The Daily Worker Newspaper, May 29, 1924, Page 3

acc OR Thursday, May 29, 1924 FARMER-LABOR PARTY ANSWERS N.Y. SOCIALISTS Show State. Meeting Represented Labor NEW YORK, May 28.—In response to the article “Communists Absorb Themselves,” printed in the “New Leader” after the New York State Farmer-Labor convention at Schenec- tady, the United Farmer-Labor party sent the following letter to the So- cialists backing the “New Leader:” Many Labor Delegates. Dear Sir:—In the last issue of the “New Leader” you carry a story on the front page pertaining to the state convention of the United Farmer- Labor Party, held at Schenectady on May 18th, in which article, to quote your own words, you say: “The con- vention so far as is known, did not have a single delegate from a bong fide Labor organization.” In order to clarify the situation and prove to you that your statements are untrue, we wish to point out to you that the following are some of the bona fide labor organizations which were represented at the state conven- tion: Journeymen Barbers, Local 141, Buffalo; Niagara Lodge No. 330, In- ternational Association of Machinists of Buffalo; Iron Moulders’ Union, Local 84, of Buffalo; Progressive Lodge No. 17, Amalgamated Associa- tion of Iron, Steel and Tin Workers’ Union, of Buffalo; Buffalo Central Trade and Labor Council; the Iron Moulders’ Union Conference Board of Buffalo and vicinity; the Glove Work- ers’ Union of Gloversville; Interna- tional Hod Carriers, Building, and Commoh Laborers, of Schenectady; Bakers and Corséctionary Workers’ International Union, Local 221, Sche- nectady; Electricians, Local 2, affil- iated with the A. F. of L., New York City; Bakers’ Local 1, and Bakers’ Local 164, of the Amalgamated Food Workers of America; Cutters’ Local 10, of the Amalgamated Shoe Workers ot New York City; Fitters’ Local 17, of the Amalgamated Shoe Workers of America, of New York City; Ind. Journeymen Barbers’ Union, of Brook- lyn; Window Cleaners’ Protective Union No. 8; Paper Bag and Plate Markers’ Union, Local 107; Carpen- ters’ Local 2090, affiliated with the A. F, of L.; Carpenters’ Local of Yon- kers, and Bakers’ Local of Yonkers. We are merely sending you the names of some labor organizations that were at the state convention. In addition to these labor organiza- tions, the following political parties were represented. The Workers Party, the Progressive Party of New York, the Buffalo Labor Party, the Rochester Labor Party and the Com- mittee of Forty-eight. In fact, the only organizations that were not repre- sented at this convention were the 100 per cent reactionary organizations, controlled by the reactionary official- dom, and the socialist party and the organizations owned, controlled and bossed by the socialist machine, In spite of the fact that the social- ists were invited to attend this con- vention, they refused to do so, putting themselves therefore on record of standing by the old reactionary organ- izations in refusing to participate in a convention for the formation of a party for the exploited workers and farmers in this state. Of course, we don’t believe that you will correct your story or print this letter but we merely wish to call your attention to the fact that the United Farmer-Labor Party organized at Schenectady on May 18th, endorsed the call for the formation of a na- tional farmer-labor convention to be held at St. Paul on June 17th, and elected only one delegate to that con- vention and not many as your article states. Such attempts as these made by the “New Leader” will have absolutely no effect upon the workers of New York, who know the socialist machine for what it is, and’ will not allow them or anyone else to stand in the way of the formation of a real mass class Farmer- Labor Party in the United States. After all, what difference does it make which organizations were present, as long as they were truly representative of the working class, and knew what they wanted and how to achieve their aims, That is more than can be said about the groups behind the Cleveland conference. Fraternally yours, The United Farmer-Labor Party, - + Harry M. Winitsky, ° ST. PAUL, Minn. May 27.—Dele- gates to the Minnesota Democratic state convention, to be held here Sat- urday, were being selcted today in county conventions thruout the state, TH E DAILY WORKER Page Three Glimpses of the Illinois Miners’ Convention By KARL REEVES. (Special to The Daily Worker) PEORIA, Ill., May .28.—In the first few days of the convention of Dis- trict 12 United Mine Workers of America, one man, Frank Farrington, dominated the proceedings. At least one hundred of the delegates were “pay-roll men,” who, because of obli- gations to the president of District 12, voted for Farrington no matter what issue was involved. Farrington, as chairman, wielding the gavel vigorously and often, in the early stages of the convention was able to keep the half-formed sentt- ment against him in check. Another group of delegates who contributed to Farrington’s support were the old veterans of the union, some of them well past seventy years of age, such as old “Charlie,” who looked to Far- rington as the conservative leader. These men, remembering the earliest days of the miners’ organization, felt that present day conditions are at least better than pre-union days. Many of the old-time delegates are now past the age of active work in the mines. They took no real interest in any of+the proceedings except the old-age pension and the resolution re- lating to the hiring of miners over 45 years of age. Instructed To Fight Farrington The local unions instructed some of these men to vote against the ap- pointive power and to vote for the Howat resolution, the two issues which most concerned the rank and file. They no doubt, said, “Old Pop needs a vacation. Let’s give him a trip to the Peoria convention.” This indifferent “centrist” group, many of whom had never seen Frank Farrington, had looked up to him as the capable and much discussed lead- er of their union. They are the ele- ment which, before the lines between the Farrington machine and the rank and file were clearly drawn, defeated the resolution for the unqualified re- cognition of Soviet Russia and the resolution indorsing an independent political party of labor. The “Machine” Worked Smoothly. If the rank and file sentiment was not definitely crystalized at first against the Farrington machine, it can be said of Farrington that he was on the job from the start. George Mercer, chairman of the resolutions committee, while he endeavored to create the impression that he was a rank afid filer, not once brought in a@ report on a resolution that went counter to the Farrington machine. Mercer spoke to the delegates in a soothing voice, using their first names but he endeavored to sidetrack every progressive, constructive measure that came before the convention. Mer- cer is a Farrington appointee, bear- ing the high sounding title of “statis- tician.” Vice President Fishwick is another district 12 official who tried to use the mask of “fairness” while he knifed the rank and file in the back to the advantage of the Illinois Coal Opera- tors’ association. Fishwick made him- self entirely ridiculous before the con- vention ended. When Fishwick sub- stituted as chairman, he tried to imi- tate the biting sarcasm and tyrannical gavel swinging of Farrington. Hven the Farrington machine delegates, however, got a smile out of “Andsome Arry's’ futile attempt to control the convention. Another stalwart, who sat on the elevated stage, with the Farrington satellites, who attempted to cajole, in- cite, domineer, tyrannize, threaten and flatter the delegates into ~ vot- ing for the Farrington machine, was Secretary Walter Nesbit. After read- ing his report, which rumors says was written for him by the kindly legal department, Nesbit subsided to, the role more suited to him, of making the announcements and distributing the delegates’ mail. Nesbit came in handy to the Farrington machine, however, in so counting the votes as to have the DAILY WORKER reporter ousted from the convention, and making the vote on the appointive power close when in reality it went 3 to 1 against Farrington. William Hartness, a former member of the Socialist-Labor Party, who came briefly into the limelight as chairman of the committee on offi- cers’ report, tried his best to convince the delegates that “in the interests of democracy” they should vote for the retention of the appointive power of Farrington. In his argument, Hart- ness drifted all the way from Moscow and London to Springfield, Ill. Hart- ness pointed to the Soviet govern- ment as the most extreme form of de- mocracy, and he said, “Yet the Rus- sian government appoints men to power with like ideas.” He said “the labor party of England and the state government at Springfield—both dem- ocratic—use the power to appoint em- ployes of similar belief.” In the in- terests of “harmony and democracy,” Farrington’s appointee sought to re- tain his Job by inflicting sophistries on the rank and file. Attempt to Break Instructions. The regulars, together with” thelr tellers, and other “ward heelers,” knew that a majority of the delegates were instructed by their local unions to vote against Farrington on the ap- pointive power and the Howat issue. “I have been charged with packing this convention,” said Farrington, “But it is packed against me with in- structed delegates.” -The great vic- tory on these two issues was a real victory for the rank and file. Hard to Explain Smallism. Farrington instituted a well or- ganized campaign to induce the dele- gates to break faith with their mem- bership and vote against their in- structions. Farrington also went to great length to explain his alliance with Len Small in the primaries and the coming elections. In his report, commenting on the appointive power, Farrington says, “The matter of amending our district constitution so as to divest your presi- dent of his power to appoint workers RESTAURANT BOSS, SLUGGERS AND POLICEMEN FRANTIC WHILE REBEL GIRL SELLS HER PAPERS Two restaurant bosses, two policemen, and two sluggers gathered in mass formation and observing strict military disci- pline, couldn’t stop the sale of the DAILY WORKER by one girl agent. | So code telegrams are being sent out from the headquarters of the police department, and secret service agents are getting Cr enna ER eee on the job. Every policeman will be given an extra supply of cart- ridges, intensive drill practice among the force will begin, and martial law will be proclaimed in the region of the Sheridan restaurant, 3944 Sheridan Road, where yesterday a girl, sus- pected of being a special agent of the Soviet government, sold hundreds of copies of the Spe- cial Food Workers’ Strike Edi- tion of the DAILY WORKER. Boss Notes With Alarm. The first indication of something wrong dawned on the owner of the Sheridan restaurant when he noticed people looking in at the windows of the restaurant, and then turning away. That was bad. Further, among those who entered, some carried copies of the DAILY WORKHR. That was still worse. There emerged from the door of the Sheridan restaurant—first, the stomach, then the diamond stickpin, then the florid and rather flustered face, and last, the receding chin, of the prosperous owner of the Sheridan road restaurant, He glanced vicious- ly at the girl agent of the DAILY WORKER. But he didn’t stop. He wasn’t going to tackle this job alone. Five minutes passed. Thirty more Trade Union Educational League DANCING GAMES GOOD FOOD Tickets 35 Cents copies of the DAILY WORKER had been sold. Six copies a minute... . Bluecoats to the Rescue. From around the corner swung a column of police. First in the line of march was the boss. It cannot be said that he ran. It was a thing that couldn’t be done. But he led the as- sault gallantly, and with as much speed as his short fat legs could muster, Then came the police. They weren't mounted police, but that was the only military touch missing. In @ nearby drug store two sluggers waited. 3 The police ordered the sale of the DAILY WORKER stopped. The owner Produced a thick envelope stuffed with credentials—his guarantee of protection from the courts. For answer the girl agent pointed to the near-by stand from which the Tribune was being peddled, and went on selling antidotes. A Swearing Match. © The police argued, pleaded, and swore. The boss swore too. He called out his partner, and they matched vocabularies, It ended in a draw. Fifteen minutes passed. It was time for the bosses to go back and count his diminishing profits. The police scratched their heads, and went away to get recruits, The paper sold on. JOINT PICNIC- In Chicago May 30 OVE—GERMAN OLD PEOPLE’S HOME ALTENHEIM needed to carry on the work of our union is one that has been vigorously agitated by a eertain element and to such an extent that many of you have come to this convention under in- structions from your local unions. You should courageously vote your honest conviction regardless of instructions.” Squirms at “Renegade” Thrust. John Walker, invited to the con- vention by Farrington, devoted prac- tically his entire speech to an at- tempted justification of his desertion of the Socialist and Farmer-Labor Party. Walker attacked the DAILY WORKER for calling him a renegade Socialist, and then said, “I am a ren- egadé not only from the Socialist Par- ty, and the Farmer-Labor Party, but I am a renegade from the Knights of Laborers as well. Walker's speech ‘was devoted to an attempt to counter- act the influence of the DAILY WORKER on the mine delegates, and to put Farrington in a favorable light in spite of his desertion of indepen- dent political action of labor in favor of the corrupt Len Small camp. Wants Membership Disobeyed. Walker managed to add his voice to the general chorus which was try- ing to save Farrington’s appointive power for him by counseling the dele- gates to disobey the instructions of their local unions. Walker’s last words to the Illinois miners were, “I could not conscientiously cast my vote to injure our membership even if they expelled me for not carrying out tneir instructions;” the inference being that in the case of the appointive power the delegates should disregard their instructions and vote for the retention of Farrington’s appointive power. see ‘ Union “A Business Institution.” President Farrington’s report de- clares the Illinois Miners’ Union to be “A business institution engaged in the sale of labor power of its mem- bers and promoting and protecting their wages and conditions of employ- ment.” He held the Standard Oil Company up as a model. But thru Farrington’s report can be noticed the strain, which was played on by all of his illustrious invited guests—that nothing much can be hoped for in the future. When the delegates came to the convention they found that instead of furthering their interests, the Dis- trict 12 officials had tied their hands for three years with what the coal operators declare to be the “best con- tract we have ever signed with a union.” The delegates complained of scores of abuses to which Farrington bare-facedly answered, “nothing can be done about it.” Pass Buck on Vital Issue. A resolution demanding that the practice of the coal operators, which has become general thruout the Illi- nois field, of stopping the payroll and making the men lose many weeks’ pay, be ended, was referred to the next wage scale committee. The scale committee meets in three years, and Farrington coolly announced that PLUTE PRIVATE SCHOOL NEST OF SEX PERVERSION Harvard School Owner Makes Confession Mott Kirk Mitchell, 52, instructor and part owner of the Harvard pri- vate school here, has admitted acts of perversion, the office of State’s At- torney Robert E. Crowe, announced today, in connection with the investi- gation of the mysterious kidnaping and slaying of Robert Franks, 14-year- old son of a Chicago millionaire. “Mitchell confessed he had been guilty of numerous acts of perversion, and that he had been a psychopathic case since the age of seven,” an at- tache stated. He said the statement has been au- thorized by Crowe. Mitchell denied any connection with the Franks murder. Mitchell, and Walter Wilson, an- other instructor, have been in custody, “for examination” since last Thurs- day. Officers said that Wilson had told them Mitchell approached him with an immoral suggestion. A pupil at the private school also accused Mitchell of attacking him, Crowe's office stated. Following these accusations, Mitch- ell broke down and confessed to per- version, the offite attache said. How many of your shop-mates read THE DAILY WORKER. Get one of them to subscribe today. nothing can be done about it until then. The resolution demanded that it be incorporated in the contract that mine operators bond the payroll of the men, and thus prevent this gen- eral practice of thieving. “Nothing Can Be Done,” Other complaints made by the rank and file about the three-year con- tract were that men over 45 years of age are being discriminated against. Young non-union men are being hired, and join the union as new mem- bers, and old timers in the union sut- fer great distress. Farrington calmly explained that under the three-year contract the union is forced to take in new mem- bers. Farrington declared that it states in the contract that the opera- tor shall have the sole right to deter- mine who he shall hire. Farrington declared he thot when the agreement was signed that only members of the union were to be hired, but he found out after that the operators inter- preted it to mean that non-union men also, even bosses, can be hired, and must be taken into the union. He re- peated. his overworked phrase that nothing could be done about it for three years. How About Compensation? Still another general complaint from all sections of the rank and file is that the compensation laws are in- adequate. Numerous resolutions were presented demanding that the con- vention go on record for the Ohio compensation law. It was pointed out that insurance companies in Illinois are making millions of dollars on miné injuries which rightfully belong to the miners. But George Mercer, chairman of the resolutions commit- tee, presented a substitute commend- ing the legal staff for the good work they have done in having the Illinois law, and Mercer himself declared that while the Illinois law was not per- fect, it was a whole lot better than nothing. The Farrington machine tried to block material constructive progress. To do this, they endeavored to show how much better off the miners are now than they used to be. Murray, Green, Lewis, Olander and Walker spoke so much in the same vein that by the time Lewis was put up to speak only a few of the delegates showed any interest in what he said. The same joke—that of a check-weighman falling thru one of the ineffective screens when the union was newly formed—was told by three different speakers, see Real Issues Before Miners. What were the big issues which face the Illinois coal diggers at this convention? Forty thousand miners in the state of Illinois are without employment. Coal is being bought at a cheaper rate from the non-union coal operators. The miners of Amer- ica still work under the ten-hour day in the non-union fields and the eight- hour day in the union fields, altho the British miners have achieved the six- hour day. ; Cheap Production for Bosses. How has Farrington proposed t meet the unemployment crisis in the coal fields? In his recent report, Far- rington tells us that “There is only one way to get more work for IIli- nois miners and that is to cheapen the cost of production to ‘the degree that will enable the Illinois operators to sell their coal in competition with coal mined in non-union and sparsely or- ganized districts where the cost of production is much cheaper than in Illinois. Respect for contract, elimi- nation of strikes in violation of con- tract, work when the operator has work to do, careful workmanship, load clean coal, reduce the amount of slack by careful shooting, give an honest (ays work, co-operate with the man- agement in doing the things that are right, do not antagonize, be on the square.” Close your eyes and it might be any 100 per cent chamber of com- merce president talking instead of the leader of a powerful union. It was noticeable that the illustrious array of talent brot in to defend Far- rington, while they were excusing him and the international for - their inaction, took plenty of time to knock the Progressive Miners’ committee. Progressives Versus Bureaucrats. The Progressive miners’ program, which formed the central theme of Howat’s address to the convention, was the only aggressive, constructive and hopeful note struck at the min- ers’ convention. John L. Lewis spent two and one- half hours reviewing the past accom- plishments of the miners’ union, tell- ing the Illinofs miners how powerful they were, and telling them how im- possible it is to organize the non-union coal fields. Lewis, in opposition to the Progressive demand for a six- hour day, told the miners to be satis- fied with an eight-hour day. William Green, secretary of the In- ternational Mine Workers’ Union, instead of making the progressive de- mand that in times of unemployment the hours be shortened so that the industry can employ all its workers, advocated ‘cheapening the cost of pro- duction and the doing of better work so that the mine operators would be better satisfied. ‘ee Can’t Organize, Cry Fakers. Instead of proposing an aggressive drive for bringing the non-union coal fields into the union, Lewis and Green and Phillip Murray, the international vice-president, told how impossible they had found it to organize the non- union fields. Questions, however, brot out the fact that where aggressive campaigns have been put on, as in such parts of West Virginia, these fields have been successfully organ- ized. Each problem that came up for dis- cussion revealed the only advocates of a practical solution to be the pro- gressives. It was this group and a few others, who fought for progres- sive measures thruout the convention, and gave hope for greater forward moves by thé Illinois miners in the future. ) SILENT LEADER IN WHITE HOUSE IS SILENT BECAUSE HE IS DUMB WASHINGTON, (Special to The Daily Worker) May 28.—Seasoned Washington reporters smile cynically as they send stories over the wires extolling the leadership of the “silent man in the White House.” G.. 0, P. voters who inherited their political convictions read the drivel ap- provingly and mutter “Thank God For ‘Cal’.” Observers sent to the Capitol by big dailies tear the man of straw to pieces, the man who is supposed to be leading the coun- factual Ota Mean ab ein it ah try out of the political and eco- nomic wilderness. They find no such man in the flesh. He ain’t there and that’s all there’s to it. Calvin Coolidge is no myth of course. Please don’t misunderstand me. He has being. He eats, drinks, sleeps and takes his stroll thru the business section of the city in the early days of the morning. His head is not set on his shoulders at a jaun- ty angle. His face is furrowed, par- ticularly when he feels that he is being observed. He says nothing. Even members of his own party, fear that his silence {s due to chronic emptiness of the brain. The politicians who run the G. O. P. machine blame Congress for the slump in business. They try to lift the blame off Calvin's shoulders. ‘Things would be even worse, they say, “but for the genius in the White House.” “But if this man {is a leader,” say the cynics, “why does not some- body heed his words or his desires?” Nobody, does, excepting perhaps, his butler. It is freely admitted here, that there has not been so much confusion in Washington in the last twenty years. There is no firm hand at the helm. The man who claimed the credit for breaking the Boston Police Strike would not be trusted by hardened poli- baby carriage. They do not say this out loud of course, for publication, but they give expression to their in- nermost thots over the cigars and the moonshine. Smoot and Lodge, Harrison and La Follette, famous leaders who are cre- dited with possessing political intel- ligence, are neither here nor there. That is, metaphorically speaking. Lodge and Smoot are in the Senate. The former is used these days merely for an attraction. Visitors from Konk- honk or Oshkosh, when shown over the historic spots of the capitol, are not allowed to go back to the village drug store without getting a good look at the representative of the Sa- cred Codfish, the Seer of Nahant. But outside of that, Lodge does nothing but look wise and occasionally quote Shakespeare. La Follette is becoming a blurred point of interrogation on the political map. Coolidge got so many kicks in the pants from Congress recently that he is thinking of wearing a coat of mail. Leadership! There is no such ani- mal in Washington. Coolidge may get by as long as he keeps his mouth shut. But even silence has its limit. The opinion is now growing that Cool- idge’ lence is not due to wisdom, Ucians with the destinies of a loaded | but to mental bankruptcy. KLEAGLE YOUNG DEFENDS SLAYERS ‘OF JACK SKELCHER Wants Cowardly Killers To Go Scot Free HERRIN. Ill, May 28.—S. Glenn Young, Kleagle of the Ku Klux Klan and anti-labor gunmen, is trying to head off any prosecution of the K. K. K. who assassinated Jack Skelcher on a lonely road near hear. Young's defense of the slayers is his: unsupported assertion that Skel- cher was in the party that fired at his car near Marion, IIL, several days ago, wounding him in the leg and his wife in the head. Whether Young's feudist argument is successful de pends on the strength of the Klan in the southern Illinois district. Cold-Blooded Murder. Skelcher’s friends deny that he had anything to do with the Young affair and charge that the assassination was a cold-blooded murder, They say that Young has been threatening to get Skelcher for a long time, because of the latter’s resistence to Klan dom- ination of Williamson county. Young is now under $220,000 bond on 55 charges for his part in the Klan’s raiding and shooting in the Herrin district. These raidings were advertised as “prohibition” raids, but in reality, they were intended to ter- rorize the organized miners. Skelcher was murdered by Ku Klux Klan constabulary. A fusillade of shots was fired in Skelcher’s car, piercing his body in three places, King Tut May Be Good Husband But Was A Poor Lover James A. Stillman had nothing on King Tut as a perfect lover, said How- ard Carter, famous Tutologist, who is here to recuperate from the expenses incurred by him in helping to dis- cover that ancient luminary’s last resting place and throw light on his historic past. Mr. Carter being in the presence of ladies, and the Windy City weather giving indications that spring was somewhere about a year off, the ex- plorer’s fancy turned’ lightly to thots of love. He picked on King Tut for his theme, tho he could have picked up hundreds of worthier subjects within the confines of the steel quad- rangle which is the Loop. However, there is something in- triguing about Egypt so the explqres wy took his hearers in fancy to the p* mids. Tut was devoted to hie wits, said Mr. Carter. “Tut, Tut” mut- tered the idle wives of tired business men, “what a perfect brute? How could he be so selfish?” Mr. Carter waxed legalistic. “I think,” he went on as if talking to a jury of his peers, “that the evidence will show King Tut caught in the act (by the painter) of caressing his wife’s hand. Another picture shows him looking with longing eyes at her.” The wife was not behind the times, either. Mrs. Tut is shown whisking specks of dust off Tutty’s robes. Mr. Carter did not specify whether she used’ a whisk broom or a rolling pin. “Those were the days when love was love,” Mr. Carter raphsodied, “when man and wife lived together and died together.” Most of Mr. Carter's fair audience thot it extremely unfair to compel people who lived together, to die together. It was too much. The verdict of the jury was that while King Tut may be alright in his day, his technique was too crude for mod- ern times, Bill Raising Wages . Of Postal Workers Passes Lower House (Special to The Daily Worker) WASHINGTON, May 28. — The Edge bill, increasing salaries of 300, 000 postal service employes, was passed today by the senate by a vote of 73 to 3. It now goes to the house, Eestimates as to the cost of the in- crease range from $60,000,000 to $85,000,000. Clerks and carriers’ sal- aries would be raised about $300 a year, x Farmer-Labor Office Open KANSAS CITY, Mo., May 28.— A Farmer-Labor headquarters has been established here at 115 Missouri ave, A political library will be built up and data on conditions in the state filed. It will be open all day and in the evening and may be used for friendly discussions. bh Every new subscriber increases the influence of the DAILY WORKER, Young Workers League NOTED SPEAKERS SPORTS FOREST PARK