The Daily Worker Newspaper, May 19, 1924, Page 1

| THE DAILY WORKER RAISES THE STANDARD | FOR A WORKERS’ AND | FARMERS’ GOVERNMENT Vol. II. No. 53. LEWIS AND HOWAT BEFORE MINERS Garment Convention Orders Big Strikes FARRINGTON FIGHTING TO HOLD POWER Delegates In Revolt At Packing Of Convention BULLETIN. PEORIA, Ill.,May 18—The Farm- er-Labor party convention, in’ ses- sion here, listened to addresses by Alexander Howat, Kate Richards O’Hare and Duncan MacDonald. All urged independent political ac- tion and unity of workers and farm- ers. Committees elected and will report this afternoon. Many miners are delegates. By KARL REEVE. (Special to The Daily Worker) PEORIA, Ill, May 18.—The Illinois miners’ —_ convention reaches its most acute phase this week when the test on Farring- ton's appointive power comes to a vote. Alexander Howat'’s speech to the convention and\ the fight for a special inter- national convention to enforce the reinstatement of the deposed Kansas militant is eagerly awaited. Howat is here now. John L, Lewis’ speech attack- ing Howat is also awaited,— with ironical wonder as to whether the International presi- dent has forgotten the graft charges he once hurled at Frank Farrington, his new ally against the radicals. indignatiop at President Far=| rington’s policy of packing the Illinois Miners’ district. conven- tion with his own henchmen, il- legally elected, reached high tide at yesterday’s sessions when the report of the credentials com- mittee came up for adoption. Decided Against Machine Men. The credentials committee had de- cided against a group of Farrington appointees and machine men, and Farrington had ruled that portion of their report out of order. Vehement protest by the progres- sive delegates brought out the facts, showing that this group of Farrington men had ‘no right to credentials as voting delegates, and struck a blow at the prestige of the district presi- dent. Farrington’s ruling came on a point of order raised by Dave Wilson of Collinsville in favor of the machine delegates, two of whom had been packed in from his own local. The point of order was that article 12, sec- tion 5,.of the mine workers’ constitu- tion “provides that all contests must be in the hands of the credentials committee six days prior to the con- vention.” List of Illegal Delegates. The ruling of Farrington that this part of the credentials committee re- port was out of order, cut off the dis- cussion of the committee's decision on John (Joker) Young, elected dis- trict board member from the Spring- field sub-district, who is declared to have presented credentials from a lo- cal not having paid dues for months; William Wall of Springfield, appoint- ed legal investigator by Farrington; James Box, appbinted auditor by Far- rington; Herbert Hall of Westville, elected district Board member; all four of whom had been contested. by Delegates Watts, Tumulty and John- son. ‘ “I want the delegates to know that there are two delegates, in addition (Continued on Page 2.) OVER 200,000 NEW LAWS MANUFACTURED IN U, S. IN 1923! LAWYERS SMILE NEW YORK.—it is estimated that during 1923, 43 states enacted 15,000 new laws. During the same period, according to Nassau in The Wall Street Journal, congress en- acted 300 new measures while towns, cities, and counties added 200,000 more laws and ordinance He states that the interpretation of these laws by federal and state supreme courts in a single year re- quired 650 volumes of law reports. ‘The passion for mass production seems to have Infected all sides of the capitalist state, SUBSCRIPTION RATES THE DAILY WORKER. Entered as Second-class matter September 21, 1923, at the Post Office at Chicago, Illinois under the Act of March 3, 1879. MONDAY, MAY 19, 1924 In Chicago, by mail, 8.00 per year. Outside Chicago, by mail, $6.00 per year. = CLEAR THIS UP! John L. Lewis, whom Frank Farrington’s men used to call the “Steel Trust” President of the United Mine Workers is coming to Peoria to talk against the “Reds.” This is the first time Lewis has attempted to address an Illinois miners’ meeting since Frank Farrington made his sensational charges that Lewis and his associates were paid by the mine owners for expelling Howat and received sums of $100,000 and $650,000 respectively from Kentucky op7rat- ors and Pennsylvania non-union operators for betraying the workers during the 1922 strike. Lewis has never answered these charges. Instead he made peace with Farrington against their common enemy, the rank and file. Nor has Farrington answered the charge made by Lewis that W. J. Lester made a deal with him for the operation of the famous Lester strip mine at Herrin. These charges are contained in a resolution presented by Delegates Freeman Thompson and John J. Watt incorporat- ing the Lewis-Farrington correspondence. LEWIS AND FARRINGTON ARE BEFORE THE BAR OF LABOR. LET THEM ANSWER. FITZPATRICK GOES BACK TO GOMPERS’ POLITICAL CAMP Gets Federation To Quit Farmer-Labor Party “Politically, we cast our lot with the American Federation of Labor,” concluded President John Fitzpatrick to the Chicago Federation of Labor in its meeting yesterday, when the labor leaders decided to aband6n indepen- dent political action in favor of the Gompers non-partisan political pro- gram. Fitzpatrick recommended to the Federation that it cease all activities for Farmer-Labor movements and re- turn to the A. F. of L. policy of re- warding friends and punishing ene- mies. His recommendation was adopt- ed after g@ fight in which J. W. Johii- stone, delegate from a painters’ local union, and one of the leaders of the Trade Union Educational League, led the opposition to Fitzpatrick’s plan. Johnstone Hammers Betrayal. Johnstone charged that the presi- dent’s recommendation was but a pre- lude to the endorsement of the cam- paign of Governor Len Small for re- election. He condemned the idea of the Federation’s ceasing to back inde- pendent political action at a time twenty-one major political scandals involving the two old parties were arousing the workers and farmers to a pitch where they were sore and dis- gusted. Johnstone pointed out that the old line politicians have been caught red-handed in the act of steal- ing the nation’s resources. He showed that the time was never more favorable, or the need greater, than now for the formation of a real polit- ical party of workers and farmers, and that the Chicago federation would make a great mistake in with- drawing its support at this time. Fitzpatrick had claimed that the “only bona fide Farmer-Labor party was that formed in 1919 by the Chi- cago Federation of Labor.” He said that since that time many parties have sprung up until the air is thick with them, and that the groups are irresponsible and unreliable and do not represent the farmers and work- ers they claim to. Fitzpatrick answered Johnstone's demand for continued support of the Farmer-Labor movement with a per- sonal attack. Some misguided labor faker shout*| ed “Get out!” to Johnstone when he got up to gét a drink of water in the corner of the room. “Like hell I'll get out,” Johnstone retorted, and stood his ground. Johannsen Praises Militants. Anton Johannsen, active member of the committee of fifteen which inves- tigated State’s Attorney Crowe, cor- rected Fitzpatrick’s statement that the Johnstone group had been disrup- tive in the garment workers’ strike. Johannsen pointed out that the mili- tants had been among the most active directors and participants in the la- dies’ garment workers’ strike and had in no way gone against the policy of the union officials in charge. Treasurer Kennedy reported that $200 had been collected from local unions for the upholsters’ union ap- peal and $1,062.75 for the garment workers’ strike, HUNGRY, STEALS ROTTEN POTATOES; MURDERED BY “DICK” The theft of a few rotting pota- toes, to which he was driven by hunger, cost John Bigol, 44 years old, his life. Bigol was shot thru the heart and killed by Dewey Nor- man, detective, when he attempted to pick up the culls which truck- men unloading cars in the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul yards at Mor- gan and Fulton streets had discard- ed as unfit for human consump- tion. Only police intervention saved Norman from lynching by an infuriated mob of railroad workers. Bigol, who lived at 826 North Ra- cine avenue, had been out of em- ployment for some time. He was married and the father of two chil- dren, for whom he was unable to provide. By special grace of the railroad authorities, poor people of the yards district are permitted to pick up the discarded vegetables. Norman is said to have held a long-standing grudge against Bigol. The evidence of all bystanders re- futes Norman’s statement that Bigol ran after he had been ordered to halt. Norman was taken to the Des Plaines street police station, where he is being held. Murder may be charged against him. The inquest will be held today at 1313 West Chicago avenue. FOOD WORKERS’ ORGANIZATION SPREADS 105. S. Bosses’ Association Gets Union Demands The strike of the Amalgamated Food workers against the 12-hour res- taurants of the North Side, is attract- ing many workers to the organization. Meetings of restaurant workers have been held on the South Side and the workers have expressed a willingness to strike as soon as possible. The un- ion has advised them to wait till the workers of the North Side have achieved a victory. The officers point out that if the South Side workers wait, they will be able to point to a real victory achieved by their organ- ization and so shorten the period of their own fight. The fight for decent hours and con- ditions in the North Side restaurants is going merrily on despite the excited efforts of the bosses to chase the pick- ets and call in the police. The 17 in- junctions issued by Judge Hugo Friend do not seem to have any effect on the strike. The Amalgamated has placed its de- mands before the Restaurant Associa- tion of Chicago, and the officers of the association have promised to call the attention of the members to the demands and see if there is a possibili- ty of securing a settlement, The owner of the Virginia Grill, at 26th and Indiana avenue, seeing that the union spirit was spreading among the South Side workers, came to the union and signed an agreement, NEWYORK AND PHILADELPHIA FIGHTS VOTED | Workers’ executives to the conven- Machine Makes Vicious Attack On Radicals By REBECCA GRECHT (Special to The Daily Worker) BOSTON, May 18.—The next battle front of the needle trades industry will be in New York City, if the General Executive Board of the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Un- ion, carries out the instructions of the convention delegates. With burst after burst of cheers the delegates authorized a general strike call to the 30,- 000 cloakmakers of the empire city and pledged the united sup- port of the organization to the coming battle: Strike of the dressmakers of Phila- delphia was also autnorized when time is opportune and the delegates from the numerous locals of the un- ion likewise pledged their support to chis coming battle. The clash with the Philadelphia em- ployers is deemed practically inevita- ble if conditions in the organized shops are to be improved and the large number of sweatshops are to be cleaned out. Deny Heafing to Expelled. An issue, closely related to the com- ing strikes in the metropolitan cities came be the convention when the appeals: inities made ity ~eport on the Chicago expelled members who have been leading the struggse in the Windy City. The recommendation of the appeals committee, wnicn was controlled by. the machine, was that the expelled members must apply in- dividually for reinstatement as new members and must be approved by the General Executive Board. President Sigman refused to grant the expelled militants a hearing be- fore, their fellow unionists for whom they have been battling on the picket line of S. Market street. Perlstein Seconds His Boss. Vice-president Meyer Perlstein, se* conding his boss, took the floor and threatened that the Chicago job was not yet finished. Perlstein, who has leaned heavily on the expelled mem- bers all thru the strike, appointing one to the most responsible post in the strike committee, in charge of picketing, and another to the post of Waukegan organizer, cried out that their strike activity had nothing to do with their right to enjoy the bene- fits of union membership. Many delegates militantly defended the expelled and demanded that the convention rectify the injustices com- mitted by the international executives but the report calling for individual applicafion in place of mass -rein- statement, carried. fe DAILY WORKER-Freiheit Issue. A tense moment came when the striking dressmakers’ local of Chica- go presented their resolution asking the convention to express its appre- ciation of the splendid servsces which the DAILY WORKER has given in their fight against the organized boss- (Continued on Page 2.) Studebaker Shut Down Expected June 1, South Bend SOUTH BEND, Ind., May 18.—The Studebaker plant here has not yet shut down, but has laid off a number of men and is laying off more from time to time. Complete shutdown is expected June 1, according too Milton Baker, a worker, The new model Studebaker re- quires certain changes in tools and jigs and the shifting of machinery, necessitating a partial shutdown. The company is installing a “pro- gressive track” system of production. It is all piece work. The shop is ar- ranged so that one man operates a number of machines and never has a chance to rest. The company de- mands production at the rate of the fastest man, the pace-setter. The Wilson shirt factory is run- ning four days a week now, instead of three. Business men are worrying about the prospective shutdown, as it means the loss of $40,000 business in = 290 Published ADMIT FEDERATION I$ POOR SUBSTITUTE FOR AMALGAMATION BOSTON, May 18.—Federation as an alternative to amalgamation has not worked, admits the report of the International Ladies’ Garment tion delegates. The report goes on to assert that the Needle Trades Alliance, feder- ating the International with the Amalgamated Clothing Workers, United Cloth, Hat and Capmakers’ union, the International Fur Work- ers’ union and the Journeymen Tailors’ union has accomplished “nothing practical.” Insincerity of the officials’ atti- tude is shown by the fact that while condemning federation they have resisted the superior policy of amal- gamation. Instead, they are stand- ing pat on the policy of expelling members of the Trade Union Educa- tional League, an educational or- ganization whose program of amal- gamation has brought it into conflict- with the officials who fear they will lose their craft union jobs if the needle trades internation united in- to one big industrial union. FUR WORKERS’ MEETING ENDS; REACTION RULES Will Send :Dalsnnies To July Convention The fur workers’ union convention ended its sessions at the Hote) Mor- rison, Saturday, after having made but one move that could in any way be called progressive—a resolu- tion against the Johnson anti-immi- gration bill. The convention re-elected all its old officers, Morris Kaufman, president; Andrew Vannes, secretary-treasurer, and Morris Silverman, first vice-presi- dent. It also voted to send three dele- gates to the Cleveland convention of the C. P. P. A., after defeating a mo- tion to send delegates to the June 17th St. Paul convention and adopt- ing a resolution in advocating the for- mation of a labor party. The conven- tion voted to give $300 to the strik- ing garment workers of Chicago after an appeal had been made by Anton Johannsen of the Committee of 15. The delegates got very excited when they were told about the wrongs suffered by the political pri- soners in Russia and forgot all about the political prisoners in this coun- try. The General Executive Board was instructed to work out an unemploy- ment insurance scheme for the joint board of New York City. The New York joint board has an agreement with the employers for unemployment insurance which has not been put in- to effect yet. “VET”: GRAFTER YELPS ILLEGAL AT INDICTMENT Col. Forbes Able To Hire Best Lawyers Charles A. Forbes indicted for graft in connection with the affairs of the Veterans’ Bureau of which he was formerly the head, will attack the in- dictment which was returned against him recently. The attack will be on the ground that the indictment was not legally drawn. Argument on the motions will be heard before Federal Judge Carpen- ter this morning in Federal court here. English Want Russian Patents. MOSCOW, May 18.—In connection with the interest shown on the part of English business circles for the win- ning of the Russian market, a num- ber of English inventors have applied to the Russian patent bureau for pat- ents to safeguard their inventors, mostly in the technical line. LISBON, Portugal, May 18.— Threats of a general strike and labor unrest was given as the cause of the declaration of martial law, in Oporto and Lisbon. PUBLISHING CO,, THE DAILY gton Blvd., C Daily except Sunday by 1113 W. Was By EARL (Special to The NEW YORK CITY, Workers convention ended here time when unions generally are The convention voted to sen ers and Workers. The came after a hot fight by the left wing for June 17th alone and for dealing with July 4th thru the action at St. Paul. Hillman Pleads for Labor Party. President Hillman made a strong speech for the Labor party. His ar- guments really, proved the conten- tions of the left wing. The majority report carried about bate, in which only lanotti, mittee, and the floor, June 17. Promise to Fight at St. Paul. Delegate Catta- Aronberg, speakers for for} Delegate were the Aronberg struck home when he pointed out the ebsurdity of the} Amalgamated, a pioneer in labor ad- vancement, waiting to see what came of the conventions, instead of going in determined to bring results, not wait for them. Hillman, in answer- ing, practically promised the conven- tion that the executive would partici- pate in a responsible manner in St. Paul. Like all other issues, this was fought between the left and center. The right wing had no position, but followed the administration. Even Delegate Beckerman, Socialist leader, bowed to the spirit of the convention by stating that the Workers party should be included in any Labor par- ty formed. The Local No. 2 situation was acted on by instructing the executive board to investigate violations of procedure or little, according to the temper and balance of forces in the executive board. Feeling in the convention is rected. |fore adjournment late Saturday. Left Wingers Nominated. Nominations for officers to be elected by referendum were made be- man, for president, and Schlossberg, for secretary, are unopposed. Among many candidates for the executive board are leading left wingers: Aron- berg, Lipsin, Cattalanotti, Capraro, Deluca, Jenkins. No startling advances or new ven- tures were made at this convention, It was essentially conservative. in tone. Yet not one step backward vas taken at a time when most unions are in a state of bitter reaction. The con- vention of the Amalgamated must be considered a forward-looking boost in the way of progress; a real victory. LEGION WILL “OBSERVE” PAX LEAGUE SCHOOL Promise Not ’ To Create Any Trouble The America Legion will send un- official observers to the sessions of the Women’s League for Peace and Freedom summer school at the Uni- versity of Chicago. This action fol- lows the polite “razz” the Legion got from President Burton of the University of Chicago. The Legion told Burton that they didn’t approve of the Peace League and Burton told them they didn’t know what they were talking about and suggested that they roll their hoops. The Legion has announced that they will not try to make any trouble at the League sessions. The Peace League officials hav: announced that they are a respecta ble group of harmless women who be. lieve in peace but are not “militant Pacifists.” The sessions of the school will last for two weeks and will be attended by women from some twenty-six countries, May 1§ 2 to 1, after a short and sharp de-/ | for the minority of the com: | and remedy them. This means much} that right wing abuses will be cor-| Hill-| Workers! Farmers! Demand: The Labor Party Amalgamation Organization of Unorganized The Land for the Users The Industries for the Workers Protection of the Forcign-Born Recognition of Soviet Russia H Price 3 Cents wo hica, KER » UL AMALGAMATED LINES UP FOR CLASS FARM-LABOR PARTY; DELEGATES GO TO JUNE 17 BROWDER Daily Worker) 8.—The Amalgamated Clothing with a victory for progress at a in the grip of reaction. d delegates to both the June 17th and the July 4th conventions and instructed their representatives to demand and work for the formation of a class party of Farm of Farm- action} — RUSS SOVIET ENDORSED BY PENN LABOR State Federation Also For Amalgamation (Special to The Daily Worker) ALLENTOWN, Pa., May 18.— Recognition of Soviet Russia and amalgamation were in- dorsed in resolutions passed at the closing sessions of the Penn- sylvania state Federation of Labor. resolution piereae TNStTucts The ficers of the federation to report to the next convention what steps they have taken to bring amalgamation into effect. The resolution on Russia_ calls the Soviet government “the most stable government in Hurope.” Condemn Sedition Law. The convention also condemned the Pennsylvania sedition laws, which are still in operation and sending workers to prison. A resolution indorsing Major Berry of the pressmen’s union for vice pres- ident was tabled after a vigorous fight, led by militants. Resolutions to send delegates to the June 17 St. Paul convention and indorse a state Farmer-Labor party and to affiliate with it were bitterly fought by President James Maurer. ‘Fascist Chief Yells | “Graft” at Oil Deal; | Party Gives Him Gate ROME, Italy, May 18.—Because he tried to expose the corruption which jled to the signing of a contract be- tween the Italian government and the |Standard Oil company, Massimo Roc- ca was expelled from the Fascist or- ganization. Rocca said that he had been ap- proached _by the Standard people, who tried to get him to use his influ- ence to swing the contract. The expulsion of Rocca is undoubt- edly the first sign of internal trouble in the Fascist organization. OLD PARTIES DROWNING W OIL, WARREN STORE TELLS AMALGAMATED NEW YORK, May 18.—That Sen- ator Robert M. La Follette will make the race for president as an independent candidate is the ex- pectation of Grand Chief Warren S. Stone, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. Stone expressed this hope in his speech to the sixth bi- ennial convention, Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America, which came from Philadelphia for a one-day session in New York, are going. to be drowned in oil, Stone. “Tho 72 per cent of the vot cast are by the Producing class, ly 27 union men are in cong and labor is to. blame because of indifference to the political wea He added that all we hat of the war w a heritage of hi and 23,000 new millionaires in months.” e'> Rau taR 2 AREER AK 3 How many of your shop-mates : THE DAILY WORKER. Get one them to subscribe today, Bd he w