The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1935-01-23

own and had already presented
them to their bosses. But the lead
ership reversed things. They stopped
the organizational drive during the
strike, did not push the demands of
the other workers and isolated the
Boston Store strikers.
The time set for the calling of
the Boston Store strike was very
favorable. It was calculated to put
pressure upon the employers in the
midst Of the Christmas rush.
But the leadership did not under
stand that precisely because Of this
favorable condition it was necessary
to strike swift blow against the
store and end the strike before the
Christmas season was over. The
tactics pursued by the leadership,
however, could not result in swift
victory.
Police Became Leaders"
Instead of mobilizing a militant
mass picket line they went to the
police department and asked for
cooperation" with the result that
the police became the leaders of
the strike during its first few days.
The officials agreed with the
police not to block entrances to the
store, they agreed not to permit the
strikers to sing as it may disturb
the occupants of the hotel across
the street. They even agreed that
the strikers banners and signs will
be carried sideways so as not to
block traffic" or interfere with
vision. Whenever the strikers at
tempted some militant form of ac-
tlyity the leaders would appear on
the scene and discourage such ac-
ton. 1t is obvious that under such
cowardly leadership the workers
chances to win were limited
1t was, therefore, necessary to
organize the rank and file in OPP
position to the policies of the lead
ership if the strike was even to
continue. let alone be won. The
rank and file group was organized
through the initiative Of the Com
munist Party. In view of the fact
that three craft unions we're in
volved there was danger of separate
settlements. This could not be
minimized since the electricians
and the butchers remained at work
during the strike under orders from
the American Federation of Labor
The following motions introduced
by the rank and file group were
adopted unanimously by the strikers.
Rank and File Proposals
First, joint strike committee be
set up with representatives from all
crafts;
Second, no separate settlements.
all to remain on strike until all re-
ceive satisfactory settlements;
Third, that mass strike COM
mittee be set up and mass picketing
organized.
Although these demands we're a
step forward they were insufficient
because of the sabotage on the part
of the leadership.
A department store strike is
somewhat different from strike in
factory. It involves the so-called
public This makes it possible to
mobilize other forces than Just the
strikers. The workers of Milwaukee
remembered that the tactic of mo-
bilizing the masses in the neigh
borhoods was responsible for the
militant character of the Garments
strike. Although a department
store strike is different than a car
strike, still masses of outsiders
ca be involved. The rank and file
group, therefore. took UP the fight
first to involve the rest of the labor
movement in the strike, especially
the American Federation of Labor
This pressure resulted in the pass
ing of such a motion on the floor