The Daily Worker Newspaper, January 30, 1925, Page 3

Wr ea tes YOUNG WORKERS LEAGUE DEMANDS THAT EXPLOITATION OF YOUTH ~ AND CHILD LABOR BE ABOLISHED The Young Workers League, American section of the Young Communist International, has issued a program for the fight against child labor. The program issued by the league presents the demands of the militant working class youth of America that child labor shall cease. The program demands equal wages for young and old work- ers, and full maintenance of all school children of workers and — poor farmers by the govern- ment. The anti-child labor program of the Young Workers League follows: ‘HE child labor question is one that vitally concerns every young worker in the country both as a mem- ber of the working class and as an in- dividual. Child labor means that hun- dreds of thousands of future prole- tarian fighters are being driven into slavery that will drain them of their strength for the coming struggle. THE CAPITALIST STATH DENIES THE RIGHT O F PROLETARIAN CHILDREN TO HEALTH OR STRENGTH OR EDUCATION. It looks upon the children of workers and poor farmers as a convenient sup- ply of cheap labor, to be exploited to the utmost, and to be used as a means for forcing down the wages of adult workers. It wants to train these chil. dren as the wage-slaves and cannon fodder of the future, and likes to get its hands on them and break them into submission at as early an age 8s possible. It is of no concern to the capitalist class if hundreds of thousands of its child slaves are sick and stunted and ignorant and crippled in body and mind. But we, who look upon the proletarian youth as the builders of the new society, must unite all our forces for the struggle against the degradation and enslavement of the thildren of the American workers, The congress last spring submitted to the states for ratification a twen- tieth amendment to the constitution which reads as follows: Section 1—The congress shall have power to limit, regulate and prohibit the labor of persons under eighteen years of age. Section 2—The power of the sey- ‘efal ‘states’is unimpaired by this ar ticle except the operation of state laws shall be suspended to the ex- tent ‘necessary to give effect to leg- fslation enacted by congress. This amendment was passed in the house on April 26, 1924, by a vote of 297 to 69. It was passed in the sen- ate on June 2, by a vote of 61 to 23. To adopt the amendment thirty six states must ratify. In 1924, three state legislatures ‘have acted, Arkan- sas, Wisconsin, California, Arizona and several other states have ratified the amendment. According to the statistics issued by the federal department of labor and the United States census bureau there are 1,060,000 children betweer the ages of 10 and 15 years at work in agricultural, manfacturing, and min- ing occupations. That this number does not represent the actual number of child slaves is admitted even by the department of labor which points out that no statistics were gathered on children under the age of 10, that the census (1920) was taken during January when many farm slaves go to school, and that no account was taken of employment like home indus- _ LENIN IS DEAD! trial work, after school work, boot- blacking, messenger boys, newsboys, etc, The actual number of child-labor ers in this country may be more ac- curately guaged from a comparison of the discrepancy between the total amount of children in this country and the total that attends school dur- ing the year. From this it can be seen that the correct figure would be near- er to 3,500,000. This makes the prob- lem of child labor a most prominent one. The following gives a good es- timation on the existing legislation legalizing the employment of children Fourteen states allow children to go to work without a common school education. Nineteen states do not make physi- cal fitness for work a condition of em- ployment. Eleven states allow children under sixteen to work from nine to eleven hours a day; one state does not regu- late in any way daily hours of labor of children. Four states do not protect children under sixteen from night work. The child labor laws passed by the congress were declared unconstitution- al by the supreme court. Since then child labor has increased by leaps and bounds. The twentieth amendment must go thru a long winded method of endorsements by state legislatures 13 of which are enough to kill it. There are at least 13 states where child labor forms one of the source: of big profits for important industries and as these industries control the state legislatures, this would assure the failure of the amendment’s rati- fication. Even with the ratification of the twentieth amendment, the ques- tion of child labor would still have tc be solved. Under capitalism the gain- ful employment of child labor will continue to exist. With the aid of technical machinery, child labor is able to-produce as much as adult in many industries and this is ‘acceler. ating the utilization of child labor. The child, due to-his limited experi ence is paid less for his labor and thi: offers a means for the lowering of the wages of the whole working class. No amendment prohibiting the em- Ployment of children under 18 can remedy a situation of this kind. If profits are to be wrung from the la- bor of proletarian children, then cap. italism will continue their employ. ment. We work for the ratification of the amendment in conjunction with our broader demands, knowing that real protection of children can only be given when the working class taker political power. We demand the complete abolition of child labor and the substitution of the Communist vocational training (the work school), child labor being considered up to the age of 16. Our de- mand for the abolition of child labor and the institution of the work schoo! differs from the demand for the abol- ition of child labor and the institution BUT HIS SPIRIT LIVES! Honor His Memory Lenin Memorial Meeting Madison Square Garden SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1, at 2 P.M. SPEAKERS: WILLIAM Z. FOSTER M. J. OLGIN Cc. E. RUTHENBERG JACK STACHEL Russian and Oriental Speakers BEN GITLOW, Chairman. FREIHEIT SINGING SOCIETY (Chorus of 400 Voices) SYMPHONY O OF 100 NINA GUSSIEVA, Dramatic Suprano ADMISSION FIFTY CENTS SALE AT—Workers Broadway; Jimmie 1 i 1th Bt and 111th 28° ve, Party of vocational education made by th: Consumers’ League, National Chil¢ Labor Committee and various reports by the Children’s Bureau, U. S. de- partment of labor, in that the latter have in mind the abolition of child labor becatse they represent the big- ger machine industry which requires able workers in opposition to the in- terests of primitive industries sucl’ @s cannery, cotton picking and the like. They see that the exhaustion o children during youth produces un- satisfactory adult wage slaves and also that wage earning power and satisfaction are increased with skill. ‘We demand the training of children so they. may be better fitted for social life. Our fundamental demands, al tho We put them forward for agitation: al and propaganda purposes cannot be realized in the framework of cap- italist society. We must, therefore carry on a campaign for the ameliora tion of the conditions of the child Slaves, in the process of which the Young Workers’ League, and the Jun. for Section shall participate togethe: with the Workers Party and gain more influence and numbers. Our immediate demands must nat. urally be more drastic and fundamen- tal than those advocated by the “en lightened” bourgeoisie and the conser vative trade unions. On the following demands we can secure the adherence of the large masses since they are based on the joint needs of the adult and young workers of the country which all can feel: % 1. Limitation ofeth® young worker: day to a maximum of four hours with no overtime or night work, or labor in dangerous industries. 2, Equal wages for equal work for young and old. 8. Strict supervision of apprentice- ship solely by the trade unions. 4, Organization of the children in- to the labor unions, 5. Compel the state legislature to immediately ratify the child labor amendment to the constitution. 6. Compel the state and federal legislatures to pass a law providing for full government maintenance of all school children of workers and poor farmers without which a child labor law is useless. The funds for this purpose to come from special taxes on high incomes. We don’t rely upon the lobbying of the legislative committees of the Gom- pers’ machine; or upon the ©. P. P. A. and LaFollette. We must organize the strength of the workers in a unit- ed front to fight for these demands and get their support for the Young Workers League and the Workers Party. The campaign is divided as follows: Literature and press, pub- licity agitation for our demands and organization. Organization. 1. To issue joint call with Work- ers Party for local united front conferences to combat exploitation of child labor, these conferences to con- sist of organizations of workers and poor farmers. 2. Special efforts to be made to draw into these conferences organiza- tions of working class youth, working class women’s organizations and or- ganizations of poor farmers. 8. A call for these conferences | should be issued by the local organiza- | tions in conjunction with the Workers’ Party including also sympathetic la- bor organizations. 4. The date of issuing call for the conferences will depend upon whether there has been sufficient agitation carried on in favor of such a cam- paign. We must guard against pre- mature calling of such conferences. 5. The National Executive Commit- tee must be kept informed regularly by weekly reports on the development of the campaign in each locality, Duty of Press, 1. The Young Worker, the Young Comrade in co-operation with the DAILY WORKER systematically car. ry news, agitation articles, and editor- lals, 2. Leafilets shall be issued on spec ial phases of the work. 8. We must popularize our de mands as outlined in this policy and critize the child labor amendment in the light of our demands, 4, Start displaying every news item bearing on child labor. The Junior Groups must be drawn actively into this campaign. This of- fers the opportunity for them to gain membership, giving them also a great- er proletarian orientation, by having them participate in this phase of the class strugle. In localities where child labor is employed, efforts must be made thru the distribution of the Young Comrade to establish connec- tions with the children. Their organ ization into nuclei will then be pos- sible and its realization will mean the carrying of our campaign by and among the children themselves, ‘The resolution will be sent to each unit giving expression to our policy In this campaign, to be proposed to all labor unions. This resolution to be Introduced when sufficient agitation has prepared the ground for such ac- tion. ity WORKER: When for the THE DAILY WORKER OAKLAND BOSSES IVE ‘DINNER IN WOOD YARD’ The Mystery of 800 Vanished Jobless (Special to The Daily Worker) OAKLAND, Calif., Jan. 28.—The po- lice department, the banks and the chamber of commerce are the targets of occasional letters from the unem- ployed, breathing the desperation of destitution. After All, It Is a Shame. “It is work we want and we are going to eat if we have to do it by stealing and killing those who have it,” said an anonymous writer in a letter to Chief of Police James T. Drew. “It is a shame, as much as this world has, that people are going hungry.” A letter received by Chief Drew yesterday threatened destruction of the city by fire. Dinner In a Woodyard. The merchant's exchange gave a “dinner” to the unemployed last Sun- day. And where do you think the un- employed were invited to luxuriate? In the municipal wood yard! There Were 750 workless and home- less workers present. The local cap- italist press says that a similar affair was given one year ago and that 1,500 were present at that time. Meals only ones & year may have caused mortality that could account for the difference. Did 800 Starve to Death? Certainly it is wonderful endurance that the merchant’s exchange must have expected from 1,500 unemployed if they thot the jobless could keep alive with a whole year between meals, Capitalists Suppress Local Politician’s Move to Recall Hoan (Special to The Daily Worker) MILWAUKEE, Wisc., Jan. 28—An attempt by local politicians to initiate a move for the recall of Socialist Mayor Hoan is meeting with little suc- cess. It seems that local socialists prove themselves good servants to the capitalist and the latter do not care to spend any money for the recall of Mayor Hoan. The movement for recall started when Mayor Hoan appointed a social- ist as’ fire’ chief and disregardea seniority rights in the fire dept. The local politicians initiated a movement for recall but the whole thing is rapid- ly fading away since the socialists are no longer feared by the capitalists. During the last year the socialist party has rapidly declined in prestige and influence since the workers are more and more convinced that the socialist party is but another part of the capitalist class. Parent-Teachers’ Meeting at Pana PANA, Ill, Jan. 28.—Springfield district parent-teachers’ association of Ilinois will hold its sixth annual convention here February 5. Mrs. T. M. Kilbride, president of the Illinois association and State Superintendent Francis G, Blair will make addresses. Lengthen Aldermanic Terms SPRINGFIELD, Ill, Jan. 28.—Terms of alderman in Chicago, would be aa. vanced from two to four years under provisions of a bill to be introduced in the upper house, STAMPS MAY COME, AND STAMPS MAY GO; BUT DAILY WORKER'S LUCKY! For lack of a nail, the shoe was lost; for lack of a shoe, the horse was lame; and the lame horse lost the race and the money was lost . Doesn’t one of Aesop’s fables read something like that? At any rate, this didn’t happen in the case of the nall in the DAILY WORKER Insurance Policy drive. DAILY WORKER Builders never lose their nails; they always drive ‘em home! One day there came to the DAILY WORKER office, a small, insignifi- cant looking gray card. It wasfrom the postmaster at Wlimington, Del., and it said, “There is a letter ‘from you here. Send two cent stamp.” Incidentally, as part of the day’s routine, a stamp was sent. By return mail arrived an insig- nificant looking envelope, with the stamp upside down. Within was a form letter, filled out as follows: Secretary, George Holgate. City, Edgemore. State, Delaware. The langugage of our branch is English. ‘The number of members is 5. We enclose the sum of $30.00, And, sure enough, the money was not lost, and the race was won by two lengths. Just double their quota: that’s what these five mili- tants sent, Evidently, it’s a capital- ist that's lost his horseshoe; for the DAILY WORKER right now has alt the luck! Page Three W. HY CO-OPERATIVES WILL NEVER REMOVE THE SUFFERINGS OF THE farmers, economically and politically change, the Grange, and many others, as well as various creameries, lumber yards, etc, Many farmers complain that their gether. While there may be some: truth in this assertion it is hardly the chief reason why farm organiza tions are not able to deliver the goods in a way satisfactory to the farmer and in'materially improving his living conditions. Co-operation Doesn’t Remove Capitalism. The main reason why they meet with failure or much limited success is to be found in the fact that they are operating within the framework of the private business system of cap- italism which is absolutely hostile to mass co-operative enterprises, and this circumstance decidedly curtails their activities. From the very begin ning they are viciously fought by private business. A striking example of how the cap- italist system prevents the success of co-operative efforts is to be found in the attempt of the non-partisan league in North Dakota to promote the state mill and elevator system at Grand Forks. First, it was a difficult job to raise the funds wherewith to construct this enterprise, and now that it is completed and in running order it meets with such hostility from th: capitalist business world that no suc- cess can be looked for. Any Serious Move Is Crushed. Whether the state government of North Dakota is friendly towards thie institution or not makes little dif- ference, because, if tt seriously threat- ens private profits, the economic and political power of the banks, the rail- roads and the milling combine will surely find means of crushing it. So also with the Bank of North Dakota. It, too, will be fought to a FARMERS BEFORE A REVOLUTION By ALFRED KNUTSON. BISMARCK, N. D., Jan, 28,—During the last decades numerous farm organizations have been started for the supposed purpose of assisting the Among such we have the American Farm Bureau Federation, the Farmers’ Union, the Equity Co-operative Ex- the Producers’ Alliance, the Nonpartisan League, local co-operative stores, elevators, organizations do not succced because the leaders are crooked and for the reasons that farmers cannot stick to- standstill by the private banks if it seriously attempts to help the poor farmers. A Workers’ and Farmers’ Government The capitalist rulers do not inten¢ that such movements shall succeed, and proof that they have not succeed. ed is to be found in the fact that their combined activities in behalf of th: farmers down thru the decades, have not been able to stop the steadily in- creasing impoverishment of the farm- ing masses. The problems facing the farmers a: well as the workers are complex and the basis for their solution lies in do ing away with the whole capitalist system that robs them of the fruit: of their toil and in the establishmen’ of a farmers’ and workers’ govern ment. Real, Not Fake Co-operatives. Of course, farmers should partici- pate in co-operative efforts, even un der the capitalist system because of the training and education it gives them in managing their own affairs but such co-operatives must be really owned and closely controlled by farm- ers and when so doing it must also always be kept in mind that the real evil of exploitation under which they suffer cannot be abolished in that way For a substantial solution of their problems they must build their own political and economic system and it is the important task of the Workers (Communist) Party to organize and perfect such a system. Every farmer should make it a point to study care fully the program and constitution of this organization. | FIGHT CHILD LABOR IN ILLINOIS (Continued from Page 1.) child labor committee, made the first of a series of speeches scheduled in Illinois at the Chicago city club. Meanwhile the Illinois manufactur- ers’ association is spreading propa- ganda openly advocating the employ- ing of children in the factories. Employers Want Cheap Labor. In a statement recently issued, Eric E. Matchette, a manufacturer, has de- clared that children should not be taken out of industry, that they thrive on it. “In all most every pamphlet I read I find the slogan ‘Industry is never justified in thriving on the children,” said Matchette, “Let us grant this argument its full force but bear in mind that children are justified in thriving on industry. And industry should not be denied them.” Boasts of Child Slavery. George R. Meyer cord recently stat- ed, “I am a large employer of labor not only in Illinois but in several other states. And many of our em- ployes are under elghteen years of age.” The manufacturer frankly op- poses abolition of child labor - be cause it will take his labor supply away from him and make him pay higher wages to adult workers. John M. Glenn, editor of the Manu- facturers’ News, and leader of the IIn- nois manufacturers’ association, has organized the manufacturers for 2 united assault on the state assembly at Springfield. Glenn urges the fac- owners to bring pressure to bear the legislature and force them to defeat the ratification of the proposed amendment empowering congress to regulate and prohibit child labor, “We Our Own Law-Makers.” “It ts our duty,” declared Glenn to! the manufacturers, “To advise our state legislators as to our wishes in the matter, and it is their duty tocar. | ry out our wish: They are not plac | ed in the state capital to be kings over us, independent of our desires. They are there to represent us. We must advise them, by letter and tele- phone and word of mouth that it is our desire that the proposed twentieth amendment be rejected and stay re- jected. And we must hold them, each state senator and state representa- tive, personally acocuntable for their vote.” Glenn made it quite plain why the manufacturers are opposing ratifica tion of the child labor amendment by the Illinois assembly when he said “The amendment is a union labor scheme being pushed for the purpose of reducing the number of employes in the factory on the farm and in com- mercial houses so as to make labor scarce and wages high.” The Illinole manufacturers are fighting the move to abolish child labor because they want to keep wages low and cheap la bor plentiful. Ford Would Work Children. Henry Ford has joined the other employers who are trying to assure a cheap labor supply and has opened up the columns of his magazine, “The Dearborn Independent” to the manu facturers’ propaganda in favor of child labor. In the Jan. 24 issue of the Dearborn Independent ts an article ‘Is it @ crime to make boys work”? na a ie which advocates the labor of childrer when they reach the age of six. “Not sixteen but six is the right age to be- gin to teach a child to work. We need a schedule for such training. 1} made one of this kind, and I hope soon to attempt a better,” says this article in Ford’s magazine, which is being peddled on the streets of Chicago thir week. The Illinois manufacturers’ associa tion announces that it fs holding a public meeting in Springfield soon in an attempt to influence the Illinois legislature against the child labor bi’!. The Illinois League of Women Vot. ers, the Illinois Federation of La vor. and the National Child Labor Com. mittee are fighting for the passage o the resolution ratifying the child la bor amendment. Ratification Not Enough. But the Communists are the only ones who point out that ratification of this amendment is not enough Child labor will not be abolished ar long as the profit system endures, and as long as the employers are allowee to wring profits out of the bodies of America’s youth. The Communists are the only ones who demand that the workers must take over the indus tries and run them for their own use and that the youth of school age be maintained by the state while se curing an education. worker, Civil War ‘Napoleon the Little.” Order 1118 W. Washington Blvd. 3 Classics by Karl Marx For the student of the revolutionary labor movement these three world famous books are indispensible. @ moderate price they should be in the hands of every Written by Marx directly after the Paris Commune, analysing the struggle and reviewing its results for the working class move- ment. Issued as a manifesto of the International Workingmen’s Assoctation—the First International. Paper Cover—25 Cents. Revolution and Counter-Revolution. Letters sent to the New York Tribune by Karl Marx after his exile from Germany during the uprisings of 1848. collected and put into the present volume by his daughter, Eleanor, make a classic of historical analysis. Cloth Cover—60 Cents. The Eighteenth Bramaire of Louis Bonaparte. This brilliant little work embodies one of the best applications of the theory of historic materialism. and economic forces involved in the French political struggles, the high yg of which were the revolution of 1848 and the subsequent coup of “ Cloth Cover—60 Cents. THE DAILY WORKER Literature Department H. M, DAUGHERTY TRIES 10 SPILL CAPITOL'S DIRT Olly ‘Harvey. Called Ac “Character Witness” (Speclal te The Dally Worker) NEW YORK, Jan. 28. — United States Judge Walter Lindley refused this afternoon to let Harry M. Daugh- erty, formerly United States attorney general, testify at the conspiracy trial of Gaston B. Means, detective, and Thomas D. Elder, attorney, as to the real truth about some things thal “ought to be told,” - about official Washington. The court directed Daugherty, a de- fense witness, not to give testimony about immaterial matters after Daugherty had remarked that “There are some hell-bound and spell-bound people in Washington.” Means and Felder, accused of bribe taking in the Glass Casket company mail fraud, indictments, called Daugh- erty as a character witness. When the former attorney general was ask- ed whether he could testify as to Felder’s integrity he replied: “If the court will let me take the liberty, I will state that I could noi testify as to the integrity and honesty of any man, especially if he held a high government position. If he were @ high public official, he would be all the more subject to attack. “I could not testify as to my own reputation the minute I get away from this.” 3 At another point Daugherty observ: ed: “If the court will allow me te say this, I should be glad to testi*y to anything that would be for the general good of the public. There are some hell-bound and some spell- bound people in Washington. The real truth of some things ought to be told.” Asked what he could say about Means, Daugherty responded: “I knew Gaston Means like I knew hundreds of thousands of other gov- ernment employes.” Means on a number of occasions was an investigator for the buréau of investigation of the department of justice. Daugherty said he had spoken only once to Means and that was upon en- tering the department building in Washington, when he said: “How do you do?” “I dismissed him at one time,” Daugherty said of Means. .“At the ur- gent request of William J. Burns I re- employed him in a certain matter.” Felder followed Daugherty and con- tradicted previous testimony regard. ing ‘names, dates and letters in his files. Anniversary of Ukrainian Paper. NEW YORK, Jan. 28.—The celebra- tion of the fifth anniversary of the Ukrainian Daily News will be held Feb. 1, at the Labor Home, 66 East 4th street, New York City. Relieve Coughs, Colds, Headache, Rheumatism and All Aches and Pains with All draggists—35c and 65c jars and tubes, Children's Musterole (milder form) Se, Better than a Mustard Plaster At in France. These letters, It is a study of the social from