The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-07-07

cally opposed the establishment OF
an international union. Green
speaking repeatedly, stated that
now was not the time because the
workers were not intelligent enough
to govern their own organization.
Collins acting as chairman barred
the resolution introduced by the
militant rank and file for one union
on the technical grounds that it
was not introduced before the open
ing Of the conference and permit
ting no vote upon any but the Col
Inns resolution. BY means of par
liamentary trickery, he compelled
the delegates to vote for concur
renee or non-concurrence in the
Collins resolution. The cunning
Collins machine put in a motion
for non-concurrence, thereby caus-
ing confusion by vote yes mean
ing non-concurrence, and no mean
ing concurrence. BY this no yes
and yes no procedure, confusion
was deliberately created. But never
theless about 40 per cent Of the
delegates registered their opposi-
ton to the Collins resolution.
Takers Had Advantage.
The National Council which was
set UP on the basis of the resolu-
ton, consisting of II members was
formed not by direct vote from
the floor, but by a vote of delegates
m which the burocrats had all the
advantages for they knew one an
other and had their candidates all
planned, while the rank and file
had no chance to get through their
delegates by this system of voting.
With the exception of one or two,
the Board consists of officials that
are henchmen of the Green and
Collins machine. The Greer
machine was given no representa-
ton on the council and did not
participate in the voting. 1t was
rumored around the conference
that Greer had held caucus plan
ming to split away from the ALL.
1t is necessary that all auto work
ers be warned against this machine
which will attempt to capitalize on
the discomfort and disappointment
of the rank and file to corral the
workers in the company unions.
Greer was one Of the three men
that saw the President in Wash
ington during the March hearings
and called upon him to issue an
emancipation proclamation, which
brought forth the Washington Set
Element which he characterized as
a new course in social engineer
ing" 1t wss an emancipation proc
lamation for the company unions.
AS President of the local, he de-
layed negotiations for 40 per cent
wage increase put by the local until
"a Of the workers we're out of the
shop; and in place of getting an
increase in wages, they have now
secured wage-cut.
Workers Handicapped.
The rank and file delegates at
the conference were handicapped
by the fact that they had no pre-
vious contact with each other and
come together without an oppor-
tunity Of organizing their ranks
and chance to clarity their posi-
ton on the main questions before
the conference. Nevertheless in
dividual members of the rank and
file put up splendid fights against
the machine. Delegate Kushley of
Ternstedts fought for the Workers
Unemployment Insurance Bill which
her local had passed but was raped
down by the chair on the grounds
that I'VE. want no Communist bills
here" Mortimore of White Motor
lead the struggle, supported by
Kushley, delegates from Flint and
other places, for one industrial
union. The militant rank and file
delegates brought home to the
workers that only an organized
rank and file in the A. F. L. can
change the situation. But the mill
tant rank and file delegates must
realize that their fight for one in
dustrial union would have had
greater success had they combined
it with the struggle against the
whole Washington agreement. They
allowed the opportunity of chal-
longing the strike breaking policies
and the arbitration system to &C
unchallenged, thinking that they
would center their main energies or
the organizational proposals. But
thereby they lost the chance Of
whipping the rank and file dele
gates into full fighting shape ano
giving a crushing defeat to the
machine Notwithstanding its trick
cry and deception. The militant
rank and file delegates also allowed