Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-11-09

appearance in the early development and the
final decay OF most peoples. Like the human race
ITSELF social organizations are prey to this
same vice. The history of the Christian Church
Is fine example.
But We the workers OF this country have
before us an immediate case of social or or
ganizational eannibalism OF far greater concern.
The industrial unions organized and chartered
by the American Federation of Labor are being
dismembered and devOured by the older craft
organizations who dominate and control the
federation.
The struggle to preserve and expand in
dustrial or vertical uniOnism in the Federation
Is struggle against eannibalism.
Major Issue
One of the major issues before the Fifty
Fourth Convention OF the American Federation
of Labor was the question of craft versus in
dustrial organization
The convention voted to allow it's craft Or
CARNATIONS to dismember and devour the old
est and most powerful industrial union in the
Federation. The Brewery Workers international
became the victim of AL cannbaism by vote
OF $4,000 to 5000.
An industrial union organizes whole plant
or industry vertically taking in all the workers
from top to bottom, no matter what their craft
or occupation. 1t is feared both by the bosses
anu OIBduILcu III is u potent anu
effective means of organizing for real class
struggle.
Opposed to this is the traditional craft
union policy of the American Federation of
Labor. Craft uniOnism would split the workers
OF any single plant into many different Or
CARNATIONS, rendering them helpless and i'm
potent against their employers.
Craft Unions Discourage Struggle
Craft uniOnism is calculated to discourage
nIna ptN ~
thousand dollar year labor bosses are for it,
because at its best craft uniOnism means con-
tinuOus and uninterrupted flow of dues without
the risk and expense of strikes; and because at
its worst it enables them to exploit the work
ers in a manner that even the most vicious of
employers might envy.
The whole future of labor in this country
is bound up in this question. Labor oragnza-
tOn until it succeeds in penetrating the mass
production and heavy industries will never be
really effective.
The workers In the aluminium, steel auto
mobile and rubber industries have for the past
Is years refused to accept craft unionism. The
American Federation OF Labor was faced with
real crisis
Rival organizations were rapidly gaining
hold They were offering these workers what
they wanted, industrial unionsm.
Unable to organize these all important
workers in the craft form, the AFL was faced
with either changing its policy or losing its
dominant position in the American labor move
ment.
Lewis, the Hero"
The capitalist press, either by direct lines
or evasion, attempted to give the impression
that a settlement was reached favorable to in
dustrial unonism. They painted a picture of
John L. Lewis, $4,000 year president and die
tator of the United Mine Workers, as the hero
of the occasion, fighting for industrial unionism.
1t is important that workers be undeceived
in this matter The Fifty-Fourth Convention of
the American Federation of Labor specifically
upheld the jurisdictional right of all craft or
CARNATIONS within these industries.
The convention adopted the bastard policy
of first satisfying the jurisdctional claims of
the craft unions. and then outlined a plan for
organizing the so-ealled unorganizable remain
der In what the newspapers and John L. Lewis
were pleased to call industrial unions.
Lewis betrayal of industrial unonsm did
not stop there. The convention authorized in
the automOtive cement and aluminium indus
tries national sO-called industrial unions of
only the workers unclaimed by the various craft
organizations.
Deprived of Rights
But the villainy of the convention bosses did
not end. These new organizations were deprived
of the right to elect even their own officers
and conduct their own business.
Quoting from the official record of the con-
ventiOn ninth days proceedings, page 5S7l, from
the adopted report of the committee on the
subject, we read:
The American Federation Of Labor shall
for provisional period direct the policies, ad-
the business and designate the admin
lstrative and financial officers of such newly
unions"
Again in Lewis own speech before the con-
vention he said:
The Executive Council of the American
of Labor is given authority to Gen.
duct the affairs Of the newly formed organiza-
tions for such period may be necessary 80"
The full significance of this betrayal can be
realized when we examine John L. Lewis own
For the last Is years he has been
dictator of the United Mine Workers of Amer
ca He has expelled without trial those who
disagreed with him or were suspected of being
reds"
He has revoked the charters of local unions,
replacing duly elected officials with appointed
men Of his own choosing. He has maintained
hmeslf in that office with a salary of $4,000 a
rear and an unlimited expense account by
double crossing labor at every turn of the road.
Socialist Leaders Back Lewis