The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1935-02-05
IU.T.W. WOOL CONFERENCE
SHOWS MOOD FOR STRIKE
Mcmahon Seeks To Put
Damper on Militant
Movement
By John Weber

hundred representatives Of a locals
Of the wooden and worsted division
Of the United Textile Workers Of
America "A. F. Of L. met here yes
terday at Eagles Hall and heard
President Thomas F. Mcmahon
recommend that no action be taken
on the results Of the Winant Boards
investigation" in the wooden and
worsted section Of the industry until
after the board has made its de-
c-siOns in silk and cotton as well.
Without further comment this
statement might have appeared TO
represent a desire on the part of the
U. T. W. leaders to secure the Joint
action Of the workers in all three
sections Of the textile industry in
preparation for another general
strike in line with their declaration
on Feb. 1 at the enlarged meeting
Of the Executive Council Of the
American Federation of Labor This
declaration was that unless We are
to confess the futility Of unionism,
barring a great remedial movement
within the next few weeks, the ma
tons textile mills will again be Sc
fenced and more completely 50 than
in our last great conflict"
Mcmahon Blsn1es Workers
But the real meaning Of Nc
Mahon's recommendation became
clear when he swung from radical
phrases to vicious attack on the
workers, blaming them for pres
ent conditions"
Horace T. Riyiere, New England
organizer, demanded that no local
take actual steps for any strike
without sanction of the national
officers. Every effort was made to
hamstring the militant rank and file
and prevent any action being pre-
pared other than normal organiza-
ton work Complete reliance was
demanded on the national leaders
in their maneuyers behind closed
doors in Washington, in the textile
hearings from which. Mcmahon and
German hope, they will be able to
keep out the militant voice Of the
masses of disconnected and disillu-
stoned rank and file workers.
Mcmahon completely discouraged
any form of local strike action for
partial demands, against the intro
duction of new speed-up and
against discrimination.
Mcmahon and Riviere completely
avoided any mention Of the Inter-
state Anti-Stretchout and Discrini-
nation Council rank and file body
originating in Connecticut, fearing
that any statements against it
would bring up even more express
sions of resentment from the floor.
But it is evident that the resolution
Of confidence in the national Off
GERS was directed. clearly against
this movement.
Don't Mean Strike
1t was practically admitted by the
leaders that they did not really
mean the strike threats they had
made at the A. F. of l.. Executive
Council meeting on Feb. /, that it
was only intended to brighten the
manufacturers. How simple minded
they try to make the textile mag
mates appear! The truth Of the
matter is that Mcmahon. German,
and Peel were compelled, and the
textile magnates know it, to hold
out the promise Of a general strike
unless there was "a great remedial
movement within the next few
weeks" %, because their sell-out
maneuver ending the September
general strike is now coming to the
end of its four-months rope.
Tremendous numbers of textile
workers, having already experienced
widespread discrimination, against
which they were left disarmed and
helpless by German, and feeling the
pinch of lightened ay-envelopes
for which they have to slave under
increased speed-up. will now become
completely disillusioned by the Wi
nant Board reports, and lose faith
in the mediation of -friend-in-
the White House" Roosevelt.
At the conference, Mcmahon had
to admit that the Textile Works As
signment Boards and the Textile
Relations Board can do nothing"
and that the Code Authority, which
consists of the manufacturers, SIS
the law" He is fearful of the rap
idly mounting sentiment among the
embittered rank and file for another
and bigger general strike, which will
not be dominated so easily by the
radio-general German, strike
which will far out-reach the last
one in militancy and which the
workers will not give UP without
winning substantial improvements.
Board Elected
So uneasy are the McMahons and
the Riveres, that, feeling the rum
bling demand at the conference for
independent rank and file control
of the locals and of the union, they
we're compelled to concede to the
demands from the floor that the
present ful-time organizers be
barred from tine elections for the
Executive Board of the wooden and
worsted division.
The new Executive Board of the
wooden and worsted division con-
sists of president and three vice.
presidents together with one repre-
sentative from each State.
They are: President William
Dunlop of Rockville, Conn; vice.
president, Taylor of Massachusetts,;
second vice-president, Graham Of
East Greenwich, r. l.: third vice.
president. Werner Of Worcester,
Mass; treasurer, Velleti Of Ux-
bridge, Mass; secretary, to be ap-
pointed by the national officers;
Maine, Desire; New Hampshire,
Jennings; Massachusetts, Latour: