The Daily Worker Newspaper, October 7, 1925, Page 3

THIS ers’ Government, Is Devoted to the Activity and Interests of the Trade Union Edacational League (T. U. B. L.) North American Section of the RED INTERNATIONAL OF LABOR UNIONS RMelhLew,) THE T.U.E. L. Represents the Left Wing of the Labor Movement, ~ Purpose Is to Strengthen the Labor Unions by Amalgamation of Existing Unions, Organization of the Unorganized, and by Replacing Reactionary and Cl: a Unified Program for the Transformation of the Unions Into Organs of Revolutionary Class Struggle for the Overthrowal of Capitalism and the Establishment of a Workers’ and Farm: PAGE Its Collaboration Policies with A. F. OF L. FAKER WHO LOST HIS PIE- CARD CALLS UPON ALL HIS FELLOW FAKERS TO HELP HIM GET IT BACK Heated discussion developed in the headquarters of the T. U, E. L. ‘when the following circular letter was discovered in the mail. The discussion arose over whether it was the funniest, or only one of the funniest things run across in a long time. Then the debate shifted as to whether or not @ relief committee should be organized for the downtrodden, and oppressed labor fakers, thrown out on to a cold, cruel world by heartless open shop bosses in the executive council of the American Federation of Labor whose specialty is grinding the faces of the + poor organizers who were left behind when Sammy died. Here it is: EMMET T. FLOOD. 6825 N, Francisoo Ave., Chicago, Ill. To the Delegates Assembled at the Atlantic City Convention of the American Federation of Labor, to You |! Appeal for Economic and Social Justice. On January the first, nineteen hundred and three, I received a writ- ten request from the late President Samuel Gompers to meet him in con- ference at Washington, D. C. On my arrival there, he advised me that the executive council had decided to appoint me as one of their general organizers, a position which I accepted. For twenty two and a half of the best years of my life I have given to the toiling masses of America, almost from the beginning 1 have received letters of praise for my efforts and euccess from the late President Gom- pers and Secretary Morrison, and in almost every letter I have received from President Green during his short,‘term in office he has favorably commented on my work as ageneral oxanizer. I think my ability to Serve in that capacity is well known to the labor movement in America, A Slave to an Ideal, The late President Gompers and Secretary Morrison were both aware of the fact that I had several posi- tions offered to me at an increased salary over that paid by the Federa- tion, but the American Federation of Labor was an ideal to me and I had a-desire to.remain in the service as long as health would permit. On June 23rd, 1925, I received a letter from President Green in which he stated in “His Exalted Position” he had decided to discharge all the | organizers of the A. F. of L. and made a stipulation that any organizer who wanted his job back must make an individual application. Lockout—And Boycott, Too! On August 5th, Mr. Green again wrote me and informed me that as far as I was concerned: the lockout was permanent, so I am not only being locked out but I am being boy- eotted from ever obtaining a posi- tion at a trade that I have served at for nearly twenty three years. I understand that six of the oldest and most efficient organizers of the A. F. of L. have suffered the same fate. By Mr. Green’s actions he has established a lockout for the em- ployes on the A, F. of L., created an open shop, put into effect the boycott abolished seniority rights and abolish- ed any possibility for old agé pension for faithful workers in the service of the A. F. of L. and has violated every principal of the trade union move- ment. My discharge from the official staff of the A. F. of L. comes at a time when six of my eleven children are of school age and are in absolute need of my assistance and my home ig mortgaged for all that it can stand, furthermore, you are aware of the fact that the salary of the organizers ‘never was large enough to lay away joient funds to take care of a ation in which I now find myself. Discovered—A Constitution. I \am very familiar with the con- stitution of the A, F. of L, and in no part jof it does it give the president the /right to do the thing which is lained of in this letter, 1 ask that you use your efforts as a delegate to the Atlantic city con- vention, so that this convention may take some action to redress this serious and unjustifiable wrong afflict- edon the old and faithful organizers of the American Federation of Labor. With best wishes, I remain, sin- cerely and fraternally yours, ; EMMET T. FLOOD. / nmeypenet erally "Gut Wages In Troy TROY, N, Y. —OPP)—Wages of workers at Troy Blanket Mills are cut 10 per cent affecting over 200 workers. HOTEL WORKERS, ORGANIZE YOUR RANKS TO FIGHT! N. Y. Amalgamated Union Invites You By JOSEPH MARES (Progressive Committee, Amalga- mated Food Workers) NEW YORK CITY—The time is ripe, and the moment has come to wake up. The bosses see our weak- ness and fear of their weapons and begin to enslave us more day by day. The hours of work increase daily, and the wages and day off decrease every- where. Our duty is to rally our forces and, instead of weakenmmg we must present a strong front and fight back with more strength an@ courage than ever. The field is open to every one, and the army of hotel workers ts increas- ing rapidly; don’t-remain behind and wait until the last moment, because it may be too late, and all the prou- babilities which we have today for a sure victory may turn against us, thanks to your lack of activity. We have all the aces in the deck, which ‘means to say that the game is ours if we stick together and at- tack our oppressors without fear with the amount of courage required. Do not forget this, we are going to beat them with their own weapons because we feel sure of this method, which by experience in other parts, brought us many victories. Do not complain about your condi- tions, because they are the ones you make by your own negligence, Or- ganize, be a man and show the bosses that you still live and think about having human and decent conditions, Two years ago, one of our com- rades fell dead in the dining room of one of the biggest hotels in this city from overwork and bad food. But the management of the hotel, trying to avoid the trouble which might have come to them, instead of sending him home, sent him to the hospital, and managed to state that he died in the same of some disease of the lungs. This was untrue, When the man fell in'the middle of the dining room, he died instantly of a cardiac attack, which was caused by the paralysis of the heart by excitement or over work. Unfortunately, most of the people who frequent the hotel and restau- rants, take the waiters for dumbells, (in the instance of being unorgan- ized, they are correct) but people ignore the fact that among the wait- ers there are a lot of boys, who de- vote the few hours they have off in studying how they will be able to emancipate their class, So don’t let the skunks and sup- porters of the boss, bluff you, and don’t fail to answer to the appeal of those who fight in the rank of the unions for decent human conditions, and come to the union, the only pl: where you can find relief, The hotel Workers’ Branch is at 133 West 5ist St., New York City. Window Cleaners Win Minimum Wage of $40 for 45 Hours NEW YORK, Oct. 5.—New York window cleaners organized in the Window Cleaners’ Protective Union won $2 a week wage increase for workers formerly getting $38 weekly and $1 a week more for those getting $39, bringing the minimum weekly wage to $40, Hours remain at 45, The union's fight against open shops dontinues with succ Six shops recently signed for union conditions, _ Build the DAILY WORKER a NS AR A RA ARE: Sot AIEEE: AD Cerne tn TNR SAI a ee oe ee EXPULSIONS NOW WITHOUT A SIGN OF JUSTIFICATION Trade Union Commun- ists Have No Rights By J. L, COOPER NEW YORK, Oct, 5.—On July, 20, Brother BE, Steinberger, a member of the Bookkeepers, and Stenographer Union, Local 12646, brot up charges against me accusing me that: my “conduct at the regular meeting o1 the ‘union was unbecoming members of this union.” , The specific points of tne charges read as follow: 1. “At this meeting the trial com- mittee elected at the June meeting in the case of George Primoff on the charges of being a member of the Workers Party, a Communist organ- ization and a member of the Trade Union Educational League, reported finding the defendent guilty. 2. “Chernow and J. L. Cooper a» members of the trial committee sub- mitted a minority report, exonerat- ing Primoff and demanding a dis- missal of the charges.” All Opposition A “Crime” So my first offense was, that I sub- mitted a minority report in Primoff’s ease and the second crime I commit- ted was, that I tried to exonerate Primoff and demanded to dismiss his trial. Probably it would not surprise me, if these charges were brought by a Tammany Hall man or a republic- an, who never pretended to be a friend of the workers and who by the nature of his party had to pro- secute any member that looked like a “red” by his active participation the union. But the charges were brout by a socialist, “who was ready to,give his life for the labor move- ment” (as long as it serves his pur- pose) and the verdict was supportea by socialists. The trial committee decided that tu submit a minority report is not a crime and I should not be expellea on this charges. Neither could Stetn- berger prove that I acted as an-at- torney for Primoff though I did try to exonerate Primoff on the. basis that hé was not given a fair trial. A “Fair Trial” Another Crime My demand for a fair trial in the case of a Communists was consider- ed by our brothers—socialists a ter- rible crime, But they coult not ex- pell on such charges so they cnangea the nature of the case and expelled me because | am a member of the Workers Party of America. At the membership meeting of the imion I-quoted the Workers Pariy-re- solution on our work in the trade inion, the resolutions of the 5th cou- sress of the Comintern in which it is stated clearly that the Communists must build the unions, they must strenghten them and work for amal- gamation and organize the unorgan- ized. Innocent—But Guilty Anyhow It is true I admitted that I am a tember of the W. P. of A, and con- fessed that I am proud of it, because the Communists are the only ones who sincerely and energeticalty work in the union for the benefit of the workers. I brought in facts by whica I proved that while I, a Communtn, tried my best to support any organ- izational plan in the union, the ac- cuser Steinberger and some other brothers of his type hampered the work, they fought against any plan that would really be usefull for tne union, My witness, the president ot the union openly declared that uy to Primoff’s trial I was one of the best union members. The onsy crime I committed is that I defended a Com. munist, in A Nong of the socialist stars of the union could give any argument to dls- approve my statement in regards to the role of the Workers Party in the labor movement, none of them darea to deny the president's admission that I was one of the best unionists. Very few participated in the voting, be- cause they could not expel me, but were afraid to vote against the deci- sion, because that would mean a new trial and another month would be lost. The Bookkeepers’ Union leaders proved how much they care for thetr union and wheré they could put any one who will dare to be active and question their ability Butte Labor Unions Think Single Girls Should Have the Jobs BUTTE, Mont., Oct. 5.—The Silver Bow (Butte) trades and labor coun- cil recommends to all local unions that they follow the example of the Butte clerks’ union and bar married women from membership, The recommendation is supposed to be an answer to the practice of many Butte firms of giving job preference to married women, making it harder for girls and single women to get em- ployment. In some cases man and wife are given jobssby the same house. The council takes the position that when there are not enuf decent. jobs to go around the girls that have no provider should get the first chance. Billposters’ Ball, Billposters’ Union, Local No. 1, will hold its annual ball at the Ar- cadia Ballroom Nov, 17, ‘“ THE BATLY Com WORKER re British Unions aysiu Page Three To the A. F. of L. Meet (Picture on Page 1.) 'HILE the highest councils of labor union reaction are meeting in the convention of the American Federa- tion of Labor at Atlantic City, it will be a good comparison for American workers to read an account from the Sunday Worker of London, England, of the end of the first day's session of the British Trades Unton Congress at Scarborough on September 7, The account is as follows: HE day ended with a big fight on a most important resolution on the aims of trade unionism. By many delegates this was considered as an open challenge to the policy of Mr. J. H. Thomas, B, Joseph, (Tailors and Garment Makers) moved :— That this congress declares that the trade union movement must or- ganize to prepare the trade unions in conjunction with the ‘party of the workers to struggle’ for the over- throw of capitalism. At the same time congress warns the workers against all attempts to introduce capitalist schemes of co- partnership, which in the past have failed togive the workers any posit- ive rights, but instead have usually served ‘as fetters retarding the for- word movements. Congress further considers that strong, well-organized shop commit- tees are indispensable weapons in the struggle to force the capitalists to relinquish their grip on industry, and therefore pledges itself to do all in its power to develop and strengthen workshop organization. HE mover argued that the resolu- tion was of a revolutionary na- ture. Better conditions could not be secured within capitalism. The con- gress was being asked to declare that the aim of tradé unionism was the destruction of capitalism. Harry Pollitt (secretary of National Minority Movement) seconded, and declared that— Any attempt to secure better wages and conditions nowadays im- mediately became a revolutionary fight in which unions were faced with the political’ struggles. capitalism had been overthrown the conditions of life would depend greatly upon the trade unions, and these committees would do much to fit them for their duties. HEY would see from the report of the negotiations with the Russian trade unions that the general counci! had agreed in other language with what the first paragraph of the reso- lution stood for. : The second paragraph was aimed at those who, as the president had said were now trying to effect collaboration with the employers now that capital- ism was in a bad y. The third paragraph contained the only solution for the difficulties of re organization which they had been dis. cussing. They should now begin to te) ize for the control of prody R. SEXTON (Dockers) replied to When Pollitt, and said the resolution was thinly-veiled Communism. Frank Lemaire (Compositors) and Annie Loughlin (Garment Makers) spoke in favor of the resolution, which was carried by. 2,466,000 votes to 1,218,000, HOWAT’S LOCAL MINERS’ UNION RAISES PROTEST Also Calls. for Trade Union Unity MULBERRY, Kansas, Oct. 5.—The Kansas miners are among the most militant workers in America, and one of the best locals in this respect ts that to which the old fighter for the miners, Alexander Howat, belongs. The following is a resolution passed by Howat’s local in protest at the barring of Shapurji Saklatvala from the United States:, We Protest “We the members of Local 2397 U. M. W. of A. Mulberry, Kans., in meet- ing assembled, protest the nefarious act of Secretary of State Kellogg in debarring Shapurji Saklatvala, cham pion of the freedom of India from the grip of imperialism and a represent- ative of militant labor !n the parlia- ment of Great Britain,’ from landing in the United States of America. “This but demonsttates, thar the imperialists of the world are ons when it comes to an attack on labor. It is our opinion t) 1s act, ar this time, is but a ¥ of a whote- sale debarring of Progressive labor leaders, not alone from America, bur from all imperialist nations. Call on Other Locals to Act “We call upon our fellow miners in every local union to join us and the millions of other workers im tnis pro- test. It is high time ‘that American labor assert itself and’ answer the cair of our brothers, in other lands, for unity. This debarring!of Saklatvaia is but an addition to 'the open silop drive to crush organized labor ana stop its forward march toward inter- national brotherhood, *It is a timely warning and a test by the imperiai- ists to see how far they can go, tn the open, against those who dare champion our cause, District 14 Takes Lead “In making this protest we are sure that we speak for more than our own local, of District 14. It was here that men and women struck, marcnee and went to jail against the out- rageous industrial court law. It was here that one of the guns of tne ex- ploiters was spiked. “We say to our brother workers everywhere that District t4 shall ne- ver stand by and allow purruges at home or abroad to by perpetratea against labor. The cause of Sakilat- vala is our cause, The freedom ot ul oppressed people is, our mission 18 well as his and wé pledge our- selves at all times to this end tnat all the chains of slaVery shall be broken and all the workers of the world shall be free, ” “Signed, Alexander Howat L. H, Maxwell Joe Bierbrodt S. T. Wakefield.” Health Head Hangs Self When Workers Can’t Get: Increase ST BOSTON, Oct. 5.—Warried at the state’s refusal to grant wage increas- es to his subordinates jn the public health department, Dr, Eugene R. Kelley, state commissioner of public health hung himself in the attic of his home. Glove Workers Organize, NEW YORK, Oct. 5.—The first glove workers’ union in New York Cit, being organized,, Canvas and Jersey gloves are made by the firm with which the union ts signing a closed shop agreement. A 44-hour week, increased wages, roomier work- fooms with more light and air and electric fans and 10-minute rest pe- tiods in the morning and afternoon are the improved conditions won by the union workers. Gloves made by the union workers will bear the union label. Sweatshop Probes Reveal Violation of Labor Statutes GARFIELD, N. J., Oct. 5.—Sweat- shops where minors are improperty employed in clothing manufacture were investigated by truant officers in Garfield. Nine children in one shop*told the officers that they worked from 8% to 9% hours daily without work papers. They said they attended continuation school. Minors are not supposed to be em- ployed over eight hours dally. AN AGREEMENT TO GET BASIS FOR NEW FIGHT Green “Settles” Craft Squabble as Usual ATLANTIC CITY, N. J., Oct. 5— President William Green of the Am- srican Federation of Labor announ- ced that an agreement had been reached in the jurisdictiénal dispute between the Bricklayers’ and Plast- erers’ Unions, which has tied up $250,- 000,000 in construction thruout the country, The agreement which was signed by the officers of the unions and Mr. Green, provides that hostilities shali cease immediately and that aH work shall be resumed at once. A number of points at issue will be submitted to a tribunal, whose decisions are sup- posed to be accepted by both unions, but which will only be grounds for a new squabble. " Both parties. agreed to the re- establishment of the 1911 agreement, which had been abrogated. A meet- ing of the two executive boards wih be held at the earliest possible date to create the tribunal which will ad- judicate the disputed issue. RAILWAY MEN TO VOTE ON STRIKE FOR WAGE RAISE Insist on 5 Pct. Granted by Rail Board WASHINGTON, Oct. 5.—Locomot- ive engineers and firemen on the Western Maryland Railroad, from Bal- timore to Cumberland, are, taking a Strike vote, due to the fact that the company has for the fifth time refused to pay the 5 per cent wage increase authorized by the railroad labor board and paid by all other Class 1 ronds. Reports are that a large majority are voting to quit work. Meanwhile the Western Maryland has published advertisements calling for strikebreakers, stating that it un- derstands the strikes vote is in pro- gress. It suggests that “Only men who desire permanent positions need apply.”-+thus threatening the same permanent blacklist, against striking engineers and firemen that it has maintained against the thousands of shopmen who struck two years ago. The company turned its shop work over fo contractors, and it former shopmen were not re-employed, be- cause they refused to accept the contract scheme which permitted the company to evade payment of shop Wages fixed by the rail labor board, ATLANTIC CITY, Oct. 4— Settle- ment of the jurisdictional dispute be- tween Bricklayers, Masons and Plas- ters’ Mternational Union and the Operativé Plasterers’ International Association seemed probable after conferences held by the union heads and the president of the American Fedoration of Labor. J MAINTENANCE OF WAY UNION TAKES BACKWARD STEPS Adopts “B. &'O. Plan”; Kills Amalgamation DETROIT, Mich. Oct. 5.—Complete surrender to the railroad compantes’ attempt to make labor unions into company unions is the essence of the action of the United Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes trien- nial convention just ended here. The union by resolution makes an offer for class collaboration with the rafl- road management, The resolution specified approvingly as an example the infamous “B. and O. plan” which is destroying the shopimen’s unions and which is one of the leading issues upon which, Wm. H. Johnston (B. and O. Bill) of the International Association of Ma- chinists was repudiated by the I. A. M. membership in the recent election —although Johnston still clings to office by having stolen the election. Another resolution, whiten indicates the reactionary policy of tne union leaders was a condemnation of “Com- munism as we understand Commun- ism.” This went along with a report showing a tragic loss of membership —and a proposal to build a 14 story building in Detroit where te untfon owns considerable values in reat estate. Amalgamation and other progres: sive measures seem to have been completely lost, in the welter of clas» collaboration resolutions and speecn- es, though the Maintenance of Way- men’s Union was one of tne first large unions to endorse amalgamation for the railway industry, F. H.* Fijozdal will be president for another three years. E, E. Milll- man was re-elected international sec retary-treasurer, Canada has two men on the executive board, W. V. Turn- bull of Montreal and E. J. Turnbull of Toronto. The other vice-presidents and C. E. Crook of Detroit, A. F, Stout of Chicago, T. C. Carroll of Co- vington, Ky,, and H. Hemenway of Detroit. Other executive board mem- bers are W. O. Beaver of Denver, F. M. Sillik, Ames, Iowa, Jolin F. Towle of Roxbury, Mass., and George H. Davis of Covington, Ky. Misheotune Pursues Miners in Perfectly “Safe” Scab Mines By REGINA MYROSKI MOUNDSVILLE, W. Va,, Oct. 5.— Last week two miners died as the result of injuries sustained while scabbing fer two of the local mines. Gus Moore of Bellaire, Ohio wes kill- ed instantly under the fall of a stone at the Parrs Run Mine, this city, while’ John lalesky of Glendale, W. Va., only 19 years old, was injured at the Hitchman Mine, McMechen, W. Va. One of his legs was ampu- tated in an effort to save his life, but in vain, The two above accidents of course were due to the extremely safe con- ditions of most of the scab mines in northern West Virginia. Although the death of these two miners has caused great sorrow at their homes it can- not be said that such is the effect on those owing and operating the mines. What care the capitalists for the death of two of their unprotesting slaves so long as it does not affect their pocketbooks and does not de- tract from their profits? . Retail Dros Goods Clerks Insist on 10 O’clock Closing Hour NEW YORK, Oct. 5.—Retail dress goods clerks are demanding thru their union that all shops close at 10 p. m. The United Hebrew Trades is as- sisting in the settling of differences between employers and workers, MEXICAN LABOR ATTACHE VISITS * SOVIET MILLS Textile Industry Is | Given His 0. K. 4 It is known that the Calles govern- ment of Mexico, in exchange for the political support of the leaders of the Regional Confederation of Labor of Mexico (C. R. O. M.) In practleally turning over the Mexican: masses a subjects to Wall Street Imperialism, agreed to give the “Mexican Gompers” (Luis’N. Morones) a cabinet position and to appoint, along with every mink ster to foreign nations, a “labor at tache.” This institution is about the most malodorous incident of class “har- mony” we know of and we are not certain what qualifications one must have to be a “labor attache” of a Mexican minister, but if we don’t miss our guess, the writer of the following article, who is “labor attache” to the | Mexican minister at Moscow, is Hable to be recalled if he keeps up writing as follows: see “MOSCOW, Auget 19, 1925—Thanks to comrades of the Textile Workers’ Union, I obtained an opportunity to visit some textile mills in Moscow and district “I looked over the ‘Kalinin Mill” producing woolen fabrics lying some distance southeast of the Red capital. I saw the first model dye works and cotton spinning mill employing over ,000 men and women, which lies to the east of the city. “I visited a lace factory on the other side of the Moskva river to the south west of Moscow. I likewise saw the biggest mill, the ‘Dyedo-Guchkov- sky,’ thrity verste out. The technical equipment of the mills is in every sense of the word upto-date; the most of the machinery is British. “Despite my having visited, compar atively speaking, only,a few Russian mills, I have obtained a certain defin- ite impression as to the intensive growth of the textile industry which is, nevertheless, not yet in a position to satisfy all the demands of the Rus- sian market. At the moment a con- siderable amount of piece goods are still being imported from abroad. “The hygenic and sanitary condi- tions, the running of the works, pro- + tection of iabor, the whole spirit reigning in the Soviet mills, are such as can only cause the workers | in other countries to envy the log of the employes in them. “Wages are calculated in accord® ance with prevailing market prices, and completely answer to the needs the textile worker. “Women enjoy the same rates witht the man for the same work, while; there are, furthermore, special labor! protection regulations applying te them. “With regard to the labor of young workers, I may say that in not one of the mills I visited did I see either boys or girls under sixteen years of age. Such a state of affairs naturally serves as an excellent means of pre- venting the worker from exhausting his physical powers by undertaking work at too early an age. “The trade union representatives work in close contact with the mill management which is appointed by the competent organs of the Soviet government. “The peaceful working together of these two factors in industry Is the best refutation of the view pr vaient in capitalist countries that i ade and industry are to flourish, there must be no interference on the part of the trade unions in ques. tions connected with factory admi- istration. “I consider the following as the two most essential gains won by the ua- ions: Direct participation of the unfons in administration, and prohibi- tion of ehild labor under 16. “IT am thoroughly convinced that the Soviet workers will continue to march along the road they have already set on, while serving as a constant xample to their fellow workers of the le world. (Signed) M. Martines, Delegate of the Regional Confedera- tion of Mexico.” ea. 6 it might be said in addition that the Textile Workers Industrial Union of Russia has 621,000 members, which strength—when reached by the Amer- ican “split-to-pieces and killed-one-st- a-time” textile “unions,” may entitle MeMahon and the other fakers to open their traps about Soviet Russia and its labor unions. ‘ John J. McNamara INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 5.—With a fine of $1,000 and a prison term of one to five years hanging over his head, John J. McNamara, convicted in criminal court here of blackmail in connection with labor troubles im Indianapolis last year, was at liberty today in bonds of $5,000 pending the outcome of his appeal to the state supreme court. A la Chicago, SPRINGFIBLD, Ml., Oct. 4—Charged with extortion, Patrolman John Ber- lien, of the Springfield police force was suspended from the force today } tor oak month, Be TERT % OY er