The Daily Worker Newspaper, October 21, 1925, Page 3

,.ers’ Government, DAVIS, STEEL UNION HEAD, SEEKS GRIEF In Rash Moment Agrees to Debate Foster WARREN, Ohio—At a meeting of the Liberty Lodge of the Amalgamat- ed Association of Iron, Steel and Tin Workers, which was held on Oct. 10, in this city, D. J. Davis, national sec- retary-treasurer of the association, de- livered himself of much wisdom and many platitudes, , Brother Davis spoke about the rise of labor from slavery to its present position, at the expense of many sac- rifices, He spoke of the usurpation of power by the United States su- preme court in the matter of the child labor law and of the decision in the Corona case, which makes it possible for all unions to be sued for losses to employers caused by strikes. Wants Living Wage for the Dead. He then switched to the question of sick and death benefits and declared that the electricians pay $2.70 per quarter for insurance, while the Amal- gamated Association is furnishing it for 75 cents for three months. This seems to be one of the main slogans of the conservative labor leaders, who see in insurance qnée of the most: im- portant means of helping the working class. This‘is so much ‘the .more glaring, when one considers that there are only 11,000 out of the’ 500,000 to 600,000 stee! workers organized in'the Amalgamated. He pointed out that the wages were high during the war, but that now the capitalists are competing for the for- eign markets. At least he realized the necessity of carrying on a campaign.to organize the unorganized’ It was a decision of the 1924 convention of the Amalgamated Association, but Mike Tighe, the president of the ‘associa- tion, has no intention of obeying the decisions of the convention. This latter statement Davis did not make, for it was clear that he merely posed as one with faithful intentions of car- ‘rying out the decisions of the Amalga- mated, White Criticizes Lies * During the discussion, Comrade William J, White attacked the Amal- gamated Journal for its vicious cam- paign of slander and lies against the Communists and the I. W. W. In a recent issue of the Journal,‘ there was-an article of the National Labor News Service—an A. F. of L. organ— attacking George Hardy for his serv- ices in the I. W, W. and Communist movement. Davis answered by making state- ments about the Communists. White challenged Davis to mention the name of a single Communist who had been disloyal ‘to the labor movement. Davis heatedly attacked Wm, Z, Fos- ter. White declared that Foster came out of the steel strike with a record that bears Comparison with any one. Get the Same Apple Tree. White challenged Davis to meet Foster on a public platform and to make his statements in Foster’s pres- ence. Davis accepted the challenge, and it is the hope of the steel*work- ers of Warren that they witness: this debate—for they are sure Foster will make the feathers fly. Detroit Carpenters’ for Saklatvala DET; 'T, Mich., Oct. 19—Local 2140 6f the United Brotherhood of Car- penters and Joiners joined other locals in denouncing the exclusion of Sha- .burji Saklatvala from this country. be- cause of his advanced working class views. After considerable discussion by the members of the union, many of whom hail from various parts of John Bull's domain, the resolution adopted by Local 420 which appeared in the DAILY WORKER Oct, 9, was presented by one of the memtbers and unanimously endorsed. 7 : T.U.E.L. NOTICE The National Conference of the Trade Union Educa- e has been postponed from the original date until some time during the month of March. The exact date for the holding of NATIONAL COMMITTEE, Trade Union Educational League. ; G 4p tional Le “set, Nov. agu 14, ““announced later. se THIS PAGE Is Devoted to the Activity and Interests of the TradeUnion Educational League : (T. U. 8. L.) North American Section of the , RED INTERNATIONAL OF LABOR UNIONS (R. LL, U.) 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 Earm- Its s Collaboration Policies with Retail Clerks Sign: Contract Retaining Present Wage Scale The Retail Clerks’ Unidn)has signed a contract with the Retai} Clothing Merchants’ Association,,! which pro- yides for a retention of:th@ present minimum scale of $40 a week for men and $25 a week for women, The agreement calls for a’:54-hour week for the men and a 48-hour week for the women, The contract was signed for a pe- riod of one year following a meeting of the union which voted to accept the old contract, JUDGE ATTEMPTS TO BLOCK UNION DRIVE IN W.VA, |Federal Court Outlaws United Mine Workers CHARLESTON, W. Va., Oct, 19.— Judge George W. McClintic of the United States district court has hand- ed down a permanent . injunction against the United Mine Workers of America in behalf of virtually every mine in a belt south of the Kanawha river and running almost to the south- ern end of the state. Na Against Miners’ Union: : This. injunction directéd; (against the members and the officials’ of ‘the ‘United Mine Workers’ Union is an attempt to stop the organization drive now being attempted by the union. The decision was handed down in twelve injunction cases involving 309 coal companies that sought an injunc- tion to restrict union activities. Territory Involved The territory covered by the com- panies involved includes the William- son-Tug river, the Winding Gulf, the New River, the Green Brier fields, and all the Kanawha field south of the Kanawha river. The judge in issuing His decision in behalf of the coal operators stated that the United Mine Workers of Am- erica was “unlawfully combined and conspired absolutely to monopolize and control all labor in the VU. S. and on the American continent en- gaged in mining and producing coal.” Sides With Operators The judge took the side of the oper- ators thruout the entire proceedings and every opportunity that presentet itself was used as a means by the judge to blacken the union. He char- zed the union with violation of the nierstate commerce law, saying the union conspired to stop all shipments of coal produced in nonunion and un- organized mines, He also claimed that the union miners were inciting riots and strikes. _ Most Drastic The injunction that was issued is the most drastic and sweeping that has been issued in this section of the country by any judge. °* Hobo Convention to be Held in Denver; ‘Trade Unions Invited DENVER, Oct. 19.—The 20th annual convention of the International Brotherhood Welfare Association, popularly known as the Hobo Welfare League, opens in Denver ‘November 10, Delegates come from local groups of the association but trade’ unions and others are invited to send frater- nal delegates, Free transportation to and from jobs is one of the topics in- teresting this gathering of migratory workers, Other convention themes are eld age and unemployment insurance, shorter workday, international co- operation and industrial superpower. The national headquarters are at 410 Clinton St., Cincinnati, A. V. Darroch, secretary, e conference will be SENDS DELEGATE TO NEGRO MEET Also Talks on World Trade Union Unity (By Worker Correspondent.) TOPEKA, Kans., Oct. 19.—The in- dustrial council of Topeka, Kansas, and Hod Carriers’ Union are sending William Bills of the Hod Carriers’ Jadvice+to revolutionary unionists that Union to the American Negro Labor Congress to be held in Chicago start- ing October 25 and ending with, Oct. 21. Both bodies have decided to share the expenses, The members of both bodies in their speeches brought out the absolute necessity of organizing. the vast mass of Negro workers in America. The sending of a delegate to the American Negro Labor Congress was considered as a means of bringing about the or- ganization of the Negro workers in| America. World Trade Union Unity. J. E. Snyder of tne Butcher Work- men’s Union of Kansas City gave @ talk on world trade union unity. In his speech he showed the absolute lecessity of having labor unite on @ world-wide scale to carry on an ef fective struggle against the bosses. Snyder had stopped at Topeka’on hit way to attend the Farmers’ Union meet at Hays, Kansas, where he was also to talk on world trade union unity. A haloween dance is planned by the building committee of the industrial council to raise money for a new labor temple. Print Saklatvala Speech. The entire speech of Shapurji Sak- latvala, Communist member of the British house of commons, who was barred from the interparliamentary union congress and this country by an act of Secretary of State Kellogg for a speech in behalf of Indian inde- pendence in the British parliament, will be printed in the labor paper that is issued here and also in the one that is issued in Wichita, Kansas. FIRE WORKERS FOR REFUSAL T0 SIGN AGREEMENT CUMBERLAND, Md., Oct. 19. Eighteen engineers and eighteen fire- men have been‘ discharged by the western Maryland railroad for their refusal to sign an agreement accept- ing a revision of rules and working conditions, which the company heads tried to force on the men. The company issued a notice tell- ing the men employed by the road they must either sign the agreement or leave the employ of the railroad. “Not Discharging.” “We are not discharging the men who refuse to sign the agreement. We have changed the working rules as an economic measure, and unless they are willing to work under these new rules, they are considered to have left the service of the company voluntarily,” declared Arthur Wil- liamson, superintendent of the Elkins division when interviewed on the dis- charge of the 36 rail workers. Despite this denial of the discharge by the superintendent, the union heads point out, that he called the men into his office and asked them if they were willing to sign and work under the terms of the agreement. Upon the men telling the superinten- dent that as union men, they could not sign such an agreement as it would injure the union in their re- wages and told their services were to hand over their keys and books of rules, were given an order for their wages and told hteir services were «no longer required. The agreement which the men were asked to sign was such that if they did sign, they would have been im- mediately expelled from the uion, British Labor Party Delegation Visiting the Soviet Republic MOSCOW, Sept. 15.—(By Mail.)— The English parliamentary delegation consisting of several members of the labor party including Messrs. Wal- head Taylor, Grenfell and others that lately arrived at Moscow, visited the session of the Central Executive Com- mittee of the U.S. S. R. When the delegates appeared in the hall, Com- rade Kalinin, president of the C. E. C., suspended the sitting and welcom- ed English guests. Mr. Walhead, in capacity of chairman of the delega- tion, said-in reply: ’ “We are very grateful for the cor- dial reception accorded to us and we congratulate you on a brilliant suc- cess of your work of reconstruction of Russia. Your union must unite all peoples into one strong union, We intend to study your methods and fol- low your path. We try to bring pre: ure on our government in order that it put relations with your country on the same level with other countries.” Kalinin replied by stressing the significance of the closer rapproche- ment between the English laborers and the U. 8. 8. R. that is taking place lately, “We should Mke you” he said, “to study all that is being done in the Soviet Union and, after your return. to,Kugland, to use it in ‘ THE: DAILY WORKER re cerry serene renee yee TOPEKA COUNCIL The left wingers and revolutionary. revolutionary action, have something the fireside. ary work within the trade unions, Tom of the National Minority Movement,+ of which he is the active head. His influence @n/the unions can be won only by agcepting the burden of years of laborous devotion to trade union work of @ comparatively humdrum |} character, is,something that is needed |tor American militants. The T. U. |B. L. offers: his article on the Scar- borough Congress as an interesting ac- count of that event, but first of all as a lesson to our own left wingers. | ee ‘By TOM MANN In ordet to'judge correctly of the {nature of: iP change in outlook and | disposition ff the trade unionists of Britain a§ shown by the decisions of the congress at Scarvorough, it is necessary to have regard to the con- \gress decisions for several years wreviously. It is sometimes the case that a ynatch vote can be obtained that does aot reflect the real view of the lelegates or of those “they repre- sent. On many previous occa- sions delegates have been active at the congress who had a real revolu- tionary outlook and,the congress has on a number of occasions voted by substantial majorities in favor of the overthrow of capitalism. The last three congresses have wit- nessed definite attempts at co-ordinat- ing the left wing policy, and the con- centrating upon the most vital ques: tions and securing the greatest re- sults. ~: How to Win Influence. In the nature of things, allowing for the growth and development of the unions, the officials have had an over- powering influence as compared with the rank and file, and they have edgec aside and ruled out of order efforts of the rapk and file to throw the movement to the left. This power the officials will have, mainly because of the lack of steady and tactful persistency on the part of the men with the right outlook, par- ticularly in their refusal to accept positions on committees, branch secre- taryships and other official positions in the union, the acceptance means giving a considerable dmount of time and energy to work of a comparatively hunidrum character. (°° “ Purcell’s inning. Last year, at Hull, areal substan- tial advange was made, When Purcell as president of the congress, struck out boldly forthe waging of the class was and for real infernationalism, he knew he bad a number of colleagues Prepared to stand for and fight foi that policy, and Purcell’s courageous attitude, beyond, doubt, gave a rea’ stimulus to many of the delegates especially the unofficial element. Of course, the punishment meted by the master class in cutting wages made it extremely urgent that a bold attitude should be taken up, or self- respecting men would cease to have any confidence in the movement. The evidences of left wing develop- ments which the capitalist press saw and denounced and villified in every possible way, had its counterpart in the increased popularity of those buffers on behalf of capitalism, men like Thomas and Clynes. Must Serve and Work. Here is where the Minority Move- ment rendered excellent service. They extended their propagandist activities to the utmost extent. They laid it down as vital that their members must not be content with criticizing the reactionaries, but must’ demon- strate their feadiness to fill’ any posi- tion of usefulness in the unions, serve as delegates on the trades councils, visit other union branches, serve on special organizing committees, and in every way possible add to union mem- bership and militancy. (at Page Thrae TOM MANN, VETERAN LEADER OF BRITISH LEFT WING MOVEMENT, ~ WRITES OF SCARBOROUGH MEET militants who, in the American labor to learn from Tom Mann, veteran fighter of revolutionary labor, still actively in the harness at an age after a stormy career that would send the average man to toothless decadence at As one who for two decades has followed the correct line of revolution Mann, speaks with authority, as well HARRY POLLITT 3ritish Cofimunist Leader, Delegate from Boilermakers to Scarborough Congress. Tillett and Bramley. Comrade Harry Pollitt did magni- ficently. Again and again his tact and ulertness saved the stiuation for the veds. Brown, Jacobs, Elsbury and others, requitted themselves most creditably Pollitt Wins Against Thomas. At almost the last hour of the lasi lay of the congress a trial of strength ook place. Reactionary J. H. Thomas M. P., the most blatant of all who sretend to speak for labor, made an ittack. After he had spoken, Pollitt ollowed and when the vote was taken he revolutionary side won on a mem- vership card vote by more than three nillions. Another three years of intensified propaganda and real education and ‘ have no shadow of doubt that the Crade Union Congress of England will xe out and out revolutionary and eady to face any situation. Striking Waiters of Frisco Learn That Progressives Are O. K. SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Oct. 19- After a struggle of eight weeks, the striking waiters of the San Francisco and Palace Hotels have been permit- ted to return to work by their union, ipon recommendation of the strike sommittee, At a méeting of strikers only, the day before above action was taken at a regular union meeting, the boys voted by secret ballot, 83 to 65, t make it a bitter-end fight, Bosses Can’t Understand. The employers, including the indus trial association are baffled by the tactics used by the Waiters’ Union. As stated in a previous article in the T. U. E, L, page, all other trades, including the cooks, stayed on the job; the Central Labor Council which the in ts the working class.” ‘The persistency of this work result-|i8 controlled by the conservative ele- ed in a distinct manifestation on the} ment and some* would-be politicians part of the members in favor of a| (endorse your friends and punish revolutionary’ attitude, aiming im-| your enemies) did not give us any mediately at‘some betterment of their | @ffective assistance, position and ultimately at the over- Fight All Alone. throw of the capitalist system. Our International (Hotel and Res- The Swing t e Left. taurant Employes) ‘gave us a° paltry _ This was reflected on many trades | inancial donation of $5,000 but no co- councils and on many union execu- | °Peration, In fact International tives, and also on the general council President Floree, who came out here of the Trade,Union Congr at our request after the strike had This year's president of the con-| started, disgraced himself in’ the eyes gress, A. B, Swales of the Amalgamat- of the membership by his compromis-|) ed Enginee Union, did’ splendidly. | ins behaviour, His presidential address gave tone| On the other hand the managers and direction to the congress from the | f the two big hotel corporations went | first jump. The press had carried on| for help to the powerful industrial a virulent campaign; they had vili-| @sociation, the strikebreaking ag. fied Russia and every one that dared| ency of the chamber of commerce, and declare in favor of Russia; they lied received its full co-operation. And so foully against the Minority Movement,| Ur strike turned into a fight of or- and Communism was denounced, con-| nized capital on one hand and the demned and villified in unprecedented membership (2,200) of Waiters’ Loca! fashion, Notwithstanding all this, as| No. 30 on the other hand, the various questions came up dis-| The vast majority of the union cussion, vote after vote went left and| membership have learned this impor- not right. tant lesson, that the progressives, by Undoubtedly, many ot the dele | advocating amalgamation in the ho- were sitting the fence ready to go| tel and restaurant industry, do not do whatever way was to turn out suc-|%0 to disrupt, our union but to make cessful, and this applied particularly] it Stronger, so that some day we may to some of those that were candidates| ain a clear-cut victory over our ee positions on the general council. | bosses. cil, Amo! iss 08e _ who spoke ou, If you want to thoroughly ‘un | McNIDER TRIES “TREAT EM ROUGH” STUFF. ON WOMAN LABOR SPEAKER WASHINGTON, Oct. 19.—Han- movement, aspire to direct the organized masses into channels leading to} ford McNider of lowa, selected by President Coolidge as assistant sec- retary of war, has a record as one of the “treat ‘em rough” inciters of the mob which drove a labor wo- man speaker fron) her home town, | Mason City, about four years ago. He and his father are bankers. INSPIRATION AND AUTHORITY FILL POTTS WITH PEP Call Police to Keep Mili- tants Out (Special to The Daily Worker) DETROIT, Mich., Oct. 19.—Potts, totterill, Sharock, Welch & Co., in lnding a few other weaklings who ack the cou e of their renegade sonvictions were in attendance at a meeting of Local Union 19 Monda; Oct. 12, and with the aid of plain cloth thugs armed with blackjacks ‘and something more,” as they inti- mated, proceeded to exclude those whom Indiana's leading stock man, Wm. L.. Hutcheson, (incidentally pre- sident of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters & Joiners) has frowned upon. The rank and file have long since gotten hep to these parasites, and their sympathies are all with the ex- cluded rank and filers. Potts and his ilk, not having the support of any within the union, have used the state cossacks and the Detroit police, but these no longer being available, they have resorted to the use of a bunch of semi-official thugs, who, like them- selves, have a “for hire” sign on. Even these people find it impossible to support Hutcheson’s cause. The thug in charge that night requested one of Hutcheson’s victims to cease arguing with Business Agent Jack Welch because Welch was drunk and only the drink was talking. Though Hutcheson is drunk with power, his agent Potts, finds it ex pedient to keep his dupes drunk with moonshine, Their acts are consistent with such inspiration. Milwaukee Council Has an Argument MILWAUKEE, Wis.—A recent res- »lution by the Federated Trades Coun- il of Milwaukee should have been | referred to the A. F. of L. convention and been read just following the pu- triotic speech of Green about the American government being the best possible form of government and re- lating how beautiful a country it is for the workers ‘who are so fortunate as to live here and work no more than 12 hours a day for an average of about $25 a week. the land of LaFellette, strange to gay, there is poverty and distress. and it quotes the First Wisconsin tional Bank as stating that: “Out of every 100 men, who ar- rive at the age of 65 years, six be- come wealthy, nine are self-support- tives, friends or charity.” The council wants the prevision for old age pensions, enacted jn 1925 by the Wisconsin legislature, put into ef- ‘ect,—‘‘so that the workers of Milwau- kee county, who have worn’ out their isefulness in industry, need not be- some objects of charitable institu- ions, but shall be legally entitled to n old age pensipns.” But, of course, the council is not et convinced that. the A. F. of L. non-partisan” policies is ineffective and that labor should have a labor party. The council has some lessons to learn yet from the failure of LaFol- letism. Take this copy of the DAILY WORKER with you to the shop tomorrow. THURSDAY, OCT! CORNER NORTH ANI the Left W The resolution states that even in | ing, and 85 are dependent on rela- | Auspices of the Trade Union Educational League, Local Chicago ‘CONNECTICUT PAINTERS AID ANTHRACITE | Will Take Matter to | State Conference | | |NEW HAVEN, Conn., Oct. 19—At | the meeting of Painters’ Local 4, held last night, it was decided to support | loyally the striking anthracite miners, Not only was the following resolution | adopted, but it was decided to intro- duce jit at the coming state confer- | ence of painters: “Be it resolved That we pledge our support both morally and financi- ally to the anthracite miners in their strike, and be it further “Resolved: That we demand that hoth, the federal and state government do not intervene in the anthracite strike, and that neither in any way use governmental power against the | struggling workers of the anthracite | field, and be it further Resolved: That, we pledge our support to a campaign of publicity thru public meetings, resolutions, ete, in support of the demands of the am racite miners and to mobilize the generally for resistance attacks of the employers andard of living of the upon workers,” the Bricklayer Wants to Throw a Couple at His Union Officials By UNION BRICKLAYER NEW YORK CITY, Oct. 19—On the one side a union bricklayer sees the treachery of the fakers in the Brick- layers’ Masons’ and Plasterers’ Inter- national Union, Bowen, Thornton, Gleason and cohorts; and on the other side faker MeGivern and his bunch representing the Operative Plasterers” Union. Now these fakers are struggling among themselves for dues from the workers and blood money from the masters. Of course, amalgamation is out of order, say the chief blood- suckers, and according to a statement made by Bowen, Gleason and Thorn- ton to the N. Y. Times of July 7th, we are not trying to amalgamate with the Operative Plasterers’ Union. After a resolution was passed at the ast convention at Saratoga, N. Y., »y the B. M. I. Union for amalgama- ion. Of course, the O. P. U. fakers were |afraid of losing their jobs, so the suggested to the fakers a tional award committee at ington, D. C., and between all these leeches the poor lambs are bled |to death, During the past three years Bowen {and Thornton, labor fakers of the Bricklayers’ International Union, with the assistance of the local labor fakers, have scabbed every job in New York | City. The latest being the new Madi- son Garden job, Tex Richard’s new j heaven of thievery. ‘Fuller Construction Co. Abandons Open Shop Idea WASHINGTON, Oct. 19.—Because | it advertised for bricklayers to work junder “open shop” conditions in Flo- |rida and in Rochester, the George A, Fuller Co. one of the largest ¢on- struction companies in America, has been compelled to make special terms of: peace swith the Bricklayers,’ Ma- sons’ and Plasterers’ International Union. The Fuller concern was struck by the Bricklayers’ International because it signed an agreement with the Oper- ative Plasterers’ International which recognized ‘the claims of the latter or ;ganization during its recent quarre) with the Bricklayers. Peace betweer the bricklayers and the operative plasterers was restored by an agree ment reached at Atlantic City thir month, restoring the former terms o allotment of work between the two. The. bricklayers refusell to returt to work on the Fuller jobs, involyin; $250,000,000 in building contracts, ub til the Fullers retracted their “ope shop” talk, MASS MEETING Progressive Trade Unionists will be held OBER 22, 8 P. M. at NORTH-WEST HALL, ) WESTERN AVENUES « * SPEAKER: J. Louis Engdahl, Editor of Daily Worker Subject: The A. F. of L. Convention, and ing Movement. Everybody Welcoome——Admission Free