The Daily Worker Newspaper, August 22, 1925, Page 14

Page views left: 0

You have reached the hourly page view limit. Unlock higher limit to our entire archive!

Subscribers enjoy higher page view limit, downloads, and exclusive features.

Text content (automatically generated)

¢ . . . 4 i of the truce. usual howl in certain sections of the press anent the “hold-up of the na- tion” to ransom, and the home secre- tary has even brot in his King * When Comrades Foster and Can- non were in England on thelr way to the Enlarged Executive meeting of the Communist International, they asked the Communist Party of Brit- ain to assign a representative to sup- ply the DAILY WORKER, with a weekly review of the situation in Britain. Thomas Bell, munist Review, of the party, has sent us the first article of this weekly service. This feature will insure our readers that the very critical and interesting situa- tion in Britain will be adequately and authoritatively covered. * . * —By Mail—Special)— The coal crisis which has dominated the political situation. here for weeks is postponed. The mine owners have accepted the government proposals for an “exhaustive inquiry” backed up by the substantial inducement of a subsidy. No details are available yet as to the terms of the subsidy, but authorities estimate it at no less than ten million pounds to cover the period There is, of course, the editor of the Com- the official monthly LONDON, Charles’ head, Comrade Zinoviev. The one definite fact, which emerges from the crisis is the united front of the workers’ organizations. This dis- play of solidarity upon a new and large scale undoubtedly forced the government and the mine owners to stay their hand. It is estimated that the loss incur-, red during the 1921 strike of three months cost £200,000,000. Evidently, a ten million or even twenty million subsidy is considered cheap in the circumstances, for, it should be re- membered, this crisis would have in- volved wider section of the workers than, at any time,in the history of British ‘labor disputes. What is interesting for readers of the DAILY WORKER is the shifting of labor’s center of political direc- tion. From the beginning the trade unions have retained mastery and control over the situation. Formerly, the parliamentary labor party was successful in lifting the reins out of the trade union leaders’ hands. This time we had the uncourageous spec- tacle of Stephen Walsh (the war min- ister in the labor cabinet) leading a deputation to Ramsay MacDonald de- 4manding in the event of a strike that ‘the, parliamentary labor party would hold up all business in the house of What Ails The American Worker? To the DAILY WORKER:— In a statement before the institute of poli- tics of Williamstown, W. J. Castle of the state department enlightened once again the American people why Coolidge objects to the Soviets and is opposed to the recognition of the Soviet government of Russia. He at- tacked the Soviet as an “inciter of war.” Soviet Russia who has just renounced all the territorial rights and claims of the old czarist govern- ment, “an inciter of war.” The revolutionary workers of the world have proclaimed that the ex- Ploitation of working men, women and children by a clique of selfish, greedy, parasitic individuals is as im- proper, unjust and out of date, as the old-time slavery and serfdom. The Russian workers have accord- ingly abolished the old antiquated capitalist morals in favor of this high- er standard of justice, which recog- nizes ‘only one class, the working ‘class, with no exploiting parasites and to which class all workers are wel- come without distinction of race or color. The Russian workers have fought ‘valiantly and many paid with their lives. . tn The Workers’ Soviet government is the most stable government in the i ae rena na RNa nS PA Ee NE SS ANSI TE Et RA EE AS Sa Ce eS eaten ee, commons. And Ramsay, MacDonald didn’t read them any lecture In the beneficence of parliamentary or con- stitutional action, such as he is for ever reading to the Communists, but respectfully promised to put the mat- ter before the party. It is also interesting to note that J. H. Thomas signed the direction to the transport workers not to move any coal. While the dispute so far has been a distinct triumph for direct ‘action, and labor leaders laughingly speak of taking out membership cards in the Communist Party it would be a mis- take to read into events a definite po- litical challenge to the government or capitalism. Neither Herbert Smith or Arthur Cook are prepared to push their victory to its logical conclusion, and call for the abdication of the “Forgers” government. They are not even insistent, upon nationalization. They simply stick to the economic demand for a “living wage,” with na- tionalization as a platitude. But there is certain to be trouble ahead. When Mr. Baldwin told the miners that the wages of all the other workers must come down, it was no slip of the tongue. He means it. The dilemma before British industrialism compels the bourgeoisie to go in for a cut in wages. The markets in Italy, Belgium, Germany and France, to mention but a few of the more important ones, are practically closed for British coal. In addition to reparation coal the developments of electricity and oil as fuel in Italy dispenses with the former demand for British coal. Ger- many is using millions of tons of lig- nite to meet her own demands, while fulfilling her coal and coke ob- ligations under the Versailles treaty. Belgium and France are also funding reparation dumps an offset for Brit- ish coal. We can, therefore, only surmise that the retreat of the British mine owners and the government is a meth- od for gaining time. Faced with an unexampled unity in trade unionism, and sections like the engineers and railwaymen also negotiating, it is obvions that an attempt will be made to split the ranks and tie up the ‘sec- tions with separate agreements. One remarkable feature of events is the emergence of the Communist Party policy on the top. The party has blamed the miners’ leaders for not having any positive program to put forward, and allowing the mine owners to choose the ground for the fight. It has demanded the mainten- ance of the seven hour day, the main- | Letters from Our Readers | world, at present, barring none, The ‘ed army is alert and ready to repel ll attacks against the Soviet Union. And the red army has the solid and .ctive backing from all the class con- scious workers in every country of the globe. ' That much is certain, but at any rate, it is in the interests of human- ity as a whole, Soviet Russia as well as the rest of the world that normal relations be established and free trade resumed. Our industry is in a state of depression. Many of our factories are shut down, with the warehouses overstocked because of lack of mar- kets. The Russian market could have absorbed a great part of our output of manufactured articles, agricultural implements, locomotives, steel prod- ucts and machinery, if we had resum- ed normal intercourse with Soviet Russia. Even as our trade with Rus-. sia is restricted under the abnormal present conditions, it has been report- ed in the New York Times that the All-Russian Textile Syndicate has pur- chased this year $36,300,000 worth of. cotton alone from the United States. One could imagine then to what enor- mous extent our exports of all kinds would have grown under free trade and more favorable relations wi Soviet Russia, i The official report of the Britich oo tenance of the existing agreement and nationalization of the mines. It urged the miners to go to the general council of the T. V. C. and get it. to involve the railwaymen and transport workers in the sympathetic strike. The increased demand for the Work- ers Weekly in the mining areas is proof to us of the party’s increased prestige and infinence. * * *¢ A big strike has taken place in the West Riding of Yorkshire, with Brad- ford as it center, 130,000 workers have struck work against a threat- ened reduction in wages. It is curi- ous that England should be going thru a mining and textile crisis at a time when you in America are on the verge of disputes in similar industries. The’ woolen manufacturers here complain of the invasion of markets, hitherto monopolized by Yorkshire, by Ital- ian, French and Dutch-made. men’s wear. These latter now sell freely in the London and provincial mar- kets. As usual the only way out for the bosses is a cut in wages. However, the textile workers are putting up a stiff fight and are encouraged by the results of the miners} solidarity. The party is active in organizing the workers.. Many meetings are be- ing called under auspices of the party and the minority movement. The party has issued a manifesto to the workers to stand firm, and has sent two comrades into the area of the dis- pute to assist the strikers. *- ¢ @ This week-end concludes the Em- pire Labor Conference called by the parliamentary labor party. This is the first of its kind having delegates from Australia, Africa, British Guiana, Ireland, Canada, India, etc. What the purpose of this conference was is now plain to be seen, since its conclusion. No resolutions or amendments were permitted. Interruptions, such as when the Indian Chaman Lat, chal- lenged MacDonald for his conduct during his. ministry were impertin- ently glossed over and ignored. Some idea of the purpose of the ¢onference may be gleaned from the question- naire prepared, for the delegates on their attitude to the metropolis in the event of war against England or an in- vasion of colonial territory. It is ob- vious that Mr, MacDonald is trying to find the weakest link in the chain of empire labor parties in order to form- ulate his colonial and foreign policy next time in accordance with the wishes of his bourgeois masters. Mac- Donald has declared for the unity and integrity of the empire (tho not on a proving and that the finances of the Soviet Union have been placed on a stable basis. The FrancoBelgian, German and Swedish labor delegations to Soviet’ Russia are all united in unanimous praise of the heroic struggle of the Russian workers and their unlimited triumph, The reports of the workers’ dele- gations to the Soviet Union give the lie most emphatically to the Greens, the Lewises and the other fakers of the A. F. of L. But will the rank and file of American labor allow these fakers to fool them forever? Have not the members of the A. F. of L. any self-respect? Can they still swal- low the crazen calmnies about the Soviet Union in face of nearly all the European ports? It is high time that American la- bor should send its own ‘delegation to Soviet Russia and learn for them- selves the real facts and conditions in the workers’ country. A, country of 130,000,000 is being run by the werkers themselves. It is worthwhile studying and may come in handy some day.—Charles Golosman. workers’ delegations’ re- Corruption In Michigan. ' Detroit,. Mich. Editor the DAILY WORKER: No wonder we have Ben Gitlow cases in a inn yO The Crisis Britain Postponed basis- of equality, for he would still deny India self-government), He still remains the best bulwark against Communism and social revolution. On Saturday the 24th of July, under direction from colonial committee and London district called together a con- ference of all local labor organizations in London to. discuss the situation in China and Morocco. 164 delegates turned up representing over 100 trade union branches, trades councils, local labor parties, cooperative women’s guilds, etc, This conference marks a distinct success for our party in Lon- don. The conference sent a delega- tion to the Empire Labor Conference to demand the declaration of the right of Indian independence and separation from the empire. The delegation was refused admittance and when the leté ter was brot up Ramsay MacDonald simply moved next business. Still it came as a shock to the labor bureau- crats to think that such a large and representative conference could - be openly called by the Communist Party and be attended by twenty to thirty locat labor parties ses @ 5 The Labor Party Conference this year promises to be a bit lively. The question of the exclusion of the Com- munists is again well to the front. It will be remembered that last year our comrades declared from the floor of the conference that notwithstanding the adverse vote on Communist affili- jation we would return next year Trade Union delegation to Soviet Rus- sia, states: That transportation, in- dustry and agriculture are steadily im- Stronger than ever. This is actually happening. Over 76 branches of trade unions, trades councils, local and di- visional labor parties are supporting resolutions in support of the Commun- ist party, Following upon the conference last year a special sub-committee was ap- pointed to inquire into the operation of clause 3, which excluded Commun- ists as delegates, Notwithstanding the volume of evidence to show how unoperable it was, the Executive Com- mittee are going to propose to the next congress to ratify all three clauses and to go further and recom- mend to trade unions not to appoint Communists when selecting delegates to labor conferences, You should know that there is a standing order which says that no question upon which a decision has been taken may be raised for three years unless With the consent of the Executive Committee. Nevertheless, C. P. affiliation keeps coming up each year in greater and greater volume. This year one large trade union, the Iron and Steel Trades Confederation, moves to rescind all previous resolu- tions against the Communist Party, America, A country where su organization as the ku hy et exist is surely in a bad way. Under such conditions we can expect such decisions handed down by the su- breme court. This decision was too tank for even justices Holmes and Brandeis, yet we find it suit like Berger, ee A few days ago I was tol which illustrates the sk ati capitalist politics. A man named Fitz- gerald was appointed about a year ago by Governor Groesbeck to a posi- tion ir. the state office building at Lan- sing. His salary is $6,000.00 per an- oum, His title is Business Manager of ‘he Highway Department which occu- pies the fourth floro of the building. lle has thesretical duties which he has not the ability or experience to fulfill. But outside of this hig impor- tant duty is to get rid of the antt- Groesback element. If an Opposition party could get into power they would of course do the same. Fraternally, Civil Engineer. ehineinigiie tealight GARY, IND., ATTENTION! The DAILY WORKER, Work. ers Monthly, Rabotnicza Tri- buna and Novy Mir are for sale at the Workers’ Co-operative ° Restaurant, 1733 Broadway. -

Other pages from this issue: