastic attack upon all miners in the
P. M. A. who see in the N. r. A.
hunger for the miners.
There is an undercurrent among
the miners in the P. M. A. that the
Percy-IEeck leadership have reached
an agreement with the Lewis forces
in Washington.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-08-26

cation Of Negroes in special shifts, sections
or houses.
Z. The right Of all non-citizens to en-
ployment in all mines and participation
in all committees shall be guaranteed, and
all deportation proceedings for belonging
to or participating in a union Of their
own choosing shall be dropped.
8. Opening up of the closed company
towns, and establishment Of full civil rights,
abolition of company guards, and aboli-
ton Of all company stores shall be ef-
fected Immediately after the adoption of
this code.
g. Rigid enforcement Of the existing, and
adoption Of additional safety measures to
protect the lives Of the miners. The min
ers shall have the right to elect mine
inspectors.
TO- The miners shall have the unre-
stricted right to join the union of their
own choosing, to hold meetings without
interference, to strike and conduct mass
picketing for the improvement of their
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-08-26

UNIWA dared to appear at any Of the
mass meetings of the miners. They
spoke over the radio. To complete
the strikebreaking job the Roosevelt
administration hired lawyers, judges,
doctors, welfare workers, social work.
ers, etc. The main link between the
Roosevelt Administration and these
takers was DR.. Springer, who made
many trips to Washington.
Finally, the strikebreaking job was
completed and the miners driven
back to work, with the expectation
that conditions would change after
the code hearings, only 3 days off. 1t
is two weeks now since the hearings
ended. Many changes took place in
the mines. Hundreds of the best
fighters have been discharged and
now face eviction. Scales have not
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-08-26
N ew Strikes Break
Out to Win
Demands
By FRANK BORTCH.
Secretary Of the National Miners
Union,

Secretary Of the National Miners
Union.
= Due to the tremendous campaign
conducted by the bosses press and
the UMWA officials concerning the
NRA and the New Deal", thousands
of miners believed that their wages
would be increased and conditions
improved, that the unemployed would
obtain jobs and that they would have
the right to organize and strike.
The UNIWA officials created the
impression that the recognition OF
the UMWA will be forced upon the
employers. July 5th was set as the
day of recognition. Thousands Joined
the UMWA with the expectation that
an end to starvation and terror was
here.
AS soon as the miners began to Or
ganize and demand improvement in
their working and living conditions,
the employers discharged and evicted
the most active ones. This and the
1ong-standing starvation and terror,
resulted in a strike in several mines
The operators Immediately instituted
brutal terror.
The UMWA leaders begged the
miners not to strike, to wait for the
hearings on the coal code. They as
sured the miners Roosevelt's admin
istration would solve all their prob
lens and the strike was unneces-
sary and was even detrimental to the
cause of of the miners.
However, the miners did not give
in to the operators terror. Neither
did they accept the advice of Lewis,
Pagan, Feney & Co. They answered
the terror by continuous mass picket
ing. Within two weeks 10000 were
feel the effect. The miners were con-
fdent of their victory. They had
their own strength on one hand, and
on the other they believed that the
government, and particularly Roose-
welt, was with them.
AS the strike became q serious
menace to the employers and the
government, Roosevelt did step into
the situation. He ordered the min
ers to abandon their strike and re-
turn to work without one single con-
cession. OF course, this order was
issued in the form of an appeal.
& Lewis also ordered the miners to go
back to work. At the same time
Roosevelt proclaimed that any and
all strikes are against the new law.
But the miners did not go back
to work. They continued the strike.
b On the initiative of Roosevelt a spe-
! cial conference was held in Union
town. To this conference Roosevelt
(. sent his personal representative, one
of the greatest strikebreakers in the
country, Mr.. McGrady. McGrady
pleaded with the miners, in the name
of Roosevelt, to return to work
Although some of the miners re-
turned, other remained on strike.
The strikebreaking job was not
completed. The UMWA leaders were
of no use. The sentiment of the min
ers as such that no official of the
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-08-26
A
CRIMINAL IN
ANTHRACITE
Revolt Of Rank and
File Against
Betrayers

The Rank and File revo5s hi the,
Anthracite against the Lewis ma
chine grows and embraces o large
majority of the miners.
Cappellini and Maloney, Old time
takers who have betrayed the min
ers before by staging a so-called OPP
position to the John l. Lewis ma
chine, are attempting 10 control this
revolt. They formed new union"
called the United Miners Of the An
thracite.
This was done by calling of
runlp convention recently with picked
delegates in the main.
The rank and file movement is
carrying on campaign exposing
these maneuvers of Cappellini, who
is also known for his criminal &C
tivities, serving a Jail term for ar
son and now indicted for forgery.
Cappellini was never arrested by the
boss class for the murder of Alex.
Campbell and other militant work
ing-class fighters.
At large mass meeting of miners
held recently, called by these takers,
they were forced to grant the plat
form to Bill Dunno and Joe Dugher
under the pressure of the miners.
They both exposed Cappellini for
what he is, and he skunk out of the
meeting, fearing the wrath of the
miners.
The mobilization Of the miners
throughout the tri-districts is taking
place under the leadership Of the
rank and file opposition on the basis
of united front between all honest
elements willing to establish a class
struggle union.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-08-26
Miners Wives Join
Fight Against He'll
Holes OfCOal Towns
Company Towns Reek
With Dirt, Filth
and Flies
BY MARGARET SMEAR

Coal operators, their wives, women
coal operators like Mrs. Roche from
Colorado, group of liberal" women
came to say their word at the Wash
ington Coal hearings. Union off1ci-
ais of the UMWA, PIMA, and NNIU
came. While sitting there and listen
ing I only wished that all the min
ers wives could be present. They
soon would lose all the faith in those
who today are termed leaders and
would call them by their right name
the misleaders. O.
The coal operators were interested
in mainly one thing, that is what
advantage will the code give them
over their rivals, and will the code
insure them the lowering Of the cost
Of production cost of handling, etc.
In other words, before agreeing to
anything they wanted to be certain
that their profits would continue to
roll in. While they, and their wives
or mistresses, looked like a million
dollars, living in the best hotels, eat
ing the best food, etc., showing that
they can afford to spend money, they
dubbed over pennies that would go
to the miner.
Neither the coal operators, the
UMWA, or the government had a
word to say concerning the living
conditions of the miners wives, who
are born, live their lives and die
chained to the mining camps, with
its filth, implanted and unsanitarl
shacks, its company store, its mud
and blood.
Only the NMU, and the Women's
AuxiIaries Of the NNU, had de-
mands for the women in the min
ing towns.
We demanded abolition of the
company stores, free medical and
maternity service for the miners,
their wives and children. We de-
manded that the mining towns be
supplied with healthy drinking
water, that all filth, and scum, gar
bage be cleaned regularly and at the
company expense. That free play
grounds be built for the children.
That the company houses shall be
equipped and built to come up to the
standards as set out by the govern
mental housing and hygienic experts.
OF course, the coal barons did not
like this. They know that any i'm
prove1nent in the standard of life
Of the miners and their families must
come at the expense of the coal
operators.
Coal operator Taplin, who Dragged
about the gardens, the nice houses,
the fine clean company stores, etc.,
did not mention that these fine"
houses have not been painted since
they were built at mine 8 and 4,
that yellow mud and filthy sewerage
from the toilets in mine and
make the stencil unbearable, and
that the f1y's make a dinner in these
sewer bitches then alight on the min
ers bread and other food Taplin
did not mention that sometimes the
butchers in some of the company
stores forget to lift their hand Off
Of the scale when they give the min
ers the meat, and thus miners pay
for the butchers knuckles as well
as the pig knuckles,
We, miners wives, organized In the
NMU, PIMA, or any other women's
organizations shall fight against any
attempt to continue to make us the
slaves Of the mining camps and COM
pany stores.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-08-26
BREAKING NEW DEAL BRINGS STARVATION TO COAL PITS
Pennsylvania Miners Get A
Neev View of the Nepv Deal
Role Of N.M.U. Is
Becoming Clear
to Miners

been put on the tipples. The wages
did not increase but prices went up
more than so percent. Instead Of
steady employment most of the mines
began to work two and three days a
week. The unemployed are not get
ting jobs.
All Of these developments, together
with the systematic explanations by
the National Miners Union, are re-
sulting in the fact that large numbers
of ardent supporters of Roosevelt are
beginning to understand the real
role Of the Roosevelt administration
They also begin to see the correct
ness Of the position taken by the
National Miners Union not only in
regard to the recent strike, but also
towards the MIRA. Their eyes are
again turning towards the NMU for
leadership.
The breaking of the strike did not
kill the militant spirit Of the min
ers.
The mining fields of Pennsylvania
are once more to become battle fields
Of the starving miners and their
families. Miners are formulating
their demands to be presented to the
employers by the miners commit
tees, with the decision for strike if
these demands are not granted. Sew
eral mines are already striking. In
these renewed struggles the miners
will remember the role of Roosevelt,
Lewis, Pagan and others and will
handle their affairs by themselves.
This is the time when every men,
Der of the NAIU, every local union,
every committee, must take an &C
tive part in helping the miners to
organize their struggle in such a way
that betrayals and strikebreaking will
be impossible, even by President
Roosevelt.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-08-26
N. M. i. Gains in
Utah and N. Mexico

In the past few weeks five local
unions of the National Miners Union
including 1000 miners who paid mi
tiation fees, have been formed in
New Mexico.
Living under the most miserable
conditions and inspired by the activ-
tiles of the NMU in Carbon County
Utha these miners have embraced
the National Miners Union
as their union to lead them in strug-
gle for the improvement of their
conditions.
Fearstricken by the speedy growth
of the union the coal companies have
called in their friends the leaders of
the UMWA who after weeks Of effort
have succeeded in getting 26 men,
bers into their union, this is now be-
ing used by the local government and
the coal companies as a base to at
tack the NMU.
The coal companies and the lead
ers of the UMWA are also making
attempts to disrupt the NMU from
the inside through forces who are
raising all kinds of doubts and diff
culties to hinder the growth of the
union.
The NMU is being consolidated and
at meeting held the executive
boards Of the locals in Gallup met
and worked out plan of immediate
struggle to improve conditions. Spe-
cial local meetings have been held
over the weekend to discuss de-
mands and make preparations for
striking all five mines if necessary.
These meetings were attended by the
local organizers, including National
Organizer Chas. Guynn, who also
spoke at a large mass meeting of
miners together with Pat Toohey
last Saturday.
Utah Coal Strike.
(NOTE: A militant coal strike
Is now going on around Helper,
Utah, under the leadership of the
NMU. Governor Blood, acting with
the coal operators and the NRA
is trying to repeat the Pennsylvania
sellout. But the miners are re-
sisting. Due to delay, we have not
been able to publish fun material
on this strike, but will do so in later
issues.)
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-08-26

working and living conditions. To guar
antee this right to the miners, all exist
ing company unions shall be disbanded
after the passage Of this code.
IL. No check-of from the miners pay
to be made for rent, company insurance
or doctor, accumulated debts, union dues,
or anything else. The miners shall re-
ceive their full earnings and shall be paid
every two weeks in U. S. currency only.
IL. Each coal company in each mine
shall recognize the Mine Committee elect
ed by the miners independently of the
company and without company interfer-
ence. The mine committee thus elected
shall be considered as the official repre-
sentative body of the miners and shall
negotiate with the employer and settle the
wages, working conditions and all other
grievances and disputes, to the approval
of the majority Of miners in each mine
The Mine Committee shall have the right
to control the hiring and firing of the
miners.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-08-26
Only 800 Work Out
of 11,OOO Indiana
BituminouS Miners
Rank and File Plan
Strikes Despite the
UMWA Officials
BY JOHN LAWSON

THE conditions of the miners in
Indiana are deplorable. Practically
no relief comes into that field The
leadership Of the U. NJ. w. A, the
main organization in the field, is
hindering every struggle for relief.
Out of the 11,oo9 miners in Dis
trict II. only 300 are working full
time, 5000 are on part time and the
rest unemployed. The U. NJ. w. A..
deducts from the meagre wages of
the employed and distributes ccm-
missary among the unemployed every
month or two. The miners call it
vest-pocket relief, because it can be
placed in ones vest pocket.
In the Indiana coal fields there
are a number of organizations. The
U. M. w. A, the Knox County
Miners Association, in one of the
largest mines in Bicknell; the In
diana Miners Association and large
number of unorganized miners.
The basic wage of the U. M. w. A.
after they sold out the last strike, is
$457, from which dues and commits
sary are deducted. The wages of the
other employed miners are approx
mately the same, considering that
the high dues and commissary are
not deducted from their pay.
Organize Strong Arm Squad
The rank and file miners called a
conference August 6 to work out a
program Of action, uniting the split
up ranks of the miners. Colby Larks,
who once paraded as fighter
against the District and National
leadership and as frank and file''
leader, organized a strong-arm squad
and even had the police ready to
smash up the meeting.
LIE GOT the surprise of his life
IL when after the report made by
Charles Pryor, MANY of his own sup
porters, except few of his body
guards, expressed agreement with
the need of united struggle of all
miners for relief for the unemployed
for better conditions in the mines. to
fight against the coal operators in
stead of fighting the miners. Not
being in a position to fight against
the program presented, he shifted
the attack on Pryor as one wing
broke the ranks when the miners
in Bicknell in masses broke away
from the misleading, corrupt U. M
w. A.
On the same day, $500 miners met
in the Clinton field and overwhelm-
ingly rejected and defed Pellanti, In
ternational organizer from Pennsyl-
vania, and voted for a general strike
to unionize the Indiana coal fields
and win better conditions for the
miners.
In this strike, the rank and file
must put forward program of Se-
mands for all miners, employed and
unemployed, against the boss and
U. M. w. A. proposed code and for
the code presented by the miners
The strike must be conducted against
the U. S. Steel company, which owns
the Bunsen No mine for a $6 basic
wage, for the 6-hour dry, 5-day week
and develop the strike further into
the so-called union mines of the u
M. W. A. and among the unorsau-
lied, and not directed against the
miners.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-08-26
BY Labor Research Association


Miners who recently struck against
the H. G. Prick Coke Co., subsidiary
of j. P. Morgan's U. S. Steel Corp
and against MELONS Pittsburgh Coal
Co., have been starving on rates of
only 36 cents ton and a day rate
of only 1895. If they had one or
two days work in the week they
were lucky.
These two large companies, among
the richest in the coal fields, took
the lead in repeated wage slashes
during the crisis. Employed miners
were often earning even less than
the $4-a-week family relief given out
to some of the jobless workers. These
facts were Officially admitted at
Senate Committee Hearings in Wash
ington in January, 1888.
When the Pittsburgh Coal Co. fl
nally granted small wage increase
to stave off the strike which later
developed, rates were only 3812 to
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-08-26

ness to 'listen to reason" He de-
clined, however, to qualify the state
ment or explain the "stubbornness'
of the miners, and it was left for the
idle coal diggers themselves to tell
the reason for the closing of the
mines.
On a corner of very narrow
street a group of miners in their
shirt sleeves eagerly talked to the
Daily Worker correspondent of the
conditions in their town.
"It is not shut down." said one
sturdy miner of the group, cts a
lockout" He then explained how
the "P. & r." company made a
vicious attempt to cut the wages of
the miners from thirty to forty per
cent. A contract" miner, he said,
who used to get $3.50 a car was Of
fered only $1.56, and the helpers, who
used to get $576 a day, were asked
to work for 81 a day less, by in
stalling loading machines, and how
the company enlisted the aid of the
District officials-the Boylan-B re-
nan-Kennedy gang-with their
henchmen to help them carry through
this robbery of the workers, and
how the company failed miserably
How do they live nere?" I asked
well" one short, but well-built
young miner replied, 1900 families
get some relief from the state-not
much, though. We pay no rent, we
pay no electric bills and many of us
make something by 'bootlegging
COAL"
Asked to explain what he meant
by bootleg coal, he told the writer
that large number of miners &C
to the fields near the mine pits with
their jack hammers and other mining
tools, dig coal, put it in large burlar
bags, and transport it in old
dilapidated machines and Other
vehicles, to their homes, placing il
in front of their houses. Then deal
ers from Reading and Philadelphia
come in large trucks and buy II
off the miners and carry them tt
their respective cities.
Don't the mine guards stop then
from taking the company's coal?"
asked.
mo, sir" he answered. "They
don't dare to-"
There is no Unemployed Council il
Mahanoy City. The unemployed
work is being done by the newly or.
ganized Farmers and Laborers
Union" which, according to Mr.
Holt, its vice-president, is "Jin
Maurer" organization, or a Socialis
Party outfit, with several branche
in the Anthracite. 1t cooperate.
with the Poor Board in hunting w
families who receive or try to re-
ceive relief under false pretenses"
in other words, rank and file mem
bers of the organization are obliged
to do police work for the govern,
ment. This Socialist outfit is also il
favor of sharing the work with thu
employed. Its leaders do not realiz,
that such policy does not make fol
solidarity between the employed anc
unemployed in the latter's struggle
for more relief and permanent fed
eral unemployment insurance. TIL
rank and file members of the loca
Farmers and Laborers' Union espe
c1ally the young workers, thu
breaker boys" as they are callet
here, are beginning to feel that the,
are being misled and are very anxious
to know of the activities of the I'm.
employed Councils throughout thu
United States, and they were glae
to hear that the writer will see to i
that they get regularly bundles O
the Daily Worker, of which the,
heard but never saw.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-08-26
NOTE

NOTE
Readers will find additional let
tiers from miners in the regular
worker correspondence section on
page 8.
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1933-03-02
CLOVERDALE

The Luther League held meeting
Sunday evening. A short program was
presented. Mrs. Cora FOrncrook, Mrs.
Lester Dalzell, and Magnus Christian
sen were appointed on the program
committee.
Miss Frances Waller spent the
weekend at Sandstone.
Mrs. Edwin Redeem returned Sun
day from Hayward, Wis, where she
spent three weeks at the P. F. Lar
son home. Clyde Williamson and
Jeanette Larson brought her here.
Mr.. and Mrs. Jim JOrdon and family
spent Sunday afternoon at the Joe
Petsko home.
Clarence Hemming of Sandstone
spent Sunday here.
The next Ladies' Aid meeting will
be held March 8, at Alec Campbell's
All are cordially invited.
Mr.. and Mrs. August Brommerick
and Mr.. and Mrs. IngOlf Summerland
and family were guests at the Will
Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1933-03-02
(TOO Late for Last Week.

Mrs. Fred Hansen went to visit her
mother at Eveleth Tuesday.
T. j. Ryan sawed wood for Fred
Thieling Wednesday and Thursday of
last week.
Arthur Ryan and the Linehans, and
Fred Hansen plOwed out the roads
last Thursday. The Beaufeauxs,
Thayers. Greigs, and Millers plowed
out their road this week.
Miss Jessie Busby and Lester
Theiling were married at Markville
Feb. a. A large crowd gathered to
charivari them Wednesday evening of
last week.
George and Bob Grieg spent the
weekend in the cities.
The Misses Arvella and Beatrice
Swan spent the weekend at their
home here.
Mr.. and Mrs. Arthur Ryan went to
Hinckley Friday, and Dolores and Ar
thur Bud came home with them.