The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-03-29

whom, the strike becomes even more
clearly the one and only workers
weapon that can win against COM
pany unionism and other back
breaking conditions.
Powers graphically demonstrated
this today when he told the COM
mittee how the Bethlehem steel
workers repudiated the company
union election in their plant
recently, despite government as
well as plant intimidation, but
nevertheless, said Powers, "the
company has imposed the com
pany union on us and refuses to
recognize our own elected COM
mittees."
I'm one department, 76 out of
about 1900 men participated in the
election" Powers said, but the
company announced that SO per
cent approved of the company
union"
A. F. of L. Officials
The two A. F. of L. delegates de-
clined to give their names because
the company already is listing union
members to victinize and because
the Amalgamated Association "a,
F. of L. members who are fighting
in united front with the SMWI.U.
against the company union are do
ing SO "unof1cially" - against the
orders of higher A. A. officials.
Reporting how tn company
brought department of labor Off
Gals into the plant before the cleo
ton and they marched two by two
through the departments checking
up on everybodys eitizenship-just
plain intimidation. Powers con-
tinued: TN the light of our ex-
periences we considered the Wagner
Bill last Sunday. And we are
against it."
1--WE believe that compulsory ar
bitration would automatically be in
the interests Of the company and
we see that in this bill. We are
against discrimination, and we see
that already being applied through
the auto settlement.
Let me tell you, the automobile
workers were tricked in that set
Element, and our Bethlehem Steel
workers realize it. AS far as we
steel workers are concerned, we
know that Section IA did nothing
to bring into effect your promises;
on the contrary, company unions
have been strengthened under the
protection of IA and we know
that the Wagner Bill will only
strengthen the building of company
unions even further"
MuzzIe Militant Leaders
Earlier the committee again re-
fused to allow Joe Kiss of the Fur
niture workers Industrial Union to
testify. Kiss lodged militant pro-
test. Walsh frankly declared he was
excluding Kiss because Bill Dunno
of the Trade Union Unity League
had already presented that view
point" The committee did not
restrict company union representa-
tives. however, nor employers.
But it gave unlimited time today
to Harry B. Ward, secretary of the
budding Fascist priest and den1a-
gogue, Rev. Charles B. Coughlin of
Michigan. Ward urged the COM
mittee to carry out the last en-
cyclical Of the Pope. Walsh teamed
with Ward in assuring that there
isn't anyone in the United States
who would not agree with the Pope
if they understood" but both had
to admit, 1--WE couldn't find even two
catholic employers who would agree
on what that encyclical means.
Cush told the committee that his
union had decreased from 10000 to
$4,000 members under the MIRA
because everywhere we went to or
ganize, the MIRA. put a machine
gun muzzle in our face" He de-
clared that under the N.RA. code
for the first time" the hard won
right of steel workers to make their
own terms has been handed over
bag and baggage to the Iron and
Steel institute "