The Daily Worker Newspaper, February 24, 1925, Page 3

HOPKINS WON'T UNIONZE HOME OF THE “48TERS’ Socialist Lawyers and Labor Bankers Ditto (Special to The Daily Worker) NEW YORK, Feb. 22-— After a Jengthy negotiation with the organiza- tions affiliated with the conference of progressive political action, many socialist lawyers and labor banks, on the question of unionizing their office workers, the Bookkeepers’ and Sten- ographers’ Union has met With but little success. Mr, J. A. H. Hopkins, the manager of the office of “The committee of 48” affiliated with the conference of political progressive action flatly re- fused to unionize the office. In the fall before election he approached the same union asking their support in the campaign. The president of the union still hoped the conference of Progressive political action would suppport the labor movement and kept on approaching Mr. Hopkins with the same demand of unionizing his office. . After the election was over Mr. Hopkins did not have to hide his face any longer and he flatly declined to deal with the union. S. P. Lawyers Anti-Union It took just as little time for the president of the union to negotiate with the socialist lawyers, leaders of the socialist movement, Hillqrit, Block and Meyer London, etc, Mey- er London did not have the courage to state that he does not want to deal with the union, but he found an excuse that he had so many cases on his hands that he*has absolutely no time to talk this matter over with his Brother who takes care of the of- fice, The same Meyer London, who, for two periods represented the East Side workers in congress, could not find ten minutes to talk over the matter with his brother to unionize the of- fice. He tried to bribe the business representative Mf. Bohm, by offering him a certainjamount of money for the union as dues for his employes. But Brother Bohm was not after the dollars for the union treasury. He was for unionizing the employes. More Consideration from Private Concerns. The union representative had less trouble: in unionizing private offices and banks than he experienced with the labor banks. bank downtown and a* few offices in the same neighborhood, but he could not unionize the Federated Labor Bank of New York in ten months. He had a hard struggle with the Amal- gamated Labor Bank, but finally suc- ceeded. But the Federated Bank is a hard nut to cragk. It was much easi- er for the president of the union to talk the matter over with the heads of the national banks and large of- fices, than with the head of the Fed- erated Bank. The head of the Metro- politan Insurance company paid him more respect, than the head of the above mentioned labor bank. In conclusion we might say that the Bookkeepers’ and Stenographers’ Union had less difficulty in dealing with the private capitalist concerns than they had experienced while try- Ing to unionize offices and banks of labor organizations. Bus Drivers Recognized. WEEHAWKEN, N. J., Fed. 22.— Weehawken bus drivers are recog- nized as union members now by the bus owners after a short strike fol- lowing that of Jersey City bus driv- ers, who also won recognition. The union men get one day off every two instead of three weeks. The demand for $2.50 wage increase was compro- mised. Retirement Pensions Up, WASHINGTON, Feb. 22.— Passage of the civil service employes’ retire- ment pension bill by the senate has been forecast by spokesmen of the unions among these 425,000 workers who have canvassed the situation. The pending measure would raise the pension ‘limit from its present $720 to $1,200 a year. The average pension now is about $550 a year. , Get your tickets for Red Revel Ball, February 28. MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., Feb. 22.— attack made by the citizens’ alliance the combined power of the employers a call to all other building trade lo- cals asking them to elect a commit- tee of three members to form a joint building trades organization commit- tee. Begin Drive March 15. The proposed call was to previde for the launching of this campaign not later than March 15, and to con- tinue during the, entire period of building’ activity, the necessary funds with which to conduct this campaign to be raised proportionately by each local in a manner decided upon by the committee. They proposed that Local No. 186 lower its initiation fee from $40.00 down to $25.00 for a period of ninety days and that this new fee be made Within two meet-) stevens and Thornton ‘spoke against ings he succeeded in unionizing @/ that policy explaining that conditions payable in five weekly installments of $5.00 each. Local No. 186 in turn to request all other building trades locals to lower their fees a propor- tionate amount during the campaign. Want Blanket Agreement. In order that the unity established between the locals during this cam- paign may be made permanent, the plan further proposed that only a blanket agreement covering all build- ing trades crafts and providing for wage scales and working conditions to be approved by the rank and file of eac hlocal, be signed. These agree- ments to expire simultaneously “on May 1, 1926. After Comrade Stevens had read the proposed plan of action many members of the local took the floor in support of it. It plainly met with the approval of the rank and file. It was then unanimously decided to hold a specially called meeting of the entire membership on next Tuesday evening, at which time the plan will again be fully discussed and action taken that will without doubt result in the starting of the most extensive campaign to organize ‘the. unorgan- ized building trades workers that has ever been conducted in )Minneapolis. No Withdrawals. On account of the attack made by the reactionaries against, the Com- munists many members. of the Paint- ers’ Union were in fayor of -with- drawing from that body, Comrades could never be changed ifthe militant unions withdrew. After “the matter had been discussed the: loeal decided to continue their affiliation and elect- ed W. F. Bennett, Joe» Wieser, Carl Erickson, Joe Lessard; and A. B. Deansas delegates. 7. March Birthdays of Political Prisoners Birthdays in March of political pris- oners, confined in various state insti: tutions of America, are announced as follows: At Moundsville, West Virginia, 818 Jefferson Street March 6, Edgar Combs, No. 13381 (serving life). . At Box 520) Walla Walla, Washington March 2, Britt Smith, No. 9408; March 4, Ray Becker, No. 9413; March 10, Fred Suttle; March 16, O. C. Bland, No. 9409, At Represa, California, Folsom Prison March 6, Leo Stark, No. 12680. At Thomagton, Maine, Box “A” March 27, Danny Fallon; March 27, Peter Dirks. At San Quentin Prison, San Quentin, California. March 5, Peter Wukusick, No. 38795; March 5, A. C, Drew, No. 37654; March 10, J. B. Childs, 38109; March 12, 35713; March 15, No. Wm. Baker, No. Matthew Schmidt (serving life); March 17, Omar J. Eaton, No. 36627; March 20, D, C, Russell, No. 39458; March 24, Jack lin, No. 37635; March 25, Pierre Jans, No. 37117; March 31, Arthur G. Ross, No. 38361. Friends and sympathizers are invit- ed to send birthday cards and letters (money is advisable for gifts) to these political prisoners. Books and publications to be sent diréctly from the publishers. Small calendars for the year 1925 are also suggested. A. F. OF L. COMMITTEE TO MEET WITH STONE ON NON-UNION MINES WASHINGTON, Feb. 22.—A conference will be held here February 27, Detween President Lewis of the United Mine Workers, and Warren S. Stone, president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, and a committee of the American Fe Martin F. Rya ‘ation of Labor consisting of Secretary Frank A, Morrison, and J. P. Noonan, to adjust the differences between the mine workers’ and engineers’ organizations regarding the employment of non- union mine workers in the engineers’ coal mines in the New River district of West Virginia, at was announced today. Valet The Safety Razor that AutoS Sharpens Its Own Blad AutoStrop pens Its Ov es For Sale at All Stores Selling Razors and Blades etd seuiy ii aw % PAINTERS’ UNION 186, MINNEAPOLIS, THE (OATC? MINN., TAKES THE LEAD IN DRIVE FOR UNIFIED BUILDING TRADES CAMPAIGN By CARL SKOGLUND. (Special to The Daily Worker) Painters’ Local No. 186, has taken the lead in an effort to unite all the building trades unions behind a unified organization campaign to be launched in Minneapolis this spring. At their meeting held Tuesday evening an organization program was introduced by Dan W. Stevens and Geo. A. Thornton which explained the during the past three years and pro- posed an energetic campaigh to rebuild the painters’ organization and to again raise their wage scale to $1 per hour. It further pointed out that the painters’ locals alone could not defeat and proposed the Local No. 186 issue Cnn Sen ner eal ana cet eNE eee TIO HUNGRY CZARISTS BESIEGE HERRIOT FOR HANDOUTS Money Belonging to Russia Held in France PARIS, France, Feb. 22.—Premier Herriot has informed Russian czarists living in Paris that twenty-five million francs “belonging to czarist Russia” are now held by the French sequest- rator. The premier said that his gov- ernment is also holding “czarist funds” in the Bank of France of which “it is impossibie to determine how much belongs to Russia, and how much to contractors.” These sums, he said, were deposited as advances on contarcts. The Russian refagees, who claim that there are 500,000 in France, are angered at the recognition of Soviet Russia by France. M. Makalov, the Russian socialist and counter-revolu- tionist said that the recognition means that the Russian refugees are now without a country and without a pro- tector, because of France’s action. They do not want to return to Rus- sia because of the ruling that all citi- zens of Soviet Russia must work for their living. “The world is abandoning us by de- grees,” Mrs. Makalov wailed. “We no longer have any other protector but God.” She intimated that even God has fallen down on the job. TEXTILE. STRIKE IN CHINA GROWS *(Spectal to The Daily Worker) — TOKYO, Japan, Feb. 22—The strike of the ten thousand employes in Chinese cotton mills owned by Jap- anese capitalists is spreading, and al- ready business circles here and in Osaka have sustained severe losses. The strike in the Shanghai district is certain, it is said here, to end the Japanese practice of exploiting Chin- ese labor at lower wages than are paid for the same kind of labor in Japan. The striking Chinese milf workers charge that the Japanese mill owners have treated them brutally. The overseers beat the workers with ropes, is the charge. \ The strikers in the Naigai Wata Kaisha cotton mills, numbering six thousand, a few days ago stormed the plant and wrecked the machinery worth thirty thousand dollars. Think Liberty Bonds Were Duplicated on Wide-Spread Scale WASHINGTON, Feb. 22.—Evidence of wide-spread duplication of liberty bonds in small denominations has been unearthed by the sfecial house committee which for more than a year has been investigating charges of irregularities, it became known today, The report of the committee, ex- pected next week, will charge lax methods of operation in the bureau of printing and engraving, and in some divisions of the treasury depart- ment, it was said. “No Jobs in Chicago,” Warns the U. S. Labor Department in Report Hundreds of men are flocking to Chicago expecting to find work and, while employment conditions are good in the city, there is at this time only sufficient employment for resident workers, according to the report for the district including Illinois and ad- joining states issued by the United States department of labor, The report states there is a surplus of common labor in the state, attribut- able to outside work being completed and to a large influx of workers from other parts of the country. Would Shift Stockwards Administra- tion. WASHINGTON, Feb. 22.—Farm or- ganization leaders have testified be- fore the senate committee on agricul- ture that the stockyards aét should be ed under the federal trade com- mission, for administration, The de- partment of agriculture, is now sup posed to administer it, has not been |vigorous in protecting the farmers ‘yagainst the packing trusts, ORKER DIVET, IKE A CIVET:GAT, LEFT PERFUME BEHIND Lincoln Memorial Got Reaction’s Stench (Special to The Dally Worker) FARGO, N. D., Feb. 22.—In, order to carry out their promise’ of harmony between the progressive non-partisan and the reactionary I. V. A.’s, the leaders of te, non-partisan house and senate, cluding the governor, selected two. persons who were to make oration fh honor of the great Abraham Lineoln on the 12th of Feb., he Og 1925, i For this oceasion they selected one person by, the.name of Mrs. Obert Olson, wife of Senator Olson. This woman, a picture of real health and beauty, delivered an oration that was fitting to that occasion; which put all present in the finest of humor, Then came the agent of biack re- action. A. G, Divet, member of the house of representatives, who can command fromy$25 to $50 a day in law cases, yet is in the legislature at $5.00 a day,)to! see that the farmers in the assembly do not put anything over on big biz, This togl of the chamber of com- merce began his talk by reciting Lin- coln’s prayer after the battle of Get- tysburg. Many looked for a great oration by him, yet they knew if Lin- coln was on earth today, this hench- man of the interest class would be the first to denounce him. Sure enough, he had only started, than a turn was made in his speech, which attacked representative govern- ment and upheld the judictary and government of the minority. He raked his brain to find something reaction- ary that Washington might have said, he quoted these to prove his conten- tion. Thus:he continued for an hour or more and wound up by quoting the following: : ¢¥ “Chose yeitoday what house ye will serve? Whether the house of the Amerites, or the house of our fath- ers? Whether the house of Benedict Arnold, Debs,°: Goldman, or Foster? As for meiand my house, we will choose the house of Jefferson, Wash- ington, and Lincoln.” This ended his tirade. He recetv- ed about 50,hand claps from the 500 or more people that had gathered in that great chamber on the 116th an- niversary of Lincoin’s birthday. His memorial was concluded by stnging the Star Spangled Banner. Thruout it, A. G. Divet stood abashed, his sal- low co1 nh turning to a greasy dark | > i oa All leftitheolaw making chamber with a gloomy feeling; many saying “I expectedsdt» would turn out like that.” Thusevound up the “harmony” meeting, and’well we may say, that those who (play with a civet cat may expect to get perfumed by it. Red Revel Masquerade Ball, 37 South Ashland Avenue Corner of Mpnroe and Ashland Blvd., ruary 28. factory production for 1924 14 per cent 1919 basis and 1,600,000 workers their jobs compared with the prewar years. Machine Progress Causes Unemployment Technical progress is crowding workers out of jobs. The federal re- serve figures show production and employment in the major industrial groups in 1924 relative to 1919 by the following percentages based on 1919 as 100 per cent: 1924 pet. of 1919 Product. Empimt. Tron and steel 107 pet. 88 pet. Automobile 183 89 Textile 98 89 Food products 106 100 Lumber products 140 117 Paper and printing 117 104 Leather and products 89 81 Cement and brick 149 110 Tobacco products 116 85 Terrific Increase of Productivity In fron and steel while production in 1924 was 7 per cent above 1919 the industry provided jobs for 17 per cent fewer workers, In automobiles production was 83 per cent larger but jobs 11 per cent fewer. This’ meant an increase of 106 per cent in the output per worker. Here we see why capital is draw- ing good profits even though the de- mand does not call for steady opera- tion of full plant. Capital is using its ownership to cop all the so-called blessings of modern industrial pro- gress. Kenosha, Wis., Attention. The famous movies “Polikushka”, “In Memoriam-Lenin” and “Soldier Ivan’s Miracle” will be shown in Ke- nosha Saturday, Feb, 28, from 4 to 11 P. M., at the German American Home, 665 Grand Ave. All labor or- ganizations are requested not to ar- range any other affairs on that date. Get your tickets for Red Revel Ball, February 28. ST. LOUIS, NOTICE! T. U. E. L. MEETING ON TUESDAY EVENING The Trade Union Education League, local group of St, Louis will meet on Tuesday evening, Feb- ruary 24, at 8 o’clock’at Workers’ Hall, 2412 North 14th street. Charles Blome, president of Mold- ers’ Union No. 59, will speak on “The Metal Trades.” vine How We Live and Work ot Editor’s Note:—This paper is printed for the workers, poor farmes and those who work and sweat under the presént system of society. of the workers, by the workers and for the workers. corner of rofit. AILY WORKER. In order to make It is’ a paper ‘We want to reach every country where labor is beimg exploited for private gains, for We want the workers and farmers all over the country to read the it more interesting and be able better SR atect the life of the wide laboring masses, WE WANT OUR READERS WRITE TO US. This new department “HOW WE LIVE AND WORK” will appear as often as there will be sufficient letters from our readers about the life and working conditions under which our masses struggle. make she letters interesti workers in other point. * * Story from South Bend. To the DAILY WORKER: Your the partment, “How We Work ae ae is very good,..And it may interest some readers. to know we live and work here in South Bend. The other day the “Beauty and Bol- shevik” wasto be shown and the lo- cal papers were asked to run an ad, which was flatly refused. They ap- peared to beyhorror-stricken at being asked to printosuch high voltage prop- aganda, and.we were dismissed with- out farther ceremony. Perhaps they feared the day when every man will be a Bolshevik, every working man,"I should say. It appears*the South Bend Tribune tries to do the thinking for all its readers. An@ tries to make them think the junists are a hopeless case, But th® editor's comment on the June 1? convention proves he himself is not so sure as he said this, or its equvaléht: “Such a program may be adopted some time after’a revolution which may be peaceful and may be bloody.” So they tell us what the people “want.” Just before election Stude- bakers were working overtime, And it was commonly noised around “Cool- idge and prosperity. It would be too bad to kill it! It sure would!” But the people didh’t kill it, it died a nat- ural death. , » not only workers, eepers, were anxious use of its death, I'm don’t know yet. ary 3rd Tribune all headlines—"Stude- "in which Dr, Lip. there were 11,924 And the but some to know the sorry most In the front pages baker Facts. bringing out facts which may not be known to sections of the country. Try to make them short and to the * * did not state the amount of money paid in wages. “Funny,” perhaps the ’?Tribune wouldn’t print such propa- ganda, Dr. Lippincott also took occasion to refute the babbling idiots with these curbstone rumors who have been cir- culating propaganda against the cor- poration, and praised the employes’ stock purchasing plan, I believe this plan to be well known. Following the talk on motion of Fred W. Keller—"“Strong for the open shop,” the real estate board reaffirm- ed its confidence in the Studebaker corporation. You wilf note that the confidence of the slaves was not necessary. It is expected the real estate men will trim them. also, then they will be more obedient at the shop. The Tribune editor praises Dr, Lip- pincott, but in another issue scores those self-styled internationalists, those “Reds.” He sees no interna- tional capitalists, Oh, no, of course not! To all this the “News-Times” sug- gests we “Smile and Shove.” But of course to organize would bring down the wrath of the mighty dollar, It is expected the capitalist press will keep on with prosperity and good republicans ahd good democrats while the priests and ministers will send up many prayers. But if the workers want to know what is eating them they must read the DAILY WORKER. We also suggest “Smile and Shove” and regardless of color or nationality organize into the Workers (Commun- ist) Party, the party of Lenin in Am- erica, jfor the week. But be | Ind. A South Bend ‘Worker, South Bend, «° Three INCREASED LABOR. EFFICIENCY - AND MECHANICAL PROGRESS AIDS BOSSES BUT HURTS THE WORKERS By LELAND OLDS (Federated Press Industrial Editor) Federal reserve board figures on production and employment shows} over 1919 while the number employed was 7 per cent lower than in 1919. Factory production was half again as large as in 1914 while the number of workers was only one-fifth larger, Increased Efficiency Helps Bosses Only. This means that the expanding needs of the country due to the increase in population are being met largely without giving employment to the in-| pany. About 150 stopped work already, creased number of workers who are growing up. In round numbers it means that the increase in per capita production due to the officiency management and improved machinery cost 600,000 workers their jobs compared with the +— ie NEW YORK VOTE RECOUNT SHOWS HOW COMMUNIST VOTES WERE STOLEN NEW YORK, Feb. 22.—In the fight between two capitalist candi- dates for congress in the four- teenth congressional district pesult- ing in a recount which has just ended it was found that Ludwig Lore, Workers (Communist) Party candidate gained 69 votes. The contest was between Nathan D. Periman, republican, and Dr. William 1. Sirovich, democrat, and Perlman was declared elected by 26 votes. The Communist gain of over fifty per cent is indicative of the wholesale steal of votes from the workers’ candidates, not only in this district but all over the country. COMPANY UNION FAILURE, SAYS SAGE REPORT Rockefeller Plan Does Not Stop Strikes NEW YORK, Feb. 22.—“It is foolish to deny a divergence of interest be- tween employers and employes. Ev- ery dispute over wages illustrates that.” This significant statement occurs in the report, now made public, of the five years’ investigation the Russell Sage Foundation has made of the Rockefeller plan for employes’ repre- sentation—the company union func- tioning in the mines of the Colorado Fuel and Iron company. The authors of the Sage report are hopeful of finding a way to adjust the claims of capital and labor without exhausting trials of strength, but they declare that the Rockefeller plan has not been very successful. What they find in the Colorado mines holds pret- ty generally thruout the 800 other companies which are attempting to solve their labor problems by similar systems of company-supervised em- ployes representation, on the rail- roads, the packing plants, the textile industry, particularly. Three strikes have taken place in the Colorado Fuel and Iron company mines since the plan was introduced following the bitter 1913 contest, the report shows, tho the authors make the assertion that relations are not so bad as they used to be. Razed Hall to Ground. During one of these strikes since the new plan went into effect state troops prevented miners from holding union meetings in the buildings of the local Y. M. C. A., a majority of whose board of directors were officials of the Colorado Fuel and Iron company. And in one camp, when the miners at- tempted to rent the only available public hall—a dancing pavillion—for union meetings, the company, to pre- vent its use for this purpdse, bought the pavillion and razed it to the ground. Oklahoma Judge Finds Membership in I.W.W. Not Crime McALESTER, Okla.— Membership in the Industrial Workers of the World ig not a criminal offense in Oklahoma, the appellate court holds in directing the release of Arthur Berg from the penitentiary. Berg was freed Feb. 16 after the court reversed a 10 year sen- tence imposed in 1923 under the state criminal syndicalism. The only evidence was Berg's membership card. card. Homer Wear, and I. W. W., now in McAlester on a 6-year sentence for the same reason is expected to be releas ed when his appeal is heard in March. SPEA KARL REEVE Big Mass Meeting to be held MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1925, 8 P. M. at 3201 SO. WABASH AVENUE SOUTH SIDE COMMUNITY CENTER. GORDON OWENS NEW HAVEN CLOCK SHOP RINGS IN NEW WAGE CUT By WILLIAM SIMONS. (Special to The Daily Worker) NEW HAVEN, Feb. 22.—The wage cut announced by the New Haven Clock Shop has caused considerable unrest among the workers of that com- out of the 1,200 in the plant. This is due to the cut being given to only 2 few departments. A Capitalist Leech in Action. For two weeks the rumor of a 15 per cent wage cut went the rounds of the shop. Then notices were posted of a 5 to 10 per cent cut in two de- partments. The workers in those de- partments were assembled by General Manger Whitehead, who told a hard luck story about being unable to com- pete with the Ansonia Clock Co. of Brooklyn which has cut the price of their watches to 75 cents. He an- nounced a ten per cent wage cut for the piece workers, nce the company was entitled to profits. He asked the men to turn out more work. This would add 20 watches tothe daily production of 140 watches in the ad- justment room. When the men op- posed a cut, he submitted the proposi- tion of a four weeks’ tryout of the new scheme of prices. He believed that the workers could make up for the cut in price by turning out more work. If a four weeks’ tryout would prove that the workers were getting less than before, then some other arrangement might be entered into. But he did not promise a return to old prices. This made it clear to the men that it was a trick to put over the new plan. At the meeting, an American worker declared defiantly: “You want to suck the life blood out of us. We are skilled workers, and you, Mr. Manager, admit it, we must work hard to exist, many being compelled to work before the whistle and during lunch hour to eke out a miserable existence; yet you are not satisfied; you want to make it worse.” More Profits Is Thelr Slogan. This is the beginning of a general wage cut in the New Haven Clock Shop. Representatives of another de- partment were told that when there was enough work to keep them busy, the new plan would be put in opera- tion. It is too early to tell just what action the workers will take, who are on what they call “a vacation.” There is no doubt that the only satisfactory action is a general strike of the entire Plant. But whether this action will be taken is a question. The next few days will tell the tale. Subscribe for the DAILY WORKER. ATUOGEUDAUVGEOUERANGEATONEGEQHOGOUESEAIANE: Don’t Lay Down Your Hammer | Till You Finish This Job! Here is my dollar to save our paper: . Name: Street: City: State: .. E. L. DOTY