The Daily Worker Newspaper, March 13, 1925, Page 2

i i i TO REACTIONARY Ledvinka Refused to _ Testify for Venturatto (Special to The Daily Worker) BELLAIRD, Ohio, March 11.—More than any one thing about the reply of Frank Ledvinka, president of this Bub-district, to the program of the progressive miners, that part dealing with the case of Dominick Venturatto, Is arousing most anger. Ledvinka “in- vites” the progressives to do what they can to help the sub-district of- ficials to get Venturatto out. The militants here know that the fefense that was made of Venturatto and Dan Agosta and the other miners in the state prison, was made because of them and that the failure of the sub-district officials to do anything to get them out rests almost wholely 9m the shoulders of Frank Ledvinka. A defense committee of militants was formed when Venturatto and the pthers were arrested and indicted and they carried on the battle to keep these men from prison. When the com- \ mittee went to the officials and asked ‘for help they were usually met with excuses’ or vague explanations or the statement that “that’s imprac- teal.” i Would Have Won Case, The defense committee wanted the sub-district offiicials to get the sheriff to testify for the defense in both the cases of Dan Agosta and Venturatto. This plan—which lawyers declared at the time would have won the cases— iid not meet with the approval of the Ledvinka machine. The sheriff was valled as a state’s witness and both Venturatto and Agosta were sentenced to life They were foreigners. They had little inflaence. They “had to take the Bat when Bob Farmer, organizer of the sub-district, who was arrested at the same time as the other defendants and for participation in the same al- leged crime came on trial, he was de- fended adequately. He was aquitted. The officialdom of this sub-district nearly broke their necks in their ef- forts to help get him off. Bob Farmer was a man with enough influence in the sub-district to raise hell with the officials. He knew enough to compel Ledvinka and the other officials to “come thru.” They came and Farmer was acquitted. Every sort of political pressure at the command of the of- ficials was marshalled to help get » Farmer out. Refused to Testify. The sheriff who had testified for the state as the state had wanted him to testify in the cases of Agosta and Wenturatto, testified for Farmer when Farmer's case was tried. The defense committee of the militants had said that the cases of Venturatto and Agosta would be won if the sheriff testified for them. That they were right was proven when the sheriff came to the rescue of Farmer and he got off, Now Ledyinka comes out with an invitation to the progressive miners to help, but says, “so far none of these master minds have offered any con- structive ideas.” That the local capitalist sheet which howled for the blood of Ven- turatto and Agosta, runs the reply of the Ledvinka machine to the progres- sives in full does not add to the popularity of that reply. McAndrew’s Plan of Abolishing Councils Criticized by Board Superintendent of Schools McAn- drew’s campaign to destroy the teach- ers’ councils was criticized in the board of education yesterday after- noon, “Only by the widest stretch of the imagination could the superin- tendent’s plan be called teachers’ councils,” said Mrs. W. S. Hefferan, chairman of the committee on admin- istration at their meeting yester- fay. Mrs. Hefferan was speaking of McAndrew’s substitute for teachers’ participation in the schoo!s which was in effect, the abolition of tne coun- cils. “I have been ashamed of the fact that the old council has been ruth- lessly and suddenly destroyed,” Trus- tee Mullenbach said. The McAndrew plan was again re- ferred to the superintendent yester- day, and may be voted on later by the administration committee. It is now likely that McAndrew will be temporarily balked in his plan of choking off teacher representation in the public schools system of Chi- cago. Say Police in Crime Trust. SPRINGFIELD, IlL, March 11— Legislative investigation of the Chi- cago police department was asked in a resolution presented to the house to- day, It is charged that a “crime trust” is operating in Chicago, with the ac- quiescence and even the support of the Chicago police department of- ficials, Mussolini Becomes Worse. ROME, Italy, March 11.—Premier Mussolini has suddenly taken a turn for the worse, it is rumored here. He is said to be suffering from intestinal ulcerations, which may require ap . THE DAILY WORKER ~- |I. W. W. ATTORNEY DISBARRED BY DECREE SAYING GENERAL STRIKE AND FREE SPEECH ARE UNLAWFUL Gpecial to The Datly Worker) OLYMPIA, Wash., March 6.—Elmer Smith, known as “the I. W. W. lawyer,” who was the legal advisor of the I, W. W. in their defense of their union hall against an American Legionnaire mob in 1919 and later their co- defendant and attorney in a farcial trial which victimized eight loggers into the penitentiary where they still remain, is now disbarred by a verdict of the Washington state supreme court. The Usual Falr Trial. The case was carried up from the proceeding against Smith by the Wash- ington Bar Association. The supereme court decision sustains the disbarment and does so in words that leave no room for doubt as to what class the supreme court thinks its duty to up- hold. There was, as usual, the ap- pearance of a “fair and impartial” hearing, with the usual dissenting opinion being given by Judge Tol- man, but as usual the result is against the cause of the workers. Being a lawyer and not a worker, Smith was not eligible to I, W. W. membership, but the court stmply tg- nores that as well as the reat reason for his disbarment, his speeches and activities in behalf of the I. W. W. prisoners who were railroaded into the Walla Walla prison for defend- ing their hall as they had a legal right to do against attack by agents of the lumber trust in the guise of “patriotic American legionnaires.” A General Strike is Uniawtul. That the “right to strike,” cherish- ed by all believers in democracy in the Il. W. W. as “legal,” is also-view- ed quite differently by the court, is shown in the following excerpt of the court’s decision: “There are also others, members of the organization, in confinement for more heinous crimes. These the de- fendant has been pleased to denomin- nate ‘political prisoners,’ and persons punished because of their opinions, and has in his public addresses advocated a general strike, a strike ‘that will paralyze all the industries of the state,’ as a means of coercing their liberation.” This the court holds to be in viola- tion of his oath as an attorney, The court then recites other state ments of defendant made in addresses which it construes as “incitement to crime.” Free Speech Legal—If You Say Nothing. In addition to interpreting a strike as a crime, the court goes on to say that, as a logical consequence, even advocating such “unlawful” means is not “permissible” under capitalist “de- mocracy.” This neatly expressed, means that workers have a “legal right” to “free speech” and to advo- cate “a change of government”—yet are forbidden by capitalist law from saying anything which really points out the way to change it. The court says: “The defendant,” says the court, “is freely conceded the right to advocate, either publicly or privately, changes, in the present form of government, however great or however fundamen- tal such changes may be, so long as his advocacy is confined to means sanctioned by law. “But he oversteps permissible bounds when he advocates changes by criminal or other unlawful means,t and this the evidence demonstrated he has done, both directly and indir- ectly.” Reds Capture Wrangel Ship. SHANGHAI, China, March 11,.—A battle between Russian Soviet sup- porters, who boarded the warship Oskotsk and remnants of Wrangel’s counter-revolutionary white guard fleet quartered on the warship Mongugay, is said to have taken place here. The Soviet government has demanded the return of these ships to Russia by the Chinese government. Make Bosses Respect Agreement. NEW YORK, N. Y., March 9, — Charging their employers with viola- tion of union agreements, 175 button workers employed by four firms went out on strike and did not return to work until the companies promised to observe all the terms of the agree- ment. The strike lasted only a few days. Bread Price Up Here Bread prices have advanced sharp- ly in nearly every city in the country, and loaves $f bread have been made smaller, Thomas F. King told the American society of bakery engineers meeting at the Hotel Sherman. He declared that bread will advance again in Chicago soon. Kraesin and Herriot Talk Trade LYONS, France, Mar, 10.—Premier Herriot visited the Soviet Russian ex- hibit at the Lyons fair here, and con- versed with Leonid Kragsin, Russian anmibassador, on measures for active commercial and industrial relations with Soviet Russia. Herriot was par- ticularly interested in Russian to- bacco, woods and foodstuffs. Agricultural Worker is Charman of I.W.W. Executive Board Carl Kellar, an agricultural worker is the new chairman of the genera! executive board, I. W. W. He has been a member for almost 10 year: ~? in 1824 was branch secretary ir Minneapolis of Industrial Union 110 ue agricultural unit of the wobulies, FORWARD GANG PREPARES OMAHA TO MEET RAPHAEL . : Begins by Mopping Up Labor Lyceum OMAHA, Nebr., March 11.—This cl. ty experienced its first taste of right: wing “socialist” tactics last Sunday evening when these enemies of the working class and Soviet Russia or- ganized themselves into a mob to get control of the Labor Lyceum. The Usual Stuff. When the left wing group, repre- senting the bonafide stockholder: came into the meeting, which had been illegally called for the election of a board of directors, they immedi- ately realized that the meeting had ben deliberately packed by non-stock- holders, acting at the behest of the paid agent of the Daily Forward, Comrade Jonisch, secretary of the Labor Lyceum association, requested a roll call so that the rights of the bonafide stockholders would be pro tected and outsiders eliminated. This, of course, was howled down. A stock- holder then moved to adjourn the meeting because of its illegality. This’ too, was voted down by the non- stockholders. Social Pacifists Get Violent. Secretary Jonisch then stated that the meeting was illegal and, as secre- tary of the Labor Lyceum association could not be a participant. Several of the outsiders attempted to strong arm Jonisch, but were prevented from doing so thru the interference of a broad-shouldered stockholder, altho they succeeded in taking away his roll- call sheet and minutes. The left wing group of bonafide stockholders, fully forty of the hun dred present, then arose and left the meeting in a body. On leaving the building they were surprised to see three policement stationed at the door It was afterwards learned that they had been called by a non-union paint- ing contractor’ who argues that he “cannot afford to hire union men.” How's This For a “Labor” Lyceum? The right wing then proceeded to name a board of directors consisting of a scab plasterer, the “insurance and Forward agent,” a contracting plasterer, a non-union painting con- tractor, a grocer who has just built @ $25,000 home, a boss tailor, and @ shoe store proprietor with a bank- ruptey record. ‘The right wing elements hope to iso late the friends of Soviet Russia and discredit the working class elements among the Jewish population of the city. Their only real achievement so far has been to bring about a much- needed spirit of solidarity among these very elements. Consequently, the Abramovict meeting of the 23rd may mark the de feat of the enemies of Soviet Russir and their complete unmasking before the Jewish population of the city. Family Quarrel Orphans Three, SEDALIA, Mo., March 11.— Clyde Porter, 45, and his wife, Siebe, 32, were both shot and killed today enl- minating a family quarrel of long standing according to John Zinn, the slain man’s father-mn-taw, who sur- rendered to authorities. : Porter first shot and killed his wife, Zinn in turn killing Porter. The shooting orphaned three children. $500,000 Indiana Wind Storm. INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., March 11.— Indiana’s first heavy windstorm of the year, which approximated torna- do at several points damaged property valued at $500,000, but no loss of life or serious injuries were reported to- day from the storm-swept district, CHINESE BOYCOTT U. $. GOODS AND GODS IN FOOCHOW (Special to The DAILY WORKER.) PEKIN, March 11.— The native boycott against American mer- chants and missionaries in Foochow a city of 700,000 population at the northern entrance to the Straight of Formosa, is assuming serious pro- portions, according to advices to the The trouble began when Chinese families were warned against send- ing their children to American mis- sionary schools. First Secretary Mayer of the American legation here is in Foo- chow attempting to settle the agita- tion, P ‘ 1p LAWYER OLAIMS DESPOT'S POWER FOR HUTCHESON Injunction Ruling Ex pected Today pane DETROIT, Mich,, March 11,—“The Communists ‘ll git ye if ye don’t watch out!” Thus warnell Attorney Gilmore ip his closing argument.in Judge Hunt’s court Monday morning as he closed the case of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners against Wm. (Bud) Reynolds for violation of the injunction that had ,been issued in answer to the “prayer” of the India- napolis bureaucracy. * Carpenters Fill Court Room. The court room, as on the other days that this case has ‘been up, was crowded to capacity with interested carpenters. Day by day they have been filing into court. Day by day that have had impressed upon them that Hutcheson, Sharrock and com- pany are far more concerned in pre- serving the sacredness of injunction law than in taking care of the inter- ests of the carpenters here in Detroit. The business of the district council can go hang if only the fight to land Reynolds in jail for contempt shall succeed, Gilmore argued lustily that the court has no right to look into the merits of Reynold’s expulsion. The court, says Gilmore, can only take cognizance of the fact that Reynolds had maliciously and defiantly seen fit to break the injunction. And in sup- port of this position Gilmore made many damaging admissions that will rise up in the future to haunt the dreams of the Hutcheson machine. Well, Well! Listen To This! “This injunction does not take any rights from Reynolds,” declared Gil- more. The general executive board had taken from Reynolds his “politic- al, economic, property, and personal rights” when they ordered him expel- led. And when Reynolds refused to ack- nowledge the jurisdiction of the G. BE. B. in its illegal expulsion act, but insisted on attending the meetings of the carpenters, to preside in his own local union, and to serye as delegate from his local to the district council, when he refused to relinquish his rights of membership, the G. E. B. had gone to court praying for an in- junction “to keep him expelled.” - A Mere Difference of Opinion The fact that every local union in this district had a ed resolutions condemning the and the in junction, and the further fact that practically the entire rank and file in Detroit have availed themselves of every opportunity to voice their dis- gust at the action of the officialdom, was dismissed by Gilmore as a “mere difference of opinion.” And then in an attempt to frighten the court he “touched like a summer breeze” on what he characterized as the real issue involved in this whole case. His Honor Up Against It “These Communists/’ declared this legal light, “are in the union to break it up, while the plaintiffs are primar- ily concerned in holding the organ- ization together. This court is faced with the decision of punishing Rey- nolds or admitting that he is bigger than the court. Shall he be permit- ted to attack this court with impun- ity? His whole attitude is one of malicious defiance.” Judge Hunt announced that he would try to have his decision ready on Thursday, March 12, The Poor, Starving Sugar Trust Cleans Up a Few Millions NEW YORK, March 11.—The Amer. ican Sugar Refining Co. has net income of $8,169,421.39 after paying operat- ing expenses, interest on bonds and preferred dividend in the year ended December 31, 1924, according to the annual report of Carl Babst, presi- dent of the company submitted to the stockholders today. ~ Claim Students Attackedy PARIS, March 11.—Brigands attack- ed a party of Anglo-American archeo- logical students, near Arta, in the Greek province of the same name, ac- cording to reports received here to- day. An American hamed Logan was injured seriously. Klan Blocked in Indiana. INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., March 11,.— The ku klux klan delegation in the legislature was able to pass the relig- ious garb bill and the bill to compel parochial and private school teachers to use the same textbooks and courses as in the public schools, but these acts were defeated in the senate. Plans to Quit the Argentine. WASHINGTON, D, C., March 11.-- Resignation of John W. Riddle, Unit- od Statés ambassador to the Argen- tine, will take plage within the next two months, it was announced at the state department today. Pome ie Oi cTRRBFC TS ‘PEKIN, March 11—Dr. Sun Yat Sen's pulse shot up to one hundred and sixty today ag the distinguished patient continued: to refuse nourish- ment. * By J. LOUIS ENGDAHL Besant the unrest among the worst treated transportation workers must be great indeed judging by the fears ex- pressed by the sls interests and their chosen mouth- pieces. This from the New York Times: “One railway executive ventured the opinion yesterday that the seven-day week among transportation employes would eventually be- come a serious labor problem if something was not done to remedy the situation.” ‘ se 8 & One of the pen prostitutes on the financial pages of the Hearst publications, in opening one of several efforts on the subject of the seven-day week, declares: “If-1 had to work every week-day, all day Saturday, every Sunday, every holiday, from January 1 to December 31, and then continue the same treadmill for the next year and the next and the next in order to earn a bare living, | think 1 would become a revolutionist, in fact, I'm sure | would.” \ That’s the way the Hearst writer tries to stir “4 the railroad managers, the railroad directors and the railroad security holders, according to his own claims. * * * * But the whole Hearst regime from “Willie, Himself” to Krazy Kat, will join in mutual resentment against any claim that there is a basis for a revolutionary movement in the United States. When labor really moves, thru efforts to organize, and thru the declaration of strikes, to wipe out the seven-day week, then the whole Hearst pack of newspapers is on the scent yelling for the blood of the working class, just_as the Hearst sheet in San Francisco demanded the life of Tom Mooney, to satiate the blood lust of California's ruling class. is ‘ e°@ eh 68 Evidently Hearst is persuded that the seven-day week issue is one worth while playing with since, “enough protests are coming from seven-day workers, not only on the rail- roads, but in certain other industries, to fill every column and every page of this newspaper .... Worker after worker describes himself as nothing better than a slave.” Here is just a little word-picture from the wife of a seven-day slave: “My husband has been working for railroads ever since he was 20 years old, and has worked seven days per week and all holidays, with no time off. He worked as station agent and operator. His wages were $45 per month, when he commenced, and continued the same for ten years.” * * > J Charles M. Schwab, head of the Bethlehem Steel cor- poration, upon returning from his annual holiday in Europe, declares that the way to get rich is to decide on a definite business and then “put your heart and soul into it.” Hearst publishes that dope, too. Hundreds of thousands of railroad workers, many of them victims of the seven-day week, have found that the more they put their “hearts and souls” into the transporta- tion business, under the “B. & 0.” plan for instance, the only result is more money for the railroad owners, : {t was resentment against the brutalizing conditions o the railroads that developed the militant spirit in the Main- tenance of Way Men's Union, that was betrayed by officials that the kept press loves to praise, It is under the lash of these conditions that the left wing movement on the rail- roads is again stirring, more class conscious, better prepared to deal with those who commit treason against them. Hearst, The New York Times, the railroad owners can truly be assured that intelligent revolutionists are growing in numbers on the railroads of the country. * * . Schwab also lauds the Dawes plan; thus voicing the spirit of American capitalism. The Dawes plan has forced ermany’s biggest railroad strike. The Dawes plan, with its wage cuts, longer workday, inhuman conditions, is the ideal of American capitalism. The Dawes plan is solidifying the German working class in support of the German Communist Party. The yet apt ig system, of which the seven-day work week is only one of many evils, creates revolutionists under the leadership of the American Workers (Communist) cory, Maas does capitalism drive toward its own inevitable lownfall. Le , New Rugso-Chinese-American Industry Dawes--Morgan System Making Revolutionists in U.S. A. and Germany HARBIN, March 11.—A new branch of industry has been started in Man- eburia in the shape of local jute grow ing and jute bags production. This product is badly wanted here as up till now Manchuria, which ex- ports a big amount of agricultural products and consequently needs bag: to transport the produce, had to pro vide them from abroad, mostly from India. The new concern is a-mixed Russo- Chinese-American company—the capi tal being American, the soil Chinese and the labor Russian. The “yama” (a kind of Manchurian and Mongoli an jute) is to be grown on a big area some 400 lis south of Hailar, and the work is to be started this spring al- ready. Russia Grants Further Amnesty. MOSCOW, March 11,—The presi- dium of the central executive commit- tee of the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics has resolved that the re- stitution of Russian emigrants in their rights of Soviet citizenship should be interpreted as being also an act of amnesty, by which those re- stored in such rights are discharged of their responsibilty tor any ctimes or offenses committed previously, ex- cepting, however, such as may have been concealed by the applicants when applying for Soviet citizénship, Soviet Suppies Chinese Railroad, MOSCOW, March 11—The Russo- Oriental charfber of commerce has un- dertaken to arrange for the participa- tion of the Soviet industry in the sup- plying of materials for the Chinese Bastern railway, “1 ’ It is learned that this idea has met with willing response, a number of trusts having promptly’ gent in cor- responding offers, A oneill ‘ Murderer Morton, Bull Moose Special Commander, Kicks Off CHARLESTON, W. Va, March 11.— Quin Morton, first president of the Kanawha Coal Operators’ association, a director of the National Coal asso- ciation, and the commander of the murderous “Bull Moose Special,” an armored train of company gunmen which, in 1913, ran thru the miners’ tent colonies in the Paint Creek and Cabin Creek strikes, firing with mach- ine guns into the tents and shanties occupied by women and children, is dead here today at the age of 68, Haughton Talks with Coolidge WASHINGTON, March 11.—Alan- son B. Haughton, the newly appoint- ed ambassador to Great Britain, who has just returned to Washington from Berlin, held a conference today with President Coolidge and Secretary, of State, Kollogg at which conditions in Burope, and particularly in Germany were discussed. ‘ “Park” Price Associations WASHINGTON, D, C., March 11.— ‘The federal trade commission would be dirécted to investigate “open price” association, trade organiza- tions exchanging or distributing price information, under a resolution intro- duced in the senate today by Senator McKeller, democrat of Tennessee, ‘ ‘Trust Gets Another Railroad NEW YORK, March 11.—~Acquisi- tion of the control of the St. Louis and Southwestern railway by inter- ests identified with the Rock Island and Southern Pacific raflroad was an- nounced today by Charles Hayden, chairman of the Rock Island lines, DE VALERA AND FOES BATTLE IN. POLLS GONTEST Irish Labor Denounces Treason Bill (Special to The Daily Worker) DUBLIN, March 11—The Free State government may go to the country in a general election if the hopes of the republican party for a victory at the polls are fulfilled. There are nine seats being contested in today’s. bal- lotting. Foreign Minister Fitzgerald declares, that in the event of the gov- ernment losing Afty per cent of the constituencies, a new mandate will be demanded from the voters, Republicans May Win, ‘The republicans never had a bet ter opportunity for success in an elec- tion than now. The Free State has added to its unpopularity by spon: soring a so-called treason bill which is the most drastic ever introduced in Ireland, even in the darkest days ' of Dublin Castle rule. The Irish la- bor party has declared that its real object is an attack on labor. There is no question about this, as the bour- geois republicans are not out to over throw the system on which the Free State government rests. They only want to replace the Free Staters. Tho there are a few labor candi dates in the fleld the struggle resolv es itself into a contest between the Free State party and the republicans. The unionists who are not entirely satisfied. with the periodical anti- British whining of the Free State cat, which is a concession to Irish anti- British sentiment, are supporting the government slate. The government in return has announced its intention to strive for a modification of the in- come tax and other concessions. If You Want to Be Buried to Music, ‘See That It’s Union Because the Italian society insisted on hiring a scab band, the funeral of Lepardo Melone, a wealthy Italian grocer, was ‘stopped Monday morning before it got two blocks from the house on the road to the church, Officials of the Chicago Federation of Musicians and the business agent of the Chauffeurs’ and Liverymen’s Union, barred the way and blocked the cortege. There was an argument for about fifteen minutes, then the scab band was fired and the deceased business man proceeded to his last resting Place with flowers, but without music. Los Angeles, Calif., Plans Paris Commune Celebration, Mar. 18 LOS ANGELES, Cal., March 11— The Labor Defense Council and the committee for International Workers’ Aid of this city, both supported by many labor unions as well as unor- ganized workers, have arranged a splendid program for the celebration of the Paris Commune on Wednes- day, March 18, at 8 o'clock p. m., at the Symphony Hall, 232 8. Hill St, The well-trained chorus of the Juniors and the Young .Workers' League under the direction of Minnie Karassik will render the songs of the working class. The greatly admired Russian violinist, Miss Zubrinsky will play. Regina Karissik, the talented dramatic star, will recite. Emanuel Levine will speak on “Why Criminal Syndicalism Laws?” The lessons of the Paris Commune, the significance of that historic event and its relations to the present strug- gle of the working class will be pre- sented by Sid Bush. Springfield, Illinois Young Workers Puts on Celebration SPRINGFIELD, Ill, March 11—The Young Workers’ League of Springfleld . will hold a gala jubilee celebration next Sunday evening, March 15, at the White Dental Parlor, 223% South Fifth street. There will be one act plays, the Y. W. L. orchestra and lots of things. All for 35 cents, too, ae RC Motorman Near Death WAUKEGAN, Ill, March 11.—Chas. Simpson, 28, motorman, Highland Pk,,.. was reported dying in Highland hospital today from a fractured s| following a wreck early today on Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee Blectric railroad. A four car merch- andise express, going north had slow: ed down tor @ crossing and Simpson who was following with a baggage car crashed into the rear end. ————_., Japan Celebrates Women’s Day. TOKIO, March 11, — Galleries were jammed in the Japanese diet here, as the women demonstrated and demand- ed equal rights with men, The women carried flags and distributed handbills in front of the parliament building. Three bills were introduced which Provided for woman's suffrage, repeal of the law prohibiting women from Joining political associations, and granting women ‘equal opportunities with men to secure higher education, a Patronize our advertisers, ‘ {i