The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-05-31

OF an article on the role Of Nike
Tighe, President Of the AmsIga-
mated Association Of Iron, Steel
and Tin Workers "A. F. # L.,
and his machine IN knitting the
great steei strike a 1919. and
an2lyzing the role he has begun
to play in the now developing
strike in the steel industry
EDITOR.
By J. MELLON
rs THE similarity of Tighes'
L position and maneuveB to-
day, on the eve of the second
great steel strike, not OBJ
vious? History here not only
repeats itself in principle but
almost in detaiIl
Tighe will attempt to repeat his
Judas-role now as he did 50 well
in 1919. The Tighe machine have
declared themselves in" and will
resort to every Shiny trick I'D their
ample sleeves 10 sabotage the COM
ing strikel
What are the possible maneHvers
the Tigile clique will resort to. once
the strike Is under wsv7 f Is Of
imperative importance that every
rank and f13e member and leader
among the steel workers should
know and he prepared.
First, the most obviously expected
maneuver will be an open ATTEMPT
by Tighe m he Is allowed to have
anything to do with the strike,l TO
postpone the strike by calling in
the National Labor Board and the
various Regional Labor Boards. so
that they can repeat their strike
breaking roles as they did recently
in the sell-out of the auto strikers.
win Seek to Narrow Demands
Secondly land this has already
happened Tighe will insist on mar
rowing down the demands to simply
recognition, eliminating the i'm
portant economic demands as put
forth by the united front Of the
Amalganated Association Of Iron.
Steel and Tin Workers rank-and-
file leaders and the Steel and Metal
Workers Industrial Union
Thirdly, in the event Of the above
mentioned maneuvers falling. there
is the possibility Of direct interven-
ton steps being taken IN the form
Of 2 request through personal
statement" from Roosevelt for
truce from the president through
Green to Tighe. This maneuver was
carried through in 1919 By Presi-
dent Wilson through Gompers to
the National Committee.
Fourth, the more underhand and
less easily detected maneuvers, but
even more dangeroUs-such as:
An attempt during the strike Tor
right on the eve of the strike) to
split the crafts Of the steel workers
on the one hand and the tonnage
workers from the day workers and
laborers on the other. These ma
neuvers may be attempted by:
AZ Already existing secret agree
ments by the employers and the
Tighe machine to give "reoogni-
ton" in certain of the smaller
independent companies, thus
splitting the strike front.
b. An already existing secret
agreement to give recognition 10
locals composed of highly skilled
and tonnage workers in certain
larger mills, strategicalIy located
in the Calumet, Central and East
ern Ohio and Western Pennsyl-
vaRis districts, but eliminating
the lower paid workers. This is
another splitting tactic
cl An agreement to pay union
scales BUT NO RECOGNITION
in various other mills.
Either one or all Of these methods
may be resorted to by the united
front Of the Tighe machine and the
Steel Trust to try and break the
strike.
The best answer to these dangers
will be in the absolute elimination
of the Tighe- Leonard clique from
any position of leadership or au-
thority in the struggle,
So far, the membership of the
A A. has shown a determination
to carry out the struggle over the
heads of the takers. But there
must be more guarantees for being
able to do this than there are up
until the present moment.
The cardinal need is for mill
tant and iron welded united front
of the rank and file of the A. A. I.
s. T. W and the s. NJ W ], u,
and a broad regional united front
rank and file leadership.
A broad united front conference,
called between this time and the
strike date for the formation Of this
necessary local leadership would
greatly strengthen the preparations
for the struggle,
Such rank and file COMMITTEES,
composed Of the best tried and most
militant steel workers, should be
directly coordinated with the CEN
trail united front leadership.
The splendid and inspiring work.
ing class initiative. expressed in tbs
desires Of the A. A. L S. T. w. menu
bership for unity and struggle, must
be carried through to its necessary
conclusion in the form OF we'll
knit coordiuated organization. un-
hampered by treacherous mislead-
ers Of the working clasSl The eyes
Of the workers internationally will
be on the coming struggle in the
American steel industry The strug
oio tho+ noe hoo,,., =, fhfo .,,,,-L