The Daily Worker Newspaper, January 14, 1924, Page 3

January 14, 1924 THE DAILY WORKER BANKERS’ GRIP TIGHTENS ON U.S. FARMERS States in Central, West Scene of Suffering (Special to “The Daily Worker’) WASHINGTON, D. C.—The United States Department of Agriculture has just completed @ special inquiry into the conditions of the farm Population in the 15 corn and wheat producing states, The survey shows that more than 8%% of the owner farmers in 15 corn and wheat producing states lost their farms with or without legal process between 1920 and the spring of 1923. Besides, more than 15% of the owners were in fact temporarily insolvent but held on through the Many Lose Their Farms, leniency of their creditors, The investigation shows that in this area, the upper Mississippi valley, 2800 owner farmers lost their farms through foreclosures or bankruptcy, 8,000 lost their farms without legal process, and 10,400 farmers held on erat the leniency of their credi- 03 rs. Of 26,000 tenant farmers in the area covered, 1,900, or more than 7%, lost their property through for- mal proceedings, 2,000, or more than 7%, lost their property without legal formality; and 5,500, or more then 21%, were spared such losses only thru the leniency of their creditors. At Creditors’ Mercy Applying the percentage of losses obtained in this inquiry, to the 1920 census figures for owners and tenants in the states covered, it is estimated that out of a total of 2,289,000 own- ers and tenant farmers more than 108,000 lost their farms or their prop- erty through foreclosure or bank- ruptey; over 122,000 lost their prop- erty without legal proceedings, and nearly 373,000 retained their prop- erty merely through the leniency of creditors. The loss of farms by owners was relatively more numerous in Montana, North Dr’.ota, Colorado, and South Dakota. In the East North Central States, the farmers were not so hard hit, Losses of property by tenants were also relatively more numerous in the western states. Russians ‘Want to Learn. MOSCOW.—The Workers of Mos- cow wants to learn foreign languages. There has been such a demand for instruction in German, English, and French, that a special eommission ‘was appointed in November to fom mulate plans to meet the need. The commission has been inves- tigating among workers’ clubs and adnratinnal aivalan and je vacde ta my sewmsae, Council of Trade sian Com Commissa: nions, the Ri conducted by the COOP, German Miner from various All-Russian it Party, the People’s for Education. Frank Fowler, official spokesman movement now developing between th: ments of our time, That the artificial barriers creat fast disappearing before the hammer body who follows the rapid growth of this tendéncy toward a farmer-labor alliance against the capitalists who fatten on the sweat of the producers, Farmers’ Importance Grows When O. L, Stanley, president of the Lake County Central Labor Union, addressed the Chicago Federa- tion of Labor, Jan. 6, with a message from the milk farmers requesting per- mission to organize a union and unite with the milk handlers’ organizations, one could not help linking up this in- cident with the farmer rebellion in the great northwest against the capi- talist political parties, the organiza- tion of the Federated Farmer-Labor Party in Chicago on July 3rd and the inspiration it gave to this movement, The importance of the farmer as a factor in the American revolutionary movement is growing daily. His economic deterioration is proceeding at a pace that is nothing less than startling. It is now reaching the point where the farmers implore the bankers to take their farms and let them work on them for wages. The present milk strike is more significant than a mere struggle be- tween the distributors and the pro- ducers. Its resemblance to a labor union struggle is so striking that even the terminology is similar. You hear such words as “solidarity,” “united front,” “picketing,” fall from the lips of the farmer strike leaders, The industrial worker fights an at- tempt on the part of the boss to re- duce his wages or the price at which he sells his labor power. The milk farmer produces milk, It is his 'means of making a living. He must sell it a certain price in order to make a living; that is, pay all the expenses |involved in producing the milk and leave something over to feed, clothe and shelter himself and his depen- dants. Who Gets the Profits? And just like the industrial boss, the distribyters who sell milk to the city dwellers seek to eut down the price to the predugers to as low a level as possible. The, lower he cutsit, the higher his profits mount. But a reduction in price to the proditzer is not passdd along te the consumer. No, it is passed along to the distri-|© butor in more profits which means more automobiles, pigerure yachts and other luxuries. If the interests of the working farmers and the city wovlawe ave wat indantionl they ara cn as| close to being 80 that there is no f in it—for the farmer. Us- Milk Farmers’ United Front with the City Workers Is Held To Be Significant Development The city worker sells his labor power to a boss and when he finds no boss he faces starvation. The working farmer has for the Milk Producers of Lake County, an organization representing approximately 20,000 milk farmers in an interview given to The Daily Worker declared that the united front e milk producers of Lake County and the organized workers of Chicago is one of the most significant move- ed between rural and city labor are blows of necessity is apparent to any- cS ack ate, And bidet At a piece of land to play with. But the banker holds the mortgage, the dis- tributor controls the price of his pro- duct and the farmer is left holding the bag, which is empty. That is the situation told in homely terms. The milk farmers were re- ceiving $3.70 per hundred pounds for their. milk until 1920. Since then they have been compelled to accept a cut of 25 per cent bringing the price down to $2.75 a hundred pounds. But you say “surely this is where the consumer got his.” Yes,’ in the neck, Every time the con- sumer raised a quart of milk to his lips it cost him 14 cents the same price he paid when the farmer was getting $3.70 instead of $2.75. The cost of living went up since for the milk profiteers, so they need more profits. What better justification do they need in capitalist society? If: you think that farmers and workers have any rights you had better buy another pipe, you are dreaming. 21 Per Cent Profit. And now about profits. Secretary Rushkewicz of the City Cost of Living Committee, stated that as a result of his committees investigation they ar- rived at the conclusion that the dis- tributors now charging 14 cents a quart for milk could sell the lacteal fluid for 13 cents and STILL MAKE A 21 PER CENT PROFIT. Chicago distributors are a particu- larly greedy aggregation of profiteers, The following table published by the Federated Press shows how the price paid to the producers by distributors in other large American cities and the price to the consumer, compared. with Chicago: Producers’ Retail price per price per 100 Ibs. quart San Francisco ..... $3.11 $0.14 Denver ..... 2.60 12 Washington . 3.72 15 Louisville , 2.87 13 Baltimore . 3.42 13 Boston ., 4.32 15% Detroit ..... 3.00 13 Paul... « 290 432 Louis - 3.00 13 New York . - 8.25 16 Milwaukee 3.00 11 hieago . 2.75 14 The cost to.the farmer of produc- ing the milk, wcording to the Pearson formula, amounts to $2.86 a hundred pounds allowing the farmer only 40 cents an hour for his work. This ‘un | formula was accepted by the fede: who are now insisting on a price $2.60 a hundred were members. COME TO THE MONSTER MASS MEETING which will open the New York CAMPAIGN FOR RELIEF OF GERMAN WORKERS Friends of Soviet Russia and !Workers’ Germany (Committee for International Workers’ Aid leges. : The distributing *,| ready get the lion's sumer’s dollar. corporations Out of every its paid by a mother for a quart S\other dealers gets 7.8 cents whi the farmer only gets 5.9 cen Freight charges absorb the remaini: , | four-fifths of a eent. * | Chicago high cost of livin ¢|to at least 3% cents a quart after * | tribution have been paid. %|to the people of Chicago. $14,500,000, The Executive Board of the C! Siof Labor, The distributors expr %\tinue the fight until victory rests #|their banners, The milk barons are ER UNION SUNDAY, JAN. 20, AT 2 O’CLOCK P. M. Prominent Speakers; FRANK P. WALSH; Kurt Klaeber, the Ruhr; Alexander ‘Trachten- berg, recently returned from Germany; ELIZABETH GURLEY FLYNN; Ludwig Lore, Chairman, ADMISSION: 25 CENTS Committee for International Workers’ Aid (aT £ | sending out inspired statements to the press to the effect that an agreement is about to be effected but as they stand pat on their proposal for a duction from $2.75 to quits. And it look as if the farm are not quitters. George E. Pashas Gordon’s High 1259 S. Halsted St. We are open late at night. Eat Where All Friends Meet Grade Restaurant and Oriental Kitchen VISIT OUR CLUB DINING ROOM We also cater to banquets and parties CHICAGO 2426 Lincoln Avenue The radicals of the North-West Side are buying their books and periodicals from CESHINSKY’S CONERIREEY BOOK STATIONERY STORE 2720 W. DIVISION ST. milk commission of which the dealers It is recognized as a cerrect basis of price determination by the U. S. govern- “iment as well as by agricultural col- share of the con- bee *| milk, Bowman & Co,, or any of the Sec’y. Joseph Rushkewicz of the 4 committee % | says that the dealer’s profits amounts %|costs in the way of bottling and dis- ; In other’ words milk dealers are %|making approximately $40,000 a day *\off the 1,120,000 quarts distributed This would mean annual profits running to over %|cago Federation of Labor in its ses- %\sion of Jan. 9, voted to recommend *|the affiliation of the Lake County »|farmers to the American Federation optimism as to the result and the milk ?|farmers express determination to con. 2.60 per hun- dred pounds and the farmers stand pat for the current rate, no peace is in sight until one side or the other We Bake Our Own Pies One-balf block from Imperial Hall U, S, DREYFUS CASE IN TRIAL OF CAPT, HIBBEN Dangerous Boomerang Looms from Attack BY FREDERICK KUH (Stall Correspondent of the Federated Press and “The Daily Worker”) NEW YORK — The government’s attempt to expel Capt. Paxton Hib- ben, Officers’ Reserve Corps, from the army promises to become a dangerous boomerang. Hibben is undergoing trial by special board of officers on ghangee of advoeating a policy toward Russia different from the official at- titude of the state department. Facts disclosed at the first hearings at Governor's Island, New York, un- der the presidency of General Bul- lard, show that the resources and files of the U. S, military secret service are being abused for private propa- ganda purposes, Official secrets of the military intelligence department are being placed at the disposition of ordinary civilians who have an anti- Russian ax to grind. This is causing bitter indignation. Liberalism Only Crime. Hibben’s affair threatens to rival the historic Dreyfus scandal, which was originally intended to ruin an innocent officer and ended by dis- crediting the French government and French statesmen, Because of his liberal views, fellow army officers testify, his mail was reg- ulerly opened and read by army spies. When he served with the Near East Relief in Armenia and Russia and later came here to beg congress to appropriate funds for famine relief in Russia he was leoked on as a dan- gerous man, In a statement to The Federated Press, Hibben contended that holding a commission in the Reserve Corps does not deprive the officer of his right as an American citizen to dis- agree with the policy of the adminis- tration or criticize cabinet officers other than the secretary of war. In reply to one of the charges levelled against him, namely that he had placed & wreath upon the grave of ohn Reed, American journalist and Communist, Hibben said he and Reed had been college friends and had worker together as war correspon- dents. That act, he said, was purely personal. Hibben Visited Russia. In 1922, Hibben visited Russia ‘as a member of an unofficial commission of five, and compiled a report, de- seribing the gradual economic revival of Russia, the growing strength of the soviet regime, and recommending j measures of American relief for the «. avhnet Teg ral or attack on al- | ‘anti-red révelations.” Be made at ile ts. ng [With ‘the Transeri ’ Your Union Meeting Every local listed in the official di- rectory of the CHICAGO FEDERA- TION OF LABOR will be published under this head on day of meeting free of charge for the first month, afterwards our rate will be as fol- lows: Monthly meeting—$3 a year one line once a month, each additional line, 15¢ an issue, Semi-monthly meetings — $5 a year one line published two times a month, each additional line 13¢ an issue. Weekly meetings—$7.60 a year one line a week, each additional line 10¢ an issue, SECOND MONDAY, JAN. 1éth No. Name of Local and Place of Meeting. 625. Boiler Makers, 5324 S. Halsted St. Brewery Workers’ Joint Ex. Bdé., 1700 W. 2ist Bt. 535 Firemen and Enginemen, 5438 3, Hal- sted St, 8 a, m. 1714 Gardeners’ and Florists, Neidog's Hall, le, Hil i 4 Structural Iron Workers, 916 W. Monree 81 Butchers, Hebrew, Road. Cap Makers, 4003 Roossevelt Road. Carpenters, 4039 W, Madison St. Carpenters, 2040 W. Nerth Ave, Carpenters, S. C., 924 and Commercial it. 3420 W. Reosevelt Ave. Carpenters, 8. 8. 22 C., 505 S. State St. C., 1457 Clybourn Ave, N, West St, Wauke Carpenters, 2040 W. North Ave. Cigar Markers’ Ex, Bd., 166 W, Wash- ington St., 7:30 p. m, Retail Clerks, Van Buren and Ashland, Longshoremen, 355 N. Clark St, Railway Clerks, 165 W. Madison St. Signalmen, 2100 W. Switchmen, 323 Collins St., Telegraphers (R. R.), 426 E, ‘Typographical, Engineers, 4643 % Engineers, 311 8. Ashland Ave. Engineers, 180 W. . ’ Garment, 328 W. Van Buren St, 725 3. Western Ave, 3316 W. North Ave, 8. California, Cor, Madison Painters, 111th and Michigan Ave. Painters, 2432 8. Kedzie Ave. Sailors’ Union of Great Lakes, 355 N, Clark St. (Note—Unless. otherwise stated all meetin are at 8 p. m.) The Daily Worker for a month free to the first member of any local union ver took exception tc Hibhen's find- ings, because Hoover was determined to retain control of all American re- lief and to dictate what American opinion towards Russia should be. Two days after Hibben’s return the Boston Transeript published a violent jim in the course of its Striking|enough, the “disclosures” i recent session of the board of oficers, now deciding wheth- er Hibben should be ousted from the army, coitpide in every vital detail aterial published in the sending in change of date or place of meeting of locals listed here, Please watch for your local and if not listed let us know, giving time and place of meeting so we can keep this daily announcement complete and up to date. On Tuesday of every week we ex- pect to print display announcements of local unions. Rates will be $1 an inch, 50¢ for half an inch card, Take this matter up in your next meeting. Your local should have a weekly dis- play card as well as the running an- nouncement under date of meeting. Amalgamation means strength! Aid Ruthenberg Appeal. With the announcement that the appeal of C. E. Ruthenberg, Com- munist leader indicted under the Michioan criminal svndicalism law. is soon to be heard by the Supre: | Court of that state, labor organi: fense. The latest A check signed by Louis Defense Council this week. Council reports that to be financed in proper fashion, The Land for the Users! all hi- Our s ess on Proclamation » Te doug i lar a £4 | -190 nut, designed” by eo ‘mals wil be fered A Te {te public at reduced. pies ana rl dicarder hee a di tons ritiesawd pedi nod ie Te gourd ab ‘tired the Heep tie Moon. home $83 Tush St. Sri le and . Ay pail Correction Ta Room Tal. Doyt pbl inf FOR PITTSBURGH, PA. DR. RASNICK, DENTIST Expert for 20 Years Shuffling « Dancing sH- lon, nits 'Divdfons: 6h nem ate a thasyeen (ul before you.go To our tea~ {Poom. after’ midnight; When yu return Demeey ta bed. Dental 1627 Center Cor. Arthur S| tions of all sorts and all tendenci are again moving to aid the de- rdroreecrcectnteententetentecteteeeteeteto eestor Soeeedentedtee pee ego Seedeedoonteetoeseedontendoettegendoateatoetneteniretoagos ee 4 organization to be heard from is the Workmens Circle Loan Association of St. Paul, Minn. j Levi, Pres- ident, was received by the Labor The additional funds are needed if the appeal is Withon German Worers ARE STARVING | HELP Establish an American Soup Kitchen in Germany as an expression of INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY with Germany’s workers. $500 initial outlay and $2,000 monthly will open and support an American Soup Kitchen in Germany. Famine Relief Without Conditions Famine Relief Without Political i Discrimination and Workers’ Germany. 32 So. Wabash Ave., Chicago, Illinois. Enclosed find $. to help open an American Soup Kitchen in Germany as an expression of International Selidar- ity with the STARVING WORKERS, THEIR WIVES AND CHILDREN. I pledge myself to sell...........meal coupons at 10c each weekly for the maintenance of the Kitchen. Send me a meal coupon book (Yes or No?)..... svi -Hiternational Wirkegs’ A.., Seroroesesoooossoesonedooonoosooenosesgooosososoonegs OED () CRED () ED) EEEED () GUEEED 0) GRD () ame; UNDERWOOD TYPEWRITER CO. Inc. 37 South Wabash Avenue Randolph 4680 CHICAGO, ILLINOIS The City Central Committee of the Bay ny Calif., ch pt ye locals in San Francisco, Oakland, and Berkeley, greets THE DAILY WORKER wi the hope that it may become a tremen- dously important factor in helping to build ps the Communist movement among the American working masses. Patronize our Advertizers \