The Daily Worker Newspaper, February 6, 1926, Page 2

Page Two U.S. SENATE HELPS MELLON REDUCE TAXES Big Fortunes Get Heavy Reduction (Special to The Daily Worker) WASHINGTON, Feb. 4.—With a slight concession to the petty bour- geois elements in the democratic party the combinations of Coolidge -Mellon republicans and Morgan democrats put thru the 100 per cent reduction in surtaxes that saves Mellon and other billionaires the enormous sum of mil- lione a year. Surtaxes were reduced from a maximum of 40 per cent to 20 per cent. The democrats, in order to insure unity of their party yielded to the de- mands of the petty bourgeois elements who insisted upon a greater reduc- tion of taxes in the middle brackets (incomes between $12,000 and $50,- 000). With these reductions granted to the class they represent these mid- dle west democrats supported the re- duction of millions granted the Mellon crowd. A number of amendments calculated to raise the tax on great incomes were presented by “radical” repub- licans and democrats, but they were all yoted down by the combination of leading elements in both old parties. Reductions on the income of the highly skilled workers and lower mid- dle class was just sufficient to bribe these elements into voting for the old parties this fall, but in no manner affected the mass of .workers. Gera Workers Join the Textile Strike (Continued from page 1) to get in line and not delay coming in with the rest. Relief for the strikers is being or- ganized. Bakers and other business concerns have offered help and the unions of other cities are getting on the job providing the needy with sup- plies. Col. Johnson of the Botany mill said he hoped the strikers would soon starve so that they would be driven back to work. He knows that the wages given to the workers have been so small that they have not been able to save at all. “The workers are only a week ahead of starvation,” sald Weisbord, “and now Johnson wants you to go back and accept a cut even below what you were get- ting.” With the Gera mill tied up, the en- tire textile industry in Passaic is at a standstill. The spirit of the strik- ers is excellent, and they are deter- mined to hold out to the bitter end, Much unrest is felt in the Rubber and Belting company where the work- ers have been cut as in the other mills, and it is only a matter of a few days till the workers there will go out. The Lodi mill which employs about 4,000 is on the verge of revolt and is expected to be pulled out at any time, This is the most miserable slave hole in the industry and the breaking point is near. The United Front Committee is tak- ing good care of the strike and the entire movement is in a healthy con- dition. Over 100 members of the lo- cal committee meet every night and decide upen the matters that come up. The rank and file is signing up in great numbers every day and the or- ganization is growing rapidly. T.U. E. L. Opens War on Company Unions | (Continued from page 1) ance men and bituminous miners join the strike can the union be saved from disaster, Reid declared. Union Funds Used Against Miners. In regard to the trial of the thirteen Zeigler, Ill, miners, he showed how the funds of the United Mine Work- ers, thru the treachery of District President Frank Farrington, are be- ing used to frame-up these progres- sives. They are falsely accused of “assault with intent to murder” -in order to force them out of the union, where several have been elected to office as champions of the rank and file, and dangerous opponents of the ku klux klan. Loeb Discusses “Boss” Unions. That the betrayal of the workers by union bureaucrats in alliance with the bosses and the klan is but one side of the shield used by American im- perialism to defend itself against or- ganized labor and to intensify ex- ploitation was brought out graphically by Moritz J. Loeb, business manager of The DAILY WORKER who analyz- ed the growing menace.of company unionism and the part which the T. U. E, L. must take in combatting it, around which the evening’s discussion centered. The last speaker, Jack Johnstone, national T. U, E. L. secretary, in re- viewing the left wing’s mistakes and achievements in the recent I. L. G. W. U, and Furriers’ national conven- tions warned progressives against the danger of allowing their successful resolutions “to go to rest in the union archives,” “The adoption of progressive resolu- tlons by large bodies of organized la- bor, the shift of the left wing from a minority to a majority in both local and national unions, places a new responsibility on the T. U. E. L. fore- ing it to reorientate itself, to change from an organ of propaganda and agl- tation to an instrument of action,” de- clared Johnstone. “The answer of the T. U. BE. L. must be to bring all workers into the drive to carry out its program, with the added duty of making this pro- gram thoroly understood. Rank and filers cannot continue to be merely dues-paying members of unions con- trolled by a few officials but must be fighters for the policies to which previously they have given only yot- ing support. A Program of Action. “Joint meetings of workers in dif- ferent unions must be called to go over their common program, to de- eide on joint action, to put the resolu- tions passed into practice. Respon- sibility must be placed on the rank and file, drawing in all workers thru shop meetings, formation of mass or- ganization committees. Wherever pos- sible, campaigns for amalgamation, for organization of the unorganized and for a labor party, must be car- tied by the I. L. G, W. U. and the Furriers into the Amalgamated Cloth- ing and the Millinery Workers’ unions, Only by a reorientation of progres- sives from agitators to actionists can @ powerful T. U. E. L. be built.” Growth of Company Unions, That company unions predominate in the heavy industries and are backed by the biggest capitalist interests, by Gary, Rockefeller, Armour, Morgan, etc, was stressed by Loeb, who made it clear that company unions origin- ating after the world war, came as the result of the expansion of Amer- ican imperialism and the need for greater exploitation of the workers at home in order that more surplus profits be available for investment abroad, for exploitation of colonial peoples, “From 225 company unions in 1919, the figure rose to 814 in 1924,” he stated, saying that this epidemic of boss unionism is strongest in the metal industry, followed closely by the lumber, railroad, textile, printing and rubber industries, with the Com- monwealth Edison and the People's Gas, Light and Coke Co. the most prominent Chicago examples. Attitude of T. U. E. L, “What new problems do company unions bring the T. U. E. L.?” asked Loeb. “How can the left wing fight them, both outside and inside, both before they are formed and after- wards?” In general, company unions must be destroyed, root and branch, he de- clared, suggesting exceptions to this Tule, however, in cases where work- ers succeed in gaining control and in changing these organizations into bona fide unions. If they cannot win the union for the workers, they may force the boss to drop it as useless for his purposes, “Most important, however, is the utilization of the T. U. E, L.'s pro- gram for organization of the unorgan- ized and for the amalgamation of craft unions into industrial unions. The craft union is the bosses’ pet argu- ment for a company union. With its jurisdictional squabbles and arm-chair officials, It serves him as a fitting sub- Ject for ridicule. In contrast, he paints a rosy picture of company unionism.” “Company unions are the bosses’ reply to the workers’ desire for or- ganization,” said Loeb in showing that the purpose of these “one big family” unions is to prevent the workers from forming, or participating in unions of their own. Supplyig the “Human” Element. “Capitalists have learned to take advantage of these conditions by establishing company unions, either thru persuasion or thru bribery and corruption. It must be remembered that the Taylor system in introducing ‘speed-up’ devices, ‘efficiency’ methods, ete., neglected the ‘human element.’ “In order to keep up this delusion, certain minor demands are granted the workers; for Instance, clean towels once a week or spittoons in strategic positions. In return for these concessions to the worker, the em- ployers gain control over hiring and firing, over wages and hours, as well as freedom to cut costs of production by increasing exploitation thru speed- ing up, piece work, etc. “Employers can get whatever they want from company unions thru the power of foremen and managers, to say nothing of the fact that the gen- eral superintendent always has the wy MARX AND ENGELS on REVOLUTION IN AMERICA No. 6 IN_THE LITTLE RED LIBRARY ee Ns —_—_—_—_—_—_—_—_—~ More than fifty years ago the men who first clearly formulated Communist principles, fore- saw also the development of American labor. This booklet, written by one of the outstanding figures in the revolutionary movement in Ger- many, gives us the letters in which the two great minds pointed out the road for American labor. The lessons of Marx and Engels written many years ago still hold good today and should be carefully read by American workers for their im- mediate as well as historical value, 10 Cents Twelve Copies for One Dollar of this or combiried numbers in THE LITTLE RED LIBRARY. power of veto over any worker's pro- posal.” Twin Menaces Shown, In closing, Loeb pointed out that, vhile ostensibly the American Feder- ation of Labor is opposed to, and fight- ‘ng against company unions, in prac- tice many trade unions are brothers of company unions and unless the left wing takes action, class collabora- tion will become the first order of business for the labor bureaucracy. In proof of this statement, he cited the railroad brotherhoods, the machinists and the clothing workers. A donation of $20 was made to the International Labor Defense for the Zeigler miners as a result of a collec- tion, ul THE DAIL¥ WORKER NORTH AND JUDD FOUNDRY COLLAPSES KILLING 2; FORTY BURIED iN RUINS NEW BRITAIN, Conn., Feb. 4.— Two men are dead, six others fatal- ly injured and at least forty persons are buried in the ruins of the North & Judd Manufacturing company foundry bullding which collapsed under the weight of snow on its roof, Firemen began digging into the ruins, seeking either to save lives or ot recover bodies. About forty to sixty workers were in the build- Ing. The collapsed ‘building was about 100 feet wide by 250 feet long. As the roof went In, the end walls swayed and an instant later the side walls went down, Get Eight Jurors in Trial of Coal Miners at Zeigler, Illinois (Continued from page 1) klansman resulted in a general .scrim- mage during which’ Mike Sarovich, a progressive, was shot to death by Alec Hargis, a notorious klansman. Instead of Hargis being indicted, Frank Cor- bishly, a brother of the progressive local president was framed-up on a murder charge, and a score of other miners, with Henry Corbishly and Matt Crnoevich at their head, indicted for assault with intent to, and con- spiracy to murder, Immediately after- ward, these progressives’ leaders, Cor- bishly, Crnoevich, Skibinski, and an- ther were suspended from the union by the machine. Labor Defense Fight Case. This prosecution, which is a most obvious and brazen frame-up, is the outcome of the long fight of the miners against the policies of the re- actionary union machine, the rule of the operators and the ku klux klan, The International Labor Defense is in charge of the defense of the miners, and has sent I.E, Ferguson to the trial to co-operate with the local de- fense lawyers, Messrs. White and Morgan. It is expected that the selection of jurors will be accomplished in a short time, and the trial proceeded with. I. L. D. Mass Meeting Raises Funds for Many Labor Cases 1. L. D. Press Service. NEW YORK.—4 large crowd at- tended a mass ting arranged by the International Labor Defense, New York section, to help the Pittsburgh, Zeigler and Ford cases. Ben Gitlow spoke in detail about the Zeigler frameip, where 20 union miners are facing long terms of im- prisonment, and about the Pittsburgh cases of the ten Communists who were indicted and charged with vio- lation of the state sedition laws. Their cases are now pending. He made an appeal to the audience to support and join the International Labor Defense. Robert Dunn acted as chairman. A collection of $175! was made, The proceeds of the meeting will be used to help the Zeigler, Pittsburgh and Ford cases. Are you going to give? Make it a book on Communism! Fight Farrington and Bosses’ Courts (Continued from page 1) ognized that the twtenty-four venire men present at the opening of the trial would not be sufficient, and or- ders were issued to bring in others from the north and eastern part of the county which is a farming dis- trict. By the close of the session 128 venire men had been brot in. Both the prosecution and the defense have 130 challenges on prospective jurymen, and from the results thus far it seems as if all the challenges on both sides will be used. From the start it ‘was seen that this case is of the greatest political im- portance. The defendants represent the rank and file of the miners’ union and the case was launched against them by the sub-district officials rep- resenting the Farrington machine of the union which is closely linked up with the operators and the Small ad- ministration in the state: Even in the tedious examination of the prospective jurors this was seen. The prosecution was willing to accept miners who were members of the Ori- ent local of the United Mine Workers because that is the local of Lon Fox, sub-district president, and it was taken for granted that they would be favorable to the administration, An- other miner who admitted voting in the last sub-district election but did not know that Henry Corbishley was the opposition candidate was accept- able to the prosecution. On the other hand two railroaders, a brakeman and a switchman, were not acceptable to them, Play on National Hatreds. In the examination of the prospec- tive jurymen the question of “foreign- ers” plays an important part since all except three of the defendants are for- elgn-born workers, The state's attor- ney read off the names of the defend- ants with evident relish ‘for the for- eign sounding names and “sauvely an- nounced that “foreigners” entitle: to “fair and impartial in as wel as native-born, but that “foreigners” are also liable to the penalty of the law if they commit a crime. The defense also took up this mat- ter and questioned the prospective jurors if they belonged to any organ- ization which had for its object the restriction of foreign immigration, or the exclusion of foreigners. This question throws up the matter of the ku klux klan since in this country one is either for or against the klan. This triad goes far beyond the ques- tion of whether D. B. Cobb was beat up by some workers. The question at issue is whether or not the miners’ union is to be an instrument of collab- oration with the operators at the ex- pense of the wages and conditions of the workers, The infamous statement of Frank Farrington at the last min- ers’ district convention-——“Don't ané tagonize, inerease production and load clean coal’—expresses the pol- icy of the union officialdom while the brave and stubborn fight of the pro- gressive rank and filers against sac- rifieing the interests of the miners for the sake of the operators’ profits is the stand of the defendants in this case. Miners of Illinois on Trial. The defendants on trial are not merely this handful of progressive leaders of Zeigler local union, The real defendants are the coal miners of Illinois in the persons of these courageous fighters against the policy of giving in to the bosses represented by Farrirngton and his official family. The trial and conviction (if it is secured) of these miners is to be a warning to the rank and file of the union of what will happen to those who dare to rebel against Farrington and his friends tie operators. Be- cause of this the International Labor Defense, by throwing tts full strength into the defense of these miners, is performing a gr service for the miners of this state and the working class in general, mt ag ER a Bl RI EE 0 SR Bi Ble Rh I A iB IE a a OO ii ier is AA, Lc TRE A, BOO 2 tle Beit tl Me acl I De DOD, te Ms AE. Communists Challenge Capitalists to Battle in Debate in Chicago By J. LOUIS ENGDAHL. TOPAY: the hopes of a debate between a Communist and a capitalist are not so good, if the capitalists heed the hysterical warning of George W. Hinman, financial writer of Hearst’s Chicago Herald-Examiner. Yet, if the capitalists look at his advice in.another way, they will accept the challenge to debate issued by the Work- ers (Communist) Party. It is merely another example of the ability of the Hearst writers to argue both ways. oe @e Hinman presents this pictur: “For 20 years the writer has known revolutionists and their literature. They have a number of revolutionary books and cover every field of life. They read and study and argue as only zealots can. They know exactly what they are after and why. “They paper the world with their 10-cent booklets. Those who have not time for the booklets are fed full with the 600 or 600 revolution ary newspapers and periodicals that flood the country every week. “With a revolutionist thus educated against big business, a Chicago ° bank president WOULD HAVE NO MORE CHANCE IN A DEBATE THAN A COTTON-TAIL RABBIT. THIS IS NO GUESS, THE WRITER HAS MADE HIS OWN TESTS.” This would indicate that Hinman would not like to see some bank president or public utility magnate debate with a Communist, altho he rather overstates the situation. Com- munists can hardly boast of 500 to 600 newspapers and periodicals, altho they hope to achieve that goal. eee @ But Hinman also warns the great capitalists that they must read up. Here is the other viewpoint: “What big businessmen have got to do is to educate themselves first. If they are going to defend themselves against the teachings which play a part in every great strike .... the big businessmen have got to learn what is the matter—learn for themselves.” What better way, therefore, for “the tired businessman,” who doesn’t like to read anything stronger than “Saucy Stories,” to get acquainted with the issues at stake, than to attend a “Communism vs. Capitalism” debate? . * * . This week the engagement of Mrs. Samuel Insull, wife of the multi-millionaire guardian of Chicago's capitalist destinies, comes to an end at the LaSalle Theater. “Sammy” has spent hordes of money for publicity for his wife's theatrical ambitions and the “Gold Coast” audi- ences have not been so good. The same theater might be engaged for the proposed debate. “Sammy’ Insull, himself, would make a good Com- munist opponent. ‘He knows the capitalist game. We offer to provide him with free literature to read up on the Com- munist side. More than that, we promise him an audience many times larger than any that attended his wife’s appear- ance in “The School of Scandal.” If it is education that the big businessmen need, as Hinman states, then it is up to In- sull to help provide it for them thru the proposed debate, . ° . But the struggle between the working class and the capitalist class is not merely a paper affair, to be decided thru the distribution of books and pamphlets, as Hearst's writer infers. The capitalist class, or any ruling class for that matter, has always had the paper and ink on its side. It has this advantage today, especially in its daily newspapers of tre- mendous circulations. But the great social forces are always on the side of the oppressed. Capitalism, like all preceding social orders, moves towards its doom. Thru their literature the Communists point out why this is so. The Communists organize the work- ers to take over the power that must drop from the struggling hands of the exploiters. Communists would like to tell these things to the cap- italists in a debate, not because they hope to convert the enemies of the working class, but because this would help bring the Communist idea before increased masses of work- ers. That is what the capitalists fear. That will be the big reason why they will refuse to debate. That is also the reason why they refuse to furnish a speaker to oppose the recognition of the Union of Soviet Republics in a debate before the Chicago Forum as already announced in The DAILY WORKER. Cleveland Forms Relief Committee (Continued from page 1) ag day, Other suggestions were made such as collections of clothes, etc. A motion was also made that the dele- gates recommend to their organiza- tions that each member donate one hour’s pay to the striking miners. Del- egate Sulovysky of the Slovak Work- ers’ Sick Benefit Society reported that the national organization had contri- buted $10,000 for relief. The conference decided to call it- self the “Cleveland Workers’ Con- ference for Miners’ Relief.” An ex- ecutive committee of 11 was elected, and upon convening elected Goorge Schwartz of the joint board of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers as president, and J. A. Hamilton as sec- retary. The following resolution was adopt- ed by the conference: “Whereas, 155,- 000 anthracite miners have been on strike for more than five months and are conducting a splendid strugg! against a lowering of their conditions; and “Whereas this strike is beginning to cut down the resources of the min- erg and is resulting in suffering and misery to the miners and their fam- ies; and : ‘Whereas against the anthracite miners stand arrayed the united coal operators supported by the govern: ment and determined to deprive the miners of one of their most powerful weapons—the strike; and “Whereas i tis the duty of the work- Ing class as a whole to stand behind the fighting miners in this struggle; “Therefore, be it resolved, that this conference of workers of Cleveland, representing trade unions and frater- nal organizations, sends its heartiest greetings’to the fighting miners of the anthracite, northern it Virwinia me 4 rat and the other sections now on strike, and pledges its ‘full support in raising relief in their behalf; and be it fur- ther “Resolved, that we call upon thé anthracite miners to make the strike 100 percent amd accept the demand of tens of thousands of striking min- ers that the maintenance men be call- ed out and thereby strike a blow that. will bring the operators to terms.” The resolution was unanimously adopted. Bulgarian Progressive Club Concert Sunday GARY, Ind., Feb. 4.—The Bulgarian Progressive Club is giving a concert at the Turner Hall, 14th and Washing- ton streets, Sunday evening, Feb, 7. Put a copy of the DAILY WORKER in your pocket when you go to your union meeting. The Chicago General Group concert Saturday night, March 13, Theatre), Wabash Ave. and Eight Educational League. will be announced in a few days. | to refrain from arranging affairs’ erry CHICAGO LEFT WING TO HOLD INTERNATIONAL CONCERT AT ARYON GROTTO ON MARCH 13 League and the Needle Trades Section has arranged an International press in the needle trades and the A big musical program has been arranged for the occasion which BAN ON MOORE REVOKED AFTER STRONG PROTEST Labor Editor Can Attend Federated Press Meet Following the storm of protest by the member papers of the Federated Press on the barring of T. EB. Moore, editor of the One Big. Union Bulle- tin of Winnipig, Canada, the commis- sioner of immigration at Washington has revoked the order to bar Moore. Moore will be able to aftend the ai nual meeting of the Fedefated Press that will be held in Chicago for two days. Yesterday morning the Federated Press received the following telegram from its~ Washington correspondent Laurence Todd: “Admission Moore ordered today. ‘ Miners’ Committee Demands Lewis Stand by Union Demands (Continued from page 1). by the bosses he will certainly have a job choking it down the throats of the miners at the ratification conven- tion, a ae ee re ee eS rere rear tenereceese a orem oeeillll eAccept Relief Offer, The next question considered by the body was the question of relief. Delegate Edmunds of Local Union 699, Edwardsville, a member of the exec- utive board read to the body a tele- gram from Bishop William Mostgo- mery Brown offering the assistance of the International Workers Aid to the striking miners. Pro-Lewis dele- gates argued against acceptance, stat- ing all relief was distributed thru the district and international office of the union. This brought a hearty laugh from the body, for delegates stated the relief obtained from this source— after they fight a long time to get it going thru yards of red tape—is in- sufficient to meet the needs of their members. A delegate stated his local union applied for relief several months ago and when committee after com- mittee tried to collect it they finally received $500 for their membership of 1,500 for five months strike! This was 33 cents per member! The relief received thru these sources js in- sufficient and the necessity of the general assembly forming a relief ap- paratus was stressed by all delegates who spoke in favor of accepting the offer of the International Workers Aid, Miners Starve—No Relief. Some of the delegates who at first were not in favor of accepting the re- lief offer finally voted for the measure after the necessity of accepting relief from any source was brought home to them. Delegates reported scores of families—actually starving, with- out coal and clothes,—yet nothing is done. A motion was unanimously adopted to accept the offer of the International Workers Aid and invite Bishop Brown by telegram to address their next meeting. Early in the meeting the body unan- imously adopted a motion of the Ed- wardsville delegation to extend the floor to the writer, in attendance as a correspondent of the DAILY WORK- ER, ovet the protest of the Pro-Lewis delegates who left the meeting before the vote was taken, rather than re- main and listen to the speech. Attack Lewis Policies, The nesessity of relief to the mem. bership, the calling out of the main- tenance men, for a 100% strike of all coal miners, attacking the policies of Cappellini and Lewis and their con- duct of the strike and expressing op- position to Lewis repudiation of the tri-district convention demands were some of the points covered in the short talk. The general mbly unanimously passed a vote of appre- ciation. Finnish Workers’ Club Formed in Berkeley BERKELEY, Cal., Feb, 4 At a meeting attended by about 65 work- ers at Comrades’ Hall, a new organ- ization was launched. The name of the organization is to be “The Finnish Workers’ Association” of Berkeley. The purpose of the organization is to develop the talents of the workers and to arrange lecture courses, hold mass meetings and arrange speakers for them. Aa i hl itis ila ec llega gist iat Russian Peasants. URALSK, U. S. 8. R., Feb, 4—The peasants of Tashinsk, Iletz county, have installed a flour mill in the vil- lage church, of the Trade Union Educational at the Aryon Grotto (Eight Street St., for the benefit of the left wing ineral work of the Trade Union All friendly organizations are asked for that date. %