The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-05-12
Oil Strike Spreads;
1000 Out; Affects 1
South West Field
Low Wage Scale Given
Sanction By
Roosevelt
WICHITA FALLS. Texas.

- 1liC LII 81 llldJUT VII SLGIh0
in the Southwestern area
looms as 1900 workers re-
main away from their jobs
until their demands are granted.
Already, a considerable territory in
Oklahoma and Kansas is affected by
the strike, which is gradually
spreading. The bulk of the striking
workers are employed by the Sicily
and Sinclair Prairie companies.
Prospects are excellent at this
writing that the employees of the
powerful Continental company will
join their workers of the
other companies.
The business men of Seminole,
Oklahoma, center of the strike, are
appealing to the police to force the
exploited workers back to their Jobs.
One grocer inserted an ADVERTISE
ment assailing the workers for de-
manding better wages and indus
trial conditions. The workers pick
eted the place in retaliation. and
the police force was modified TO
drive the men from the store. The
workers Of Seminole. however. are
displaying militant spirit. in spite
Of the intimidation which is being
exercised upon them.
MiIitancy Diverted
The oil producers, through the
Planning and ordination Com
nlittee of the industry, have estab-
lished a wage adjustment which
gives the workers less money than
at any other time in history. This
adjustment received the sanction
and the signature of President
Roosevelt, All members of the
regional committees, appointed to
administer the industry, are repre-
sentatives Of the producers. Two
former college professors, in theory,
look after the interests of the work
ers; but those whom they profess to
represent are distrustful of these
two men who would be unable to
swing a hammer.
Unfortunately, the militant spirit
Of these workers is diverted into
harmless channels by the high
salaried officials Of their union. The
gentleman appointed by the union
president, Harvey c. Fremming. to
represent the union in pending
negotiations in none other than
the notorious Wildcat Williams. of
Tulsa, Oklahoma. Williams is an
admitted traitor, having been sub
sidi5ed by the mercantile interests,
of Tulsa to perfect q fake organiza-
ton of the unemployed in that city.
The readers of this publication will
recell John J.. Spivak's recent ex-
posure Of Williams.
Union Leaders Oppose Strike.
President Fremn1ing recently
wrote to Roosevelt in this fashion:
eve have tried through the appli-
cation of persuasion. the use Of
reason and logic to keep the men in
the field, pipe lines, and refinery
operations content and at their
Jobs In the same communication,
Fremming admitted that the posi-
ton of the union heads had become
indefensible with the rank and file.
In the same tenor as Fremming's
whining COMPLAINT comes the state
ment made by union leader r. H.
Stickel to the United Press: 1--WE
are doing all that we can to keep
the men working, but there is no
law to keep man from striking II
he wants TO-"
The striking workers will not win
their struggle under a leadership
which is plainly unsympathetic to
any form of mass action. IN
doubleday, Williams will perfect a
sell-out agreement with the pro-
ducers, giving assent to the existence
of the union but denying its right
to strike. The professors will Prob
ably be replaced with men of Will
Jams calibre, and the question Of
increased wages postponed indef1-
nitely.
Opposition Growing.
rank and file opposition group
is growing in the International
Association of Oil Field, Gas Well
and Refinery Workers. The first
issue Of the official organ was
forced to recognize this fact in an
editorial warning the members
against the Communists. The oppo-
sition is particularly strong in the
West Texas locals. Many of the
members. unfamiliar with the pro-
gram Of the Communist Party are
beginning to ask questions regard
ing the conduct Of the union.
These militant workers feel keenly
the insult of having Williams to
represent them. Another sore spot
with them is that, at the moment
of crisis, President Fremn1ing is
taking a vacation cruise while they
are starving in miserable shacks.
These workers are liable to take
the strike away from the official
leaders if those leaders don't get
hIlsv