The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1935-02-23

troopers invaded the entire strike
area. All the paraphernalia for an
unprecedented reign Of terror was
ready and let loose against the
strikers. Two strikers were killed
and many have been jailed. Finally,
to leave no doubt about the intsn-
ton Of the company to smash the
union, an order was incorporated In
the injunction directing the new
union officials to call off the strike
instantly.
The workers, on the other hand,
displayed a splendid solidarity. De-
spite the high pressure propaganda
that the u M. w A. officials will
supply blue bird" (scab) crews, all
collieries were tied up. Most United
Mine Workers refused to follow the
strikebreaking orders OF their ON
Gals. The scsbherders took to the
farming regions, but met with little
success there. In one region. Mes
copec, after hearing an appeal by
one of the strikers, a meeting OF
several hundred farmers decided
not to be strikebreakers,
Recently many locals sent dele
gates to the Washington Unem-
ployment Insurance Congress. Many
local officials have become disillus
stoned with the policy Of dickering
with the N. r. A. and courts. The
Unemployed Councils, by their fine
work in winning the support Of the
iobless to the strikers, have won
great influence in the situation.
1t is becoming apparent that
this is no longer a mere jurisdie-
tional dispute but a fight for the
most elementary rights of the work
ers. If the Glen Alden strikers are
defeated and their union is smashed
the backbone of unionism in the
anthracite will be broken.
Rank and File Program
That is why the central point in
the Rank and File program is COM
plete unity of all workers on the
basis of fighting program, This
is the key to solving the situation
in the Anthracite in the interest Of
the workers. There must be unity
Of the members of both unions be-
tween the employed and unem-
ployed and between the miners and
other sections of the toiling popu-
lation such as the farmers in the
region.
But it should not be expected that
the officials Of the unions will put
it into effect. The officials of the
U. M. w. of A. hold the idea that
only conquest of the new union
will solve the situation. They think
that the company is helping them
to do that Some officials of the
new union do not see the need for
united action with the members Of
the U, M. W. Of A. They view all
the members Of the q. M. w. Of A.
as scabs. and have instilled such
ideas into many miners.
Real unity will be achieved only
il the rank and file acts over the
heads Of the officials. The same
active spirit that prevails in the
striking locals must be brought to
the U. M w. A. locals in the entire
Anthracite. It can be expressed
I in the form of the members of both
unions forming committees at those
mines where the workers are mem
bers of both. These should see that
there is no Scabbing. In the mines
which are not affected by strike
these committees could take action
to see that the present agreement
is enforced. The unity movement
can in that manner be spread from
one local TO another. The mem
bership can be aroused to a general
sympathy movement for the strikers
to defeat the Glen Alden Company.
Demands
The workers ought 10 take q hint
from the action Of the miners Of
Southern Illinois at their recent
scale convention. They decided for
a strike in April for the six-hour
day. five-dsy week. at a dollar an
hour. Such a program in the
Anthracite would serve TO absorb
much of the vast army of unem-
ployed. AS one miner suggested in
the Anthracite the scale might be
81 for laborers and $1.25 for miners.
Furthermore, the workers are
tired of being humbugged by the
two boss parties. Their two sets Of
officials, which are tied to two OPP
posing capitalist parties are also re-
sponSible for tying the workers to
the boss political machines. The
present developments show the cry
ing need for a Labor Party--a party
which will have the support of To-
Gals, workers fraternal, unemployed
and similar organizations united to
smash the fascist dictatorship Of
the coal operators and TO serve the
needs Of the masses.
But all these things, which every
miner will agree are needed, can
only be made reality If the active
workers in locals of both unions
take things in their own hands and
say WE WILL HAVE UNITY AND
WE WON'T LET ANYTHING
STOP US FROM HAVING IT"