The Daily Worker Newspaper, July 14, 1924, Page 3

Monday, July 14, 1924 LAFOLLETTE HAS OPEN SHOPPER'S AID IN SEATTLE Hearst’s Scab Paper Friendly to Senator (Special to the DAILY WORKER) SEATTLE, July 13.—Non-union yenrters are setting up columns of publicity favorable to the LaFollette candidacy in Hearst’s scab Post-In- telligencer. The unofficial support which the open shop publisher is giv- ing the Wisconsin senator is arous- ing caustic comment from those trade unionists who followed William H. Johnston's version of LaFollette as labor’s candidate. The Hearst paper which is de- nouncing both old parties and in effect supporting LaFollette is at the same time seeking to crush the aspira- , tions of organized labor in the north- west. Its local managers and Hearst himself stand flatly behind the new | Post-Intelligencer working policy that | lengthened working hours 30 minutes /@ Gay over their competitors and | lowered wages. The typographical uion in Everett ; has just ‘followed the typographical ’ union of Seattle in declaring a boy- cott against the open shop Post-In- telligencer. Everett union men are instructed not to read this paper _ which is fighting the strike of print- ‘ @rs and whieh locked out the stere- ‘typers and mailers who refused to | work with imported scabs. Resentment against the “P-I” has reached such a” pitch that solicitors ere turned away from doors as they | pon for subscriptions. LaFollette and Hearst. Trade unionists are beginning to associate the LaFollette movement with Hearst. The suggestion is be- ing made that the senator go on rec- ‘ord against the open shop if he ex- | pects organized labor to back him. Left Wingers are pointing out that , the LaFollette platform ignores the | open shop issue, that he is making ‘his campaign mainly on an “Honest” ‘government and small business Tights’ issue, not as a champion of the rights of labor. ‘MAC DONALD'S SURRENDER T0 MORGAN SCORED Diseaiion in in Laborite Ranks over Premier (Special to The DAILY WORKER) LONDON, July 13.—Premier Mac- Donald’s surrender to Herriot and to the international bankers has created much dissatisfaction in Labor Party circles. MacDonald’s endorsement of the Dawes plan, followed as it was by a virtual pledge to use the armed forces of his government to punish Germany, should she default on pay- ments, has enflamed the more radical wing of the party. Still another cause for indignation is MacDonald’s suggestion that an American member be added to the reparations commission as a repara- tions arbiter. The American member would also “be supposed to look out for the in- terest of American investors in the - German loans, but hes chief import- ance lies in his position as an arbiter among the various claimants from dif- ferent nations, in the event of Ger- man defalcations, This means that the so-called Labor government of England links itself with the Morgan government of Amer- ica in squeezing the throat of Ger- many and exacting the yearly tolls provided for under the Dawes brigand- age plan. Flores Faction Plot _ Revolution to Upset Mexican Calles Vote MEXICO CITY, Mex. July 13.— General B. Elias Calles ran far ahead of General Flores in the presidential polling in Mexico City. The count was: Calles, 41,455; Flores, 8,540, Government officers said today they had reasons to know that certain of Gen. Calles’ enemies are preparing to stage a revolution. 4 THE DAILY WORKE we nme R Miners Fired Bittner As Betrayer; Chief Lewis Strikebreaker Now Van A. Bittner Is now in West Virginia in charge of the field work for John L. Lewis, in wrecking the organization ih District 17, United Mine Workers of America. When- ever there is an important job of unlon smashing, Lewis sends Bitt- ner to the scene. Bittner led the scab forces during the Howat strike In Kansas and he has figured in Alabama, Canada, the Pennsylvania coke regions and elsewhere for Lewis and the operators. He is also a leading “red baiter”. In view of his present activities, the DAILY WORKER believes that the following data submitted by Thomas Myerscough, secretary of the Progressive Miners’ Committee, is of interest. It gives facts, supported by tele- graphic records, of the betrayal of the miners in the Pittsburgh dis- trict where Bittner was president in 1916 and shows how Bittner was kicked out of his job under suspi- cion of taking a bribe te call off a strike. | WHY MINERS OUSTED HIM Before Van A. Bittner and Pat Hanaway were removed from office as president and vice-president, respect- ively of the United Mine Workers in Distriet 5, around Pittsburgh, in 1916, a nuinber of things had occurred to goad the miners to action against these betrayers. Bittner was definitely charged with taking a $5,000 bribe to end the strike that had) been going on against the operators; Bittner made strenuous ef- forts, to call off this strike, as the appended telegrams show, tho the strike was later won by the miners against his will. And Bittner consum- mated in New York a rotten agree- ment which brought chaos to the Pittsburgh district. Gave Lewis His Chance. Bittner and Hanaway were removed in some disgrace and strange, as it may seem now, John L. Lewis and Phil Murray, now president and vice- president of the international union, took part in the move against him. Altho not actually agitating the de- mand for the removal of Bittner and Hanaway, they were desirous of hay- ing the chance to play the parts they did, for they themselves were to be personal beneficiaries of the change. Murray was to succeed Bittner as president of the Pittsburgh district, which he did, while Lewis, who was comparatively unknown to the mem- bership at that time, but who was well-known to the local agent of the LUMBER BARONS BLACKLIST VETS OF BOSSES’ WAR By LAWSON McMILLION. (Special to The Daily Worker) CASS, West Va, July 13.—The West Virginia Pulp and Paper com- pany has declared a war on the World War Veterans’ organization here. Members, when found in lumber camps, are placed under arrest by, the guards and brought to Cass, paid off, and told to leave the country. It is worse than treason to be a member of the World War Veterans. Dan B. McGuire, president of Post 1736, a hotel proprietor, was refused a license to run his hotel because of his connection with the vets. The town sergeant, on informing Mrs. Mc- Guire that the council would not grant them a hotel license because the hotel was used for headquarters for the vets, declared in a voice and gesture of Napoleon that he would ar- rest at once president McGuire, Mrs. Mary Taylor, auxiliary secretary and Lewis MeMillion, national organizer, The sergeant claimed that they were dangerous reds and ought to be hung. No arrests have been made. The lumber barons are putting up a ter- rible howl here about the vets distri- buting western labor papers. It is es- timated by vets here that some 800 members have been blacklisted and driven from this country. FOSTER-RUTHENBERG MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS nf William Z. Foster and C. E. Ruthenberg will iddress the member- ship of the Party on the immediate task of the Party in the vir cities: \ DETROIT—Thursday, July 17, Ave., at 8 p. m. House of the Masses, 2101 Gratiot BUFFALO—Friday, July 18, Engineers Hall, 36 W. Huron St., at 8pm $St., Roxbery, at 7:30 p. m. BOSTON—Saturday, July 19, Dudley St. Opera House, 118 Dudiey NEW HAVEN—July 22, 8. P. M., Labor Lyceum, 38 Howe St. NEW YORK CITY—Wednesday, July 23, Stuyvesant Casino, 142 Second Ave., at 8 p. m. PHILADELPHIA—Thursday, July 24, Breth Sholom Hall, 608 Pine St, at 8 p.m. PITTSBURG—Friday, July 25, CLEVELAND—Saturday, July 26, U. §. Steel corporation, was to be groomed for the International Presi- dency. Lewis’ Steel Friend. It is charged that this steel agent, who is also a large non-union coal operator and whose name is A. R. Hamilton, had told a gathering of or- ganizers in District 5 (seems strange, but he. controls them) that he, Hamil- ton, was going to make Lewis the next big-time president of the miners’ union, One who was present at this meeting has told how Hamilton said it would be brought about, that John P. White, who was then President, would be put on a $1.00 a year job as adviser to the Fuel Administrator, while the miners would pay him his regular salary; that Frank J. Hayes, who was then International Vice- president and who would automatic- ally ascend to the presidency, would be gotten rid of and that Lewis, who would in due time start up the lad- der of ascendency, would then be- come the International President. Soft For White and Lewis. . White returned to the miners’ pay roll as a special representative, but very few know the circumstances. Hayes is now a gold mine operator, after being ousted from the official family of the U. M. W. of A. He went, as promised by Hamilton and Lewis, who went to Pittsburgh in 1916 to officiate at the obituaries of Bittner, is now the “Big Cheese.” But Bitt- ner who was removed from the presi- dency of District 5, on gross charge, is the chief representative of the In- ternational Union when there is dirty work to do; witness Alabama, Kansas and etc. The following telegrams from and to Bittner, also the one showing Mur- ray’s surprise when Bittner’s action was brought to his attention are worthy of note now since the Lewis, Murray and Bittner trinity has worked so much to the disadvantage of the membership of the United Mine Workers of America. New York, February 27th, 1916. James Oates, Confidential, New Kensington, Pa., Settle up strike Curtisville imme- diately as continuance will interfere with settlement for mine run. VAN BITTNER. Board member Oates’ answer to above telegram reads as follows: “Believe telegram is a fake.” 7 OATES. * . New York, yeieacy 29th, 1916, James Oates, Confidential, Hotel Kensington, New Kensington, Pa. Telegram O. K. call strike off and every man is to be given his job no discrimination; will explain later. VAN BITTNER. Roe, een New Kensington, Pa., March 2, 1916, Philip Murray, New York, Bittner has ordered organizers out of strike zone. Do something; tele- graph Dobbins. JIM OATES. tae Wn New York, March 2, 1916. Francis Dobbins, 2007 First National Bank Bldg., Pittsburgh, Pa. Can’t believe that Bittner called off the strike, as he never consulted any of the Board Members; will take up the matter with Bittner later. R. Wood, P. MURRAY. es See New York, March 3, 1916. James Oates, (Confidential), Kensington Hotel, New Kensington, Pa, Withdraw organizers from Curtis- ville, VAN BITTNER. Oates did not withdraw organizers, but informed him by telegram that he did. “Will explain matters when we meet.” te Tae New York, March 6, 1916. James Oates, New Kensington, Pa. Under no circumstances hold any meeting at Curtisville. Don’t fail to obey this order. VAN BITTNER. coe es New York, March 6, 1916. Francis Dobbins, 2007 First National Bank Bldg., Pittsburgh, Pa. Have taken the matter up with Presideng Bittner at board meeting and said he did not call strike off at Curtisville. (Confidential.) P. MURRAY. * + & DEFY’S RANK AND FILE In the following letter Van Bittner comes out flat-footedly, and tells Oates that the calling off of the strike and the new contract are nobody's business but his owp. The rank and file and the workin; no right to inquire about the district president’s acts, according to Bittner. Hotel Continental, New York, N. Y., March 6, 1916. Mr. James Oates, Hotel Kensington, ° if New Kensington, Pa. Dear Sir and Rrother—I have been informed that the information I gave you relative to the strike and with- drawal of organizers from Curtisville has been conveyed to New York with- out me being informed as to any in- tention of this being done. DAVIS TAKES OFF MORGAN SIGN (Continued from page 1.) Rockefeller and all the other houses of illfame that rob the American workers. The professions of loyalty to the ticket made on the morning following the nomination are not taken seri- ously. It is worthy of note that Mc- Adoo' showed no marked enthusiasm. His covenanteer following is dis- gruntled, tho many of them will ac- cept one of the Bryan brothers as a burnt offering. The older Bryan was so badly burned in the fires of re- ligious hatred that it is a matter of doubt whether his usefulness is long- er of much avail. Some people pity Bill J. Bryan. Others say: “It’s too good for the old faker.” The anti-Darwinian first de- nounced Davis as a man representing the forces of evil, but after his brother was picked as his running mate he yielded to Baal and whispered into Davis’ ear that his previous attitude was the child of political expediency. While Moran’s man was receiving the congratulations of friends, the “commoner” approached Davis and shook his hand cordially, “I didn’t want to see you last night because I didn’t want to do anything that might be embarrassing to you,” Bryan said. “I am counting very much on your help for winning this campaign, Mr. Bryan,” ri responded warmly, with aj “I shall be glad to do anything I can,” Bryan replied, orarhanke you. I shall appreciate having a private conference with you at some time,” To which the swered: I am at your service at any time at all.” This indicates the depth of Bryan's aversion to Wall Street. But if Bry- an’s support may take up the slack in the west, the Catholic voters who learned to hate Bryan more than any other man in the convention, will have a rod in pickle for Davis in the Hast. Governor Smith will not be able to hold them in line for Davis and it is not believed he will try. He is play- ing his own game. As the days go by the fortunes of the democrati¢ party do not improve, Wall Street is not worrying. It hae Calvin Coolidge and Dawes to fall back on. “commoner” an- One of! the first demands made on Sond In ee a the Bryan Brothers by the leaders of the democratic party is that they dis- pense with skull caps. Such headgear might be alright for executioner about to send a victim to his last resting place, but appears out of the place on the head of one who aspires to the White House. The Bryans may not be headsmen, but many believe they are sitting in at the donkey’s last sup- per. Davis is receiving more congratu- lations from republicans than from democrats. Among members of the former party to wish him much luck is Senator Medill McCormick. Dawes speak highly of Charles W. Bryan’ and expressed his pleasure that such a signal honor was conferred on a Ne- braskan.’ The two capitalist parties are finding it very difficult to put wp’ anything like a real fight. In the face of this condition, with the two big capitalist parties exposed as corrupt agencies of Wall Street, the treachery of the Conference for Progressive Political Action in serv- ing as the jumping-off board for La Follette, the middle charlatan stands out in bold relief.; The only party that now appears in the political arena this year worthy of the support of labor, is the Workers Party. With William Z, Foster and Benjamin Git- low, leading the ticket, it gives the militant workers the opportunity to support two candidates who in every way worthily represent the program of Communism and the party whose standard bearers they are. Send in that Subscription Today! Can't Cage These Birds. Terry Druggan and Frank Lake, multi-millionaire brewery owners, were today sentenced to serve a year in jail and pay fines of $1,000 each for contempt of court in violating a federal injunction which had ordered One of their establishments closed for a year, Later a writ of supersedeas was granted stating execution of sentence until September 1, when the federal circuit court of appeals will hear arguments to set the sentence aside. The men were allowed their liberty on payment of $10,000 bonds. Drug- gan paid the cash with twenty thou- sand dollar bills which he sag from the roll he carried. tn anion Toy. organizers have | The strike at Curtisville was called off, as I informed you by telegram, in the interest of mine run in the Pitts- burgh district. One of the most prom- inent operators here and probably the largest factor in negotiating a wage contract for our district, which means the entire competitive field, asked that this be done in the interest of getting a contract for our district, and I did not think it was absolutely necessary for me to report all my movements to our organizers, as I have failed to find anything in the constitution of the United Mine Workers of America thiyt compelléd me to report to the organ- izers, but I do think our law is very plain relative to the organizers report- ing matters pertaining to the organiza- tion to the president. I hope to be able to explain the en- tire situation when I see you and clear up any mystery that might seem to ex- ist relative to the matter, Please wire me an explanation im- mediately. With best wishes, I remain, Yours very truly, (Signed) VAN BITTNER, President. Oates’ reply telegram to the above letter: “That women and children thrown out on public roads by state troops, and will explain matters to you when we meet.” by see New York, March 8, 1916. James Oates, Hotel Kensington, New Kensington, Pa. District executive board has decid- ed to call off strike and withdraw or- ganizers from Curtisville. This order must be obeyed without further delay. Explanation will be made when we re- turn to district. VAN BITTNER, F. P. MURRAY, gpa Woop, AS BITTNER’ s por FOILED. Everything was done by Bittner to call off the Curtisville strike, but Jim- my Oates refused to obey his orders. The result was that shortly after the organization was established there and is still flourishing. Bittner was run out of office, tendering his resigna- tion to save his face. This pleased “| Murray, for he succeeded to the presi- dency of District 12, while Bittner and his associate Hanaway were put on the international payroll. Lewis made his rapid rise unknown to the membership, and everything was serene with him, so when an effort to show these telegrams to the conven- tions of the miners’ union was made! they were denied admission to the rec- ords. And so the story goes, when the records of all are challenged. Well, politics makes strangé— SECOND VISIT TO ‘GOLDFISH’ ROOM ENOUGH Retracts Charge After Heart-to-Heart Talk Again the detective bureau of the Chicago police department is vindi- cated. James Nitti, whose lawyer charged that he had been beaten and threatened with death in an effort to force a confession from him has com- pletely repudiated the charge. The repudiation came after the two detectives against whom the charges were made-—Capt. William Schomak- er and Paul Riccig— had rearrested Nitti and held him for several hours at, the detective bureau. Nitti was brought into the presence of Chiet of detectives Michael Hughes, and a group of reporters, and said that he had been well treated when he was under arrest some time ago, and that the statements that he had been beat- en, were untrue. Schomaker Had Him, From the time of his arrest till his statement to Hughes and the report- ers, Nitti was in the custody of Riccio and Schomaker. Nitti was rearrested on a bond for- feiture charge after charges had been filed against Riccio and Schomaker before ‘the civil service commission as a result of the statements made by Nitti’s lawyer, When the charges were filed against the two detectives, Chief Col- lins refused to suspend them from the force till after their trial, saying, that in nine cases out of ten, police officers brought before the civil service commission were acquitted. Old-time synical reporters at the detective bu- reau had a little laugh at that state- ment. “If a cop can have a quiet lit- tle ‘heart to heart’ talk with the fel- low who is bringing charges against him, he is usually able to convince him that he doesn’t want to press the matter,” one old time reporter said. Rough Riccio, Paul Riccio who is considered the detective bureau's expert on all things Italian, and particularly on the Black Hand, has the reputation of being the “hardest guy” on the entire Chicago police force. His methods are ad- mittedly . little rough, a a cla Page Three JAPAN MAY WITHDRAW TROOPS FROM SOVIET SAKHALIN OIL ISLAND TOKIO, July 13.—K. Yoshizawa, representing the foreign office, has been ordered to proceed to the Island of Sakhalin to devote two weeks to investigating advisibility of withdrawing Japanese troops from the island. Japan occupied the island immedi- ately following the Versailles peace coference, causing widespread con- troversy, particularly with Soviet Russia, who owns the island. SALARY RAISE FOR P, 0. BOSS: WORKERS CUT Cal’s Methods Shown in Detroit By SHERMAN BOWMAN. (Federated Press Staff Correspondent) DETROIT, July 13.—Isn’t. the gov- ernment the fine boss, tho? Soon after President Coolidge ve- toed the mail carriers’ wage increase bill, the Detroit postoffice entered the $7,000,000 class in annual postal re- ceipts. Automatically, therefore, the salaries of the executives of the De- troit postoffice were raised. Postmas- ter John W. Smith now gets $8,000 in- stead of $6000 a year. Increases for the executives range downward from this $2000 boost to from $700 to $100 for sub-station superintendents. But where do the boys come in who actually tote the mail where it be- longs day after day, rain or shine? They don’t count. And that’s not all. Congress failed to appropriate enough funds to pay the wages in full of the postoffice cus- todian’s employes for the period from June 16 to 30. Consequently these employes are given the alternative o/ a “furlough” for the period involvec in the deficit or accepting a 5 per ceni wage cut for the latter half of June. “until Congress shall provide an ad- ditional appropriation.” This means a serious problem for the scrubwomen, whom the govern- ment pays $45 a monfh, as well as for the federal building workmen, whom the government notices to the extent of $85 a month. Instead of a living wage, mail car- riers got a holiday July 4! Lone Female Wail on Millionaires’ Vices Unanswered in Dark NEWPORT, R. I, July 13.—The free flowing bowl of the millionaire colony has been attacked by Miss Esther Morton Smith, one of the old-timers among the summer cottagers. Miss Smith is a niece of the late Joseph Wharton, millionaire metallurgist, founder of the Wharton School of Finance and Commerce at the univer- sity of Pennsylvania and of Swarth- more College. He was an ardent pro- hibitionist himself. His niece is not receiving much sympathy in her “ex- pose” because everybody knows that the wealthy residents make their own laws for prohibition and conduct gen- erally and wailing about it won't do any good. ‘RUSSIA TO GIVE JEWS FREE LAND FOR SETTLEMENT Jewish Organizations to Aid Development (Special to The Dail, MOSCOW, July 13 he economic situation of the Jews in the Pale of settlement has always been critical. Now, with the development of govern- Worker) mental industry and trade, and the re- striction on private « enterprise, the Jewish situation is growing worse daily,” declared Comrade Smidoviteh, First Assistant Secretary to Kalinin, the president of the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic, in an in- terview. The Russian statesman com- mented upon the Jewish question in connection with the plan to start Jew- ish colonization in southern Ukrainia and northern Crimea. Land Free To Users. For the puropes of relieving the sit- uation of the toiling masses, Smido- vitch further stated, the Russian Goy- ernment intends to setle 50,000 Jew- ish city dwellers on 100,000 desiatin of government land in the neighbor- hood of the Jewish colonies of the Ukraine and Crimea. The land will be given to the settlers not as con- cessions, but for termless, free usage. The soil in northern Crimea is good for different kinds of agriculture, hor- ticulture, gardening and tobacco rais- ing. The only obstacle in the way of realizing this scheme is the lack of means of the government.* While the government is ready to grant transmi- gration and taxation privileges, and is even ready to pay the cost of par- celling the land and building artisian wells, it is unable to carry thru the entire project. The Ort, and other Jewish organizations from abroad have offered to provide the funds ne- cessary. The money thus supplied will be at the exclusive disposal of ocal legalized societies, which will in- slude representatives of the foreign organizations. The same societies will also take part in the organization work. ‘ Special Soviet Committee, A special government committee will be formed to take care of the en- terprise, and a decree concerning it will be published in the nearest fu- ture by the Soviet Government. This governmental committee will not in- terfere with the financial affairs of the plan, As to the’ plan for establishing ar autonomous Jewish republic on that territory, Comrade Smidovitch stated that when the Jews will have settled and will have expressed their desire for autonomy, the Russian Socialist Federated Soviet Republic will grant it to them, as it has granted it to the other nationalities in the Union, according to their desire. “At the present time, there is no such territory in existence, and conse- quently there cannot be such a ques- tion raised,” concluded Smidovitch. MOSCOW, July 13—The Russian freighter Tchatyzdag, which had been brought away from Odessa by the French and then, as she was stranded not far from that port, had been abandoned and purposely damaged by the captors, has been fully repaired and put on the Odessa-Jaffa (Asia Minor) line. WORKERS! Wm. Z. Foster Chairman, Workers Party Just Returned from Soviet Russia Will Speak on “RUSSIA IN 1924” Wednesday, July 16, at 8 P.M, Douglas Park Auditorium OGDEN AND SO. KEDZIE AVES. Auspices: Workers Party, Local Chicago, and Trade Union Educational League Admission: 25 Cents aR