The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-04-26
Smith, MESA Head,
Revealed as Enemy
Of Auto Men'SUnity
Continued from Page y

NCNsANAAANA lAhAu dEt
shown its strikebreaking role in a
numbar of cases, notably that of
the Bower Roller Bearing Workers.
Smith was echoed by his faithful
lieutenant, Harry Harrison.
j. j. Griffin, leader of the openly
reactionary clique which has been
fighting the Smith group for con-
troll of the M. E. S. A., is now back
after several weeks in the East. and
appeared at last nights meeting.
This individual, who, from the be-
ginning has secretly worked for
utilization of the M. E. S. A. with
the A. F. of L., decided to steal
some of Smiths thunder and to
Guido even him in spouting radical
phrases.
Echo FOrd's Propaganda
Putting on red rose for the oc-
casion he said: I'm an American,
but want to say there's one coun-
try where such a thing Establishing
of workers. couldn't happen, and
that's Russia" But despite his
sudden enthusiasm" for the Soviet
Union Griffin also made no pro-
possl for United Action against
victinization In other words. on
all fundamental questions Smith
and Griffen agree. That is, both
are equally opposed to militant ac-
ton that alone can win the work.
ers' demands.
Your correspondent has learned
that Harrison ut the meeting of the
Ford Local, M. E. s. A., Sunday,
made a vicious, slanderous attack
on the A. w. U, echoing the prop
uganda of the Ford Motor Co. Ford
has let it be known that he is out
to get the A. w. u, declaring the
A. w. U, members are putting en-
cry dust in motors, thus causing
lines to break down Harrison, like
q sparrow eagerly picking up drop
pings of the Ford Co., repeated this
SANDER at Sundays meeting in an
effort to discredit the A. w u,
which has considerable influence
among M. E. S. A. members.
The A. w u has issued state
ment repudiating this charge. I'VE
don't know whether it's true that
workers have put emery dust in
motors" the statement says. IF
any workers have done this it has
been on their own initiative. But
one thing is true, and both Harri-
son and Ford know it, and that is
that the A. w. U. has never advo-
Gated such tactics, but constantly
points out to workers that the only
effective way to fight the speed-up
is by electing united committees in
departments to compel slowing
down of the line. Harrison Is merely
echoing his masters voice and is
showing that the top leadership of
the NJ, z. S. A. will stop at moth
ing to discredit the only union
which urges militant united action
of the members of all unions, as
well as Of unorganized workers, to
win their just demands. Such tao
tics play into the hands of the Ford
Motor Co. and are designed to
divert the anger of the M. E. S. A.
members, who are demanding ac-
ton against victimization of active
union men,"
Shutting Out Strike
The Smith machine, by its tao
tics, is slowly snuffing out the strike
of about 5000 tool and die makers,
who since April II have been
waging a struggle for 20 per cent
wage increase and the 36-hour, five
day week. Interviews with num-
Der of rank and file strikers reveal
that in a number of shops the COM
panies are taking back men on the
condition they give up their union
books The Smith leadership Is
showing no alarm at this and not
taking any steps to combat it.
In this situation 1t is also likely
that agreements will be reached
with individual shops and sane
toned by the officialdom, which are
no agreements at all and mean no
improvement in conditions of the
workers.
Despite this situation, the tool and
die makers strike can still be won,
but only by rejecting the ruinous
policies of the Smith leadership.
1t is possible to carry through
proposals made time and again by
the militants in the M. E. S. A., to
spread the strike to tool and die
makers in the large auto factories
and jointly with the A. w U. and
the rank and file of the A. F. Of L..
call on the production workers TO
join the struggle. Cleveland and