The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-12-05

ktNGO' 90 - o~SSt -
pressed It's Indignation at Such Boot
and Shoe gag tactics, he simply
closed the meeting.
Every sticher was looking for
ward to the meeting in order to
find out what is being done about
the shops that are threatening to
move, about helping the unemployed
and about the wage cutting drive
of the manufacturers.
The chairman Of the local, Mr.
Rosen, a Socialist, with the help Of
such honorable members of the Elk
ecutive Board as Jack Kessner, who
was expelled from the ranks of the
Left wing organization at an open
trial two years ago for scabbing in
the Clayman Shoe Co., decided that
the most important problem con-
fronting the Stitchers is bylaws.
For nine months the local was
without bylaws and it was o. K,
but now when most of the workers
are not working and grave ques-
lions of wage cuts and shop re-
movals are facing the membership,
they decided that the meeting
should take up bylaws and nothing
else, as If you can use bylaws to
pay your rent with.
Members got up and moved that
the question of bylaws be post
poned, but the chairman refused to
recognize them, and in the true
fashion of Boot and Shoe dicta-
tor closed the meeting when he
sensed the indignation of the rank
and file.
Every shoe worker knows why by
laws were brought up at this par
ticular time. We are faced with
wage cuts. Our national officials
are doing very little, and our Boston
officials, although they have come
out against wage cuts, have no pro-
gram whatsoever - they are just
drifting and putting the blame on
the general office.
In such a serious situation, true
colors are shown. The chairman.
Rosen the Socialist, is afraid to
face the membership squarely He
wants them to be in the dark. Above
all, he is not willing to struggle
against wage cuts, as shown by
remarks he made in personal con-
versation. He is accepting the adj
vice of his comrade, the Socialist
lawyer Bearek, who advocates
IS per cent wage cut.
Rosen was elected a year ago on
a united slate with the left wing
rank and file candidates. This So
called united front was carried
through with the consnt of meet
ing of the rank and file left wing
Stichers. A minimum program was
worked out, such as rank and file
control in the local, and against
wage cuts and the worsening Of
conditions. Rosen pledged to carry
this program out if elected. On that
basis he was taken in to the left
wing slate and elected as chairman
This was done to defeat the reac-
tionary candidates.
The conservative leaders of the
Socialist Party of Boston, like
Bearek, are not interested in thu
fight again st wage cuts. They
brought pressure on Rosen, so that
at one meeting he openly stated thai
Baker Lewis told him to break tn,
united front with the left wingers
and rather get together with tn,
Lovestoneite renegades and reac-
tionaries, so as to get q place IL
the SUM-"
Evidently, Mr.. Rosen did not hav'
much character and succumbed t.
the advice of the Beareks anc
Lewises. He broke the promises h
made to the rank and file befor,
elections and sold himself for q
plate of beans. He became one O.
the family" and all those that he
had denounced as takers, mislead.
ers and what not became his best
friends.
do not want to give the impress.
sion that all rank and file Social.
lists are the Rosen type, that breaE
promises in order to achieve theil
personal ends. I am sure that the
rank and file of the Socialist Party
especially in Boston, is honestly
DESTROYS of q united front with the
left wing in the trade unions tt
defend the interests of the worker,
in spite of their leaders.
The main thing is to close oul
ranks tight against wage cuts, come
to the local meetings and demand
reports of your joint council dele.
gates, Executive Board, and vote
down any wage cut proposal.