The Daily Worker Newspaper, April 24, 1924, Page 3

] Thursday, April 24, 1924 lembership Meeting O. K.’s Policies of Executive Committee The meeting of the Chicago mem- bership, held in Imperial Hall last night, heard Comrade C. H. Ruthen- berg, reporting for the Central Execu- tive Committee of the Workers Party of America, explain in an interesting and able manner the position of the Party in the June 17 maneuver, its po- sition on the third party, the class farmer-labor party, its attitude toward LaFollette and many other questions which confront the party at present. Following the report of Comrade Ruthenberg, many questions were asked and answered, after which the meeting was opened for discussion. "hwo resolutions were presented. One i the City Central Committee indors- \*g the position of the Central Execu- tive Committee and one by Comrade Minor making certain criticisms and demanding more drastic action against any and all opportunistic ten- dencies, Following the debate the resolution of the City Central Committee was adopted. It reads as follows: Resolution. 1. The Chicago Party Membership meeting indorses the policies of the Central Executive Committee, both in their theoretical statement and in their concrete application. 2. The membership meeting de- clares that the Central Executive Committee has shown itself to be alert to all manifestations of incor- rect applications of the policies of the Party and that it has promptly acted to correct them in a proper Communist manner and spirit. 3. The membership “meeting ex- presses full and complete confidence in the Central Executive Committee, and pledges the Central Executive Committee its whole-hearted sup- port in its great task of leading the party thru the greatest campaign in its history. Introduced by City Executive Committee, Martin Abern, Secre- tary. Youth Discusses Role in St. Paul Meeting, June 17th The young workers of America are confronted with many problems which call for political action. There are millions of child workers, while the child labor law has been declared un- constitutional. The imperialistic ad- venturers of our reactionary govern- ment are yearly drawing more young workers into the army and the mili- tary training camps. The Farmer-La- bor convention, to be held at St. Paul, June 17, will have to take a stand on these and many other youth problems, A clear analysis of what the youth can expect from the Farmer-Labor Party will be given by John Edwards, member of the National Executive | Committee of the Young Workers League of America, at the regular ‘) weekly meeting of the Maplewood Branch, Thursday, April 24, at Work- ers Lyceum, 2733 Hirsch boulevard, second floor rear, at 8:15 p. m. Considering the importance of the subject, many workers, young and old, are expected to attend. No admission will be charged. 1{ The Workers Party in Action Party Activities Of Local Chicago On Thursday evening, April 24th, at 8 p. m., Comrade W. F. Dunne will speak before the Englewood Branch of the Young Workers League at 6359 South Halsted Street, on the subject of “Youth In Industry.” “* * On Thursday evening, April 24th, at 8 p. m., Comrade John Edwards will speak before the Maplewood Branch of the Young Workers League at the Workers Lyceum, 2733 Hirsch Blvd, on “Youth and the Labor Party.” se On Sunday evening, April 27th, the Rosa Luxemburg Branch of the Young Workers League will give a concert and dance at the Workers Lyceum, 2783 Hirsch Blvd. The doors will be open at 6 p. m. Admission price is 25 cents. ee On Saturday evening, April 26th, at 8 p. m., there will be a musical program given by the Finnish Branch of the Workers Party at Imperial Hall, 2409 N, Halsted Street. In ad- dition to the entertainment, there will also be speakers. Ree Thursday, April 24th, there will be a mass meeting of all of the Branch Literature Agents of the Workers Party and Young Workers League at 3322 Douglas Blvd., at 8 p. m. : eo 8 Regular Branch Meetings Thursday, April 24th, 1924, The Italian 19th Ward, South Side Branch No. 1, will meet at 1103 S. Loomis St. sy ANC cl The Italian Branch, 11th, Ward, South Side Branch No. 2, will meet at 2439 S. Oakley Street, in the base- ment. see The Karl Marx Scandinavian Branch will meet at the Workers Ly- ceum, 2733 Hirsch Blvd. se * The Czecho Slovakian Branch No. 2, will meet at Vojt Naproteh School, 2550 S. Homan Avenue, corner 26th St. (This meeting was originally set for Wednesday, April 23rd, but was postponed in order to permit the members to see the performance of R. U. R.) ses Czecho Slovak Branch No. 1 meets at Spravednost Hall, 1825 S. Loomis St. at 8 p. m. (The meeting of this branch was also scheduled for Wed- nesday, April 23rd, but was postpon- ed for the same reason as Czecho Slovak Branch No. 2.) : ie 0 6 Branch Meetings Friday, April 25th. Scandinavian Englewood Branch meets at I. O. G. fa Hall, 641 Hast 61st Street. . a Lithuanian Branch No. 5, South Side, meets at Milda Hall, 3142 So. Halsted St., second floor. i se 8 Sunday, April 27th, 1924. Polish South Side No. 23 meets at 2 p. m., University Settlement Hall, 4630 S. Gross, corner 47th St. * * 8 Bulgarian Branch organized last week with 15 members. WITH THEY CONDUCTED - BY Thi The Young Workers In China By JOHN HARVEY. With the help of American, Japa- nese and British imperialists the in- dustrial revolution in China is pro- gressing at a great speed. Proud of their industrial systems at home, the big imperialists are making no effort to avoid those costly mistakes so characteristic of the development of industrialism in the Western coun- tries. And as capitalism develops in China there grows up along with it all those evils that confront the young workers thruout the capitalist world; \uds proving to all that these condi- tions are part and parcel of any capi- talist system, Child Labor, The number of children working in the mills and factories of China is reaching a proportion which greatly exceeds that of all Western nations, while the extreme youth of these child workers is becoming ever more *\ marked. When the small farmers \and craftsmen are driven into the fac- \ torles practically their whole family goes to work with them. The chil- dren of these families run about un- cared for until they are six or seven years old and fortunate enough to be ablé to go to work in the factory themselve: Cotton and silk manufacture is the main industry in China, and the giant machines of the cotton and silk mills four hours of the day. Some mills have two shifts from six to six; oth- ers from four to four. At four o'clock in the morning it is as noisy as four in the afternoon and tired children can be seen streaming out of the fac- tories with the oldtr workers, while sleepy children pass them going in. Living Conditions. The living conditions of the work- ing class families are always of the greatest concern to the young work- er. He must add his youth’s wages to the insufficient earnings of the family and during his growing period he’ must suffer moré than the others from lack ot food and insanitary hous- ing. To the Chinese young workers tho prodiem of living conditions is extreme. In China the factories and mills are usually erected along the bank of a canal and many of the workers’ fam ilies live in stationary bouts in tho side canals. Others live in thatched mud huts which form a village near the factory walls. These boats and huts have but one room with only the door for both the entrance of light and the exit of smoke and odors. It is the coolies, the lowest paid Chine: workers, who live with their families in these boats and huts. With them live a wife, a mother, a child or two, possibly an old father and a boarder. If the coolies work seven days a week (ty hours day) they ean earn 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, Il. Friday, April 25, St. Louis, Mo., Labor Lyceum, 1248 North Garrison, 8 p. m. Sunday, April 27, Kansas City, Carpenters’ Hall, 3114 Paseo, 8 p. m. Monday, April 28, Omaha, Wednesday, April 30, Denver, Col., Social Turner Hall, 10th and Lari- mer, 8 p. m. Friday, May 2, Salt Lake City, Unity Hall, 132 South Second, East, Sunday and Monday, May 4 and 5, Los Angeles, Cal. Sunday meeting at Disabled Veterans’ Hall, 246 S, Hill street, 8 p. m. Wednesday, May 7, San Jose, Cal. Friday, May 9, Oakland, Cal., Roof Garden, Pacific Bldg., 8 p. m, 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. Philadelphia Holding Entertainment For Farm-Labor Party PHILADELPHIA, Pa., April 23.— The City Central Committee of the Workers Party of Philadelphia, has made arrangements to hold an Enter- tainment and Dance on Saturday evening May 17th, at the Eagles’ Temple, Broad and Spring Garden Streets. An excellent musical program and a celebrated orchestra is being secur- ed for this affair. The Dance will be run on a 20 per cent commission basis to the branch- es. The rest of the proceeds will be used for a Farmer-Labor Party Fund. NEW YORK CITY. ORGANIZATIONS, ATTENTION! District No. 2, Workers Party, has arranged a grand excursion and moonlight dance on the Hud- son river for Saturday, June 28th. The commodious steamer Cler- mont, having a capacity of 3,000, has been chartered for this occa- sion. Friendly organizations are urged to keep this date in mind and not arrange for any affairs that week. from $6 to $9 a month. Since there is a tradition in China that a man must divide with all those of his own blood who have no monéy, if a coolie should become more skilled at his factory’ work and advance to $12 or $14 a month, such a flock of relatives comes that he seldom dares move to better living quarters. Terrible Housing Conditions. Many of the workers live in fac- tory tenements more and more of which are being built to accommodate the ever-increasing number of indus- trial workers. These tenements are built with only one long room on each floor. This room is divided on the right into open stalls just long enough to contain a bed and a foot or two wider. Three or four families live in one of these rooms, one group roll- ing out of bed just in time to allow those from the night shift to roll in. Young workers who are orphans or whose families are still in the country, live under special conditions. If they are poor coolies earning from $6 to $10 a month they live in a “dormitory.” These dormitories are large empty rooms in which a dozen or more men are allowed to sleep seven hours a day. They sleep on straw mats or rags and cannot go to bed until a certain time and must rise at another so as to allow three shifts to use the room each day. It is said that one dormitory in Shang- hai, is equipped with a large quilt as big as the room. This quilt can be raised and lowered by a rope and has head-sized holes cut in it at regular intervals. The men come in, lie down on their straw mats, the pro- prietor lowers the quilt, each young worker puts his head out thru a hole, says his prayers and settles down for the night, As the young workers in China find themselves confronted with the same conditions of oppression as the young workers of the more developed capi- talist countries, so does the simili- arity of their struggle and their ene- my bind them closer and closer to the young workers of all countries thruout the world. Since American Imperialists, unsatisfied with the ex- ploitation of the young workers in America are active etending their exploitation to China, the young workers in America and China have MORE KENTUCKY MILITIA GALLED TO AID GUNMEN Black Mountain Co. To Bring In Scabs By TOM TIPPETT. (Staff Correspondent of the Fed. Press) HARLAN, Ky., April 23.—Striking members of the United Mine Workers of America here are much concerned over the mobilization of the Harlan company of the national guard. This action followed a yisit to the Black Mountain Coal company’s mines in Harlan county April 13 of Assistant General Clark. Five hundred men are on strike at Black Mountain, The coal company is one of the largest in Harlan county. This company, whose mines have been closed since April 1, is prepar- ing to operate with strikebreakers, the strikers say, and the soldiers will be ready to protect the operators guards who prevent the strikers from picketing the struck mines. How Militia Protect Gunmen. This is exactly what happened at Pinéville in Bell county where, in the beginning, there were three com- panies of the militia and a tank corps sent in to protect the private gunmen after they had shot up a miners’ camp on Straight Creek. All of the mines in this section of the state are in District 19, U. M. W. A. Henry Ford is opening mines in Harlan county. Ford doesn’t employ guards to keep his men in subjection. He does it in another way. As a sub- stitute for the union’s wage scale and working conditions—the latter being of much more importance to Ford than wages—his miners are ‘given reading rooms and sewers, Ford’s publicity agents says Ford. will teach these backwoodsmen “hygienic living, better home life, and character build- ing.” Union’s Comment On Ford I asked the miners’ officials about Ford’s plan. They said the union had been fighting for the miners’ in- terests here for 34 years and when the armed mine guard system is abolished—if it ever is—the unioniza- tion of the entire state will automa- tically follow. They point out that in Illinois or any other well organized state the ,organized miners have homes of their own connected to sew- ers and they “read what they want to, and they have learned also how to brush their teeth without the as- sistance of Henry Ford.” Philly Lithuanians Jack Up Gompers On Foreign-Born Bills PHILADELPHIA, Pa., April 23.—A conference of Lithuanian organiza- tions of this city will be held April 27, 2 p. m., at the Lithuanian Hall, 928 East Moyemensing avenue, for the purpose of waging an organized protest against the restrictive laws against the foreign born workers of this country. A similar conference is called by various Philadelphia Jew- ish organizations. The two conferences, as well as the recently organized Lettish Confer- ence, organized some time ago, are connected with the general organiza- tion of the Philadelphia Council for the Protection of the Foreign Born Workers. The council at its last meeting passed a resolution calling ypon President Coolidge to veto the anti- foreign born bills recently passed by the House and Senate, The resolu- tion also calls upon Samuel Gompers, urging him to use his power as presi- dent of the A. F. of L. to compel Pres- ident Coolidge to veto those bills. Labor Amnesty Big Issue In Election Campaign In France (By The Federated Press) PARIS, April 23.—Prosecution of profiteers and government ownership of oil refineries are among the planks put forward by French labor in the general election campaign that will end May 11, one week after the gen- eral election in Germany. The labor program will also be pushed after the new Chamber of Deputies has been chosen, The General Confederation of La- bor of France in its pre-election mani- festo specifically demands amnesty for all political and working class prisoners, reinstatement of dis- charged strikers, and recognition of the right of organization for all work- ers. The manifesto calls for prosecution of profiteers in food and other neces- saries, abolition of food taxe; capi- tal levy, government ownership of oil and sugar refineries, and a workers’ ‘and producers and consumers’ coun- cil to be consulted by the govern- ment, @ common interest in seeking to abol-| Wstablishment of world peace with exploiters, ish their common compulsory arbitration is called for. THE DAILY WORKER Labor News - - Political and Industrial Activities of Workers and Farmers BUILDING TRADESMEN’S WAGES IN 20 CITIES SHOWN: MATERIAL PRICES BIGGEST COST FACTOR BY LELAND OLDS (Federated Press Industrial Editor) Building trades wages are today approximately 100 per cent above the pre-war level, according to a report made public by the National Industrial Conference board, an employers’ organization. The boards figures give the lie to propaganda which would make builders’ wages chiefly responsible for the increased cost of build- ing. They show that during the last decade the prices of building materials increased far more rapidly than building wages and that today building wages going up are just on a par with material pric- es going down. Prices of building materials, the report points out, until re- cently more than kept pace with the rise in wages. ,From 1915 to 1920 the prices of* materials in- creased more than twice as much as wages. In fact by 1919 build- ing materials were already cost- ing a full 114 per cent more than in 1915 while building trades wages had increased only 40 per cent during the same period. Wage Table In 20 Cities The following table shows the hour- ly rates of typical occupations in 20 representative cities as published by the Engineering News Record: Brick- Carpen- Common layers ters labor 1.1216 $0.70 0.25-.30 1.50 -90.1.00 40 Birmingham 1.00 1.00 .30-.40 Boston.... 1,25 1.00-1.10 .60-.75 Cincinnati... 1.50 1.15 52% Chicago....... 1.25 1.15 82% Cleveland... 1.50 1.25 87% 1.50 1,00 .30-.50 1,624 1.12% .35-.55 1.12% 80 50 Kansas City 1.37% 1.12% .40-.70 Los Angeles 1.25 1.00 50 Minneapolis 1.50 87% .50-.55 New Orleans 1..25 80 .35-.40 New York.... 1.50 1.31% .624-.75 Philadelphia 1.50 1.12% .45-.50 Pittsburgh.. 1.40 1.20 -10 St. Louis... 1.75 1.50-1.60 45-110 8. Francisco 1.25 1.00 50-55 Seattle...,...... 1.25 1.00 62% “The trend of building trades wages in upward in most of the large in- dustrial centres,” says the record. “In Chicago, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Pitts- burgh, Kansas City and New Orleans wage increases have been granted or are now under serious consideration.” The general situation is summariz- ed in a national survey of conditions in the building trades issued by S. W. Straus & Co., leading real estate mo- ney lenders. The survey says: “Current building trades wage per hour show that building labor is get- ting peak wages, as follows: Bricklay- ers $1.12% to $1.75, carpenters 70 cents to $1.60, hoisting engineers 50 cents to $1.67%, hod carriers 50 cents to $1.25, pile drivers 50 cents to $1.- 124%, structural iron workers 60 cents to $1.50, common labor 25 cents to 87% cents. St. Louis Wages Highest “Present wage scales in St. Louis carry the highest rates in the country. In that city wage advances ranging from 10 cents to 25 cents an hour have been granted carpenters, hod carriers, hoisting engineers and com- mon labor. “In New York negotiations have been completed which may insure peace between workmen and employ- ers for the next two years. Practi- cally every important union has de- manded and obtained a two-year con- tract which calls in a majority of cases for an increase of 50 cents a day in the basic scales. The average base pay in New York is now $10.50 a day, Bricklayers are receiving one dollkt!'tha two dollar bonuses above the agreed rate of $12 a day on many jobs and a similar bonus is being paid to plasterers on many jobs.” Constructions Lessens a Little Employment in the industry ap- pears to be satisfactory altho outside ot New York the trend of construction is moderately downward. The total volume of large engineering projects awarded during March, as published in the Engineering News Record, was 11 per cent below March, 1923, in value and 14 percent below in physi- cal volume, Machine Loading Mine Taking Jobs Of Workers Away WEST FRANKFORT, IIL, April 23. A new mine that is one of the largest coal mines in the world is be- ginning operations here. It is equipped with loading machines con- trolled by two men and the output of these machines is 70 to 100 tons per 8-hour day. The mine runs three shifts in the 24 hours. This new mine is the only one working on a full-time basis here. All the others have shut down or are open only one or two days a week. The coal miners are driven despair- ingly between the shut mines and the mechanized mine where machines re- place men. They are wondering what their union president, John L. Lewis, is doing for them in his proposed oe. of the coal mining indus- powrey DRIVE SCABS OFF NORSE WHARVES: FINE SOLIDARITY Strikes In Many Trades;}\ Danes And Swedes Aid KRISTIANIA, April 23. — Wage- agreements in a number of the most important industries expired this month. The employers refuse to take up negotiations for new agreements untél the “illegally” striking ironwork- ers have gone back to work. They also demand additional new guaran- tees for the fulfillment of the agree- ments. The “illegal” ironworkers’ striké has now lasted 23 weeks, the one ot the longshoremen 11 weeks and the general lockout with its sympathetic strikes, 6 weeks. The strikers are showing splendid spirit and solidarity and are getting aggressive. Drive Scabs Off Docks. In Trondhjem all wharves except those inside the enclosures were’ cleared of strikebreakers yesterday. The strikers went from ship to ship and forced the strikebreakers to quit their infamous work. One got so scared he jumped into the sea, but managed to get ashore. The only shot fired was by the strikebreaker boss; it struck his own foot. He was taken to a safe place. The others were taken to Federation of Labor headquarters, where they promised not to do any strikebreaker work in the future and to advise those inside the enclosure to quit April 5th. The enclosed territory was enter- ed today and also cleared of strike breakers. Some of them escaped on ships in the harbor; some trying to escape by climbing ropes to the ships were shaken down into the river. The wharves of some smaller harbors have also been cleared. Solidarity of All Workers. Labor unions in Sweden and Den- mark are coming to the strikers’ aid. A conference of representatives of the building and wood working organ- izations in Sweden, Denmark and Nor- way was held in Copenhagen, March 30th. Eighty thousand workers were represented. The Danish and Swedish organizations assessed themselves weekly contributions to the Norweg- ians. 5 A conference of representatives of the federations of labor of the three countries was held in Copenhagen, April 4th. It was agreed that organ- ized workers in Sweden and Denmark shall side with the Norwegian work ers in their fight, also that the de- mand for increased guarantees by the Norwegian employers must be fought by all means at disposal. Conferences of the Scandinavian Laborers’ union of the Scandinavian textile workers’ union and of representatives of the iron and metal workers’ union of the three countries will be held in Copen- hagen today. Unions Help Each Other. The Norwegian tailors’ union has received a donation of 20,000 Kron- en from Swedish and Danish brother unions. The “Svenske Arbetares Cen- tralorganization” and the syndicalist federation have sent 15,700 Kronen to the Norwegian striking tronwork- ers. Kristiania federation of labor appeals for aid to the children of its 16,000 striking or locked out work- ers, Organized state functionaries in the railroad, postal, telegraph and custom service to the number of 13,000 have sent a protest to the Storting against any contemplated compulsory arbitra- tion law. “Strike and Lockout” was the subject of debate in the students society last meeting. Machine Gun Ruler Of Kentucky Wants Teapot Talk Hushed (By The Federated Press) CLEVELAND, April 23.—The anti- labor machine-gun governor of Ken- tucky, Edwin B. Morrow, recently ap- pointed by President Coolidge to the U. 8. rail labor board, broke into the political campaign here with a plea to all good Republicans to forget Teapot Dome and give the utmost publicity to the war-graft and corruption of the Wilson administration, Page’ Three MOUNTED COPS OF CANADA BUSY “RED” HUNTING Get Labor Views Of All New Arrivals BY SYDNEY WARREN (Staff Correspondent of the Fed. Press) VANCOUVER, B. C., April 23.—The Royal Canadian Northwest Mounted police continues its wartime activities as red hunters and agents provoca- teurs in the labor movement despite the glib assurances from Dominion politicians that the “Mounties” were no longer employed in that capacity since the war hysteria had passed. In Vancouver all radical, union and Socialist meetings are covered by the “Royal Police,” who note the remarks of the speakers and size up those present. If a new face present itself, an investigation of its owner follows and the facts concerning his arrival, nationality, employment and views on unionism and the labor movement generally are secured. These facts are tabulated for “future references.” A clear proof of this system was demonstrated by a newly arrived im- migrant who made application for a position as a clerk in the office of the mounted police here. This man had some weeks previously attended a meeting of the Workers party held in a local theater, but at that time was not affiliated with any part of the labor movement here. He was noti- fied to present himself at the office of the mounted police for an inter- view and, believing to be in response to his application for a clerical posi- tion with the force, appeared the next day at the time appointed. Had Been Shadowing Him He was interviewed, but not in res- pect to his qualifications as a clerk but as to what views he held in the labor movement. He was informed of his nationality, occupation, date of arrival in the country, places he had frequented and other minor details concerning himself, all of which, he was informed, were gathered as the result of his being observed at a ra- dical meeting. He was then ad- monished to forego radical activities. No mention was made of the job he sought. Jamestown Labor In Mass Protest At Immigration Bill By E. PETERSON. (Special to The Daily Worker) JAMESTOWN, N. Y., April 23.—At a rousing mass meeting held here by the Protective Council of Native and Foreign Born Workers of the city of Jamestown the audience unanimously passed the following declaration against the vicious immigration bill going thru Congress and in favor of a class farmer-labor party: “We, the workers and citizens of Jamestown, N. Y., in mass meeting assembled, do hereby protest against the passing of the afore- mentioned restrictive and discrim- inatory legislation and call upon all workers, native and foreign born, to unite in a mass protest and struggle against the passage of these bills thru forming councils for the protection of foreign borm workers. “We call upon all foreign bora workers to join the labor unions and urge the trade unions of this country to take up the fight against discrimination of our foreign bora brothers. We call upon all labor, organized and unorganized, to unite in the formation of a political party of labor and farmers to capture po- litical power and use the forces of government in the interest of the toilers, who are the overwhelming majority of the people of the Unit- ed States, and who should create a workers and farmers’ government in our country.” May 1, International Labor Day, will see the showing of “Russia and Germany, a Tale of Two Republics,” at the Eagles’ Temple. Saturday eve- ning, May 3, the regular May Day celebration by the Workers Party will take place, with a speaking, read- ing, singing and dancing program at Carlson's Hall. - “Bunco Party And Dance” Saturday By Amalgamated The woman's local, No, 275, Amal- gamated Clothing Workers, announces a bunco party and dance to be given Saturday night, April 26, at the West Cheago Masonic Temple, Oakley boulevard, near Madison street. Mu- sic by Dave Peyton's famous orches- tra, Entree 8:30 p. m, Admission 50c, at the door 75c, Remember, boys, this is Leap Year, and the ladies will be looking for you Saturday night, April 26. Be there. How many of your shop-mates read THE DAILY WORKER. Get one of them to. subscribe today 2