The Daily Worker Newspaper, December 24, 1924, Page 1

The DAILY WORKER Raises the Standard for a Workers’ and Farm- ers’ Government Vol. II. No. 236. ea " AS WE SEE I By T. J. O'FLAHEATY. —— N the early days of the world w. when the rival propagandists fo Germany and England undertook to sing the praises of their respective imperilaism, one of the favorite ar- guments used by the supporters of John Bull, was that England carried civilization to hitherto uncivilized parts of the world, Now, what kind of civilization was this, that ' went forth in the bibles of British mis- sionaries,; followed by the whiskey of her traders and the bullets of her ar- med forces? . ad HE leading world powers recently held an opium conference. Of course it was a farce. Like the peace conferences held by the robber na- tions, it was merely a mask to de- eeive some sincere liberals who be- lieve they can scrape off some of the filth from the capitalist system and make’ it less severo on the nostrils. That opium conference came to an end without a single constructive measure being adopted. And for the very reason that those who attended it were in the business of making pro- fit from the production and sale of the deadly drug. eee HINA is one of the greatest suf- ferers from the opium evil. Ac- cording to a French scientist, five per cent/of the Chinese people smoke or chew opium, and social diseases have followed so fast in the train of the opium habit that the Chinese race faces the prospect of annihilation un- less the cause of the plague is re- moved. And here is where the hypo- critical British capitalists come in. England forced the opium curse on China at the point of the sword. It ‘was not known in that country until the year 1700. The British “East India Company” poisoned China and the Orient with the drug and made fabulous profits on its sale. A Chinese emperor seized millions of dollars worth of opium and threw it in the harbor. ‘NGLAND, Christian’ England, de- lared war on “heathen” China, an- exed Hongkong for good measure and exacted @ heavyrcash.-imdte besides. The British propagandists who polluted the atmosphere with praise for the pirate empire did well not to fish up these disagreeable facts, when it was necessary to inflame the minds of the masses against her com- mercial rivals. And Britain is not the only sinner against China and against the exploited peoples of the Orient. But she is the worst sinner, not because she is any more willing to poison a whole nation for profit and for diplomatic reasons, ,but because she has been at the game longer than the rest. e* * RELAND threatens to leave the League of Nations if that organiza- tion supports the British contention that the Irish Free State had no right to register the Anglo-Irish treaty with the league. Those bourgeois irish na- tionalists who thought they would be allowed to strut around like “indepen- dent fellows” by the hard-boiled Brit- ish Empire Will soon have good rea- sons to change their minds. They had better wateh England swiping what- ever concessions she gave Egypt in her hour of stress, now that things look a little brighter. * 8 * HEN Comrade Rakovsky came to Paris after France recognized the ‘Soviet government, the first thing he did was to look around for secret archives, where he might possibly run across some interesting documents that would tell a story of the czar’s regime. Regretfully he announced that he could not find anything. But it appears that Comrade Krassin, the ambassador, was luckier. The latter got his fingers on the copy of a secret agreement entered into between France and Russia in the year 1916, ‘poviding for the partition of Turkey to Refmutual advantage of Russia and France? * . ers allow their memories . to the year 1916, they that England and Italy f France and Russia 1 powers. Yet here F our re va (Svecial to The ly caused the death of ei passenger car overturned jury bh a Soo Li A coroner's way, INVESTIGATION REVEALS WORN OUT RAILS WAS THE CAUSE OF DEATH TO SOO LINE PASSENGERS CHI PEWA FALLS, Wis., Dec, 23.—Worn-out rails and defective equip- been impanelled and three investigations are under ‘but it Is already ascertained that the officials of the railroad will not be Kield “criminally liable” for the disaster. ‘ : ‘it is low thot the train overturned when a defective switch bolt splin- as the train was crossing the tressle, ‘ x \ Outside Chicago, + YPELLIN, TH “TOR, WAGES HAR ON MINERS Coal Diggers Getting Ready to Can Him By THOMAS MYERSCOUGH. (Special to The Daily Worker) PITTSTON, Pa., Dec. 23.— After learning that the general grievance committee, fepresent- ing the Pittston region strikers, had decided to give publicity to the many grievances existing in this district, so as to inform the jgeneral public why they had come out on strike, Cappellini, the renegade, told the press that he, too, would give publicity to |some facts in connection with \the strike, and at a meeting of |the executive board in this dis- trict yesterday, he was given permission to do so. Because it shows how far a “jockey” of this type will go, after riding a radical horse to power, I will give his statement in full: To The Mine Workers of Pittston: “| refuse to call any more meet- tings of the executive board to meet the general grievance committee of the Pennsylvania Coal company, for the reasons that all the members of the board have committed them- selves against this illegal strike and nothing can be done other than what they were told in the several meetings had with them; and they have deliberately refused to abide by agreement fairly entered into, and show their lack of regard for a solemn contract by calling all the miners of that company out on strike whenever it meets their fancy. The Sacred Contract. “l regret very much the position in which the miners’ organization has been placed, and believe the officers of our bulk of the rien themse! ing to abide by our contract. The district and national officers have already shown their good faith by requesting the general grievance committee to have thelr men return to work so that their complaints could be taken up properly for ad- justment. This they refuse to do. Not only have they refused the dis- trict officers, but the national as well. “In the face of the defiant re- fusal of the general grievance com- mittee to have the men resume work, I, as district president, am 3 first, in the sacredness of contract; that agreements should be lived up to; that agreements made must be binding on both sides or the whole system of collective bargaining will fail flat. In view thereof | feet I am right in refusing to meet the general grievance committee, and 1 have acted in the only way honor and dignity permitted. “It is not the men, the rank and file, who constitute the union, who have done wrong. They have allow- ed themselves to be misled by a general committee which has usurp- ed authority not vested in it, and the sooner the workers wake up to that fact and take the advice of the regularly constituted authorities of the organization, the sooner peace and harmony will supersede chaos. Against Fakers’ Wish. “Men of the rank and file, how long can you continue this Illegal strike and maintain your position? What will be the final effect on your great organization which has done so much in the past to better your wages and condition: Can such an illegal strike last, and win, in the face of the opposition of your (Continued on Page 2.) Dailv (Worker) ght and injury of seven persons when and plunged into the Chippewa River. a In Chicago, by mail, $8.00 per year. by mail, $6.00 per year. UNEMPLOYED STAGE DEMONSTRATION IN AUSTRIA; MOUNTED POLICE RIDE DOWN WORKERS WHO DEMAND RELIEF (Special to The Dally Worker) creased. in time to make Christmas activity. of police repulsed them. ia) ELECTION; MILITANTS IN MACHINISTS’ ; FIGHT The left-wing group in the Machinists’ Union, which has in the past been the leader of all the movements for progress in the metal trades organ- izations, the group that led the fight for amalgamation and all other progres- sive measures in the recent convention, is announcing a full slate of candi- dates for office for the nominations now taking place*in the organization. The left-wing militants compose the only elements that have a definite VIENNA, Dec. 23.—Thousands of armed guards aré patrolling the streets day and night, breaking up demonstrations of unemployed workers. Twenty per cent of organized labor is now unemployed, ‘The unemployed workers have served notice that if doles ‘8 not in- purchases, they will increase their Large, numbers of unemployed have marched on city hall, where a cordon Many workers were ridden down and Injured by mounted police. Fifteen were arrested. The government million dollars for immediate distribution, has voted fourteen IN ITALY E DAILY WO! Entered as Second-class matter September 21, 1923, at the. PO MUSSOLINI: “Here boys, be good now! I'm restoring your long lost sweetie.” jt Office at Chicago, Illinois under the Act of March 3, 1879. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1924 <=>" SNOW 1S FALLING THRUOUT MIDWEST; NO SIGN OF QUITTING The heralded blizzard swept into Chicago yesterday bringing warmer temperatures and a promise of a “white Christmas.” Snow was falling today In virtual- ly every section of the midwest, threatening the badly drifted roads which states farther west reported yesterday. Here the fall started shortly after midnight and continued all day. Ie heat ean Published daily except Sunday by THE DAILY WORKER PUBLISHING CO., 1113 W. Washington Blvd., Chicago, Hl. carry out their promise to evac which has led the German natio Entente Breake mised to the Germans by the Lo The excuse raised by Marsh endangered by Germany’s fail- ure to fulfill the disarmament provisions of the Versailles treaty. It is charged that Germany really has more soldiers than allowed under the Versailles treaty, by calling most of them “police” and by shifting new classes of raw material into brief training and then keeping them out of service but in reserve. Never Objected to pression. The allied countries were quite well aware of this practice and never objected so long as the troops were used against the workers. In fact they encouraged Germany to arm and drill the illegal “Black Reichwehr” to crush the Communist attempts at revolution, especially during the Ruhr invasion. The interallied military control commission which examined the mi- litary resources of Germany were, indeed, almost ordered to give Ger- many a “whitewash” report and let Germany go with a formal reprimand. Many of the officers who understood this and drew up such a whitewash report are now much astonished at the report being used to blackmail Ger- many again and refuse evacuation, Workers’ Re- IN “B. & TH 0. PLAN” program to offer to the membership. All possible efforts have been made to make possible a united front on the basis of a real fighting program of ac- tion with the so-called “progressive” group led by Anderson. But all efforts have failed due to their refusal to come out definitely for any program at all and also due to their failure to include any outstanding left wing fighters on their slate. The left wing slate is as follows: For — international president— Julius Emme, Local 459, St. Paul, Minn. For general secretary-treasurer— —Tim Buck, Local 235, Toronto, Ont., Can, For editor of journal—A. Over- gaard, Local 390, Chicago, III. mbers of the executive councll, U. S—H. S. Mellvaigh, Local 497, Tacoma, Wash.; John Otis, Local 536, Pittsburgh, Pa.; P. Jensen, Lo- cal 492, Chicago, IIl.; H. Garner, Local 209, Hammond, Ind.; Alfred Goetz, Local 62, Detroit, Mich.; Andrew MacNamara, Local 52, Pittsburgh, Pa. These militants deserve the support of the rank and file. As their records show, they are the fighters for pro- gressive measures. They are the lead- ers in the fight for amalgamation. They are leading the fight for inde- pendent political action and the fight against the B. & O. class collabora- tion, and they were. the backbone Mexico Plans to Spend Huge Sum to . Aid Education Work MEXICO CITY, Dec. 23.—The de- partment of education will ask and probably receive an extraordinary ap- propriation of 20,000,000 pesetas, it was announced today, to inaugurate the emergency expansion of the educa- tional system. ; This is the first step in the plan of Secretary of Education Puig Ca- ‘saurando and ‘President Calles to put @ school in every. I Lea of the railroad shopmen’s strike of 1922. The nominations take place in Jan- nary. The laws provide that only the two nominees receiving the highest number of nominations will be plac- ed on the ballot. Every militant thruout the I. A. of M. should see to it that the left wing candidates receive the endorse- ment of his local union, The full program of the left wing will be published tomorrow. Support the left wing slate! Organize Textile Workers. NEW YORK, Dec, 23—Invéstigation of the textile workers’ situation in Lawrence, Mass., by Thomas F. Me- Mehon, president United Textile Work- ers, is authorized by the union's exe- ecutive council. MeMahon will open an office in the textile city. The multiple loom system by which one weaver tends 72 instead of 16 looms will be extended. No announcement of the progress of the union organizers working in Rhode Island mill towns has been published by McMahon. Next Sunday Night and Every Sun- day Night, the Open Forum, 69,000 ARRESTS FOR DRY LAW VIOLATIONS IN TWELVE MONTHS WASHINGTON, Dec. 23.—During tion of the prohibition laws, ac cording to records of the prohibi- |. tion department. Fines and mia aggregating $5,700,000 In | eases and $855,300 in civil” ity cases were |shop, leads the field in the DAILY OESTOMMAR BiG POLICY DRIVE Shop Nucleus Making Good Showing Shop Nucleus No. 5, printing work- ers in the DAILY WORKER print! WORKER insurance campaign. ‘ Enlist Non-Party Workers. This unit has gathered in pledges amounting to $515.00, of which $318.00 has been turned into cash. Altho the nucleus counts only 16 members, they have so far more than quadrupled their quota. The activity of the nucleus in the plant resulted in the| non-party printing workers agreeing to subscribe $10.00 each in policies and Politics and Business. Undoubtedly new political and trade factors have a hand in this sudden German. hopes. to. obtain chation. England is unwilling to leave Cologne until the French also are out of the Ruhr. The French say that their departure is for the present physically impossible—and so the matter stands, neither wishing to leave first. The social democrats told the sack. Want 1 Year Off in 7. NEW YORK, Dec. 23—A sabbatical leave of one year in seven or one year leave on half-pay in 10 years service is asked for the teachers of New York by the Teachers’ Union. Only 50 high school teachers and 100 elementary teachers in 1925 get leave. The union wants the leave to be as nearly auto- matic as possible to eliminate political or other favoritism. Storms Sweep England. LONDON, Dec. 23.—Terrific gales were sweeping England today. Con- siderable damage has been done, meager reports reaching London said to take a year’s subscription to the DAILY. 2 At the last meeting of the Finnish branch every one of the 116 members pledged himself to buy a $3.00 in- surance policy. The Bulgarian branch reports that at its last meeting it came within a féw dollars of filling its quota. English Branches Do Well, The North Side English branch has raised $213.00 of its $300.00 quota and has pledges on hand to carry it well over the top. Douglas Park English has paid in $80.00, All of the English branches are. making a commendable showing in the campaign, While reports from most of the foreign-speaking branches are com- ing in slowly, there is reason to be- The Big Special Edition—First Anniversary Daily Worker The Militant Page in this Big Special—Y our Branch Upon the Militant Page—Providing it Remits for Insurance Policy Sales Before January 8 (Continued on page 2.) Shipping generally has been disrupted. MEXICAN PEASANTS RESISTING ROBBERY, MEET CALLES’ TROOPS (Special to The Daily Worker) MEXICO CITY, Dec. 23.—Presi- dent Calles is showing rather early the traitorous politician that hides beneath the cloak of his claim to represent labor as the head of the labor party. The peasants, who armed themselves and fought to de- feat.De la Huerta, who, led by Com- munists, fought under the red flags bearing the hammer and sickle em- blem, are now being attacked by government troops by order of Calles. At Augas Calientes yesterday, the Peasants, angered at the profiteering of the proprietors of the city ter house, seized the ptemi defied the authorities to oust them.’ At once, the Calles’ government troops were ordered at all haste to entrain for Aguas Calientes. This act of aggresion jainst the peas- antry is sure to anger the whole peasant movement of Mexico. Laborite Wins Over Liberal Opponent in Scottish Elections (Special to The Daily Worker) DUNDEE, Scotland, Dec, 23.—The labor party was victorious over the liberals here when T. Johnson, labor- ite, was elected to parliament over the liberal candidate, HB. D. Simon. The vote was-—Johnson, 22,973 votes and Simon, 10,234 votes. Open Forum, Sunday Night, Lodge ‘| Room, Ashland Auditorium, 4 4 The next issue of the DAILY W' 26. The DAILY WORKER plant, utilize the holid better holiday gift could a worker be a Christmas present to yourself. ALLIED REFUSAL TO EVAC GERMANY AS THICE PROMISED DISCREDITS SOCIAL DEN (Special to The Daily Worker) BERLIN, Dec. 24.—The announcement that the council of ambassadors of the allies, at the instigation of the interallied military committee headed by Marshal Foch, would refuse to NO DAILY WORKER XMAS DAY closed Thursday, Christmas Day, Dec. 25. 's to collect subscriptions for the DAILY WORKER, and sell policies to “Insure the DAILY WORKER for 1925.” tion to the DAILY WORKER or the WORKERS MONTHLY? Insure the DAILY WORKER for 1925 with a Christmas present of a ten dollar policy! If you are a member of the working class, it will Help Insure THE DAILY WORKER for 1925! Price 3 Cents UATE A OCRATS uate the Cologne bridgehead, strikes a vital blow at the social-democratic party of Germany, n into acceptance of the Dawes Plan as an exchange for the promised evacuation and will bring hundreds of thousands of workers to the Communists. Two Promises. Not only is the evacuation of the Cologne bridgehead pro- ndon conference which inaugu- rated the Dawes Plan, but it was also set forth in the Versailles treaty that this evacuation was to take place on January 10, 1925. al Foch, who again appears on the stage with a saber dangling at his belt, is that France is “TO BEAT ANY OPPONENT, KEEP HIM OFF BALLOT” So Rules I. L. G. W. U, Joint Board The reactionary machine of the Chicago joint board of the Interna tional Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union have decided that the safest way to igsure the election cf officers in whom the membership has no con- fidence, officers who have proven un- able to conduct union business, and who spend huge sums of money for good times for their supporters— these officers have decided that the safest way is to keep their opponents off the ballot. On Friday, December 19, the exams ination of candidates for business agent took place at the meeting of the joint board at 328 West Van Buren street. Incumbents Not Examined. Those already in office were not examined, altho some of them ever today don’t know their duties. One of the machine candidates was asked what ought to be the duties of a busi- ness agent, and most of the delegates admitted that they didn’t know what he was talking about in his reply. But here come two intelligent, militant workers whose sincerity in the movement is not questioned, who have militantly fought for responsibili- ty in the union and who are liked by the membership because they fought for an accounting of expenditures and against extravagant expenses. And this is where the joint board stopped. No Union Democracy. Altho all tricks to manufacture charges here failed, nevertheless, the bought and paid for joint board dele’ gation, fearing that these candi were too popular among the members); and fearing that these candidates would defeat their own henchmen: voted to rule them off the ballot, { Practically the same happened E. Nadle, who was supported by rank and file because he stood establishing responsibility in the ganization. Together with the other two he was considered as a constructive worker who would the union instead of disrupting it the present staff has. So Nadle was; ruled off. Also candidate L. Gold wag rejected, Membership Aroused, The membership is burning im pros) test against this action of the joing board. Wherever a group of ladies"! garment workers are met they to be heard protesting. “It is ex. pected that those who have put over this job will change their mind,” said one member of the union on Market street during the noon hour yester- day. “Because,” said he, “there is a limit to how much even a cloakmaker wilt stand and if they all raise a pro- test this time the present staff will have to leave office in spite of their supporters’ action last Friday.” Dasicre Be ast Uorker pr es ORKER will be dated Friday, Dec. editorial and mechanical, will be Many party members will What receive than a one year subscrip-