The Daily Worker Newspaper, May 22, 1924, Page 1

=> “—_ ~~ ““ifiost of the- THE DAILY WORKER RAISES THE STANDARD FOR A WORKERS’ AND FARMERS’ GOVERNMENT Vol. II. No. 56. SUBSCRIPTION RATES THE DAILY WORKER. _ In Chicago, by mail, 8.00 per year. Outside Chicago, by mail, $6.00 per year. 29 Entered as Second-class matter September 21, 1923, at the Post Office at Chicago, Illinois under the Act of March 3, 1879. THURSDAY, MAY 22, 1924 Published Daily except Sunday by THE DAILY WORKER PUBLISHING CO., 1113 W. Washington Blvd., Chicago, Ill, Workers! Farmers! Demand: The Labor Party Amalgamation ‘ Organization of Unorganized The Land for the Users The Industries for the Workers Protection of the Foreign-Born Recognition of Soviet Russia Price 3 Cents ILLINOIS MINERS BACK HOWAT Morgan Dictates to France |A Great Victory! 170 GREEK BOSSES GET COURT AID Judge Friend Issues New Injunction When the 17 injunctions is- sued by Judge Hugo Friend failed to stop the picketing of the Northside Greek Restau- rants by the striking members of the Amalgamated Food Workers, the Greek bosses de- cided to band together and have just one association and one injunction try to stop the organ- ization of the food workers. Judge Friend has once more proved himself friend only to the Greek bosses by giving them another injunction. 170 Bosses Scared. The injunction was given on May 19 to the “American Association of Greek Restaurant Keepers against the Amal- gamated Food Workers (an indepen- dent labor union), Hotel and Restaur- ant Branch, Chicago.” Union officials have just been served with the new injunction which is intended to pre- vent them from acting in over 170 Greek restaurants situated all over the city. A. Askounts is president of the new association of the Greek bosses. He has a restaurant at the corner of N. Clark and Division streets and runs an extremely profitable real estate business on the side. John Papas is treasurer for the Greek bosses. He has three restaurants on the further north side. Political Lawyers Lead Bosses. to the new injurction have never been approached with a union contract and some of the places are quite un- qnown to them. Forty-four had con- tracts with the union. The Greek bosses, led by their counsel, Paul Demos and Felix J. Streyckmans, hope, the Amalgamated Food Work- ers say, to put an end to the union’s fight for the six-day week and eight- hour day in the Greek restaurants of Chicago. Fight Boosts Union, Instead of stopping the work of the labor organization, the new injunc- tion has actually stimulated interest in the union and many new members are coming in to join the fight for de- cent conditions in the Greek restaur- ants. , Most of the workers in these restaurants are Greeks) themselves and strongly resent their exploitation by their countrymen. They have to work seven days a week and 12 to 14 hours a day now. The Amalgamated Food Workers held a big mass meeting last night at their headquarters, 214 N. State street, to consider what tactics to de- velop for the carrying on of their work and for the defeat of the Greek bosses’ newest injunction. Paul Demos one of the lawyers rep- resenting the Greek restaurant bosses told the DAILY WORKER that the main objection of the association he represented against the union is that the Amalgamated Food Workers’ Un- ion is not a “regulax” labor organiza- tion. He said that they were only “pretending to be @ labor organiza- tion.” “They have no counection with the Federation of Labor and never did have,” he said. “Their whole plan is a conspiracy against the Greeks of this city.” Representatives of the union in answering the statements. of Demos, said that their union is an indepen- dent industrial organization which ad- mits to membership all workers in the lunch rooms and restaurants from the Gish washers to the cashiers and the chefs. The reason attention has been paid especially to the Greek restaurants is because they pay very poor wages and work their help long hours and give them the poorest sort of food. The union is organizing the work- ers in the Greek restaurants be- cause they are rebelling against the conditions imposed by their bosses not because the union has any feel- ing against the members of any na- tionality, union leaders say. Norwegian City Takes Street Cars, KRISTIANIA, Norway, May 21.—The street car system of Kristiania consist- ing of two companies, has been brought under city control thru the formation of one new communal- private company. Of its fifteen direc- tors 10 are named by the city, 5 by private stockholders, the union officials, }. niaaent ie The Illinois coal miners have spoken. They have de- clared for Alexander Howat and against the John L. Lewis- Frank Farrington reactionary regime in the United Mine Workers of America. It was an historic moment in the Peoria Convention when the resolution went thru, practically unanimously, de- manding “a fair and impartial trial for Howat” at a special convention. * * * ae That is all that Howat demanded at Indianapolis at the international convention in February, But when Alex Howat tried to mount the stage at Tom- linson Hall, to tell his story to the delegates, he was pushed off the platform by the gunmen and thugs of the Lewis dic- tatorship in the union. Lewis was all-powerful at Indianapolis, behind the guns of his own thugs, just as he was at the Scranton convention, in the anthracite fields, and at the Pittsburgh convention of western Pennsylvania miners. But the district conventions of Kansas and Michigan, and now Illinois, the largest in the miners’ jurisdiction, has taken its stand with Howat, in the fight for the special con- vention to see that justice is done to the bravest fighters in the organization. * * * * Howat was in jail in Kansas when he was expelled by Lewis without trial. Howat was in jail in his fight on the tyrannical Kansas industrial court, fostered by Governor Allen. Since Howat went to jail and came out again, Governor Allen has been defeated for re-election in Kansas, the indus- trial court, weapon of the open shop bosses against the labor unions, has been put on the shelf, and now Lewis, with Far- rington, is before the bar of the miners’ union, to answer for their crimes, the biggest crime being the building of an alliance with the mine owners against the most courageous elements in the miners’ union, * * * * At first Frank Farrington, president of the Illinois coal miners, stood with Howat against Lewis. But, Lewis took Farrington up on the mountain, showed him the cross of gold, secured his pledge to forget their differences, and since then Lewis and Farringt ave been as twin brothers against all progress in the fight of the miners against the mine owners, * * * a Farrington said he had to quit Howat because Howat met with the Progressive Miners in Pittsburgh now almost a year ago. This was a crime in Farrington’s eyes. Farrington, in order to bolster up his tottering position, has used all the arguments against Howat and the Progrés- sive Miners, that Gompers uses against the militants in the American Federation of Labor, that Sigman, in the Inter- national Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union, and Kauffman in the Furriers’ Union, uses against the vanguard in these two organizations; that reaction in all labor unions uses to make war upon all progress. Howat is for the class farmer-labor party. Farrington is for the republican party of Wall Street, and for the re-election of the republican governor of Illinois, Len Small. Howat is for the workers. Farrington is for the political agents of the bosses and the big capitalists. * * * The coal miners’ delegates at Peoria knew all these things. All the soft and hard words of International Presi- dent Lewis, in a two hour speech, couldn't move them against the facts they knew. All cajoling of Farrington, and his agent Mercer, could not budge them. They had learned their lesson well, the lesson that the strength of the union is built upon the intelligence and the will to act of the broad masses of the membership, and not upon the hesitating, standpat policies of a vascillating leadership, that seeks to curry favor with the employers at the expense of the inter- ests of the rank and file. * * * It was a great day when the United Mine Workers of Illinois, a district with 100,000 members, stood with Howat and progress, and sc Lewis, Farrington and reaction. it was a great day not only for Illinois, but for the coal miners thruout the whole nation. The fight for the new day will now be carried forward everywhere that coal is mined with a greater enthusiasm than ever before. Howat is up in the front with the union's standards, helping carry the colors of workingclass emancipation in the right direction. Lewis and Farrington are being pushed to the rear and into the discard, hae Thus does organized labor make progress. Thus does the Miners’ Union march on to greater victories, to more pire ge ye triumphs, both against the enemies without, and against the enemies within. © ~ : MINNESOTA BROTHERHOOD OF LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEERS VOTES _TO BACK UP JUNE 17TH MEET ST. PAUL, May 21.—Endorsement and participation in the June 17th na- tional convention of the farmer-labor movement is recommended to all of the 26 divisions in Minnesota of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers by the brotherhood’s state legislative board, Chairman W. W. Royster of the board is a candidate for governor in the Farmer-Labor primaries, A delegation from the engineers then called on William Mahoney of the June 17th committee on arrange- ments and pointed out that “Labor,” the national publication of the standard railway unions, had make a mistake in attacking the St. Paul convention in its columns. -They asked that the matter be dropped and that harmony and success for June 17th be the watchword from now on, | NEW CABINET GETS ORDERS FROM “J, P.” “Socialist” Herriot Is| Told What’s What (Special to The Daily Worker) PARIS, May 21.—J. Pierpont| Morgan, head of the inter- | national banking house of Mor-| gan, will dictate the policies of | the new French government. | The first step towards forma- tion of a cabinet to succeed that of Premier Poincare was taken) at the Elysee palace today. Herriott Gets the Dope. President Millerand informed Edou- ard Herriot concerning engagements France made to J. P. Morgan in ex: change for the loan that saved the frane from collapsé a few ~ months | ago. Before Herriot, leader of the radical socialists, is formally invited to form a cabinet, Millerand wants to know the attitude of his party towards the agreement with Morgan. It is also necessary for the next premier of France to understand what France has promised the American banker. The socialist statesman who prob- ably will succeed Poincare, went on foot to the president's palace. Pre- ler..Péiggare drove up. and:.as-mo-| ment later ex-Premier Painleve, peace maker of the left arrived. The three were closeted with the president, who had spent the morn- ing consulting with his financial ad- visors regarding the exchange situa- tion and with M. Doumergue, presi- dent of the senate. Chief interest centered in the ar- rival of M. Herriot for his conference. “My line of conduct is clear,” the socialist leader said upon reaching Paris, the first time he has come to the capital since the elections. “I wish to follow out the logical conclu- sions of the electious and constitute a cabinet from the bloc of the left. “My policy will be open. There will be no secret communications. I will examine the situation tonight with my party’s committee. France has clear- ly indicated her political leanings and | ers went to Howat. HERE I$ RESOLUTION THAT WRECKED LEWIS- FARRINGTON ALLIANCE Here is the resolution which the Illinois Miners’ convention passed | with only half a dozen dissenting | votes, rebuking the Lewis-Farring- ton machine for their unfairness to Howat, and demanding a special in- ternational convention for the pur- pose of giving Howat a fair trial. The issues were clearly put be- fore the delegates. Lewis made ex- cuses to the delegates as to why he had not succeeded in putting into effect the rank and file platform of the progressive miners. Howat stood squarely with the rank and file for the organization of the non-union coal fields, for the six-hour day, for an independent working. class labor party, and for the complete progressive miners platform. The cheers and enthusi- asm and votes of the Illinois min- Here is the resolution: . The Howat Resolution. Belleville, Ill, February 20, 1924. To the Thirtieth Consecutive and Fifth Biennial Convention of Dis- trict No. 12, United Mine Work- ers of America: WHEREAS, The right of. all members to.a fair and impartial trial when charges are filed against them is a fundamental principle of trades unionism which must be jealously guarded if labor organiza- tions are to prosper and avoid se- rious and disastrous internal dis- sention, and WHEREAS, It is a well known fact that when the officials of Dis- trict No. 14 were. removed from office “in October, 1921, and their charter was revoked, that no charges were preferred against Howat and his associate “officers in accordance with the Constitution, nor have such been filed since and it is also well known that Howat and | his associates have never been ac- corded a fair trial, despite the fact that overwhelming numbers. of the membership desire that this mea- sure of justice be accorded them, and WHEREAS, When John L. Lewis arbitrarily adjourned the 29th Con- secutive and 6th Biennial Conven- fion on February 2, 1924, before the Howat case could be properly con- sidered, not only was a great in- justice done to the loyal fighters in- volved but also the seeds of dis- content and division were sown broadcast in our organization to I will respect them.” When Money Talks. After the conference at the Elysee, it was officially announced that Her- riot and ex-Premier Painleve had giv- en their pledge that rigorous equili- brium of the budget would be consi- dered an absolute necessity, no mat- ter what government succeeded that of M. Poincare, Leaving the palace, Herriot said: “We spoke only of France.” This was taken to mean that the composition of the new cabinet was not discussed at this time and that the convention had been confined to Millerand’s expose of the financial situation. The Franc Is Skidding. The condition of her exchange. is the most vital thing to France right now and already the franc has shown signs of skidding. The financial de- crees and the increased taxes—plus a very important loan of some $40,- 000,000 from Morgan—arrested a re- cent downward plunge of the franc. With a new government, socialist in character, coming into office, the fi- nancial stability achieved temporarily by Premier Poincare, may be lost. According to the Matin, J. P. Mor- gan and the financial syndicates which aided France during the recent crisis of the frane, wish to know just what the policy of the next. govern- ment will be. These bankers, says the Matin, had counted upon France pursuing a policy of strict equilibrium of the budget and now want to know if the new regime will renew assur- ances on this point. President Millerand was requested to inform Herriot and Painleve, in the presence of Poincare, how matters stood. a The premier called a cabinet coun- cil for today and the president sum- moned a ministerial council for to- morrow, all part of the elaborate ma- chinery of a change of regime in France, Every new subscriber increases the influence of the DAILY WORKER. such an extent as to threaten to disorganize and disrupt it, and WHEREAS, The only way this great controversy which threatens the life and health of our organ- ization, can be settled, is to thresh it out before a convention; therefore be it. RESOLVED, That District No. 12 of U. M. W..of A. demand that a Special Convention of the United Mine Workers of America be called in accordance with Article 13, Sec- tion 1, same to be called within three months for special purpose of siving a fair and impartial trial to Alexander Howat and his asso- ciates; and be it further RESOLVED, That in as much as it requires that five districts must request a Special Convention be- fore it can be called, that copies of this resolution be sent immediately to all the District Organizations with a request that they join with us in this demand for a special con- vention. Signed, JACOB PETRI, President JOSEPH PETRI, Secretary, Garment Workers’ Delegates Return From Conventions The Chicago delegates from the two conventions of the clothing workers which just closed in Boston and Phil- adelphia are expected to begin return- ing to town today. Many of the dele- gates to the International Ladies’ Gar- ment Workers’ Union convention in Boston, went from there to New York to confer with officers of the Inter- national about the strike situation here. Meyer Perlstein who is in charge of the Chicago strike of dress- makers is expected to return to Chi- cago this morning. The delegates to the Amalgamated Clothing Workers convention have re- mained in New York and Philadelphia to finish post convention business. ' (Special to The | PEORIA, Ill., May 21.—The Indianapolis, Ind. machine. trial.” in accord with the constitution, nor have such charges been filed since. It is also well known that Howat and his associates have never been accorded a fair trial, despite the fact that overwhelming numbers of the membership desire that this measure of justice be accorded them. The resolution further declares that, “When John L. Lewis arbitrarily ad- journed the 29th consecutive and biennial convention on February 2, 1924, before the Howat case could be properly considered, not only was a great injustice done the loyal fighters involved, but also the seeds of dis- content and division were sown broadcast in our organization.” Howat's Enemies Are Timid. In presenting a substitute motion, resolutions committee did not dare to declare themselves against | Howat in the face of the overwhelm- ing rank and file sentiment for him. Delegate George Mercer, in present- jing the substitute, declared that “al- |tho Howat made mistakes, the entire resolutions committee is in sympathy with him.” The substitute gave the impression that the Kansas matter was ended with the smashing of the Kansas in- dustrial court law, and declared in the belief that every union member had a right to a fair and impartial trial. Mercer, in defending the weak and meaningless substitute, which was fin- ally defeated by a vote of 185 to 261, took the typical Farrington position, behind well sounding phrases which the machine has now worn thread- bare. Mercer pleaded for “peace” and “tranquillit ‘good-feeling” and “solidarity.” He told the delegates they would appear “ridiculous” before the nation it they voted down his sub- stitute. He said, “Wait until the Howat case is decided by the inter- national executive board. Don’t be hasty or premature.” Thompson Wrecks Machine. The Farrington machine was blast- ed, however, when Delegate Freeman Thompson, Springfield sub-district president, told the convention, “Mer- cer pleads for the law of our organ- ization. He pleads that the consti- tution of the mine workers be upheld. But John L. Lewis did not uphold the constitution when he deposed Alex Howat as president of the Kansas (Continued From Page 1.) LEWIS-FARRINGTON CLIQUE GETS CRUSHING DEFEAT AT HANDS OF RANK AND FILE By KARL REEVE. Daily Worker) Illinois Miners’ Convention here | almost unanimously passed a resolution demanding a special con- vention of the United Mine Workers of America, to be called within three months, for the special purpose of giving Alexander, Howat, of Kansas, a fair trial and rebuking President John L, Lewis for arbitrarily adjourning the last national convention in After listening for almost two hours to President Lewis defend himself and the international officers of the Mine Work- ers’ Union, the convention, with few dissenting votes went on record in favor of Howat, and administered the first severe defeat since the start of the convention to the Lewis-Farrington Demand Impartial Trial. The resolution, “Resolves, that District Twelve, of the United Mine Workers of America, demand that a special convention of the U. M. W. A. be called in accordance with article 13, section 1, same to be called within three months for the special purpose of giving Alexander Howat and his associates a fair and impartial It declares that, “It is a well known fact that when the of- ficials of District 14 were removed from office in October, 1921, and their charter revoked, that no charges were preferred against Howat and his associate officers* FARRINGTON HAS WORKING CLASS REPORTER BARRED Lets Capitalie Scribes Scribble For Operators (Special to The Daily Worker) PEORIA, Il., May 21—Enraged by the stinging defeat and severe drub- bing it suffered yesterday at the hands of the delegates on the question of calling a special international conven- tion of the United Mine Workers to reconsider its action on the Howat case, the Farrington machine today launched a vicious counter-attack against the left wing and progressive delegates by forcing thru a motion to request the correspondent of the DAILY WORKER to leave the ses- sions. Thruout the convention the DAILY WORKER has proved a steel rod to the militant delegates determined to make the convention respond to the needs and demands of the rank and file of the United Mine Workers of Illinois. The move to bar the correspondent of the DAILY WORKER, the only labor daily represented at the convention press table, was carried, after a stormy debate, by a vote of 234-169. Farrington and his agents blamed the DAILY WORKER, which has been carrying complete stories of the ses- sions and which has been widely read by ¢the delegates attending the con- vention, for the one-sided defeat his machine and Lewis suffered yesterday on the Howat question. Farrington Begins Attack. The attack on the working class paper was introduced by a sham at- tack on the Associated Press. Far- rington opened the afternoon session by reading a letter from the “A, P.” correspondent insisting that the dis- trict president was wrong in an earlier criticism he had made against the “A. P.” despatches. Farrington explained to the con+ vention that he had no desire to do the Associated Press correspondent any injustice but that he was going to complain if the news of the con~ (Continued on Page 2.) RUHR MINERS REFUSE TO ALLOW SCABS TO COME NEAR THE MINES; STRIKE SITUATION DESPERATE BERLIN, May 21.—The tension owing to the increasing violence ac- companying the Ruhr strike is increasing. Communist patrols are picketing the mines in many sections. Miners are using force where necessary to pre- vent scabs from entering the mines. More than 600,000 coal diggers are now idle. The Berlin government is helpless to cope with the situation. Coming on the hi of the break with Russia—only a commercial break it is true— the Ruhr strike is one of those straws that may be the last the German capi- back can withstand without breaking. lining up everywhere against the strikers. The agents of the cannot make much headway in the Ruhr where the workers are capitalists solid against the long workday which the fake boss arbitration board handed to them. Young Communists are taking an active part in the strike. Their pickets are everywhere and prevent scabs from entering the mines on any pretext even for the purpose of keeping the pumps going.