The Daily Worker Newspaper, October 28, 1924, Page 3

Tuesday, October 28, 1924 THE DAILY WORKER On a Labor Faker’s Trail OUR.REPORTER WRITES ABOUT HUGE COOLIDGE TURNOUT IN MINNEAPOLI. j FARRINGTON | CHARGED WITH (Special to The Daily Worker) MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., Oct. 27.—The stone walls of a group of buildings, a few lamp-posts, an expanse of blue sky and twenty-five human beings @ serious charge even against him excepting the information that came to you through Mr. Honnold, the Sec- retary of the Illinois Coal Operators’ Association. ; Calls Lewis Coward “It is not my business to defend Mr. Medill. I leave that to him to do, NEGROES MUST FIGHT FOR RIGHT TO CAST BALLOTS IN OKLAHOMA (Special to the Daily Worker) TULSA, Okla., Oct. 27.—Negroes here may force a federal grand jury investigation into the refusal of cer. tain Oklahoma registrars to” permit Negro voters to register for the gen- Page Three NEGROES SHOWN AS WE SEE IT By T. J, O}FLAHERTY. ed CHICAGO COURTS (Continued from page 1) lin deadly earnest on the Klan ques \tion tho ff is hard to believe that men HOUNDING THEM jke Fitzpatrick, F ton, .Nockles jand Jahn L.° Wal 1 in earnest Jabout anythiug excep: holding thelr jobs. . . . Threatened Here With formed the audience to which the Morgan Fife and Drum Corps, employed eral election. | AT the last state convention of thé ‘ GRAVE OFFENSE Returns the Compliment With Interest By T. J. O'FLAHERTY. (Article Fourteen.) Williamson County, Illinois, first burst into the national Iimelight during the coal miners’ strike of 1922, when William J. Lester, owner of a strip mine, hired a number of strike-break- ers to operate his property. The scabs along with'trying to break the strike, also became exceed- ingly offensive in the commun- ity going around the country insulting women, beating up old men and setting the example for the conduct subsequently followed by the Ku Klux Klan, who are in every way worthy successors to the Lester strike- breakers. All did not go well with the scabs however. Then opened fire on a body ef union miners who went to the bar- ricaded coal mine with the object of making certain suggestions to them, with a view to relieving the tension created in the neighborhood by their presence. When the smoke of battle cleared, the number of scabs who looked healthy could be counted on “the fingers of one hand. A sensation was created thruout the country and chambers of commerce and capitalist newspapers called for the blood of the union miners. Lester Got Permit It was afterwards learned that Les- ter received a permit from Farrington to clear off the dirt of his strip mine. Other went further and said that Les- ter had paid a round sum of money to Farrington and Vice-President Fish- wick for that concession. Of course the president of the Illinois Miners’ Union denies these charges but as the correspondence published below will show, no less a person than John L. Lewis president of the Interna tional. Union. makes this charge against Farrington according to the statement of International Board Member Dobbins. Farrington collected a fund of >2,- 000,000 from the Illinois miners by assessment for the alleged defense of Wi on County cases. He has never given an accounting of the ex penditures and it is widely believed among the miners of District 12, that he has used this money as a slush fund to build up his own personal machine and to enrich himself and his family with it. The correspondence which follows is as damaging to Lewis as it is to Far- ington. How both could unite after what they say about each can only be understood in the light of the reason given in the previous article: their deadly fear of the progressive elements in the union who are out to rid the organization of both crooks. The first is a letter from Farring ton to Lewis: “gpringfield, Ill, Nov. 2, 1922. “Mr. John L. Lewis, President, United Mine Workers of America, Indianapolis, Indiana. ioe “Dear Sir Brother: “Just silane International Board ~»@fember Dobbins told me that during the meeting of the International Ex- eoutive Board held Oct. 9th to 20th, inclusive, that you made the state ment to the Board that things in Illinois were corrupt and that a com- had -been entered into between two substantial officers of this dis- who went, without—presumably— having been forced to go. Twice a week the Lincoln club, pays a few dollars to the G. A. R veterans ‘to play during the noon hour and at- tempt to draw a crowd with a chorus of patriotic Hallelujahs and republi- can Amens. The platform on which the band Plays has been artistically draped with the remnants of five aged crip- ples who left most of their anatonomy on battlefields in era or anrathor n¢ the wars for freedém. The heroes present a most pathetic spectacle, | hotel that you told him that the two substantial officers to whom you hac referred in your statement made to the Board were Vice-President Fish- wick and myself. He also told me that you told him that Lester's office had been raided since the trouble at Herrin and that Attorney General Brundage now has in his possession all papers in connection with the com- pact. Board Member Dobbins also tok me that you told the Board, and later told him personally, that Robert M. Medill, Director 6f the Department of Mines and Minerals in Illinois, had made the compact and that the money was to be split three wys, namely, between Mr. Medill and the two sub- stantial officers to whom you had re- ferred. Bosses Gave Facts “He also told me that you told him that I was verging on a nervous break- down because of mental disturbance over this matter. Board Member Dob- bins also told mé that you told him that your information came from one who has secured the infrmation from Mr. Honnold, secretary of the Illinois Coal. Operators’ Association, and thet he, Dobbins, could secure further in- formation on the subject from L. F. Lumaghi, a coal operator in this state. “Before taking any action on this matter I desire a letter’ from you either affirming or denying the state- ments Board Member Dobbins told me pibat you had made before the Inter- national Executive Board and to him personally about this matter. I am not at all disturbed over the matter, but I do intend to attempt to expose those who are trying to defame my good name and considering that fact that accordihg to Board Member Dobbins’ statement, Mr. Honnold, Secretary of the Illinois Coal Operators’ Associa- tion seems to be the authority upon which your statements are made, it would seem that the Illinois Coal Operators are at the bottom of the conspiracy ahd I am anxious to arrive at the facts 80 that I shall know how to proceed in clearing up this matter. I shall appreciate an early response to this communication.” “Yours truly, “(Signed) F. FARRINGTON, Pres.” To this communication John L. Lewis makes the following brief reply in which he denies nothing. Springfield, Ill, November 9, 1922. “Mr. Frank Farrington, President, District 12, U. M. W. of A., Springfield, Il, (Copy). “Dear Sir and Brother: “This will reply to your communica- tion of November 2nd. Mr. Dobbins’ memory is somewhat inaccurate as to my statement to the International Ex- ecutive Board and my later conver- sation with him when’ he led on me. “The whole story of Medill's pros- titution of his public office and at- tempted bribery of certain coal oper- ators in Illinois during the strike is so infamous and corrupt that I do not care to discuss it here. I have no objection to discussing some trict and W. J. Lester to allow his strip cont mine to operate during the re- strike. r) “Board Member Dobbins also to. |phases of it with you personally if me that later in your room at the|you desire. About a month ago I dis- by the aristocratic Lincoln club, tooted and bugled patriotic airs today in an attempt to rally the workers to the standard of Coolidge and. Dawes. From the twenty-five people present, subtract the reporter for the DAILY WORKER. That leaves twenty-four + but fail to draw, the workers. To these attractions has been ad- ded another freak—a person alleged to have been “progressive’—Judge M. C. Tifft. In a speech teeming with vicious personalities, Tifft attacked both Foster and LaFollette as ad- vocates of “free love.” The judge proceeded to urge the election of Coolidge as the only means of “saving” America from the “reds.” “The workers face poverty unless they re-elect Coolidge,” was the final ling of Tifft at today’s anti-revolu- ‘onary session. cussed the same subject with Vice President Fishwick.” “Very truly yours, “JOHN L. LEWIS, President.” | Farrington justly charges Lewis with evasion and sends the following scorcher: “November 22, 1922. “Mr. John L. Lewis, President, United Mine Workers of America, Indianapolis, Indiana: “With this reply to your letter of November 9th which you wrote in an- swer to my letter of November 2nd, in which I brought to your attention information given me by board mem- ber Dobbins concerning statements you were alleged by him to have made before the International Executive Board and to him personally to’ the effect that things in Illinois were corrupt and that Vice President Fish- wick and myself had entered, into a compact to allow the Lester Strip Pit Mine to operate during the recent strike upon condition that Vice Pre- sident Fishwick and myself were to be paid stipulated sums of money. Believes Dobbins’ Word “L observe you state ‘That Mr. Dob- bins’ memory is somewhat inaccurate as to my statements to the Internation- al Executive Board and my later con- versation with him when he called on me.’ I regard your answer as being one of evasion. Surely Mr. Dobbins’ memory is not so inaccurate that everything he told me is merely the result of bad memory. Before writing you under date of November 2nd, I had Mr. Dobbins’ come to my office and in the presence of Vice Rresident Fishwick and Secretary Nesbit ‘and myself he told me of the statement you had made and as set forth in my letter of November 2nd. I took his statement down in writing and I told him before hand that I was going to write you on the subject and that I wanted to be absolutely correct before doing so and after taking down his statement in long hand I read it over to him and asked him if he was quite’ certain that I had correctly taken the statement as made by him concerning what you had said about me before the International Executive Board and to him personally’ while in your room at the hotel and Board Member Dobbins stated that I had a correct version of the matter. Con | sequently I cannot believe that Mr. Dobbins’ memory is completely inac- curate about the matter and consider- ing the fact that you neither affirm or deny all or any part of the statement Mr. Dobbins told me you made,. but instead you attempt to brush the whole matter aside by saying ‘Mr. Dobbins’ memory is somewhat inac- curate,’ I am disposed to believe that the story he told me is substantially | true and that you are now attempting tc escape responsibility by charging Mr. Dobbins with having a bad mem- | ory and by making a vitrolic atack ur on Robt. M. Medill, the director of the Department of Mines and Minerels in Illinois, and you hold up your hands in holy horror because of his attempt ed bribery of certain coal operators in Illinois, when as a matter of fact you have no authority for making such as I expect he will do at the proper time and place, but I do not propose to allow you to blacken my good name in the way you attempted to do before the International Executive Board in the cowardly manner you did do and it is putting the matter mildly when I say to you in my opinion you are engaged in mighty small business when you attempt to throw a cloud of suspicion around thesofiicers of Dis- trict No, 12, and particularly the Pre- sident of District No. 12, by telling such vicious fabrications as you re- lated to the members of the Inter- national Executive Board, and such conduct does not become one big enough to occupy the Presidency of the United Mine Workers of America. 9th you say, ‘I have no objections to discussing some phases of it (mean- ing the subject matter) with you per- sonally if you desire.’. It seems to me it would have been more manly and honorable, and less dirty and cheap, if you had discussed the matter with me personally before, you related your story to the members of the Inter- national Executive Board, and be- cause you did not do that I have no desire whatever to discuss the matter with you personally as I feel it would be useless to do so with one of your tendencies. You deliberaely attempted to blacken my good name before the members of the International Execut- ive Board and I happen to know that that is not the first time you have at- tempted to do so, but in this case the only authority you have for your vic- ious falsehood is the Secretary of the Illinois Coal Operators’ Association, and again I say I think you are en- gaged in mighty cheap business for one holding the exalted position you occupy. Heard Many Tales “It so happens I have heard a num- ber of stories about your official con- duct and coupling the stories, as I heard them, with the circumstantial evidence, I have more reason to be- lieve that they are true than you have to believe that Vice President Fish- wick and myself entered into a com- pact to allow the Lester Strip Mine to operate during the, strike and for your information I herewith recount some of.the.stories I have heard about your official conduct. “FIRST: I was told that the Pre- sident of the South Western Coal Operators’ Association stated that the most any price to get rid of Alex Howat as President of the Kansas Miners and considering the outrage- ous manner in which you treated him and the Kansas mine workers in or- der to get rid of Howat as President of the Kansas miners, I have just as much reason to believe that you col- lected a handsome sum of money for your part in the Kansas trouble as you have to believe that I was to col- lect money for allowing Lester Strip Mine to operate. Wanted to Dodge Responsibility “SECOND: An influential operator, with whom I happen to know you had dinner during the month-of December, told me that you told him during the month’ of December that you believed the mine workers of the country were going to be obliged to take a reduc- tion of wages after the first of April and that you implied that in order to enable you to escape responsibility for the reduction a strike was to be called on the first of April and that it would continue until the govern- ment intervened and settled the strike or until the members of the union themselves were punished until they demanded a settlement of the strike. even on the basis of a reduction of wages, and considering the facts that “I note in your letter of November | Kansas Coal Operators would pay al- The decision to try to force an investigation has followed on the re- fusal of the district court of a writ of mandamus seeking, to compel Okfusgee registrars to register Neg- ro voters. In denying the writ, Judge F. E. Kennamer was forced to admit that | it looks as if there were “a conspir- | acy in the state capital and the State election board to deny the {| right of voting to certain citizens be- cause of race or color.” “In some precincts registrars go around and find only those voters to register whom they know will vote ‘right’.”. Kennamer admitted, | That a Negro has virtually no chance of getting suffrage rights thru appeal to the state supreme court was not denied by the judge. other officers of our union collected | $100,000 from the operators in Ken- | tucky for allowing them to operate during the strike and considering the {fact that you stated during the meet- ing of the Policy Committee, held in Washington, that work in the Ken- |tucky mines would not be stopped so jlong as you were President of the | Miners’ Union, I have just 4s much reason to believe that the story is |true as you have to believe the one about me. The Harriman Deal “FOURTH: I heard that instead of borrowing $100,000 from the Harri- man Bank of New York, as publicly stated, that you received $750,000 from this bank and that three mem- bers of the Directorate of the Bank are operating non-union mines in the Pennsylvania field and that the extra $650,000 which the public never, heard anything about, was given to you and your associates with the understand- ing that the support of the Interna- tional Union would be withdrawn from, the striking mine workers in the non-union fields of Pennsylvania and considering that fact that you ex- onerated our members from the pay. | ment of per capita tax to the Inter- |national Union for the month of August, instead of requiring them to pay the tax as the International Con- stitution obligates them to do, and this \at a time when the striking mine work- ers of Pennsylvania were badly in need of financial assitance, woul¢ seem to lend color to the’story. To exonerate our members from the pay- ment of tax for the month of August meant no material relief for the in- dividual but in the aggregate had the 'tax been eollected it would have meant substantial relief for the strikers. “Furthermore, considering the fact that you waited until October be- fore levying a special assessment, which could not be collected until the month of November, and this in face of the fact that the striking mine workers in Pennsylvania had been sending out pitable nation wide ap- peals for financial assistance even since the general strike was settled during the month of August, and tak ing into account the fact that Wall Street Banks are not noted for their Farrington is Charged union sympathies,-the average individ- ual would conclude, (taking circum- that there must be some truth in the story and that you were deliberately conspiring to starve these men in sub- mission. “I have not been a party to cir- culate these stories because I have no proof for their truthfulness and lcannot bring myself to believe them, strongly against you, and because my sense of manhood will not allow me “ys 9 . dim Crow” Justice | Mnois Federation of Labor, antl. Klan resolutions were introduced by Protests of lawyers at the ap-|miners’ delegates, but Farrington and iscriminati i y i 0 block their arent discrimination practiced | Victor Olander tried to b ‘i P Jintroduction. The DATLY WORKER m Chicago courts against Negro)... the only paper to publish this defendants proved so embar- | ory, and the» fakers denied it, but rassing to Judge Padden, of the na to admit that they thought it municipal court, that he found | good policy to ignore the Klan question it necessary to appeal for reas-|aitogether, It is now perfectly clear signment of several cases in-|that Walker, Olander and Farrington volving Negroes. * |were acting under the instructions of The outbreak of protest came|Grand Dragon Palmer of the Illinois with the trial of William Beas-|Klan, and his paymaster Small. How stantial evidence into consideration,) | [even though circumstanial evidence is | ly, Negro musician, on a charge does such a situation appeal to the of pandering. “Third Degree” by Investigators. Betty Beasley, a white woman, the | wife of the musician, also arrest: | ed in connection with the case, and it was on her that the so-called social investigators on the case ‘used the well-known “star-chamber” methods. The first indication that race pre- judice would be a factor in the trial was the unusually high bond set for Beasley. He was placed umier $4.j 000 bond. Attorney William Westbrooks, en- tered the ante-room behind the bar, and discovered that the “social inves, i- gators” had taken Mrs. Beasley ix there to persuade her to testify against her husband. Attorney West- brooks overheard the following conver- | sation: | “Don’t you know that you are dis- gracing yourself by marrying a black man?” This from one of the white woman investigators. “No,"-said Mrs. Beasley, “I love him.” Favor Kentucky Methods. “I know what we would do with you in Kentucky,” came the answer. When Westbrooks interrupted court to tell Judge Padden what he had heard, Padden flew into a rage and! asked if Westbrooks meant to insinu- ate that he was involved in the third degree methods used on Mrs. Beas-| ley. The judge finally ordered the case | hrown out of court, not however, be-! ‘ore he had raised Mrs. Beasley's | bond from $400 to $1,000, Judge Ward, before whom the case came up later, threatened to throw | Westbrooks into jail. Both. Mr. and Mrs. Beasley. have ‘lemanded a jury trial. . Dance by Lithuanian Chorus “Aido” to Aid Party Campaign Fund} DETROIT, Mich., Oct. 27—An En-| tertainment and Dance will be given by the Lithuanian “Aido” Chorus of Detroit, the entire proceeds of which will go to the Workers Party Cam- |paign Fund. \ Tht dance and entertainment will jout in the coming election. }members of the Illinois Miners’ Union? EARST has come to the conclu- sion that Coolidge is going to win The pub- lisher of yellow journals is secretly for Coolidge tho he has not dared to come out in the pen. His chief edi- torial writer, Arthur Brisbane, a most unprincipled hireling, is boosting “Silent Cal” in his daily column. Hearst was undecided in the early days whether he should support La- Follette or not but “Bob” was running &@ one man show and Hearst did not eare to play second fiddle. He is having a good time playing up Cos- mopolitan pictures and particularly Marion Davies his pulchritudinoug star in his fifteen daily newspapers, UDOLPH SPRECKLES is very R fmusy in California rooting for"La * Follette. Spreckles is a bitter anti-soc- jalist, yet he is going to vote the socialist ticket this year in order to “save capitalism.” That,is the way he puts it. The socialist ticket comes in handy. A man like Spreckles is entitled to admiration. He is out- spokenly truthful and one is able to know where to find him. He is per- fectly right in his reasoning on the LaFollette movement. The continued reign of Big Business under a nonen- tity like Coolidge will foster discon- tent faster than under the direction of a clever faker like LaFollette. Therefore Spreckles knows that it is better for capitalism in the long run to have an alleged “reformer” in the White House than an out and out con- servative. a * HE British capitalists, when in danger allowed Ramsay MacDon- ald to steer the empire because his presence at 10 Downing Street al- layed the discontent of the masses. Now that the empire is getting a bit egekier, other rival servants of cap- |itatism want to throw ' Ramsay out. Our American rulers cannot yet stom- ach even a mild critic like LaFollette. ee “[ECIGHTIN’ Bob” has a different speech for every section of the country. In some places he is hard be held on Saturday, November 1 at| the House of the Masses at Gratiot and St. Aubin streets. Only a few} members of the chorus are party) ;Members and it is thru the efforts of! jthese comrades that the dance is be- ing held. All Detroit comrades are urged to get behind this affair and give it every possible support. jthe date: Don’t “forget Nov. 1, at the House of the Masses. Come and bring your! friends: Swell the fund for our party work in this campaign. Sues B for Tuberculosis. | PHOENIX, Arix.—Alleging that he| became ill with tuberculosis while its jemploye and that the ailment was contracted thru the negligence of the |company which failed to protect his failing health after the disease was contracted, R. C. Pogue has filed suit | against the New Cornelia Copper Co. | | | IS position on the rallroads: has on the supreme court, but in Neb- raska Avhere there is a German pop- ulation which suffered from war hys- teria tp the extent of having a law passed prohibiting the teaching of German in the public schools, “Bob” was very kind to the supreme court, because that august body declared the anti-German law unconstitutional, thereby making thousands of voters |for Coolidge. “Bob” wanted these votes so he declared he would not abolish the supreme court but would jreform it a little. o:6).@ also undergone a change. He is no longer shouting for government ownership. He has even raised the railroads which were once his pet aver- ‘sion. But if one looks over a record of LaFollette’s speeches in Wisconsin he will find that “Bob” said kind words about the “predatory interests” and you were continuing parleying with|to descend to that depth of degrada- government authorities during the |tion even in retaliation of one who strike, I have just as much right to|has himself descended to the level, of believe his statement is true as you|a louse, in order to poison the minds of Ajo for $50,000 damages. |Was.really very good to them. This Pogue entered the employ of the |40e8 not mean that LaFollette is liked New Cornelia Jan. 2, 1924, and became | by WallStreet. No, he ig very much ill with tuberculosis May 6, according | hated by them just now, but so was have to believe the story about’ me concerning the Lester Mine. of gullible men against me “Yours truly, to the complaint filed in the office | of the clerk of the U. S. district court at Phoenix. Roosevelt once and ‘Woodrow Wilson. But Wall Street is some lion-tamer. A Bobcat looks easy for them. “THIRD: I heard bs you’ and “(Signed), F. FARRINGTON, Pres.” ACT ON THE SUGGESTION! RRAITES PEO a year §3.50-6 montis £200 3 months Ze CHICAGO -§ B.o0 ayear F450 6 months § 250, 3 months THE NEW SUBSCRIPTION TO BUILD WORKE! old. The Ameri rking class Te ets nas a aie AUR demenoe Wee for ome es aaron THE DAILY WORKER hth sees eran veonte ant tee our lationary army, is an active \ Seeruit’ for cut Communtet Agnting ferea. ie. likerthe. snowAake,” which. when pressed together with thousa berger finally becomes a mighty avalanche, H Sgalnst which all cesistance ie vain-and useless, _ 25 Gtronginen and thereby make more powerful the Communist movement. PO eee Member of the Central Executive Committee of the Workers Party. NAME : “Heave this Brick Back” vata _ to THE DAILY WORKER 1113 W. Washington Bivd., Chicago, Mlinois STREET.