Saturday, November 30, 1929 THE MILITANT Page The Illinois Miners Belleville Conference was a spontaneous uprising against the wrong political propraganda. They had come to the convention for the purpose of building a rank and file union and nothing else. To prove my assertion, the convention had been Continued from Page ferred to the national executive board and ent pledged that he would go home and in session almost two days, practically no of Farrington and Lewis!
sion from the tank and file was heard, only the international convention. My motion do all in his power to build the to speeches and more speeches. All for a purNow understand that as yet there had was voted down and the resolution adopted clean out the Lewises and the Fishwicks. few words in general about the con pose. But of little or no interest to the been no rank and file delegate that spoke with a few nays. Immediately after the membership vote nine delegates walked out; this time vention and the future work in the new from the convention floor. The volcano Watt went along.
unions created by the The bolting The proceedings of the convention created by the wrong policy was beginning of the delegates from the convention was a plainly show that business that would ordinto smoke.
McMillan, Goldberg, Payer (of the St.
arily require days of discussion were accomLouis branch of the Communist League) spontaneous rank and file revolt against Watt Speech plished in the last few hours. The reports and myselt immediately got together and the narrow line being pursued by the show that all resolutions were adopted After the resolution that Toohey introwalked out before they scattered without. in its trade union work. And turther, 11 duced was adopted John Watt was asked We rented a room in the Lyric Hotel and the Communist League comrades had not unanimously. Surely some opposition would appear under ordinary circumstances. have by Voyzey to address the convention.
told all the delegates that bolted the con been on the job, the delegates would have attended many labor conventions in the past, When Watt took the floor the volcano burst vention to go there for a meeting. While gone home discouraged and it would have and must admit. some were machine coninto a flame. And right here want to say the delegates were going to the new hall, had a very bad effect on the work of buildtrolled, but the Belleville convention was that don endorse everything that Watt personally went to Foster and told him ing the in illinois. Our Opposition unrivaled in efficiency.
has done, but must agree with Watt that that we had organized the delegates that forces organized the delegates that walked While realize that the Daily Worker the position he took at this convention was bolted the convention, that the crazy Left out of the convention and am correct in represents the aims and objects of the correct. The first words that Watt uttered policy of attacking everyone who was not a saying that our group prevented a split in leadership, however, if these aims are in his talk which lasted about 20 minutes Communist as a faker and the machine the and put new life into the rank correct, then surely it is not necessary to was that the convention was not called to rule at the convention was responsible for and file delegates, to fight to build the publish false and slanderous statements hear speeches but to outline a program and the walkout of the delegates, that the dele and change the incorrect policy in against individuals. President Watt 1s aca plan of action for building the National gates who bolted represented the majority of the union as framed by the leaders. cused of establishing splitters headquarters, Miners Union. He took Tooney attack the National Miners Union. They had The did not analyze correctly the not by the rank and file, as your paper tries on the socalled operators neutrality serious differentces with regards to the in situation in Illinois and overestimated its to show, but by a certain group who seems policy and showed with figures that Toohey correct line of the that is being pur own strength in the coal fields here. What to imagine that it possesses super intellidistorted what he really said at the last sued in Illinois, especially the uncalled for happened before the convention was that gence.
Belleville conference. Watt showed with attacks in the mining fields on the the took a sudden surge forward, Everyone who dares to differ with it figures that the coal operators were caught leaders of the National Miners Union due to the squabble between Lewis and is called an opportunist. might say that off guard, that there is only a few weeks in Staunton, Livingston, etc. who are Fishwick and hundreds of miners joined every delegate from Staunton local, without supply of coal on top, that this is the right not Party members. They are told that the in the last two months. The exception, reported untavorably towards the time of the season to strike aganst unless they join the Communist Party instead of educating these new memBelleville convention. After the reports coal operators and that we must make the they will be slaughtered and deprived of bers to understand Communism, is trying resolution was unanimously adopted, conmost of the squabble between Lewis and all work in the National Miners Union. to force these workers in the by demning the actions employed at said conFishwick. Then he criticized the leader told Foster that these delegates had a griev direct action to belong to the or vention. You say, the rank and file will ship of the Communist Party for trying to ance becuse of the mistakes the Party had else tell them that they would be prevented fight to oust President Watt. The writer of isolate him from working among the miners made in the Illinois mining fields and that this article attended every session held by from working in the If this 18 and all those not members of the Commun he should come into our meeting to hear of the Staunton local, but failed to see this not sickness of some kind, am Holy Moses.
ist Party.
these mistakes committed by the Party for The slogan seems to be. Every materialize although he does see the StaunWatt made a plea for Soviet Russia, for ton local all but wrecked, due to what took the purpose of changing these incorrect member must be a Party member!
place at Staunton.
the Russian Communist Party, but launched policies before it is too late.
Stalinism and Union Democracy Daily Worker Falsehoods into a bitter attack against the leadership Foster came into our metting and the of the American Party, using the latest delegates began to protest against the acAnother impression got from the At the Sub District Conference held in issue of the Inprecorr (the speech of Lostions of the convention for not allowing convention in Belleville is that no opposiStaunton, Sunday Nov. 10th read the folovsky at the 10th Plenum on trade union thorough rank and file discussion on the tion of any kind will be tolerated in the new lowing, which appeared in your paper issued work. for his attack. Watt said that he floor of the convention, protested against unions created by the Party. They will Nov. 6th, Livingston local bars renegade considered himself a Communist despite Watt and his henchmen, etc. After reading the attack on Watt, protested against the be ruthlessly attacked whether right or anything that the may say to the organizers trying to intimidate nonwrong, even if the Party has to split the the article, asked every delegate from contrary and concluded his talk by urging Livingston if that were a fact. Every deleParty miners by threats to carrying out new unions wide open. This is part of its gate stated that it was not, and that Watt the miners to build a class conscious and Party orders, against the narrow line of general policy to wipe out all opposition had not been barred by their local.
militant union. While Watt was speaki the Party in trying to build not a mass instead of trying to win over the opposition Foster came into the convention hall and Under date of Nov. issue Telegrams organization out of the but a narto its policy. This was clear to me in the went on the speakers platform, but somerow sect of members.
Belleville convention when the first 20 delereceived at Staunton condemning Watt thing went wrong as there was no demongates walked out in protest against the By whom were these telegrams received. stration from the convention of any kind.
Foster answer to all the protests was bureaucratic and incorrect policy of the have had charge of all oficial documents of As soon his ugual one: Yes, but let not talk this local since its inception, and can say Watt finished his talk, Voyzey turned to Foster and began to say someabout these things now. All you delegates all speeches, no discussion, etc. without fear of contradiction, have neither thing, but the delegates, one after another, must come back into the convention, else repeat, this was a spontaneous rank received nor seen such telegrams.
the capitalist papers tomorrow will say and file revolt. It was beginning to look began to make motions for adjournment for Issue of Nov. 8th. Watt issues conthat there was a split in the The very bad from the Stalinite line. Somebody lunch. The time was 1:30 pm, and so the vention call. This again proves to be a delegates said they did not care what the would be blamed for the revolt. Let make convention was adjourned for lunch.
fabrication, as the convention call was iscapitalist papers said about them. Before it Watt and thereby save a spanking by The afternoon session was convened sued under instructions of the Sub District they went back into the convention the Stalin. Fine. Typewriter gets busy. Out with Voyzey saying that the convention Conference Committee.
uncalled for resolution attacking Watt comes a resolution against Watt. The se Issue of Nov. 9th. Watt built up is now thrown open for discussion from must be withdrawn. If that was not done ond walkout was in protest against the little machine in Staunton. In answering the delegates. But Voyzey failed to menthey would go back home, double their action on Watt. believe that if the first that accusation shall say, Watt did not tion the fact that the discussion must come work in building the and change walkout of delegates had not occurred, the only from Communist Party members.
build up a machine, but he did help to build the incorrect line being, pursued in the resolution against Watt would never have the strongest and most active local in he So the first discussion that comes from They would fight for a policy that been read. The rank and Alle revoit became the floor saw Corbishly, slinger, Thompson, Yes, he did more! Besides doing the real danger in the convention and splendid work in other sections, he was the would unite not only Communists but also Voyzey and Allard on the floor with almost the backward workers into the someone had to be blamed in order for the main factor which caused Livingston as well the same speech with little variation. Stalinites to save thelr own hides.
as Pocahontas locals, to grow with tremenam a Communist, Watt is a faker. RatAfter Foster left our meeting, was To the convention the credentials comdous rapidity. In the same issue you say, tat rat tat tat just like that one after the elected chairman and the following deci Watt without authority from anyone came other. tried to get the floor after Thompsions were made by the 30 delegates present mittee reported that 16, 000, members were represented. In the committee deliberato Staunton. Another falsehood. The records son spoke but the Stalinites were able to That we fight and organize the tions, they figured 8, 000 members and if we of the Sub Disrict Conference Committee carry a motion to cease debate by a vote miners into the cut this last figure in hall we will come plainly show that Watt at various times was of 67 to 30. Then the motion made prev2. That we protest the action taken ordered to come to Staunton to address lously that Watt case be referred to the against Watt.
pretty close to the actual membership of meetings in his vicinity. might further national executive board with final decision That we call a conference of the in Illinois. The delegates that state that this Sub District Conference Comto rest with the international convention the Staunton sub district on Sunday, revolted represented the strongest section mittee is a committee composed of miners was carried with the same vote.
November 3, at Staunton, Ill. for the of the union Staunton Livingston Mt. Oliveelected from their respective locals. real After the vote was taken and while purpose of mobilizing the miners into Springfield section, the membership of body of the rank and sle. In the same issue Foster was being introduced, about 20 delthe which is close to half the total of the you say, Slinger, the man, who built organegates arose and walked out of the convenAfter the meeting every delegate pres in Illinois, ization in Staunton. It is unpleasant to cast any reflections upon Slinger as well tion in protest against the action of not understand that he must make a record, it allowing more discussion from the floor.
he expects to remain a member of the Foster thought that Watt had walked out of the Communist Party. However as far as with the delegates and started to attack Slinger was concerned he is a negligible facWatt for the walkout, but after Watt protested against such a line of attack, Foster Letter Sent by the Staunton Miners Conference to the Poison Pen Artists tor in Staunton, as his presence here is far from welcome. could continue to changed his speech, and spoke about Gas The following self explanatory letter Nov. Watt, without authority from tonia, the etc.
expose many more malicious lies, which were has been sent to the Daily Worker for pub anyone, cume to Staunton.
circulated thru your press as well as other Angelo Urges Bolters Return lication: Nov, Slinger, the man who built orsource, but that will not build a Rank and listened a few minutes to Foster File union.
Staunton, Ill.
anization in Staunton. retraction and the publishing speech and then went out of the convention November 14, 1929 Demands Retraction of this letter will do much towards creating hall to see what had happened to the dele To the Editor of the Daily Worker While these excerpts do not cover all a solidarity among the miners, which is abgates that had walked out. The delegates New York City the accusations placed against Watt and solutely necessary it the National Miners that had walked out had all gathered near In compliance with a motion unani. the Staunton members, they are those of the Union expects to succeed. hope you will the entrance of the convention hall with a mously adopted at the sub District Confer most importance and insist that they be give this matter the same publicity as you few Stalinites among them like Sklar and ence of the National Miners Union, held at printed in your publication with the accomgave the misleading statements, Kemenovich, calling the delegates who Staunton Nov. 10th ask you to retract the anying explanatory letter.
EDW. MORGAN walked out fakers, etc. urged all the following false and slanderous statements In order to give you the true facts. It Sec y Sub Disrict Conference delegates to return and help finish the busipertaining to International President Watt will be necessary for me to revert to the National Miners Union Iness. My plea was met with. No, we re and members of the Staunton Local of the Belleville National Miners convention. While done with the covention, we re going home. which appeared in the various is that convention was heralded as a rank I went into the convention and Foster sues of the Daily Worker as noted: and file convention, the outcome proved just AX AUTHORIZED STATEMENT had finished his speech and a resolution Oct. 31 Rank and file will fight to the opposite. It is true that a number of oust him.
delegates left the convention hall, and some We nave been authorized to state that calling upon Watt to cease all activities Nov. Watt is trying to establish among that number, were men who helped the little banquet given to the erstwhile among the minera splitters headquarters.
organize the old United Mine Workers many Communist Party candidate for Mayor in by Corbishly who moved the adopNov. Telegrams received at Staun years ago. These me. left the hall, not be New York, William Weinstone, on the e resolution. moved an amend ton condemning Watt.
cause of the influence of President Watt, as eve of his departure to become the Amerhle the resolution and pointed Nov. Watt issues convention call. some seem to believe, but for the reason ican representative to the was was not on trial at this Nov. Watt built up a little machine that they possessed sufficient intellegence not in the nature of an victory hat his case had been re in Staunton. o think for themselves. In other words, it celebration The Daily Worker Lies Like Hell!