The Daily Worker Newspaper, February 16, 1924, Page 1

THE DAILY WORKER RAISES: THE STANDARD FOR A WORKERS’ AND FARMERS’ GOVERNMENT VOL. I. No. 341. U. S. Scandal Makes Britons For BRITAIN IS FACED BY GIANT TIEUP One Million Dockers Threaten Strike Today (Special to The Daily Worker) LONDON, Feb. 15.—One mil.ion deck workers prepared today to quit work tomorrow and tie up every port in the United Kingdom unless a last minute settlement cancels the strike order. Scenes at the huge docks of the port of London at daybreak were of unprecedented activ-, companies | ity, as shipping speeded efforts to clear cargoes before the impending paralysis of transports should set in. Seek to Break Deadlock, Dock workers- executives and em- ployers were in conference seeking to break the deadlock that has ex- isted since Feb, 1. ,. The threatened strike is national in scope. It was voted ata meeting of national delegates representing the Transport and General Workers’ Union, (300,000 members) the Na- tional Union of General Workers (443,000), the National Amalga- mated. Labor United — - General Lal (150,000), Amalgamated Society of Enginemen, Motormen, Electricians, ete., (40,000) and other similar or- ganizations. Demand Wages Restored. The men’s complaint is that ‘wages, since 1920, have fallen from 16 shillings a day in the large ports and 15 shillings a day in the small ports, to 10 shillings and 9 shillings respectively. They ask reversion to the former rates and a guaranteed week. In the larger British ports today ‘there are more workers than jobs. Consequently the men line up at dawn and a foreman picks in order the number he needs for the day. LADIES’ GARMENT WORKERS GETTING READY TO STRIKE “Take Back Expelled Membership,” Demand A strike committee of seven has been elected by local 100, comprising the Dress and Skirt Makers’ of the International Ladies Garment Work- ers’ Union, to set a date for a twalkout in Chicago, if the final over- tures made by the union to the bosses are rejected. Strike talk along Market Street had filled Wicker Park Hall, with local 100 members who manifested an intense interest in the possible battle against the arrogance of the employers who have flatly refused to discuss any change in the present unsatisfactory agreement which ex- pires on Monday, February 18. Report was made upon efforts to secure additional concessions from the organized employers, who are only a small section of the trade. Employers are to be classified in three groups; firstly, eleven large firms that organized in an associa- tion which had signed the expiring agreement; secondly, forty or fifty firms which had signed agreements individually with the union and third- ly, the non-union shops. ... Union Overtures Rejected. After letters warning of the ex- piring agreement had been sent to the first and second groups, the first group’s association representatives and attorney had held two confer- ences with the International Ladies’ Garment Workers representatives on Feb. 8 and 13, both without results owing to the overbearing attitude of the association’s spokesmen, par- ticularly its lawyer, in refusing even (Continued on page 2.) |the so-called THE DAILY WORKER. Subscription Rates: Outside Chicago, by mail, $6.00 per year In Chicago, by mail, $8.00 per year. DEADLY MEDICINE Bgl They Say the Teapot Oil Dope Has Killed the Republican Party. Negro Workers Get Cause Before ARMY I : R N : Race Congress Despite Miller; Demand Unions Drop Color Line The Negro All-Race Assembly, or Sanhedrin, closed late last night with the Workers Party representatives winning thru HERRIN OVER TO BIG BIZ Rotarians, Babbits and Legion to Rule HERRIN,. Ill, Feb. 15.— Herrin is no longer ruled by the Ku Klux Klan. That task is now assumed by the Chamber of Commerce. Major General Milton Foreman went to Herrin ostensibly to restore law and order. What he actually accom- plished wag to organize the bankers and business men and some labor officials, whose names are kept a secret for ob- vious reasons with a view to deposing the regularly elected officials of Williamson County, and establish a dictatorship of “non-partisan” elements under the leadership of the American Legion. The work of the Ku Klux Klan was too crude. The new regime is expected to function more smoothly and effectively but more detrimental to the interests of organized labor. Young Not Arrested, The militia took no action against the Ku Klux Klan which violated the law in assuming dictatorial power in Herrin, and threw its officials in jail. §. Glenn Young, Klan brigand, was disarmed. He still remains in Wil- liamson County and tho he is in- dicted his arrest is not yet reported. | be Only one battalion of troops is now left on the scene. The Chicago Klan Volunteer Law Upholders! The decision to withdraw the troops was arrived at after Judge E. N. Bowed announced that on his own initiative he had decided to call a special grand jury on March 3rd, to fix culpability for the riots. The American Legion, Klansmen and anti- Klansmen alike, agreed to offer themselves as deputy bailiffs to the court, The business elements are stepping on each other's heels in their hurry to get on the Chamber of Commerce bandwagon. \militia men left today. Get Someone Else To Start a declaration of a campaign for removing the color line in the! labor unions still discriminating against the Negro. ‘This labor program calls for “An appeal to the American Federation of Labor for the fullest and equal recognition of Negro workers, in practice as well, as in theory,” and it de- mands that the Negro press give its full co-operation in educating Negro workers to the need of organization. Machine Revising Labor Report. At the last moment, before The DAILY WORKER went to press, it was discovered that Dean Kelly Mil- ler’s appointed committee on “Per- manent Results,” was attempting to revise the labor program and that its revision would not be submitted to the Sanhedrin. It is not believed, however, that the most important feature will be stricken out. The Workers Party educational pro- gram calling for a constitutional amendment forbidding any segrega- tion of races will be accepted in modified form by the education com- mittee, but its findings will also go before the committee for Permanent Results. Real Estate Sharks Oppose. Influence of real estate sharks of the Negro race appears to have killed the most vital clause in the workers report on housing which at- tacks the segregation evil by de- manding that all landlords be com- pelled to let their houses to the rst comer, regardless of race, at listed prices. Final copies of the resolutions as modified by the Com- mittee on Permanent Results, will inted in the next issue of The’ re LY WORKER if they are ready en, Labor Will Force Issue. Negro labor will continue to fune- tion in the All Race movement to force thru more and more of its program | for the betterment of the workers | and farmers who represent 98 i cent of the Race—however much this labor pro; Miller and the business men of the Race working with him. | Permanent organization of the Sanhedrin is being effected as this is being written, Seven men will be molocted, by the committee for per- manent results and these seven men m is opposed by Dean | will run the organization until the next Congress, Miller Represents Government. Dean Miller will sit on the tem- porary governing body of seven, so the too-respectable, negative policy is in danger of continuing until the next congress which may not be called for a year. Dean Miller’s policy is one that reflects the Negro policy of the government. He is pro- fessor of sociology at Howard Uni- versity, a government subsidized in- stitution at Washington, D. C. Work- ing with him are the most conserva- tive elements in the Race—exploiters of labor and professional men who cater to white capitalists or gain by the maintenance of the policy of seg- regation. The committee of seven will func- tion until the next congress which will be elected by all Negro organi- zations that wish to join. Each na- tional organization will be allowed five delegates, with an additional one for every 50,000 members; and state organizations will be represented at a decreased rate. The final shape of the new constitution is being worked out in committee and will be (Continued on page 2.) loan, according to oma “ahd Alt but, $200,000. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1924 <qggm $1,000,000 SLUSH FUND AIDEDLOSERS New Investigations Start; McLean Summoned (Special to The Daily Worker) WASHINGTON, Feb. 16.— Officials high in the govern- ment lost heavily in stock mar- ket plunges a year or more ago and a $1,000,000 “slush fund” was used to cover their losses, according to private informa- tion given today as a tip to the Senate committee investigating the oil reserves scandal. When the plight of the offi- cials became known to some of their friends in Wall Street, $1,000,000 is said to have been raised and transferred from a New York to a Washington bank. Relation of the $1,000,000 fund to the oil scandal is ex- pected ‘to be established by disclosures. showing that big oil men subscribed the money. This million was ist aie Meg a 1e ‘rit wis repaid A dispute over the $200,000 which still is believed unsettled caused hard) feeling between the Wall Street men who raised the money and at least one who was involved as a borrower from the fund. Thru this hard feel- ing the senate committee hopes to ferret out the truth about the trans- action. McLean to Be Grilled Edward B. McLean, millionaire Washington publisher, is reported hurrying north from Palm Beach to tell the committee whether he knows anything about the fund. A subpoena was issued for McLean and he wired | his newspaper in Washington he was leaving immediately. Some prominent New York finan- ciers, supposed to be “in to know” on everything in the street, are to be called to see if they can advance any] information. Senator Walsh, leading investi- gator, announced Otto H. Kahn and Benjamin F. Yoakum, former railroad president, would be subpoenaed. Calling of McLean created a new sensation. It was his testimony re- garding a $100,000 “loan” to Albert B. Fall which really opened up the present startling scope of the inquiry. This testimony was given at Palm Beach some weeks ago when McLean told Senator Walsh that Fall bor- rowed $100,000 in checks to buy a ranch, but three days later returned the checks uncashed and said he had arranged to get the money else- where. Fall previously had said he got the purchase price of the ranch from McLean. McLean’s story started a whole train of disclosures, including E. L. Doheny’s story of a $100,000 loan to Fall and J. W. Zevely’s story of a $25,000 Sinclair loan and gave the committee many new leads bear- ing on.the leasing of the naval re- serves. Vanderlip Present Frank A. Vanderlip, New York financier, was scheduled as the firs: OIL SCANDAL ALTERS ELECTION LINE-UP, SAYS LONDON DAILY EXPRESS LONDON, Feb. 16—The Teapot Dome disclosures have altered the whole course of the forthcomin; presidential elections in the Uni States, the Daily Express said to- day. “The situation created by the Washington scandal may have a world wide effect.” The British press today fea- tured on front pages the situation in Washington, temporarily side- tracking the labor government and its troul the impending dock strike, reparations, etc. witness before the senate Teapot Dome committee today, to tell whether information or rumor led him to say that the sale of the Marion Star by the late President Harding ought to be investigated. While the committee was question- ing Vanderlip, President Coolidge was expected to select another lawyer to succeed Silas H. Strawn, Chicago, whose nomination gas “presidential counsel” to prosecute the oi) lease cases was withdrawn late Thursday. Strawn’s nomination was withdrawn after the senate Teapot Dome com- mittee notified the president that Strawn’s connection with two Chicago “Standard Oil Banks” made his con- firmation_ impossible, Atlee Pomerene, Ohio, the other lawyer nominated, was not with- drawn, in spite of objections to him and indications from the White House (Continued on page 3) Entered as Second-class matter September 21, 1928, at the PostOffice at Chicago, Mlinois; under the Act of March 3, 1879, ey Cents Including Saturday Magazine Section. On all other days Three Cents per Copy. $$ Published Daily except Sunday by THE DAILY WORKER PUBLISHING CO., 1640 N. Halsted St., Chicago, Ilinois. OIL MEN PAID STOCK LOSSES OF OFFICIALS get Troubles By IURY LIBEDINSKY, Published by THE DAILY WORKER thru arrange- ment with B. W. Huebsh, Inc., of New York City. righted, 1923, by B. W. Huebsch, Inc. Copy- CHAPTER I. I N THE spaces of mother-of-pearl, between the piles of grey motionless clouds, the joyful sky was turning a dark blue. For three days the Spring had been sunny, the streamlets had broken thru the snowdrifts and were beginning to carry them out of the town, to the river, and the streets had become noisy and dirty. But on the fourth day the Spring dozed again, laid her head on her knees and went to sleep, sitting somewhere in a distant forest glade; and only once, before noon, the sun smiled on the earth and then went off again behind the motion- less clouds. But the joyfulness of Spring remained; only it was behind everything, just as the sun was behind the grey, blue and pallid lilac clouds which, for hours, hung over the earth like grey wet stones. If you were to climb past the railings and little houses of the outskirts, slipping in the sticky mud, to the hillock which the sun had already cleared of snow, where there is a solitary weather-beaten rock, and were then to look back, you would see below you the little town lying under the hillock, stretching all the way to the river, with its blocks of grey wooden houses There are few people to be seen; probably all asleep; dogs bark, and with the Spring the cocks are crowing loudly. On the broad streets and in the narrow lanes glimmer the remnants of the last snow. There are few big two-storied houses, but many churches. Solitary factory chimneys pour into the sky endless ribbons of black smoke, and, far beyond the town, the ash falls on the snowdrifts. Thé-sturdy; dustgray watchtower sent» out,” eke pt aes regular, one after another, five even blows into the dim silence, and, after two quiet minutes, in reply, singing sounds flew from the belfries, lingered in the air, and fell, far beyond the town in the grey mist of the villages. At this so quiet hour, when the sun, a dull-white spot, had long passed noon, people were coming together to the Circus building on the broad square. They were walking by the low railings, on the scattered snow-tracks, across the waste spaces where last year’s withered thistles stick up thru the snowdrifts, they were stepping across the street, full of the mud of Spring, and walking along the footways cut in the earth. They were hurrying, met each other, greeted each other sometimes, smiled at each other, men and women, more often young than old, in grey coats, in worn out blue and black overcoats. Different smiles, eyes, gait, manners, and yet there was something com. mon to all of them, as if one and the same distant morning sun were lighting them all. In the Circus it is quiet all day and the big grey rats slip noiselessly about the yellow twilit arena. But now the double doors, on which hung tatters of old bills and announcements, were opened wide; the mutilated words and sentences cut off short, spoke of something past and ‘gone. It was lighter now in the Circus, and the people poured into their places, rising higher and higher round the arena, and filled the huge build- ing with a suppressed noise of step and voices. Two persons appeared at the round table standing in the middle of the arena. Single voices from all parts of the Circus threw names to them, and then, by the will of hundreds of lifted hands, Comrade Klimin, a man in a soldier’s coat, whose features, but for his fine, quietly observant eyes, were indistinct in the half light of the Circus, announced from the middle of the arena: “Comrades, I declare the meeting of the Town District of the R. C. P. (Russian Communist Party) open. On the agenda list is a report of the President of the Soviet of Public Economy on the economic situation of the district. No objections? ...I call upon Comrade Ziman.” The Circus grew quieter and quieter, and the assembly of people, like a huge, grey, affectionate beast lay at the feet of the President, and its many-eyed stare was fixed upon that other, the one who was also standing in the middle of the arena, and with a nervous hand was crumpling scraps of paper. Inaudibly, dully raising his voice, on figures, poods of corn, sazhins of wood, the number of locomotives, huge sums of money, numbers of days and weeks, Ziman made his report. But all listened greedily, and all understood—the talk was of house-keeping, goods, fuel, food, and question after question, conveys of little scraps of paper, flew on to the table of the Praesidium. Ziman told how the town was far from the big main railways and connected with the rest of Russia only by a 500-verst branch line. The district was almost without forests, it had very little coal of its own, and the railway had almost ceased working. And it had been a bad: harvest, the corn-collection had taken the last, and if no seed were forthcoming at sowing time, there would be famine in town and country. Every one knew what those words meant; hunger would urge the peasantry:to senseless, violent revolt, the factories would cease working, the workmen would scatter, and the rob- ber bands who wander far off in the steppes would grow bold, approach the railway and spoil the track. To bring seed, fuel (Continued on Page 4) Booting “A WEEK In Todays lays