davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-03

NEW YORK.-How hotel owners
set I'D organizations inside the big
New York hotels to speed up the
workers, to cut their wages and
break strikes is plainly revealed in
the minutes of a meeting of depart
ment heads of the Hotel Lexington
held in the Florentine Room Of that
hotel January T.
At this meeting, TO which no work
err was allowed, the lnderstrappers
of the millionaire owners worked out
plans of how to blackjack more
money out Of the workers paltry
pay; they cooked up new schemes
to speed up and intensity labor,
worked out a secret spying system
and made arrangements to improve
contact with other hotels, as part
of a united hotel owners strike
breaking scheme.
After a general discussion regard
ing the ACCESSIBILITY of allowing
guests to register regardless of
whether or not the hotel has rooms
to accommodate them, the depart
ment heads of the Lexington pro-
eeeded to more important and burn
ing questions. The little get-to-
gether, indeed, was called for no
other reason than to discuss ways
and means to skin the workers.
1.-THE cashiers must be better
dressed" said Mr.. Gastinger, one of
the big shots among the department.
DULLES.
But MIR. Gastinger said nothing
about paying the cashiers more wages
so they would be able to buy better
clothes. He never even thought of
simply proposing chat the rich hotel
management provide special clothes
for the cashiers. No. Gastinger would
allow for no such ideas. He advised
that the new smooks for the CASH
iers had been received" for which
they will have to contribute sum
out Of their low wages.
Eternal Vigilance
Mr.. Dunn, another department
head, thereupon took the floor and
read what is known as Bulletin No.
2, entitled Eternal Vigilance" which
deals with new means Of speeding
up the workers and warns the de-
partment heads to be ON the alert
against any attempt of the workers
to organize.
Whereupon MFR. Sutton, very ef-
ficient fellow, up and made q clever
suggestion.
II think that some thought should
be given to the matter Of speeding
| up room service during the period of
the Automobile and Motor Boat
Shows" Sutton said.
Sutton had no concrete proposals
to make further than this one, so
Mr.. Miller, more efficient gentle
man, came TO his rescue.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-03

the existence OF the other miners or
CARNATIONS, Of the refusal of the cap
tive mines to recognize the U.MW.A.
To have dealt with these questions
would have been to expose the whole
e-breaking, activity of Lewis and
company.
Rush Through Report
In the discussion of this report It
was already evident that the Lewis
machine would use the old steam
roller method to get thru all its pro-
posalS. Some dozen speakers for the
report were called upon in succession,
and the report was adopted. One dele
gate of the left wing opposition who
succeeded somehow to get the floor
and criticize the report for the failure
to mention the strikes was later on
rewarded by being unseated by the
Lewis appointed eredential committee.
The whole line of the Lewis policies
of more close collaboration with the
operators, of trying to convert the
U.M.W.A. more and more into gov
ernment-c0ntrolled union,was later on
further emphasized by the fact that
for the first time in the history of the
union representative of the oper-
at0rs addressed the convention as the
invited guest Of John l.. Lewis.
The Lewis machine utilized every
possible opening for singing praise for
the N.RA, decided that the MA. be
made permanent.
The appearance Of Bill Green, the
President of the A. r, of L., and Fran
ces Perkins, the Secretary Of Labor,
furnished another opportunity of
baIyhooing about the blessings of the
MIRA.
The convention refused to carry a
resolution for the unconditional right
TO strike. referred most Of the impor-
tant questions 10 the executive board
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-03

opinion are to be decided by arbitra-
ton and referendum,
1t is now clear to all members and
non-menbers that arbitration is
baloney and that the veY company
union officials who swear to uphold
the constitution, violate it to the nth
degree.
Little obvious gestures are made by
the officials yearly in an attempt to
drown the rising indignation. A
Thanksgiving or New Years dinner
is arranged for the members at which
the good fellow" sentiment Of the
officials predominates. A few drinks
are bought at intervals after meetings,
to wipe out the bitter taste Of the
latest selI-out. The atmosphere Of the
fraternal lodges Of the Elks and Ma
sons prevails, while the healthy re-
action Of the rank and file is stifled
The officials and the company, how
ever, have overplayed their hand. The
indignation of the workers cannot be
snoothed away by a dinner and q
drink which can hardly suffice for a
20 per cent wage cut. The workers of
the Western Union Telegraph Com
pany have wiped the haze away from
their eyes and are stirring, cautiously
but surely, All workers Of the tele-
graph industry, answer the call of
your fellow employees.
Note; The Daily Worker is glad
publish news of the telegraph indus
try every Friday, as well as 10 as
sist the workers to better their con
ditions and solve their problems.
Send all communications to the
Daily Worker.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-03

six hour day without reduction In
pay, improved working conditions, the
unconditional right to strike. demo-
eracy in the organization, an end to
the fat salaries of the officials, the
election of all officials and many other
guarantees for the rights of the mem
berShip. These are the demands that
the left wing In the U. M. w. A. has
put forward before the miners in the
course of the recent strikes and in the
period Immediately following the
strikes, especially in the convention
preparations. The miners, tho not all
ways fully, in the main accepted this
program of struggle against the oper-
ators and the corrupt and bureau
cratic Lewis machine.
And what policies did Lewis propose
to the convention? In the very report
of the officers 1t was already clear,
that the whole policy of the leader
ship was to further strengthen itself
on the basis Of the MIRA, a closer
collaboration with the operators, and
the robbing OF the rank and file of
the last vestiges of trade union DEM
ocracy. The report was a wholesale
praise Of the Roosevelt administration,
the N.R.A. and the kind hearted coal
operators. The report did not even
with one word mention the big strikes
that involved throuout the country
hundreds of thousands OF miners.
The existence Of other miners or
CARNATIONS, such as the Progressive
Miners Of Illinois, the Anthracite Mine
Workers Union, the National Miners
Union was almost completely ignored.
Lewis painted picture OF peace with
in the organization, and the non-ex-
istenee of any other organizations
outside the U.M.W.A. It should not be
difficult to guess why the off1ciaIdom
avoided all mention of the strikes, Of
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-03
BY JACK sTAoHEL.

File tiliTty-third international con-
Vention Of the United Mine Workers
mas come to a close. We can now
estimate the work of the convention,
the decisions that it adopted and see
how they meet the needs Of the min
ers; whether or not these decisions, if
carried thru, would be of benefit to
the miners or still more Worsen their
miserable lot
Let us say at the outset that the
convention decisions III no way eX-
press the interests of the miners or
their mood for struggle. Lewis was
able at this convention to carry thru
policies designed towards strengthen
ing the class collaboration policies Of
the U.M.WA, that have Slapped the
energies from the organization and
paralyzed the resistance of the min
ers. We shall now provide proof for
this statement.
More than once the miners
have defeated John l.. Lewis for re-
election only to be robbed Of their VIC
tory by the Lewis machine, which
alone did the counting. The miners
have in many ways and on numerous
occasions shown their dissatisfaction
with the Lewis policies, and lack of
confidence in the Lewis leadership.
in the recent large recruitment Of
miners to the U.MW.A. the miners
entered the union under the slogan
let us build the UM.W.A. and clean
out the officials" In the recent heroic
and militant strikes the miners defed
the N.RA., the operators and the
Lewis machine. The miners showed
their dissatisfaction with the code
that was forced upon them They
know that Lewis once more betrayed
the miners in the Captive" mines.
If any further proof was needed to
show the attitude OF the miners to-
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-03
Wis, LEWIS PACKED CONVENTION

or TO the scale committee. On the
question Of unemployment insurance,
the convention went on record to
favor the proposals adopted by the
A. F. of L. Cincinnati Convention and
against federal unemployment insur-
ance. 1t emasculated the resolutions
demanding the freedom of Tom
Mooney and the Scottsboro boys, the
resolution of fascisn, and fatty voted
down the resolution for the formation
of women's auxiliaries with the state
ment by Lewis that the ''womens
place is in the home"
Even the resolution to go on record
for the hour day was adopted with
the understanding that it will take a
long time to carry it into effect. with
Lewis making a special plea for pa
thence and caution.
All the demands for democracy, for
eurbing the power of the officials, for
reducing their salaries, we're either
voted down or referred.
Decision Against Miners
II is therefore clear that while the
miners wish to fight for higher wages
and the six hour day, for improved
working conditions, for democracy in
the organization, all the convention
decisions were contrary to these de-
sires and fighting moods of the miners.
How was it possible that the con-
yention can so ignore and override
the wishes of the rank and FLAP Was
the convention composed of officials
and their henchmen only2 Why did
not the miners elect as delegates those
who stand for. and fight for their
policies? These are questions which
will undoubtedly arise in the mind of
the reader. Let us answer by saying
first that the convention was COM
posed Of majority of honest and SIM
cere miners.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-03

were beginning to open their eyes at
the convention, but the left wing,
lacking contact with them before the
convention, could accomplish very
little.
There were some few hundred dele
gates who were opposed to the Lewis
policies, who know the record of Lewis.
But they also did not before the con-
vention have any organizational con-
nection with the left wing. The result
was that at the convention this "op-
position" could not be rallied. They
remained scattered, especially in the
face of the great intimidation that
prevailed thruout the convention. The
organized left wing forces were not
more than twenty at the most, and in
the midst Of such q large body of
delegates they could not overcome the
lack OF connections prior to the con-
vention with the delegates or their
local organizations. 1t was because of
this that the machine found it pos
sible to carry thru policies despite the
fact that these policies were opposed
to the mass of the miners. This de-
spite the fact that the miners are
Overwhelmingly anti-administration
and despite the fact that the conyen-
ton was composed Of majority Of
honest and sincere fighting miners
The events at the convention simply
reflected the fact that the left wing
is only beginning to carry on system
attic opposition work within the UNI.
WA. It also emphasized once more
the mistake OF some comrades of
placing reliance too much only on the
spontaneous revolt of the miners. It
must be said furthermore that the left
wing forces began quite late and did
NOS with sufficient energy carry thru
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-03
the work for the convention prepara

the work for the convention prepaxs
tons.
Lessons to be Learned
1t is no exaggeration to state that
had all these weaknesses been over
come in the preparations, the left
wing even with its present strength
could have come to the convention
with at least 100 organized and con-
sciously fighting delegates. Were this
the case Lewis would not have had
such an easy time in putting thru his
policies. Here lies great lesson that
must be learned. Not to depend on
miracles, but to organize. Here is
should be stated, however, that on the
whole it is not yet for the left wing
merely 8 question OF organization. The
left wing program has not yet PEN
etrated the mass of the miners. This
is true, especially of the newly organ
lied fields, and was revealed as true
for all miners on the discussion Of
such questions as government owner
ship, the Labor Party, etc.
IloWeVeI, ~ HiuSt De StaJeQ Jnat the
left wing led by the Communists was
the only opposition at this conven-
ton. In past conventions the inner
family fights of the Howatts. Walkers
and Edmonsons played the ro'a Of cp-
position. This time Lewis faced a
small but conscious and determined
opposition, truly representing the in
terests OF the miners. There were no
other oppositions If there were any
Music followers at the convention,
they never spoke up but supported
the Lewis machine. There were few
socialists and they had only one pro-
posal which they brought to the floor
of the convention and supported. And
Continued ON fass y
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-03
C.W.A. Workers
Eager to Get Daily
Nv ) Worker Correspondent

BOSTON, Mass. ~ Yesterday a
worker came in from one of the O.
Wa. jobs in Massachusetts, and asked
for some old Daily Workers Che wish
ed to get the news from previous
weeks when he was not able to
come in, Ne counted out very
carefully the number OF papers he
could be sure would be read and as
he said feread by other workers. The
paper Is too important to waste, he
said. There was two cents change.
so 1 gave him a pamphlet and he
told me he was not q member Of the
organization, but that "a member of
the organization" had been through
the camp and that they had promised
that whenever they could they would
come in and get the Daily Worker,
ana now he said, "the fellows can't
wait to get the news" so whoever
can come in makes It part of his
duty to get the old and present is
sue Of the Daily Worker
The organization is what they call
us and this worker said. That fellow
that went through who was a mem
Der Of the organization said all of you
viii be in the organization pretty
soon, SO you had better keep close to
see what's happening, ana I guess he
was right.
You will be interested in the report
from Portland, Me, where there are
contacts on the two or three Jobs
among the granite works that are
still running there:
The Saturday bundle is being in
creased. We got three new subs. The
Daily Worker is also being sold on
a newsstand, We hope to increase
the Daily" bundle, The Daily Work
er Is being spread on the C,W.A.
jobs"
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-03

trous effects of the depression
on the revenue of the utilities
has caused a few of us to ask
ourselves what are the facts con-
corning the utilities?
shall give you the status Of the
company as presented by our ESTEEM
ed" President, Mr.. Taylor and his as
sociateS at recent meeting Of all Of
the employees at the Convention Hall.
I will point to the main reason for
the get-together Of our big Happy
Family" At the meeting we we're told
by President Taylor that revenue was
decreasing--taxeg were increasing
and the finances Of the company were
practically in state Of collapse. In
depressed tones and 8 very gloomy
face. he described what seemed to me
conditions so bad, that / thought,
with everyone else, that he was going
to announce wage-cut, or urge us
to sell lamps, appliances, lighting,
anything to increase the revenue of
the company.
But no, this was the first step in q
planned program to block any move
on the part Of the employees 10
unionize. The next and final steps
will make this move obvious. Mr..
Taylor then announced that by cut
ting operating expenses he was thus
able to show fair net profit. What
he did not tell us was that this meant
Airing men and women, reducing line
men to 2 or days week, and even
wiping out entire departments.
A surprise Step
The second step took the entire
audience by surprise. Mr., Taylor an
nounced 10 per cent increase to
those employees that were working
part-time. A step which was intended
to bride the majority OF workers who
we're affected by it. This can easily
be seen by what happened next. Vice
President, Mr. Liversidge, the next
speaker, described us, Zone Big Happy
Family" He told us how contented we
were. He told us how well We put over
the selling campign-and how much
this was appreciated by the bosses. All
Of which Is fine, But what is meant
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-03

by fair net income and where does
it go? These are the questions Ne
must and viii consider.
Mr.. Liversidge then told Us OF an
attempt to organize the employees OF
the company. He held alott notics
calling for a meeting Of the employees
for this purpose. and dramatically
related how after seeing this notice
he could not sleep two nights. Gould
my employees do such 8 thing?" He
did not think it possible.
And as he thought and hoped" nos
one employee showed up at the meet
ing. He did not state, however, that
the men knew they would be spied on
and fred and this was the real reason
why they stayed away,
Mr.. Liversidge then presented two
arguments against unions:
THAT you cannot serve two bosses
at the same time.
2-Thst the employees are treated
fairly and there is no need of a union,
In answer to argument / it can be
said that once an employer is com
PEELED to recognize a union, he is fore
ed to give in the just demands and
rights of the group. The group In this
way can improve its standard Of hv-
ing and make secure their jobs.
In answer to the second argument,
are We treated fairly? President
Taylor admitted that the stockholders
are their first consideration. In our
company the executives are the con-
trolling stockholders, who, beside their
big salaries, insist upon high and I'M
interrupted dividends despite the de-
depression. These same men have
large interests in other companies, TO
which they award contracts without
competitive bidding. Nevertheless, Mr..
John Z. Zimmerman, advises the util
ity stockholders to organize to protect
themselves. From whate From wi1onlf
From the large stockholders, ] would
say, who by juggling utility money
into other companies in which they
own or hold large stock.
Why should not the employee be
considered f1rst2 1t Is he who is the
handspring, In fact, the entire force
which keeps the wheels Of the utility
moving. His salary is his own source
OF income. But the man whose sur
plus is diverted to stocks is in bet
ter position to sand decreased rev
enue. Do YOUR executive stockholders
consider this? No.
Fellow employees; II Is we who
must organize to protect our rights
1t is our labor that earns the divi-
dends for the stockholders. This com.
pany Is not keeping you out Of kind
ness Of heart. You have job to per-
form. Do not think that you are lucky
to have job, as you are told The
threat is often made, IF you are not
satisfied with your job-there are
plenty who would jump at the chance
to take it." We can only fight this
threat by uniting to protect our jofs
and our salaries. The complaint OF
one is easily squeleted. The bosses
would be forced to listen and remedy
the complaints and rights Of ten thou
sand united employees. Do we realize
our power If organized to demand and
obtain our rights? If Mr.. Taylor be-.
lieves that he is treating us fairly.
why does. he fear unionisation? A
strike In the electric power plants Is
a powerful weapon. Our bosses know
this. Why do we let them blind us
with their propaganda Unite, and lei
our program be:
mo more firing;
2-No more cutting Of time sad
salaries
A WORKER on
THE II. q L CO
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-03

1t is true, however, that the miners
were not fully represented. Out of
some 5000 locals of the U.M.W.A. only
about half of the locals were repre-
Sented at the convention. The Lewis
machine thru its agents in the field
did everything possible to prevent and
discourage those locals that they were
not sure of from electing and sending
delegates. Some locals were actually
prevented from sending delegates for
lack Of funds. The reason for it is that
now that the district leaders instead
of the locals receive the check-off, the
officials, by Withholding the locals
share, made it impossible for them to
send delegates. Then, again, many of
the locals were fooled into giving their
credentials to the officials "in order
to save money from the treasury"
Thus some of the officials came rep
resenting as high as dozen locals.
OF the 1900 delegates at the con-
vention, q good number, perhaps some
200 were old die-hard paid officials of
the union. There was without doubt
an equal number of machine" men
from the local unions, the trusted boys
Of the officials. But even all this did
not yet constitute a majority for
Lewis. The largest factor of all was
the coming to the convention of o
large number Of delegates who were
to a convention for the first time, and
Of these large number for the first
time organized in the UM.WA.
Lacked Contaet
A case in point was some 800 dele
gates from the southern part Of West
Virginia. These delegates do not know
Of the record of Lewis, of the Lewis
treachery and are entirely, unac-
quainted with the left wing and it's
program. Many Of these delegates