The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-04-05
THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 1894
10000 Miners AVoid the
n. r. A. Trap

CLEARLY perceiving the N. R. A. arbitra-
" ton moves as trap, 10000 coal miners
have walked out on strike in the West Viz
GINA fields. They are demanding a S.
day wage and the seven-hour working day
This militant move of the miners, all of
whom are members of the United Mine
Workers Of America, is characteristic of the new
stage Of struggle against the N.R.A.
In attempt to head of this new developing
strike movement in the coal fields General John
son and his understrappers in the NRA apparatus
issued hurried call for code hearing on mining
to be held on April g. The miners had been ad-
vsed to hold everything and not to strike; for they
we're told, this magic date great things would
happen for the coal diggers.
Indeed, the generous general let out the sly sug-
gestion that on or about April the miners mil
lenium would be ushered in by the N.R.A. and that
all would be we'll and peaceful thereafter in the
coal mines. This was to be accomplished no doubt
by some mysterious act of sleght-of-hand.
But the miners do not believe in magic; they
have seen all of General Johnson's performances
since the opening of Mr.. Roosevelts New Deal Cir
Gus Johnson's bag of tricks the miners have seen,
contains nothing but wage-cuts and other lnpleas-
ant items for those who work and toll.
The betrayal Of the strike in the Prick captive"
mines the throttng of the threatening auto strike
Of Labor through placing company unions on the
same basis as trade unions was revelation to
the miners.
So 10000 walked out on strike, The operators
in an attempt to break the strike agreed to con-
cede to the demands of the srikers-but only until
April when the N-R.A. would take over the matter
TALK about the N.R.A. taking over the matter,
however, is not 50 efeotive today as it was last
summer The miners refused to wait. They had
the strike weapon in their hands They know that
this is their most effective weapon to win better
wages and conditions. They decided much to the
chagrin of the leaders Of the UMW.A who re-
NAMED silent the situation, that the best way
to get what they after is to strike and not rely
on the N.R.A.
The miners saw the auto workers caught in the
tap Of the New Deal So they carefully avoided it.
They must now avoid being trapped by Off
Gals Of their union. Strong democraticalIy elected
rank and file committees must be set up in each
mine to lead the struggle. broad rank and file
strike committee must be formed. The miners
through their miIitancy must spike all attempts
Oh the leaders of the union to negotiate an agree
Inent with the N.R.A. and the operators that will
be urfavorabIe TO the working in the pits
The strikers should see to it that all negotia-
tons with the operators shall remain firmly in
the hands of the rank and file and that all deci-
siOnS be referred back to the rank and file I'm
der no circumstances must the miners allow
themselves to be tricked into calling Off the strike
in the hope Of getting a favorable decision from
the N.RA. Labor Board
This struggle should be spread to the Illinois and
Oklahoma fields where the mine-owners have locked
out thousands of miners while awaiting the MIRA
decision This lockout should be turned into
strike and demonstration against the wage cutting
strikebreaking policies of Roosevelt,s so-caued Ma
tional Recovery Administration