The Daily Worker Newspaper, October 18, 1924, Page 6

4th November 1864. Dear Frederick, Some time ago the London work- ers sent an address to the Paris work- ers with reference to Poland, calling upon them to take common action in this matter, The Parisians for their part sent a deputation over here, headed by a workman called Tolain, who was act- ually labor candidate at the last elect- ion in Paris, and who is a very nice fellow. (His companions were very good fellows too.) A public meeting was convened in St. Martin’s Hall for Sept. 28 by Odger (shoemaker, chair- man of the local London Trades Coun- cil the council of all London trade unions, and especially of the Suffrage Propaganda Society of the London trade unions, connected with Bright) and Cremer, a stonemason and secre- tary of the stone masons’ trade union. (These two men brought about the great meeting of the trade unions for North America, under Bright, at the St. James’ Hall, as also the Garibaldi manifestation). A certain Le Lubez was sent to me, asking if I would par- ticipate on the part of the German -workers and especially if I would send a German speaker for the meet- ing, ete. I sent Eccarius, who mana- ged splendidly, whilst I assisted him as dumb figure on the platform. I knew that on this occasion real “powers” both from London and Paris would be figuring, and thus decided to depart from my otherwise fixed rule of declining all such invitations. Le Lubez is a young Frenchman, that is, he is the thirties, but he was brought up in Jersey and London, speaks splendid English, and is an excellent intermediary between the French and English workers. He is a music teacher, and has given French lessons as well, At the meeting, which was packed to suffocation (for there is obviously a revival in the working class at the present time) the London union of Italian workers was represented by Major Wolff (Thurn-Taxis, Garibaldi’s On the Founding of the First International adjutant). It was resolved to found an International Labor Association, whose general council is to have its headquarters in London, and to act as intermediary between the labor unions of Germany, Italy, France, and England. It was further resolved to convocate a general labour congress in Belgium in 1865. A provisional committee was nominated at the meet- ing, Odger, Cremer, and many others, in part old Chartists, old Owenites, etc., for England. Major Wolff, Fon- tana, and other Italians for Italy; Le Lubez, etc., for France; Eccarius and I for Germany. The committee was authorized to add as many members as it thought necessary. So far good. I attended the first meeting of the committee. A sub- committee was nominated (including me), commissioned to draw up a de- claration of principles and provision- al articles. I was prevented by illness from attending the session of the sub- committee, and the session of the whole committee following this. At these two meetings—the one held by the subcommittee, followed by that of the whole committee—at which I was not present, the following had occured: Major Wolff had submitted his sta- tutes of the Italian labor unions (which possess a central organization, but, as turned out later, consist es- sentially of associated auxiliary unions) to be utilized by the new as- sociation. I saw the stuff later. It was obviously a piece of Mazzini’s handiwork, so you can imagine for yourself in what spirit and in what phraseology the real question, . the labor question, was dealt with. And how the nationality matters were edged in, Besides this, a program had been drawn up by an old Owenite—Weston, now himself a manufacturer, a most agreeable and well meaning man full of the utmost confusion and of un- speakable breadth. The general committee session fol- lowing this had commissioned the subcommittee to remodel Weston’s program and-Wolff’s statutes. Wolff himself left for Naples, to attend the ‘course) of the conference of the London union of Italian workers there, and to induce this union to join the London labor association. The subcommittee held another meeting, at which I was again not present, as I got to know of the ren- dezvous too late, Here Le Lubez had submitted a declaration of principles and a revision of the Wolff statutes; these had been accepted by the sub- committee for submitting to the gen- eral committee. The general com- mittee met on Oct. 18. As Eccarius had written me that danger was to be expected, I attended, and was truly herrified to hear the good Le Lubez read an introduction, in frightful phraseology, badly written, and en- tirely immature, claiming to be a de- claration of principles. Mazzini peep- ed through everywhere, overlaid with the vaguest shreds of French social- ism. Besides this, the Italian statutes had been almost completely accepted, altho, apart from their other faults, they actually aim at something im- possible, a sort of central government (with Mazzini in the background of European working classes. I opposed mildly, and after much discussion Eccarius proposed that the subcommittee should once more submit the matter to a fresh “editing” contained in the Lubez declaration were however accepted. Two days later, on Oct. 20, there was a meeting at my house; Cremer for the English, Fontana (Italy), and Le Lubez. (Weston was unable to come). I had not had the papers in my hands up to then (Wolff's and Le Lu- bez’) and was unable to prepare any- thing, but was fully determined that not one line of the stuff was to be allowed to stand. In order to gain time, I suggested that we should dis- cuss the “statutes” before beginning to “edit”. This was done. It was one o’clock fn the morning before the first of 40 statutes was accepted. Cre- mer said (and this is what I had been aiming at): “We have nothing to sub- mit to the committee meeting on Oct. 25. We must postpene this meeting until Nov. 1. The subcommittee, on the other hand, can meet on Oct. 27, Karl Marx to Frederick Engels and try to come to a definite result.” This was agreed to, and the “papers” ~ left behind with me for me to look through. I saw that it was impossible to make anything of the stuff. In order to justify the extremely peculiar way in which I intended to “edit” the “accepted principles”, I wrote an ad- dress to the working class (though this was not in the original plan): a sort of review of the development of the working class since 1845. On the pretext that all essentials were contained in this address, and that we must not repeat the same things three times, I altered the whole in- troduction, threw out the declaration of principles, and finally replaced the 40 statutes by 10. In so far as inter- national politics are mentioned in the address, I speak of countries, not of nationalities, and denounce Russia, not the smaller states. My proposal were all accepted by the subcom- mittee. I was however obliged to, take up two “duty” and “right” phrases, and one on “truth, morality, and justice” in the introduction to the statutes, but they are so placed that they cannot dc any damage. My address, etc. was accepted with great enthusiasm (unanimously) at the session of the general committee. The debate on the manner in which it is to be printed, etc., takes place on Tuesday. Le Lubez has received a copy for translation into French, Fontana one for translation into Italian. I myself haye to translate the stuff into English. It has been very difficult to manage the matter so that our views can ap- pear in a form acceptable to the prés- ent standpoint of the labor movement. These same people will be holding meetings within a few weeks for suf- frage, with Bright and Cobden. It will take time before the reawakened movement permits of the old boldness of speech, We must hold firmly to the cause itself, but be moderate in form. As, soon as the thing is print- ed you shall have it, Salut. Yours, K. M. Herlock Sholmes Catches Reds By A. DONAN COYLE. “My dear fellow,” said Herlock Sholmes, the great New York detec- tive as we were seated on either side of the fire in Centre St. headquarters, “These commoonists get far greater sums of money than you can conceive of. It undoubtedly runs into the mil- lions of dollars.” “And yet I am not convinced of it,” I answered. “The reports and rumors have never been substantiated in any ” way. He fell into a_reverie. No great do- tective speaks hurriedly. Not because e cannot speak quickly, but rather be- cause it does not befit a great detec- tive to do so. One would think at first glance that he was an ordinary plain-clothesman. And in truth he looked like any other man on the force. But yet he was Captain Her- lock Sholmes; known the world over as having run-down the Wall St. Bomb Plot perpetrator and having exposed and nipped in the bud the various at- tempts to start May Day riots. His ‘slight graceful body, beautifully deli- cate nose, pointed sensitive chin, clear blue eyes and long slender tapering fingers bespoke his similarity to any other policeman. He lifted his head. “Whatsewer,” he said, “wait here a few minutes until I change clothes and I will, prove to you that I am right.” He disappeared into the bathroom. Soon he reappeared: I was amazed at his complete disguise. It was even more complete than that which he used when he caught the queen of Bohemia and the prince, but I prom- ised not to tell that story until a later day. It involves too much roy- alty. The bit of cactus on his upper. lip had been removed, his’ neck was white, and in place of the jazz-bo he usually wore, was a red Windsor tie. ‘ “Come,” he said, “the scheme is this. I have here a check for fifty thousand dollars with Lenin’s signa- ture forged on it. It is made out to this guy William X. Foster and en- dorsed to me. We will find a Bullshe- vik and ask him to cash it. If he does, you will admit, that it proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that such checks are common to them.” I nodded assent. I had to nod be- cause such ingenious power awed me into speechlessness. We had to walk north to the next street corner in or- der to take a car to the heart of the city. About half way up the block we met Smith, an old friend of mine. Hay- tng acquired WHerlock’s remarkable ability at perception to a small de- gree I noticed big yellow egg-stains on his chin and shirt. “Hello Smith!” Sholmes called as we approached each other. “Pretty rotten combinations of food you are eating nowadays.” ; “You don’t know what I ate, today,” Smith retored. ; “Tll wager you the best five cent cigar made, I do,” challenged our hero. The wager was made. “You had watermelon, chicken and coffee,” Herlock said confidently. Smith reluctently admitted that this was correct and paid the dues. After we parted I asked Sholmes how he knew. i “Well,” he replied, “I knew he ate watermelon because I saw a water- melon seed sticking out of his left ear. He ate chicken surely, because he looked hungry. Those egg stains that misled you are from some other ow day. The price of chicken is as high as the price of eggs and it is logical that between the two he should choose the former.” I gasped at such genius. My read- ers_will agree that had the czar one such detective, that rascal Vladimir Trotzky would now be eating beans rather than helping nationalize the Russian women. To this day I regret that Herlock didn’t go to Russia. The six billion rubles that I bought for twelve cents might have made me rich, but let us go on with the story. When we were settled in the street car Sholmes pointed to a man siting opposite us who looked like the am- bassador from Roumania, saying, “There is our man!” “But how do you know that he is a bolshevik?” I objected. “By his beard,” he answered in- tensely. “I suspect a bomb under it.” Presently the ambassador-from Rou- mania and alleged bolshevik, rose and left the car. Herlock rose to follow him and I followerd Herlock. We overtook our hairy friend in a side street. “Comrade,” said Herlock in a deep growl imitating the N. Y. Tribune’s description of how reds speak, “I have a slight favor to ask of you.” The ambassador turned around but said nothing. He must have felt the presence of the powerful personality. Herlock continued, “I want you to change this check for me. It came from the revolution to buy guns with and the hock shop owner hasn’t any loose change about so you will have to cash it.” The bolshevik or ambassador scratched his chin and looked dubiou He started to walk away. ie “You must change it or the attempt on Washington will fail.” Herlock shrieked at the same time putting on a wild look and dishevelled his hair to convince the stranger that he was the real thing. “Karl Radek himself sent me to you!” The stranger looked convinced. He put his arms around the detective and caressed him. “Sure,” he said in a half apologetic, half pleading tone, “come to my house and I will change it for you.” ° The victory was Herlock’s. He looked an [F+told-you-so look and chuckled. The stranger’s house was a large, dark and gloomy building set in the midst of a little park and enclosed with rather heavy iron gates. This was rather disappointing in view of my having expected to be lead into a cellar. _ However, it looked convincing. The building cast fantastic shadows; just the kind that bullsheviks would enjoy carrying out their bomb throw- ing proclivities in. We followed him thru an important and luxurious look- ing office, probably this guy Ruthen- berg’s, passed a long corridor, up a narrow flight of stairs and finally into a spacious hall. Here we heard queer, long drawn-out noises and occasional shrieks that sent chills down my spine. The detective whispered that this must be the. place where they cut up the babies of Rotary Club mem- bers and make hamburger steak to sell to strikers. Finally we stopped in front of a door with a window such as bank tellers usually have. Here opened the door and asked us to step inside. We thought that this must be the counting house. No sooner had we stepped inside than the door slam- med. Our ambassador from Rou- (Continued on page 7.)