The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1935-02-09

| SecCiOn OIL Tine Town.
there are several shoe workers or
Plantations in the United States
and Canada, and whereas, they
compete with one another and beat
down wages and working conditions
to inhumanly low levels. now, be it
therefore resolved, that there
should be a single International
Union in the boot and shoe indus
try embracing all shoe workers in
the United States"
Signed in Washington, D, c.. in
January, 1885. by: John j. Mara
for Boot and Shoe workers Union,
William Mackesy for United Shoe
and Leather workers Union, John
D. Nolan for Shoe Workers Protec-
tive Union, Stanley P. Nixon for
American Shoe Workers Union, and
John Murphy for the Brotherhood
of Shoe and Allied Craftsmen.
Turn Words Into Deeds
In order to realize the intent of
the above mentioned resolutions, it
is now necessary to do all in our
power to bring about one union in
the industry under rank and file
control and to make sure that there
shall be no autocratic control from
the top as practiced in the Boot
and Shoe Workers Union, and that
there shall be no repetition of bu-
reaucratic misinanagement and dis
regard for rank and file decisions as
practiced by the national Official
dom of the United Shoe and
Leather Workers Union during the
past IL months.
Program for One Union Advances
The rank and file tired Of be-
ing deceived by the bosses and mis-
leaders of labor The workers Of
the different unions in the shoe
industry demand and will bring
about a rank and file controlled
One Union in the industry-with
or without the help of officials and
will fight shoulder to shoulder for
the 30-hour week - for high
standard, living wage, for job pro-
lection and for unemployment in
surance ON the basis Of the Work
ers' Unemployment, Old Age and
Social Insurance Bill, H. r. 1927.
1t is now, more than ever before,
the task of every conscious
and militant minded worker in
every local of all unions in the shoe
industry to put forth every effort
to help in bringing about one union
in the industry under absolute rank
and file control.
Under no conditions, however,
can the workers permit the one
union to be continuation of the
Boot and Shoe workers Union,
with its bosses policies and pro-
gram of bureaucracy its rule and
control over the membership from
the top. This, however, does not
mean that a rank and file con-
trolled national union of shoe
workers could not be affiliated with
the A. F. of L.
Rank and File Control-a Requisite
This question of A. F. of L. af-
filiation should be decided by the
entire membership Of all merged
unions after thorough discussion in
fhoiT. 1nno1 JYY1iN,1 aud crAaio1lTy
called conventions. Should any
union officials oppose the merger
of all existing unions into one
union-then it becomes the task of
the rank and file to act in their
locals and shopS-over the heads
Of their officials and participate in
all merger activities and delibera-
tons and become part Of the fight
for One Union in the Shoe Indus
try-one union, Of the workers, for
the workers and by the workers.
New Election in U. S. L. w. U.
We have just emphasized the
need for one union in the industry
our coming elections are closely
connected with the task Of bring
ing together all Of the now existing
unions on the basis of rank and
file control. Let no one think that
the election Of our next national
organizer, general secretary and
general executive board is Of no
Importance. The contrary is the
case. Now, more than ever before,
must we go through with our ma
tional elections and elect the right
kind of leaders into Office = now,
more than ever before, do we need
a real rank and file national execu-
tive committee.
Our next officials must not only
be willing but also capable OF
carrying out the mandates of the
membership as laid down in the
forgotten resolutions and constitu-
ton. Such leadership must have
backbone, integrity, honesty, and,
above all, be free from all contain
mating bosses influence and be
able and willing to defend the
workers interest-everywhere, any
time-always.
New Officials to Pledge to Program
The elections of our new officials
| to the national Office is an issue of
first importance, the next election
must be an honest and above board
in every detail. All officials and
executive board members elected to
Office must pledge themselves tc
carry out the following program:
]. To aid in every honest way
| possible for the immediate bring