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

— SSS ee a me ET SS | THE BEST PLACE TO MEET IS ON THE JOB ITSELF Providence Hosiery Girls Win Fight PROVIDENCH, R. L—Boyden and Sons, knitters of ‘hosiery, employing about 400 workers, mostly girls, posted @ notice in the shop increasing the hours to a 54-hour week. As excuse it said: “Owing to the sacrifice we have had to make in selling our products this year in order to obtain business and keep our mill running full time, and rather than make a 10 per cent wage reduction as most corporations have done, we have decided to adopt the following schedule of working hours.” Heard That Stuff Before. This didn’t sound so good to a mem- ber of the Young Workers League who has heard that sort of bunk be- fore. A meeting was arranged in co- operation. with the Workers Party, for the workers to come to a meeting outside the shop. But that didn’t seem to bring many. So, what do you think, we discovered that the best place to hold a meeting was right in the shop! A canvass of the shop was started. A paper was passed around which said: “We refuse to work 54 hours and will not accept a cut in wages.” Half of the 400 signed the paper. Meeting Right On the Job Then on Thursday the girls called a meeting right in the shop on the company’s time. The superintendent, Mr. Cordin, was very indignant but that did him no good, He attended the meeting to “present the case for the company. He said that the great “sac- rifice” the company was making to keep the mill going deserved better consideration for the “poor company” by the girls. The answer was that the girls would refuse to work 54 hours whether the company would sink or swim; that the pay was little enough as it is, and that } an increase of six hours a week is cut in wages of 12% per cent. Strike Forced Three Hours Off. . The super then was forced to com- promise and pacified the girls by reducing the hours posted to 51 hours a three hour difference. He stormed about, saying he didn’t want to see such a Congregation in the shop again, and complaining that the girls should not “come to him, as he always did what he could.” He said that there would be no wage cut as long as he was there. The difficulty of holding a solid front here is the conflict artificially kept up between the piece workers and day workers. The piece workers had the mistaken idea that they can make more money, disregarding the fact that the company is hiring more help every day in order that when the rush is over, the rates will be cut on piece work. , Piece and Day Workers Must Unite Another difficulty is that two years ago when the piece workers struck, the day workers scabbed; then when the piece workers won their strike and went back, the day workers struck while the piece workers scabbed. Nevertheless both strikes were won. Now our task is to show both of them to forget the old row and work to- gether, because if the day workers lose the piece workers are bound to get their rates cut. The program will be pushed. Give your” shopmate this copy of the DAILY WORKER—but be sure to see him the next day to get his subscription. Anthracite Speeds Up Preparation for September Strike NEW YORK CITY—“The anthracite miners are at present working under a contract which will expire Aug. 31 of this year,” says the circular of a large Brooklyn company, “and we have no assurance that a new agreement will be reached at that time, or what the terms and conditions may be. ' It ‘is our desire to fill our customers’ bins as quickly as possible, and to that end we'announce the opening of our new spring prices.” The company quotes stove and nut coal in Brooklyn at $14 a ton, put. in, This is a decrease of 50 cents a ton from recent peak prices, but an_in. crease of 50 cents from the minimum price last spring. This increase issue, it was explained, to an equal increase at the mine. Because of the “threatened suspen- sion” of mining next fall, the circular continues, “there is bound to be a de- cided increase in the demand for coal.” It warns that the reduced prices are subject to increase after May 1, In a similar circular another com- pany quotes the same prices, and de- clares: “Because of the threatened strike at the mines on Sept. 1 we will be able to guarantee the above prices only up to May 1, 1925.” Several coal men admitted yester- day that talk of a strike is being used to increase sales. “Meanwhile, in Pennsylvania anthra- cite fields, the usual slack period in working during summer will give way, according to announcement of the companies, to a full time and speed up all summer, evidently hoping to lay in enought supply to fight the strike likely to begin on September 1. Marine Workers Are Deported in Attack on Both Seacoasts BROOKLYN —(FP)—Secret depor- tation by the United States of foreign born workers is arousing the Brooklyn branch of the Marine Transport work- ers, two of whose members, Olaf Ek- engren and Oscar Ollikainen, are among the victims. They were whisked away without the knowledge of their friends or fellow workers. The only clue was a letter from them dated Feb. 24 at Ellis Island but not delivered in. Brooklyn until March 4 five days after the deportation. “ee SAN FRANCISCO, — Two sailors, members of the’ Marine Transport Workers’ Union, are still held at An- gel Island immigration station for de- portation. A third, Alphonso Rodri- quez, arrested at San Pedro, has ship- ped to South America. Authorities were unable \to find of what country Rodriquez was a citizen, and therefore offered him his choice of shipping to any foreign port or staying in jail indefinitely. Non-Union Bands Hurt Union Mucisians NEW YORK—As the air gets warmer and the ban concert season approaches members of the musicians’ unions are wondering how many of them will be done out of jobs through the competition of the police band, the fireman’s band, and the street clean- ing band, all nonunion, Competition from the bands of private corporations as the National Biscuit company is also a disturbing nonunion factor, but the union feels its chief grievance is against the use of taxpayers’ money to furnish nonunion music against the interests of organized labor. Trade Unions in America Wm. Z. Foster, das. P. Cannon and E. R. Browder NO. 1| of The Little Red Library You can get this splendid first number of the pocket library suré to become the most popular working class pub- lication ever issued in this country from your local DAILY WORKDER agent. It is: A most important statement of the American Trade Union Movement by three rsons best qualified to write of It. splendid analysis of the present conditions in American organized labor and includes the history and program of the new force rising — in its ranks. ¥ { If you have no local DAILY WORKER. Agent get it by | j mail from ; THE DAILY WORKER t Literature Department 1113 W. Washington Blvd. ‘ Chicago, Ill, Reaction. and Revolt:in the Furriers’ Union By A. SIMON NEW YORK CITY—The signing of the last agreement was the first act of treachery on the part of our union officials during the past year. Not even a single one of them had the courage to say that the agreement was a miserable compromise, but was the best that could be obtained under the circumstances. “Without a single exception, every one of these unscrupuloys office hold- ers joined in a chorus of praise pro- claiming this unheard of defeat as @ great victory for the furriers, tho’ they were fully aware that it was a tritmph of the bosses over the work- ers. All of them, “the famous” Pres- ident Kaufman, his errand boy Man- ager Braunstein, the hired scribbler of the Fur Worker, the treacherous For- ward, and the whole clique of paid hire- lings, with shameless irresponsibility of men who had long lost their con- cern for the workers cheered this de- feat as a great victory for the fur work- ers, The class conscious workers were burning with indignation and pain. The manufacturers gloated with vic- tory. Labor circles were astounded at this unprecedent confusion. Nothing mattered, our officials signed their names to this disreputable document. Democratic Pretense This was the most damnable act of treachery ever committed by the officials of our union. This treachery was coupled with swindle. The milit- ants in our union feerlessly exposed this fake. In order to evade the full responsibility for their acts, the offi- cials called to their aid the fake de- mocracy (which is often the best wea- pon of deceit in the hands of the cap- italist class). Under the pretense of democracy, they gave over the agree- ment to a referendum vote to the membership, The Forward criminally misrepresented the terms of the agreement, and the officials appointed “trained hands” to fill the ballot boxes. The fur workers regarded this maneuver with utter contempt, and ignored the referendum in mass. Nevertheless, the officials declared the agreement ratified by a large majority. Deceit, swindle and perjury. The first act was one of treachery. This was followed by falsifying the terms of the agreement in the yellow For- ward. Then, came the swindle at the ballot box, it was thus thst the offi- cials of the furriers’ union distinguish- ed themselves as traitors, fakers and perjurors. Such are called working class representatives. What a tra- gedy! The Reign of Terror This occurred in the month of Feb- ruary. The workers were unemployed. Month after month, the army of un- employed increased, thousands of workers were driven to the market in search of jobs. The contractors, who operated their little sweat-shops with unorganized cheap labor were busy, while the union workers starved. The officials, however, sat calmly in their offices receiving their weekly pay. Local meetings were not called. Meeting! What for? The workers came to the office to protest against this abominable state of affairs, The answer was terrorism. The leading militants were expell- el from the union under trumped up charges produced-by Managér Braun- stein. The bureaucrats took no ac- count of the workers’ misery and made no effort to unionize the scab shops. Their chief concern was their jobs, and they made preparations for the elections, No Aid to Unemployed The lefts demanded financial as- sistance for the unemployed out of the union treasury. The officials sneered at this proposition. Union funds must not be used to assist the workers, was their reply. The funds of the union must go to pay the fat salaries of the union officials and their hirelings, but not for the work- ers, no matter how great their misery. At the approach of the elections, wever, a few thousand dollars were istributed as unemployment doles The largest part, naturally fell into the hands of the machine sup- ters, who generally delivered the tes for the same job holders. The jestion of mass unemployment, the organized shops, the demoralization the rank of the workers, the con- tinuously reduced wages and ruthless ploitation of the workers and other urgent union problems were placed on fee. Elections was the one problem uppermost in the minds of the offl- claldom, and the entire machinery of the union was feverously at work to make secure the comfortable jobs of the powers that be. Hand Picked Committees “In spite of the fact that the milit- ants were expelled from the union, in spite of the fact that the officials had ured the assistance of the bosses ahd foremen in their campaign for re-election, and forced the workers to vote for Braunstein, they were never- theless uncertain as to the results, for they were fully aware of the ter rible wrath in the hearts of the work ers against their shameful misdeeds, ; » ‘ ‘ They knew that the workers could no longer be trapped by the net of lies. In mortal fear less their day of reckoning had arrived, they organized their own strong-armed squad, who to- gether with hired sluggers succeeded in electing am “election and objection committee” of Wand-picked machine supporters, They then, removed all opponents from “the ballot and de- clared themselves the legally chosen vepresentatives of the fur workers. The Rank and File in Action It is understood that organization problems of the union continued to remain on ice, The army of unemploy- ed came to the office and organized mass demonstrations demanding that immediate steps be taken to improve their miserable lot. In the beginning, Manager Braun- stein had planned to disperse the gathering of unemployed with the aid of the strong arm-squad, but he soon realized that the terrorism in this in- stance could not be used with success. He was forced to permit a meeting of the workers in the office of the union. The unemployed stormed the offices with their protest, they openly expos: ed the shameless treachery and fakes of these job holders and demanded an explanation for the false promises in the agreement. The manager, realizing the difficulty of his position, again called to his aid his much abused schemes of deceit. Under the pressure of the workers, he instituted an organization commit- tee of volunteers, who were to engage in the immediate campaign to exter- minate the sweat shops. On the following day, this commit- tee of the rank and file was declared illegal and forbidden to undertake any organization work. In the month of August, the busy season came, the fur workers, exhaust- ed from hunger, welcomed this op- portunity to get. back to work. The bosses, fully aware of the great needs of most of the workers, utilized this condition to their own advantage and forced the workers to submit to re- duced wages, single pay for overtime and more ruthless exploitation. Betrayed Anew How did the Officials of our union meet this new situation? Not only did they fail to organize the sweat shops, which was a simple task because of the great amount‘of work in the trade, and the consequént demand for work- ers, but our ‘ “manager even dared to recommend that the workers be permitted to work overtime for sin- gle pay, trusting the lord almighty that when the ‘#@ason will be at an end, the union will collect back pay. The result of this week-kneed policy was that thousands of furriers were compelled to accept reduced wages, single pay for evertime. They worked day and night. Hundreds of thous- and of dollars were added to the huge profits of the bosses from over time alone, and now our poor manager is shedding crocodile tears over the fact that no more than $20,000 out of this huge sum of workers money had been collected by the union as back pay for overtime. Busy Working For LaFollette Our business agent staff was too much preoccupied collecting funds for the democrats and republicans in the LaFollette campaign to devote any time to reclaim the lost money of the workers. No wonder that out of 3,750 complaints recognized even by our so- called representatives, 2,750 were lost, and out of the 1,000 supposedly set- tled in favor of the union, the great gain was on the side of the manufact- urers, Now as to the joint board. Fruitless were the efforts of the few sincere delegates to the joint board to force the officials to attend to their duties and responsibilities to the workers, In vain did they attempt to uncover the graft system in the joint board. In vain did they struggle to do away with paid sluggers at union meetings. Unsuccessful were their efforts to so- lidify the ranks of the most abused and demoralized workers, who alone can halt the growing appetites of the bosses for larger profits. Decay in Union In vain were their efforts to secure a favorable decision from the so-called impartial chairman. In vain was the effort of these few delegates to re- organize the union and mould it into a weapon of offense in the intgrest of the workers. In vain too, were there efforts to institute democratic reforms in the management of our union, and draw into activities the loyal, devoted and conscious workers. The black and treacherous fascist regime of Kaufman and Braunstein like a deadly plague continues to ravage our union and to hold it down in the swamp of treachery and fake, which has reduced our organization built on the sweat and blood of the workers to the shame of the labor movement. There is but one ray of hope pen- etrating this evil of darkness—that is the T. U. EB. L. section of the fur- riers’ union. The fight, to be sure, is not an easy task for the militants, but the greater the corruption and the more injurious the influence of the Kaufman machine, the more the mem- bership turns for deliverance to the left wing represented by the Trade Union Educational League. T. U. E. L. Program the Rallying Point. The hope of the workers is the program and tactics advocated by the T. U. E. L., inspired and encouraged by the rank and file. The militants, notwithstanding the discriminations, expulsions and persecutions, are con- ducting their fight fearlessly and vigorously, gaining step by step and driving Kaufman to desperation. The symptoms of decay of his ter- roristic machine are more and more evident. The day is not far distant when the militants of the furriers’ un- ion, together with their comrades in the other needle trade unions, will join hands in the erection of a really militant industrial union for the work- ers. This day is beginning to dawn. ee BANKERS SAY T0 MANY SPINDLES AND WORKERS Remedy Lies in Inter- national Unionism NEW YORK.—There is no need for working 20 per cent of the cotton spindles of the world, Hicks & Wil- liams, New York bankers, state in ex- plaining the reason why Lancashire spinners in British mills are accept- ing reductions of time. The American bankers would like to influence American cotton mill workers, their statement indicates, to accept the lower wages and part-time work that has been their lot since the war. During the war, the bankers say, ‘he spindles of the world increased remendously. The 7,000,000 spindles f China, Japan and India are all busy, the bankers claim. United States mills gained 6,500,000 spindles since 1914. Accepting the figures of the bank- ers on these items} however, the Com- munists and menibers of the Trade Union Educational, League do not ac- cept the “remedy” proposed by the bankers, who it to persuade the American workers to compete, in speed up systems, low wages and long hours, with the textile workers of the Orient. On the contrary, say the revolution- ary unionists, the only hope for Amer- ican workers, in textiles as in other industries, is to co-operate with the exploited workers of China, India and Japan, join with them thru the Red International of Labor Unions to fight | together in a, solid’ front to raise all their wages, reduce all their hours, and finally to emancipate the whole working class from the international capitalist class, ~"" Talk it up—your shopmate will subscribe] e nial % New York Janitors to Organize and Fight 40 Per Cent Wage Cut NEW YORK—Jack-of-all-trades jani- tors may be but they don’t get paid as well as a union worker in any trade apartment house caretakers in New York claim and so they are joining the union, Superintendents and Janitors Local 82 affiliated with Building Ser- vice Employes’ International. The complaints of these handy men were aired at a mass meeting recently and the astonishing fact that wage cuts up to 40 per cent have been imposed on janitors came out. Every apartment house dweller expects his building’s janitor to be on the job every hour of day or night. He doesn’t object to the janitor’s living in the damp, low ceiled basements. He never thinks whether the man is paid enough. He knows that the janitor’s wife often is seen helping him out with his work of caring fo- the: house. But all these grievances make the janitors of New York's cliff- dwellings more eager to organize 100 per cent and get better conditions and more wages, “Community Chest”’ Is Not for Strikers Who Fight Against Cuts UTICA, N. Y., Mar. 31.—Not a cent for needy strikers’ families ig to be had from the community chest fund, tho the community chest drive had re- ceived considerable support from many of the 1,200 textile workers who are now out against a wage cut. Directors of the community chest told the general organizer for the Ameri- can Federation of Labor that he was very sorry but all the assignments of the fund had been made early in the year. Generous support hag, been coming to the strikers from local unions from other crafts which have assessed their members in some cases and given lump sums from their treasuries in other cases, The strike committee distributes bread and meat to the x aad of the strikers, , Philadelphia Auto Workers Organizing espite Obstacles PHILADELPHIA, Pa.—At an enthu- siastic meeting held in the carpenters’ hall, the Automobile Workers’ Union has been definitely established with 40 new members. The chairman of the evening pointed out that the meeting was called by the temporary executive committee elected by a group of auto workers who had or- ganized the local two weeks ago. Five large automobile shops were represented and all the workers were of the opinion that the time is ripe for the organization of a successful union, After a short discussion it was unanimously decided to affiliate with the Automobile and Aircraft Workers of America. The men were conscious of the fact that an industrial union alone could successfully organize the workers in the auto industry. Before the meeting opened, the com- mittee was notified that they ‘could not meet in the carpenters’ hall any- more and no reason was given, but, the members of the Trade Union Edu- cational League, who are active in the organization of this union, easily solved this “mysterious” eviction and pointed out that the Carpenters’ Local No. 8 and the carpenters district coun- cil, who have recently upheld the il- legal expulsion of Fred Burgess, own this hall, and further most of the men who have poined this union are auto body builders over whom the car- penters’ union claims jurisdiction al- though they have never made any ef- fort to organize them. The automobile industry is com- posed of no less than eight trades over which eight international unions are fighting for jurisdiction and in the fight neglecting the possibility of or- ganizing the industry. The Automobile and Aircraft Workers’ Union of Amer- ica is an industrial union and is out to organize every man that works in the auto industry. Members of the new Philadelphia local are conscious of this and are determined to do everything possible to build a power- ful militant union. The next meeting will be called thru mail due to the difficulty of sec- uring a suitable hall. Further inform- ation can be secured by writing Frank Winkler, 521 York Ave., Philadelphia. GET A 8UB AND GIVE ONE! Governor Admits Law Aimed at Injunction Is “A Mere Gesture” TRENTON, N. J.—Possible trial by jary in contempt cases arising from injunctions against room for which organized labor has been fighting many years—is seen as the result of the passage and signing of the Richards bill. The bill provides that vice-chancel- lor may at his discretion grant a jury trial to workers charged with picket- ing in defiance of injunction and it makes it mandatory on the chancellor to refer all contempt cases to another vice-chancellor than the one granting the original restraining order. In signing the bill Governor Silzer seeks to dispel optimism with which it may be greeted, for he says: “I am quite sure that this bill will not ac- complish the end desired, and that the bill in its present form does not give the relief which organized labor feels it is entitled to. It is a gesture, noth- ing more.” picketing—the | A Most Important Publication from England! THE o'a (hy WORKER Paye oa SECTION OF THE TRADE UNION EDUCATIONAL LEAGUE OHIO POTTERY WORKERS DEEP IN UNEMPLOYMENT ~ Wage Cut Looms and Election Near EAST LIVERPOOL, Ohio.—The no- minees for the national offices of the National Brotherhood of Opérative Potters have been announced by the headquarters of the union. For pres- ident, John T, Wood and William H. Cox, both of East Liverpool are the candidates; for secretary-treasurer, John D. McGillivray of East Liverpool stands against Edward McDevitt of Clarksburg, W. Va. There are about thirty potteries here, the largest pottery center in America, and the largest single pot- tery in the world. Sanitary ware, bathtubs, etc., are made in Trenton, N. J., the East Liverpool potteries makes the table ware. It is the chief industry of the city of 25,000. Prepare For Wage Cut The bosses are evidently preparing for a wage cut, using the part time starvation preparation as a beginning. The D. E. MeNichols plant has been vorking two days a week—some- imes; C. ©. Thompson and Laughlin both work about five days a week; the Hall China company about four days a week; the Dresden pottery is doing nothing—and so it goes. Across the river in Chester, West Virginia, the sheet and tinplate mill has shut down indefinitely. The Mills- ville mill about four miles away, is working three days a week, One of the brickyards has cut its forces one half in one department. Bricklayers average about five days a week since Christmas. Altogether. the building trades have been on half time since last fall. Wage Cut for Miners The mines, soft coal, have done lit- tle for a year. The West Point mines will start April 1—provided (there is always a joker) the miners take $5 a day for day work and the diggers do all the dead work for nothing. Members of the Pottery Workers Union should write to the Trade Un- ion Educational League, telling what their candidates stand for in princi- ple and program—if they have any, about their lives in the union and om the job—and whether or not the union is going to fight against any wage cut as it should fight. Hutcheson’s Pal in Losing Fight to Keep Graft Won in Strike NEW YORK CITY, March 31-— A verdict for $2,580 against Robert P. Brindell, former building trades coun- cil leader, in favor of Joseph H. Gold- blatt, a contractor, was returned by a jury before Supreme Court Justice Cotille. The amount included interest on $2,000 which Goldblatt alleged Brin- dell, John Chapman and Richard Pike, two labor delegates, compelled him to pay in order to have a strike called off on a building he was erecting in West Forty-fifth street. Give your shopmate this copy of the DAILY WORKER—but be sure to see him the next day te get his subscription. years. THE DAILY WORKER, 11138 W. Washington Bivd., Chicago, Ill, For the enclosed $ Name Address soneeseganeeaneressveensees City .. A Descriptive Summary of The Report of the British Trade Union Delegation to Russia and International Trade Union Unity. With Preface by A. A. Purcell. A full account of all facts on world trade union unity between Amsterdam and the Red International of Labor Unions .... one of the most important pamphlets in A pamphlet of the Labor Research Department of Eng- land, containing indispensible material for the intelligent worker on the latest developments in the world of labor, 10 CENTS EACH. IN BUNDLES OF TEN OR MORE—7 CENTS EACH. rrr rere rors - Sond .., DELEGATION TO RUSSIA SUMMARY pamphlet to: . copies of the BRITISH