The Daily Worker Newspaper, May 5, 1925, Page 3

ST FASCIST UNIONS |, oRtD conrenence OF FAIL IN ITALY, SAYS HOOVER AID Condition of Labor Is Growing Worse (By The Federated Press) WASHINGTON, May 3. — Fasclst Rabor unions, organized by Mussolini fo replace the legitimate trade union movement in Italy, have failed to gain ‘the confidence of the workers, and their influence ts of no importance, says H. C. MacLean, American com- mercial attache at the embassy in @ Special report on “Labor, Wages and Unemployment in Italy,” published by the federal department of commerce, This is the first official admission by Secretary Hoover's organization that fascist terror has been success- fully met by the Italian workers. MacLean says that the Confedera- wione Generale del Lavoro, organized fm 1912, “is by far the most infiu- ential” of the three national labor federations. Second in importance is the catholic federation, whose strength is almost wholly among the farm faborers. Can't Win Labor’s Confidence. “In the fascist labor scheme,” he weports, “a elaborate organization of ® syndicalist character was formed which represents seven separate Groups representing industry and eommerce, agriculture, and the mer- shant marine. The liberal professions, clerical workers, thé theatre and the Porst united themselves in a central federation, Confederazione della Co- operazioni Sindicali. “A large membership is claimed for the Cooperazini Sindicali, but it is generally admitted that their success has been decidedly limited and th they have not succeeded in gaining the confidence of the workers. “Thus, while the Confederazinone @el Lavoro has undoubtedly lost ground, {t may reasonably be consider- ed as the leading representative of organized labor. Its leaders still claim approximately two-thirds of all the trade union members in Italy.” Noting the fact that the war acted as a strong stimulus to trade union growth in Italy, and that this gain has since been lost, MacLean observes that the unions are still in a strong position. “The practical elimination of strikes for the last two years,” he con- fesses, “is the result of several fac- tors, and important among these was the unqualified announcement of the government that it would not per- mit any interference with the normal processes of production.” Do Not Have &Hour Day. While Mussolini’s regime has of- fictally ratified the eight-hour day as @ rule for Italian industry, this report shows that there is wholesale viola- tion of its meaning. Overtime is per- mitted in so many classes of work, and the rate of pay for overtime is 80 little above the regular rate, that labor is generally dissatisfied with its udministration. That the condition of the working class in Italy is getting worse, instead of better, is shown by a comparison of the rise in cost of living, since 1913, with the rise in wages. In the last half of 1922, when the fascisti took power, the cost of living was 498 and wages were 505 as against 100 and 100 in 1913. In the first six months of 1923 that cost of living stood at 493, and wages dropped to. 480, In the first half of 1924 the cost of living Tose to 517, while wages fell to 474. In the last half of 1924 the cost of living went up to 538, and wages were 480. In the month of December last cost of living was 580, and wages were 485. While these figures seem to dis- Prove the fact that the Italian work- ers have a higher standard of living than before the war, MacLean ex- Plains that their improvement is due to working more days per week than im 1928. He declares finally that “It is evident that a considerable portion of the advantage which had been gained in 1921 and 1922 has now been Jost and that renewed advances in ‘wage scales are necessary and reason- able.” MY NEW LOCATION Special ices to Workers X-Ray Gas Given ESTABLISHED My sy ation Is Fi iy ices Are Reasonable My Work Is a tuarentee Extracting Speoialist DELAY MEANS DECAY BARS. THIRD WORLD CONFERENCE OF METAL WORKERS PLANS WORK FOR MILITANT MINORITIES By ANDREW OVERGAARD The third conference of revolutionary metal workers was called by the metal workers’ international propaganda committee of the Red International of Labor Unions in Leipzig on March 11, 1925. Delegates were present from Russia, Germany, France, Italy, Sweden, England and America. Reports and greetings were received from Czecho-Slovakia and the Balkan states. Dr S. ZIMMERMAN DEnNrrisT The following agenda was presented to this conference: 1. Report of the I. P. tary. 2. The Dawes plan and the met- al workere, 8. Report of the situation in the various countries. 4. Trade union unity and the Metal Workers’ International. 5. Organization questions 6. Question of propaganda. 7. Election of presidium. The report of the I. P. C. secre- tary, Comrade Vacksov, was well Prepared and covered extensively the situation confronting the metal workers in the various countries. He pointed out the necessity of strength- ening the connections between the various sections, which have been far from satisfactory. He dealt extens- ively with the stiuation in Germany and the need of further work within the reformist unions. He also dealt with the effects of the, Dawes plan and the struggle to maintain the eight-hour day, the need of carrying on the struggle against the reformists and to establish one inter- national of metal workers which shall be able to fight on an international scale on the basis of the class strug- gle. Considerable time was given to the discussion on the Dawes’ plan. The Result of the Dawes Plan. The delegates from) England, Ger- many, France and Sweden in particu- lar pointed out the effects of the sys- tematic plan of international capital to enslave the metal workers of all countries: in the destruction of the eight-hour day and the initiation of further wage cuts. The German dele- gate from the Rhur district showed that the German workers in the heavy industry are now working from 60 to 72 hours per week and that the wages have been cut down to 50 per cent of pre-war wages. The French delegates showed that the French capitalists controlling the heavy industry in Alsace-Lorraine are now inftiating wage cuts and their arguments are that the German work- ing class:are willing to work 11 and 12 hours a day, and therefore the French ‘workers should be willing to follow their example. Otherwise the Freneh capitalists will not be able to compete. German Slave Labor. The British delegates showed that in the shipbuilding industry in Great Britain the manufacturers are placing orders for ship building in Germany, due to the fact that the German work- ing class are forced to work for much lower rates than the British working class. The British capitalists con- trolling the metal industry are using the same arguments as the French, stating that the workers must take wage cuts otherwise they shall be forced to place their orders with Ger- mn concerns, where the production will be cheaper. The same arguments hold good in the Scandinavian countries. Thru the whole discussion it was clearly demonstrated that the need for an international struggle against the Dawes’ plan has become more evident. It was pointed out that American C. secre. —————___________________ and British finance capital is invest- ing heavily in the German steel in- dustry. Soviet Russia Different: The only country where improve- ment of the metal workers’ conditions were reported, was that of Soviet Russia, where the situation is quite different from that of the other countries. In Soviet Russia the work- ers hold political power therefore the problem ig that of reconstguction of the inustry. The Russian delegation pointed out the great difficulty they were facing due to the lack of machinery and so forth, but in spite of that they could report great improvements in the conditions of the metal workers, and in some industries the wages have now reached that of the pre-war period. Real International Needed. I shall in another article deal with the general condition of the Russian metal workers. The conference de- clared that the struggle against the Dawes plan can only be carried out effectively by a united international of metal workers, which will be an in- ternational in reality, based on the class struggle. The resolution presented on the Dawes plan was carried unanimously by the conference, Comrade Koselov of the Russian metal workers reported on the An- glo-Russian negotiations for interna- tional unity. After his report a reso- lution was unanimously adopted which Pledges the revolutionary minorities to carry on a ceaseless struggle against all the reactionary trade un- ion bureaucrats who stand in the way of unity. Will Translate in All Languages. Extensive plans were made for the strengthening of all connections with the I. P. C. for the future, as well as the strengthening of the press and other propaganda material.. The I. P. C. presidium were elected from the delegation of the following countries: Russia, Germany, France, England, Italy, and the United States. The en- tire proceedings of the conference will be available for all revolutionary metal workers in various languages. Work Thru Revolutionary Minorities. The conference ended March 14, with the result that stronger con- nections have been established by the various national sections with the I. P. C. which will enable the revolu- tionary metal workers to carry on their work in a more systematic way and also on the basis of a unified program which have not been the case till now. ‘This conference was prac- tically the first conference of a real representative nature and approxi- mately one million metal workers were represented. By united efforts of these revolu- tionary minorities in the various coun- tries it will be possible to establish one united international of metal workers and help prepare the way for the complete overthrow of capi- talism, eee Frenchman Helps Put Soviet Union on Metric Basis MOSCOW, (By Rosta).—M. Jules de Courville, president of the French mission for the introduction for prac- tical purposes in the United Soviet Socialist Russia of metric weights and measures, who represents.a com- pany founded in France which has great possibilities and unlimited capi- tal for erecting and fitting works with the requisite machinery for the con- struction of the necessary instru- ments and apparatus in the U. S, S. R.,.stated, In conversation with rep- resentatives of the press, that the activities of this company in the U. §. S. R. will undoubtedly play an im- portant part im the economic rap- proachment between France and the U. 8S. S. R. M. Jules de Courville is well acquainted with Russia, having preyious to the war paid many visits to European Russia as well as Siberia. His. collections relating to various branches of Russian ethnography are in one of the Paris museums, Japan Not to Follow England. TOKIO, May 3.—Japan will not follow Great Britain in restoring a gold standard, Finance Minister Na- maguchi said today. “The financiel condition of the country, due to the earthquake di saster and adverse trade balances makes such a step inadvisable for the present,” he said. Czech-Polish Treaty Signed VIENNA, Austria, May 3.—The Czech-Polish arbitration and liquida- tion treaty has been signed and will go into effect within thirty days. Open Discussion in Moscow of Commerce and Industry Problems MOSCOW, (By Rosta).—An open discussion, attended by a big audience, was held here today on the question of attracting home private capital into commerce and industry. The People’s Commissary of intern- al commerce, Scheinman, stated that tho the economic situatior of the country was not such as to compel the state to seek assistance from priv- ate capital, however, in the interests of further expansion of the commer- cial turnover, the government was willing to meet balf-way the solid elements of private capital, with the recommendation that tne later should pass from merely profiteering oper- ations to normal trading and be con- tented with normal profits. Under such conditions the govern- ment would be willing to grant credit, fiscal and legal facilities. Thus, de- clared the speaker, the banks would discount private bills. Further, the taxes on private commerce were being revised, with an ultimate view to lowering the rate, and so forth. A number of representatives of private firms and mutual credit so- cieties voiced their satisfaction at the statements made by the people's com- missary of internal commerce, and declared that the private capital was striving at set and solid work in co- operation with state trade. Florida Rejects Child Labor Bill TALLAHASSEE, Fla, May 3.—The proposed amendment to the federal constitution, empowering congress to abolish child labor was rejected by ‘the Florida general assembly. Argentina Province Seks U. S, Loan BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, May 3, “The legislature of the province of Tucuman has approved a proposal to | THE DAILY WORKER ys pike Pht LARGE ‘AUDIENCE HEARS ‘REDS AT DUBLIN MEETING Many Piienice to Join Workers Party (Special to The Dally Worker) DUBLIN, (By Mail).—Dublin turned out en m to hear Saklatavale the Communist M; Ps, with bands playing and banners flying, in O'Connell St. all traffic had. to stop for two hours until the mid-day meeting finished. In the Mansion House at night every point was occupied. Saklatavala made a very telling speech which enthused the crowd, Bob Stewart followed and sketched the path of the Irish work- ing class since 1916, paying tribute to the heroes of “Haster Week” but urg- ing that heroism and idealism were not sufficient to win revolutions. His appeal for a Workers Party struck the minds of his heavers. With- out any emotional appeal Stewart put the case to the audience, (1) How many of you deliberately and calmly will be prepared to break your present political alignments and allegiance to join a Workers Party of Ireland? (2) This party will be rooted or- ganically in the masses, baséd upon the place of employment, and every man and woman member must be per- sonally active and obedient to the in- structions of the chosen leadership. (3) Loyalty must be to the work- ing class, the party must and will frame demands in accordance with the needs of our class. (4) The party will stand for the republic, but it will be definite and clear as to the nature of that republic which must be a workers’ republic, based upon the organizations of the working class and resting upon the might of that class. Promise To Join Party The response to Stewart’s appeal was more tham astonishing, when the concrete nature of that appeal is taken into account,c:and at least two thous- and of the audience pledged them- selves to help im the formation of a Workers Party on the lines indicated. The meetings have aroused Dublin, and the political atmosphere amongst the working class in labor and repub- lican circles is electric, The Irish Independent goes in at the deep end after the “red invasion” and is very much-perturbed. Its tone is of course scurrilous and its news dis- torted but it, sees the writing on the wall. Hard work, patience, and some degree of toleration, will enable Ireland to come-definitely into the line of organization that will fit the work- ing class for the battles that lie im- mediately ahead. Baku Soviet Oil Industry Builds New Refineries RIGA, May 3. — M. Cereborfsky, head of the Soviet Naptha Works at Baku, announces the signing of a contract with, the Vickers company under which the latter undertakes the construction of a factory at Baku for converting mazut into benzine and another factory for refining ben- zine. The Vickers company will send en- gineers and expert workmen to Baku. The government guarantees pay- ment of the cost of the undertakings, 56,000 pounds. M. Cereborfsky also has made a contract with a Parisian company to build a turbine at Baku costing 51,000 pounds. Tho He Claimed God Gave Him Election, Cal Calls a Doctor WASHINGTON, D. C. May 3.—Presi- dent Cooli¢ge has submitted to vac- cination against smallpox because of the prevelance of the disease in Wash- ington, which has cost fifteen lives sinco January 1, it was reported here today. White House officials were silent on the reports. Studebaker Co, Gets Huge Profits NEW YORK, May 3. — The Stude- baker corporation made $1.84 a share profit in the first three months of 1925, it was announced today. The corpo- ration sold 29,987 cars in the first quarter of 1925. After paying common and preferred dividends, the ‘corporation realized $1,583,780 surplus profits bringing the total surplus as of March 31 to Tug Sinks in Pacific. PORTLAND, Oregon, May 3.—The tug Reba sank today off Gray's Har- bor, Washington, with a crew of four men who are believed to be drowned, according to advices here to the Mer- chants Exchange, PITTSBURGH, PA. To those who work hard for their money, | will sive 60 per cent on all their | work, DR. RASN ICK er ‘Stvect, Pags Thies HELP SPREAD IT OVER THE LAND a half ago, the New York American had all the news already. But every time the newsboy would yell, the nearest policeman would say, “Get the hell away from here.” But that did not keep the newsy away; he always came back after making a few short steps towards the curb. About the same time some were allowed to’ enter who were quick enough to get past. Some peo- ple jumped out of the line and brush- ed past a policeman who was talking to a beauty who had just left the place of worship. I tried the same trick, but was caught, and went back to my old Place. The crowd was coming out faster now, 9:50 p. m. and nobody al- lowed to enter anymore. Bishop Brown's book, Christianity and Communism, was for sale out side on the side walk. every month when you sub 10:20 p. m.* The crowd was com- ing out faster. Rushes were made for “re at the extremely low rate the door, wanting to get in when $2.00 A Year——$1.25 Six Mos. some of the last ones had not yet Single Copy 25 Cents come out, all eager to see the “here- tic.” No disturbances were noticed save for a few words among the paftici- pants of the sidewalk debate. Fraternally yours, Arved Osol, 555 Couldwell Ave., Bronx, N. Y. AN ARTICLE FROM RUSSIA GUDOK By Wm. Z. FOSTER The author has written this fascinating story in Russia from where he has just returned. An interesting and colorful ac- count of proletarian journalism and outstanding journals in the world’s first workers’ govern- ment. You can get this most inter- esting account together with other splendid articles ‘in the special | Our Readers’ Views s Story of Brown’s Meeting. To the DAILY WORKER:— The following is my impression of Bishop William M. Brown’s meeting at the Community Church, New York City: The crowds were in the church when I arrived. About a dozen po- licemen were around the entrance to the church and about as many de- tectives were participating in various discussions that were taking place in the crowd. Many ways were devised to attract the attention of the policemen so that they may look sideways to en able the people to sneak in. Some did, some did not—others were caught moving out of the line in order to make just a few steps towards the head of the line, but the policemen pushed them towards the last end of the line and told them to “stay there.” Between 9 p. m. and 9:30 p. m. a few curiosity seekers were leaving. The New York American made its ap- pearance also with the newsboy yell- ing “Dr. Brown challenged Dr. Mann- ing; Read all about it in the New York American.” Altho the meeting had been opened only an hour and Debs’ Fading Glory Shines Faintly at Philadelphia, Pa. (Special to The Daily Worker) PHILADELPHIA, Pa., May 3.—The slowly dying socialist party of Phila- delphia made a supreme effort to re- vive itself last Sunday by arranging a banquet in memory of Deb’s 50 years’ service to the labor movement. About 300 people were present at the banquet to hear this man who only a few years ago attracted thou- sands of workers to his meetings in this city. Debs waxed sentimental over the plight of poor John D. Rocke- feller for not knowing the grasp of a comrade’s hand and repeated the same old speech that thrilled his audi- ences years ago. The great “success” of the Debs banquet was characterized by the MAY ISSUE WORKERS MONTHLY You can get such features THE WORKERS MONTHLY 1113 W. Washington Blvd. Chicago, Ill. Minneapolis Daily Worker Agency: DAN W. STEVENS, Agt. 617 4th Ave. South Will take care of all your orders for subscriptions, elements within its ranks. That the audience was not repre- sentative of the proletarians, and that the socialist party is far removed from the working class was proven by the fact that the toast master of the evening started the collection by an appeal for $1,000 bills. Of course, he didn’t get any, as the S. P. have not yet succeeded in getting the support of big capital, it has only jumped from the proletariat into the bourgeoisie, consequently the highest donation was $500. The evening did not end without an attack on the Communists. Old Gene Debs still living in sentimental hopes of bringing the workers into the socialist party, criticised the Com- minists for leaving the S. P. and assured his well-fed audience that the day is coming when the bad Commun- ists will see the error of their ways and return into the gentle folds of the socialist party. The slowly dying socialist party of Philadelphia has failed to revive it- self even with old Gene Debs, bundle orders ea news stand sales THE DAILY WORKER WORKERS MONTHLY and All Communist Publications Latest issues of ali publicationa always at hand, Eat at the GLOBE CAFETERIA Best Foods at Moderate Prices. 14th STREET, COR. IRVING PLACE (Opposite New York Party Headquarters) make-up of the audience which sadly lacked the proletarian element that looked upon this old man as a leader during the days when the socialist party still Talk it up—your shopmate will contained revolutionary subscribe! THE ROMANCE OF NEW RUSSIA A book aglow with the color, light and life of Russia. Magdeleine Marx Author of “Women” In the Preface the author says? You arrive in Russia, Though you know that what has been writ- ten about it is pure invention, that the truth has deliberately been falsified, besmirched, and bespat- tered with gore, still you get a sort of shock of surprise. You find @ totally new relation- ship between man and things, with the majority of ple benefiting by the new order, Everywhere not only the signs of resurrection, but resurrection itself. Yet the rest of the world still belleves the absurd legends of oppression and disorder that are told about Ras- sia. A picture of the many people the writer has met—working men and women, offi- cials—people of all classes. We have received but a limited new stock from the publishers. From any authorized Agent or by mail direct from the Daily Worker