The Daily Worker Newspaper, February 28, 1925, Page 3

SECTION OF THE TRADE GERMAN SEAMEN VISIT RUSSIAN PORT WORKERS Get Fine -Receptios in Vladivostok VLADIVOSTOK, Stberia.—-On Nov- @mber 26th “our” ship, the German miipowners’ “Ruth Kaiser,” arrived at Viadivostok. We hardly got:on our moorings when our Russian comrades, inoluding the children from the Com- menist Youth League appeared on the vessel to give us, the German eomrades, a hearty word of greeting ‘pon our safe arrival. This gave us much joy. Right there we were in- ‘vited to one of the clubs for a social evening. This made us feel as good as if we found ourselves in our own home circle. We were very much sur- prised by the successes of the Com- munists at Vladivostok. The “Ruth Kaiser” crew is greatly thankful to the Communist youth who showered upon us entertain- ments in theatres, concerts, lectures, and meetings, and to the little Pion- eers for the hearty attention shown to wa. It was real joy to see how the Uttle Pioneers work and how well the older generations teach them. I hope that these little Pioneers will accom- Dlish that which we, the older Com- munists have not succeeded in doing, while the capitalists and fascists stand in the way pointed out by Karl Marx and Lenin. The time is nearing when the “Ruth Kaiser”, will have to leave Vladivo- stok, but we still do not want to sail away without a present for the Com- munist Party of Germany. And then on December 7th a banner was. pres- ented to us by seven unions jointly for the German proletariat. It fell to me to receive, in the name of the “R. K.” crew, as a section of the German proletariat, this banner, to' the tune of the Internationale. “You will point out to us the way in Germany. You will bring with you in Germany a new breath of life, ing there the ranks of other ‘ternal banners. You will pave the ‘way in Germany, through capitalism and fascism, and lead onward to the revolution to the call of Marx Lenin. ‘shall joyfully turn this banner in the name of the seven Viadi- unions, to the Communist Party of Germany. ‘We shall firmly keep in our hearts the ideals of the Communist youth and of the Pioneers and we shall familiarise the German Communist Youth and Pioneers with them. We thank the Port Bureau for fh a letariat. We hope to visit Viadivostok again next year, and to bring with us a present from the German proletariat. Let us not forget the call of Marx and Lenin. Long live Communist Soviet Viadi- yoatok! Long live the world revolution and the Third International! Signed:—Members of the German Seamens’ Union and of the Ham- burg branch of the German Com- munist Party. Vladivostok, Dec. 12, 1924, Spend Your Sunday Evening at the Dpen Forum. TO ALL MINERS OF DISTRICT ‘No. 1, U. M. W. of A. N the eve of the district elections, the Progressive candidates and their supporters call your attention to the serious problems existing in the anthracite flelds and the brazen betrayals by the present administra- tion headed by Rinaldo Cappellini, We call your attention to the sham fight that is now being staged by Lewis against Brennan. Miners! Do not be fooled again by the election tricks of Lewis, both Cap- pellini and Brennan are the tools and supporters of Lewis. Do not be fooled by the glib speeches and the fake promises of these misleaders. They always remember your griev- ances a few weeks before the election and forget them the day after they are elected. Look upon their records of misdeeds and betrayals. Last election you voted for Cappellini. You are still reaping the bitter fruits of that mistake. URING this election campaign WE CALL ON YOU TO SUP- PORT A PROGRAM AND NOT A MAN. No leader or set of leaders who are not responsible to the rank and file can solve your problems or settle your grievances. You must do he job yourselves. Read and study this progressive program, which is the only solution to your grievances. This. program was formulated and written by the miners from the pits. By men who suffer and feel the wrongs and grievances that you feel each day. We have selected from among ourselves men for candidates who accept and will fight for this program. If you agree with this program vote for it by voting for these candidates. MINERS’ PROGRESSIVE PROGRAM. RETAINING AND DEVELOPING ' OF THE GENERAL GRIEV- ANCE OOMMITTEES FOR THE BETTER EXPRESSION OF THE NEEDS OF THE RANK AND FILE. The recent strike in the Pennsyl- vania mines has ably demonstrated that the General Grievance Commit- tees are essential for the expression and settlement of the miners’ griev- ances. The grievance committee is in a position to expose the violations of the constitution by the union officials and the violations of the agreement by the operators. The grievance committee is close to, and responsive to the rank and file, therefore, our support should be given these com- mittees, so that they will develop a militant leadership which yl enable the rank and file to conduct’this fight. The general grievance committees, with the full support and control by the rank and file become the true me- dium for the expression of the will of the miners. The sinister forces now working for the dissolution of the grievance com- mittees must be combatted with all the power at our command. ABOLITION OF THE CONCILIA- TION BOARD. The many years experience with * the conciliation board has con- vinced every miner in the anthracite fields that no just consideration for settlement of grievances has been re- ceived or can ever be expected from this body. Hundrds of grievances are today piled up waiting for settle- ment, many long months and years in some instances, while the miner still works and suffers under the condi- tions and evils the conciliation board is supposed to eliminate. DIRECT SETTLEMENTS OF * ALL GRIEVANCES BETWEEN THE UNION AND THE OPERATORS WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF LO- CAL AND GENERAL GRIEVANCE COMMITTEES PRESENT AT SUCH SETTLEMENTS. Insofar as we have repudiated the conciliation board, which cannot and does not understand the problems of the miners, we insist that when griev- ances are being discussed and set- tled, the rank and file must be repre- sented to better and more effectively present and fight for the interest of the miners. SETTLEMENT OF ALL GRIEV- * ANCES TO BE MADE STRICT- LY WITHIN 30 DAYS. Our past experiences have shown us that no matter how well we devel- op the machinery for the settlement of grievances, the operators and their henchmen always postpone and de- lay action until new and additional grievances develop and the old ones are forgotten. We call upon the min- ers of District 1 to demand that the settlements of all grievances be ria within thirty days. MINIMUM WAGE AGREEMENT. ‘We demand a minimum day rate "for the contract miners and la- borers that will assure us a day’s UNITED FRONT AGAINST BOSSES WELCOMED BY TEXTILE WORKERS BUT FOUGHT BY UNION OFFICIALS UTICA, N. Y.—The leaflet of the Workers (Communist) Party appealing to all workers to unite upon a broad scale to fight the textile wage cuts with a great general strike, has caused much favorable comment here when handed out to the striking workers of the Utica Setam and Mohawk Valley Cotton Mills. General Strike Idea Gains The officials of the United Textile Workers are finding it. hard to re- strain the workers in the New York mills from making common cause with their striking fellow workers, since the ideas of the Communists are gain- ing ground with the rank and file members of the union. have had to do a lot of “explaining” The officials that doesn't explain anything to the workers on strike, who see the New York mills workers going to work when all know that the whole group + of mill companies are closely organ- ized and working together. A statement issued by the union concerning the Utica Steam and Mo- hawk Valley company, shows clearly that the plea of poverty of the mill owners is pure fake. The authorized capital of this cor- poration was $10,000,000; $7,000,000 Remington Portable Every Featuse Common to the Big Machines ‘Yer it is so small that it fits in a case only four inches high. There are six good reasons why the Remington Partable is the recognized leader—in sales and Price, complete with case, $60. Ray eve : terms if desired. Order THE DAILY WORKER, 1113 W. Washington Bivd., Chicago, Ml balow the ! from of which stock was issued or sold, in August of 1901, when the concern was organized and chartered. Since that time, or rather in the period from August 1901 to August 1907 a seven per cent dividend was paid regularly, making a total of $490,000, or for the six year period $2,940,000. From August 1907 to August 1909 & regular dividend of eight per cent was paid annually, or $560,000 per year, and for the two year period $1,120,000 was received by the stock holders. For the period from Augast, 1909 to October, 1917, 10% per cent, or $735,000 was paid in dividends annu- ally, and for the eight year period $5,880,000. From October, 1917 to De- cember, 1923, 12% per cent was paid annually, amounting to $875,000, mak. ing the amount paid in the six- year period $5,250,000. In 1922 a five per cent extra bonus was paid representing $350,000 in money, and in 1923 an eight per cent extra bonus was paid to stockholders representing $560,000, Thus the total received by stock- holders in the Utica Steam and Mo- hawk Valley Cotton Mills in the form of regular dividends and extra bon- uses between the time of organiza- tion, In August, 1901, and December 31, 1923, on the $7,000,000, the amount of stock out, was $16,100,000, Over twice the amount of the original in- vestment in a period of 22 years. Aside from these dividend pay- ments all expenses and taxes were paid as well as corporation taxes to the state and nation, leaving in the company treasury a large surplus over and above this,128 per cent paid out in dividends on a $7,000,000 stock issue during the past 22 years, as well as keeping up improvements on | machinery and buildings. It is known that similar profits ‘have been and are being made by all @ other companies in the cotton manufacturers association, which, de spite these swollen fortunes, are re. ducing the wages of. the workers to line, ne THe ee Y WORKE wages when we must wait for cars, timbers, tools,.and other material, or when gas develops in the chambers. The above are the chief reasons why we can not make a shift a day and our wages cannot furnish a decent living for our, familie ABOLITION OF TOPPING. ‘J The operators today demand a six inch topping at the breaker and we must putea 9-inch topping at the face. For every car we load, the op- erators receiye a ton and a half of coal for which we are not paid, Abol- ition of topping wit! same num- ber of cars to a shift today, will assure us payment for every ton of coal we dig and load A SIX-HOUR DAY AND FIVE * DAY WEEK WITH PROPOR- TIONATE INCREASE IN WAGES. John L. Lewis and the operators agreed that there are two hundred thousand miners too many in the coal mining industry. . Their solution is to eliminate these “surplus” coal dig- gers by starving them out of the in- dustry. The Progressive miners con- tend that the mining industry must furnish a living wage to every coal miner. This can only be done by a six- hour day with the same wages we re- ceive while working eight hours. This is the only cure for unemployment, shortage of cars and many other evils we are suffering today. The six-hour day and the five-day week must pro- vide work and a living wage for every coal miner, AGAINST THE AUTOCRATIC " AND ILLEGAL REVOCATION OF CHARTERS BY THE PRESENT ADMINISTRATION, The right*to revoke charters pro- vides a powérful weapon in the hands ot the LewisCappellini machine. Its | recent use in the Pennsylvania strike | has well demonstrated how this pow- | er can be used in the interest of the operators and against the just griev- ances of the*miners. As long as the union officials; have the power to out- law thousands of miners who rebel against the intolerable conditions and ignored grievances, the welfare of the | miners and the effectiveness of our union are in danger. ters’ has been repeatedly used Lewis to: keep “himself in power and to throttle every militant miner or The use of the right to revoke char- | SEED DIRECT ELECTION OF DIS- " TRICT AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZERS, The power to appoint organizers is another dangerous weapon in the hands of the corrupt officialdom that is being used against the best inter- ests of the rank and file and should be removed without delay. The only remedy for this is to amend the district and the Interna- tional constitution providing for. the election by the rank and file of all organizers and traveling auditors, 10 SPECIAL INTERNATIONAL * CONVENTION FOR THE REIN: STATEMENT of ALEX HOWAT, TOM MYERSCOUGH, AND OTHER PROGRESSIVE MINERS. The expulsion of these militant progressives is another crime in the record of the corrupt Lewis machine and must be wiped out immediately. The only crime Howat, Myers- cough and others have been guilty of was their militant activity in fight- ing for the interests of the miners against the operators and the Lewis machine. Districts 12, 24, 14 and 26 have indorsed this call for the conven- tion. We call upon the miners of District 1 to endorse this call for the special convention and bring these militant Progressives into our union to help us in our fight. 11 AGREEMENTS BETWEEN * MINERS WORKERS. There must be a real fighting al- liance between the men who dig the coal and those who haul it. In the event of a national Strike the miners and the transport workers must help one another. AND TRANSPORT! party striving for the abolition of capitalism and the establishment of a workers’ and farmers’ government. ] ORGANIZATION OF THE UN- | * ORGANIZED FIELDS. Over one-third of the miners in Am- erica are unorganized today. This situation threatens the existence of our union. We demand that an in- tensive organization campaign be started to bring every miner into the U. M. W. of A. 1 EQUAL WAGES, WORKING * CONDITIONS, AND RIGHTS IN THE UNION FOR YOUNG MIN- ERS. 1 RECOGNITION * RUSSIA. The Progressive miners demand the unconditional recognition of Soviet Russia, not only because trade with Russia would stimulate industry in this country, ‘but also because the Russian workers by their heroic struggle have abolished capitalist ex- ploitation and now own the industries and run them in the interests of the working class. BEWARE OF SECESSION MOVE- MENTS. The progressive miners are uncon- ditionally opposed to all secession and dual union movements. The unscru- pulous actions of the district and In- ternational officials have created dis- trust and despair among many min- ers, in some instances this has creat- ed a sentiment for secession from the U. M. W. of A. The,Progressive min- ers warn you against such move- ments. We must remain within the ranks of the U. M. W. of A. and set- tle our differences there in a practic- al and constructive manner. OF SOVIET | NATIONALIZATION OF " MINES. The growing trustification of the coal industry is threatening to de- stroy the organized miners. By in- troduction of modern machinery thou- sands of miners are being eliminated every year. The only solution for these major evils lies in the govern- ment ownership with workers con- trol of the mines under the direction of competent coal miners in the in- terest of society. INDEPENDENT’ WORKING | 13, CLASS POLITICAL ACTION. Independent working class political local that supports a militant program of action. ==" action under the leadership of a rev- olutionary working class political THE FOLLOWING CANDIDATES ARE DIRECTLY FROM THE FACE. THEY ACCEPT AND WILL.. FIGHT FOR THE ABOVE PRO- GRAM UNRESERVEDLY. IF YOU AGREE WITH THE PROGRAM, VOTE FOR THESE CANDIDATES. FOR DISTRICT PRESIDENT Bernard Zaleskas, Local 838, Nanti- coke, Pa. FOR DISTRICT VICE-PRESIDENT John Witcunas, Local 846, Nanti- coke, Pa, FOR DISTRICT SECRETARY- TREASURER aan. sr hres NION EDUCATIONAL LEAGUE Progressive Miners, District 1, Election Statement TWO BIRDS WITH YELLOW PLUMES SING NEW SONG Need Big Pay for Gov- ernor, Not Workers (Special to The Dally Worker) DETROIT, Mich. Feb. 26,—While reporting on the proceedings of the Michigan Federation of Labor con- vention, Dennis E. Batt and John T. Taylor, delegates from the Detroit Federation of Labor stated at the Detroit Federation of Labor meet- ing Wednesday, February 18, that ; the convention had adopted a resolu- tion that the governor’s salary be boosted from $5,000 to $16,000 @ year. The two “labor leaders” oftered the following reasons for their ac- tion: that we must keep politicians honest with large salaries; that the salary must provide a decent stand- ard of living for the office holder; and that the salary must attract men of proper calibre to the office. But $16 a Week For Sick Workers On the other hand, these proper calibred labor statesmen, saw fit to approve a report which raised the maximum compensation for injured workers from $14 to $16 per week, Thus it appears that in the opinion of these two former revolutionaries, $15,000 is necessary to attract the Proper calibred politician to provide a decent living and to keep him honest, while workers can be attract- ed to hazardous jobs with a munifi- cent average “salary” of $832.00 and a promise of compensation when in- jured of $16.00 a week. Honest Workers Not Necessary Comparing the $15,000 for politic: ians with $832 for the workers would make it appear that these sober and responsible ex-radicals are more seal- ous for the welfare of capitalist poli- ticlans than for workers injured in the productive process. The $16 maximum compensation is the result of a report of a commission of three appointed by the governor on which John Scanell “represented” la- bor. Scamell is also an ex-radical and Phillip Sabatelli, Local 306, Old Forge, Pa. Progressive Miners’ Committee. THIS IS ONE AIM OF THE T.U.E.L,, HELP US GET IT! Put Our Daily Ahead of the “Rote Fahne” | BERLIN.—At.a recent conference in Berlin, 62 corréspOndents and re- | porters of the, Communist daily, the | Rote Fahne—the Red Flag—assem-| bled to confer as to the duties and re- sponsibilities of proletarian news gatherers, Many of the final resolutions adopt- ed by the conference dealt with Com- mnunist affairs and with plans for the future development of the Rote Fahne; for forming communications with correspondents in foreign coun- tries, for extending work among the youth and women of the working | class. | While Rowan Splits Union Bosses Speed Up Tunnel Workers TUNNEL CAMP, High Sierras, Cal. --While the only union in the general construction industry, the Construc- tion Workers Industrial Union No. 310 of the I. W. W., is torn to pieces by reactionary injunctionites of the Rowan faction posing as “revolution- ists,” the big contractors are getting away with the worst kind of slave driving. This is seen by the way the South- ern California Edison company, build- ing the Florence lake tunnel, the long- est, widest bore in the world, has bamboozled thé construction workers into speeding up, and by this game has saved no le#s than $6,000,000 for the company. The bosses have even got the slaves to betting against each other’s speed. Wagering huge sums on their | prowess as rock drillers, two crews at work on the tunned project have 6 ie ve 43 bees ig ganPmpleted construction 22 months in me resolu owever, re: of advance of schedule. “The workers’. correspondent who lives and works with the working class, whose voice sounds from the very center of the working masses, is the best bond. between the newspaper and the working class.” Another’ reads: “The activity of the workers’ correspondent consists in reporting conditions in the shops and mills and. mines, in the lives of the workers, and in the bourgeois state. There should be, however, no limit to his purely literary activity. The proletarian journalist and author finds a footing anly in the Communist press.” : A Collective Expression. The Rote Fahne has over one hun- dred contribu » some of whom along with tl editors, Steinicke, Apelt and Gent#th, are in jail at pres- ent, others being employed in factor- tes, so that tl were unable to at- tend the first bonference of proletar- ian journalists, “Economic Power’’ of Lumber Jacks Fades Into Unemployment TACOMA, Wash., Feb. 26.—The St. Paul and Tac Lumber Co, has laid off the night All local mills are now on the five day week. Camps are not opening. Despite the lies of the kept pre business conditions are getting steadily worse, The city employment office reports 1091 applying “for work and only 401 jobs in Jan Many of these jobs only lasted a . a Get your tlelghg fer Red Revel Bait, emer Pushed along by “fighting spirit,” increased by their betting, the labor. ers have so reduced the finishing time of the bore that it will catch the “run off” from this winter's melting mountain snows, creating a water storage valued at more than $1,000,- 000. This, coupled with the interest sav- ing on $17,000,000, the tunnel’s cost, will save the company a total of $6,000,000, officials said. ‘ployment in eastern centers follow- ‘EVERETT CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL WARNS WORKERS Lumber Barons Trying to Beat Millmen EVERETT, Wash., Central Labor Council here, after finding that the lumber mill owners had been advertising plenty of em- Feb. 26.— The ing the demand of their employes for an increase of 50 cents per day, has sent the following circular letter to all other central bodies and the labor press: February 20, 1925. To Central Labor Bodie Dear Sirs and Brothers: After investigating statements that the number of idle workers of all kinds had been greatly increased in this city and vicinity during the pre- ceding few weeks, the Everett Cen- tral Labor Council instructed its sec- retary to prepare and send out to points in the United States and Cana- da, from which the misinformed, mis- led and unfortunate workers have come, a fair and accurate statement as to the real conditions now existing here. These men have been attracted here by false and misleading state- ments inspired and published by sel- fish interests for the purpose of per- petuating a low wage standard in the as servile a tool as ever represented capitalism in the ranks of labor. Patronize our advertisers. lumber and other industries of the northwest. These articles began to appear and the number of job hunters to increase soon after mill operators in. Everett learned that a petition for an increase of 60 cents per day in wages of their employes was being circulated. The employers did not wait for presentation of the petition, but forthwith posted notices at their plants that a five-day week would be inaugurated two days later, “because of depressed condition of the lumber market;” yet six of the 14 lumber mills here were then operating night shifts and continued to do so after |the short week was established. Mill workers, whose minimum wag- es are $3.50 per day while those of organized common labor in other in- dustries are $6, then began to realize that organization was absolutely nec- essary to maintain decent standards of living. Within the past two weeks the Sawmill Workers’ Union, affiliat- ed with the A. F. of L., has signed up more than 300 members and is the largest union affiliated with this coun- cil. The object of this circular letter is to warn workers elsewhere that the reports that jobs are plentiful hére are false and that to come here with- out other means of maintaining exist- ence than their wage-earning power will be merely to increase the already too large army of destitute job hunters. Recipients of this letter are re- quested to give this subject as wide publicity as possible, Fraternally yours, Everett Central Trades Council, c. Hu. COSTUMES! 37 SOUTH ASHLAND BOULEVARD Tickets in advance 50c, at the door 75c Get your tickets at the local office, Workers Party, 166 W. Washington Street, or at the . DAILY WORKER office, 1113 W, Washington Blvd. COSTUMES!! The Famous Red Revel Masquerade Ball The Event of the Season! Masques, Individual Costumes, and Groups that will make the hardened denizens of Little Greenwich Village gasp. Midnight Surprises????? Saturday Evening, February 28 WEST END WOMEN’S CLUB HALL COSTUMES!!! GIDDUP! On to the Red Revel! CORNER MONROE STREET.