The Daily Worker Newspaper, August 28, 1925, Page 4

\ Page Four EIST THE DAILY “WORKER national convention of painters. CAMP AIGN OF | The meeting was “packed” with the most\conservative elements, which no ‘doubt can be explained by the fact RED BAITING IN that Joe Clark, fourth vice president 4 5 | cal 1168 a week previously and had | threatened the local that Brother Har- of the brotherhood, had called at Lo- | tion, as the G. E. B. was of the opinion that resolutions he had introduced and passed at his local had emanated from | the Communists, and that the G. E. B. had decided that no Communists or sympathizers would be seated at the national convention of the brother- hood to be held in Montreal in Sep- tember. When the meeting was about to adjourn, Roy Proffer, president of Radical Delegate to Con- vention Withdrawn By TOM FLEMING. (Worker Correspondent.) SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. Aug. 26.— ‘When asked at a special meeting of the Painters Local 1158 to withdraw e progressive resolutions which had | the local, tendered his resignation as been previously passed unanimously | a protest against the frameup that had by the local, Fred Harris, duly elected | been perpetrated-against Brother Har- delegate from this local to the nation: | ris. al convention of painters to be held in Montreal, flatly refused, which re- sulted in motions being carried to re-| If you want to thoroughly un- scind their former unanimous action | derstand Communism—study it. on the resolutions and withdrawal of| Send for a catalogue of all Com- Brother Harris as a delegate to the| munist literature. ris would not be seated at the conven- | cause of a strike in China; and “Whereas, the continuance of the | war upon the Chihé’é Workers will | bring about another world war in | which the United Gtatex will be in- | volved with the objeér in view of ex- ploiting the Chinese,workers; there- for be it ‘ “Resolved, that We demand of our | government the immediate withdrawal | of all United States troops from China, leaving China alone to setttle her own | affairs, as the workers of the United | States would resent the landing of Fs Chinese troops in the United States BELLEVILLE, Ill., Aug. 26.—At the | to be used as-strikebreakers; and be it last meeting of Local Union 4650. of | further the United Mine Workers of America| “Regolyed, that Local) Union No. at Belleville a resolution was adopted | 4¢50, U. M. W. of A.; extend their sym- calling upon the United States govern-| pathy to the Chinese workers in their ment to immediately withdraw its| struggle against the jmperialist pow- troops from Chinese soil. ‘The resolu-| erg of the world; and be it further tion was signed by a special commit-| “Resolved, that a copy of this reso- tee composed of August Gordon, Harry | tution be sent to the Hlinois Miner, the Shilling and Arthur Neuf. The reso-| pATLY WORKER, ane the U. M. W. lution reads: | of A. Journal. “Whereas, the Chinese workers are | being shot and murdered by troops of MINERS DEMAND, “TAKE. TROOPS ~~ OUTOF CHINA? |Miners’ Local Union Passes Resolution ‘ the United States and England, be:| Build the Dat | WORKER, + T a canvas table running on live rollers. | CREAMERY GIRLS Altho they speeded up, it didn’t satisty | the greed for more profits. D | § P L A C E D BY The butter industry in Minnesota is | largely in the hand of the coopera- | tives, But due to modern machinery NEW MACHINES and the financial advantage of the | large creameries co-ops are having a hard struggle to hold their own. | Armour Squeezes More The creamery workers had better turn their attention to the cause of | Profit from Butter their short seasons and low wages instead of striving to be more efficient slaves with the idea of becoming fa- yored ones in advance of modern ma- chinery. By WORKER CORRESPONDENT. DULUTH, Minn., Aug. 26.—About fifteen girls that wrapped butter in the Duluth Creamery and Produce plant here were laid off last Monday. Their places are being taken by new NEW YORK, Aug. 26.—Great Brit- machines that eliminate the hand |a‘n,pound sterling, demand 4.85% cable work. The plant is owned by’ Armour | 4.85%; France, franc, demand 4.70%, & Co. About ten of the girls are be-|cable 4.71; Belgium, franc, demand ing retained until the machines are | 4.54%, cable 4.55; Italy, lira, demand broken in and afew learn to operate |3.77%, cable 3.77%; Sweden, krone, them. demand 26.85, cable 26.88; Norway, These workers received about $12} krone, demand 19.13, cable 19.15; Den- per week. They were in a large room | mark, krone, demand 24.03, cable with a cement floor and it was usually | 24.05; Germany, mark, no quote. FOREIGN EXCHANGE. damp. The buttter was conveyed by | Shanghai, taels, 78%. RUSSIA T (Continued from Y esterday’s Daily Worker ) SYNOPSIS.—The official report of the British trade union delegation to Soviet Russia described the workings of foreign trade, transportation, industry, finance and agriculture in the Soviet Union. The trade union leaders concluded that foreign trade is increasing, and that in agriculture and industry the level of production is being raised. The finances have been placed on a sound basis, the report showed. Harm is being done to Eng- land by the absence of full diplomatic relations, the unlon leaders stated. Schools and universities, and literature, music and opera and the theatre were then discussed. Art collections, censorship, newspapers, wall news- papers, and freedom of the press were explained, with the conclusion that “the results of education are astounding.” The report then took up hospitals, welfare work, sanitation, birth control, abortion, cleanliness and housing, rent regulations, family life, and prisons. “The Soviet government is achieving most remarkable results in respect to public health, housing, and the prison system,” says the report. Regarding the trade unions and labor conditions, the report states, “The Delegation were much impressed by the position and activities of Trade Unions under the Soviet system.” During one month a worker can draw 75 per cent of his wages, and then the final payment of the other part due is made on the 10th of the following month. Getters and fillers are expected to work 18 days in each calendar month, and other underground workers 22 days, and surface workers 24 days. If a worker loses one day’s work or up to three days’ work, in the first instance he is paid the exact wages that he would have earned if he had worked 18 days, but if he becomes an habitual absentee, he is dealt with by the Conflict Committee in the second instance, and probably dis- missed on the’ third occasion, as there is no fining allowed. But if he can show a justifiable reason why he had to play, no deduc- tion or dismissal is made. All necessary tools and explosives are found free of cost to the worker. No checkweighmen are required on the surface as the men are guaranteed a minimum wage with extra pay if they fill more trams than what is agreed upon shall form the ordinary day’s work. If a workman fail to produce the number of trams for the ordinary day’s wage and it is alleged that he has not done his best under the conditions prevailing, it is dealt with «by the workers’ committee and the officials. And if a case is proved by the officials, they have power to reduce his wages down to two-thirds of the amount of the ordinary day’s wage. But we were informed there have only been about five cases of this character dealt with in the last five years. The workers are provided with boots and special suits to work in by the administrators free of charge. For accidents or industrial diseases the workman is paid for the first three months his full minimum wage as referred to in the above paragraph, and then at the end of three months he is dealt with by a special committee under the Minister of Labor, on which the mine workers are fully represented. If it is proved that he is still unable to follow his employment, then he gets as pension the ordinary minimum wage prevailing in the mining industry. When it is decided by the Medical Board that a workman is fit to return to work, he must be found work at that colliery where his accident ‘or industrial disease happened at his usual rate of wages. There are no old age pensions, but when the worker cannot follow his employment, and it is decided by the Medical Board that such is the case, the workman is granted the ordinary minimum wage that is provided by the Minister of Labor. Each surface worker is allowed two full weeks’ holiday per year with full pay; whereas each underground worker is allowed one month’s holiday with full pay. The first class of inspectors are called safety inspectors, and must be qualified mining engineers, but are elected by con- sent of the Mine Workers’ Association. The next inspector is a practical miner who is elected by the district union for one year and paid by the Government to see that the miners are working under proper conditions and »that the amenities of housing and special clothes and boots for wet work, etc., are carried out. - A deputy has to be a good qualified miner. He is appointed by the administrators of the mines with the consent of the Asso- ciation of Workers, and he makes a report to the mining engi- neer at the colliery or collieries, There is no maximum distance with regard to setting tim- ber in the General Mines Regulation Act. The workmen are not allowed to work in exceeding 3 per cent of gas, but if a workman finds that there is over 3 per cent and leaves his work he reports to the official in charge and is paid his full day’s wages for same, whatever time it may be when he leaves his work. With regard to timbering, he is also paid a day’s wage for leaving his work when he is short of timber and reports to the official in charge; which, we are informed, has been a splendid safeguard in preventing accidents and loss of life. No one is allowed to go underground until arriving’ at the age of 18 years, when he must be paid not less than the district minimum wage received by the adult workers. No person is allowed to work on the surface at the mines under 18 years of age. Girls and women are employed on the surface in a few cases, and are paid the same rates of wages as the males. An amount equal to Aker cent of the total wages paid . each year is made by the st and handed over to the work- | Bee pag Rroves & Breas adven-_ dogrens. He aeports. CS THE OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE BRITISH TRADE Thru. Courtesy of the international Pub- fishers, Co. UNION tage to the workers in the various collieries, villages, and towns. The output of coal for 1924 is estimated at 1414 million tons, and that for 1925 is expected to reach 16 million tons. There are employed in coal mines 140,000 employes. In all the other mines which have been named above 350,000 are employed. The production of coal is as follows: ae per cent. of anthracite and 40 per cent. of bituminous coal. The policy is to have short agreements, six months, in no case more than twelve months. oe . There are 17 classes of lavor for wages purposes, each class being in all cases granted a minimum fixed between the admin- istration and the Mine Workers’ Association. ~ There are very few coal-cutting machines in operation. Only a few conveyors are at work in the miries: ° The depth of the mines vary from 200 ft. down to 2,800 ft.,, which is the deepest mine they have yet worked. The thickness of the coal varies in Russian ‘collieries from 21 in. to 60 in. Most of the seams are of the thicker character. The workers pay voluntarily to collectors 2 per cent of their actual wages earned to the association as, contributions, and the annual income of the association is, in, contributions and other miscellaneous incomes, £405,000 sterling: per year. In, their industrial bank, the money deposited for-an 18 months’ period is at the rate of 9 per cent, and then can be withdrawn on 14 days’ notice at the same rate of interest: *For a current account they receive 7 per cent. Out of thé contributions received by the association, they pay from: 10 20 per cent to the Central Committee of the All-Russian’ Miners” Union, which provides for education, rest homiés, scholarships to uni- versity, and also accumulates a fund to i for grants in aid of unemployment and strikes, grants to other international miners’ organizations, re cent for strikes, benevolent purposes, administrati ment, etc. biped Peep The mine Workers are supplied with coal] free to their homes, amounting from seven to eight tons pen,year. There are no pithead baths, but there are Russian steam baths in the various housing centers for the use of the mine workers and their families. But the housing is ‘generally bad. This is recognized and there has been a good start made since the Soviet Government came into power to provide better accommodation. spas . No direct payment is made, but in every néw ‘agreement, such as we have described above, arrangements ‘are made for extra pay for longer distances of traveling. f The rippers and dinters and tunnelers or drifters are paid so much per day, based on a certain length of work, and if they exceed that amount they are paid extra per foot or per inch, whatever is the custom of measurement. ‘ All dirt and ripping stone is sent to the surface from the ripping lips in the various roadways—in other words, none is sent into coal face workings to be emptied. The mine workers are housed in close proximity to the colliery. Hence there is no need to travel with ‘buses or trains to their work. The workers at the mines and other industries. generally do their trading with the co-operative societies, showing that the Trade Unions realize that co-operation and industrial activ- ity are a necessary alliance for the benefit of those. participating therein. They have, however, complete liberty to buy where and from whom they please. The pit committees are composed of workmen at the mines, both underground and on the surface, along with the manage- ment, and its powers are to consult with the management on general working conditions and safety. The pit committee is at liberty to make suggestions and discuss the same as to methods of working and safety, and failing satisfaction from the man- agement can further appeal to the Central Committee. They are also consulted as to the appointment and management and dismissal of management, and while they have not the final selection or final voice in dismissal their requests are taken due notice of, and in many instances are accepted as to working. matters, and so forth. tid The mines- are marked out in areas, and a Trust is ap- pointed by the Government and the Central Miners’ Union to work these areas. Some general lines of policy marked out, but the workings of the same are left to the local Committee of Management and Mineworkers to work out to the best ad- vantage. The pit committee is also taken into consideration ~ when any new methods are being adopted for working collieries or for safety appliances and safety generally. pr, There are a few small mine owners yet. But very few, who own very small pits or outcrops. The contract of service is 14 days. A worker who is dismissed for doing anything wrong can get work at any other colliery. There is no black list, and no victimization exists. As to industrial diseases, there are very few cases of miners’ / nystagmus, and there are very few cases of beat hand. But when the workman cannot follow his usual work from any of the above causes, he is paid his full wages for, the first three months and dealt with afterwards as an ordinary compensation worker. But in any case, where the man cannot work on ac- count of beat hand, they find him some other work not affecting his complaint. “esse Ki ope Vil Visits to Coal Mines One of the Delegation visited the Gorl Coal Mine, which works five seams, raising the coal at an angle of 55 DELEGATION TO SOVIET RUSSIA Copyright in the United States by the International Publishers Co, All Rights Reserved. Copyright by the Trades Union Congress General Council in Great Britain. It was difficult work but very interesting, and a new expe- rience to me with all my long mining experience. Thickness of this seam is about 4 ft. 6 in., including in sections of it two layers of dirt, one 3 in. thick and the other 1 in. thick, in one section no dirt parting and in the other sections divided by one layer of dirt 2 in. thick. The depth of the shaft that I went down was 600 yards and the shaft pillar 600 yards in length. Number of men under- ground, 900. Number on surface, 800. Out of that number there were 260 coal hewers. The output from October 1st, 1928, to September 30th, 1924, was 250,000 tons. The colliery consumption of coal was 10 per cent of the total output. The mine has been producing coal 35 years, and the chief engineer has been there since 1910, The cost of production of coal into wagon at surface is about 18s. per ton. This coal is used for smelting purposes. I went down three of these slanting workings along the face 280 yards depth. The hewer gets his coal, which slides down the working face in directed channels to a chute, The tram stands under this chute, and the coal falls into this tram. ‘Thus neither the hewer nor anyone else uses a shovel for filling coal into them. There is no need for shovels in this mine except for cleaning up on haulage roads, etc. Winding ropes run on an average of one year, but no rope is allowed to run for more than two years. They used to get their winding ropes from England, but now they get them from | Sweden, not through choice but because there are no proper trading facilities with England. I learned that they are pumping from’ this mine 4,000,000 gallons of water per day. Their electric machinery was run- ning, at full peak load, 1,100 kilowatts. They were already getting foundations in to increase the electric works to 3,000 kilowatts. The winding engines have been in for over 30 years, and are very much out-of-date. There were three lots of cages running in this shaft of a very primitive character. When exchanging trams they had to pull the full one out before they could put in the empty one. Of the cages, two had four decks| and the other six decks. - All hewers in this mine are provided with working clothes and boots. In other words, they change their working suit that they come to the colliery in for one provided at the colliery, because the method of working destroys their clothing in a véry short time. f On inquiring into the wages of coal hewers I found that they earn here from 50 to 60 roubles per month, because the Management and workers’ committee class these working places as abnormal. I then visited the engine house to inquire as to working hours of engine winder and his wages. I found QUESTIONS SHOT AT AMERICANS BY RUSSIAN WORKERS Children Too Are Eager to Hear About Us MOSCOW, U. S. S. R., Aug. 26— Russian workers and peasants are keenly interested in the life of the workers in other countries, egpec- ially America. The appearance of a visitor from a foreign land on @ boat, in a railway car, at a factory or inthe village is welcomed as an opportun- ity to learn about conditions else- where. Below are given a few of the ques- tions asked in the course of a trip down the Volga from Nizni Novgorod to Stalingrad and from Rostov-on-Don, thru the Ukraine back to Moscow. From Workers. What is the attitude of American workers toward Soviet Russia? Is the Communist Party of America legal? How does it work? How many political prisoners are there in the U. S. A.? How many members in the Interna- tional Red Aid and how is it organ- ized? Are workers permitted to hold trade union and propaganda meetings in the factories? Is the radical labor press legal or not? What are the hours and wages of American workers? Is the American labor movement af- filiated to any international labor movement? Is there social and health insurance paid for by the state or the industry? What is the attitude of American workers toward the strike in China toward international questions? . What is the attitude of the Ameri- can worker toward the press of Soviet Russia? Is there a workers’ correspondents’ movement in the U. S, A.? How is May ist celebrated? What is the cost of living essen- tials in the U. S, A.? Are there women in the Communist Party? How did the American workers take Lenin’s death? Are there workers’ sport organiza- tions? What has been the reaction among the workers of U. S. A. regarding the Trumbull and Crouch case? What is the development politically of American wortfen? What is her economic condition? How many women political prisoners? Do American workers have from two weeks to a month’s vacation with pay as we do in Soviet Russia? What about the Ford system of pro- duction? Are conditions as bad in the U. 8. A, as outlined in Upton Sinclair's books? What is the attitude of workers toward Russian white guard elements in the U. S. A? How much unemployment in the U.S. A? From Peasants. What is the condition of the Ameri- can farmer? Does he have to pay for land? How much taxes does he have to that he is on a six hour day, including meal time, and has 45 roubles per month. The electricians work similar hours and have a similar wage. The workers on the surface. and underground have their houses or tenements close to the collieries and live rent free. They have from 7 to 8 tons of coal per year allowed free. ‘The hewer’s maximum working time is 18 days per calendar month. The other underground workers in most mines work 22 days per month, and the surface workers 24 days per month. T have already named in a previous report that when a mine worker has to leave his work for any cause of danger, which includes gas, shortage of timber, etc., he suffers no loss of wages for so coming out. . ‘ And I was glad to find the mining industry worked on the policy of organization by industry, which means the under- pay? Do all American farmers have trac- tors and machinery? ‘When he makes no crop does he still have to pay taxes? How much does a Fordson tractor cost in the U.S. A.? Is it true that Americans are 80 honest that storekeepers go away leay- ing their premises open and any one can go in and help himself and leave the money on the counter? From Pioneers, (8 to 14 yrs.) Are there Young Communist and Pioneer organizations in the U, 8S. A.? Are Young Communists allowed to ground and surface workers, including those of by-product plants and all classes of mining, being in the Mine Workers’ Association. And every person working in or about mine indus- The Russian policy in all kinds of work is organization by industry. This principle, if brought about in our own country, tries is a member of that particular organization. | belohg to trade unions? Have they a newspaper in the U. 8. A? Are there children’s homes and foundlings’ homes in the U. S. A.? Why don’t the boys and grils have in my opinion would place the workers in a considerably better| their camps together there, as we do position to resist the capitalist pressure that is put upon us from time to time. here? Can Young Communists and ‘Pio neers go to the U. S. A. to tell them Whilst I could not say that I was satisfied with the general| there of the benefits we enjoy in So- conditions and work in the mines, still they have achie' under’ viet Russia? State ownership reforms for which we have been agitating for} ‘will the questions asked by us and years in Great Britain and have not yet achieved. The Bryansk Coal Mine, was also visited. The shaft pillar is 700 yards thick. Number of persons employed underground, 1,500. On surface, 800. Out- put per day, 1,000 tons. Number of ponies and horses under- ground, 50. oon Homasanes The coal is called “Diamond,” and is used for smelting. The mine was twelve years old. The seams 3 ft. 6 in. There were three Sullivan (American) coal cutting machines at work. The coal miners were paid in 1913 for twelve hours’ work, the workers be published in papers in which has a depth of 265 yards,|the U. S. A.? Why don’t you stay in Soviet Rus- sia? Protesting, Int. | Socialist Meet. PARIS, Aug. 26.—Workers and peas 2 roubles per day. In 1924, for working six-hours, which in-| ants of Chartriex under the leadership cludes winding time, they earn 214 roubles. of Communists held a protest demon- The cost of living here is at the present time nearly 70 per] stration against the international so- cent higher than in 1913, but the miner gets benefits now which | Clalist congress sitting at Marseilles, he had to pay for before. j The cost per ton for production is 22s. into the wagon. After the meeting, several Communist deputies led a parade thru the streets, The police attempted to interfere and The method of dealing with wages and disputes is dealt | a fight followed which resulted in four with locally by two Commissions. One is the Conflict Commit- | poli men being taken to the hospi tee, upon which are two workmen and two of the management | tal. staff. If this Committee fails to settle, then they call in an inde- pendent person from some other trade to decide between. them. ‘Then there is the Pit Committee, which varies from three to} seven, according to the number employed. One of these is em- ployed full time in inquiring into questions affecting the work- ers and their amenities of life. He is paid his wages by the em- ers, Which means, in 95 per ing to private en! Weather Hits Itglian Aviator, MANILA, P L, Aug. 26.—Squally weather forced down Signor Pinedo, Italian aviator flying from Rome to Tokyo after he had taken off at ‘Antimonan for Manila. He was forced cent of the mines, by the State.|@own at Santa Cruz Laguna. United Loy already been, stated, there are a few little mines beldng-| States army airmen are. wale ee i , | to assist the Italian ayia rt should he } nt > € i