The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-05-31
An Objectionable Record

90, The bureaucrats at the head of the
y New York City Central Trades and
Labor Council consider Louis Weinstocks
labor record Objectionable" On that basis
they have informed his local union paint
ers, 499) that he is not acceptable as
delegate
Why is Weinstocks labor record Objectionable"
to Secretary Quinn and his fellow bureaucrats?
What has weinstock done which so ofends these
people?
weinstock is Secretary of the A. F. of L. Rank
and File Committee for Unemployment Insurance
and Relief. 1t is his association with this COM
mittee which makes him objectionable"
Bill Green, McGrady, Frayne, Quinn and the rest
Of the top A. F. of L. leaders vigorously oppose I'M
employment insurance.
The A. F. of L. Rank and File Committee
headed by WenstOck took up the fight against
these leaders and for the Workers Unemployment
Insurance Bill, H. R. 1898. Hundreds of thousands
of A. F. of L. members endorsed this bill despite
the open opposition of the A. F. of L. leadership
Over 1000 A. F. of L. local unions, % local CEN
trail bodies and state declarations Of labor (alI
A. F. of L. have officially endorsed the bill. 1t is
quite clear then that Weinstock's labor record is
in no sense Objectionable to this mass of A. F. of
L. members. 1T is ONLY OBJECTIONABLE TO
THOSE WHO, TOGETHER WITH THE CAPT.
TALISTS, OPPOSE UNEMPLOYMENT INsUR-
ANCE
THIS rank and file committee has also carried on
a determined struggle against gangster and rack
eteer control of the unions and for the rights of
the rank and file members. In thsi fight also the
committee and Weinstock are supported by the mass
Of the A. F. of L. members. This is shown by the
growth of the rank and file opposition movement
throughout the entire A. F. of L. and specifically
by the failure of the takers of the Painters Union in
their repeated efforts to expel Wenstock
But of course this militant fight against gang
sers and racketeers is Objectionable to these ele-
ments, /. e. to the gangsters and racketeers That
another reason why Quinn informs Local 400 that
Weinstock will not be seated in the Central Trades
and Labor Council
Known labor takers, men like Commerford,
kaplan Young, Zausner and dozens of others
who have been caught red handed collecting graft
running non-union shops, etc.-they are not OBJ
jectionable; they are welcomed with open arms
by the Ryans, the Quinns and the rest at the
C.TL.C.
But Weinstock is Objectionable, because he fights
against these racketeering gangs, for inner-union
democracy for the rights of the rank and file. for
unemployment insurance.
OCAL 400 is to be commended for its sharp reply
to Quinn. Weinstocks fighting record was again
approved by the local; he was again elected as the
locals delegate to the C.TL.U. The local demanded
that he be seated.
But this is an issue reaching beyond local 499
1t involves the right of all local unions to choose
their own representatives. 1t raises the question
Can Quinn Ryan and Co. veto regularly elected dele
gates Of local unions?
The answer must be: NO! Every A. F. of L.
local in New York City should give that answer.
A. F. of L. members should raise this issue at their
next local meeting. Fight for the adoption of a
resolution demanding that Weinstock be seated.
Demand that the local unions alone, through regu-
lar elections, pass the qualifications of their dele
gates.