The Daily Worker Newspaper, January 2, 1925, Page 3

he ‘Friday, January 2, 1925 eerste: » AMEAT PACKERS SKIN LABOR AS WELL AS CATTLE Wages Fall B Below Low Figures of 1921 By LELAND OLDs. (Federated Press Industrial Editor.) A 50 per cent increase in wages could have been given the underpaid employes of the slaughtering and meatpacking industry in 1923, with- out adding a cent to the price of the average cut of meat, according to cen- sus figures by the U. S. department of commerce. The report shows that out of every $1. paid for meat products at the wholesale prices prevailing in that year labor received 6% cents. Workers at Lowest Level. The meager 6% cents gut of the wholesale dollar meant average an- nual earnings of about $1,262 per em- ploye which represents just about the lowest level at which a family can subsist without serious physical de- terioration. It provides nothing in the way of comforts necessary to liv- ing as a modern human being. An increase of at least 50 per cent in these wages would barely bring them within speaking distance of the minimum of health and decency which budgeters term the American standard. The important figures at two-year intervals since the war are shown in the following table. In the case of the figures for total wages, cost of materials, value of products and value added in the manufacturing process the last three ciphers are omitted: VuVUP< eon a = z segs 3 fy 8 £28 g = ® & = & Ss $38 & > e= oe 3 Pee a i Be 2 i] Seo ga Be as ni § is R38 Bs Re re M4 ao we Seusae a PERE ARSse oe te > Se Sssesseres® CSN ONMF KF SOA ‘ “ pe me SSaane iy BErBSSE58 Neneo® SReeseresse coo Sl bo @ & & *® cn go ge eae ee » SB5aes Bee RSAG These figures show that wages in the packing houses have fallen con- siderably below the depression year of 1921, at the same time that the value to the employer of each wage earners’ labor has increased. In 1921 the average worker received $1,307 for turning out a product worth $18,- 810, The work he performed in turn- ing live animals into edible meat products was worth $2,842. In.1923 this same worker received $1,262 for turning out work worth $3,098 and making available for consumption a product worth $19,470. This means that in two years the average pay fell about 3% per cent while the value of the service rend- ered increased approximately 9 per cent. Live Stock Raisers Also Hit. The figures also reflect the dras- tic inflation suffered by livestock pro- ducers on the farms in 1920 and 1921. ‘The cost of material which bulks so large in the total value produced by the industry is largely the amount paid farmers for the cattle, sheep and ‘hogs, In the two years 1919 to 1921 this’ amount was more than cut in half, dropping from $3,782,930,000 to $1,868,198,000. This tnrew thousands of livestock raisers into debt and en- abled the big cattle companies to con- Lined the consolidation of livestock a on. @ hes. Meorctnaad basis. ee COMMUNISTS BEAT REACTIONARIES IN CARPENTERS’ UNION ELECTION By CARL SKOGLUND. MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., Jan. 1.—An election was held Saturday, Dec. 27. for officers of Painters’ Union, No. 186, for the coming year. In spite of the attacks made by the Daily Star, the professed progressive daily paper, and the Labor Review, previous to the election, these papers carried articles urging the workers to elect the reactionaries and defeat the Communists. But in spite of these attacks. Dan W. Stevens, Communist, was running for president. and polled 223 votes against his reactionary’ opponents 131. W. F. Bennett, Communist, running for business agent, polled 283 against 93. Ali of the candidates running on the progressive ticket won out by a big majority. All delegates to the Minneapolis Trades and Labor Assembly run- ning on the progressive ticket were also elected. MASS, BANKING FIRM SMASHES OTHER BURGLAR Court Finds Kidder Co. Owes Lots of Cash ae BOSTON, Jan. 1. — Kidder, Pea- body Co., the leading banking interest of New England, and master of a string of great industrial enterprises are filing an appeal against a $10,534, 109 perdict rendered against them and associates in the superior court at Dedham, Mass., in behalf of George F. Willett and business colleagues who lost control of the American Felt Co, and other properties thru a con- spiracy of the defendants. ‘Ruined Competitor. This is the largest damage verdict ever rendered in New England. The trial lasted 13 months and attracted great attention. The banking group, consisting of Kidder, Peabody Co.; F. S. Moseley Co. and Rogert F. Her- rick, was shown to have ruined Wil- lett and his friends by the simple pro- cess of refusing to loan them money on good security, and preventing them —thru arrangement with New York bankers—from gaining the loans else- where. As a result of the cutting off of credit the Willet properties were taken over by the bankers. They Were All Scabs. Included in the American Felt group is the Roxbury Carpet Co. against which the United Textile Workers conducted a several months’ strike following a wage cut. Wage cuts are an almost invariable sequence of Kid- der, Peabody Co. control as is shown also at Waltham, where the watch- makers are striking against the bank- ers’ manager, and at Manchester, N. H., where a nine months’ strike took place two years ago and a strike this year was averted only thru a com- plaisant company union. Former Dist. Atty. Frederick Katz- man, who engineered the conviction of Sacco and Vanzetti, was one of the 80 lawyers drawing pay from the Kid- der Peabody interests Quring the long trial. American Fascists To Hold Their 7th Annual Convention INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 1—Appoint- ment of members of the national com- mittees of the American legion and fixing of dates for the seventh annual convention to be held in Omaha, Neb., will come before the legion national executive committee at its meeting here January 12 and 13, national ad- jutant Creviston announced today. Is An Engineer Capable? “A business man or a lawyer will decide on the price to be paid by the city for the traction lines, it now appears. The committee on trans- portation of the city council had agreed to appoint an engineer to act for the city. This engineer was to meet with an engineer representing the present owners of the traction lines, who were to select a third, “im- partial” engineer. The three men were then to make a survey and de- termine the price which the city must pay. Now, however, one of the engineers advises that “When it comes to mat- ters we cannot agree of, we think a lawyer, merchant or some other ca able person could decide the point,” Patronize our advertisers. pce O et O heme QO Eek p aa NOOBAHY PYCCKME KHUTH D nocneannx wapaHKii AatenbotBa HEBbIBAJIAR POKMECTBEHCK AA M HOBOFONHAA PACKPOJAKA BOFATbIM BbIBOP KHHT no Tloautuxe, Skonomuxe, Counaasnpim Bonpocam, Ou- aocopun, Uctopun, JIntepatype, Kputuxe, Mckyccrsy. Takke 2eTCKMe KHMrH “‘Tpe6yiite CLEHKY M CMMCOK KHHT, NOmMeKAaULHX pac- grew newutTe ¢ 3anpocaMH HM 3@kasaMH, HOO pac- nponaxe, ey name Wo di M TPETb WEHbI rocyfapcTBeHHOrO u3- Cos. Poccun CANUCK PLUTES TURN DOWN VETS FOR SCAB LABOR Heroes Apply for Jobs; Given the Air VANCOUVER, B. €., Jan. 1. — The blacklist department of the Canadian government merchant marine is being applied to many ex-service men, who, because of their activities as union men in demanding decent conditions aboard the Canadian government's vessels, are being refused jobs and their names blacklisted. Under the present arrangement neither engineers nor mates are al- lowed to hire their crews. They are allowed to select men whom they deem, capable of filling jobs but the final signing on the ship is left en tirely to the local officials, many of whom have had little or no actual sea experience and who judge all men seeking work on the government vessels by the subservience and in some cases by the applicant’s willing- ness to part with a few dollars to secure the job. No Use for “Heroes.” Recently two ex-service men, J. Bar- rington. No. 463244. who was overseas with the 62nd and 29th Canaan battalions from 1915 to 1919, and} Gordon Music, an ex-service man from the R. N. C. R. from the 27th of August, 1914, to the 19th of June, 1919, applied for work aboard Canadian government vessels. They were select- ed by the second engineer and told to report to the shipping office, vut in each case when they appeared to sign the articles, they were rejected with evasive excuses. The men are appealing to their organizations to deal with the matter. Bosses Import Finks and Gunmen to Break ’Frisco Molders’ Strike} SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 1—The struggle between the Molders’ Union and the non-union iron companies con- tinues, with violence charged by both sides. The San Francisco Labor Coun. cil in an open letter charges the in- dustrial association with having im- ported gunmen and private detectives and while posing as an impartial or- ganization having assisted the open- shop companies in their fight on or- ganized labor. Latest victims in the war between the Molders’ Union and openshop plants, J, E. Parente and J. M. Lam- bert, union members, were set upon in the street and badly beaten. Par- ente staggered bleeding into the lob- by of the fashionable Fairmont hotel, causing a near riot among the society ladies who had never before beheld a live molder, particularly one drip- ping blood from an attack by hired gunmen of the employers. He has been taken to hospital where it is feared he has internal injuries. Lambert was kidnaped in the as- sailants’ automobile and taken to Golden Gate park, where he was again beaten up, suffering a dislocated shoulder and two broken ribs. He finally escaped when another auto- mobile scared off his attackers. He is chairman of the executive committee of the union. Must Have Time to Think. NEW YORK, Jan. 1.—Decision~ in the free speech trial of Roger Bald- win, director American Civil Liberties Union, for his part in the Paterson silk strike meeting of Oct. 6 will not be given by Judge Joseph A. Delaney in the court of special sessions, Paterson, N. J., until after the first of the year. Baldwin's case will determine those of Ferris Dreeka, George Cabbizza, Basil Effsa, Kerrill Konzer and Bracco Natale, all silk workers who were on strike with the Associated Silk Work- ers at the time. Chief of Police John Tracey closed the strikers’ hall and Baldwin made a test case of free speech by calling a moeting on the city hall steps. Police inrerfered and used their clubs freely. Defense counsel maintained that the meeting was orderly until the police came and that the officers should be indicted instead of Baldwin and the strikers. —___—_—_—_—_—_— PIANO, VOCAL and HARMONY LESSONS THE DAILY WORKER GOVERNOR HART BRAZENLY AIDS RICH KILLERS Jail Them CENTRALIA, Wash., January 1. — There has seldom been a better dem- onstration of the capitalist judicial policy, one law for the rich, another for the poor, than that given by Louis F, Hart, whose second four-year term of office expires Dec. 31. Frame-up Attack on I. W. W. In Centralfa, Wash. on Noy. 11, 1919, a military parade and demon-| stration wag staged by the American | Legion. Unknown to many, an attack on the I, W. W, hall had been planned. The I. W. W. members resisted and trying to break into the hall. That night prominent business men broke into the jail, took Wesley Everest, an ex-soldier, and lynched him. These men are still prominent and respect- able citizens and lodge members of Centralia, known to all, but unpun- ished. The men who had dared organize the lumber workers and resist the mob, were tried at Montesano, in a county absolutely bossed by the ium- ber trust. The presiding judge, John M. Wilson, ruler out all favorable evidence to the defense, all evidence showing that the raid was part of a premeditated plot. Gov..Hart sent state troops who camped about the courthouse, nominally to protect the prisoners, actually that the jury might be intimidated. The majority of the jorymen have since made affidavits that their verdict was biased as a result of this intimidation, Hart Serves Masters Weil. Since then repeated efforts have been made to persuade Gov. Hart to pardon these men, who were given sentences of from 25 to 40 years for defending their constitutional rights, |But these men are workers. They |have no rich friends with money to hire lawyers, and spend in other ways. The governor has no mercy on these victims of one of the rottenest frame-ups in history. The Centralia victims are still in prison and will be for at least four more years. The new governor, Col. Roland Hartley of Everett, is the will- ing servant of the lumber trust. He has often expressed his hatred of the labor organizations, particularly of the l. W. W. He has stated that regard- less of all evidence he believes the wobblies deserve to be in prison, not j because they committed any crime, but because they are I. W. W. He be- lieves the radicals should be sup- pressed, whether by legal: or illegal methods does not matter. Kept Press Serves Same Master. The labor press—both the I. W. and the Communists—and the liberal weeklies have told the truth about the Centralia case, But the capitalist press has lied from then until now. unprovoked and unjustified. And these lies of the local capitalist press are broadcasted over the world. Many people do not know the truth. There have been several pardon scandals in the past few years, Every time the governor left the state the lieutenant governor would pardon someone. Trial “Custom Made” For Rich. Three and a half years ago four soldiers deserted from Camp Lewis and came to Tacoma. Here they hired a taxicab to take them to Seattle, in- tending to kill the driver and steal the taxi. A few miles out of town one of these soldiers hit the driver-on the head with a rock. thrown out. Later the soldiers were caught. Edward F, Filion of Windsor, Ont., was granted a separate trial. He had rich relatives. All four were given life sentences and special re- commendations were made that they be kept there for life and never be paroled. On Dec. 6, Gov. Hart paroled Filion, over the protest of the parole board. The governor cannot ‘remember why he granted the parole or any circum- stances of the case. Wonderfully short memory he has. When this pardon became known, it stirred up a great furore, But Filion is free. His three partners in crime are poor men and will remain in prison, Wealthy Murderer Shielded. After hearing protests from all over the state Goy, Hart promptly ex- pressed his opinion of the laws and of the people, He granted an executive parole to another rich man, John Soudas, nominally that he might be deported. Soudas murdered a woman in Seattle in 1915 and cut her to pieces. He was convicted of first degroe murder. He escaped trom the Seattle jail, taking with him two other murderers and two burglars. He was recaptured and had been in prison sixteen months. If he is deported he will arrive in Greece rich and free, It was not long ago that Owen Baker of Seattle, an ex-policeman, was convicted of hijacking (holding up booze runners), Hart pardoned him before he had oe one day of his sentence. Now The body was? Page Three MACHINIST LEFT WING FIGHT (Continued from page 1) tionary and progressive elements con- stitute the backbone of any organiza- tion. The left wing candidates also pro. pose to carry on the struggle for bi- Frames Up I. W. Ww. to | annual conventions as against the four-year policy, The arguments of the Johnston crowd that it is too ex- pensive is pure nonsense. If there would have been a convention in 1922 it would have helped tremendously to carry the shopmen’s strike to a suc- cessful conclusion. If the arguments of the present bureaucracy are taken seriously we should never have a con- vention on the ground of expense. The danger of that policy is that we may ; have nothing left after four years but a mere shadow of our once powerful organization. The left wing has forced the ma- chine to adopt resolution after reso- |lution in conventions for the recogni. four legion members were short while | tion of Soviet Russia, but nothing has been done by our own officials to carry out the instructions. They keey silent in the American Federation of Labor conventions when the resolu- tion is buried in that old graveyard. The left wing candidates stand for a real campaign to make the United States government recognize the first workers’ and farmers’ government in the world. i The left wing also takes cognizance of the present movement in Burope for trade union unity and proposes that the International Association of Machinists participate in this move- ment and fight for the admission of all the revolutionary unions into the Berne International and make it @ real international instrument of strug: gle against capitalism. The left wing is the only group of- fering a real program of struggle The Johnston machine as usual have nothing to offer but the “B. & 0.” plan, pet insurance schemes, banking and other measures of class collabo- ration with the bosses. This policy of our union bureaucrats can only result in making the union into an auxiliary of the bosses and will destroy is abil- ity as a fighting organ of struggle against the bosses. The so-called Anderson group has failed so far to come out and tell the membership what they stand for, nor have they presented a program of ac. tion, altho the left wing group has made all efforts to establish a united front against the present administra- tion upon the basis of a fighting pro- gram. It is not enough to issue a slate and plead for a change of ad- ministration. A change of administra tion does not solve the problems of| the machinists. A fundamental change | in policy is necessary to insure the| growth of the organization and so-called Anderson-Hannon group fails | to show where their policy is any dif- ferent from the present administra. | tion. No declaration on such an tm- portant issue as the “B. & O.” plan.| No declaration for a campaign to bring about amalgamation. No dec- laration for a struggle against the present policy of expulsion and sus- pension of members for their political beliefs. Nothing said about the polit- ical class collaboration policy! of the present administration. Nothing said about the methods of the Johnston- Davidson combine in their dirty at- tempts at times to assassinate the personal character of loyal members of the union in order to discredit them in the eyes of the membership. especially when these members are in disagreement with the policies of the administration. The left wing candidates should be supported by all militants in the or- ganization as they are the only force that offers a real program in the in. terest of the rank and file. Also most of them are fresh from the workshops and are known for their past activities in the class struggle. We shall take up the personnel of the left wing slate in the next issue of the DAILY WORKER. In the mean time, get busy, militants, and see to it that your local union nominates and supports the left wing slate. the} MINIMUM WAGE LAW SMASHED IN WISCONSIN May Hire Women for Less Than 25c an Hour (Special to The Daily Worker) SUPERIOR, Wis., January 1.—In a final decree handed down by Judge C. Z. Luse of federal district court here, the Wisconsin minimum wage law as it applies to adult women, is invalid. The ruling does not affect the law in its application to minors. By provis- ion of the decree the state industrial w. |commission is restrained from enfore- |ing the clause cited. The court ruled that Wisconsin em- ployers may hire adult women at less than 25 cents an hour. The decree It always states that the shoting was |“ siven following action brought by jthe Folding Furniture company of |Stevens Point last August. The com- |pany asked that the industrial com mission be réstrained from enforcing a minimum wage of 25 cents an hour for adult women as set by the law. The plaintiff held that the measure, by forcing the wage schedule of 25 cents an hour for adult women when it, the plaintiff, could hire women for less, was in effect a violation of the fourteenth amendment in that the {minimum wage law provided for the |taking of property without due process of law and by interfering with the free right of contract. Lroune Te Das Henkes fa Ms Famous Painting Important Articles Splendid Cartoons Poems A Story Reviews Editorials is wanted for|| JANUARY ==: WORKERS MONTHLY Business Men Kidnap Wobbly Organizers; Latter Again on Job FORT BRAGG, Cal., Jan. 1—An- gered at organization work among the lumber workers by the I. W. W., and unwilling to undergo the expense of a criminal syndi¢alism trial, a group of 30 business men of Fort Bragg kid- naped J. F. Campbell, Joe Smith, F.C. Watkins and John Stahl from a hotel lobby, and took them to the railroad station, where they bought railroad tickets and ordered the first three on | to the train, commanding them never to return to Mendocino county. Stahl they then took in an automobile and |Russia hating, capitalist |New York Herald-Tribune, left him in the rain at 1 a. m. 20 miles from a town, after threatening him with injury and death. All four men are now in Eureka continuing their organization work among the lumber- jacks. PITTSBURGH, PA. DR. RASNICK DENTIST Rendering Expert Dental Service for Years. 645 SMITHFIELD ST. 1627 CENTER AVE., ar 7th Ave. . Arthur St. RADICAL BAITING SOCIETY PASSES HAT FOR DOUGH Makes Plea for Funds to Fight Communists (Special to The Daily Worker) NEW YORK, Jan. 1—The Amert- ca defense society is again hard up for funds. It is again at its old game jof squeezing cash out of its support- ers. Its latest appeal is based on the notoriously radical baiting and Soviet sheet, the No doubt they even inspired it themselves. Anyone can send a story to this capi- talist sheet telling about enormous sums of money spent by Soviet Rus- |sia in America to take the bankers’ government away from them and get it published. So what should prevent |the American defense society from doing it? And especially just before Christmas too! The society's Red baiting officials bought a truck load of Herald: Tribunes and sent a clipping with a form letter to every banker in the country. They even sent one to the Amalgamated Clothing Workers’ Bank of Chicago. We print the letter in full: New York, Dec. 19, 1924. Dear Sir: The enclosed clipping is from the New York Herald-Tribune of Dec. 2. From it you will note that the Soviet government has just appropri- ated $100,000,000 for propaganda in foreign countries including the United States. The American defense society is the only oustanding agency in the United States which has been active in apprising the citizens of the radical activities here. Yet because of the lethargy of the public generally, we are forced to appeal again and again |for funds with which to carry on our | work. Despite our reduced finances we have been able to wage a warfare but we would be much more effective if you will give us the funds with which to fight. Will you not give us ammu- | nition to meet the activities in Amer- ica of Zinoviev? It will be an invest- ment on your part in patrotism and defense. Your very truly, (Signed) Percy H. Johnston. Percy H. Johnston, Chairman Benjamin L. Allen, Arthur W. Loasby, Julian W. Potter, Special Bankers’ Goutiniie: The first honorary president of this |red baiting organization was Theodore | Roosevelt. When you buy, get an “Ad” for the DAILY WORKER. E, W. RIECK LUNCH ROOMS Seven Places 62 W. Van Buren 42 W. Harrison 169 N. Clark 118 S. Clark 66 W. Washington | 167 N. State 234 S. Halsted PHONES, HARRISON 8616-7 Spociattioa:, S W. Rieck Boston Baked ind Brown Gread Fine Soups and Fresh Made Coffee Commiseary and Bakery: 1612 Fulton £t. Phore West 2649 COME ON OVER! JUST FOR FUN— And at the same time to relieve us of having to worry about it so much. Our small force is snowed wnder by a pile of work and if you have, a little time to spare—come over to help us out on the work that will help to build our paper. } JUST FOR FUN—— COME ON OVER! Edited by Earl R. Browder. 1925 The splendid issue just off the press has on its cover a three color reproduction of a great painting, “Revolution Comes!” by N. Kravchenko the most famous picture in the Revolutionary Museum in Moscow. The issue contains the second installment of that revolutionary classic “The History of the Russian Communist Party” by Gregory Zinoviev; “The A. F, of L. and Trade Union Unity” by Wm. Z. Foster and Wm. F. Dunne—ten articles in all that form important contributions on many phases of Labor’s problems. Included in this issue are also ten cartoons (one of two pages) by such noted artists as Art Young, Adolph Dehn, William: Gropper, fred Ellis and Hay Bales, Adding. to the value of this well rounded issue are poems by such well known poets as Witter Bynner, Edwin Seaver, Sara Bard Field and others, A story by Jack Wilgus you will enjoy. An International Review section gives the world Labor situation in a nut-shell. attention important points of interest to Labor. Editorials bring to your All in the January Issue of