The Daily Worker Newspaper, September 20, 1924, Page 4

— Pi, ‘Four Pybitsnea by the DAILY WORKER PUBLISHING CO. Tl. 1113 W. Washington Bivd., Chicago, Il. (Phone: Monroe 4712) SUBSCRIPTION RATES By mail: $3.50....6 months $2.00....8 months B il (in Chicago only)? , ae months $2.50....3 months $6.00 per year » $8.00 per year A@dress all mail and make out checks to THE DAILY, WORKER “© 1113 W. Washington Bivd. J. LOUIS ENGDAHL WILLIAM F. DUNNE MORITZ J. LOEB. Chicago, IHinois {nennnnsnnnnrr SHOPS ae Business Manager Post- Entered as second-class mail Sept. 21, 1923, at the ie Office at Chicago, Ill, under the act of March 3, = 20 The Proper Background Paul M. Warburg, chairman of the International Acceptance Bank, has just returned after a two: months’ stay in Europe. Mr. Warburg sings thé same song that the other American financial over- lords are now singing about Europe being on the mend. The international banker tells us that “The Ger- man loan will ‘go,’ if offered at the right moment, with the proper backing and the proper back- ground.” One is tempted to ask for the full mean- ing of these pre-requisites to the success of the German loan. What does Mr. Warburg mean by the proper backing? And what is meant by the proper background? If our experience is to guide us in our conclu- sions, then there is no puzzle or mystery in the findings of Mr. Warburg. By the proper backing is undoubtedly meant the full support of the big- gest business interests which will in turn be ade- quately backed by the entire military and naval machinery of the United States government. Then, by the proper background is evidently meant the launching of a campaign to psychologize the coun- try into accepting the American participation in the German loan as a step in the interests of humanity, reconstruction, civilization, and other high flowing, but meaningless statements. Mr. Warburg is hopeful. He and his ilk have reason to be hopeful. The American imperialist interests are in the midst of a gigantic drive to tighten their grip on the industries and resources of the world. But can the American workers be hopeful? The answer is decisively no. The very “proper background” that Mr. Warburg and his class are speaking of is the foreground for another world war that is now being prepared. This very “proper background” is the fertile soil in which our exploiters are. now sowing the seeds of new and more ghastly imperialist conflicts. The Dawes plan, with the proper backing and the proper background, in all its devious and dark ramifications, is the latest stage of American im- perialist aggression. The peace of the world is more and more at the mercy of the tightening thongs-of our aggressive exploiters. The sooner the working men and expropriated farmers of our country fustrate the offensive maneuvers and man- ipulations of our capitalist class, the sooner will the peace and security of the world be at hand. Rent and Wages One of the favorite arguments used by the capi- talists in their constant fight to reduce wages to as low a figure as the workers will accept, is the decrease in the cost of living. If the employers can prove that the cost of sugar has gone down half a cent on the pound, they consider this a good reason for cutting the pay of their employes another dol- lar a week. The landlords exact heayy toll of the workers in the form of rent. During the war, while the « productive machinery of the nation was engaged in turning out death-dealing weapons, building construction was at a standstill. This was seized as an excuse by the landlords to raise rent, but the workers were not given corresponding increases in wages; they were told it was unpatriotic to in- sist on a decent standard of living while the na- tion’s “heroes” were risking their lives for thirty dollars a month to save Morgan’s millions. Since the armed truce, known as the Peace of Versailles, was signed, the capitalists have been driving consistently for a reduction in the wages governments of other capitalist countries, it is as- paid to the workers. One of their arguments was]sumed, it is a sine qua non, that these loans are that great reductions in rents had taken place.|guaranteed by the governments of the creditor What are the facts? f A nation-wide survey, the results of which were|working class government, then it is the height published yesterday in The DAILY WORKER, |of folly to suggest that the government accord the show that not alone have rents not been percept-|same treatment to such a loan as it accords to ibly reduced but that they have increased. This|loans made for capitalist governments. despite the fact that the workers have been forced to accept,a reduction in wages except in cases}talist democracy hiding behind the British and where they were able thru the power of their or-| American parliamentary illusions. The working ganizations to maintain existing wage scales. When the workers succeed in forcing the bosses} peace treaty with Russia. The Anglo-Soviet treaty Advertising rates on application ° ] Congratulating Themselves Many observers have attempted to estimate the political significance of the endorsement of the LaFollette candidacy by the Executive Council of the American Federation of Labor. The opinions as to the real meaning of this endorsement have exceeded in number even those who have opined on this question. But one conclusion has been arrived at with prac- tical unanimity by the various interpreters of the present policy of the American Federation of Labor officialdom. This conclusion is most tersely and clearly expressed by the Magazine of Wall Street in an editorial captioned “Labor in Politics,” com- menting on the support tendered LaFollette by the Gompers machine. This widely-recognized spokesman for the upper- most layer of our investing class tells us that the endorsement ‘of LaFollette by Gompers and his crew affords no cause for uneasiness to the business interests of the country. This high oracle of highest finance informs us that the LaFollette party “is invery small degree radical compared with cur- rent commmunistic creeds.” The Magazine of Wall Street then goes on to say: “It is evident that this country has in no way to fear from such institu- tions as the American Federation of Labor. On the whole, American business can congratulate itself on the inherent good sense of the average Amer- ican laboring man.” This estimate of the political significance of the Gompers-LaFollette combination was written for home consumption. It was penned by the select scribblers for a select set of readers consisting primarily of those who are the real works in Amer- icah finfhee and politics. The view expressed by the Magazine of Wall Street about LaFollette and Gompers is the view genuinely entertained by our exploiting class. Indeed, the bosses are justified in congratulat-| ing themselves over the turn of events in the labor political field culminating in the tem- porary disruption of the farmer-labor class move- ment by the LaFollette-Gompers alliance. Not only has our business class no fear from the bureau- eracy of the American Federation of Labor, but it actually finds a strong source of support, one of its main props and buttresses, in the machinery of the American Federation of Labor, as it is now operated and controlled by Gompers, Johnstone, Schlesinger, and the lesser lights. Get a member for the Workers Party and a new subscription for the DAILY WORKER. Britain’s Coming Issue The raving Lloyd George is again on the political warpath. Mr. Baldwin, spokesman of the powerful British steel interests, is becoming ever more threatening. Unless presently unforeseen events intervene, there is every liklihood that Great Britain will soon have another general election. Tt appears that the Liberals and Conservatives, tho not as dissatisfied with the MacDonald regime as they first thought they would be, are preparing to sink a harpoon into its administration. The forces of British reaction are massing their strength for an attack on the recently concluded Anglo-Soviet treaty. The fact that this treaty provides for a government guarantee of the loan that is to be floated for the Soviet Republic in England has around the bitterest ire of all sections of the employing class. The recognized spokesmen of the various capitalist groups are solidified in their hostility to the British government aiding in the slightest way the flotation of a Soviet loan in England. This mad opposition to the guarantee clause brings to our minds significant facts. When a capi- talist government defaults on its debt payments, | the international exploiters run to its rescue. When |a working class government does not pay the bills incurred by its predecessors thru maintaining a gigantic machinery for oppressing the working masses, then the international bankers ostracize and boycott this proletarian government. Witness the difference in treatment accorded the imperialist government of France, and the working class gov- ernment of Russia by the United States. Also, when the capitalists lend money to the capitalists. But when a loan is proposed to a These incidents unmask the ugly face of capi- class of England will welcome the issue over the to pay them more for the use of their labor power,|has many shortcomings. We feel certain that the _ the landlords rub their hands in glee and soak them} coming election will make it possible for the revis- more for rent. But when wages drop the landlord|ion of this treaty so that it will be far more favor- sees no reason to lower his price for apartments.|able to the interests of the British and Russian The workers will be fleeced by the boss in the| working masses. factory and the landlord from whom they must rent a place to sleep until they takeover the political Rudolph Spreckles, the California sugar mag- power which the master class now uses to skin/nate, does not think LaFollette is a dangerous them alive. Only then can the workers begin to|radical. He believes on the contrary that only men regulate society for the benefit of the producers. |like LaQollette can save the capitalist system from being overthrown. “I have a stake in the capitalist ' It is about time Warren S. Stone, Grand Chief} system,” declared Spreckles, “and I want to save of the Locomotive Engineers, replied to the recent|it for my children.” Spreckles knows what he is attack of John L. Lewis, international president| talking about. But the workers who are support: of the United Mine Workers of America. Lewis] ing LaFollette under the illusion that he is a rad- charges Stone with co-operating with the non-|ical don’t know what they are doing. union coal owners against the union. Lewis is in the Coolidge camp. Stone is on LaFollette’s band wagon. We are waiting to hear from Stone, nami alee wae Mee af SEAMEN OL ee UME Lea Every day get a “sub” for the DAILY WORKER and a member for the Workers Party. THE DAILY WORKER The Lawy By MANUEL GOMEZ «(ACK to the Constitution!” ‘A fa- miliar and significant slogan, of- ten on the tongues of defenders of privilege. Particularly when they are worried that their own promiscuous transgressions may have weakened the respect of the workers for the “Manga Charta” of American capi- talist rule. It is the slogan of “Constitution Week,” proclaimed by the American Bar Association with ,all due solem- nity. “Constitution Week” began last Sunday and it will be with us un- til the coming Saturday night. The time is well chosen. The num- efous well-fed friends of the Constitu- tion are especially effervescent just now; the most modest demand for curbing the autocratic’ powers of the Supreme Court makes them froth at the mouth. Coolidge and Dawes, Tea- pot Dome candidates, do not scruple to make “law and order” the fighting issue in their campaign! Pa(y)triotic societies spring up like mushrooms. Newspapers such as the Chicago Tribune print three and four editorials a week inciting to summary treatment of “the radical foes of our Constitu- tion.” Lawyers Are Organized. Now comes the American Bar As- sociation, prepared to do its stuff. The A.B. A. is the official “trade” organiza- tion of all the lawyers in the coun- try; it is dominated by corporation lawyers; its leading lights consist of |such eminent mossbacks as Elihu Root, Charles Evans Hughes, William Howard Taft and John Wallstreet Davis. The Constitution means bread and butter to tawyers, and the A. B. A. would be unworthy of the men it represents if it did not properly cher- ish its meal ticket. Wherefore, “Con- stitution Week.” “Devotion to human liberty,” is the motive given by the A. B. A. for its interest in the Constitution. The tenderness of the lawyers is touching. . . rather too touching. For instance, on September 17, they |. discussed the so-called Bill of Rights of the Constitution, which is supposed to provide for religious freedom, free- dom of speech, freedom of the press and freedom of public assembly. What they will discuss on the six other days of “Constitution Week” will be men- tioned later on. ‘When corporation lawyers and pros- ecuting attorneys and judges talk about free syeech it is time to sus- pect something. In every single state in the union, workers are languishing in jail because they dared to speak their minds. Does the Bar Associa- tion propose that these men be freed? Does it propose that no more meet- ings be broken up, no more labor presses destroyed, no more soapbox- ers arrested? Does it? Everybody knows the answer. Berrien County Case. Over thirty states have enacted “Criminal Syndicalist” and “Sedition” laws, largely thru the active co-opera- tion of the Bar Association, Practi- cally all of these laws are unconstitu- tional. In Berrien County, Michigan, in the summer of 1922, a convention of the Communist Party was raided, in defiance of the constitutional guar- antee of free assembly, and C. B. Ruthenberg is now appealing from conviction, and the Bar Association is lined up openly .with the prosecu- tion. What is the Constitution among lawyers! . . . except during “Con- stitution Week.” Free Speech for Communists in Am- erica!, the slogan issued by the Labor Defense Council, defenging the Michi- gan Cases, was not urged in the Sep- tember 17 exercises. That wouldn't fit in with the lawyers’ plans at all. Indeed the idea is to launch an of- fensive against the Communists. It is written into the program that on September 19, the juridicial admirers of the Constitution will consider “means of curbing Communism and organized Minorities.” It would ap- pear that organized minorities are a danger to our fundamental code; any- way the Communists are an organized minority and they must be suppressed + + constitutionally or otherwise. The Constitution demands it! Thus, like good lawyers, reason the mem- bers of the American Bar Association. John Marshall’s Work. Lawyers have always been given the job of “interpreting” the Constitution for the capitalists, anyway. The first lawyer to take this task seriously was John Marshall, chief justice of the Su- preme Court from 1801 to 1835. Mar- shall was a dyed-in-the-wool Federal- ist, the direct representative of the privileged classes; and his whole work was to keep the power in the hands of those classes. One of his first steps was to set,a precedent giving the Supreme Court the right to declare acts of Congress unconstitutional! By a long series of judicial decisions, he helped to make the Constitution a bulwark against progress. Fitly enough, the A. B. A. will de- vote an entire day to studying “thé services of John Marshall in making the Constitution the supreme law of the land.” It is only natural that lawyers, for all their drivel about “a government of laws and not of men,” should be precisely the ones to maintain in prac- tice that the letter of the law has nothing to do with Law and Order. The lawyers know their trade. And they know that the essence of legalism is simply defense of the ruling class. Part of the Constitution is actually unwritten and it serves just as, well as the rest. The whole Constitution is as elastic as the famous Elastic Clause. This is why the various hirelings of the plutocrats can laud the Constitu- tion to the skies because of its liberal Free Speech Clause, and in the same breath bitterly denounce, as “subvers- ive,” all those who presume to speak freely. It is why a _highly-placed crook like Albert B. Fall or Harry M. Daugherty can fume against “law- breaking radicals” .. . without any- one honestly feeling any inconsis- tency. The only ultimate test of the legality of an act is its effect on the interests of the dominant social group. Saturday, September 20, 1924 ers Defend Their Meal Ticke Law, after all, is not government, but only one of a number of instru- mentalities which make up the gov: ernmental machine. Another instru- mentality is brute force. Yes, force and violence, police power to break up meetings, smash strikes, silence opposition to war, etc, Insistence upon obedience to the law goes hand in hand with systematic violation of the law; both principles are co-relative features of everyday governmental procedure. However pure and well-intentioned the workers may be in a clash with their bosses, however honest they may be, however they may strive to keep within the law . . they will never get “justice” until the govern- mental power is in their hands. What is the most sacred doctrine of the American legal system? Private prop- erty. What is the distinguishing fea- ture of the American democracy as expressed in the Constitution? Scorn- ful disregard of popular majorities. And this is the spirit expressed, with thotful sublimation, in the admoni- tion: “Remove not the ancient land. mark which thy fathers have set"— which was the text used by the clergy- man making the opening prayer be fore the Bar Association on the first day of its “Constitution Week.” Let the lawyers pay their respects to the Constitution! They have some. thing to rejoice about. But workers should not be taken in. If they sup- port the Constitution it is like support. ing a rope which is strangling them. Two Dictatorships. The proletarian dictatorship of So viet Russia is an instrument of class rule no less than the veiled Morgan- Rockefeller dictatorship in this coun- try, but there is an essential differ ence. It is a dictatorship in the in- terests of the workers the only useful class in society. The class which is repressed is the capitalist class. The enemies of the Constitution in Russia are the financiers and money lenders, the former plutocrats. the old czarist aristocrats. . the unemployed Rus- sian colleagues of the American Bar Association. AS WE SEE IT - - (Continued from page 1) retary Frank Hodges was compelled to resign when he joined the MacDon- ald government as First Lord of the Admiralty. Hodges is a notorious re- actionary and has no more working- class sympathy than Samuel Gomp- ers. Cook made a brilliant speech in behalf of the nationalization of the mines and said that if the Labor gov- ernment was not willing to introduce a measure for nationalization the trade union movement should compel it to. “Capitalism operated thru a labor government is no different to capitalism operated thru a capitalist government” declared Cook. One of the most important. resolutions pass- ed was one declaring for the sympa- thetic strike. Tomsky made a great hit with the congress when he stressed the value of amalgamation as a method of consolidating the unions. “In Russia, there are only 23 great unions” he declared. The congress showed that labor in England is step- ping toward the left. Pe | OUMANIA is badly off for want of funds. The finance minister, the gentleman who grabbed John D. Rockefeller’s' oil properties, returned from a begging expedition which took him to several European capitals, but he was not successful in raising any cash. The only solution for the crisis say the financial gentlemen is to in- flate the currency. That policy will bring as’ much relief to Roumania as another load of moonshine to one suf- fering from the effects of a drunk. + 8 ARTIAL law has been declared in the nothern part of Mosul, fol- lowing raids by Turkish irregulars, ac- cording to a news report. Turkey claims that Mosul is part of Mesopo- tamia and therefore belongs to the Turkish Republic. But unfortunately for the Turks, Mosul is rich in oil, therefore Britain insists that it be- longs to Irak, which as a geographical unit stands somewhere on a level of importance with the Island of Yap. Britain will fight to protect Irak’s in- dependence to the last oil barrel. se 8 'HE PRINCE OF WALES is having such a good time in the United States that he hates to leave for his ranch in Canada. Which is not sur- prising. Man is a social animal and the prince is a very socialble young man. The prince has very little to worry about. Ramsay MacDonald, good, pious, honest Christian social- ist—who hates Karl Marx as’devoutly as does the prince provided the prince does not think Marx is the third mem- ber of the Hart, Schaffner clothing firm,—is taking good care of the Em- pire. Given a good supply of whiskey and a choice collection of society ladies not bothered with Comstockian conceptions of female rectitude, His Royal Highness could enjoy his stay in the United States indefinitely. It is even reported that the prince may return again to visit the great indus- trial establishments. Perhaps the leftward trend in the British labor movement has set him thinking of the need for making provision for the fu- ture, . ae UNGARY has signed a treaty with the Soviet government. A few years ago when some country recog- nized Russia it was good for a head- lime in the capitalist press. Today they are signing up as fast as they ean. The only important government in Europe that has not yet recognized the Soviet Republic is France - and even France is taking steps te resume relations. Nothing suceeds like suc- cess. The red army is quite a con- vincing argument. e198 8s Contributed Paragraphs. ‘XTRACT from report on Chinese war: “Today was the Chinese mid-autumn festival, and by mutual consent, helped by a continuous down- By T. J. O’Flaherty pour of rain, both sides stopped fight- ing until about six o’clock tonight, when they went at it again.” This just about describes the social-demo- cratic version of the class war. In tense periods, a smile and an auto- mobile ride from the plutes, and the sham battle is stopped “by mutual consent.” Only when the masses storm the works under Communist banners, do the reformists get back into the fight—on the side of the ene- mies of the working class. Sa ee OHN WALLSTREET DAVIS re- cently made the best anarchist speech since the death of Herr Most, or the departure of Emma Goldmon to overthrow the workers’ government of Russia. “Shall we surrender (our per- sonal liberty) to the will of the ma- jority of the people? Never ... To the majority of legislatire. . . congress? Never! . + we will ig- nore the law and declare that it has no value or substance.” John is most concerned with the “right” to rob wage labor. Surrender?» Never! And not even then! Unless the workers decide otherwise. WILLIAM F. KRUSE. Subscribe for “Your Daily,” the DAILY WORKER. Paterson Strikers Picket in Mass (Continued from Page 1) and four loom system would go on in spite of misrepresentation. “Qur one weapon used in building this organization is educational propa- ganda,” he said. For Open Ballot. “The Associated Silk Workers’ Un- ion, to settle the problem of three and four looms, suggests that this so-called manufacturers’ organization, if it can be located in Paterson, participate in a referendum to ‘be voted upon by the silk workers of Paterson, the ballot to be no secret, and open to all weav- ers in the industry. y “The two-loom scheme is the limit of human endurance for most work- ers. To impose more looms upon them means to shorten their lives by demanding every ounce of energy they possess, This terrific toil, com- bined with low wages, brings the av- erage human being to the point of collapse in a few years.” THE ASSOCIATED SILK WORK- ERS HAVE REPLIED TO THE STATEMENT OF THE SO-CALLED BROAD S!LK MANUFACTURERS’ ASSOCIATION AS FOLLOWS: A spurious organization, calling itself the BROAD SILK MANUFACTUR- ERS’ ASSOCIATION, of Paterson, is- sued to the. public press a statement on last Friday morning, setting forth various charges against the leader- ship of the strike of the workers in the broad silk mills. This assault was unsigned, the in- dividuals responsible for it evidently fearing the ludicrous position in which they would ‘find themselves before the names to such a series of insinuations and bare-faced lies. The charge is made that the Associated Silk Work- ers’ Union resorts to intimidation and violence to build up its membership. This charge is known to be false by every one even slightly acquainted with the principles and tactics of this organization. Our one weapon used in building this organization is educa- tional propaganda for the purpose of convincing the silk mill workers that it is to their material interest to be- come members of our organization. The worker with a modicum of int ligence readily recognizes the advan- tages to be gained thru affiliation with the Associated Silk Workers. Urge Referendum, Probably the farthest departure from the truth in the communication from this fake manufacturers’ organ- ization is its boast that it speaks for the vast majority of the silk workers of Paterson. In defending the nerve: racking three and four-loom system, these people, who are too cowardly to sign their name to their communi- cation, aro iadulging in fantasies when they claim to speak for even a small majority of workers, The Associated Silk Workers’ Un- ion, in order to once and for all settle the problem of three and four-looms, ed that this so-called man- organization, if it can be located anywhere in Paterson, parti- cipate in a referendum to be voted up- on by the silk workers of Paterson, The ballot to be secret and open to all weavers in the industry. If the majority of them vote in favor of the three and four-loom system, then the publio if thoy dared attach their) Associated Silk Workers will retrain from claiming to speak in the inter- ests of the broad silk workers of Pat- erson, but if the majority of weavers vote in favor of a two-loom system, the eight-hour day, and living wages, then we will insist that we, and not a spurious organization controlled by cowards and poltroons, speak in the interest of the workers of Paterson. Bosses Are Foreign-Born. — The attempt of this group to arouse sentiment against the organization by resorting to plea of patriotism is utter- ly grotesque, as it reveals the fact that this\ anonymous group still im- agines the war is on, and that insipid appeals to patriotism are substitutes for convincing argument. Their pa- triotic plea again reminds us that “pa- triotism is the last refuge of scound- rels.” The further amusing feature in their appeal to patriotism and 100 per cent Americanism, is the fact that most of them are themselves foreign-born. The Associated further asserts that it is willing to take a census of the for eign-born workers in the ranks of the strikers, and the foreign-born exploit: ers in the ranks of the manufacturers, where the discovery will be made that the overwhelming majority of manu- facturers are also foreign-born. Prob- ably the reason that they didn’t sign their names to the communication is because they are such pure and un- adorned, glittering American names as Kauffman, Haenichan, Diamond, Schottland, Aronsohn, all of which are recognized as having come pure and shining down the centuries from the founders of Jamestown, Plymoth, and other early American colonies. As to the use of out-of-town agita- tors, this spurious organization of silk manufacturers howls about, we mere- ly point to the fact that these same patriots are scouring the underworld of nearby cities in a desperate effort to obtain strike breakers for their mills, but their efforts have thus far not proved enticing to even pick-pock- ets, porch-climbers, and other gang- sters that usually serve as strike breakers in other industries. Concern- ing the merits of this case, we fee] that they have been adequately pre- sented to the public. There is no ar- gument from any point of view, either of humanity, economics, logic, or mor- ality, that can justify the multiple- loom system. The two-loom system is the limit of human endurance as far as most workers are concerned. To impose more looms upon them means to shorten their lives by demanding every ounce of energy they possess, This terrific toil, combined with low wages, brings the average human be- ing to the point of collapse in a very few years, The strikers of Paterson are not fighting just because the un- jon tells them to fight, they are fight- ing because they themselves, thru their union machinery, have decided in a democratic manner, to challenge the multiple-loom system and fight it to a finish, We propose to continue this fight until the multiple loom sys tem has been decisively eliminated in the silk industry of Paterson, and no amount of bombast or cheap bill- ingsgate on the part of an aggraga tion too cowardly to sign their names bi cause us to pause in this strug- gle. ASSOCIATED SILK WORKERS, * FRED HOELSCHER, Secretary, Arbitrary use of the’