The Daily Worker Newspaper, April 2, 1924, Page 4

_— Page Four @HE DAILY WORKEB WORKERS PARTY URGES ALDERMEN TOPROBE POLICE Brutalities in Strike Are Cited In Statement. Calling attention to the adermanic investigation of police brutality dur- ing the great garment strike of 1915 the district organization of the Work- ers Party asked the 50 aldermen now sitting in the city council to get busy and probe the brutalities now taking place on S. Market street. The call was sent to every one of the 50 members of the city council and is accompanied by a citation of acts of violence committed by uni- formed city policemen against mem- bers of the International Ladies’ Gar- ment Workers’ Union. Police Probe Demanded. The city council has another regu- lar session tomorrow afternoon at 2 o’clock in the city hall. The Workers Party’s statement to the council members follows: TO ALL CHICAGO ALDERMEN. Sir: We are enclosing herewith a statement of brutalities com- mitted by Chicago police and hired sluggers, during the strike of the International Ladies’ Garment Workers, for your attention and consideration. We believe that such actions are a disgrace to the city aid should not be allowed to continue unchallenged, We wish to call your attention to the fact that during the strike of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers in 1915 in this city, an aldermanic investigation into the abuses of police authority conduct- ed thru public hearings, took place, with the result that the city coun- cil adopted a resolution condemn- ing the police for considering the THE PARTY AT WORK Two Organization Tasks of Our Party By C, E, RUTHENBERG, Executive Secretary, Workers Party HAT kind of a party have we? There is no doubt as to the answer to.that question from the stand- pont of principles and tactics. Our are Communist. But that does not answer the questiog fully. Can we answer that question as proudly, we are we organizationally? are a Communist Party? There are many facts which go to show that organizationally we are still far below the standard of a Communist Party. Our members do yet fully realize what Communist dicipline is and the standard of work which is expected from the members of a Communist Party. Take the question of dues pay- ments: In a party fully impregnated with a Communist spirit and disci- pline the question of regular pay- ment of dues by all members should not require special organizational action, Yet it seems that such is the case in our party. Payment of Dues. We have counted the number of members in our party as 20,000 dur- ing the past year. The actual dues payments during the last quarter of the year were about 18,000 per month. The first indication that these figures as to dues payments did not actually show the membership of the party came in the industrial reg- istration taken in November. The reports from the branches showed 25,000 members on the rolls in place of 18,000 who were paying dues. Since that time the National Office has secured more facts about the sit- uation, A new system of monthly reports from the branchés to the Dis- trict Organizers was established. The way in which the organization has responded to the call for these reports is itself a sad commentary on the necessity for efficiency within the party organizations. All party branches have been sent report cards on the first of each month. Out of strikers as their enemies, and Chief Schleuter was compelled to remove the special police from the strike zone. During these pubic hearings, which resulted in great service to the public, the police administra- tion admitted using spies within the union ranks, We are of the belief that the present situation constitutes one similar to that of the strike of 1915. We further believe that the city council should conduct a real investigation with a view of taking proper action against those who are violating their oath of office, and we urge you to use your office for this purpose. Sincerely yours, Arne Swabeck, District Organizer, Workers Party Dist. No. 8. LIST OF BRUTALITIES |, Strike busting police brutality is cited in the following statement which accompanies the letter: The assault committed by Police Officer O’Rorke, whose number is $181, on Sophie Altschuler, on the evening of Match 14th stands ont as one of the most brutal assaults on record. Sophie Altschuler was pick- eting along South Market street when arrested by Officers Patrick Collins and S@roeder, both of whom are attached to the office of the state’s attorney. Miss Altschuler was taken into the hallway of the building at 237 S. Market street, and placed in charge of Officer O’Rorke. What O’Rorke Did. While awaiting the arrival of the patrol wagon, Officer O’Rorke treat- ed Miss Altschuler with abusive lan- guage, struck her dnd began twist- ing her wrists and fingers. Miss Alt- the thirteen hundred party branches which were sent report cards on March 1, reports from 156 branches have reached the National Office. We do not know how many branches ac- tually sent in their cards to the dis- trict offices for it seems that even the District Organizers cannot fill out a simple report on the 20th of the month, eight of them having failed to send in the tabulated statement of branches reporting which the Na- tional Office requires of them. Reports Delinquent. The reports which have been re- ceived, however, throw some light upon the question of membership and dues payments. Here is a table show- ing the facts: te & e 3 s & £ 22:2) 8 3a 2 120 50 2,241 1,479 3 57 20 287 183 5 97 16 838 290 6 65 45 1,172 816 7 38 22 622 306 15 40 3 22 19 417 156 4,682 3,093 Here are 156 out of 1,300 branch- es which report 4,682 members on their rolls. If the same ratio of membership held good for the re- maining branches it would mean that | p: we have 35,000 members on our rolls. That is probably an exaggeration as the average membership per branch is lower than in the branches report- ing above. Suppose we take in place of this method of computing the membership the ratio between dues payment and members on rolls, The table shows that one-third of the members of the party do not pay their dues regularly. They are from one to three months hehind in their sehuler lost ccnsciousness for a few minutes and was later picked~ up from the floor by O’Rorke and drag- ged to the rear of the hall, with a threat that he would throw her down the flight of stairs into the cellar. Officer O’Rorke actually attempt- ed throwing ker into the cellar and was stopped only by the fact that Miss Altschuler again lost conscfous~ ness. None of the o‘ficers or plain clothes men who witnessed this dis- graceful treatment attempted to interfere. Miss Altschuler and Miss Siever were loaded into the patrol wagon and the officer in charge told those of the patrol to instruct the matron in the South Ciark street station not to book the two girls till after 6 o'clock. -It was then about 4:30 p. m. Matron Lets Her Suffer, The matron of the police station upon being called to her attention, the critical condition of Miss Alt schuler, replied that nothing ne be done for her because the skin on her head was not broken. Miss Altschuler, after being bail- ed out, was taken to the Morrison Hotel and examined by Dr. James Maltman who reported: “I attended this “aftetnoon Miss Sophie Alt- schuler who had been seriously beaten about the head and face, Her. wrists were twisted and . badly swollen.” , On the same day Fannie Yannes, 2229 Towa street,.was struck in the mouth by Officer William Hankin in front of 228 S. Market street, She was arrested on a charge of dis- orderly conduct. As a result of the blow she received her mouth bled and her teeth are still loose, Another Girl Attacked, Tuesday, March 18th, Officer 5159 and 3609 assaulted Ethel Spink who was not at that time a striker. She was on her way to work and he- cause she looked like one of the striking garment workers she was assaulted by Officer 5159 and Officer 8609 then stepped in and assisted. Miss Spink was not hit but shaken the police officers. A reporter % the DAILY WORKER was ar- rested charged with disorderly and dues. payments. If this ratio holds good for the whole party then, since our dues payments show 18,000 mem- bers paying dues monthly, we have over 27,000 members on our rolls. Is it the best we can do to collect dues from only 18,000sout of 27,000 members monthly A Certainly we cannot proclaim our- self a Communist party in our organ- izational work so long as such a con- dition exists, We must find ways and means to remedy this situation. We build up a stronger spirit of respon- sibility to the party organization and greater pride in seeing that our or- conduct for getting the numbers of the officers, Miss Spink was ar- rested and charged with disorderly conduct. The same day Officers Collins and Schroeder referred to above in con- nection with the arrest of Sophie Altschuler arrested Gussie Cohen, 1413 N. Larkin street. After they placed her under arrest they amused themselves by taking hold of Miss Cohen’s hands and nitung her in the face with them. This happened about 4:30 or 5 o’clock p. m. when Miss Cohen came from work. She is not on strike as her boss has settled with the union, After hitting Miss Cohen with her own hands Col- lins and Schroeder dragged her to the patrol wagon, Cop and Thug Beat Girl. On Saturday morning, March 22, Olga Levin, 365 E. 59th street, was assaulted by a man vamed Sam Goldin, who is employed by Lipson Bros., at 325 W. Adams vig be the presence of Officer 3401. er 3401 not only refused to arrest Goldin but assisted him in assailing Miss Levin. More than 700 arrests have been made of men and women peacefully walking the streets'in the strike zone, while the officers mentioned above have become a danger not only to the striking workers but to. the community #s a whole, continue to be detailed to the strike zone, . IMPEACH COOLIDGE! tactics, our principles, our program What sort of a party ganization machinery iunctions well. Every party unit should immedi- ately investigate the status of the branch membership and take steps to see that dues are collected from each member monthly. City central com- mittees and district organizers must watch the reports from the branches and take the necessary steps to tighten up the organization machin- ery in those branches which lag in handling their work efficiently. Building the Party Membership. Not only does our party not func- tion well in collecting dues from the members of the party, which means that the members on our rolls do not all function effectively in the party (for a member who does not pay dues regularly is a member who does ‘not work effectively for the party), but we are not making full use of our opportunity to build up our party membership. There are thousands of workers just outside of our party who should become members of our party organ- ization, We have educated them thru our press and public meetings and our party work so that they aré ripe for membership, We have no machinery, however, for bringing these workers into the party. Their is no organized, con- sistent effort to reach them and to induce them to join the party. We cannot wait for these workers to come into the party of their own accord. We create the means of bringing them into the party. We must have in every party unit an instrument which will reach out and make these workers members of the party. It is vital for us that our party in- ,erease its membership. Our lines are so extended, our responsibilities so great, that the present membership cannot carry the burden much far- ther. We cannot spread our influence |into still wider fields unless we in- crease our membership thru gather- ing into the party those workers who stand just outside, ready to join in our work if we take the proper steps to bring them into the party. REACTION IS FIRMLY IN THE GERMAN SADDLE Saddler Ebert’s Social- ist Party to Go By LOUIS P. LOCHNER. (Staff Correspondent of Federated Press) BERLIN, April 1.—Unless all signs mistake, the next government of Germany will be a reactionary government. The German Nation- alists openly boast of this and go on making their plants just @s tho they were already in the saddle, Their only problem seems to be whether the German People’s party, who are even more extreme nationalists, will carry off a dangerously large num- ber of seats and then refuse to play with the German Nationalist party. It is pretty generally conceded that the moderate parties are in for a drubbing. ‘The Center, backed by a constant Catholic constituency, will probably suffer least. But the So- cialists and the Democrats are in for it. The Socialist party is hopelessly divided and carries the odium of hay- ing sanctioned, at least tacitly, the military dictatorship and of having voted for the state-of-entergency regulations. It is being sharply at- tacked all along the line by the Com- raunists, The Democrats are neither fish nor fowl. cs * The reichstag has been ordered dissolved. In fact, the reichstag was really hanging on chiefly because the representatives can enjoy free first-class travel anywhere in Ger- many on the state-owned railways for a while longer and draw their pay; and second, the president of the Reichsbank, Schacht, has obtained permission of the reparations com- mission for a banx of issue backed by gold. For this he needs the author- ity of the reichstag. ee Ludendorff Runs: Court. As tho to enliven this drab ex- istence, Ludendorff and his hench- men are providing a tragic sort of comic opera at Munich, The pot is LONDON LABOR IN DEMAND FOR RELEASE OF TOM MOONEY {Special to The Daily Worker) LONDON, April 1.—The London Trades Council at a delegate meet- ing unanimously passed a resolution requesting the governor of the State of California to release Tom Mooney. The resolution follows: “This delegate meeting of the London. Trades Council believes that the continued imprisonment of Tom Mooney is not justified, and is creating an anti-American spirit amongst British workers. It there- fore urges the Governor of Cali- fornia to release this prisoner, and thereby assist in bringing about complete harmony between the peoples of Britain and the United States.” On behalf of the Council, yours truly, D. CARMICHAEL, Sec’y. Labor Faker Keating Fears Radicals May Frighten LaFollette (By The Federated Press) WASHINGTON, April 1—Quot- ing an editorial in the local Scripps paper entitled “LaFollette’s Fool Friends,” the current issue of “La- bor,” organ of the rail labor unions, endorses the suggestion that the St. Paul convention set for June 17 may prove embarrassing and even dangerous to the LaFollette candidacy before the country, “Some of LaFollette’s friends,” says Labor, “are seriously disturbed ever the premature third party jovements which are springing up thruout the country. “In the circumstances it would be the easiest thing in the world for the old guard to pack the gathering with its henchmen disguised as radi- cals, then they could nominate La Follette on an impossible platform to the accompaniment of a series of ‘red speeches.’ “That is exactly what happened at the Farmer-Labor convention at Chicago in 1920. At that time the reactionaries feared LaFolidte would run as a third party candi- date, so they packed the convention calling the kettle blackjand a nasty picture is revealed of doublecrossing and treachery on the part of the would-be saviors of Germany. From a juridical standpoint thé whole thing is a joke. It is not the presiding judge, but the men accused of high treason—Hitler, Ludendorff, etc.— who are rtinning the proceedings. Membership Committee Needed. To meet the situation which has been outlined above each party branch should immediately create a membership committee. This com- mittee should consist of three mem- bers and should be charged with the task of making our party a real Com- munist organization as well as a Com- munist Party in principles and tac- tics. The membership committees in the | branches should be held responsible for seeing that every member pays his dues regularly, The membership committee should also be charged with the work of bringing new mem- bers into the branch. They should plan organized campaigns’ to bring the workers who are ripe into the arty. The City Central committees should also elect such membership commit- tees and charge them with the work of~seeing that every branch has a properly functioning membership committee. The City Central Committee Mem- bership Committee must keep in close touch with each branch and when a branch fails to do its work should visit that branch and take the neces- sary steps to remedy the weaknesses. There are other tasks than the lected and new members brought in- |to the party whith the membership committee should undertake: These will be left for another article. Let us make a beginning in strengthen- ing our organization. Let us create the machinery to remedy the scanda- lous_conditions shown in the figures quoted above. Let us create the means of a persistent campaign for the upbuilding of the membership of, the party. The creation of the mem- bership committee should be the be- ginning of that work, Russian Petroleum Production Gains In Baku District MOSCOW, Aprib 1.—It is reported that the output of oil in the Baku fields during the first quarter of the current* working year (October-De- cember, 1923) reaches 63,588,000 poods. Those returns compare fa- vorably with last year’s 51,244,000 poods and 41,853,000 poods in 1921, for the same months. The improve- ment is partly due to the considerable amount of technical work done, but mainly to intense drilling in 1923. work of seeing that dues are col-| As the witnesses are summoned, they invariably bow first to “Exzel- lenz” Ludendorff and to Hitler, and only-later they remember that there is also a court to which respect is due. The spectators, who are mostly Hitler men, noisily ivent their ap- proval or disapproval-of what is hap- pening. The court is either unwilling \or unable to maintain order, Such is justice in the Law’n Order state of Bavaria! Russian Agricultural | Workers Pledge to | Forward Lenin’s Work The following communication was and arranged for a number of wild eyed speeches and-foreed the adop- tion of a platform, which they knew LaFollette would not accept. La Follette refused to run.” Pan-American Labor Probes Weeks’ Rule Over Porto Ricans Perea aa (By The Federated Press) WASHINGTON, April 1,—In- quiry is being made hy the Pan- American Federation of Labor, as to whether Secretary of War Weeks deliberately intruded into the politi- cal and industrial situation of Porto Rico by sending a telegram to San Juan declaring ihat he opposed granting the island the right to elect a governor because of the socialist party there and ‘the possi- bility of the election. of a socialist governor. Santiago Iglesias, president Porto Rican Federation of Labor and lead- er of the socialist party in the islands, returned to San Juan from received by the Third Group of the “German Agricoltur Kommune Echo” from their Russian comrades of the “First Russian and American Agri- cultural Commune.” ‘They also ap- pealed for mechanics, millers, car- penters, bricklayers and blacksmiths who are willing to go over to Russia and help build up a commune. In- formation can be secured from Joseph Holz, secretary, 1756 N. Bodine St., Philadelphia, Pa. The Resolution. | A special general meeting of the comrades of. the “First Russian and American Agriculture Commune.” “The Third International,” (formerly the “Hcho”) was held on the 23rd day of January 1924, and after learn- ing by telegram and thru the speeches made by Comrades Mileshko and Kowatz of the unexpected and sudden death of our great teacher and guide, “Viladimer Ilyitch Ulianov’” (Lenin), who,on the 2ist day of January 1924, at 6:50 p. m., in Hogie, near Moscow, passed away. The commune mourns together with the world proletariat this heavy loss. The commune pledges before his fresh grave to continue his work with renewed vigor and energy to break |the way towards Communism, On the 19th day of July, 1928, Comrade Lenin was honorably as a member of our commune, and altho he is dead, his ideas live in the hearts of all Communists and honest workers, Our commune resolves: To donate three days income (60 pood of grain) from our mill for the “Lenin Insti- tute” to help further the progress of his ideals and periodically one day’s income each month for the help and maintainance of the “Children Or- phan Home.” | Washington March 12 to discover that a tremendous public contro- versy had arisen, due to a joint manifesto by Barcelo, Jeader of the reactionary unionist party, and Tous | % Soto, head of the republican party, urging. coalition against the social- ists. This joint manifesto, based in part upon the alleged telegrams from Weeks, called for an abandon- ment of the statehood idea whieh | 4 the republicans had always upheld, Iglesias charges that the men who secured the cablegram from Secre- tary Weeks made a catspaw of that official and that the congressional committees dealing with Porto Rico would disregard his hostile recom- mendations, Read This and Weep for Poverty . Of Coal Operators (By The Federated Press) NEW YORK, April 1—lIt looks pretty good to me, said the Island Creek Coal Co, stockholder as he picked up the annual report of his company and found that his profit for the year amounted to $20.39 a share after payment of preferred divi- dends. Probably he chuckled when he thought of what he had put into that stock, Its par value is just $1, according to The Wall Street Journal. That makes the $3,692,569 profits made this year at the expense of coai dig- gers and coal users equivalent to just 2,039 per cent return, Can you beat it? Incidentally the | 4 company the previous year paid cash dividends amounting to $17 a share, 1,700 per cent on the the stock. Wednesday, April 2, 1924 U, §. WORKERS ARE RICH BUT Nation’s Wealth Over 300 Billions WASHINGTON, March 31.—The American nation, reputed to be the richest in the world, is worth $320,- 803,862,000, the Department of Com- merce reported today. In ten years, between December 81, 1912, and December 31, 1922, when the last survey was made, the national wealth increased 72.2 per cent. On December 31, 1912, it was placed at $189,299,664,000. Per capita wealth increased from $1,950 in 1912 to $2,918 in 1922, an increase of 49.6 per cent, The huge increase in the money value of the nation’s wealth, the de- partment said, is due principally to the rise in prices in recent years and not entirely to .a corresponding .in- crease in the quantity of wealth, as economists figure it. All classes of property, except livestock, increased in value in the ten years period, the department re- ported. The estimated value of taxed real property and improvements increased from $96,923,406,000 to $155,908,- 625,000 or 60.9 per cent. Exempt real property, exclusive of national parks and monuments, rose from $12,313,520,000 to $20,505, 819,000 or 66.5 per cent. Stocks of goods, vehictes, other than motor, furniture and clothing rose from $34,334;291,000 to $75.- 983,607,000 or 121.3 per cent. Railroads and their equipment rose from $16,148;532,000 to $19,- 950,800,000, or 23.5 per cent. Privately owned telephone and transmission enterprises other than railroads increased from $9,572,855,- 000 to $13,607,570,000 or 42.1 per cent. 3 Manufacturing machinery, tools and implements rose from $6,091,- 451,000 to $15,753,260,000 or 159.1 per cent, an indication of the indus- trial expansion of the country. Farm implemertts and machinery inereased from $1,368,225,000 to $2,604,638,000 or 90.4 per cent. Heavenly Spooks Are Sure Getting. Very Bloodthirsty ANDERSON, Texas., April 1— Commodore Bullock, 33, who con- fessed to the murder of Sheriff L. E. Morehead during a community entertainment at Steep Hollow school house will probably be sent to an asylum. Bullock tctd authori- ties his “dead sister in heaven sent me word to do it.” Sheriff Morehead was taking the part of a country constable in a play when, as he stalked across the stage the report of 4 shot gun was heard and he crumbled to the floor. The audience thought it was part of the play and applauded. FRIDAY, Music furnished by par value of \% TICKETS 75 CENTS Adieu Fortes... 2. Jockey.. 8. Spanish Dance................ DON'T KNOW IT SPRING FESTIVAL and DANCE To be held at TAMMANY HALL, 141 E. 14th St. APRIL 4th, 1924 Auspices of WORKERS SCHOOL and TRADE UNION EDUCATIONAL LEAGUE Musical Program Sung by Miss Dorothy Edwards At the Piano: Mme. Paula Sasover, Dances. Your Union Meeting First Wednesday, April 2, 1924 ‘Name of Local and Place of Meeting, Amsleanated, Clothing Workers, 1564 B. & 8. I. W., Stone Derrick, 180 W. ‘Washington St. Belt Line Federation, 62d and Halsted. Brick and Clay, Village Hall, Lansing. Carpenters, 12 ‘Garfield Blvd. Carpenters, Western and Lexington. Carpenters, 5443 S. Ashland Ave, Carpenters, Blacker’ , Lake Forest Carpenters, 180 W. Washington St. Carpenters, 505 S. State St. Carpenters, 1638 N. Halsted St. H. Fehling, Rec. Sec’y., 2258 Grace St. Irving 7597. Carpenters, 6414 S, Halsted St. Carpenters, 113 S. Ashland Blvd. Carvers (Wood), 1619 N. California, Conductors (R.'R.), 127 N. Francisco m. 127 .N, Francisco Ave. Chi., 11405 Michigan Ay. emen, 7429 8, Chi- Francisco, 9:30 2, m. Hod Carriers District Council, 814 W. Harrison St, Janitors (Mun.), Kedzie and Belmont. Ladies’ Garment Workers, 328 W, Van Buren St. Machinists, 818 W. 55th St, Machinists, 3802 W. Madison St, Machinists, 1182 Milwaukee Ave, Maintenance of Way, 5324 8. Halsted. Marine Cooks, 357 N. Clark St, Moulders, 2800 W. Madison St. Painters, Sherman and Main Sts, Evanston, Til. Painters, 180 W. Washington St. Painters, Moose Hall, La Painters, Odd Fellows Hall, Blue Island 5 Plasterers, 910 W. Monroe St, Poultry and Game, 200 Water St. Railway Clerks, 549 W. Washington, Railroad Trainmen, 812 W. 59th St, Railroad Trainmen, 64th and University Sheet Metal, 714 W. Harrison St, Teamsters (Soda), 2: » Ashland Bivd, Teamsters, 220 S. Ashland Blvd. Teamsters, 6359 8. Ashland Ave. Typographical, 5015 N, Clark St, 8 Wall Paper Crafts, Chicago and West. ex Aves. (Note—Unless otherwise stated all meetings are at 8 p. m.) Still Fight Epidemic, SAN FRANCISCO, April 1.—An- nouncement of rigid quarantine reg- ulations agaist livestock and farm product shipments from California by the State of Nevada was the outstand- ing development today in the hoof and mouth disease epidemic in Cali- fornia. How many of your shop-mates read THE DAILY WORKER.’ Get one of them to subscribe today. Res. 1632 S. Trumbull Ave, Phone Rockwell 5050 MORDECAI SHULMAN ATTORNEY-AT-LAW 701 Association Bldg.. 19 S. La Salle Street CHICAGO Dearborn 8657--Central 4945-4947 Telephone Brunswick 5991 DR. A. FABRICANT DENTIST 2058 W. DIVISION STREET Cor. Hoyne Ave. CHICAGO, ILL. PITTSBURGH, PA. DR. RASNICK DENTIST Rendering Expert Dental Service for 20 Year 645 SMITHFIELD S8T., Near 7th Ave. 4627 CENTER AVE., Cor. Arthur St P.M. Clef Club Orchestra $1.00 AT THE DOOR Tchaikowsky icine eathiaig HH, Burleigh Danced by Sylvia Friedman at the Piano: Bessie Loeb ; veer