John Lewis Continues His Betrayals Is Mooney to Stay in Jail?
30 86 89 22 47 37 189 63 377 187 34 19 125 133 PAGE 1 AE MILITANT SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1932 Hoffman and threatened to bar him from the convention if he made another break.
Delegate Hindmarsh asked that Lewis resign as International President or as President of a large bank in IndianaA Review of the Thirty second Convention of the United Mine Workers of America Dewis never denied that the convention.
onvert tone Reactionaries Make Capital of the Stalinists Blunders he president of a bank, rather udmitted that he was. From Union president to The 32nd Consecutive Constitutional, vention. Out of the 1155 delegates that ment Insurance, Against Criminal Syn Republican National Committee man, to Disgusted by the betrayals of the munist League is mentioned by name Convention of the United Mine Workers attended the convention the bulk of them dicalism. For Old Age pensions are about Bank president that proves that Am cynical fakers of the California State in Mooney appeal as one of the or held a twelve day session in only represented themselves. The bona the only concessions the the historie Tomlinson hall of Indiana nde delegates from the Anthracite re made. The pressure was forced to all youth of the working class! the great. the impotence of well intentioned 116 a genuine united front, our delegation reactionarios eric is a land of great promise for the Federation of Labor and the of ganizations he wants to participate in polis, Indiana, beginning January 26th gions, Illinois, Indiana and a few other extremes by the Left wing group, the bushy browed. pot bellled John Lewis erals and the futility of purely legal was ejected under threats of violence.
and ending February 5th. The huge remnants of districts, were pitted against originators of those progressive mens roared time after time as youthful dele maneuvers Tom Mooney addressed a In Minneapolis, St. Louls and Staunton auditorium was draped in the tri col blue sky delegates that possibly had ures.
gatees poured a hot barrage of attack ringing call to the working class of this and Belleville, II. where the D.
ors of the Wall Street republic. It was never worked in the coal mine or had Atting arena for the arch reactionary never belonged to the cleanization et Troye Soviet Union came from Westville, enante, che succeeded in every Instance to prisoners. Fourteen years in prison had them afoot, the Di parsued con pol Resolutions on the recognition of the against him and his birelings. With his country to unite in a fight for his lib organized no conference and where the to the captains of American Indnstries, Treasurer compared with the report of militant one from local unton No. 30 of impress the newspapermen in the press not softened the militant fighter. The icy of either we control the confer that is taking place among the mine very conclusively. We have the follow union No. 308 called upon unconditional their apologizing for the radicalization the Credentials Committee, proves this Orlent, resolution from Shocal box who cleverly fixed the reports for ideas and language of the cathe are rexel once or the smashes In one way or the publbe.
workers of this country. The atmo ing facts Paying sphere of the gathering, was a sorrow District recognition as well as to extend liberal The outstanding features of the conven spark to fan into flames again the smol ferences.
Delegates Members ful one. The conventions of yore that This method of freeing Mooney has trades relations with Soviet Republic. tlon was the fact that the dominating dering resentment of the working class Pa.
had pictured hectic sessions, fighting.
extend credits, etc. The resolution for active element from the Anthracite and against perhaps, the rawest frame up of ruinous consequences for the Communist PA.
energetic, militant, rank and flle miners, 1142 ther pointed out that recognition of the ininois delegations were young coal min. capitalist class justice. And they came movement. Mooney cause will not die Ohio 862 Soviet Government would assist generers.
The statement in the convention at the time of the approach of the third at the party does not take it up. The was almost a memory aside of an ex8 Ind.
tremely small minority that courageously 168 of a still deepening crisis, when issue will become a plaything for all ally in relieving existing unemployment was made, that never before had so large year fought throughout the entire convention 17 Va.
16 Ma.
10 diffeultes well as to assist the Rus a number of youthful delegates attended their result in a militant working class sorts of political cakers Particularly tremendous dangerous are the bourgeois demagogues exposing the traitorious role of the Lewis sian working class to realize their great the Unitedd Mine Workers convention movement would open up machine in shackling the mine workers 21 Okla. Ark. Texas 25 19 Ky Tenn.
efforts at laying the foundations for Lewis, time after time, along with the possibilities for the fight against the who use the issue to make political The keynote of the administration was Socialism. Gerry Allard, mover of re Official family, attempted to excuse the capitalist offensive and for relief.
capital, for the pursuit of personal am23 Western Ky. 52 In naming the organizations to the bitions. From time to time the press sounded in the beginning of the convenoslution, delivered a powerful attack young miners who attacked the admintion when Phillip Murray, International 30 Kentucky 25 Missouri against the Lewis regime in refusing to istration as young. Inexperienced militant individuals and units of which records their plous hypocrisy. The latVice President, made the joint report of 31 West Va.
14 recognize the Soviet Government Dele they will change their minds in due he appealed, Mooney placed wuarely est to come to our attention is the rethe three standing officials. lengthy 2168 gate Mische, District of the Anthracite, time. This healthy representation was upon their shoulders the responsibility port in the Times of February 13 report covering a pamphlet of 83 pages, supported the resolution and opptered a ray of great hopes. The forces within of uniting in a movement for his release of resolutions demandng that Governor Total 6484 the keynote was stabilization of the the committee report. Secretary the mining Industry, as well as in the In the list were all the Communist Rolph pardon Thomas Mooney Immecoal mining industry by Federal Govern. have a single tax paying member in the ion of the administration charged the lines sharply before the miners, especial Defense. It was obvious, although Representative by those despicable dem do not Treasurer Kennedy, in volcing the opin entire capitalist order, threw the class groups including the International Labor dlately. Introduced into the House of ment regulation in order to assure the local unlons they represent!
coal operators a fair return on their Soviet government of assisting the capily those active young men who dared Mooney did not say so, that he meantagogues from New York State, La GuarInvestments and to abolish the cut a total membership, 31, 368 dues paying the United Mine Workers of America convention.
Illinois had 285 delegates representing talist class in this country to destroy to voice protest in terrorized. packed the and the to take the dia and Sirovich.
Enitiative in launching and organizing! In the lull in the fight created by the throat competition especially in the cen. District No. Pennsylvania hud 131 and the offical labor movement. Allard The United Mine Workers of America such a movement. Mooney pumphlet inactivity of the Communists, the Molitral competitive nelds. The woes and delegates with 45, 643 paying members. challenged Kennedy to submit the evi has completed another great betrayal exposing the betrayals of Schauenbergers Defense Committee, the aut sufferings of the miners was secondary District No. 31 West Va. had 125 dele dence that the Soviet government had under the rule of Lewis. Lewis, the and Co. who received the undivided sup others are 18y propagating the illusin and almost forgotten.
The officers report mentions unemployDistrict Pa. had 61 delegates with he knew how, but no evidence was forth forms the role of agent provocateur, de sates with 2168 tax paying members. done so. Kennedy splurted to the best mouthpiece of the capitalist class per port of the of bureaucracy, and that a boycott of California gouda can still do, left no doubt that he did not force Mothey release. When the sun mnent, but they are so reactionary that 32, 403 tax paying members.
they even fear unemployment insurance, No. Pa. had 86 delegates with 1, 183 the resolution nined attention, received tant workers to prison, stifles District coming. In spite of a predicted defeat, portation agent, assists to raflroad mill look to these gentry to build and lead a erant peddler of confusion, Marcus Graunion fighting movement. Nor could it be ham, of the can persuade a as a step forward in alleviating unem tax paying members ployment. However, the pressure of appalause and a substantial vote but progress in the mining fields. The Left reasoned that he had any confidence in group of militant miners like the Stauneven a packed convention forced the simon pure, loyal unionist suffer un the Committee report.
Quite a contrast. Yet some of the the aye and nay note was cast against wing forces in the mining industry that the futilitarians, or the other ton Miners Educational Body to unantissue on them and they were compelled der the illusions that Lewis and his are slowly but surely molding their et groups enumerated in his call, including mously adopt a resolution for a boycott to accept unemployment insurance in the machine may bow to majority decision mittee made report camouflaging the speedily. The rank and file of the Unl On Unemployment Insurance the comforts together must fulfill their tasks the simon pure legal men of the social of California products as a means of records of their report and to include and voluntarily abdicate when ist party leadership. Their record of in getting Mooney out of fall it is only be capacity. spinelessness and betrayal cause these fighting miners have been The remainder of the officers report 18 ate all too clearly: It further proof be and file delegate asked the it in the general program of the union ority so destres. The above facts indices by stating the International Exted Mine Workers of America, the NaA rank tional Miners Union and the West Vir shouted too loudly against the suppost made easy prey by their coafusion and merely a repetition of a typical of needed, that only by a strongly organized what they were going to Investigate efforts under a clear, uncorrupted, dem committee ginis Miners disgust with the Joo Tome an. Bill Union, must unite their tion of their conducting a fight. unton. Class collaboration, quota determined Left wing can tho unton below tamo unemployed worker dies ofocratie leadership and pave the way to task of issuing a call to build the mover The organization to whom fell the Geherts.
Finally it must be remembered that tions from famous letters from the great cleaned of such rubbish. That implies hunger? The Committee reports the rehabilitation and rejuvenation of ment was the Mr. Hoover, more mechanization. great tenacious struggle and united efforts of was to be expected, was concurred in by the miners struggles, carrying the fighti September the Daily Worker issued ality stunt has not yet been reached. Gov.
On the fifth of the last act in the Walker Rolph publleer efficiency, etc. etc.
all who are ready to fight for a clean the packed bunch of profesional hand on a higher revolutionary program of Call for United Action. Mooney lett Rolph, who has reserved judgment on The most sorrowful expression of the union.
convention was the islantic retreat the The National Miners Union in a state clappers that infested the conclave. unionism. With the many odds against the no choice. He asked for a Walker plea, is sitting back waiting to meners union has taken in the last tenment to the convention charges that the resolution from Royalton, Illinois, such a movement, unification of the genuine united front. The see what pressure the working class will ministration of Lewis has diminished in from the unorganized helds were and president of the International Union Islon on account of personal or factional The united front projected by the can lease. His reply is due soon. If no strength, Influence and confidence so bad picked, balted with whiskey, no elections The officialdom assailed the resolution preference is the weapon that the bosses had two principal defects. The confer working class pressure is forthcoming.
it it was a piece of coal and their agents will further use to ences were to be called for the release he will find that Mooney release is not become the capitalist and their agents to convention for the Lewis machine. That operators work or Communist propastarve the working class luto submission of Tom Mooney and Warren Bilings, the to be considered.
ganda. August Hoffman, young mill. The fight against the misleadership of Harlan Miners and Scottsboro Negro Working class pressure can force him to Confirmed by the fact that Secretary of The first day session of the convention tant mine leader of Illinois attacked the United Mine Workers of America and other class war prisoners. As The don Mooney. The time is short in which boys. Imperial Valley strike leaders find the necessary legal pretext to parLabor Doak and President Hoover re was marked by a sharp division of forces. Lewis for his betrayals for many years goes on. It will continue in spite of all Militant remarked on September 12. to build a fighting working class movefused to give Lewis a conference, with red mainly by the Illinois insurgents. and asked that Lewis resign. However, the enemies of the coal miners.
the coal operators of the Central Com Some 222 opposition votes were counthe pointed out that he undersotood in It is obvious that a united front movement. But it is not too late if we begin ment for Mooney would be recreant in at once. This the should do, petitive field, due to the fact that a ed by the Lewis tellers. DELEGATE.
This the beginning that it never would be comwild cat strike had taken place in south is far from correct. Whole rows of op plied with. The chair later reprimanded Indianapolis, Ind. Feb. 10, 1932 its duty if it failed to conduct a strug. What is needed is a genuine united ern Illinois where the United Mine position delegates were left out from gle also for the other class war fighters. front, from which the Communists have Workers and the operators had a con. the count. This, however, was the larg.
But in this specific campaign, the whole nothing to lose and everything to gain.
tract point is missed by falling to concentrate The decline and defeat of the United Lewis machine. It remained fairly well est opposition vote cast against the the whole issue around Mooney as the For this united front every party memoutstanding symbol of the capitalist sys. lber, every member of party oranizaMine Workers of America can well be intact throughout the entire convention.
summarized by the following facts and voting against practically every propostem of anti working class frame upation sould raise his voice. Protest Conference of Workmen Because of lack of space, it is impos But for the Stalinists bureanfigures. STAMM.
Year Membership al that the administration brought for Circle Branches was held on Sunday. sible to go into details of the organization cratic complacency and prestige is all!
1901 198, 024 was formed a Left wing group. few ino, 142 Second Avenue, New York Cits of the readers of The Militant who can lumping it with half a dozen other is Letter From Our Class 1911 250, 256 allies from the outlying fields were join This conference was called by an Initt read Jewish will find a very elaborate sues. 1921 442, 057 ed. However, the terror and persecu ative Committee, organized by the fol article on that subject in the second is the united 1931 152, 148 The second mistake in tion of the Lewis administration was lowing branches of the Workmen clrsue of Unser Kamf. Here we will ex. front outlined by the call was its apWar Prisoners less last so brutal that greater numbers were cle: 16, 34, 368, 386, 417. 637 and 656. plain the position of the Lovestoneftes pal not to organizations to join with ten years 289, 900 prevented from joining forces. Notably, We were committed to prison WedThe purpose of the conference as ex in the in brief.
Let us see how this great retreat un among those who led a militant Left wing plained in the call. was. To discuss the The Lovestoneites, still believing that rank and file members of the to get in. We see each other in the litthe D. but to individuals the neantay 17th. It took us the whole day coal producing fields. In the year 1921 delegates Gerry Allard, August Hof scab disease problem in the and they are the Majority Group of the the working class members of the tle prison yard every day for two hours: the of had 385, 724 dues payman, Lawrence Lamb, Borell, of be together with the other white prisoners.
the passive attitude of the present leat party, at the time of the split of the socialist party, etc. It was to ing members in the bituminons districts inois, Delegates Schuster, Mische, of crabip of the towards seab mem. engineered by the party, sup a recruiting drive disgused as a united Have also been given work together. of the United States and Canuda. For Pennsylvania and a few other elements bers. The same statement also intersported and participated in the splitting front from below. They obst nately per am told that no days oft are allowed on the six months ending June 1, 1981 there with a socialistic tinge. Outside of that the problem of change of leadership of the Shortly afterwards they sisted in a masquerade which fools no sentences under one year. We receive is merely 52, 723 average tax paying mem. the above mentioned elements, the con such must be proletarianized.
that realized that those that followed the body!
the common treatment accorded all combership in the 28 bitumionus districts of vention was dominated by two rival recall of the party will not support Love On the negative side, there is much mon prisoners, no special privileges, Polthe continent. In other words there reactionary factions. The Illinois faction, 150 delegates, representating 75 brane stone. In a hurry, they made a fast to record. The Opposition, pursuant to itical prisoners are rather a novelty main less than 14 of the former tax embracing scores of honest, rank and Alees, participated in the conference. The on. Back, with lightning speed to the its polley of opposing Moonep ap here. There are however a few sympath paying membership retreat of 86 delegates, fought all through the con majority of the delegates came from New became their motto. Since then, Deal (Militant, Sept. 5th. sent a dele izers.
of its former strength! The United vention for home rule. The Left neers York City ad New Jersey State. few the Lovestoneites everywhere travelled gation to the united front confer We will get a.
Mine Workers Journal tells us that in supported them on every progressive is came from Philadelphia Pa. Boston and with Mghtning speed to the Right SolenceDespite the fact that the com will inquire about Daily Worker sub Springfield, Mass.
also in the some of the unorganized fields wages sue.
But here, in the The very meagre prison library can sup are as low as 50 per day and 14e per The injunction secured by the former If we take into consideration the unw. they were not received with open ply only trash and some classics. There ton, for nine to ten hours work. district President of the Illinols miners favorable conditions which the Initiative arms as in the or Pater charlatanism was demonstrated by the is no book by any Russian writer: The further shown by the West Virginia sit against the arbitrary revocation order especially without a press, the Confer. t find a reason leadership could Lovestoneltes by the introduction of the rule is, think, that books may be sent The retreat of the organization can be Harry Fishwick, and still enforced Committee had to contend with, and son. The Right wing why they should re second resolution. In this resolution, only from the publisher and then must reuation. In 1921 the union had an aver of the International Union, was the ence was a success. It has proven again cognize them. But despite all the noise the Conference protests against Baskin, main here will see more about it. It age tax paying membership divided in 595 local unions. In 1981 upsix days. wide range was given in Left policy of splitting the workmen attitude of the Freiheit towards them, addresses to the initiative Committee works, as things do under capitalism, It is an expenuntil June 1, we have 40 dues paying the discussion where Illinois delegates Circle (which was also supported by tw boosting them through attacking them at the same time giving it to a Mr. very hard on the poor.
members from seven feeble local unions. clashed with the supporters of the In the Lovestoneites) and leaving the work very day in the Freiheit, they have not Feinberg, who sends out an appeal for sive matter.
Have no concern on our part personThe role of Van Bittner the chief re ternational Union. Fist fights broke outers in that organization at the mercy of only not gained organizationally, but an Anti Soviet paper and slanders the have lost influence, membership and Soviet Union.
ally. We are well and in good spirits presentative of the United Mine Work in the ponvention on one occasion the lendership.
ers of America in West Va. and the when the Seargeants at arms attempted The response to the call has shown the even in circulation of their paper. They The purpose of this resolution was to we see each other every day you know.
right hand man of John Lewis on the to drag out of the convention, John correctness of the Leninist position are making a desperato attempt to get dampen the protest of the radical dele, Not at all downhearted. We miss our International Executive Board, has long Hindmarah, of Springfield, II. sell against splits which he has so profound a foothold somewhere ready to pay gates against the rejection by the Love freedom and contacts with the movement been proven notorious. William Fos. claimed socialist and for years figure 1y exponded in his pamphlet, Left Sick any price for it. In the Worl. men Cir stone group of every progressive re personally, but we know it is for a comwho cie, they try to utilize the present dis solution, as. recognition of the Soviet paratively short while only. We are Unemployment, Trade Union proud to be here as political prisoners: poluts out to the workers that. Van ful attempt of the International officers were sympathetic towards the left wing satisfaction in order to force a deal on Union, we change Bittner is coal operators best assur ordering the ejecting of Hindmarsh so movement, refused to split away, because the so called opposition (which iy only Unity, etc. introduced by the delegates. not for a moment would ance that the coal miners of that state stirred the convention that the Anthrac of their healthy Instinct against sulits a Right wing etique fighting loe power. They wanted to smuggle in the word places for that of the hosts of bought will not be organized. The figures ofite and illinois delegates joined forces in the labor ranks. Then again the ob Is It any wonder that under such lead Soviet Union and make their few fol souls and cravens, outside; and the sabthe most recent betrayals by Bittner in defeating the attempts of kicking ective conditions of the last few years, ership the Caference showed its pollowers believe that this is a resolution otagers of working class nity. One thing news of the outside, partiprove this adequately. Later on we Hindmarsh out of the convention. The as unemployment, the successes in the itical impotence. The Initiative Connit for recognition of the Soviet Union. The we want is will deal with the West Virginia situa nighting determination of the insurgent Soviet Union, have changed the mind of tee showed an utter lack of understand result was that the Right wingers would cualrly of the movement. The comrades tlon more thoroughly. This particular delegates was so great that fear struck a great many workers in those organiza ing of the problems confronting the t agree to be fooled in such a manner can do that. We are considerably hamsection of the coal mining industry is to the hearts of the reactonaries. This had tions. These workers are now vintly membership of the They haven and left the Conference. The progres pered in sending out mall but can reday the most important and the pivot a great effect in stopping any further opposed to the course of the present even understood the real character of sive delegates are still in the dark and celve all letters sent us. Tell us, com of all union movements.
Inspite of these figures which are desent with the attacks on delegates who dared to dis. leadership in the trade unions; their the scab problem in the They cannot explain how such a conference rades, about the dressmakers strike (the of workers could fall to take a stand local dally papers carry no news of it. almighty ruler. Aslde anti Soviet attitude, their toleration of have tried to make it a pure and sim rived from the official records of In from heated verbal clashes, coupled with seabs and employers in the lead ple scab issue, not realixing that it on such issues as Soviet Union, Unem about the Marine Defense work; the ternational Secretary Treasurer William the great one man burlesque of Johnlership was needed to lve expression to is a symptom of diseased body and ployment, Trade Unions, he opportun as you may be able of your work. Also ete. and the whole movement and also Green and Thomas Kennedy, Lewis is Lewis, no physial damage. Was re that sentiment. The call for the con that some limbs, espectally the seab This Conference, due to the continuing to pay tax on 400, 000 memcorded.
ference gave this opportunity.
and entployers group. to whom the Istle leadership has falled so far to will one of the comrades mall me a plebers in the American Federation of Laclass conscious, militant ture (post card, suppose) of Rose and The report of the Committee on Reso The Lovestoneites Play Their Role present leadership looks for support, crystallize a bor in order that he can use the voting lutions revealed that 97 resolutions of At the same time, Karl The party, in the deplorable condition will have to be amputated. Consequent element Please give our fraternal greetings of power for his own personal ambitions. different character were submitted to it finds itself because of nine years of ly, the whole movement had all the charit demonstrated that there are potential The Crodentials Committee report was the convention by various local unlons Right wing and matrist leaders. acteristics of the opportunist swamp, as. elements for the revolutionary labor solidarity to the comrades of the Marine the Credentials Committee plays is to be linots. The committeo expressing the ment now. Here a wonderful opportun concrete proposal. The not apt to give leadership to any move on perspective, no plan not single movement, who care for consistent Defense.
Our best of comradely greetings. Coursure that enough delegates are packed political line of the administration re lity is given the Loevstoneltes to per proposals in the resolution by the ing within the labor mass organizations that will give Lewis an overwhelming Sected scores of progressive resolutions form their historie role. They drag conference were taken from other resoluthe revolutionary movement be able age and cheer for a good stiff fight from: majority. The job is done very crudely, Resolutions on the six hour day and the this movement into the swamp of options.
to give leadership to the labor movement Your Comrades, but it is put over convention after con Ave day week, bank to bank, Unemploy portunism.
The crasgest example of opportunistic GOODMAN AND MORGENSTERN Lovestonites in the Workmen Circle III