The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-11-09

overwhelming majority with the
question: of strike on the
agenda, Keller's hen CHI n
deliberately picked fights in vari-
Gus parts of the hall so that the
meeting was continual riot, and
would never have a chance to con-
slider strike action. Proof that this
was the aim is that an hour and
half of the two-hour limit for the
meeting (hall rental so arranged
was killed in reading minutes and
Keller's report.
At that very membership meeting
the leader of the rank and file
movement, Comrade Valgo, was by
unanimous vote elected to fill va
cancy on the executive board. Yet
the executive board refuses to seat
him, and one Of Keller's men, who
had the lowest number of votes,
was seated instead.
Now the thousand workers on
strike are left holding the bag"
and with the present tactics, their
chances to win are very slim. These
workers have been holding meeting
after meeting to make recommend
ationS which are thrown into the
basket. Four meetings last week
placed requests before the execu-
tive board that a membership meet
ing to consider general strike in
the Paterson silk mills be taken
up Keller treats these workers with
contempt and would not even stay
at meeting long enough to an
swer questions.
Keller's Remedy
But Keller is revealed as strike
breaker more glaringly, by the tao
tics he proposes for meeting the
present challenge of the bosses.
Last week speaking before strikers,
no longer being able to evade the
issue, he proposed that: The most
fundamental way to cure the
chaos in the industry" is for the
bosses to be organized into an as
ISOLATION, so that there is someone
to be held responsible in case any
manufacturer violates an agree
ment. (How closely he follows Cor
man, who favors cooperation
schemes with the bosses) Secondly,
that the present policy of continuing
individual shop strikes continue.
Yet in that very same report he
stated that he knows of go shops
working under the scale, and that
probably half the industry is al
ready below the scale. Keller tells
the workers to conduct guerilla
warfare in face of the general drive
of the bosses. His policy would per-
nit the union to be pushed out of
shop after shop.
However, the story of this strike
breaker is still far from being COM
plete. 1t is precisely at this moment
that the Paterson silk workers have
their best opportunity to win in a
general strike. The dyers, a very
basic section of the industry, have
come out 100 per cent. They count
over 5000 in Paterson alone. The
teamsters do not handle any scab
goods. A united strike would be a
fine display of solidarity and mean
better chances for both the Overs
and Weavers. Likewise a resultant
contract would expire at the same
time. But not if Keller and Co.
could help it. They will. stop at
nothing to prevent such a develop
ment.
German and the A. F. of L. Off
Gals are vitality interested that a
silk strike should not take place,
and the dyers should lose. If the
Paterson silk workers through
strike action are successful in win
ming better conditions, it will be
apparent to the 100000 betrayed
textile workers that Paterson shows
the way. 1t will spell complete
bankruptcy of Germans pet
scheme, the Winant Board, and six
months no-strike truce" They are
banking on Keller to hold back the
tide in Paterson.
But they tried to hold back the
dye workers and failed. They tried
to jam arbitration down the Threats
OF the dye workers and failed. From
all indications they will fail to stop
the silk workers from joining the
strike. The rank and file is now
better organized and will defeat the
strikebreaking leaders.