The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-01-24
UNIV Convention Packed
In Lewis Fight On Rank
And File Wage Demands
Postpone Discussion GA
Wage Scale, HOVRs
Agreement
By DAN DAVIS.
Special to the Daily WoEAeF)

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Jan. a.
The Lewis machine opened the 33rd
consecutive biennial convention OF
the United Mine Workers Of America
at Tomelson Hall, today, with greet
ings to the miners from the ablest
labor misleaders Of America to the
most violent reactionaries. About
1900 delegates are at the convention
from the U. s. and Canada.
The Convention was characterized
by: l. Packed by organizers repre-
senting blue-sky locals (non-existent)
as shown by Bittner, International
Representative, Lewis in West Vir-
ginia bringing delegates in special
trains; ?. Bringing government
representatives and coal operators to
the convention; 8. Opposition groups
from all Districts gathering their
forces into one solid front to fight for
the policy contained in the resolu-
lions adopted by scores of locals, such
as, the six-hour day, five day week,
IS a day; unemployment and social
insurance, withdrawal Of all U. M
w. A. officials from N. r. A. labor
boards. the right to strike and against
the arbitration payment Of dead
work; preparations for April LIST
strike democracy in local unions, i'm
mediate elections of officials after the
convention; for the very vital miners
issues, such as, Scottsboro, Mooney,
against FaSciSm, War, protection OF
foreign born, against the constitution
clause prohibiting membership in the
Communist Party, and against steam
rolling miners into acceptance OF the
N. r. Il.
Postpone" Wage Talk
The convention opened with the
pre-announcement by Lewis that the
convention will last only ten days
instead of usual two weeks. Discus
sions concerning wage scales, hours
working conditions, agreements are
to be postponed, Lewis said until
the miners representatives and the
operators meet with the N. R. A. in
Washington on Feb. 18th"
Governor Paul V. McNutt Of In
diana, former commander of the
American Legion and the Governor
who called the State Militia against
the striking miners in Linton, de-
claring martial law, greeted the con-
vention, saying This State is
friendly to organized labor"
Others to the convention included
c. B. Huntress, Secretary of the Ma
tional Coal Association, largest bosses
organization; Frances Perkins, who
will speak at the Convention on Jan
30th; General Hugh S. Johnson
William Green, the local Mayor and
head Of the indianapolis Labor Fed
Grafton.
One miner stated: "The Lewis
machine is bringing every big shot tc
the convention to accept Lewis keep
ing his grip on the union and over
the N. r. A. There is only one miss
ing, he said, "and that is Roosevelt
and they'll bring him if necessary"
Lewis took the gavel at the opening
of the ceremony, which was presided
over by Adolph Fritz, Sec'y. of the
Indiana State Federation of Labor
Lewis Claque Active
Lewis Immediately had a partial
report on the credentials Committee
distributed to delegates and started
the convention in actual session
rushing the procedure which generally
starts on the second day. One deleg-
ate, Fritz, said, he hoped things you
had been fighting for for the last {
years will come true" There were
smokers throughout the hall.
He opened the official part Of the
Convention with ''The great U. M. w
A. gains, the passing of the N. R. A.
is no accident on the part of Congress
The principles and the policies laid
down by that body are policies of the
U. M. w. A, which only remain and
be continued for great humanitarian
president, our U. S. to impress upon
Congress need for passing N. R. A"
The afternoon session was taken up
with the report of officials, including
the recommendation to move the ma
tional headquarters from Indianapolis
to washington.