The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-01-25
Lewis Strong Arm Men
Cover Delegate Who
Talks of Strike
BY DAN DAVIS
by Special Wire to Daily Worker


INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Jan. "a. -
The second day of the 33rd Conven-
ton Of the U.M.W.A. opened with the
well oiled Lewis machine pushing
through the acceptance by the dele
gates Of the officers report given to
the Convention yesterday. The report
upholds the N. R. A. as the greatest
benefit for the miners. In standing
vote on the report about 200 delegates
held their seats on the affirmative
vote. When those voting mo" were
asked to rise, about % Of the 200
braved the machine and stood up.
Fifteen machine delegates, all from
E7est Virginia, held the floor through
out the discussion. Frank j. Hays,
former president of the union, who
was in the chair, recognized West
Virginia delegates one after another.
Only one delegate, Joe Farnari, Local
6517 Breckenridge, Pa, was able to
get the floor to speak against the re-
port. He was Immediately covered"
By Lewis strong arm men. Farnari
pointed out that the report made no
mention CT the recent strike strug-
giles n Pennsylvania, which were
against NR.A.
The Tepor5 also olnits any mention
Ct militant strikes thruout the mine
fields against NR.A. 1t says nothing
Of youns workers, Negro disc. NINA
tor, and neglects even TO mention
The 20 TO 50 per cent unemployed
miners.
Resolutions Printed
Printed resolutions submitted by
locals to the Convention were issued
TODAY and it was found the largest
bulk demanded the right to strike,
Demonstration of the union, against
high salaries of the officials and for
unemployment and social insurance.
Other resolutions demanded a clause
barring members OF the Communist
Parry from membership in the union
be eliminated. Freedom for the
Scottsboro boys and Tom Mooney, and
u resolution against the Nazis were
Included
One Thousand resolutions ON the
wage scale were not printed by the
Resolution Committee. They stated
these resolutions would be turned over
TO the scale committee.
On FEB. IL Lewis intends to settle
TIC bita,nirous coal code with N.R.A
in Washington An attempt will be
made to place code settlement entirely
in The hands OF top officials. Lewis
prepared to squelch all discussion on
the wages scale at the present time
The Westdeld, Illinois, Local $500,
submitted the largest number OF mill
tan5 working class resolutions.
During the discussion this morning
on the officials REPORT, miner at
tempted to speak on unemployment,
but he was ruled out OF order. At
one time, when a Lewis man sought
the floor, an oral vote showed almost
fifty per cent of the Convention
against his speaking, but standing
vote showed the machine was effec-
tive in intimidating a majority Of
these from openly showing their OPP
position When the discussion latter
became heaJed, Hays gave the chair
over to Lewis.
Officers introduced a bill endorsing
old age pension laws in the various
states The bill passed. An ''old age
pension" bill in form Of retirement
fund for officials was included in the
report. They also requested a fund
for those working in union offices.
All this money for the retirement
funds is to be paid by rank and file.
The officials will use every device to
put the retiring funds over.
President Roosevelt, who was in
vited to the Convention, sent his
greetings. Hugh Johnson, Mrs. Per-
kins and William Green, are to speak
at the Convention.
Delegates were urged today to &C
cord a respectable audience to the
representative of the coal operators,
C. B. Huntress, of the National Coal
Association, who has been invited to
speak at the Convention. 1t is obvi-
Gus that the raw move of bringing a
bosses representative to the miners
Convention is causing concern to the
Lewis forces.