The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1939-12-07

has no more than 1,250,O00 dues-pay
ing members.
1t began in November, 1885, with
seven A. F. Of l.. unions and dues
paying membership Of 100000. Two
years later, responsible labor econ
omists granted it more than, 100000
members, although many of them
never paid dues. The A. F. of L. has
gained not only million members to
compensate for the c. |. o. detection,
but an additional million, giving it a
present dues paying membership OF
approximately 4,00C,O00
| Lewis presidenti..' - - ne {
| |. 0. conventrn = - o. toher at
San Francisco, "A mentioned neither
finances nor membership.
Miners Put Up S500,000
The only financially powerful union
in the C. |. O. is Lewis United Mine
Workers, which has been forced not
only to contribute it's proportlonate
support to the national organization,
but to pay the way Of the many c..
. paper" unions-organization
,ntastic membership claims but
! dues coming in.
Since the beginning of the c. |. O..
organization drive in 1886, the mine
workers have contributed more than
$3,C00,C0O to the national organlza-
ticn in per capita taxes, loans, and
gifts. They put up $5C0,0OO of the
more than 100000 raised by Lewis
for President Roosevelt's reelection
in 1886.
Only yesterday, Thomas Kennedy,
secretary treasurer of the mine work
ers, announced the imposition of two
additional 81 special assessments on
the 4OC,OCO members, which will raise
$500 COO. These additional burdens
are being placed upon the mine work
ers because tie G. |. o. revenue from
per capita taxes is not sufficient to
meet operating expenses.
Cease Distributing Report
The last published report Of the
mine workers showed that during the
period from June |, 1898, to Dec. l,
1900, LEWIS ". l. ". tooh a Io's'i VI
$2C5,377 from their treasury, in ad-
diton to the per capita taxes OF $780,
OCO. Kennedy formerly sent the semi
annual financial reports to all men,
bers of the mine workers union, but
this practice has been discontinued
because of the volume of complaints
against the draining of their treasury
for other c. |. O. unions.
At previous peace negotiations be-
tween the A. F. of l.. and the c. |. o.,
A. F. of l.. leaders demanded that
Lewis permit a certified public ac-
countant to audit the membership,
dues collections and finances of his
unions as basis for their representa-
ton in the proposed merger. Lewis re-
fused, and he is said to be even more
opposed to such an audit today. 1t
would make mockery Of his boast of
being "the second public figure in
America" ufr.a-. go
Lewis Threatens TO Quit
Since the close on Oct. 13 of the
second annual G.. |. o. convention III
San Francisco, G.. |. o. inspired news
paper stories have told about dra-
matte and passionately sincere at
tempt on Lewis part to resign for
the reason, among others, that Presl-
dent Roosevelt believed it would re-
suit in peace for organized labor. The
truth about the resignation episode
according to union leaders in po-
ston to know, is that Lewis threaten
ed to resign rather than permit po-
lite reply to Mr.. Roosevelt's latest
peace proposal.
On October II Mr.. Roosevelt wrote
a personal letter to Lewis, urging the
resumption of peace negotiations. III
it he expressed the hope that "you
will let me hear from you that the
progress already made will be con
tinued and that your committee is
prepared to renew the negotiations
promptly and continue them until q
settlement is reached"
Lewis Storms In, and Out
Sidney Hillman and Philip Murray
vice presidents, and other high Off.
cials of the c. |. o. were drafting al
encouraging reply to the Presidents
letter, submitting definite proposals
for the resumption of negotiations
when Lewis stormed in upon them il
a San Francisco hotel room and learn,
ed what they were doing. He demand
ed that the Presidents letter be ig.
nored and threatened to resign on the
spot if they answered it. Then he
stormed out of the room.
After due deliberations, Hillman
Murray, and the others persuaded
him to return and a compromise was
agreed upon. Instead of a persona
reply to the Presidents letter, Lewis
replied tersely that it had been sub
mitted to committee and that, by
direction of the committee, the reply
was being made.
The letter set forth various reasons
why the resumption Of peace negotia
tions was not eXpedient. Neither the
White House nor the c. |. O. ha!
made this letter public.
Predicts He'll BE Back