The Daily Worker Newspaper, April 23, 1924, Page 3

Wednesday, April 23, 1924 ‘MYERSCOUGH IS. WRITING ABOUT ILLINOIS MINES Shows Effect of the Lewis Policies ‘The sub-district convention of the UVaited Mine Workers of America convenes here today. Thomas My- erscough, of the Progressive Min- ers’ Committee, will make specal reports on this convention to the DAILY WORKER. Myerscough has been covering the southern Milinois mine district during the last week and sends the following in- teresting article from Benton on the effects of President John L. Lewis’ policy of “stabilizing” the mining industry. se By THOMAS MYERSCOUGH. BENTON, Ill, April 22,—‘“Shut flown for a hell of a long time”; “Been shut down for a month”; “Go- ing to shut down next week.” These Are the answers one gets when he asks the question, “Are you work- ing?” of the mimers here in southern Mlinois. At Indianapolis, in the interna- Monal convention last January, Lewis taid the industry “needed a breathing spell and security against strikes,” so 4s to enable the miners and operators to recover from the effects of too many strikes. All kinds of, bunk was used by Lewis and his henchmen to but over the government demand for 2 long term agreement. They said it Was necessary in order that the in- fustry could be stabilized. Lewis made a pretense at being alarmed, because many miners were still in febt as a result of the strike of 1922, tlaiming that another strike would be fisastrous. The average miner, so far, has been unable to discover any differ- ence between the effects of a strike and the effects of a lockout or shut- flown. There is no envelope on pay flay in either case, and all will frankly tdmit that, if the present situation in the mine fields is the definition of sta- bilization, they would far rather have struck for some improvement of the tonditions. Even tho the scale committee of high salaried officials could not see the benefit or the wisdom of a move lor the shorter work day, the men of the mines, who are forced to look for lays at a siding of coal which they produced in one day, can see not only the wisdom of the move, but also the tbsolute necessity of it. The men of Illinois are apprehen- sive of what the result of this three- year agreement will be, for they know what the results of the previous rears’ have been. They truthfully say, “We've had it for four years and tt has left misery and starvation in its wake, so what can we hope for with another three years of it?” What with the strikes and shut- lowns now in effect, with approxi- mately 200,000 miners totally unem- ployed, while most of the rest of those who man the mines are work- ing but little, the future holds very little in store for the diggers of black {iamonds. ‘What are you doing, Mr. Lewis; on rour frequent visits to oily Washing- ton? What are you trying to “sta- bilize2” Dillonvale, Ohio, Has Big Plans For Its May Day (Special to The Daily Worker) DILLONVALE, Ohio, April 22.— May Day, the International Labor Day, will be celebrated all day in this town with workers of all nationalities participating. A monster parade will march thru the town at 11 a, m. Lunch will be served in Bohemian Hall at noon and a great mass meet- Ing will assemble at 1 o'clock. In the evening the Young Workers League will entertain with an international dance in the hall. “Speakers in American, Italian, Hungarian and Slavish,” are adver- tised in the brilliant posters the Dil- lonvale workers display. The Work- ers Band plan to furnish an elaborate musical program; so that the great May Day celebration ‘should be tri- umphal with all these organizations co-operating. All mine workers of Dillonvale and vicinity are especially invited to join their comrade workers in making this May Day the longest-remembered Labor Day. (Italian and Hungarian papers please copy this announcement.) Lectures In Lynch Land NEW YORK, April 22,—James Weldon Johnson, Secretary of the National Association for the Advance- ment of Colored People, with Head- quarters at 69 Fifth Avenue, left today for a short lecture tour in the South. Mr. Johnson has appoint- ments to lecture’ on April 23 in Asheville, N. ©. on the 28th in Greensboro and on the 29th in Dur- The Workers Party in Action Trachtenberg Tour List of Western Dates. The list of Trachtenberg’s western dates follows. Addresses of halls and hours of meetings will be pub- lished later where they are not given here: Thursday, April 24, Zeigler, Ill. Friday, April 25, St. Louis, Mo., Labor Lyceum, 1243 North Garrison, 8p. m Sunday, April 27, Kansas City, Carpenters’ Hall, 3114 Paseo, 8 p. m. Monday, April 28, Omaha. Wednesday, April 30, Denver, Col. Friday, May 2, Salt Lake City, Unity Hall, 132 South Second, East, Sunday and Monday, May 4 and 5, Los Angeles, Cal. ‘Wednesday, May 7, San Jose, Cal. Thursday, May 8, Oakland, Cal. Friday, May 9, and Saturday, May 10, San Francisco. Wednesday, May 14, Portland, Ore. Friday, May 16, Tacoma, Wash. Saturday, May 17, Seattle, Wash. Sunday, May 18, Vancouver, B. C., Canada. Monday, May 19, Spokane, Wash. Tuesday, May 20, Butte, Mont. Saturday, May 24, Superior, Wis. Sunday, May 25, St. Paul, Minn. Monday, May 26, Minneapolis, Minn. COMMUNISM OR CAPITALISM IS DEBATE SUBJECT Toledo ‘“U’” Students Greatly Interested (Special to The Daily Worker) TOLEDO, O., April 22—Three members of the local Workers Party will debate with three students from Toledo University on the relative merits of Communism and capitalist reforms as methods of benefiting soci- ety. The debate will be held on Sun- day, April 27, at 8 p. m., in the La- bor Temple Auditorium., Tickets are on sale at the Workers’ Bookshop, 131 Michigan street. Toledo University students have become quite interested in Commun- ism of late and are demanding all the Workers Party literature they can get. The Teapot Dome Special of the DAILY WORKER was: distrib- uted on the campus and created con- siderable excitement. The students were eager to learn more of the truth about the capitalist “democracy” un- der which they live. Jay Love- stone’s book, “The Government Strikebreaker,” has been a popular seller among the students, and Lenin’s “State and Revolution” is much sought. Interest in the forthcoming debate is keen among students as well as in Workers Party groups. Both sides expect to turn out in full force, not so much to cheer, but to learn. To- ledo local of the Workers Party is offering all assistance to the inter- ested University students to help them get a real understanding of capitalism and Communism. MINE INSPECTOR’S APPOINTMENTIS ISSUE IN KANSAS Operators Try To Oust Workers’ Man. PITTSBURGH, Kan., April 22.—A lively fight i* geing waged over the appointment sf Leon Besson as mine inspector. Besson was appointed thru the influence of the union min- ers, and the coal operators are de- manding that his appointment be can- celled and their man, John Crawford, be appointed. . Governor Davis stands pat on the Besson appointment, but the attor- ney general has ruled that Besson must take an examination—before an examining board which is framed gainst him. The Industrial Court is hire against thé miners’ selection, All this struggle over the appoint- ment of a mine inspector comes be- cause his job is a most strategic one during strikes. The mine inspector can rule during a strike that un- 4 menace to industrial safety and hu- man life. The clash between the Industrial defeated Allen’s side in the last elec- tion and installed Davis, is trying to keep the deputy mine inspectors ap- by Allen. It is not likely that Davis will stand for this. the names of these depu- off is like hearing a roll I BESE SOCIALISTS WILL BETRAY, SPEAKER TELLS MILWAUKEE Trachtenberg Warns By German Situation (Special to The Daily Worker) MILWAUKEE, Wis., April 22.— “Your Socialist will betray you in the same way that Socialist democrats betrayed the German Workers,” Alex- ander Trachtenberg told a large au- dience in the Freie Gemiende hall. Interested Audience. For two hours the assemblage of workers listened with an intense at- tention to the splendid lecture on Russia and Germany. In a masterful and vivid manner the speaker outlin- ed the industrial achievements of So- viet Russia in the period of recon- struction; and the notable other ac- complishments of a fundamental na- ture in cultural, military and: political field. The gains of Russian industry is not achieved thru the sacrifice of the workers, but on the contrary, ev- ery year witnesses the improvement in the standard of living of the work- ers. In picturing the misery of the Ger- man workers enslaved by internation- al capitalism, the speaker pointed. to the ray of hope which can be seen in the militant spirit of the workers. The next struggle of the German workers will not be a “Putsh” but will be a final and decisive struggle, which will lead to victory and the pro- letarian dictatorship. Betrayed German Workers. “Here in Milwaukee,” said Trach- tenberg, “you have the same elements that have betrayed the working class of Germany. The American Socialists are twin brothers of their German party. “The problems of the American la- bor movement and the rapidly devel- oping events in Europe place particu- lar responsibility upon the American workers. You must join the Workers Party in order that you may do your duty to the international proletarian movement. MAY BE LAST TIME FOR ROBOT PLAY IN CHICAGO Scheduled for the Wilds of Milwaukee (By Labor Defense Press ‘Service.) For the last time before quitting Chicago for the wilds of Milwaukee— and mayhaps, Detroit—The Labor De- fense Council’s now-famous Robots will present the four-act play, “R. U. R” here tonight, in C. S. P. S. Hall, 1126 W. 18th Street. All seats are seventy-five cents, The opening performance on Sun- day was such a success that it is ex- pected the house will be sold out ear- ly. The audience received the play with marked sjgns of appreciation. It was remarked on all sides that the acting and settings were beyond all expectations. The Labor Defense Council has taken pains to make the production complete in every detail in order that “R. U. R.” might be a success from the artistic point of view as well as the financial. Robots, Unite! There are differences regarding what Karel Capek had in mind in writing his extraordinary melodrama but the Labor Defense Council’s ex- periment proves there can be no doubt of the effect of the play upon working class audiences. The an- ology between the Robots and the modern wage slaves is clearly drawn, The revolt of the Robots and their rallying cry, “ROBOTS OF THE WORLD, UNITE!” carry a prophetic significance to the end. The Labor Defense Council is going after the owner of Strummel’s Hall, Roseland, Illinois, for not producing his special temporary permit when the police interfered with the produc- tion of “R. U. R.” last Saturday. The owner had a license to run his Pull- man hall but ‘claimed that he could not find it. The police looked up the matter in their records and then gave the Labor Defense Council per- mission to give their performance of the Capek play, By that time the au- dience had dispersed, which was all the Pullman police robots had hoped for. Who's To Blame? No further attempt to put on “R, U. R.” in Pullman will be made, be- cause of the great expense of produc- ing. The Labor Defense Couneil will not, however, stop until gets sat- isfactory remuneration from the hall owner for the closing of their Satur- day performance. The seats Ifad all been set up and everything was ready for the curtain’s rise when the police stopped the show, es THE DAILY WORKER ee eliver Smashing Blow At Fascisti Dictator. BERNE, Switzerland, April 22. “We feel nothing but contempt for the tyrannical Fascist gov- ernment of Italy.” This is the answer of the Swiss Federation of Trade Unions to an ingratiat- ing invitation received from the Mussolini government to send delegates to an_ international emigration conference to be held in Rome in the near future. The Fascist government is trying to create the impression that it is deeply interested in social questions. The Swiss workers replied to the Italian dictator: “We beg to inform you that we are very much interest- ed in the emigration question, but we ane unable to take part either in the preparations for the conference or in the conference itself, in view of the fact that the Italian bona fide trade unions .. .. .. .. are persecuted and oppressed by your government. You must not count upon our co-op- eration until a complete reversal of this policy has taken place.” GENERAL STRIKE TIES UP HAVANA; PAPERS SUSPEND Walkout Called To Aid Harbor Workers. HAVANA, Cuba, April 22—The general strike here in support of the striking dock workers widened when the entire street car service of the city was stopped by the walkout of all the motormen and conductors. Some of the Spanish language papers have suspended as the printers have quit with the other strikers. s+ © A wire from the Transport Workers Union of Havana, has been received by Solidaridad, Spanish language or- gan of theI. W. W., appealing for sup- port in the succinct words: “A gen- eral strike in the harbor. Try to stop treason.” In reply the general admin- istration of the I. W. W. sent a pledge of solidarity, signed by Secretary- Treasurer Tom Doyle, and Executive Board. Chairman Joe Fisher. The mes- sage declares that the Marine Trans- port Section of the I. W. W| is stand- ing loyally behind the striking long- shoremen and promises that no I. W. W. seaman will work cargo or assist the bosses in any way. 3,000,000 JOBLESS, 5,000,000 ON PART TIME IN GERMANY According to the latest figures re- ceived by the Committee for Interna- tional Workers’ Aid, 32 Se, Wabash Ave., unemployment and part-time work have increased so tremendously in Germany that not less than a quar- ter of the whole population is suf- fering from one or the other. There are now about three million wholly unemployed and about five million short-time workers. If dependents are also taken into consideration, there are some 24 million persons living in penury and semi-starvation. The distress of strikers and locked- out workers is especially great. The fight for the eight-hour day is in full progress. Employers are forcing an almost general eleven and twelve- hour day on the workers. The Ger- man workers need the help of work- ers in other countries in the fight they are waging. The Committee for International Workers’ Aid is ralijjng the workers of America to send help TO THE WORKERS OF GERMANY. Thieves Stick Together. TRENTON, N. J., April 22.—The speculator is a necessary national in- stitution, according to speakers be- fore the local chapter, American In- stitute of Banking. eo story. RKER likes to get and H. L. Goldber; The painters in St. Louis, What about it? You Can Do What Goldberg Is Doing The DAILY WORKER, just the other day, carried a news story of the painters’ strike at St. Louis, Mo. It was It was the kind of stuff that the DAILY ut into its columns. story of a workers’ struggle. But Goldberg did more than write the story. Two hundred and fifty copies of this issue of the DAILY WORK- ER were rushed off to St. Louis, and Goldberg saw to it that these copies got into the hands of the strikers. The will be other stories by Goldberg about the St. Louis strike. There will be other bundles of the DAILY WORKER going to St. Louis. That is the kind of work that counts. ER while out on strike, will subscribe and continue to read it after the strike is over. That is the way to build the’cir- culation of the DAILY WORKER among the workers of the nation. That is what you ought to STATE POLIGE FIGHTING STRIKE IN CABIN GREEK and Injunctions Used on Miners. Guns By TOM TIPPETT (Staff Correspondent of the Fed. Press) ESKDALE, W. Va., April 22.—There are still 2000 members of the United Mine Workers of America on strike on Cabin Creek. They, together with their wives and children, number 10,- 000 people, and are all living in tents or barracks and have been since 1922. Wreckage of the national coal strike. Cabin Creek is in the Charleston territory of West Virginia and was solidly organized in 1912 by Mother Jones after much trouble. The “Bull Moose special,” an armored train, played an important part in the 1912- 13 Cabin Creek strike. This train passed slowly thru the valley and fir- ed a machine gun broadside into a tent colony occupied exclusively by striking miners’ women and children at Holly Grove on Paint Creek. On Cabin Creek the men were not bluff- ed by the armed monster. Justice Wm. Howard Taft was then president.) A fort was erected on on the mountain side and a war be- gan that ended with the Kenyon con- gressional investigation. Won In 1912, Lost In 1922 The publicity surrounding this trouble and the cry of protest from outside contributed much toward suc- cess for the miners, After a year the strike was won in 1913. Peace reign- ed on the creek with the union firmly established until the 1922 national coal strike. No settlement has been made since and the mines are ope- rating with strikebreakers. The inevitable tent colony, erected to shelter the families, thrown out of company houses on the roadside, still houses these unfortunate people tho they are hadly dilapidated after standing the elements two years. District 17, U. M. W. A., is support- ing these strikers, as well as thou- sands of others similarly situated thruout the state. The strike relief provides coarse food and nothing more. Huddled Like Cattle. The suffering is indescribable. The badly worn tents stand all along the creek on odd patches of land not owned by the coal companies. One colony is exactly like another. Hun- dreds of women and children huddle together like cattle. In the Eskdale colony alone 12 children died last year—all under three years old. The living ones seem to be half starved, tho they declare they have enough to eat. There are a few barracks but most families live in tents. The countryside bristles with state police with huge searchlights mounted thru- out the valley. Guns of every des- eription are everywhere in evidence against the evicted mine workers and their families. Injunction and State Police. An injunction rigidly enforced by the state police provides six months in jail and a $50 fine for a striker caught “speaking with” a strike- breaker. The strikebreakers here were shipped from Alabama, most of them. In the face of what already seems defeat the sufferers say they will fight on to victory.~ And they have won victory after victory in this fash- m in previous struggles. The his- ‘ory of their union is an uninterrupt- ed chapter of that kind of misery. Tent Colony Needs Clothing. The tent colonists need clothing badly and will appreciate any old castoffs of any size for men, women or children. Such things should be sent to William Bowring, Eskdale, W. Va. It was a The story was written by who read the DAILY WORK- doing to help. (Chief | Page Thre NOISY STEEL TRUST (Special to the town as the headquarters. The ease of these six Workers Party members involves the right of workers to in Steel Trust towns. * assemble * * Sky Pilot Organizes Fascisti. FARRELL, Pa., April 22—The bat- tle going on in this city between the defense in charge of the Farrell cases was given a sudden twist to- day when the plute press came out with scare lines announcing that Rev. Leo J. Medic, pastor of the United Presbyterian Church, here only a few weeks from Lackawana, N. Y., has found it necessary to or- ganize what he is pleased to call the “American-Croatian Protective So- ciety” to save himself and congrega- tion from the “Red Terror.” Meeting behind closed doors with five of his vestrymen the holy sky pilot mapped out plans to combat the spread of Communism which he charges is preventing the work of his holiness in Farrell. Medic’s story to the plute press about the alleged red terror is but part of the campaign in- stituted to poison the public mind just before the grand jury acts on the Farrell cases. a A Hot Time Coming For Medic. Medic’s story runs like fiction and if he lies to his God as he does to the workers in Farrell he will need something better than an asbestos overcoat when he comes to wade the river Jordan. He charged that Workers Party members refused to stand up when the band played the Star Spangled Banner and that they would be ex- pelled from the Party if they at- tended church; that /the youngsters in Farrell went around on Palm Sun- day with palm leaves hitched to their coat tails and that women scoffed at him, compelling him to have Squire Franek and the great sleuth, Chief Leyschock, come to his rescue. The Mussolini of Farrell further tells the good people that the Croatian So- ciety voted overwhelmingly against the erection of a new church and that the reds were responsible for this. The sky pilot completes his yarn by asserting that his life has been threatened by the Communists. D. of J. Fink Framed Yarn. The defense has investigated his yarn and lo! and behold! the servant of the Lord admits that Department Labor News - - Political and Industrial Activities of Farmers and Workers PREACHER ASSAILS “REDS” AS GRAND JURY ‘GETS SIX SYNDICALISM CASES Daily Worker.) YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio, April 22.—The Labor Defense and Fre Speech Council will devote Saturday and Sunday to canvassing th Ohio and Pennsylvania steel district for the six Farrell syndicalisn cases which are now going before the grand jury at Mercer, Pa Workers Party branches are co-operating. House to house canyvasse will be made in all the steel towns surrounding Farrell, with Youngs of Justice Agent Lennon of Pitts burgh furnished it to the press. It seems that Medic made his com plaint to the Department of Justio who rigged up a nice story of bomb and red terror and after decoratin same up with Palm leaves and th Star Spangled Banner dished it ou to the people in Farrell and Sharop The prosecution is doing even dirty, contemptible trick it can b railroad the defendants, Medic was compelled by the attor neys for the defense to visit th Sharon and Farrell newspapers an’ deny most of the statements given b; Department of Justice Agent Lennoi and credited to Medic, SO oe D. of J. Pressing Case, SHARON, Pa.,- April 22.—Farre} newspapers come out with new scar lines calling for the deportation o the Farrell defendants and charginy that red schools are being operate: in Farrell advocating the overthroy of the Commonwealth of Pennsy} vania, “Hawkshaw” Lennon discoverer these new plots hoping thereby tr influence the grand jury now in ses sion at Mercer handling the Farrel cases, The Department of Justice prom ises to have a fine array of lega talent present at the trials and one the six defendants are found guilt; by the Commonwealth of Pennsy} vania they are to be turned over t the immigration authorities for de portation. The Poor Fish says that the so} diers would have got their bonus 4 long time ago but that they though the war was over when the kaisa was licked. NEW YORK READERS, ATTENTION! \ German Workers Are Facing Famine! German Children Are Starving! VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED FOR GERMAN RELIEF TAG DAY SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, April 26 & 27 SIGN UP OR COME IN PERSON Fill out the blank below and mail immediately————_, Telephone Number... COMMITTEE FOR INTERNATIONAL WORKERS’ AID Friends of Soviet Russia and Workers’ Germany 208 E. 12th St., New York City (New York Branch) State Publishers of Russia: (Gosisdat) The Representative in the United States and Canada will fill orders FOR RUSSIAN BOOKS, MAGAZINES, ETC. 12,000 Titles to Select From. Regular discount to dealers and organizations. Write for Catalogue. Subscription accepted for: Isvestia ..... 2.00 per month Economic Life .. Pravda .... GOSISDAT, 16 PARK ROW, New York City GOOD CLOTHES for Men and Boys Shoes -- Furnishings -- Hats —Two stores— Lincoln & Wrightwood Avenues Lincoln Ave. & Irving Park Bivd. Open Thursday and Saturday Evenings. O B 2 Formerly With Mandel Bros. UPHOLSTERING done In your own home very reasonable. 6006 SO. KOMENSKY AVE, Call REPUBLIC 3788 BERTRAM H. MONTGOMERY Attorney and Counsellor 10 South La Salle Street, Room 601 CHICAGO Telephone Franklin 4849 Residence Phone Oak Park 8883 ROOMS Neatly furnished housekeeping rooms for couple (employed), p> Bg Irving Ave. Phone Seely 1883. DO YOUR WORK AT J. KAPLAN’S AND DYERS and Gents’ Tailor Work Gaited For And Delivered. DR. ISRAEL FELDSHER 3803 ROOSEVELT RD. *Crawibrd 2651 Hout gmoounei we and Pte e Dm yb btient tes ORCHESTRA The Eee sy ane Hun 1020 §. ASHLAND BLY; 020 § “24 CHIOAaE