The Daily Worker Newspaper, September 26, 1925, Page 3

THE DIAILY WORKER ~~ Page Three : Br (Continned from page 1) against the forces of the fascists, and our forces must be strong enough to beat them if they dare to attack or interfere in our fight- for a decent life. Discussing the resolution calling for @ defense corps, one delegate stated that the fascisti were drilling in se- cret and that he had been offered $20 @ week to speak against Communism. The only speaker taking the floor against the resolution said it was folly to adopt it unless the workers could get arms. The active leaders would soon be jailed. The active dele- gates only laughed and but three votes were cast against the resolu- tion. But no one should think that a definite appreciation of working class strugles was absent. Frank- ly avowing their ultimate purpose to be the overthrow of capitalism and the establishment of a work- ers’ and farmers’ government, at the same time the weight of the discussion was with regard to bullding up the trade union move- ment, developing factory commit- tees, raising the wage standards of the workers, unifying and strengthening the workers as a class nationally and internation- ally. Harry Pollitt (Boilermak- ers) urged that members be thoroly active in the routine work of the trade unions and demon- Strate their practical value to their fellow workers. The program of the Minority Movement must be presented to the workers by those in whom they had confi- dence as practical workers. Saklatvala Cries Out Labor’s Defiance. Shapurji Saklatvala, Communist member of parliament for North Bat- tersea, evoked a similar response when he said: “The British empire must be dissolved if British and Eu- Topean workers, and Americans in time, are not to be reduced to the coolie standard of living.” Short of Stature, of frail build, dark as be- fitted his Indian birth, Saklatvala elec- trified his hearers as he indicted Bri- tish imperialism for {ts many crimes. “Comrades,” said he, “The mining Problem in Great Britain cannot be solved by royal commissions so long as 40 million tons per year are dug in British colonies on wages of less than 16 cents per day and at a cost of less than $1.00 per. ton at the pit mouth. Nor can the lads and lasses of Dundee in the mills hope to main- tain the bare standard they now have in the face of the competition of wo- men and children in Indian mills working ten hours for 10 cents per day. The enslaved millions of India and the East under British control are a menace to the living standards of the advanced workers of the world. I am an implacable enemy of the Bri- tish empire for this reason. That is why I say that the British empire must be dissolved. The Union Jack must be pulled down.” But the conference was not all fire- works and not all from the platform. There were delegates from the pit, the bench and the farms who hit straight from the shoulder in revolu- tionary style. The tenseness of the struggle now going on in Britain was revealed in their every utterance, And there were more prominent workers of the movement, like Pollitt (Boller- makers) Watkins (Miners); Gossip (Furnishing Trades), Hannington British Labor Leader Coming Here A. A, PURCELL Chairman of British Trade Union Delegation to Soviet Russia, who is coming to the United States as delegate to the American Federation of Labor convention. (Metalworkers), Elsberry. (Garment Workers) Murphy (Engineers), Har- dy (Transport Workers), who made effective practical contributions in the discussion of the various resolutions Realistic Revolutionists, The conference showed the right combination of revolutionary’: spirit and realistic facing of actual ¢ondi-j Harry Pollitt, secretary.of the, tions. movement in his report pointed to the large and widespread rank and file representation at the conference as an answer to the charge that the Na- tional Minority Movement was noth’ ing but a few agitators with little Strength inside the regular trade union movement. The first convention in Angust) 1924, had 271 delegates; the special unity conference in June, 1925, ‘had 617; the present had 683, practically all rank and file workers, There were workers present from every corner of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, speaking for 750,000 trade unionists. Back in December, 1920, when a small group of workers met to plan for agi- tation for affiliation to the Red Inter- national of Labor Unions there were a number who favored pulling away and forming new unions outside. Those FOR WORKERS AN ANTHOLOGY Edited by MANUEL GOMEZ Tus Pocket booklet (No. 5 in The Little Red Library) contains a choice selection of working class poetry—the only booklet of its kind issued. Not only will it prove an inspiration to every worker in the struggle—but it Will also be invaluable for use at all working class affairs. The Daily Worker Publishing Co. 1113 W, Wash- ington Blvd, Chicago, ml. workers, NAMES: cccsevssssses AMOUNT OF DONATION $.. The Daily Worker HELP THE STRIKING SEAMEN! Send All Funds to MARINE TRANSPORT WORKERS’ UNION No. 510, |. W. W. 105 Broad Street, New York City. Add it to your library—give it to other 10 Cents Twelve Copies for One Dollar, ards. who insisted that the proper way was ‘o work inside the existing unions and strengthen and extend them pre- vailed. Today there was further vin- dication of this policy. Milltants must realize that they must not scorn the most simple tasks in the trade unions, they must function wherever there was work to do. In this way they could demonstrate that they were real trade unionists and that their re- volutionary program sprang from the same motive. A delegate from the National Union of Railway- men said he had been a lone voice crying in the wilderness for some years, but results were now show- ing themselves. There would be eleven left wing delegates at the coming convention of the N. U. R. Pollitt declared that while many leaders of labor a year ago were quite openly close to the N. M. M., the sharpening of class lines was causing some of them to hedge. While de- claring for the social revolution they were beginning to stand away. The movement must become strong enuf to force them to make a choice. They must either adopt militant action on behalf of the workers or stand be- fore their followers as discredited and of no further use to them. The N. M. M. would work-as a trade un- jon organization with anybody or group that was prepared to put for- ward the revolutionary demands of the working class. J. T. Murphy (Amalgamated Engineers’ Union) dis- cussing the resolution on the “eco- nomic struggle and the capitalist of- tensive” indicated the factors proving the breaking down of capitalism in Great Britain. Three Billion Doliars Lost, Widespread unemployment and high prices had reduced the purchasing power of the people to an enormous extent—$3,000,000,000 from 1921-23, Markets heretofore open to Britain had been lost due to the development of manufacturing in other countries. British capital was being increasingly invested in industries in India, China and South Africa where cheap labor was obtainable. The only way Brit- ish capital could stabilize itself was at the expense of reduced standards for the workers. The only answer was working class unity, nationally and in- ternationally. In order to accomplish this, at- tention must be paid to concrete issues—wage increases, shorter hours. These were not feformist or palliative measures, but would tend to sharpen the struggle and pave the way for revolutionary action. It was a mistake to think that capitalism would collapse of its own accord. There must be preparation and planning on the part of the militant workers to strike the final blow when the time was ripe. Answering a question as to the at- titude of the movement toward un- official strikes Pollitt said that such struggles did not take place unless there were grievances so grave as to justify them. that officials had failed to properly meet the demands of the rank and It was an indication file and protect their living stand- The N. M. M, made it a point to help alk such justifiable strikes and to analyze the basic agreements and to assist, in their correction, In ‘\the present outlaw strike of the sea- Wage reduction of $5, per month, tfigted upon them by Havelock Wilsot, ‘president of the Seamen’s Uniop,,the N. M, M: was doing all in itq@ PbWer to extend the strike among } Seamen and bring it to a victorious donclusion. The Scope of Action. On the resolution there was com- plete unanimity of sentiment, the dis- cussion on the part of the delegates simply emphasizing certain features, The following Were topics covered: Setting up the defense councils; ex- tending assistance to the unofficial seamen’s strike; emphasizing the-im- portance of wider organization in trade unions among the young peo- ple, among women and among agricul- tural workers;’ closer connection be- tween the co-operatives and all mill- tant workers to make these societies of valuable aid in the workers’ strug- gle; for complete sindependence and self-determination for British colo- nies; denouncing British policy in China and protesting against the white terror in Bulgaria, Poland, etc., against the security pact as a new an- U-Soviet Russia move. The position of the conference on other matters is covered by the state- ment of aims and objects which was enthusiastically re-affirmed: Aims and Objects of the Minority Movement. 1. To organize the working mass- 2s of Great Britain for the over- throw of capitalism, the emancipa- tion of the workers from their op pressors and exploiters, and the es- tablishment of the socialist common- wealth. 2, To carry on a wide agitation and propaganda for the principles of the revolutionary class struggle, and to work within the existing organizations of the workers for the purpose of fighting for the adoption of the pro- gram of the National Minority Move- ment, and against the present tend- ency towards a’false social peace and class collaboration and the delusion of a peaceful transition from capital- ism to socialism. 3. To unite the workers in their everyday struggles against capital- ism and at all times to advance the watchword of the united front of the workers against the exploiters. 4. To maintain the closest rela- tions with the R, I. L. U. and to work for the unity of the international trade union movement. The Program of the National Minority Movement. 1, Wages—An increase of $5.00 per week on all existing rates, and to work for a minimum of $20 per week. 2. Working Hours—A 44-hour work- ing week for all trades, except in the mining industry where a six-hour day is demanded. 3. Nationglization—Nationalization of the mines, tailways, the chief heavy industries engaged in engineering, shipbuilding, banks, land, without compensation, and with workers’ con- trol. 4. Unemployment—The application of the joint demands of the general council of the/Trades Union Congress, and the National Unemployed Work- ers’ Committee, Movement, as em- bodied in the six-point charter, with the addition of the confiscation of all idle land and factories by the government with the workers’ control. 5. Housing—The carrying out of an adequate scheme for housing, and the requisitioning of all empty houses, large and small, and the sus- pension of all forms of luxury build- ing, until sufficient new houses to ac- commodate all in need are built. 6. Foreign Policy—(a) The repu- diation of the Versailles treaty, and in particular the Dawes report. (b) The ratification of the Anglo- Russian treaty, and the extension of the trades facilities act to Soviet Rus- sia, and the granting of long term credits. {c) The appointment of a trade unionist as the representative of Britain in Soviet Russia. (d) Repudiation of the conception that the British empire is of any re- gard to the British workers, and in- stead, to pledge ourselves to work in close connection with the workers of all those countries comprising the em- pire, arid assist them in their struggle to overthrow British imperialism. Also to establish close relations as will lead to common action on all issues affecting the interests of the workers, Organizational Program 1. To work for the formation, wherever possible, of workshop com- mittees, the members of whcih are to be guaranteed from victimization by their various trade unions. 2. The reorganization of the local Trades Councels, to make them become local unifying centers of the working class movement in every locality. 8. Affiliation of the National Un- employed Workers’ Committee Move- ment, and the local trades councils to the T. U. C. Also the acceptance of representatives of these organizations upon the general council of the '. U, Cc, 4. The adoption of the principle of one union for each industry, first step towards the unification of the national trade union movement, 5. The creation of a general coun- cil of the Trades Union Congress with full powers to direct the whole ac- tivities of the unions, and under ob- ligation to the Trades Union Congress to use that power to fight more ef- fectively the battles of the workers. Acceptance of principles of the inter-changeability of the card of the unemployed organization for a trade union card, without any further en- trance fee, itish Labor Has Revolutionary Minority | THE REASON FOR SECRECY ARB) TRATION, A, = MASH v5 STRIKE SOLUTION ae becoming absorbed into industry. 6. Full support for the general council in its fight for international trade union unity, and in its present relations with the Russian trade unions, but we further demand _ the definite formation ofthe Anglo-Rus- sian Unity Committee, that shall con+ duct immediate propaganda and agi- tation, that will lead to the organ- zing of a world trades union con- gress, where all trade union centers shall be present, and where a single international trade union center shall be created. The exceutive committee of the Na- tional Minority Movement affirms that such an all-embracing program as this will rally the whole of the workers to its support. We further place on record our willingness to co- operate with any working class or: ganization that is wliling to fight for the realization of this program. Larkin Rejected. The only discordant note in the conference was injected by James Larkin of the Irish Workers’ Union. When he was first called to the plat- torm he was given quite a cordial re- ception by the conference. Later in a speech he bitterly denounced Brit- ish trade unions and certain leaders of the Minority Movement by name for not insisting on the withdrawal of all British unions from Ireland and for not giving him better support. Tom Mann later answered some of these points. Just as the convention was adjourning Larkin rushed to the front and tried to make a conciliatory state- ment but received more hisses than attention. The following is the line-up of dele- gates: 142 branches in the provinces sent 165 delegates. 41 trades councils were Scissor Bills Flash Their Loyalty Before Hibbing Steel Barons (By a Worker Correspondent.) HIBBING, Minn, Sept. 24.—Hibbing, the iron ore capital of the world, is flooded today with fascists gathered in convention and the dedication of a half million dollar memorial recrea- tional building, one of the largest of its kind in the land, a tribute sup- posedly erected to those who were drowned in the blood bath of the Bu- ropean war. The demonstration consisted of a group of legionnaires led by the Ra- cine, Wisconsin Drum and Bugle Corps and followed by a 75 m. field artillery gun mounted on a huge army truck, Then came a truck of painted Indians brandishing clubs and lastly the clubs of scissor bills demonstrat- ed on the streets of Hibbing their || loyalty to their master. An airplane squadron of four army planes whir- red up above, If it had been a min- ers’ demonstration, bombs might have dropped, instead of flowers. While the capitalists may need such memorials to honor their dead, the monuments of the revolutionary vet- erans are inscribed in the hearts of the class conscious w: There were 430 branches, 7 district committees and 6 executive commit- tees represented, The executives represented were: |The Chemical and Drug Workers, National Association of Furnishing Trades, Forest of Dean Miners’ As- sociation, Fife Miners’ Reform Union, Irish Workers’ Union, National Unem- ployed Workers’ Committee Move- ‘ment. { represented by 82 delegates; total delegates from metal workers’ organ- izations, 126; building workers’ organ- izations, 103; transport workers’ or- ganizations, 75; general workers’ or- ganizations, 72; iiners’ organization, 33; co-operative organizations, 16; miscellaneous trade union organiza- tions, minority groups and shop stewards’ committees, 56, and from unemployed organizations, 54, In Detroit! R. U. R. (Rossum’s Universal Robots) The Famous Play of Working Class Revolt will be played SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 8 P. M. in the House of the Masses. Players: DETROIT REPERTORY THEATER. Auspices: DETROIT FEDERATION OF WORKING CLASS WOMEN’S ORGANIZATIONS. INTERNATIONAL LABOR DEFENSE. ADMISSION 75¢ AND $1.00 Benefit: THE WORKERS MONTHLY A magazine of Com- munist theory and prac- tice summarizing the most important world events and including the best work of Labor's artists. 25 Cents a Copy $2.00 a Year—$1.25 Six Months 1113 W. Washington Blvd, Chicago, mL Help Us Out! A great amount of work has to be done in the office. More work than our office can speedily handle. If you can spare a ‘little time—c’mon over. There is folding, inserting, sealing, stamping—just loads of all kind of work. To help the DAILY WORKER when it especially needs help-——c’mon over!