The daily worker., 1934-01-30
Lewis Gets Licking
At U.M.W.A. COnfab
After Many Years
(Conti~Ged on Page p

be the ones n represent them IN
conducting the affairs Of the union.
One delegate after another, basing
themselves on over 100 resolutions
sent to the convention against the
appointive power, demanded the right
not only to elect their own represen-
tatives, but also to send the defeated
and diScredited officials back in the
mines for at least a year, so that they
might taste the bitter life and bread
of those toiling in the mines.
There were 50 many speakers in
favor of the resolution and so few
against it that the Lewis machine
was forced to ask extended time for
the few defending the appointive
power. The motion to extend the
1 time of the henchmen was over
whelningly defeated by the delegates
with the calloused hands
This was the first defeat in years
suffered by the Lewis machine at a
/ convention despite the fact that this
convention is exceptionally well
'Nacked.
The struggle against the sppoin-
tive power will be renewed with vigor
surprising that displayed in the
preliminary skirmish. Undoubtedly it
will be the central point of struggle
at the convention. The reasons for
| this are obvious,
The overwhelming majority Of the
| U. M. w. A. officials have been ap-
pointed by Lewis and not elected by
the miners. AS matter Of fact J,
L. Lewis himself was never elected.
He was appointed first as Business
Manager Of the official Journal, then
as vice. president and then as the
| president Of the U. M. w. A.
| At present there are 80 districts
in the U. NJ w. A, each one with a
full SET Of officers: International
Board Member, president, vice-presi-
dent and secretary treasurer. Only
of the districts have elected" Of
ficers while 26 districts have ap-
| pointed International Board Mem
bers, presidents, presidents and
I secretary -treasurers. In addition
over 200 International and field or
/ ganizers have been appointed and
not one elected. ALI of them have
been put in the Offices by the ap-
pointed presidsnt, j. L. Lewis And
this gang Of appointed officials rule
the largest workers organization in
the United States.
A Political Ring
One Of the rank and file delegates
characterized them correctly when he
said that they constitute a political
ring" which makes it impossible for
the rank and file to control the or
| ganiZation as long as they are being
appointed and re-appointed.
But the struggle against the ap-
/ pointiYe power does not express only
the hatred for the officials. 1t ex-
presses more. 1t expresses disap-
proval and hatred for the policy of
the entire corrupt Lewis machine.
The miners throughout the country
! saw the Lewis machine time and
again in the role Of a strikebreaker.
( They saw the officials in the role of
/ gangsters. They saw the machine in
4 the role Of union splitterS and wage
cutter Now they see the of1cialdom
as members Of the official govern
ment strikebreaking machine known
as National and Regional Labor
! Boards.
The preparations for the conven-
ton and the resolutions sent to the
convention show the unmistakable
determination of the miners to
change the present policy Of the U.
M. w. A. and the conditions under
which they suffer as result of this
policy. They believe that by defeat
ing the appointive power they will
be able to vote out of Office the pres
ent corrupt machine and replace it
by a rank and file leadership. This
alone will make it possible to develop
program Of struggle that will ex-
press the traditions and the will of
the miners to change the miserable
working and living conditions.
1t will be the task Of the Left
Wing delegates, and particularly the
Communists, present at this conven-
tton to mobilize the opposition forces
for a struggle against the appointive
power.
The preliminary fight indicates
that a proper mobilization of all the
opposition forces can defeat the ap-
pointive power and replace it with
the right to elect all the officers Of
the u M W A