The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-10-11

OIlclalS aCCempC TO GUST Mike
Sstanevich as president of RUSSELL
ton local.
Stanevich was laid off along with
over $50 other miners in the Re-
public shaft at Russellton. this
summer, among them many of the
best local fighters. Recently stools
Of the Lewis machine boosted that
they would obtain 500 signatures to
a petition asking new election of
local officers, but were forced to
submit the petition with only. SO
names inscribed.
Lie About Strength
At the local meeting which was
to deal with the election, district
/ representatives appeared and tired
to build up the sentiment against
Stanevich, lying broadly OF the
large number of members who OPP
posed him.
Ted Gaul, one of the local union
officers and a rank and file fighter,
finally gained the floor and de-
manded that vote be taken. The
result showed total of 100 to 81
unfolding Stanevich and repudiat-.
ing the new. election which Pagan
was trying to force upon them.
1000 at Mass Meeting
A mass meeting held by rank and
file leaders in Export last Saturday
brought 1000 miners from nearby
shafts out to hear the platform Of
the Sloan-rank and file slate. The
speakers were Chas. Nolker, presi-
dent of Curtisville local and cam
didate for District president, ops
posing Pagan; Scotty O'Hara, Rem.
ton local president and candidate
for district vice president; Ted
Gaul, candidate for sub-district
board member; Stanevich, Pat
Scott of Yukon, Mike Smetonic of
Curtisville, and Gatty Spagnoli OF
Export.
These mass meetings of the rank
and file are being held every Sun
day in different parts of the dis.
trict fields, meeting with enthu-
siastic response everywhere.
President Pagan Alarmed
President Pat Pagan is so alarmed
at the growing support of the rank
and file slate that he has sent
out warnings against U.M.W.A,
members attending meetings or
conferences of local delegates,
threatening to fine heavily anyone
who disobeys this mandate and at
tends the "Bolshevik meetings"
An indicator of the sentiment
which is crystallizing around the
anti-Lewis election fight was tho
action of Tylerdale local union.
near Washington, Pa. Last pay day
an organized group of local leaders
distributed 100 copies of the Coal
Digger" organ of the rank and file.
The following local meeting lengthy
discussion took place on the issue
of rank and file control and the
paper, climaxing in the adoption of
resolution endorsing the Coal
Digger as the official organ of the
local union.
In the Allegheny Valley Central
Labor Union, where rank and file
delegates usually defeat the ma
neuyerings of A. F. of L. mislead-
ers, the latter scored a partial de-
feat of the rank and filers in the
case OF the Gust the Communists
! letter of VIM. Green. The missiye
was tabled" at the last meeting.
from where it can be reconsidered
unless rank and file delegates or
ganize and pass a motion consign-
| ing it to the Wastebasket.
The U.MW.A. local union of
Frederick, Col, recently passed a
unanimous motion endorsing the
rank and file slate headed by John
Sloan, OF Westville, ILL.,, according
to a letter received at the Office Of
the Coal Digger" District officials
tried to defeat the move by at
lacking the rank and file slate as
a gang of reds and Communists. y
In Mine No. 10 of Library, Pa,
miners are forced to work a full day
for dollar or often less. One mem
Der of U.MW.A. local 70 recently
worked four and one-half days to
draw $4.92, on which he must keep
alive family of nine.
Miners are compelled to spend
so cents on each shot to break a
slate vein 81 inches thick, and there
is SO much rock to COB that living
wage cannot be made.
Complaints to the company
'evince. the retort, IF you don't like
it get the hell out of here Wills
district officials, after investigat-
ing reported that no action can
be taken as the company is living
up to its agreement.