The Daily Worker Newspaper, June 18, 1924, Page 2

Page Two THE DAILY, WORKER Wednesday, June 18, 1924 St. Paul Chairman Flays Enemies of Convention GOOD OUTLOOK FOR FARMER-LABOR PARTY IN WASHINGTON, SAYS BOUCK By ALFRED V. FRANKENSTEIN, (Special to The Daily Worker) ST. PAUL, June 17.—The outlook for the Farmer-Labor movement in the state of Washington is better ndw than it has been in the last four years, William Bouck, president of the Western Progressive Farmers’ Association, told the DAILY WORKER. Four years ago the party polled a vote of 125,000 for governor, nosing out the democrats and running second only to the (Continued from preceding page.) bor government, is not a member of the Labor party that elected him, but of the Independent Labor party, an integral unit of the all-inclusive Brit- ish Labor party. Some of the timid, if not designing delegates, are also trying to raise the bugaboo of the Moscow dictatorship so-called over the American Workers’ party, an at- tack aping that made by Gompers and LaFollette. 4 Socialist Makes Attack. The spokesman of this tendency seems to be Walter Thomas Mills, au- thor of “The Struggle for Existence,” at one time a prominent member of the Socialist party. He still claims to be a member of the Socialist party, but came to St. Paul as the delegate of the California Non-partisan League, charged with being a paper organiza- tion. He stated that he and his fellow delegates were given the power to decide among themselves whether they would sit in the convention. But Mills was not slow in making his views known. His idea of a Farmer- Labor party was one utterly disasso- ciated with any taint of internation- alism. He offered no solution of the problem that would arise if the Unit- ed Mine Workers of America, affiliated with the World Mining Congress, con- trolled by the miners’ unions of Eu- rope, applied for affiliation with the Farmer-Labor party. This problem is expected to come before the conven- tion on Wednesday. Questions of Nominations. The other important committee is that on nominations. Whatever the developments, it is certain that Sena- tor LaFollette will be given an oppor- tunity to state his views on the ques- tion of this convention making him its nominee as candidate for presi- dent. MAHONEY FLAYS ST. PAUL FOES William H. Mahoney, chairman of the Committee on Arrangements for the National Farmer Labor Convention here, in greeting the delegates at the opening session denounced the enemies of the gathering as the “malignant op- position.” He continued in part as follows: “When this convention was first pro- jected, last November, it was never Pealized at the time that so many and such diverse obstacles would be en- countered. It was thought that it was the thing that every progressive ele- ment in America wanted and would Biauiy gers ths MailSse SEPPSTE 5s. “We have since learned, however, to our great surprise and sorrow, that we were encroaching on sacred ground and infringing the prerogatives of certain would-be-great-political leaders and organizations and instead of get- ting whole hearted and powerful sup- port, we have had to overcome the most energetic and malignant opposi- tion. LaFollette Couldn’t Kill It. “The character and extent of this very opposition have, however, had the effect of stimulating our desire and determination to see this convention through, even tho La Follette himself was inveigled into joining its enemies in the effort to kill it. “The idea or proposition of workers on the farm, and in the factory, and on the railroads, and in the mines, stores. and offices and school rooms, joining together in a great political Movement as uséful workers and wealth producers, for the purpose of vindicating their right to work and to enjoy the full proceeds of their “DAD” WALKER, HIT BY BLOOD POISONING, FORGED INTO HOSPITA (Special to the Daily Worker. ST. PAUL, Minn., June 17.—R, H. “Dad” Walker, head of the North Dakota delegation at the national Farmer-Labor convention here, Is laid up at the St. Joseph’s hospital with a bad case of blood poisoning in his right hand. Walker is a dirt farmer and came to the convention “straight from the plow.” The blood poisoning devel- oped from a sliver from an ax han- dle that he got into his hand. He stopped off at Bismarck on his way to St. Paul, to have it attended to, getting better. But then there came a turn for the worse. ee labor, is revolutionary as its full real- ization will mean the end of exploita- tion and the overthrow of plutocratic rule, Rulers Fear St. Paul. “I'm not claiming that the great mass of men and women engaged in this movement clearly understands its significance, but the cunning few who rule and rob and revel in luxury, have sensed the true import of this new movement of the common people, and have proceeded to fight it with a mal- ignity that finds few parallels in Amer- ican history. “This is where the essential danger of this new movement lies to the pri- vileged and ruling element. Once let the working class, the men and women on the farms and in the industrial centers, understand that they have common interests as useful workers against legalized robbery and that the |government can be taken over and |made to function for their benefit, it means the end of the exploiter and social parasite. New Industrial Order. This is why the Minnesota move ment aroused such virulant antagon- ism. It contained the germ of a new social and industrial order and it was important that it be stifled in its im fancy. Here in Minnesota, we have had to fight the enemy in every conceivable form; openly and covertly, externally and internally, bull-dozing and bribery have been employed at various times, but all to no avail and now we are on the eve of the day of victory and triumph. We have already achieved successes but we know we have a long and perilous journey to travel before we shall be able to effect the changes necessary to giye, economic On Organization Victory. But the biggest victory achieved in Minnesota is not a political one; it is an educational and organizational one. We have banded together the great wealth producing elements on the farm and in the industrial centers, .into a implications. The movement is not built on a nebulous sentiment and vague emotions, but on substantial and Join Daily Worker in St. Paul In Fight For Labor Victory practical interests. These wealth pro- ducing elements are in politics to se- cure the right and opportunity to pro- duce the things that contribute to their material welfare and to obtain pro- tection for the producer to enjoy the full benefit of his labor. Movement of Common People. This is the most dangerous doctrine ever promulgated and injected into the political arena for the exploiting elements, and it means the crucial point in the great struggle between those who live by labor and those who thrive on privilege. The Minnesota Farmer-Labor movement is made up The great convention to join the exploited workers and farmers of the nation into a mighty political party to free labor from the yoke of capitalism is now taking pla Paul. Start right now to carry on the the workers and farmers 7 WORKER. Fill out this blan THE DAILY WORKER, 1113 W. Washington Bivd., Chicago, Mllnois. labor movement that will organize NAME panenreneserceseereneeeen: BODE ID DY. cserescreorossserscnccrsvosnereseccs Make Your Answer Today! Bnclosed ANd $F... tO COVEr the Hst Of sme SUbSCriptions to the DAILY WORKER taken on the list below. These “subs” were secured at the Special Rate of $1 for two months, ‘et the workers and farmers know the truth about the attacks by La Follette, Gompers and the whole yellow press on the class farmer- Labor Convention starting June 17th: Atnannennenennnnsnenesncnensenannensasenenseneessneess | sasnseesnesonnenonsennenessepabeneesensesersneerenee paneunensanrcneesenerseeeensrsnasassvansesonenssrerere | seee Write plainly, in ink if possible, Better print the for special $1 for two months sub cards, in St. ht for the rule of subscribing to the DAILY today: This is my effort to its forces at the St. Paul Farmer- ADDRESS seeeeeeeeeesenenencosnssenssenees neeeeeseeeeneeneeneannereesssssnerenen names, Send in of the rank and file of the common people. It has not depended upon great leaders for force and guidance, and owes subordination to no one man or set of men; it rests.on the solid foundation of the interests and intelli- gence of the masses. Problems National in Scope. But there is a limit to what can be done by a state in the solution of the great fundamental problems of indus- try. Complete control of the govern- ment of Minnesota by the Farmer- Labor party would not enable it to effect the changes necessary to secure equal opportunity and equitable re- ward for those wh® live by labor. The great questions are national in their scope and before the desired ends can be achieved control of the national government, by the workers must be an accomplished fact. Minnesota has served as a labora- tory in which to work out the princi- ple of political organization which must be employed on a national scale before the great work can be done. This brings us to the question of a national Farmer-Labor movement. Began National Movement. ‘With the lessons of experience deep- ly impressed on our minds, and fully conscious of our limitations in carry- ing out our program of legislative changes, the idea of co-operating with our fellow toilers in other states and jusuice io al! wealth producers. fe political party with direct economic | helping them to promote political or- ganization along the demonstrative lines of Minnesota was a most natural and proper course to follow. Minnesota owes it to herself and to other states to lend her resources to a united undertaking which will ad- vance the common interests. This was recognized by other state move- ments, and without any great effort a number of unofficial representatives of many state and national progres- sive movements, met in St. Paul on the 15th of last November and dis- cussed the advisability of calling a national convention for the purpose of uniting all progressive elements on a national platform of fundamental de- mands, and behind a single set of can- didates for president and vice presi- dent. All Labor Elements Wanted. There was practical unanimity among the representatives of the Farmer-Labor state organizations that assembled at St. Paul last November that a convention should be called on May 380, 1924, and an invitation should be extended to all labor, farmer, co- operative and progressive political ,, ganizations, which would agree ;, a tentative platform ap? the plan of the convention. Bie Some ops ition was manifested at this ¢nierence against the participa- tn of certain groups, but the dom: nant sentiment was that the time had come for a great coalition movement among all progressives who would agree on certain definite demands along legal and constitutional lines. Prejudice and factionalism were re- jected. ‘ Meets Great Demand. ad This convention is meeting in re- sponse to a sentiment of the great mass of the farmers and workers for a distinct Farmer-Labor party. It is recognized that no permanent relief can come to those who live by labor until the power of monopoly to control the natural resources, money and credits, and the means of transporta- tion is broken, and this-can be done only by the workers themselves. It is not a matter for a Moses to lead the enslaved out of the house of bondage, but rather for the oppressed to strike off their own shackles. Until the masses understand that the eco- nomic woes of the people are due to maladministration of the means of production and to the inequitable dis- tribution of wealth, there can be no hope. The miserable palliatives that occupy the time of the politicians only complicate the problem and disappoint the people, Destroy Power of Few. This new party that we are about to inaugurate must strike at the root of the trouble and destroy the power of the few by special advantages to despoil the many. This convention will not be re- spectable if it undertakes anything of this nature. Not only will big busi- ness assail it, but some of our time- serving progressives and special sa- viors will denounce it as dangerous and “radical.” Our big task will be to lay the foundation of a movement that will provide a place for every earnest hu- man being to help along in the move- ment for our common emancipation. Ff (Special to the Daily Worker.) United Front Demanded. ST. PAUL, June 17,—The conven- tion got under way with an invocetion by the Rev. Howard Williams of the St. Paul Peoples church. The practice of opening a farmer-labor convention with prayer is a new departure that was heatedly discussed by the com- mittee on arrangements before it was finally decided that a blessing be in- voked upon the gathering. William Mahoney, temporary chair- man, announced that the last republi- can meeting in the hall had stolen the gavel. A club was thereupon brot into use for this purpose. ‘ First applause was aroused in the reading of the call for the convention demanding a united front of the work- ers and farmers against the capitalist partie! “We Are Here.” Mahoney repeated the threat of La- Follette that workers and farmers’ delegates wofffd not attend the gath- ering. fiance, “LaFollette we are here,” and the delegates broke into a new demon- stration. Numerous greetings were received from workers and farmers’ organizations demanding a class Farmer-Labor party, Mahoney then proceeded to the ac- complishments of the Minnesota Farm- er-Labor party. “We destroyed the Democratic party in Minnesota; we destroyed the Republican party and out of these elements we built the Minnesota Farmer-Labor party.” Thruout the Nation. Then he continued: “That is what we want to do thruout the whole na- tion.” The delegates leaped to their feet and cheered several minutes. New cheers greeted the announcement that all elements had come to the conven- tion. No Claps for Bob. The great convention broke into a demonstration when Chairman Ma- honey declared that “when the work- ers and farmers realize their power they can make any change they de- sire.” New applause greeted his dec- laration that the ruling class dictator- ships of Hungary, Italy and other countries did not care for constitu- tional limitations, First mention of the name of LaFollette did not bring a single handclap as Mahoney hesi- tated a moment for applause. But the declaration that the farmer-labor forces would sweep Minnesota at the fall elections brot a new outburst. WITNESSES TELL ALDERMEN OF THE “THIRD DEGREE” (Continued from page 1.) unless Wilson was there to make them himself. “Goldfish” Victim a Wreck. Before the objection had been made, however, Wharton managed to tell the committee what he knew about the case. Wharton said that Wilson had been a strong, healthy man when he was arrested or Fri’, that when Pe saw him the following Wedneg vasday he was a nervous wreck. Wilson had told Wharton that while he (Wilson) was in the custody of the police in the Wabash ve. police sta- tion that a colored man was put into the same cell with him. Later Wilson was taken out of the cell and questioned by Brady and his men. Wilson was told that he had confessed to the colored man, The colored man was produced, and he told a story of Wilson’s confession and alleged improper advances that ‘Wilson had made to him. Grady Orders Hose. At that time Wilson said that he had not had sleep for many hours and that he fell off the chair from sheer weariness: According to the story which Wilson told Wharton, and which Wharton told the committee, Grady ordered one of his men to go and get a rubber hose, and he was beaten with the hose over the knees in an effort to keep him awake. Wharton told how Wilson had been taken to a loop hotel and there shown an open window and told by a police officer that if he jumped out the public would think that a guilty conscience had driven him to suicide. Later Wil- son told Wharton that he found him- self sitting on the edge of his bed in the hotel room, half dressed, without being able to remember if he had dressed himself or if some one had put the clothes on him. Torturer Asks for Mercy. In demanding that Wilson be pro- duced or Grady exonerated, Bolton said that Grady had had Wilson in his custody only 14 hours of the éntire week he was held. Grady asked the committee to “give him a square ‘Well,” said Mahoney im de-|the deal.” He said that he was already under indictment in a booze deal and that he had enough troubles. Cops Make Thieves. On motion of Councilman Albert, the hearings were continued till Thursday afternoon at 2, and Wilson was again asked to appear before the committee. Albert said that in his district men had told him they were forced to steal in order to pay tribute to the police. “Many men have come to me and said: ‘I have been in jail, and police come to me and say, “Get us much or you will be sent up again.”’ I know this to be true, I have seen marked money get into the hands of the police. “It is only men who are rich enough to retire who can come here and make charges against the police.” Only Rich Can Kick. ‘When Sam Cheery told the com- mittee about the raid which had been conducted on his poolroom at 583 W. Division St. on June 7 and $151 had disappeared, he said that he had prac- tically decided to retire from business, as he thought he would constantly be in trouble with the police. Cheery said that he did a business of about $150,- 000 a year, and was able to quit and not be forced to work. Albert pointed out that Cheery would probably not be complaining Against the police if he was a poor man. He also said that Richard Pendergast, a lawyer, could manage to live even tho he had had trouble with the police, Harry Lapp, former president of the teamsters’ union an a contractor, threatened by said that he had police, wuay, May 28, and |g, ELECTRIC TRUS FIRES MEN 10 EVADE PENSION Daily Worker’s Biggest Expose Tomorrow (Continued from page one) sports, entertainments, magazines and circulars, all of which try to lull the worker away from thot of his slim pay envelope and his scab conditions of work, the Western Electric inserts quarter page advertisements in all the capitalist papers blaring forth the so- called virtues of the company. “Good Wages” Pretty Small. The typical Western Blectric color- ing and distortion of fact is displayed in the Western Electric pamphlet, “A Good Place to Work,” in the para- graphs on “Good Wages.” The com- pany boasts that “practically all em- ployes receive their pay weekly. From Monday to Saturday the works’ cash- iers pay out more than $1,000,000.” This statement, on analysis proves to be a boomerang against the company when it is considered that 40,000 em- ployes are paid at Hawthorne, The average wage is thus $25 per week. This is an extremely low average after the high wages paid to the of- ficials and executives of the company are taken into consideration. When these high salaries, which run up to tens of thousands of dollars are taken out it will be seen that the average pay given the producing workers is vastly less. Vacation—After Five Years. In this pamphlet, printed on high grade, altho, of course, non-union pa- per, the Western Electric company boasts of the fact that “the Western Electric was one of the pioneers in Tentine vacations with pay to shop and hourly ratea employes." But ney are forced to Seer pth sie vacation is given \-,, AFTER FIVE YEAK = OF SERV: 1 Me boasts republicans. In the last election, in 1922, the American Federation of Labor fought the Farmer-Labor party tooth and nail, and supported Dill, the democratic can- $$. didate for United States senator, At that time dissatisfaction with Poin- dexter, the Republican candidate, ran high, with the result that Dill was elected. This sabotage by the A. F. of L. split the Farmer-Labor party so that it was able to cast only 60,000 votes, Since then the bankruptcy of the farmers and the rotten conditions of labor have caused a decided swing to the Farmer-Labor standard, with the result that the party is at present able to muster about 85,000 votes. Anti-Capitalistic. The farmers of Washington are in control of the party there, said Bouck. These farmers and the labor elements of the party are distinctly anti-capi- talistic. Therefore they are opposed to the LaFollette type of politician, that cares only for its meal ticket and its own political fortunes. The farm- ers and workers of Washington are out to build a class party, not to sup- port any particular politician. In regard to the Farmer-Labor movement in the other Pacific coast states, Bouck said that it was new and hence weak in Oregon, but build’ ing up rapidly there. The California situation is a difficult one, he said. The farmers are con- trolled by reactionary capitalist com- binations of large fruit growers, such as the raisin and citrus fruit growers’ associations. Labor, on the other hand, is hopelessly muddled by fac- tional fighting among reactionary trade union officials. But some organ- ization is going on among the small farmers. fore reaching the age of 45 so that the company could escape its pension obligation. “My husband asked why he was dis- charged on the day before his 45th birthday,” one woman told the DAILY WORKER. “They confided to him it was because they were afraid that later they would have to pension him. Thus the Western Electr. of the fact that they do not? Srant shop emlpoyes vacations until .. * have been with the company five yyAnd yet the Western Electric com- pany gets out a special booklet boast- ing of its “plan for employes pensions years, while the general practice is ‘Visability and death benefits.” to give a week’s vacation after a year |4 of or six months of service. We also learn that the Western Electric gets the employes coming |424 most Biggest Exposure Tomorrow. Tomorrow we will print the biggest sational exposure so far and going. They get as low a scale of | Published, showing up this benefit wages as any industrial plant in the|Plan to be a fraud. We will produce country, and while the Western Blec-|cuts of the documents which prove tric, in its hot air propaganda, claims|that the Western Electric company to consider the interests of the em-|>reaks faith with its workers after ployes, it admits that the co-operative|their death and lets their families store “carrying a well chosen line of |8tarve, in spite of insurance policies. merchandise, had sales of more than $80,000 over its counters in 1922.” Not Even Company Union. It is in this introduction to Western Electric “efficiency,” “be satisfied bunk,” that the worker is let down easy in learning that the employes -have no union. There is not even a company union in Western Electric such as exists in the Pullman and other large industrial plants. The Western Electric conducts an organi- Substitutes zation even more deadening to thot, more reactionary, and more bitter against unions than the company jon. ‘is organization is the Hawthorne HARRY AVOIDING DEFENSE BEFORE INVESTIGATORS Sent by New Atty. General « (Special to the Dally Worker.) WASHINGTON, June 17. — The club, of which more will be said later. | Daugherty investigating committee be- The Hawthorne club is “an organiza-|880 hearings of the defense without tion formed to promote a spirit of |¢ither former Attorney General Harry good fellowship thruout the works.}D@ugherty or his lawyers participat- All employes belong to the Hawthorne |!n8- Officers from the department of club. “In other words, the Hawthorne |!ustice had been sent over by Attor- club is an organization formed ‘to ney General Stone to téstify about make the employes satisfied with! thelr former head. their jobs. Button—After 15 Years. The Western Blectric sub- stitutes some form of bunk for actual payment of the worth of the employe in hard cash. When the employe has worked in the Western Electric plant for 15 years, he is given a nice, round little button. This button is said by the company to be gold, but inspection proves even the button to be a cheap imitation of gold. The company boasts a lot about its efficient pension system, but wives of Western Electric workers have made special trips to the DAILY WORK- er to tell us of cases where their husbands were discharged the day be- scoop. startling > = earing which will be Watch for this second tric slave-driving methods an ployes. Subser BIGGEST WESTERN ELECTRIC EXPOSE TOMORROW The DAILY WORKER has soored another sensational in tomorrow's paper -will be the most exposure of conditions ge so far printed in the DAILY WORKER. The story is jacked b: preseeepn'e copies of the important documents printed in tomorrow's paper. documents are in the possession of the DAILY WORKER. great ex ire of the Western Elec- to the DAILY WORKE! ; Assistant Attorney General Sey- mour, who acted for Daugherty when the Ohio crook was away, was chief witness. He said that “investigations of the facts” in the various anti-trust cases which Harry failed to prosecute showed that the charges had misrep- resented the “price-fixing” or other ar- raygements of the big combines. The federal trade commission re- ported the case of the Yellow Pine Manufacturers’ association meeting in St. Louis in which the members cau- tioned one another to keep things se- cret or they'd all be in jail. Seymour showed the letters and attempted to prove that the references to jail had been made in fear of the influenza quarantine of December, 1919. in the Western Electric The original unfair exploitation of em- Mountain Movement Gaining Ground, East of the coast the movement is new, but gaining ground rapidly. In Idaho part of the party is tied to the apron strings of “The Committee of 48,” and some elements support Sen- ator Borah. W. H. Green, chairman of the Pro- gressive party of Nebraska, was not so cheerful over the outlook in his state. Machine tactics on the part of the Democratic party had split the progressive movement. However, if the convention here forms a strong national party, the Nebraska Progres- sive party will reorganize on a strong basis. Green Likes Daily Worker, Green paid a high tribute of praise to the DAILY WORKER. While some workers and farmers, dominated by the Ku Klux Klan, would no sooner pick up a DAILY WORKER than a rattlesnake, it is read and enthusias- tically received by an ever increasing number. And the fact that the Koo Koos are as afraid of the paper as of a rattlesnake is also a compliment. CHARLEY DAWES IS HOT SKETCH; FUNNY AS CHEESE Loses Shirt, Curses, Runs Flop Houses No matter who will be President it is plain that the Senate wants Charles G. Dawes for its presiding officer. He can furnish as much fun as a three ring vodvil show. As the boy who sits on the high chair and keeps the salons from throwing. ink bottles at each other he would be a wow. He can curse, he can answer, he can smoke a pipe upside down, he can play a mouth organ and Jew’ harn and he doesn’t need a nree agent to get his name in print. The boy is different; he’s there. Not only does he play the mouth organ but he writes music. He is an up and coming rival of Irving Berlin. With a few girls from the Follies and Lodge as low comedian Dawes could open a regular show in the Senate chambers and charge admission. He Went He is also a backer (financial). of the Chicago Opera. He took a shot at trying to help the people who run the Chicago Opera make it go but they said if he didn’t they would and he did. But as an impressrio in the Senate hé would be running the show himself. He could (and no doubt would) give others the gate, i. e. kick ’em out, not give ’em the receipts. Than as & banker and money lender Dawes could probably make a few odd pennies by loaning jack to embar- rassed senators who didn’t manage to connect with lobbyists. Liberal; With Advice Then if Charley wants any advice for himself or to give away he has three brothers whose brillance has not been noticed only because of Charley. From them he could get plenty, of advice. Then Charley owns a couple of flép houses here in Chicago where he can entertain Magnus Johnson and Sena- tor Bob LaFollette when they pass | thru town. He Nearly Lost the War When Charley was in the A. E. F. his unwillingness to keep his shirt on and hie coat buttoned nearly lost the war for the Allies, according to Per- shing. Pershing had to keep looking to see if Charley’s clothes were all right and he couldn't do that and plan how to win the war. But that was only for a couple of weeks. Someone suggested that an aide be appointed to take care of Charley's clothes and so Pershing was able to attend to busi- ness. May Abandon Pants Charley's enémies suggest that he probably has some such idea for wor- rying Coolidge to death and himself into the White House. Certainly if Charley as vice president went to work every day with his pants off somebody in Washington should have a good time. sy) 4