The Daily Worker Newspaper, January 2, 1926, Page 9

Shall “Harness Bulls” Control the Unions? THE PHILADELPHIA POLICE CON- DUCTING»:THE CONVENTION OF HE-INTERNATIONAL LADIES’ GARMENT. WORKERS’ UNION: Another Article by PAULINE SCHULMAN. B are progressing so rapidly that though the police in Philiadeipiia have not taken any courses in par- liamentary procedure as appiied to trade unionism they were neverthe- less able to conduct the convention of the international Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union, They are by no means gifted more than any one else to be abie to enter college immediately upon leaving tne public school But since their in- structer was no oiher than the high- est olflicial of the union, Mr; Sigman, the president himself, he gave them the privilege to apply practicaliy their acquired theoretical knowledge, They advanced rapidly and thus certainly made great progress. On the Saturday*morning the sec- ond week of the convention the police received their first instructions but in the afternoon they already took the lead in the convention: They acted as though they were quite inexperi- enced, for every now and then they turned to their instructor, who was stationed on the platform of the con- vertion hall, ready to issue any in- formation desired. The instructor being a person who did not like to be annoyed with ques- tions ordered them to stop their prac- tice and to study theory for a little while. The course began Saturday before noon and Monday morning to the surprise of all, the police entered the convention hall as if they were men of long experience. Their work was done systematically, most of them were placed inside the hall, of course, others were at the door ask- ing the delegates to show their badges to prove whom they represented. » Brom ,xisitors they demanded to see the union books and ledger numbers. The police at the door did not question where the delegates came from, or how many members they represented. Once they showed their badge they were allowed to enter. But it happened that Mr, Feinberg, the ex-manager of the New York joint board did not pay much atten- tion to his badge, for wasn’t this his convention? “why should he both- er with a badge?” he thought. When this Mr. Feinberg attempted te pass into the convention hall a policeman asked him: “Your badge or union book sir?” Feinberg replied: “I am a delegate.” Policeman: “Where is. your badge? Whom do you represent?” Feinberg: “I am—er—I was the manager of the union. Iam a mem- ber of local two N. Y.” Policeman: “I don’t care to know what you were; it is what you are now! You have no book, no badge— whom do you represent?” Feinberg: “Don’t you know? I re present local number — — of St. Paul.” Policeman: “I cannot understand. First you are a member of local two N. Y. and now you are a delegate from the north pole, You have neither |' @ book nor a badge, You better stay Tight here and wait until I'll inquiro about you,” Whomever he approached to ask: “Do you know whom Feinbérg repres- ents?” he was met by a shrug of the shoulders, as if to say, “who knows?” Police do not like to be fooled, and because of the Felnberg affair, an in- nocent boy photographer had to suffer. This boy came to take some pictures of the delegates, As soon as he en- tered the lobby of the _ convention hall, before he had a chance to look about him and see what was what, two police got hold of him: one grabbed him by the back of the collar, and the other held him by the shirt front. First policeman: “Whom do you represent?” Photographer: “I have to see seme of the delegates.” “Expulsion?—-The Hell You Say!” One of the sorest probiems for honest workers in the trade unions is—to stay in the unions when the bosses’ agents have contro! of the unions and try to put the sincerest and most courageous workers out. Some think there is no way to succeed in beating the expulsion game of the bosses’ agents. But recent events show that it can be done! How? By fighting! Second policeman: “Your badge Or} nis) convention, The workers, the,tent of their power. They are sure anion book?” Photographer: “I have none.” The first policeman huddled him close to the wall and ordered him not to move until he could be indenti- fled. The thin face of the poor photogra- pher turned pale, He did not know what it was all about. Had he been informed that it was the police who conducted the convention it would have been different. But he had not been informed, Those of the police who were Inside the convention hall to attend to the “inside” business fared better than the ones at the door, For inside there was no need to identify anybody. When a point of order was supposed to be ruled out of order the instructor banged his gavel several times on the little table near which he stood. This meant to say; “Should they ask again for a point of order then con- sider them as disturbers of the con- vention and with such people yon know very well what you have to do!” Of course they knew, The police were not the only ones who profited by this eighteenth bien- rank and file of the “international,” | that that which took the Philadeb too, gained invaluable experience in| phia police but two days to learn, they the matter of maneuvering. They) certainly will master in two years also gained in the realization of ex-| from now. The March of the Workers . By JAMES H. DOLSEN. OWN the street There comes the tramp of marching feet, And the rat-tat-tat of the drum. Watch themcome . By the thousands, by the millions! Countless they As the stars which deck by night the Milky Way. At their head Are proudly carried banners red, Scarlet as the blood that fills their veins; Tropic rains, Desert sun, temperate zone, frigid north—all the earth— Note the races, every color—gave them birth, _. Oh well may tyrants quail and lords of trade turn cold Who grind the workers into dust, their children into gold When they hear that mighty army and see before them pass The battalions of the workers, the future ruling class. LLL LLL LLL LC CLL ten,