The Daily Worker Newspaper, January 5, 1926, Page 2

\ Page Two “FINKS” RAID STRIKING METAL POLISHERS’ HALL Cribben, Sexton Co. and Crowe Are Desperate Following close upon the failure of State’s Attorney Robert E. Crowe and the Cribben, Sexton company, Sac- ramento Blvd. and West Chicago evenue, to frame-up the metal polish- ers’ union heads and implicate them in the bomb trust, that has been run by business men’s associations to “line-up” new members, a raid. was staged on the strike headquarters. The detectives broke into the place in wild west fashion flourishing their revolvers and bellowing “hands up.” The strikers were then lined up and frisked. Their headquarters were searched. Soon after every one in the hall was loaded into patrol wagons and driven to the police station at 5327 West Chicago avenue. Held Incommunicado. As soon as the strikers were placed under arrest, they asked that they ‘be permitted to notify their union offici- als about their arrest. This was re- fused them. When the men reached the 25th dis- trict police station their watches, money and other valuables were taken away from them. They were later lined up and Seidman, head of a pri- vate detective agency, the scab fore- man at the Cribben, Sexton and com- pany and a number of the plug-uglies and scabs viewed them. After they had been viewed, they were handcuff- ed in pairs, driven into the patrol wagon again and brot to the bureau of identification where they were grilled and their fiingeraprints and Bertillion measurements taken, “Shut Up or Face Music.” The men objected to being finger- printed showing that the detectives had no right to do so as there were no charges against them. The detectives told them to shut their mouths or they would “face the music.” They were then taken from the bu- reau of identification and brot back to the police station and released. No charges were filed against the strikers. No abil was needed. They were told that there was nothing against them and they could go. To Use Prints for Frame-Up? Some of the men are wondering if their fingerprints, which dicks know =» how to forge, will not be used as the basis of a frame-up of the strike pick- ets. The Cribben, Sexton company manufacturers of tne “Universal” stoves, ranges and furnaces have used every means at their command to break the strike of the metat polishers. Fail to Frighten Pickets, When the men went on strike about five months ago the company threat- ened to revoke their insurance polic- ies. Failing to intimidate the strik- ers they sent letters to the wives and sisters of the men telling them that the men would lose their insurance and attempted to get the women to coerce the men back to work. This failed. Then they imported gunmen and scabs. Failing to frighten the strikers they then kidnapped pickets, beat them up and threw them out of automobiles. Then came the state’s attorney to the aid of the company in an attempt to frame-up the men with a bomb plot. Despite their desperate efforts the picket line remains intact. The men are just as determined as ever that the company must recognize the union and grant union conditions before they will go back into the plant to polish the stoves and ranges. Company Loses Orders. Every day reports come to the metal polishers of central federations of la- bor and central labor unions appoint- ing committees to acquaint merchants and contractors with the scabby na- ture of the “Universal” products. Many contractors and merchants have canceled their orders and refuse to handle the products until the com- pany recogn the union. Krim Attacks French in a Big Snowstorm; French Use Artillery Abd-el-Krim ig not waiting for nice weather. His forces launched yesterd an attack on the French lines in the midst of a blind- ing snowstorm. The attack was a surprise and was only driven back af- ter a severe artillery fire. COUNTESS KAROLYI IN MANDAMUS PROCEEDINGS AGAINST ‘NERVOUS NELLIE’ WASHINGTON, Jan, 3—Countess Catherine Karolyi, thru counsel, ap- pealed to federal court to gain ad- mission into the United States, Her attorneys filed a writ of man- damus in District of Columbia su- preme court to compel Secretary of State “Nervous Nellie” Kellogg to show cause why she was barred from the United States. The writ directed Kellogg to have the American consul at Paris | system intimidates them. lany THE DAILY; WORKER Labor’s Hard Lot in Packing Houses CHICAGO LABOR (Continued from page 1) workers are suspicious of each other and do not talk union or grievances on the job. It is only to those blacklisted workers on the outside that they will unburden themselves, The packing house workers never express an opinion in public, the spy Altho the workers own the Butcher Workmen Hall the: re afraid to go there in ‘jfear of sp: so that entertainments held there are a failure. At present workers look upon the companies as all powerful and submit to their rule, but back in their mind {fs the hope that some day they will have a real fighting union, “then we will | show them.” The workers are opposed to the “company union” so far as expression can be gotten from them, There has been a speeding up in all departments, a kind of unit cost system being used. We have: been un- able to get statistics on production to- day and what was formerly the amount. Every worker knows that the pace is much faster than formerly and that the boss in each department not only has to deal with the local plant superintendent, but, with the general office as well in showing results in cheapening costs, which means more speed for the workers, | In all entertainments or picnics they split the colored and white workers, having separate places and entertain- ments for each group Draw Color Line. At Dold’s plant they draw the color line hard, even baseball games are not permitted where white and color- ed play together, They have four-minute men talk to the workers during their 30-minute noon hour on patriotism, profit shar- ing, co-operation with the employers, obedience to rules, etc. There is a boy scout organization connected with the plants. Armour’s corps are taken into the plant and given entertainments, moving pictures and talks by leaders being used to teach patriotism. These entertain- ments are given sometimes two or three times during the week. Unemployment All Year Round. Unemployment and short time work prevails practically all. year in the packing plants for many of the work- ers, There are always from 100 to as many as 400 workers looking for jobs at the gates of the large plants every morning. Some get half time or less and others only a few hours during the week. There is a great deal of uncertainty and much suffering of workers in the plants. Rotten Sanitary Conditions. The sanitary conditions in the plants are bad. There-tre 3, 4 and 5 towels placed in the dressing rooms daily to serve as many as six depart- ments, all on one floor, ‘as in Dolds, the most “modern” of the plants in Omaha, These towels become so dirty that the workers are compelled to use their own towels in the evening after work. Then there is but one janitor for 2, 3 and 4 toilets, which makes it impossible to keep them clean dur- ing the eight hours allowed him for this work. The lockers, too, are so small that when the clothing is placed in them they touch the clothes of the next locker. . The workers are supposed to send their working clothes to the laundry each day in a number of departments, but the wages they make do not provide the means to have the re- quired supply of work clothes for this purpose. The workers must provide themselves with white or blue jackets and overalls and wooden shoes. When the clothes are sent to the laundry they are subjected to chemicals and terrific strain in the machines, with the result that they come back torn, full of holes and the fabric weakened. The worker puts them on and the blood and filth goes thru them into his street clothes and he returns the next day smelling of filth, a walk- ing pest house for disease. Then again the worker is expected to change his clothes on his own time, and as the dressing rooms are small and crowded after quitting time he may have to spend half an hour to change, so this is more often neg- lected than otherwise, Production, not sanitation, is the keynote of the pack- ing plnats; if sanitation interferes with production, 60 Much the worse for sanitation, *s Overload Trucks. The speed-up system results in over- loading the trucks. used to transfer meat from one department to another, Often these trucks will tip over and the contents spilled on the greasy, dirty floor, With but*one government inspector for each floor it is impos- sible to watch this, so the meat is gathered up and replaced in the truck without being washed, dirt, filth and disease being shipped broadcast as the result of the speed-up system, Some departments do not have enough trucks, and this, too, results in over- loading. Often these trucks carry a load of 1,200 pounds and are pushed by one man. Then they are never in good mechanical condition, or lubri- cated; this further aggravates the danger of tipping over and adds to the strain upon the worker pushing them, No worker is provided to keep them in répair or lubricated, For instance, take the trimming and “offal” de- partments where they have the piece- work system, the laborers serving these departments and pushing the trucks are speeded up to keep pace with the plece workers; this, too, forces neglect of sanitation . r the passport of the countess. Finally, there is no protection of | impossible, the workers against occupational dis- aase, or disease aggravated by their occupation, There are many cases of liseased workers handling fresh meats daily and no attention is seemingly paid to this. The only doctor's examination given is that when the worker is first employed, and this is used mostly as a blacklist, instead of for protection of food or sanitation. Eat Lunch in Locker Rooms. \ Thirty minutes is allowed for lunch at noon. In the fertilizer department the workers’ dressing room is close to their work, The other workers ob- ject to them coming to their dressing room on account of the odors. This compels those workers to remain close to their foul smelling task during the entire day, There is a restaurant in the plants, but service is practically limited to the office force on account of the limited time given for lunch and the necessity of staying in line during the rush period for as much as 15 minutes. The workers, especially during the cold weather, are com- pelled to eat their lunch in the dress- ing room, close to the toilets like cattle in a barn, Some Pension System. There is a pension and sick benefit plan at some of the plants. At Swifts the workers pay 54 cents per week and receive $6 minus 54 cents prem- ium, or $5.46 per week sick benefit and $400 insurance; also a pension of half wages after 25 years continuous service, This, of course, is in effect only so long as the worker remains in the service of the company. If you “happen” to get “laid off” for a week or more your rating is lost and upon being re-employed you begin as a new employe. “Slack up and lose your pension.” During the 25-year period a maximum of 144 weeks sick benefit is allowed. During the 25 years the workers pay in $701, over which he has absolutely no control, This system is a cunning form of wage cutting. It is like the card sharper that takes your life and then hands you carfare to get to the cemetery. PRINGE CAROL STIRS EUROPE WITH SCANDAL Rumored Conflict with Premier Bratiano BERLIN, Jan. 3.—Rumors of scan- dals over Roumanian aircraft con- tracts and complications of a prince involved in fascist plots stir the dy- nastic circles of European politics to- day since the abdication of the suces- sion to the Roumanian throne by Prince Carol, now in seclusion in Italy, Opposes Bratianos, Another rumor is that Prince Carol is a liberal oppositionist to the -dicta- torship exercised by the Bratiano bro- thers, who have practically seized complete power over Roumanian in- dustry and finance, Reports are current however, of Carol’s complicity in an aircraft scan- dal over government contracts, yet graft is such an ordinary thing in Roumanian politics that this could hardly have horrified anyone. Planned Fascist Group. The prince’s presence in Italy and the Roumanian government's attempt to get him away from there to “some Scandinavian country” inclines many to credit the story that Carol was Planning a fascist overthrowal of the Bratiano government. There is a re- port in Berlin that Premier Bratiano has resigned, The public eye is interested largely from the angle of the prince being involved in a love affair with various- ly named and indentified mistresses, from a blonde Parisienne by the name of Lupescu to his morganatic wife Zizi Lambrino. His official wife, Princess Helene, is in Roumania with their son, whose royal succession is also cut off by Carol’s abdication. MINE STRIKERS INBATTLE AT SCRANTON, PA. Teamsters Cheat with Hospital Permits SCRANTON, Pa., Jan. 3. — Nearly 100 striking miners and their wives took part in a flerce battle with city police when ten drivers of trucks haul- ing coal were attacked in the vicinity of the Leggett Creek colliery, The teamsters were accused of using union permits to haul coal for hospitals to haul coal for other consumers. Five were arrested, including three women, for “disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.” One teamster was sent to a hospital. eee Will Reconvene Tuesday. NEW YORK CITY, Jan, 3. — The joint conference of anthracite oper- ators and miners will reconvene at the Union League club here on Tues- day, From the remarks of both sides, there {s no settlement in sight at pres- ent, tho a sudden agreement is not JOINS FIGHT ON FASCISTI RULE Bindery Women Lead Attack on Terror The Chicago Federation of Labor, at its meeting Sunday, adopted a reso- lution introduced by the Bindery Wo- men’s Union No, 30, of the Interna- tional Brotherhood; of Bookbinders, condemning the #} Mussina regime and exposing.J} P. Morgan as the financial backerpf the fascist dic- tatorship and calling upon the sena- tors and congressm of the state of Illinois to vote against ithe ratification of the Italian debt s¢ttiement. The resolution alsoféalls upon all central labor bodies to follow the ex- ample of the Chicagg,Federation of Labor. The resolution follows: “WHEREAS, Thé"Atherican Federa- tion of Labor, -in convention assem- bled, has justly condemned the tyran- nous Mussolini-fascist' government, and “WHEREAS, President William Green and the executive council of the American Federation of Labor have called upon the American labor move- ment to condemn the Mussolini-fascist government which séeks to overthrow the liberation of the masses, and “WHEREAS, our government, thru the United States debt commission seeks to place upon the people of America a tax of more than $1,500,- 000,000, which money would be given to the tyrannous © Mussolini-fascist government to further enslave the masses of people, and “Whereas, We believe this action would lead to further enslavement of the liberties of the people thru seizure of other governments by similar dic- tators, and “Whereas, The whole scheme sa- vors of a gigantic conspiracy on the part of reactionary interests in con- gress closely allied'to the firm of J. P. Morgan & compaily, which firm im- mediately after the So-Called debt set- tlement loaned to the: supposed bank- rupt Mussolini- fascist government, $100,000,000 at 7 Pet cent interest, and r : “Whereas, There is,yet time to pre- vent the giving of the $1,500,000,000 of the liberty-loving, people of Amer- ica for the purpose gf continuing the Mussolini-Fascist y by hay- ing our congress refuse to ratify this gigantic. and. delil Steal of the people’s money. te “Therefore Be ItyResolved: That we, the Chicago Fi tion of Labor in regular meeting assembled, calls upon Senators McKinley and Deneen and the congressmen from our state to vote against the ratification of the italian debt settlemént, and “Be It Further} Resolved: That our secretary be inijtructed to send a copy of this resolution to all other central bodies and state federations with a request that they also protest to the United States senators and con- gressmen from their,state.” Indian Creek Coal Mine Tipple and Sheds Are Destroyed VINCENNES, Ind., Jan. 3—The tip- ple and loading sheds of the Indian Creek coal mine at Bicknell, owned by the Knox Consolidated Coal company, burned down with an estimated liss of $75,000, throwing 450 men out of employment. Only four fire bosses and two engineers were on the scene when the blaze was discovered. Releases Negro When ‘Jim Crow’ State Head Demands Extradition PITTSBURGH, Pa, Jan, 3.—Refus- ing to “return a ma‘ a state where members of his own race could not sit on-a jury at his trial,” common pleas Judge James *B, Drew ordered Sandy Husey, 60, aeNegro released, Police had been holding Husey at the request of the Goxernor of North Carolina, on charges of selling liquor, Fascist Coup d’Etat Planned for Roumania Miners in this locality are recogniz- Workers Must Array Their Strength Against the Acts of Congress By J. LOUIS ENGDAHL. aT SPATS congress returns to work at Washington, after its holiday, and the stock exchange opens for another new year of legalized robbery. In the days ahead the identity of interest between the two will be more clearly established than ever. The stock gamblers will make merry, prices will rise hoisted by the prospect of greater profits, as favor- able legislation goes thru the law making mill at the nation's capital. Nowhere on the horizon does the capitalist press see any prospect that the laws to be adopted will not be ex- tremely favorable to its bandit class. Most attention will be given during this session of con- gress to (1) American adherence to the so-called “‘perma- nent court of international justice’; (2) tax revision down- ward; (3) promises of agricultural relief, and (4) changes in the present tariff law. i * * * * All of these questions are of extreme interest and con- cern to the American working class, in the cities and on the land. Yet the organizations of labor, if they do not openly espouse the cause of the bosses, are quiescent on these vital problems. Thus the American Federation of Labor, under its pres- ent leadership, openly allies itself with Wall Street's imperial- ist ambitions, when it champions the world court, the point at which the United States enters the league of nations. The Gompers’ policies in the A. F. of L., now being carried out by Green, Duncan, Woll and others, makes no hairsplitting dis- tinctions between the court and the league. These policies stand 100 per cent for the Wilsonian program that sought to enmesh this nation in both. The democrat, Wilson, political agent of the House of Morgan, failed, but it has remained for the republican, Coolidge, under the tutelage of the same ringmaster, Colonel E. M. House, to succeed in winning the senate for the American dollar's ambitions in Europe. It is the duty of militant labor to expose untiringly be- fore the whole American working class the imperialist role the present A. F. of L. regime is.playing with regard to the world court and the league. * * * * While congress goes ahead shifting the tax burden more and more from the rich to the shoulders of overburdened labor, the labor officialdom continues developing its class collaboration schemes. The tax bill passed the house of rep- resentatives with hardly a whimper against it. It will go thru the senate with as little opposition, altho President Green and his associates claim they have large numbers of “friends” in both houses of congress. Wages will be cut to the extent that taxes taken from workers are increased. And the labor officialdom remains silent. om e ° J Similarly with regard to the agrarian crisis. No effort comes from the A. F. of L., under Green, to build the solidar- ity of the city with the land workers. Thus the Chicago Tribune, on the eve of the reassembling of congress, pub- lishes a cartoon showing “labor” fat and satisfied, sitting down to a “boundless prosperity” banquet with corpulent figures representing manufactures, banks, realtors, industry, brokers and middlemen, all prosperous gentlemen, while the farmer—agriculture—lean and hungry, is dubbed “the poor relation.” The poor farmer is easily convinced that this is true, as he reads of labor officials speaking at the affairs of the chambers of commerce and inv’ the co-operation of the enemies of the farmers in the cities, Who are no less the foe of city workers. 7 * Then the tariff. When the Gompers’ regime flirted with the democratic party, it was placed in a fake opposition to the so-called protective tariff, that protects the profits of the great industry, while increasing the cost of living for the workers. The tariff offers no problem for the present congress. The myth that the tariff protects the wages of the workers will not be exploded by the Green regime. It will only’ be exposed by the more conscious elements among the workers. The democrats may assail the tariff, but it will only be to win concessions for the democratic sections of the nation, es- pecially the South, the industrialization of which grows daily, accompanied by an increasing oppression of the whole working class. . * * ° Capitalism has chosen its own issues to come before this session of congress. The city and land workers can meet their exploiters, even on these issues. They can make an ef- fective fight, however, only thru an organization built for in- dependent class political action. The fight against the capi- talist congress, now in session, is the present basis for the creation of the labor party. Even whi enemy feels most secure, mirost Ce van can make progress ‘how by break- ing completely wit all Street’s twin ¢ lican and democratic parties, Pagers te aed eee Court Upholds Light Sentence of Grafting ’ Veteran’s Bureau Heads The circuit court of appeals upheld sentences of two years in prison and fines of $10,000 each imposed upon Colonel Charles R. Forbes, former MINERS DEMAND LEWIS UPHOLD TRI-DISTRIGT DEMANDS IN NEW YORK WILKESBARRE, Pa, Jan, 3— LONDON, Jan, 3—Ex-Crawn Prince Carol, according to a Bucharest dis- patch here, had planned to bring about a coup d'etat similar to that which carried Mussolini into power in Italy, With the aid of army officers, Carol, it was said, intended to seize power in Roumania and dethrone his father, King Ferdinand, $50,000 For Unemployed, DUBLIN, Jan, 3.—The commission- ers of the county of Dublin have made an appropriation of $50,000 for imme- diately providing work for unemploy- ed of Dublin. To Rebuilt Car Shops, NEW ORLBANS,, La, Jan, 3, — Plans will be drafted immediately for rebuilding the Illinpis Central's car repair shops at Harahan, destroyed by fire with a loss of, $150,000, Nearly two score refrig and freight f cars also were ing at last that not only the opera- tors, but the church and the gov- ernment are against them. In ad- dition, many are seeing that Lewis, president of the union, is not fight- ing for their interests at the New York negotiations with the oper ators. Local meetings, called for the Special purpose, are not only con- demning the priests who tried to get the miners back to work by pub lishing a joint letter saying that 35 per cent of the miners are will- ing to go back to work at the old scale, but the meetings in many in- stances have called upon President Lewis to stand by the tri-district demands, including the demand for a wage increase of 10 per cent, BELOIT, Wis., Dec, 31—Beloit col- lege has been bequeathed $225,000 for needy students in the will left by Porter 8, Haven of Racine, who died roeenaie 68 SOR Ent, head of the Veterans’ Bureau, and John W. Thompson, 8 Killed; 15 Injured When Plant Blows Up PENSACOLA, Fla,, Jan, 3—~At least eight men were reported killed and fifteen others injured when the re- tort plant of the Newport Rosin and Turpentine company exploded. Only 20 of the 50 men reported working in the plant at the time of the explosion have been accounted for. FRANCE PLAYS : DOUBLE CROSS ON RIFFIANS Captain Proves Briand a Premier Liar (Special to The Daily Véorker) PARIS, Dec, 31—Refusing to listen to the message of Abd-el-Krim, del- ivered thru the British captain, Gor- don Canning, as a movement for peace by granting Krim autonomy under French and Spanish rule, Pre- mier Briand chose war against the Riffs to, begin with spring in alliance with the Spaniards, who aim to crush Krim, with a big campaign after brib- ing away his tribal supporters, Canning spoke straight from the shoulder when Briand at last refused to see him. Henceforth, he said, Krim demanded full independence for the Riff, and he withdrew the offer of ac- ceptance of autonomy. He accused Briand of misrepresenting the peace terns in his speeches in the cabinet and the chamber. He said that Krim is perfectly able to wage war again in the spring and that supposedly “loyal” tribes were only waiting. But the shock was greatest to have Captain Canning say that the French themselves had sent him to the Riff, assuring him of a hearing if he could persuade Krim to give up hope of in- dependence for autonomy, This he did, and then returns to find himself insulted and this proposal scorned. Journeymen Tailors to Hold Elections in Union Very Soon (Continued from page 1). the choice of the progressives in our union. Leave nothing to miracles. Attend your local meetings! We must have our candidate nominated by as many locals as possible. We must organize the left wing forces in every local and diligently fight against reaction. Let us not only fight against the reaction- ary machine, but work hard to build up our union, and together with the other worekrs in the clothing industry, make our organizations strong, effec- tive weapons against the employers, Brother Max J. Sillinsky is the can- didate of the left wing. We must all work for his nomination and election as general secretary-treasurer of our organization. Left-Wing Program. In supporting the candidacy of Brother Sillinsky, you are supporting the progressive ideas of the left-wing in this country, such as amalgamation of the needle trade unions, organiz- tion of the unorganized, the establish- ing of shop control thru a system of shop committees, a press free and open for the expression of the opin- ions of the membership. The left wing stands for the elimina- tion of useless expenditures on “pie babies” carried on the pay roll to per- petuate the job-holders in office. We propose rank and file organization committees, directed by energetic, sin- cere, able and earnest leaders, chosen by the rank and file of the organiza- tion, Canning Will Issue an . Open Letter Demanding ° A 5 Audience with Briand PARIS, Dec. 31—Gordon Canning, British officer who came to Paris with peace terms on behalf of Abd-el-Krim only to be refused an audience with Premier Briand, states that he will issue an open letter replying to Prem- jer Briand’s refusal to consider him as a peace emissary, ‘The assistant director of foreign af- fairs sent a formal communication to Canning denying his request for an interview with Premier Briand. “The French government can only treat with accredited plenipotentiaries of Abd-el-Krim and in joint Participa- tion with Spain,” said the communica- tion, * Court Refuses Bail to Distillery “Milkers” Thirteen of the defendants con- victed of “milking” the Jack Daniel distillery of St. Louis of thousands of Gallons of whiskey and substituting water, flavored with alcohol, were denied writs of supersedeas and ad- mission to bail by the U. S, circuit court of appeals here, The case came up from Indiana- polis, Ind, where this week Judge Balzell imposed sentences and fines, Motorists Pay Tax. CEDAR RAPIDS, Ia., Dec, 31.—~Mo- torists of Iowa during the year 1925 paid a total of $3,207, 237.15 in gas- oline taxes, The tax has only been assessed one year and the money ig to be used in road construction, PATERSON SILK WORKERS THREATEN TO STRIKE FOR THE 44-HOUR WEEK “ PATERSON, N, J., Jan. 3.—The Associated Silk Workers and local offi. clals of the United Textile Workers of America announced that unless their employers return to the eight-hour day or 44houra-week schedule, more than 1,200 broadsilk workers will go on strike, 3: -_ ~