The Daily Worker Newspaper, June 10, 1924, Page 2

Page Two TH E DAILY WORKER Tuesday, June 10, 1924 Big Trust Fights Labor With Fake Lay-offs JUST $8 AND NO’ REGRET TO SLAIN WORKER'S WIDOW While R. R. Gunman’s Case is Postponed Another postponement in the case of Dewey Norman, railroad detective, who shot and killed John Bajur for! the theft of a handful of rotten pota-| toes trom the Chicago, Milwaukee «| annual report to the stockhold-+ St. Paul yards, has been obtained by) Judge Borrellix of the Des Plaines street municipal court. The trial has been continued until June 19. Magnificent generosity was dis- played by the American Mill & Lum- ber Co., labor-baiting organization, when it mailed John Bajur’s widow the sum of $8, almost three weeks after the slaying took place. Bajur had been in the employ of the lumber company for three years, and the $8 represented his last wage. The letter, | which Mrs. Bajur showed in the court- room, expressed no regret at the death of their employe. Undertaker Wants $554. In the same mail which brot this letter to the stricken home came a bill from the undertaker who buried Bajur, amounting to $554. The payment of this and other debts is out of all question for Bajur‘s widow and two children. Their only support comes from a son of 18, Adam, employed by the Western Electric company, for $17 a week. “Adam will probably be laid off be- fore long,” confided Helen, Bajur’s 15- year-old daughter. “So many men have been laid off at the Western Blectric that nobody there feels his Job sate.” Widow Is Ill. Bajur’s widow has been seriously ill since her husband’s death. The long and constant delays of the trial of the slayer, Dewey Norman, have forced her to appear in court almost every week, only to be told that the case cannot be heard that day. Legionnaire Keeps Away. Lawrence Packwood, American Le gionnaire, who was instrumental in postponing the trial of Norman, ar- raigned on a charge of manslaughter, until an alibi could be managed, was absent from Judge Borrelli’s court GREEK OFFICIALS IN U.S. CAUGHT IN ARMY GRAFT Greece to Prosecute Consul, Ambassador NEW YORK, June 9.—For supply- ing 70,000 blankets of inferior grade to the army, the Greek consul here is to be prosecuted by the Greek gov- ernment. The Greek ambassador at Washington is also to be prosecuted for having supplied articles for mili- tary use at $1.85 when the same goods sold on the open market in America for 90 cents. Greek Public Incensed. Great indignation in the Greek par- Hament and in Athenian public cir- cles has been aroused by the scanda- lous affair, particularly after the shameful suppression of labor and Communist activities in Greece. Pub- lie opinion is strongly critical of the Greek government, which now shows its corruption because of the unwar- ranted arrest of 250 workers who at- tempted to hold May day meetings. Greek Bosses Insanely Patriotic. Members of the Amalgamated Food Workers’ union, who are following the strike in Chicago against the Greek restaurant keepers, who attempt to Play upon the national sentiments of their workers, are calling attention to the dollar-grabbing sort of officials HIRE AND FIRE SYSTEM EXPLAINS WESTERN ELECTRIC LAY-OF FS— BOSSES SQUEEZE WORKERS MORE With millions of dollars in that the Western Electric has WORKER is “slack times.” In ers it is evident that this cannot be the real reason. Profits Plentiful. The net income of the West- ern Electric company available for dividends and interests for 1923, totalled $10,079,471, after $18,239,365 had been charged to expense; $225,751,851 to the cost of merchandise, and $2,409,818 had been charged to taxes, In addi- tion, the sales of the subsidiary inter- national company, entirely owned by the Western Electric, were $36,000,000. The president’s report declares that at the beginning of 1924 unfilled or- ders aggregated $94,951,000, as com- pared with $62,069,000 at the end of 1922. “In all departments of your company’s works the prospects are for greater activity in 1924 than in and for billings substantially exceeding the high record of 1928,” says Du Bois. “The recent extraordinary growth of the Bell system has made the obligations of your company to provide the necessary facilities of great importance. In effect the prac- tical operation of the arrangement is that your company is that part of the Bell Telephone system which is re- sponsible for manufacture and sup- ply. It is the obligation of ‘your com- pany to supply these necessary facili- ties as the course of business may demand.” As a matter of fact, the Bell Tele- phone system is the American Tele- phone and Telegraph company, which owns the Western Electric company. Slaves Make Bosses Wealthy. The president admits that the em- ployes of the company were respon- sible for the fich harvest of profits in 1928. “The directors of the com- pany desiye to express and in no per- functory phrases their conviction that the exceptional record mate during the past year has been directly due to the extraordinary efforts made by all ranks of employes with a spirit of de- votion, courage and good will for which no words can express too high appreciation,” says Du Bois in his re- port. Du Bois evidently believes that un- fair exchange is no robbery. His effi- ciency system, which keeps produc- tion at the highest possible speed and keeps wages at the lowest possible level, has sapped the employes of their strength and endurance. But Du Bois is grateful, and in return for the life blood of his workers he expresses his appreciation. Du Bois digs the hard cash out of the bodies of his slaves, and in return slobbers mush about good will—so everything is squared up and the employes get a fitty-fifty break. Study of the past history of the company reveals the true reason. Pe- riodically, in the stringent and invet- erate efforts of the Western Hlectric to keep production high and still on a non-union low wage basis, the West- ern Electric lets their efficiency de- partment run wild. Hire, Fire, Re-Hire Game. The old game played in the ship- yards after the signing of the armis- tice, to lower the standard of living of the workers, is resorted to by the Western Electric at regular inter- vals. This game is known among the workers as “firing and hiring.” The rumor is spread py the company that @ general layoff is imminent. Men are laid off by the wholesale, This system is used to produce a psychology of panic among the em Ployes. Every Henry Dubb is taken which Greek workers are expected to The Greek food workers are learn- ing that the Greece they left and that thelr employers still hark back to is not a stimulating ideal and should be no cause for them to be loyal to Greek bosses in this country who overwork their fellow countrymen for tion. miserable wages. Deputies Won’t Trust Fascisti. ROME, June 9.—Extreme dissatis- |if they exceed the in, and, anxious to hold his job, speeds up his work, is submissive and docile in the face of the bosses’ complaints, and hangs around the foreman with a cat-like sme on his face. Accompanying the Western Electric system of making the men afraid of their jobs is the system of placing each man on a standard of produc. The men are paid on a low hourly rate--around 40 cents an hour —and are on the piece work bonus system, being paid piece work rates hourly rate. If the unfilled orders, and facing the most prosperous year of its existence, with the demand of the Bell System increasing so fast that a new large factory is being rushed to completion in Kearney, New Jersey—how can the fact laid off thousands of men and threatens to lay off thousands more, be explained. The excuse | given to those laid off, who have been interviewed by the DAILY consideration of the president’s SAN FRANCISCO BIG BUSINESS MUST WAIT LONGER FOR RED HAT ROME, June 9. — Archbishop Hanna, of San Francisco, Is slated definitely to be the next American cardinal, but his elevation is un- likely for several years, it was learned authoritively at the vati- can today. been made to the DAILY WORKER that when, after persistent dunning the foreman for a raise, they have their hourly rate slightly increased, only to receive a like reduction on the piece work end, or vice versa, At present the efficiency staff of the | Western Electric is busy eliminating employes wherever possible, discharg- jing those in departments marked for la wage reduction, and then rehiring the same men or others at the re- duced scale. The efficiency department is also connected with the spying and inform- ing work. It is a general complaint of all workers interviewed by the DAILY WORKER that in no other plant in the country are there as many inspectors, spies and informers as there are in the Western Electric company. These men overrun the plant, guarding the supplies of the company, making sure that the men do not loaf a minute during the whole day, and spying out and firing rebels or men who have been agitating for the organization of the union. The DAILY WORKER came across one man who had been discharged for de- claring to another, an informer, that he was in favor of recognition of Rus- sia by the United States. WORKER BOSSES SCRAPPED TRIES TO DIE IN JAIL 70-Year-Old Carpenter Had Diary of Despair (Special to The Daily Worker) ROCHESTER, N, Y., June 9.—“Do you mind if I die in here?” Seventy-year-old Smith G. Dilling- ham, by trade @ carpenter, stumbled into police headquarters, begging Lieutenant Muhs for an empty cell in which he could lie down to die, He had swallowed two bichloride of mercury tablets. Out of work for long months be- cause of his age, Dillingham had fin- ally given up the struggle to live. “People don’t want old carpenters,” he said, [ANGLO-SOVIET CONFERENCE IS MAKING PROGRESS Would Pay Pre-War Debts to British Subjects LONDON, June 9,—At the second session of the Anglo-Soviet confer- ence the Russian delegates announced that should the Soviet government be able to raise a long-term loan it would be prepared to set aside a lump sum to cover the pre-war debts of British subjects. The foreign office issued the follow- ing communique after the conference: “The conference met at the foreign office today under the chairmanship of Mr. Ponsonby. “The Soviet delegation announced that, having received the necessary data from the British delegation, they were preparing formulae for the settlement of the economic questions before the conference, and were already in a position to state their views in regard to pre-war debts and claims for personal injuries of a non- material character. “They also handed to the Britisit delegation a memorandum upon the restoration ‘of Russian credit on the British market, which the British delegation promised to examine with a view to subsequent discussion. Pre-War Debts Proposal. “The Soviet delegation stated that their government would agree, if they could get, with the assistance of the British government, a long-term loan, to set aside a lump sum to cover the pre-war debts of Russia to British subjects. “Claims in this connection would be considered only in the case of those who had held Russian bonds before March 12, 1917. Nor would the claims be admitted of those who had sub- sequently taken an active part against the Soviet government. It would be the policy of the Soviet government to give smaller claims priority. “The greater part of the loan would be spent in Great Britain for the purchase of machinery and other goods needed for the restoration of Russian industry and agriculture. “The British delegation said that it would be necessary to examine the Soviet proposals more elosely before pronouncing upon them, ‘but that it should be understood at once that any assistance which the Brit- ish government could give toward floating a loan would of necessity be very much limited, and that there could be no question of any govern- ment guarantee. ® Immediate Payments, “The Soviet delegation was asked to explain whether recognitton of pre- war debts involved admission of lia- bility for the principal and back inter- est of the debt and for the resump- tion of interest payments. “The Soviet delegation replied that their government was not prepared to repay the pre-war debt at its full pre+ war value. They considered that back interest could be written off, and that the principal should be reduced. Russian assets, they pointed out, had been reduced as a result of the war and of subsequent fighting on Russian territory. Also whereas at Previous conferences their creditors had been willing to grant a morato- rium, the Soviet government were now prepared to start payments at Extracts from the diary found by run; May 7: “It costs so much to live that I’m running behind. I worked two hours today, but the man didn’t pay me. I had enough money to buy supper.” April 6: “I can lay an oak floor faster than any other man on the job, but they say I'm too old to work. What can I do?” May 12: “I went for a job that had been promised me after I’d waited two days, but they found a younger man in my place and let me go.” Send In that Subseription Today! Old Warrior, Safely Pensioned, Scoffs at Pacifist “Traitors” WASHINGTON, June 9.—Maj. Gen. Barnett, retired, of the U. 8, Marine Corps, was applauded by the 125 per- sons attending a mass meeting for faction of the Italian people with the | Western Electric wage slave gets his | militant anti-pacifism, in the Interior government of Mussolini was ex-|production up to a certain amount he| Department auditorium, after taking Pressed in the vote of 107 representa- |immediately has either his piece work |pot shots at the patriotism of Wood- tives in the chamber of deputies, who |rate or his hourly wage reduced. dissented from the motion to express confidence in the Fascist dictatorship. Send in that Subscription Today. Low Wages Always. The Western Electric employes are row Wilson, Josephus Daniels, Con- gress and the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, He continually complaining about the low |said the W. I, L. “wants to do away wages. ‘U.S. ENVOYS MAY BE SILENT European waters, IN FOREIGN COUNCILS BUT U. S. GUNS MAY BARK IN FOREIGN PORTS |o'se cosa” oscrive °wisows cam Numerous complaints have|with the family, like they've done in Russia,” and that at its recent con- vention he “heard them talking about free love.” All who pledge themselves not to take part in war “should be Jocked up as traitors.” paign slogan in 1916 as political chi- [ASHINGTON, June 9—The destroyer Bulwer has been ordered to |°#nery, and could suggest that Daniels Albania, to assist American Minister Smith to maintain radio com- |!8 tormer chief, protected disloyalists | and to report on the revolutionary situation, the navy depart. advised today by Vice Admiral Andrews, commander of the Ameri- when Barnett asked that they be court-martialed. Being pensioned at a the police among his personal effects, |; once. “They considered, indeed, that limited payments to British bond- holders should be made as soon as a settlement had been reached. “The Soviet delegation urged that the British government should do what they could toward helping a loan which would make it possible for the Soviet union to settle pre-war debts, would restore the Russian economic structure, and would develop Anglo- Russian trade and thus help British unemployment. They pointed out that the participation of the Russian State bank would, among other things, give solid security for the loan. “The British ‘delegation repeated that any guarantee by the government was out of the question. They felt that too much importaneg, might eas- ily be attached to the necessity for a guarantee. “They hoped that the Soviet gov- ernment would find no difficulty in raising the money they required. Sympathetic Attitude. “The British government would, however, be prepared, so far as they had any power in the matter, to take & sympathetic attitude toward the ef- forts of the Soviet delegation to raise FOURTEEN WILKES-BARRE MINERS SACRIFICED TO COAL BARONS’ GREED WILKES-BARRE, Pa., June 9.—Fourteen miners are believed to have lost their lives In an explosion of gas in the Loomis mine of the Glen Alden Coal Company at Hanover, near here, according to state mine inspectors today. The body of an unidentified miner was recovered this morning, making 12 that have been removed from the s' others still missing, ft and no hope is held out for two Seven others were seriously injured. LAFOLLETTE IN |COOLIDGE KILLS NEARCOLLAPSE | BILL TO RAISE DURING SPEECH Physician Induces Him to Retire WASHINGTON, June 9.—Doubt that LaFoflette will be able to conduct a strenuous campaign for the presidency on an independent ticket was in- creased, after the Wisconsin senator, while delivering a speech in the sen- ate on his motion to take the Fish resolution making $10,000,000 avail- able for German relief, from the for- eign relations committee, was induced to retire from the chamber by Doctor Copeland. of New York, before he had time to finish his harangue. The Wisconsin senator worked him- self up into a frenzy as he spoke and fears were expressed that he would collapse. In spite of reports to the contrary, it is well known in Wash- ington that his health will not permit him to stand the strain of a strenuous campaign and if the political situation does not look good to him, his physi- cal condition may provide an excuse for withdrawal from the race. It is well known that the nomina- | POSTMEN’S PAY Strikes Another Blow for Wall Street WASHINGTON, June 9.—Dashing the hopes of 300,000 postal clerks, car- riers. and other employes, President Coolidge vetoed the $68,000,000 postal salaries increase bill, In a message to congress returning the measure without his approval the president said he could not sign it because of the- expenditure involved. “The government extravagance must stop,” he said. “The people of the nation are paying all that it is possible for them to pay. I have taken my position in relation to government economy, which I have stated and re- stated until it is well known. “T feel that that pogition ought to be consistent.” The bill would have increased sala- ries of 300,000 postal employes an average of $200 each, involving an ex- penditure of about $60,000,000. Attached to the measure as a rider was the cable corrupt practices bill, which would have provided a complete tion of William Gibbs McAdoo on the | system of regulation of campaign ex- Democratic ticket would so divide the | penditures, This also was killed by the ranks of the potential supporters of | veto. LaFollette that a race with any possi- bility of success would be out of the question. Many of the labor leaders are strong for Wilson’s son-in-law while others swear by LaFollette, Again, Gompers looks with ill-con- cealed hostility on any policy except unswerving allegiance to the Demo- cratic party which has jobbed so many of his friends. One of the last acts of the session Farrington Won by Illegal Practices, Fighting Miner Shows One of the Farrington opposition leaders in the recent District No. 12, United Mine Workers’ union conven- tion, Delegate Tumulty, is distributing was to have a committee of five ap- #2" enlightening leaflet on the last sub- pointed to watch expenditures in the next presidential campaign. The members of the committee are Borah, Iowa, chairman; Jones, Washington; Shipstead, Minnesota; Caraway and Bayard. Western Electric Ally Laying Off Workers in Erie ERIE, Pa., June 9.—Thousands of unemployed workers are walking the streets of Erie trying to find some place to work. The General Electric Co., part of the electrical trust of the United States, connected with West- ern Electric and the House of Morgan, laid off many of its workers and the Malble Iron Works and many smaller shops have followed suit since the first of the year. Most of the factories have signs out “No Help Wanted,” and where workers wait tive or six hours for a job they are likely to be told, “All filled up today,” when they get to the hiring window. American Red Cross Withdraws When China Recognizes Soviet SHANGHAI, June 9.—Shortly after the report of the recognition of the Soviet republic by China, the Ameri- can Red Cross unit stationed here, closed its doors. It, was also an- nounced that on orders from the state department in Washington all branches of the Red Cross in China were ordered closed, It is an open secret here that the Red Cross was used by the United States government for anti-Soviet propaganda and espion- age purposes, and the closing of its branches is taken as a re to China for recognizing Soviet Russia against the expressed wishes of the American government. Honest Bootlegger the Noblest Work of Modern Man PHOENIX, Arizona, June 9—Boot- leggers who peddle bum booze aren't 4 loan privately, and on this assur-| Violators of the law to the same ex- ance the Soviet delegation declared|tent as dispensers of the real s uff, that they would only bring forward|thinks Alex Mahan, arraigned in fed- this point again should they fail tojeral court on a charge of selling conclude negotiations in the manner| whiskey. proposed. “With regard to personal injury claims on both sides, the Soviet dele-|told Judge Jacobs. woh folks might call that stuff I whiskey, but I wouldn't,” Mahan “It I had real gation expressed itself in general| whiskey I'd drink it myself.” agreement with the method of settle- ment proposed by the British dele- gation at the last meeting, but sug- gested that there was no need to have recourse to arbitration except in of failure to reach agreement by di- rect negotiations between the parties, Send In that Subsoription Today. , i} case|trict of the A $50 fine got Mahan off. Labor Party Aids Miners. MONTREAL, June 9.—Montreal dis- jan labor party has i proces Mine Workers and : 3g = District 18, a financial relief to | hundred district No, 5 election returns. Tu- multy attempted to bring these facts before the convention but Farrington thundered him down. The leaflet shows that in every local union where Farrington received a heavy vote, practices not in harmony with the constitution, were employed. In Lincoln, local. unions Nos, 224 and 230, a legal investigator was present while voting was going on. In Spring- field, local unions Nos. 317, 999, 2385 and 24038, the ballots were taken from the polling place to be counted. In éuburn, local No, 2654, tellers were ap- pointed, In Chatham, local No, 3664, tellers were appointed and consider- able drunkenness prevailed at the polls. It May Be Lack of Religion but Think of House of David KALAMAZOO, Mich, June 9.—So crowded was the county jail today as a result of wholesale arrests of youths on statutory charges that au- thorities will not make further arrests in connection with charges by eight high schools girls until there is room for more prisoners, Sixteen out of the forty boys already arrested are high school students. Nearly a score of boys already have been sentenced to jail while two have been sent to the state reformatory at Tonia. The eight girls probably will be sent to the girl's industrial school at Adrian, Wheeler Thinks Man Who De-Oiled Him Should be President ST. LOUIS, June 9.—"I think the Democratic party should show its ap- preciation of Senator Walsh by giving him the highest honor within its power.” This was the comment of Senator Burton K. Wheeler today, after read- ing a resume of his Montana col- league's report to the ofl committee on the lease investigation. “The report is correct, as the facts are known to me. I believe Senator Walsh is the greatest constitutional lawyer in the senate,” -e — Hat Workers Start Credit Union. (By The Federated Press) NEW YORK, June 9.—Labor bank- ing in the form of a workers’ credit union is the latest departure of the United Cloth Hat and Cap Makers of North America in New York. Fol- lowing authorization by the state banking department on June 2 the Headgear Workers’ Credit Union has been opened at 210 Kast 6th St. Two|zens have members have subscribed |stand here, $2,500, which {6 the initial capital. {the morals Send In that Subscription Today, Send In that Subsoription ‘Today ' \V CONGRESS QUITS AFTER KICKING “CAL” IN PANTS Barely Missed Being an Oil Can WASHINGTON, June 9,—Congress has adjourned for the summer. It started stormily and ended mildly, It came in like a lion and went out like a lamb. The next regular meeting is scheduled for December. This season will be remembered par- ticularly for its spectacular investiga- tions, the ousting of a cabinet minis- ter, the dismissal of Daugherty and Burns, its opposition to the wishes of Calvin Coolidge and the rumpus cre- ated by the so-called progressives. The session opened last December with Democrats and Republicans equally divided so that the progres- sives held the balance of power. For days they blocked organization of both houses, finally electing Senator Smith, South Carolina, Democrat, to the post of chairman of the interstate com- merce commission over Senator Cum- muns, of Iowa, Republican. The Teapot Dome investigation cre- ated a national sensation but was eclipsed by the Daugherty expose which showed the attorney general, together with Jess Smith, Ohio gratter, the leader of a gang of crooks that stole, blackmailed and peddled “justice” to the highest bidder. Among the investigations of lesser note but of great importance were: the internal revenue bureau quiz, the veterans’ bureau probe and the delv- ing into the Texas land frauds. Thruout the whole session Congress treated Coolidge like a poor relation. His advice was ignored and his au- thority flouted. His own party spurned his leadership. Qoolidge sponsored the Mellon tax plan. Congress tore it to pieces and adopted the Democratic substitute. Coolidge opposed the soldiers’ bonus bill, Congress passed it over his veto. clusion law. Congress passed it an? Coolidge was afraid to veto it. i Coolidge tried to turn over Musclach of Shoals to Ford in return for the latwidely ter’s support for the presidency. Ae, but senate committee rejected the Fordon of bid. astruc The Norbeck-Burtness farm-diversifi- cation bill favored by Coolidge was Coolidge opposed the Japanese ex- ¢ 26 |killed by the senate. Coolidge favored the World Court. Republicans accepted the Pepper sub- stitute, which in turn was repudiated by the president, The last moments of the dying con- gress were given over to pre-election jockeying on the part of Democratic and Republican senators, The harm- less Walsh Teapot Dome report was not palatable even in its mild form to the G. O. P. They filibustered against it. No doubt the Democrats will make the air blue with Republican perfidy during the next election campaign tho graft ran riot in Washington under the reign of the autocrat Wilson as well as under the regime of the present White House weakling. One good result of the last session of congress was the insight it gave the working class into the corruption prevalent in Washington and the in- herent rottenness of capitalist govern- ment based as it is on a social system which robs the many in the interests of the few. The scandals and ex- Posures which resulted in the ousting of a cabinet minister, the dismissal of Daugherty and Burns gave the move- ment for a class Farmer-Labor party in the United Stat big impetus, G. O. P. Regulars Much Dough re On Senator B (By Federated Press) WASHINGTON, June 9.—After look- ing over the evidences of wholesale use of money by the administration forces, to defeat Senator Brookhart in the Iowa Republican primary of June 2, Senator Norris offered to pro- pose an investigation fnto this scan- dal. The state law of Iowa forbids the use of more than $22,500 in the nomination and election of a man to the Senate. The four-page newspaper issued by the Sweet committee and sent to 350,000 voters, and the circu. lars distributed lavishly in the same effort to discredit Brookhart, must have cost many times that sum. The fight was made on the charge that Senator Brookhart was a communist revolutionary, who would favor aboli- tion of the family and the home, and would promote conditions of degrada- tion of children and women. A letter to this effect was sent to every clergy- man in the state, ip the hope of de- stroying the faith of the farmers in» Soda Menaces Morals! MONTCLAIR, N. J.—About.