The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-01-17
VIII Carry Fight to Floor
Of U.M.W.A. Convention
in indianapolis
By TONY limerick

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - McFeorldge
Local. ass United Mine Workers at
Creighton, Pa adopted many resolu-
I lions for the U.MW.A. international
Z Convention, to be held in Indianapolis
Jan. q. These are short and to the
point. Most are directed at the po-
licies put forward by John L. Lewis.
one signed and with the local seal
reads as follows:
TO all members of the U.M.WA.
Greetings.
"McFetridge Local ASS do hereby
call uDon all officers and members OF
the U.M.W.A. to take whatever action
that may be necessary, to change tine
policy heretofore in force, by the
U.M.WA. of signing contracts with
anv. company or corporation at any
one or more of its mines, in any held
while ct the same time some OF its
other mines are being worked on
non-union basis.
TN short, that any company deSir-
ing to sign contracts with the UNI w.
A. shall include all it's workings in
any and all fields, or be refused con-
tracts at any Of its mines. Believing
this would be a great forward step
for the interests of all members OF
the UMWA, We therefore call upon
all members to do what they can to
have this policy put into effect by
the United Mine Workers OF America"
Reasons For IL
There are reasons for this resolu-
ton. It is aimed at the heart OF the
betrayal policy of the Lewis ma
chime
in 1922 the American coal miners
had a great strike. The anthracite
and bituminous miners were on
strike at the same time. The nom
union fields were out. Only some parts
Of Kentusky signed up by Lewis were
working
Then came the dawn. Lewis signed
one agreement for the anthracite.
This gave ou5 in September. He sign
ed another for the soft coal, this
gave out in April. Many miners were
left out OF both agreements. This was
the big betrayal,
Some companies signed for some
Of their mines and left out others.
The Consolidation Coal Company,
signed for their mines in West Var
ginia, but not for their other mines.
What happened?
The miners in West Virginia went
back to work The other miners stay
ed out on strike. The company used
the coal from their West Virginia
mines to fill the orders of the strik-
ing mines. They also used the profits
of the union" mines to hire scabs
and thugs to break the strike in the
cgaines that remained out. After q
Mime the strike was broken.
NJ The company then refused to rec
gbrgniEe their agreement in West Vir-
einia. The miners came on strike.
The order was now filed by the nom
union mines of this company. Profits
of these mines we're used to hire the
same scabs and thugs. The strike was
lost and all mines were running open
shop. Then all of the mines were
open shop. This was and is the strike
breaking policy of Lewis. This policy
was followed at the mines Of the
Hillman and Peabody Coal Com
oanies. 1t was used to help break the
Btrike in 1922, later in 1927 and every
j lime since. While the Lewis men say
that John L. Lewis made mistake
in 1922, and that everyone makes
mistakes, the same policy was fol-
lowed in all strikes. A man may jump
OF bridge once, and If he is not
killed, he will never do it again.
This lis known by the miners Of
the McFetridge local. It is known by
the miners of the country. 1t must
be remembered by the rank and file
delegates at the coming convention
of the UM.W.A.
Against Lewis
The last sentence of the resolution
reads, 1--WE therefore call upon all
members to do what they can to have
this policy put into effect" This
means the policy of the resolution
and against the policy of Lewis.
The correct policy can be put into
effect by organizing all of the sincere
and honest miners against Lewis. BY
building up rank and file opposi-
I'll