The daily worker., 1934-04-30
Resembling of Vote on
Wagner Bill Is
Necessary
Special to the Daily Worker


PITTSBURGH. - The 59th Con-
vention of the Amalgamated Asso-
citation of Iron, Steel & Tin Work
ers "a. p. Of L. has now been in
session close on to two weeks and
indications point to an extension of
the convention for at least another
week, possibly two. This convention
is historic convention, in that it
reflects the revolt of the masses of
the steel workers against the re-
dictionary policies Of the Mike Tighe
machine and the traditional no
strike policies of the A. F. Of L.
off1cialdom.
Tighe has now but 40 delegates
out of 1913 who support his position,
and the opposition is riding rough
shod over the machine proposals.
Despite this favorable situation, the
opposition is in very dangerous
position. Tighe with his small
minority has been able to out
maneuver the opposition quite eff
fectively on many decisive matters.
Lack of Clarity
AS an example: Mike Tighe and
Shorty Leonard introduced the reso-
luton to endorse the Wagner-C Con-
merry Disputes Act. This resolution.
from its wording, was undoubtedly
drafted by VIM. Green himself. The
opposition, who are fighting for a
program for strike struggle, leading
to general strike in steel, and
seeking to effect united fronts with
all organizations in steel, together
with coal, railroad and auto, agreed
to this resolution, without a dis
senting voice.
This lack of clarity, and in some
cases, rank opportunism is a grave
error. Here the opposition agrees
to bill designed by the employers,
to outlaw all strikes, while at the
same time they draft and fight for
general strike program. They are
therefore going on record as in favor
of outlawing their own strike before
it is called.
Must Have Own Press Committee
The opposition must Immediately
take steps to rescind this action and
fight uncompromisingly for its pro-
gram which stands against arbitra-
ton and for the right to strike and
picket. Tighe has throttled the op-
position quite effectively in another
manner and the opposition SEEM
ingly does not consider it important.
Tighe set up his own press commit
tee, and then proceeded to swear
every delegate to secrecy so as to
insure that the only information
given to the press would be what
Mike Tighe wants to be given out.
The opposition must realize that if
Tighe can succeed in combining the
revolt of the delegates to his regime
within the four walls of the con-
vention, all the resolutions and
programs that the opposition vote
through, will not have the effect
they wish them to, nor will they
be in position to see that reso-
lutionS and programs are carried
into life unless sll the steel workers
in the country know about them
and understand them.
1t is true, the opposition delegates
can and will go back to their locals
and fight that their program be
carried out, but this is not enough.
In the steel industry there are 500,-
600 workers. Of these, not over 5O,-
900 are organized in trade unions.
The A. A. reports at the convention
that it has but 10000 in its ranks,
and it is important that the oppo-
sition speaks not alone to its own
memberships but to all the steel
workers in the industry, bringing
forward now their fighting program
This the opposition must do by inn
mediately setting up their own press
committee.