Eradicating Radicals

" I now ask that you remove your carcasses without the door," said John L. Lewis, President of the United Mine Workers at the Scranton Convention of coal miners. He was addressing three "communists" who sat in the gallery.

Mr. Lewis' request was the climax--or almost the climax--of an attempt to rid the union of communists masquerading under various titles: " The Progressive International Committee of the United Mine Workers of America," " The Trades Union Educational League" and others. Previously in an official statement the United Mine Workers denounced these groups as their arch enemies--the creatures of William Z. Foster.

As the Scranton Convention was closing, a delegate rose and displayed a leaflet distributed by the radicals. Mr. Lewis asked to have it sent to the platform. He took it and began to speak--earnestly but not heatedly. This " scurrilous sheet," he said, was printed on good paper and in excellent style--showing no expense had been spared. The communists who circulated it at night were "industrial buzzards." William Z. Foster was behind them, working in conjunction with Soviet Russia. Among those who were spreading the propaganda were Joseph Manly (son-in-law of Foster), his wife and G. P. McCarthy.

The delegates looked to the rear of the gallery, where two men and a woman were seated apart.

Mr. Lewis raised his voice addressing the three: " Permit the United Mine Workers to carry on their deliberations by themselves without any interference by you. And now I ask you that you remove your carcasses without the door."

Uproar broke out among the delegates. The three in the gallery started hastily to depart. A hatless crowd of delegates ran after them. Cooler heads tried to calm them, but a pugnacious Irishman knocked down Manley. Someone tumbled McCarthy over a hedge, and for a moment there was a general melee. Then newspaper men interfered and the radicals ran for safety.