The Daily Worker Newspaper, April 9, 1925, Page 2

Page Twé THE DAILY WORKER a KLAN EMPLOYER HAD DYING GIRL IN HIS GARAGE Took Her to Hammond on Forcible Joyride (Special to The Dally Worker.) INDIANAPOLIS, April 7.—-The at- tention of the prosecution in the Oberholtzer-Stephenson case today was directed toward a search for Karl Gentry and Earl Kienck, both of whom were charged with the former klan leader on a conspiracy count growing out of the alleged criminal attack upon Miss Madge Oberholtzer. Owns Factories. The indictment against Gentry and Klenck, lieutenants of David C. Stephenson, who, besides being known as a strong political factor in Indiana, owns several large manufac- turing plants, alleged that they held Miss Oberholtzer a prisoner for a short time in Stephenson’s § gar- age. This, according to the indict- ment, took place after Stephenson and the girl had returned from Ham- mond, Ind., where Mrs. Oberholtzer attempted to take her life by swallow- ing a slow poison. Arraigned Yesterday. Stephenson was to be arraigned to- day, probably late this afternoon. Several other important cases in crim- inal court might delay his pleading until tomorrow, it was said. Eph Inman, counsel for Stephen- son, said the court would be asked to quash the five indictmonts against his client, but declined to tell on what grounds this request would be based. If the annulment motion is overruled a plea of not guilty will be offered. Girl is Worse. Miss Oberholtzer who swallowed poison after the alleged attack in a sleeping car, again has lapsed into unconsciousness and physicians said she could not survive. Abatement pleas probably will be argued in court next Saturday or ear- ly next week as the court indicated % congested docket would prohibit mmediate consideration. it the court finds the abatement motions do not contain sufficient rea- son for quashing the indictments the defendant will plead not guilty and an early trial asked, Eph Inman, de fense counsel said. County ,Prosecutor William Remy said he did not believe the grounds tor the abatement proceedings were sufficiently strong to warrant quash- ing of the indictments. He expressed the belief that members of the grand jury were chosen legally and that the testimony of Dr. John Kingsburg, who treated Miss Oberholtzer, justi- “fled Stephenson's indictment. The former klan leader and _poli- tician accompanied his attorney to the court room. His usually rully cheeks were pale. “*. INDIANAPOLIS, April 7.—David C. Stephenson, 33, former Indiana grand dragon of the ku klux klan, met to- day with Eph Inman, his chief coun- sel, and other legal aides to chart the course thru which he hopes to con- ice Judge James A. Collins, in criminal court that the five indict- ments charging him with criminally mistreating Madge Oberholtzer, 28, should be quashed. No Foundation for Defense. “When his case is called for hear- ing, probably next Saturday, Stephen- son will attempt to show the indict- ments were returned without the test- imony of competent witnesses, and that the selection of the county grand jury was not in accordance with the law. County Prosecutor William H. Remy said he was certain Stephen- son's allegations were without found- ation and that the defense’s abate- ment motion would be overruled. In this event the former klan leader has made known he will plead not guilty. Girl Unimproved, After a restless night Miss Oberholt- zer’s condition was reported unim- proved today. Her physicians said they were amazed at the vitality which has enabled her to withstand the effects of a slow poison since March 18. She swallowed the drug after an alleged attack in a sleeping car which she charged to Stephen- d Karl Gentry, Ste- rd, charged with count, surrender- and were released 00 bonds each. ee INDIANAPOL Ind., April 7.—At: foraping to avoid prosecution on legal technicaiities, Earl Klenck and Hart Gentry, Klansmen charged with David ©, Stephenson, Indiana politician and fogmer ku kiux klan leader, with alleged conspiracy to kidnap Madge Obderholtzer, 28, filed pleas in abate- ment when arraigned today before Judge James A. Collins in criminai court. Stephenson is charged in four other indictments with criminally at- tacking Miss Oberholtzer, Judge Collins set next Saturday as the date for hearing the motions of all three. Pleas of not guilty will be entered by the defendants, Eph Inman- defense counsel, said, if Judge Collins overrules the motions to quash the indictments. Miss Oberholtzer was hovering be- tween life and death this afternoon, her physician announced. t te GOSSIP OF THE NATION’S CAPITAL WASHINGTON, April .7—Secretary of State Kellogg comands the most important source of news in Washing- ton, outside the White House, when congress and the supreme court are in recess. Twice a day, for many years past, press correspondents have gone to the state department to ques- tion the secretary or his chief assis- tant, and generally they have seen one of the other of these officials. But Kellogg is now shutting down this gate against these interviews. He cancels one after another. Hughes in his least communicative moods would show himself twice a week, and his alternate could be seen once a day. Kellogg has dropped the use of Un- der-secretary Grew for these occas- ions, and is cutting down his own ap- pearances to only about two a week. And even when he does come out into the big reception room he has nothing to disclose. This failure talk to the press has become so marked as to start all kinds of rumors as to his actual grasp of the business of the department, and as to the degree of his hold upon the job itself. More often than not, when asked where the United States stands on a given matter, he puts responsi- bility on President Coolidge for his answer or lack of answer. He seems to consider himself simply a messen- ger of the momentary impulses of the man in the White House toward for- eign affairs, Charge Mental Bankruptcy. Senate leaders have charged that there is today no American foreign policy. They say there is merely Cal- vin Coolidge, who has never had any taste nor aptitude for world politics or economics. Strong men come down from New York to spend Sunday with him, and push him into a posi tion toward some British or French or Japanese proposal. Other strong men run down from Pittsburgh, or come from Chicago or Palm Beach, with different ideas. He listens, and then Dwight Morrow, of Morgan & Co., who gave Coolidge his own. elec- tric hobby-horse to ride, gives his old classmate the final sugestion. In cabinet meeting on Tuesday or Fri- day the president broaches his plan, perhaps, and Hoover offers amend- ments based on his own knowledge. |firm stand. gathered by his thousand agents thru- out the world. Coolidge seldom changes his. decision to suit Hoover. There is one cabinet member, ‘how- ever, to whom Cooildge turns with confidence. Andrew Mellon is Cool- idges idea of a great American—he is immensely rich, is in control of great numbers of corporations and some big banks, and never deviates from his game of piling up more money for the interests in which his fortune is in- volved. Coolidge will not accept a suggestion from Britain or Japan or any other country until Mellon has pronounced it sound. Coolidge Economy Unpopular. These past few days have been un- happy ones for both Coolidge and Mellon, and grimly humorous for Hoover. Economy as preached by Coolidge and endorsed by Mellon has begun to hurt business. Patriotic standpat citizens have reduced their purchases. The court crier, speaking over the radio from Washington, has explained that the Coolidge gospel of economy did not contemplate that Bill Smith would fail to buy a spring hat as usual this year, or that Mrs Bill would forego that new calico dress marked down to 98 cents. After all, the factories can’t make profits unless they run, and they can’t run unless someone buys new hats and dresses. So, to the propaganda-dazed audience at the receiving end of the radio the administration gives its permission to go ahead and spend money again. In this difficult time the Chamber of Commerce of the United States, rolling up millions in dues and “as- sociate memberships” and subscrip- tions to its magazine, which is devoted to fighting public ownership and trade unionism and a higher standard of living for the workers, has taken a It wants the government to repeal the féderal inheritance tax law. It has prepared a referendum proposal to its membership, which will come back with an overwhelming ma- jority, proposing that the federal gov- ernment should drop this tax, now and forever, and “co-ordinate” federal and state taxes so as to relieve the poor rich and their estates. Henry Ford, once hated by Wall Street as a dangerous radical, is preaching the same doctrine. NEW YORK COMRADES TO HONOR SUN YAT SEN AT BIG MEMORIAL DEMONSTRATION FRIDAY EVENING NEW YORK, April 7.—A meeting in honor of Sun Yat Sen, the leader of the national revolutionary Koumintang Party of China and president of the southern Chinese republic, will be held on Friday evening at 8 p. m. at Manhattan Lyceum, 66 East 4th street, New York City, under the auspices of the Workers (Communist) Party. Sun Yat Sen was one of Soviet Russia’s staunchest friends and a con- sistent and fearless fighter against the imperialism of England, America and Japan. nese working masses and devoted his’ life to the cause of the oppressed and enslaved proletariat of China. Every friend of Soviet Russia, every work- er exploited by world imperialism, should join with the Workers Party of New York in paying tribute to the memory of Sun Yat Sen. Come to the meeting on Friday night and bring along as many work ers as you can. Honor Sun Yat Sen. Demonstrate against Wall Street’s war-breeding policy. Oppose war with Japan to grab China for Mr. Morgan and Co. Demonstrate against American militarism which exploits and crushes American workers, Prominent speakers will address the meeting. There will be appropriate music and singing. Painters Fight for Raise. WASHINGTON, April 7—Final de- mand for a raise in pay from $9 to $10 a day, effective April 6, has been served on master painters in Wash- ington by the local union, représent- ing 1,000 men. The bosses have re- jected it. GET A SUB AND GIVE ONE! Los Angeles Police- Socialist Conspiracy Din’t Help Rafael (Continued from page 1.) that the socialists were the best in- formers he ever ran across. The following arrests were made: Jennie Schwartz, A. Kemdver, Mrs. Hsther White, Mrs. W. Smaller, Abe Walters, A. Rogat, Julius Rebalsky, Daniel Sigal, Lulu Levin, and Nelo- moid Fink. The latter was charged with inciting to riot, while the others were booked on charges of disturbing & public meeting. Socialist Swore Out Complaint. Over $1,300 in bail money was raised on the streets within one hour after the arrests by comrades and sympathizers. A local socialist by the name of Weisenberg swore out a com: plaint. The trial was postponed from April 3 to April 29, and the accused will have individual trials. Heart's local rag, the Examiner, gave the most biased report of the meeting, running bold type in telling of the alleged use of a hatpin on a detective by one of the girls placed under arrest. Abramovitch finished his coast-to-coast tour but he probably did not speak three-quarters of. ab hour at an open meeting since he left New York. At least he did not make himself heard. . He was a leader of the Chi-4———————___________ POLICE FAIL T0 STOP STRIKE OF THE DOUKHOBORS NELSON, B. C., April 7.—Defiance of British school laws and hints at a nude parade such as occurred at Yorkton, Sask., and other parts of Canada a few years ago, were ex- pressed by 2,500 Doukhobors at Bril- liant, near here today, following a meeting called by Inspector W. R. Dunwoodie of the provincial police and School Inspector P. H. Sheffield, in an effort to break the school strike which has been in progress in the Doukhobor colony for some time, As one man, the congregation shouted “No” in their Russian tongue, when Inspector Dunwoodie put the question direct, “Will you send your children to school?” “You have power to seize our property for payment of fines,” de- clared the Doukhobors’ spokesman, “but if you do then all we can do is take off our outer garments,” which was his method of suggesting a pro- test against British domination. Murmurs of approval came from all parts of the crowd. Nations Race for North Pole by Use of New Airships LONDON, April 7.—An air race for the North Pole was in the making to- day between Capt. Roald Amundsen and Grettier Algarsson. It will be run in May, if both explorers continue their present plans. Algarsson will sail from Liverpool on May 1, and hopes to reach the edge of the polar ice within two weeks, There he will inflate the special airship and with three com- paniong set out for the Pole, Amundsen’s expedition is enroute to Spitzbergen hoping to take off in two airplanes before the end of May. ES ARE TIONED BY TEACHERS TODAY Demand to Know Where Raise Will Come From This afternoon the trustees of the board of education will receive a let- ter from the Chicago Teachers’ Feder- ation asking them where the money for thé proposéd raise in teachers is to come from. This letter was drawn up after a motion was passed at the special meeting of the federation at the Studebaker Theater. The meeting was called to discuss the petitions that have béen sent around in the schools by the superintendent asking the teachers to agree to the wage boost. Cali Their Bluff The questions to come before the board are: In view of the figures given in the auditors report which show that the board of education is working on a deficit and in December 1926 will be completely bankrupt, where is the money coming from? Is it the intention of the board to propose an increase in the tax rate? We refuse to take a raise at the expense of the children and we refuse to allow some teachers to be thrown out so that others may get a raise in wages. Why did you fall down on your promise to go after the taxable stock- yard property that is at present dodg- ing the taxations? The teachers will not be partners to a proposition to increasing the tax levy until taxable property that is excaping taxation is collected for, Are you going to take it out of the building fund? , We refuse to be part- ner to taking money that was speci- fically collected ;to.relieve the present school congestion. Miss Margaret Haley in speaking on the proposal for increasing salaries said “If today we had a board.of edu- cation that would. addyess itself to delinquent tax officials instead of ad- dressing themselves to the children— if the board of education would take the big stick and-¢hase the tax asses- sors instead of:chasing the children they’d have the co-operation of the Teachers’ Federation today.” The teachers also voted to reopen their campaign for $50,000 to continue their fight agaimst the tax dodgers. Subscription blanks were circulated at the meeting. x AS WE: SEE IT By T. J. OFLAHERTY. (Continued; from page 1.) price of a shanty, he almost swallowed his thyroid gland: “Should all the oth- er crippled heroes hobble up here and panhandle me for anything from the price of a can of soup to the price of a social democrat, it is clear that I'm going to reign not very long,” mused the king. But he took the bull by the tail. “RING me my. royal wallet,” he said to the general who stood by to protect him from the hero, should the latter be disappointed in his beg- ging expedition, When the wallet ar- rived, the king. turned it upside down, and 20,000 lire, twice the amount asked for by the hero rolled into his lap. And as the veteran de- parted, the generous king took 500 lire from his pocket, saying to the veteran: “Buy food with this.” He must be a wonderful king, the kind of a king a fellow would like to almost die for. e)2@ 6 HE facts here given are not vouch- ed for. Anyhow, you will admit that it is a good story. Some time ago Mussolini suddenly took a notion that he would Mke to walk into a lion’s cage. He did. A writer in The DAILY WORKER hazarded the guess that Benito was either crazy or very near it, or that it was a fable. Well, whether the story was true or not, Mussolini is erasy, a homicidal maniac, The , capitalist system is crazy. It is cragier in Italy than in France, England or the United States, but not as crazy. as it is in Poland. In other words it is weak in the head. a ~<A (ovaat PIROLI has a cottage, it the yarn is true. If not, the king got a lot of free advertising. But the story is worth-a lot of money to the working class, It is as dangerous to the king as a T. N. T. bomb. There are tens of thousands of Pirolis in Italy. What would happen if they all appeared at the king’s gate at the same time and sald: ‘e fought and bled for you; now, come acros: The king would take am airplane to the United States and spend the rest of his life entertaining our parasites. Get A Sub And Give One! BLAST IN FIRECRACKER PLANT KILLS ONE WORKER AND INJURES TWELVE (8 HANOVER, Ma jal to The Daily Worker) i April 7—One man was killed, twelve were injured and six buildings were destroyed this afternoon as a mesult of an explosion in the main building of the National Fire Works company. oa v Proud of Show Workers Near the Poverty Line By J. LOUIS ENGDAHL. TORAY: the big capitalists and their “labor lieutenants” hail the “era of democracy in industry” because the better paid workers, with a few nickles to spare, are buying a share or two of stock in some of the big corporations. Labor's re- actionary officialdom even hails this insignificant phenome- non as a lever by which workers may pry loose increased wages, a shorter workday and realize some of their other demands on the job. t e ee iJ But the National Financial News, in its current issue, gives some of the facts. The number of stockholders, it shows, has almost doubled during the post-war period from 1918 to 1925. In a selected list of industries, in 1918, there were 2,537,- 105 stockholders, while this year these same industries have 5,051,499 stockholders. But let us see how they have been distributed. In spite of the most intense campaigns possible, trying to tie the 338,760 the so-called “em- workers to their jobs with these new chains, onl stockholders are to be found — ployes.” This compares with nearly one million stock- holders—864,754—among “customers”; while the far greater number, more than a million—1,310,880—stockhold- ers, come from the “general public.” In this jamboree the interests of the workers are entirely submerged. Even among the “employes,” it has been shown that the stock- holders are mostly the better-paid white collar slaves, the most reactionary force in industry, the bosses’ pet strike- breakers. To be sure, this includes the labor aristocracy, like the members of the great railroad brotherhoods, who have been urged by their own officials to invest any of their spare cash in railroad stocks. But the two other categories, “the customers” and the “general public,” where they do not include the great capitalists, run up their totals among the “comfortable bourgeoisie,” the middle class, one of the big- gest mainstays of capitalism in its war on the working class. * * * e Take the railroads for instance: 70,262 stockholders among “employes,” 45,003 ee “customers,” and 203,216 among the “general public.” The sole aim of the railroad corporation is to make profits for the quarter million stock- holders among “customers” and the “general public,” in order that its stocks may register well on the money ex- change in Wall Street; not to better the condition of the workers, not even of the 70,000 ,except as those 70,000 can be used to keep the other hundreds of thousands in slavery. Blocks of “employe” stockholders are good breeding places for scabs during strikes. Perhaps the greatest propaganda sae to sell stock to employes has been waged by the traction interests; yet the National Financial News is forced to admit that altho the number of stockholders in street railways in this country has doubled since 1918, “ONLY A SMALL PART OF THIS ae HAS COME FROM EMPLOYES OR CUSTOM- The biggest reason why workers do not buy stock is, of course, that they haven’t got the money-to buy. This fact is neatly hidden away in the figures showing deposits in sav- ings accounts. The promoters of “capitalist prosperity” argue hysterically that, whereas, on January 1, 1918, there were 10,631,586 savings accounts depositors; there were on January 2, 1925, more than three times that, number or 38,- 867,99g accounts. But the big fact is that the average ac- count in 1918 was about $1,115 while seven’ s later, this year, it has fallen to half that amount, or ¥ While the federal postal savings bank and the vast ef- forts of the private banks have drawn the workers’ loose change out of the proverbial “stocking,” it shows that even the worker who has a few pennies, the “thrifty” workers that the capitalists brag about, are only a few weeks or months removed from the poverty line. These small sav- ings of $500 or $600, sometimes the savings of a lifetime, are quickly eaten up by periods of unemployment, sudden wage cuts, sickness or other disability for which American indus- try does not provide, The worker-investor is a myth. Some worker may take a plunge on a share of stock at $1 down and $1 per week, because as the National Finance News says, “The bulk of the stock sold to employes is bought on the instalment plan and the employe does not legally enter the list of stockhold- ers until the period of instalment fo ppt is completed. THIS PERIOD GENERALLY RANGES ANYWHERE FROM 21 MONTHS TO FIVE YEARS.” The worker doesn’t invest because he needs every cent of his wages to provide the absolute necessities of life for himself and his family. The well-oiled American capitalist system allows him no surplus. Millions of workers will in time realize this situation. They will find the answer to this difficult problem in the teachings of Communism. They will be won for the fight of the Workers (Communist) Party against capitalism. LABOR UNIONS FIGHT STATE SUPREME COURT RULING THAT PICKETING MOVIE IS ILLEGAL (Special to The Daily Worker.) WASHINGTON, April 7.—Decision by the supreme court of the state of Washington that picketing of a moving picture theater was illegal, when fed- eral law permits such picketing, has been referred to the officers of the American Federation of Labor by the Tacoma Central Labor Council. They are consulting their lawyers as to steps to be taken to vindicate the TORNADO DEATH LIST GOES UP AS INDIANA WOMAN DIES OF WOUNDS (Special to The Daily Worker) Figures Employers Are | PAY ENVELOPES PRINCETON, Ind., April 7—The list of Princeton tornado victims Clayton act, which was supposed to safeguard the right to picket. Foreign Exchange. NEW YORK, April 7.—Great Brit- ain, pound sterling, demand 4,78%; cable 4.78%. France, franc, demand 5.11%; cable 6.12. Belgium, franc, demand 5.03%; cable 5.04. Italy, lira, demand 4.09%; cable 4.09%, Swed- en, krone, demand 26,93; cable 26.96, Norway, krone, demand 16.08; cable 16.05. Denmark, krone, demand 18,37: cable 18.39. Germany, mark, unqudt ed Shanghai, tael, demand 74.1214; cable 74.6244. c ws the death of Mrs. Polly Vanderburg, who died from injuries received when the walls of a house were blown in on her March 18. Strike in Firestone Plant. HUDSON, Mass, April 7-—Fifty girls are striking in the Firestone-Ap- sley mills here, Chinese Troops War. PEKIN, April 7. — Honan troops ‘ave attacked Shenku, a message “rom the China Island mission said to- was augmented by one today with day. : HELP IN STORN RELIEF DRIVE Workers’ Aid Asks Con- tributions In response to the call of the Inter. national Workers’ Aid the local Chi- cago Council for Labor Defense and Relief is inaugurating a two weeks’ drive for rellef to the working class victims of the terrible storm that re- cently devastated Southern Illinola and adjacent districts. All. who stand for the solidarity of the working class In time of need as in time of strug- gle are asked to contribute one per cent of their weekly wage, one cent on the dollar, toward this fund. Thousands of pay envelopes are being circulated in shops and fac- tories and union meetings to make easier the collection of this fund, The envelope bears the following appeal: WORKERS’ RELIEF OR BOSSES’ “CHARITY” ? WORKERS’ AID IN WORKING CLASS NEED! So that the recent tornado, cost a thousand workers’ lives in southern Illinois and vioinity shall not be used by, the bosses’ : Ilef organizations to break the fighting ot rit of the uni.n miners, | hereby give my bit, In thie PAY ENVELOPE which Address Clothing and foodstuffs acce; well as cash. Send all contributions to the CHICAGO COUNCIL FOR LABOR DEFENSE AND RELIEF 19 S. Lincoin St. Chicago, lil. Distribution in the storm area in charge of Ross White, President of Miners Union 3160, Sesser, IIlinois. House to House Canvass The South Slavic branch of the Workers Party has already acted by arranging for a house to house can- vass in its district on Sunday April 12th, Other branches are expected to follow suit and there is considerable speculation as to which will bring in the largest amount. Bvery Workers Party member is expected to take at three of these envelopes and get shem filled. Members who do not at- ‘end meetings will have them mailed ed as to their homes. Only two weeks’ time is allotted ta this campaign, the envelopes are to be distributed at one branch meeting, the contributions of the members im- mediately collected and sent to the local office, 19 S. Lincoln street. At the following meeting all outstanding envelopes are to be turned in and im- mediately forwarded, unopened, to the same address, Worcester Bullders Strike. WORCESTER, Mass. April 7— Building is tied up in Worcester by a strike of union hod carriers and tend- ers. The strike is to bring pressure on the lone scab company of the city to employ only union men. A STRIKING MAY DAY BUTTON White background, red border, black figures, hammer and sickle in red, white lettering and red ribbon, a com- bined expression of unity of purpose— struggle against capitalism. Wear one on May Day and have your fellow worker and brother union- \sts—men and women—do the same. Order a supply at once. See that your branch of the Workers Party, local union and benefit society orders a supply for sale and wear on May First—Labor's International Holiday. Price 26 cents. In totes of ten or more, 16 cents. Special discount to City Central Committees, District Or- ganizers and Labor Unions. Order from WORKERS PARTY, NATIONAL OFFICE 1113 W, Washington Bivd., Chicago, III,