The Daily Worker Newspaper, February 18, 1926, Page 5

THE DAILY WORKER LIBBY CANNERY. LEADS IN RANKS OF EXPLOITERS Whole Families Slave in Order to Live By: A Worker Correspondent. KENT, Wash., Feb. 16—The» earn- ings of a whole family working from eight to twenty hours daily in the Libby MeNeil and Libby cannery in Kent, Wash., are necessary to main- tain a family in tolerable decency. In true old-fashioned cotton mill style fathers, mothers and children, most of them protestant-nordic whites, seize gratefully and humbly the op- portunity of combining their efforts in order to live according to “American Standards.” Ruled by Iron Heel, Men are paid from thirty to thirty- five cents an hour; boys twenty-five cents an hour; and women’ twenty- seven and one-half cents an hour when they are not doing piece work. The manager, who it is rumored, re- ceives but 150 dollars a month and the forelady who receives forty cents an hour, are inexorable in their de- mands for speeding up, altho they also are ruled by the iron hand. This “iron hand” is the competition be- tween the various branches of the company for “efficiency.” The manag- er of the Kent cannery in 1924 re- ceived a cash prize for adding to the profits of Libby McNeil and Libby by exploiting! the workers, thereby achieving the distinction of being the second in rank of “efficiency.” Who knows but that the balancing of 1925 accounts may show that the ambitions of the local manger have been real- ized, and that Kent cannery leads all the rest in service to stockholders? The Washington eight-hour law is not as much a thorn in the side of an ambitious manager, as it is an occa- sional annoying tickle. Women can- nery employes are excluded from the limitations of the law since they are workers on perishable fruits and vege- tables. This provision. of the statute is interpreted by the state department of labor and industries to include pre- paration and canning of sauerkraut and dill pickles which are kept in vats for indefinite periods, and beets which obviously are not perishable within a reasonable time. Women frequently label and dbox «cans. for more than eight hours, which even the department of labor and indus- tries admits is not legal. Work Day and Night. Altho I never worked more than eleven and one-half hours in one day, frequently the men and boys worked all day and all night, and again the next day if they were able. Time and one-half for overtime was not even to be considered. Libby McNeil and Libby is one of the largest packing companies in the world. It preserves and cans fruits, vegetables, Hawaiian pineapple, sal- mon, pickles, condiments, milk and meats, These products are prepared principally in Ilinois, Wisconsin, In- diana, Michigan, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, New York, Alaska, and Hawaii. The company has large real estate holdings, owns refrigerator and other cars for transportation, and a number of ocean going vessels and floating equipment for the Alaska sal- mon canneries, Swift & Company controlled Libby MeNeil and Libby until 1918, when the packing trust was dissolved by su- preme court decision. Five members of the Swift family, however, are members of the board of directors. Of the authorized capital stock about eighty per cent is seven per cent cu- mulative preferred, while about twenty per cent’ is common, Cincinnati Business Agent Fails Workers By a Worker Correspondent CINCINNATI, Ohio, Feb. 16—The drivers for the Hubig Pie company of this city demand that business agent Jacob Hesselbrook, of the union, state why he did not carry out his promise to secure them union conditions. When the factory first opened up all the drivers joined’ the organization, paying $5 for the first month’s dues and as part of their initiation fee. He promised them to unionize the place but for two months did nothing more about it. When he dropped around for the third month’s dues the men told him they would not pay another cent unless his promise was carried out, even if they would have to strike, He refused to do anything with the vesult that the drivers at this. estab- Mshment have all dropped the union, The union scale calls tor $35 a week plus commissions. The Hubig Pie company drivers are getting only $25, It is business agents such as this which make it difficult to organize the workers, We hope The DAILY WORKER will give publicity to this matter and thus help us in our strug- gle to get organized. “The power of the working ofass is organization, Without organization of the masses, the proletariat—is noth. ing. Organized—it is all. Organiza tion is unanimity of action, unanimity of practical activities.” 4 This Week’s Prizes! Send in a story—make it short, give the facts, and a prize may be yours! ¢ No, 1—First prize will be a new book now on the press: “The Awakening of China,” by. James H, unusual book. Dolsen. A beautiful edition of an No, 2*-“Bars and Shadows,” by Ralph Chaplin, as a second prize of a book of beautiful working class poems written in Fort Leaven- worth prison. No. 3—Makes an attractive third prize: “The Russell-Scott Nearing Debate” on the Soviet form of government. . Write---Rush---Order a Bundle of the issue in which your story appears! By a Worker Correspondent of Mass, Michigan, ED FALCON of 19 summers, up- right, straightforward, and very conscientious, toiled from dawn to dusk, at the Bethlehem Steel plant at Mass, Michigan, sweating all over for just a measly féw dollars a week. He was an ardent anti-Bolshevik, but it wasn’t ‘his fault; he was brot up in the public schools of America and read the Hearst papers. He was a “patriot,” a 100 per cent American and he boasted of it wherever he went. Ned was on his way home from work. As he trudged along the road to his home, he again thot of those two girls the police arrested that morning for giving away DAILY WORKERS at the gates. He had seen those two girls and somehow to arrest them for giving away papers didn’t seem right. His best friends at the plant read that paper. They liked it, too, Of course he didn’t read it, he was off that “red” stuff, but he knew one thing those boys were good kids. Just then Big Sam walked by him, reading The DAILY WORKER. Ned felt queer inside. “Say Sam!” “Aw go kiss your flag,” was the re- ply because Ned was known around the mills as the “pure American.” Sam’s reply went like a shot thru Ned. It pained him to be called down for sticking up for “his flag.” OWEVER he pulled himself to- gether. He tidied his bunk as was his habit when he — returned . from work at night because he didn’t have time in the morning, and after a while he was munching away on bread and eating pork and beans, but he didn’t feel right, inside. All of a sudden he Jumped up. “The DAILY WORKER, I must get it.” In a fraction of a second he was in his partner’s room. “Hello,” exclaimed Jim. “Say, Jim, how's chance to read .. er... er, that DAILY WORKER?..” “Aw go cook an onion,” but before Jim could say another word he wit- nessed the most astonishing sight in all his born days.’ Ned wag reading The DAILY WORKER! He sank down on the cot and stared at him. But not once did Ned lift his eyes off the paper and Jim thot, “Well, I'll bet he orders it now.” Several days passed. Ned was dif- ferent. Everyone wondered; even the boss noticed it. Ned was not so will- ing to work overtime for nothing. He had changed. THE MAKING OF A "RED OBODY ever took notice of the pa- per Ned read but one day while re- turning from work, Jim stepped into Ned’s room. He was reading The DAILY WORKER! Jim walked up to him and the two men looked into each other’s eyes for a few moments and then there was a long, warm hand- clasp. The boys at the plant were over- joyed for they really liked Ned. They would hover around him, want to say something, they were so overpowered by their emotions they would just shake his hand for all worth and keep on repeating, “Good for you, old boy” and pat him on the back. Then one day Ned called them to- gether and showed them his story that appeared in the Workers’ Corre- spondence page. Ned was a Worker Correspondent for The DAILY WORKER! “It’s all there, and no lies either,” he protdly told them. “I'm glad I can now work for the bet- terment of my class that is being ground undeg the heel of the bosses thru hunger and overwork. I’m red, boys, not yellow anymore,” and he winked his eye knowingly at his friends, “I'm glad I’m young and sttong ahd I’m going to fight with every ounce of my strength for the workers’ and farmers’ government of the United States and the world!” and up went three cheers for Ned that shook the walls of the old shack. PROLET-TRIBUNE NO. 5, RUSS LIVING NEWSPAPER, WILL BE OUT FEB, 20 The next issue of Prolet-Tribune, the Russian living newspaper, will be out Saturday, Feb. 20, at the Workers’ House, 1902 W. Division St. It willl be the fifth number of the paper. Beginning at 8 P. M, Admission 25 cents, Aor Fue Thousand Mew dibs to THE DAILY WORKER - Brought 3,006 Subscriptions It is no modest accomplish- ment. In less than five weeks this was made possible only thru the loyal and untiring ef- forts of many workers who found in The Daily Worker an organ that daily fights in their interests and gives them leadership and inspiration in their day to day struggles. To all these workers— Commu- nists, sympathizers — brothers in arms—The Daily Worker and the Communist movement expresses its gratitude. The LENIN DRIVE like all campaigns is but a means to stimulate a never ending campaign. Until the workers have “All Power”—the task of building our press is the task for EVERYDAY. THE LENIN DRIVE I$ OVER— cap But don’t lay down your tools! On to the goal 19271 50,000 READERS BY | have the guardianship of the holy they were) VATICAN PLANS TO CONTROL THE LEAGUE COUNCIL Pope Wants to Guard the Bones of the ‘Saints’ (Special to The Daily Worker) ROME, Feb, 16.—The entrance of the vatican into the struggle for con- trol of the council of the league of nations has complicated an already involved situation, The pope is urg- ing all Roman catholic countries which are members to back the de- mand for the »inclusion of Spain, Poland, and Brazil to permanent seats in the governing body of the organ- ization. Cardinal ,Gasparri, the papal secretary of state, has been trying to line up the diplomats of these coun- tries so as to pnesent a solid catholic bloc to. support; the proposal at the March assembly of the league when Germany’s application is to be acted upon. A number of influential British pa- pers are bitterly opposing the admis- sion of these three nations, as it is also reported are some members of the English cabinet tho Austen Cham- berlain is said to have given the scheme his approval. Opponents claim the scheme is designed to give the French three votes to offset that of Germany, which, it is presumed, will be generally behind British policy. Catholics to Guard the Bones. One explanation of the vatican’s in- terference is that the pope wants to places in catholic hands. The league mandate which gave Great Britain jurisdiction over Palestine put these} places under the control of the con- suls at Jerusalem of those nations which are permanently represented in the league council. If the vatican’s intrigue succeeds catholics will guard the dust and bones of. the monks and other alleged holy men of centuries ago, many of whose sole claim to “be remembered consists in their incre- dible ability to live in the midst of filth, without a bath for years at a time. Countess Karolyi Wants Kellogg to Give Real Reason for Barring Her WASHINGTON, Feb., 16—Secretary of State Kellogg»was called upon by Countess Karolyi, wife of the first president of the ,Hungarian republic, to state more. specifically his reasons for baring her from the United States as “dangerous and undesirable.” In reply to Kellogg’s answer to her court petition that she be granted a passport, the countess declared, thru counsel, that American immigration laws do not bar her entry, Chilean Planes Arrive Safely in Buenos Aires BUNEOS AYRBS, Feb. 16—Arman- do Castro, the Chilean aviator, pilot- ing one of a squadron of three planes which started across the Andes as a gesture of welcome to the Spanish trans-Atlantic fliers, arrived here safely today. One of the other planes crashed at Caracoles, Chile, and the pilot was reported close to death. The third plane has not been heard from. By ALEX REID. Sec’y Progressive. Miners’ Committee. HG trial of the thirteen militant miners from Zeigler, Hl. at the court in Benton on the framed-up charge of conspiticy and attempt to kill D, B. Cobb, vice-president of Sub- district Nine of’ District Twelve is now over and we can calmly view the farce in all its hideous phases, At the opening of the trial, thé Far- rington machine clearly showed their part in the frameup. The Farrington machine was represented at the trial by board member Darby Babbington. Many miners at the trial stated that the board member was wanted in many mining camps to adjust griev- ances of the miners for which they were paying him, but instead of car- ing for the miners’ contractual rights, he was busy at the time aiding in the prosecution of the victims of the frame-up. A Farrington Jury, IGE WALKER, another henchman of the Farrington gang was in close conference with the prosecu- tion of the victims at the trial, These two, with Ezzie Hindman, sub-district treasurer, and the notorious traitor to the miners, Lon Fox, aided the state's attorney to choose the jury. No man was accepted by the state’s attorney on the jury until/the Farrington gang was conferred with, and satisfied, The Jury was composed of twelve farmers, and the examination of each juror showed at the beginning of the trial, that an attempt was to be made to pack the jury against any militant of Page Five 2ST sernaton ror acme meter RS RRS aE ae ee ESET REY RRR PE Ne rt British Lefts Show Way to Victory (Continued from page 1) editorially, calling for the “transform- action of the labor party into a labor party.” The paper continued: “As long as the trade unions remain the rock on which the labor party is built, there is no danger of it becoming a purely liberal party.” The slogan was put forward: “A left wing bloc within the labor party—to fight for unity and win it!” National Left Wing Conference is Held. Quickly the tide of opinion swung} to the third course. A suggestion from a member of the Birmingham left wing’group that a “series of district conferences be called with the object of strengthening the local organiza- tions and binding them togethe: -.. “to be followed by a national meet- ing at which a national executive should be elected and a common policy hammered out” met with in- creasing approval. This national conference was held the end of last year under the chair- manship of J. Southall, of the Birming- ham independent labor party, Among those present were well-known labor party members of parliament, trade inion leaders, members of the Plebs league, the Communist Party, and the independent labor party. The resolu- tion submitted by the chairman (I L. P.) as a basis for the discussion called on “all workers—to work together as a militant left wing in all their res- pective spheres of activity.” While warning against the formation of a new party, “no barrier... should pre- vent united action to advance the principles... of (1) world trade union unity, (2) national trade union unity, (3) solidarity between British labor and the oppressed workers of the empire, (4) a policy for the next labor party government aiming at the over- throw of the capitalists class, and (5) workers’ self-defense against fascism.” After an extended discussion in which such delegates as William Paul, Hicks, Tom Mann, C. L, 'Estrange Malone, and others approved the resolution, it was decided to postpone action for a month in order to work out the whole plan of action more carefully. The conference was very anxious to avoid any step which might result in a dual organization to the regular labor movement, gither to its economic or political form. Lansbury Still Strong for ‘Democracy’ Lansbury’s Labor Weekly, tho ad- mitting it had been responsible for calling a left wing conference some time previous, to which the Commun- ists had been invited, attacked the conference called by the Sunday Worker on the ground that the inclu- sion in the agenda of the repeal of the Liverpool decision against the Communists meant a movement which would finally split the labor party. Lansbury’s position is one of opposi- tion to what he considers the “unde- mocratic” methods of the left wing grouped about the Sunday Worker. He has been trying to get the -exec- utive of the labor party in parliament *|to carry on a more vigorous fight against the government, advocating a policy of obstruction of all measures. 1. L. P. Executive Refuses United Front. Efforts of the central executive of the Communist Party to establish a united front with the independent la- bor party on certain questions have met with the refusal of the latter or- ganization. The I. L. P. executive re- plied, stating that while they protest- ed against the arrest by the govern- ment of members of the Communist Party executive, this protest was due the miners with a foreign name, of any deferldant who had fought against the coal company or against the Far- rington and the republican machine. The miners convicted are all well known in Zeigler and that community and well respected, All are militant miners who have consistently fought for their contractual rights in the miners’ union, and fought against the betrayals by the Farrington machine, which resulted, after many a long ser- ies of betrayals by the union officials, in the present putrid frame-up. Such well known militant miners as Henry Corbishley, and his brother Frank, with the two bfothers Sim- mich, Mike Karadich, Eddie Maleski, and Steve Meanovich, are sentenced to from one to ten years in prison. Those acquitted are Charles Corbishley, Matt Crnoevich, William Bartash, Pete Blazin, and Marion Sojat. The defense immediately moved for a new trial, Arguments for the same will be held on March 29, 1926, Court Aided Traitors. LL thru the trial, the defendants were denied introduction of any testimony that would show up the treason of the labor fakers who were responsible for the trial, At every mention of any of the surrenders of the miners’ wages and working con- ditions, by the Farrington’ gang, the prosecution immediately objected and the objection was sustained by the court, The prosecution based their testi- mony on the good character of the vice-president and the testimony of friends, that the militant miners attacked: Cobb without cause, to their belief in free speech, Because of the difference in method between the parties (referring particularly to the Communists’ recognition that cap italism finally will be overthrown only by ‘an armed struggle), they preferred to conduct their campaign quite inde- pendently, @evertheless, many indi vidual members of the I. L. P. strong- ly criticized this policy of isolation and a number of locals agreed to hold joint demonstrations with the Com munists. I. L. P, Press Urges New Policy. The influence of the united front agitation of the Communists is more evident in the changed attitude of the two official independent labor party papers, The New Leader and the For. ward. The New Leader, of Dec, 4 urges that the International Federa tion of Trade Unions (Amsterdam, yellow International—Ed. note) “take the common sense procedure and in. vite the Russian unions to an uncond tional conference on unity.” It points out that “If this step were to succeed, one might even hope for politics unity as the next inevitable step.” This, change of front found exp) sion also in the Forward. In the issue of Dec. 12 and 13, Emrys Hughes, act ing editor, stated that the refusal of the Amsterdam International to agre« to the British proposals for a united front with the Red Trade Union In- ternational “lacks all sense of reason. . . . If the Third International (or the Red International) is prepared to frankly discuss outstanding differ- ences at a conference of this kind, it is difficult to see what is likely to be gained by frankly refusing to meet them.” To Put Unity Up to The Yellows The work of agitation for world trade union unity is thus beginning to show positive results. Moreover, the National Administrative Council of the independent labor party has coun- tered the demands by its decision to ask the Second International at its next session to propose a united front with the Third International, Bakery Workers’ Union Convention Will Be Held on ‘August 9 The 19th national gathering of the Bakery & Confectionary Workers’ In- ternational Union will convene in New York August 9, the headquarters in Chicago announces in a circular to the 219 local unions. “The most difficult problem which our organization faces at this time,” the bakery worker officials say, “is the ever increasing tendency of monopoli- zation and trustification within the baking industry. While but a few years ago we only had to deal with comparatively small corporations cap- italized at a million dollars, today we are being brought face to face with gigantic combinations which boast of a capitalization of more than $600,000, 000 in one instance, and the end of these consolidations is not to be seen.” Fight Open-Shop. SAN . FRANCISCO — (FP) — Union building trades mechanics are starting a huge educational campaign to abol- ish the open shop in San Francisco, setting April as the deadline after which no union men will be allowed to work on any job which employs nonunion men, The Bay District coun- cil of Carpenters initiated the move- ment. A similar fight was lost in 1921, but the unions feel strong enough for a new test. IMPEACH FARRINGTON-FOX-COBB MACHINE FOR ZEIGLER FRAME-UP, SAYS INTERNATIONAL MINERS’ PROGRESSIVE COMMITTEE that he was innocent of any provo- cation and that a conspiracy existed to kill him. It was early seen in the trial that it was the leaders of the miners that the prosecution intended to railroad to prison. The leaders of the Zeigler miners, notably Henry Corbishley, who for years has fought consistently for the miners and against the betrayals of their wages and work- ing conditions by this same gang of fakers led by Frank Farrington, The Farrington machine knew that as long as Corbishley was in Zeigler the machine could not get by with their betrayals, and with the stealing of the election, The miners have been long disgusted with this tribe of flukes, and they knew that their time in office was to be of short duration unless something desperate was done. Notwithstanding the fact that it was proved clearly by dozens of witnesses that Corbishley was not in the hall when the attack was made he is found guilty by the farmer jury. Republicans Aid in Frame-up, To trial is the climax of along ser- jes of betrayals and a superhuman effort to clean out all opposition to the Farrington machine once and for all. The spectacle of miners’ leaders go- ing into a capitalist court to prosecute its own members, with its own mem- bers’ money, is one of the most brazen insulta# and high handed pieces of treachery the Illinois miners have ever known. Not only is thé sub-dis- cialdom behind this trial, but ‘on, with the republican party is algo lined up to ald in the railroad- ing of the militants, in payment for the Support ofthe Farrington machine WOMEN WORKIN. JAPANESE MINES ALMOST NAKED American Miner Reports Oriental Conditions (Federated Press Staff Correspondent) W YORK, Feb. 16 — Women work in Japanese coal mines under the most wretched conditions, reports Powers Hapgood, member of the United Mine Workers of America, who is ning to Penns; ania after working in mines in many countries, “On Kyushu Island—the center of the coal industry, I got into two big oal mines, one of them being a deep shaft employing three thousand work- rs,” Hapgood w s. “For the first time I saw women’ working under: ground. The mines were terribly ‘hot so that the men at the face (of the vein—Ed.) worked stark-naked except tor straw soles on their feet while the women wore nothing except feet pro- ectors and loin cloths not more than n inch wide in back and four or five in front Naked Women Work in Mines, “Jt was quite a shock to me in @ arrow tunnel with four or five inches of water on the bottom and squeezing roof with cracking timber overhead to be suddenly forced against the side while an all but naked woman came splashing thru the water, bending her knees and back to keep her head from: striking the low roof, carrying an oil safety lamp with one hand and with the other stea(lying a pole across her bare shoulder, at each end of which hung a heavy basket of coal that she was carrying from the face to the cars.” Girl Slaves in Textile Mills, Although Hapgood found less child labor in Japan than in China, he writes that he visited Japanese textile mills where feudalism is complete. The labor is 80% female and the girls sign contracts for three years. They live in barracks inside factory gates, are not allowed outside the walls the first three months, and after that only in large groups in charge of a matron. Japanese Labor Poorly Organized, The Japanese labor movement “is struggling along. The miners’ union has about 10,000 members out of 400,000 mine workers, and the other unions are not much better,” says Hapgood. After he was entertained by Osaka trade union leaders, the Japanese police kept a constant watch on him. Hapgood found his police companions good porters and rather amusing, Chinese Conditions Horrible, In China “industrial conditions are terrible. Little naked boys of six working twelve hours a day in the mines, girls of seven or eight and | mothers with nursing babies working twelve hour shifts seven days a week jin cotton and silk mills, and practi- cally no labor union. Life in the coun- |try districts is not so bad as in the industrial centers, Cotton Growers Join Coops | WASHINGTON — (FP) — Cotton |growers in the south, to the number of 280,000, have joined 15 state-wide |or regional co-operative marketing as- | Sociations, says the U. S. department jof agriculture. They market about |10 per cent of the American cotton jcrop. They are formed on the non- | profit plan. They operate annual pools jand sell their product throughout the | year, thereby getting an average of the year’s market price. to Governor Small and the republican party. The stench created in the Illinois | miners’ unfon by this frame-up is turn- | ing the stomach of every decent miner | in the state, and the miners will make this case one of thebig issues at the | next miners’ convention both in Pe- }oria and in Indianapolis. The miners of Sub-district Nine must immediately work for a special conv gftion to try Fox, Cobb and Hind- man! for their constitutional viola tions, both in the Zeigler case, and in the stealing of the ballots at the last election, The miners must couple to that the many betrayals of their conditions in Zeigler and thru-, out the sub-district, the stealing of the ballots from Buckner, ete., ete, Must Save Union. rT this condition of affairs is permit- ted much longer in the miners’ union, the miners will be worse og than if they had the superintendent as chairman, Thruout the whole dis- trict the Farrington machine is de | StroyIng the union, and ‘the time has | come to take a firm stand once and |for all against this treachery, The Zeigler frame-up is but an in- | stance of this hellish | collaboration with the bosses to rid the union of all | Opposition, What hapuened in the | Zeigler,case will happen in any other place of the miners’ union, if this case goes unchallenged, | MMnois Miners! Protest in your | local unions against the frame-up! | Demand the immediate trial of Far. rington and his machine for misuse of the miners’ money and théir trayal of the militant Zeigler Ca neerh snes a TT A A mm