The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-08-15
Locals Urge Action
at Textile Sessions
CONTINUED from Page y

real trade union unity, the soil
darity Of all the knitgoods workers,
regardless of union, to win the
strike and demands.
But MacMahon ruled this amend
ment out of order He then de-
clared that it would not be enter
tanned because he did not want
greetings sent to those strikers not
affiliated to the U.TW. He made
an attack on the militant left-wing
organizations, calling them "dis-
rupters," those who spread chaos, /"
and dual organizations" He at
tackled "the lady outside who is
holding conference with some
delegates" referring to Ann Bur-
lax. who was being greeted by many
of the delegates with whom she had
worked in strikes throughout the
country. MacMahon threatened
further, more will be made known
as the convention proceeds" Some
delegates looked upon this attack of
MacMahon as laying the ground
work for an attempt to head off
the declaration of general strike
by the convention, which is de-
manded by a large number of dele
gates, but on which the interna-
tional officers have not committed
themselves.
MacMahon, by crying "disrup-
tion" and "chaos" and red" may
try to distract the minds Of the
delegates from the declaration of a
strike for their economic demands.
The striking knitgoods workers in
the Knitgoods Workers Industrial
Union have called for the united
front in the strike of all knitgoods
workers.
The report to the convention of
Vice-President William Kelly, like
that of Secretary Starr. attempted to
show that the grievances of the tex
tile workers came about because of
violations of the MIRA. His only
positive recommendation to remedy
these grievances was Legislation to
safeguard our rights" The inter
national officers are still working in
collaboration with the N. r. A..
boards. Tt is becoming increasingly
clear to the textile workers, how
ever, that the Roosevelt govern
ment itself is carrying through for
the employers the drive against the
unions. The NR.A. machinery it
self has worsened the conditions of
the textile workers.
German Dodges Strike Issue
In President Francis Cor
mans report he did not definitely
commit himself on the question of
a general strike.
He said at one point, "The dele
gates here are determined to put up
a struggle when they get back to
their locals. The employers will not
grant an end of discrimination,
stretch-out, etc, without a strug-
GLE"
Throughout his report, however,
he made no direct mention of the
question nearest to the hearts of
the delegates, the immediate calling
of a general strike in the industry.
I'VE can climb up the ladder only
step by step. We must be practical"
he said. This statement was re-
garded by some delegates as a hint
of the International officers true
position against allowing the con-
vention to call a strike.
In common with other officials
who have spoken at the convention,
German mildly criticized the
NRA., saying, 1--WE cannot rely en-
tirely on government control, but
must build our union as we'll" Lat
er, however, he found occasion to
thank the Labor Advisory Board of
the MIRA. for its assistance to the
unions research bureau, of which
he is in charge. All of Germans
references to the MIRA. indicated
his opinion that whatever is wrong
in the industry is not the fault of
the MIRA. itself, but could be laid
to violations of the MIRA. by indi-
vidual employers.
Earlier in the day the delegates
heard SILVA Rao, representative of
the Madras, India, textile workers,
give fraternal greetings to the con-
vention. Rao is a delegate to the
British Trade Union Conference.
A delegate from New Hampshire
told the assembly that he had adj
vised mass picketing to the Tilton,
N. H, local, when they wired him
for advice on how to resist the eff
forts of local employers to break
their strike. Three hundred are in
volved in the strike.
Sidney Hillman, president of the
Amalgamated Clothing Workers
Union, addressed the convention
yesterday afternoon,