The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-06-26
Steel Delegation :
Militant at Capital
Confined from Paqe u

ing for civil war" Dunno, Cush and
Egan told Elliot. Dunno added:
This is a critical situation for the
Federal government and the N r,
Ats got to move openly now.
either against the steel companies or
against the workers. This is the
way it prepares for its complete ex-
posure as an impartial agency g,
Your suggestions are right to the
point and intelligently presented
Elliot said. we will transmit them
exactly as the A. F. of L. and other
proposals we're transmitted to the
employers. through the Secretary Of
Labor, for their consideration.
In addition, we will carefully
consider them in the Department"
A puzzled young lawyer, Elliot
faced the seven S. M. w. I, o. dele
gates leaning back in his chair.
smiling shyly and generally look
ing enlbarra Ssed. The cleancut steel
workers and their veteran leaders
presented their case calmly but with
deadly precision, Elliot had very few
answers or Interruptions to offer.
Negro workers spoke on specific is
sues of special discrimination
against them. Rank and file union
members gave particulars of intimi-
dalton and terror in the plants in
which they work. 900 workers have
been fired since the A. A. and Green
betrayal in Sparrows Point alone.
THE steel companies and their
newspaper publishers are constantly
complaining of the danger of vio-
lence and bloodshed," the delega-
ton told Elliot. Our proposals, if
enforced, would ohviate the neces-
sity of bloodshed. And, although we
are not against violence in principle.
believing that workers have the
right to defend themselves when at
tackled, they would incidentally save
hundreds of thousands of dollars
that the steel companies are nov
spending on thugs, gunner and
ammunition, although here again
we are not especially interested in
saving money for the companies.
These proposals are the only
ones that deal bssically on the
situation in question"
You have presented very in
teresting case" Elliot remarked at
one point. And again, I'VE will
give your suggestions very careful
attention"
Tell us whether it would be
necessary to enact any new laws to
carry out our proposals" Dunno
suggested at one point. I'VE think
these proposals could be enforced
without any new laws, despite the
restrictions that now exist"
That's right" Elliot said.
The delegation demanded that
the same publicity for the S. M. W.
I. U, proposals be provided as the
A. F. of l.. and other proposals got.
Elliot replied:
IT promise that We will give this
the same publicity that Green's and
Tighe's proposals got"
When Dunno emphasized that
the steel union was demanding only
the same guarantees as are SUPP
posed to exist in other elections in
carrying out the American Consti-
tuition" Elliot needed, saying that
in many cases local governments
had the only jurisdiction.
What about Homestead, where
Secretary Perkins wasn't allowed to
speak," asked Cush.
I'VE haven't forgotten that" Eli
lot blushed.
DO you mean to tell us that the
Federal government can't function
for free speech within its own
boundaries?" asked Cush. Free
dom Of speech doesn't exist in any
company town. You know that's
fact?"
YES" said Elliot.
Egan told Elliot; The steel COM
panies flooded the whole area with
their propaganda for company
unionism and their fake strike
votes. Nobody interfered or could
interfere with them. But I can
give you the names of our members
who were arrested, and some of
them are still in Jail for distributing
our leaflets" Elliot nodded.