The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-01-27
Rank and File Miners
Flay Lewis Machine
at UMWA Convention

eieSted as a member Of the District
Board to avoid any discrimination on
account Of race, color or creed"
There are a large number Of
resolutions demanding the immediate
release Of the Scottsboro Boys;
q resolution demanding q one day
strike on May First for the free
dom of Tom Mooney: a resolution
demanding the release Of all work
ing class victims Of German fascism
and pledging support and solidarity
TO the struggles Of the German work.
ing class; resolutions against depor-
tation Of foreign-born miners. There
are resolutions demanding the build
ing Of q Women's Auxiliary to or
ganize the wives and daughters Of
the miners. There was a number
Of resolutions adopted demanding
the establishment of youth sections
in the q. M. W. A. TO direct the in
terests Of the young miners. The
resolution on youth, however, was
not printed in the pamphlet or
resolutions submitted TO the Conven-
ton. There are, however, resolutions
demanding that in the mines youth
are to be employed after 81 years
Of age without any demands to pro-
vide for the support Of the young
miners till they reach that age.
There are a number of other reso-
lutions such as demanding accounts
Of expenses, etc. The fact that the
International officialdom has spent
in the period Of the last two years
81, 977, 1881 raises the demand that
a strict account be given Of the ex-
penditures Of this tremendous amount
Of money.
Wide Opposition Indicated
1t is characteristic that these
resolutions come from all parts o.
the coal fields Of the U. g., indicating
the widespread opposition and dis
satisfaction and growing realization
on the part of the miners as to the
real role Of the arch strike-bresker
John L. Lewis and his International
Board and his appointees In the Dis
tricts.
1t is also very characteristics tha&
the only organized Opp0sitios
forces at the Convention are the
ones led by the Communists and
rank and file elements who are be-
inc supported by 200 to 300 antts
Lewis delegates, although they R7s
unorganized.
The Musteites introduced through
Local los, Mt. Carmel Pa, (An-
thracite District No. u only two
resolutions and both Of them are
of a character that exposes Che real
role of Music inside Of the U. NJ.
w. A. One resolution asks the Con-
vention to substitute the words In
the Constitution that miners are to
receive equitable share" Of labor in
wages to full social value OF
their labor" How is this to be ac-
complished under capitalism? The
second resolution Of that local is for
the Labor Party.
The Convention, however, packed
with the paid officials, appointees Of
Lewis ana his strong-arm men, viii
not satisfy the needs Of the miners.
Nobody should by any means have
the impression that the 33rd Consti-
tutional Convention of the U. M W.
A. represents the opinion and will Of
the miners organized in the U. ID.
w. A. Very far from it. There is
tremendous contrast between the
resolutions submitted to the Conven-
ton and the actual acts Of the Con-
vention. Tt shows very definitely
the growing gap between the rank
and file members and the of1cialdom
Of the U. NJ. w. A, which long ago
went over on the side OF the bosses
and their government against the
very interests Of the miners and the
working class.
One more characteristic Of it is
that there are four resolutions in
troduced demanding and defending
the right of the miners to belong to
any organizations they please, in
Guiding membership in the Commu-
mist Party, which the constitution Of
tae U. M. w. A. denies. There is
a sentiment among the rank and
file miners Of the U. NJ. w. A. with
the miners organized in other unions
and with the masses Of miners who
are unorganized throughout the
country.
On the basis Of this it is clear that
now it is an opportune time to unite
the opposition forces inside of the
q. M. w. A, to undertake the task
of winning the local unions, sub
districts and districts from the con-
troll OF the Lewis machine. This
task confronts the miners this IS
the task confronting the rank and
file delegation at the Convention in
Indianapolis, as the next step in the
struggle against Lewis, and the grow.
ing realization on the part Of the
miners that the road to victory Of
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