The Daily Worker Newspaper, March 17, 1926, Page 4

aj |] 2 pl a st tr te ti te fi w T si fi h oe a ee ea ao Page Four THE DAILY WORKER EASY TO IMPOSE ON JURY WITH FINGERPRINTS Prints Can‘ Be Easily Forged by Police It’s easy to.fake a finger print and it is still easier under present court procedure to impose on a jury with- out any faking, as the finger print expert Albert Wehde discovered in a murder trial at Morrison, Ill, last month. Wehde was amazed at the vicious determination of the prosecution to convict John Cominsky of murder re- gardléess of the evidence Describing the obstacles to justice| raised by the prosecution he writes to the American Bar Assn.: No Chance to See Prints, “My only chance for an examina- tion of the latent impression of the fingerprint in the Com! y case, of a slightly enlarged photograph of that impression, and of a photograph of the defendant’s fingerprint enlarged on the same scale, was during a brief recess of the court. Had the two im- prints been at all similar, even slight- ly, I would have been unwilling to take the:stand in the absence of ade- quate time in which to make a thoro comparative study of those prints. In that . case the defendant probably would have received a death sen- tence.” The fingerprints though plainly dif- ferent were nevertheless sworn to be the same by two experts, one the) Chicago police fingerprint specialist, | hired by the prosecution. But the jury preferred to believe Wehde and acquitted the defendant. Explain Forging. “I wonder why, when the opinions of experts differ so widely as they | did in this case, when the truth is as plainly evident as a printed word, the public servants of justice do not take steps at-once to find out who is in error or who is deliberately com- mitting perjury,” Wehde wrote to Pres. Chester I. Long of the bar as- sociation. Not. only can fingerprints be frau- dulently transferred from an innocent place like a lunch counter top to an incriminating place like a poison bot- tle but genuine prints can be made to resemble other genuine prints by any one of a hundred tricks pf the Photo engraver. Raps State “Experts.” “Despite these facts,” Wehde ex- Plains, “the defense is not permitted to have its own expert make a photo- graph of the crime print, to study it, to pick out points of variance as the state picks out points of similarity. It must be satisfied with the word of the opposing expert that the photo- graph offered is a true likeness of the finger mark found at the scene of the crime.” SEND IN A SUB. Plumbers Helpers’ Club of Brooklyn, New York calls on all helpers to join the club. Meetings every | FRIDAY night, 8:30 p. m., 7 Thatford Avenue, Brooklyn, N. Y. | at ! ON EAT 25 cents THE RAILROADERS’ A practical solution of the problems of the railroad workers. Wardens Oppose Bar on Convict Labor; Seek Easy Money WASHINGTON—(FP)—Spokesmen of state governments that produce in their prisons large quantities of bind- er twine, shoes, shirts and other ar- ticles sold in the open market in oth- er states, are in Washington to op- pose the Cooper convict labor bill in hearings before the house labor committee, Organized labor and the organized manufacturers who employ union la-| bor spoke at a public hearing for the measure. It provides that convict- made goods made in one state and shipped into apother for sale or use shall be subject to state law where sold and used. The labor cost of work shirts made in prisons is about 5 cents, as against 22 cents in free fac- tories, ELECTRICITY AND. SPEED-UP MINE PERILS TREASURY HOPES FOR MORE 1927 TAX REDUCTIONS Mellon Figures Rich May Be Further Relieved (Special to The Daily Worker) WASHINGTON, March 15—Despite the fear expressed in official quarters that the government will “go in the hole” in 1927, figures prepared for secretary of the treasury Mellon in- dicate that there will be a substan- tial excess of receipts over expendi- tures for that year, it was learned today. On the basis of this assurance there is still 4 possibility of at least @ small reduction in taxes next year. Official figures show that the sur- plus June 30, this year, will go well over $100,000,000 in spite of tax re- ductions. Collections of income and corporation taxes for 1926 are ex- pected to be slightly over a billion dollars, while the 1927 collection is estimated at $1,050,000,000. Surplis Probable. “Unless congress authorizes appro- Bosses Neglect Safety Devices NEW YORK—(FP)—Speedups and electricity may, soon be the greatest hazard in American coal mines, de- clares D. Harrington, consulting engi- neer of Salt Lake City in the indus- trial safety. issue of the Annals of the American Academy of Political & Social Science. The use of electricity Harrington says, “looms as probably the greatest cause of future fires and explosions, as well as causing numer- ous electrocutions, etc., by contact.” Harrington blames the speedup or- ders by men who “frequently know lit- tle or nothing of coal mining—having been chosen because of family con- nections to higher officials” ete. for ruthlessly endangering workers lives by forcing disregard of safety meas- ures. The engineer charges that not only mining company officials but even miners are not fully informed on the best safety devices, though miners could not install safety devices any- way. He charges that fire bosses and foremen are too often ignorant and yet get by examinations that would’ make college graduates blink. He asserts that mining laws in most states are out of date and “practically never enforced.” Slayer’s Only Words on Murder Conviction Are: “That’s Tough” With virtually his:last hope shat- tered, Raymond Costello, slayer of 16- year-old Madelene White, sat in his cell yesterday, just 25. days separat- ing him from the.scaffold, and his only comment was: “That's tough.” Costello’s insanity plea in an at- tempt to escape the noose was re- |jected by a jury composed of three alienists, named by the Chicago Med- ical Association, who examined Cos- tello without a fee and pronounced him sane. Defense alienists attempt- ed to show Costello suffered from hal- lucinations. This is a new method !to be employed in insanity hearings. When the verdict was read the slay- er’s wife and mother were present in the courtroom. They made no com- ment. Costello, whose last hope now is the governor or the pardon board, evinced no emotion except to mutter: “That's tough.” STEP- material compiled briefly on portant subject. THE DAILY 15 Cents THE DAILY WORKER PUB. CO., 1113 W. Washington Bivd., Chicago, Ill. The Movement for World Trade Union By TOM BELL, Facts—figures—all the most exhaustive 1118 W. Washington Blvd, UNITY a most im- m a WORKER PUBLISHING CO, dincseicecenn hos TL, priations materially greater than are recommended in the budget, there will be a.surplus,” one treasury au- thority said. “A deficit is unlikely since congress usually appropriates less than is recommended, rather than more.” No estimate has been made for the 1927 surplus although it was unoffi- cially placed at from $20,000,000 to $50,000,000, provided business condi- tions continued as at present. Col- lection of income and corporation tax- es. under the new law will be consider- ably over the old which in 1925 yield- ed $915,000,000. Revised estimates of probable col- lections for the March quarter in- dicated an income of approximately $370,000,000 from income and corpora- tion taxes. It was stated that probab- ly $300,000,000 of this sum would be apportioned to debt retirement. In, addition to the tax collection the government will have available some- thing over a half billion dollars as the result of the 20-30 year 3% per cent bonds, upon which the subscription has been materially over-sold. The new bond issue will result in the re- tirement of a considerable amount of securities bearing higher interest rates and with the old bonds to be taken up thru funds available from tax eollections, the government will make a material saving on its inter- est bill. Coolidge Has Whip Hand. WASHINGTON, D: C.,; March 15 — The legislative program of congress with President Coolidge’s demand that all excessive money bills be discarded to prevent a possible treasury deficit as the result of the heavy tax cut. This word was brought to the/| White House today by Rep. Tilson, of Connecticut, Congressman’s Speech Shows Capitalist U. S. Government Is Rocking [conditions exist. PLYMOUTH, Wis., March 15—The |tinue to increase. These Scabs Will Never Scab Again! Conditions Too Rotten AUCKLAND, New Zealand—(FP)— They won't ever scab again! The nonunion volunteer crew who took the British steamer Arawa from Auckland to London at the time of the British seamen’s strike hag re- turned to New Zealand seething with indignation, They declare that the quarters were a positive disgrace, 30 men eating and sleeping in a place unfit for human beings. The officers treated them like dirt., Sanitary ar- rangements were primitive, and the men had no baths when they came off duty, only buckets of water. They were promised ‘protection in England, but there were no guards. Several times they wete in grave danger from union Brjtish seamen, who resented their préstnce. They were given third-class passages back and herded in the poorest’ quarters on the vessel. They were emphatic in stating that they woul@ “never scab again. " DEATH RATE OF NEGRO WORKERS AUSTRALIAN LABOR FIGHTS ANTI-UNION LAW Resist Act to Crush All Labor Organizations By W. FRANCIS AHERN. MELBOURNE—(FP) — The whole of Australian labor is on the warpath against the federal anti-labor gov. ernment’s attempt to crush trade un- ionism. The last week of January the government introduced a bill to amend the crimes act, to provide for imprisonment or deportation in case of industrial disturbance. To Deport Strike Leaders. Should a strike take place, the gov- ernor general would be empowered to issue a proclamation declaring the existence of a serious industrial dis- turbance.. Anyone who during the op- eration of such a proclamation urg- es, aids or encourages a lockout or strike affecting transport or the pub- lic service will be liable to a year’s jailing, and if not born in Australia to deportation. Obstructing or hinder- ing the work of scabs will constitute DOUBLE WHITE Segregation with Its Evils Cause Increase (Special to The Daily Worker) BALTIMORE, Md., March 15—The death rate among Negro workers in Baltimore is twice that among the white workers. According to the re- port of the health department for 1925, the death rate among Negro workers was 24.8 for every 1,000 popu- lation while for white workers it was but 12.8 for every 1,000 population. Tho the figure for the White worker has remained at about thé Same level for the past two years, the rate of death among the Negro workers has increased 22.6 over 1924! ! Tuberculosis, heart disease, pneu- monia, premature birth ahd injury at birth are among the chief! causes of the deaths of the Negro Workers, ac- cording to the death certifivates. Unsanitary Living Rlaces. Overcrowding, unsanitary living places are the chief causes behind the high death rate from, diseases that can easily be prevented or cured. The Negro worker is forced to live in segregated districts where the houses are badly ventilated and.in many sunlight never is seen. homes the Negro workers’ are forced 1as been modified to comply strictly;to live in have no windows in the room and oftentimes the gag jet must burn day and night. As far as plumb- ing is concerned it is of the worst. No attempts are made by. the land- lords to repair the houses or make them fit to live in. All they are con- cerned with is the making of profits and will go to any extreme to avoid making these homes® habitable. Organize Against Segfegation, The death rate of the Negro will not fall in Baltimore as ] as these The rate, will con- There*is but one Congressional Record, page 4945, con-| way for the Negro workérs to com- tains a speech delivered by Geo, Hud-|bat these evils and thatjis thru or dleston of Alabama in the House of Representatives February 19, 1926, en- titled, “Government by Organized Selfishness,” which sets forth how a well-organized minority influences the vast unorganized majority. The dis- course delivered by this southern con- gressman discloses that there are in the United States many organizations which have an interest at heart that they hold above the interest for state and national government. As a remedy to overcome this evil Mr. Huddleston advisgs the citizens to organize as citizens and defend the government of the United States from the organized minority composed of open-shop employers, members of chambers of commerce, bankers and merchants, Perhaps he should add that by disfranchising such open-shor employers, merchants, bankers and clergynfen the citizens could then or- ganize as citizens and set up a gov- ernment that would not be interfered with by the organized selfishness of @ greedy minority. All the efforts displayed by the rep- resentatives. of capitalism show that they are perplexed beyond their wits and that they are ready to resort to any, means available to overcome their difficult position except ‘surren- der to the mass of workers. All roads seem to lead to a revolution, a com- plete change of society and out of the decayed and overthrown society will arise a new society of free men and women enjoying life and happiness such as they are entitled to. Seek Safeguards for Child Workers a shearing, punching, ped with guards to protect hands, Fifty-six per cent of accidents to child workers are caused by machinery, George Alget’ Ot the Child Labor com- testified ‘ William M. Buttwr’s cliances for re- NEW YORK—(FP)— Three new rules are scheduled for incorporation in New, York state labor law ag re- sult of the heating by the industrial board. The new regulations provide that no child under 16 shall be per- mitted to operate any machine having pressing, squeezing, drawing or cutting action and that no worker of 16 to 18 shall be permitted to operate such ma- chines unless the machines are equip- ganizing strong groups of Negro workers in the American Negro labor congress and fighting for better liv- ing conditions and against the se- gregation that is practiced in the big industrial centers of the nation. Bosses Withdraw Their 54-Hour Week Law BOSTON—(FP)—Opposition to the textile manufacturers bill to lengthen working hours to 10 a day, 54 per week, instead of the present 48-hour limit was so great that the Massachu- setts legislature has jet the Ark- wright Club sponsoring it withdraw the bill. Opposition threatened to stir sentiment dangerous to ‘U. 8. Senator eee denial Organized a committee election, despite Butler’ that he favored the labor protested the bil hearings. an offense, Strong measures are set out against the formation of unlawful associa- tions, which are described as: Forbids Workers’ Organizations, “(A) Any body of persons incorpo- rated which by its constitution or propaganda or otherwise advocates or encourages: (1) The overthrow of the, government by revolution or sabo- tage; (2) the overthrow by force or violence of a state or of any other civilized country or of organized gov- ernment; (3) the destruction or in- jury of property of the state, or of property used in trade or commerce with other countries, or which is or purports to be affiliated with any or- ganizations which advocate or en- courage any of the doctrines or prac- tices specified in this paragraph. “(B) Any body of persons, incorpo- rated or unincorporated which by its constjtution or propaganda or other- wise, advocates or encourages the do- ing of any act having, or purporting to have, as an object the carrying out of a seditious intention.” Any person who advocates or in- cites to crime wifl be liable to 2 years’ jailing. The giving or solicit- ing of contributions for unlawful as- sociations will be punishable with six months’ imprisonment. There will be a similar penalty for the publica- tion or sale of books issued by unlaw- ful associations. Cleveland Unions Send Relief to Soft Coal Miners CLEVELAND — (FP) — The strike relief machinery set up for the anthra- cite miners by the Cleveland trade union movement is being diverted into the hopeful soft coal fields. The bricklayers sent $635 in cash and three crates of clothes, The garment work- ers have forwarded $1,000, the street- car men $700, the Cleveland Feder- ation of Labor $750 and other organ- izations have placed $1 assessments on their members, By the end of the month $10,000 will have been raised. Compensation Act Must Apply to Convicts on California Road-Gangs SAN FRANCISCO—(FP)—The test case of Robert Smith having been won, California convicts who are in- jured or killed while working on the road camps must now be considered employes of the state highway com- mission and subject to the provisions of the compensation act, Smith was blinded by a dynamite charge while serving a 5-year sentence for burglary. He will receive compensation for life, based on the wage of $2.10 a day paid to convicts who work on the roads, The Last Day of the Paris Com- mune. See it dramatized at the International Labor Defense com- memoration March 19 at Ashland Auditorium, AMERICAN anes: WORKERS RECEIVE LESS THAN $4 A DAY By LELAND OLDS, Federated Press. That the wage systém in America rests on hundreds of thousands of men averaging less than $4%@ day is reveal- ed in a U. S. departthent of labor survey of wage rates for common la- bor, Figures gathered from alt’ the major manufacturing industries in all parts of the country show that in January, 1926, the average wage rate for unskilled workers was 40.2c an hour, The low, high and average hourly rates by industries are: Cents per Hour Common Labor, Low High Ai January, 1926 age Automobile 35.0 62.5 46.6 Brick, tile, ete, 15.0 55.0 41.7 Cement 28.0 45.0 40.4 Electric equipm’t 810 50.0 41.6 Foundries, machine * shops 160 © 50.0 86.7 Tron & steel 23.4 600 411 Leather 22.5 50.0 40.7 Lumber 20. 45.0 30.6 Paper & pulp 22. 66.3 40.5 etroleum 3 62.0 49.1" feat packing 41.2 45.0 60.9 Such wage rates make the decent support of a normal family impossible. The low rate of 15c an hour means about $420 for the year based on 280 days of 10 hours. The high rate of 62.5c on an 8-hour basis means about $1,400 for a year’s work. The average of 40.2c give: man about $1,100 a year if we assume a 10-hour day. Nothing less than the 62.5¢ rate will provide a family of 5 with a bare sub- sistence Jet alone decency and com- fort. The unskilled laborer’s wage is the basic wage on which the entire wage system rests, At a pauper level it tends to drag all wages down, evén the wages of the most skilled work- ers, This becomes more true as the progress of automatic machinery steadily enlarges the proportion of un- skilled and, semiskilled labor to the total employed in industry, Ags long as the great majority of the country's unskilled workers are left outside of organized labor, to shift for them- selves in the wage market, union standafds will be inade and in- eee | AMTNUTIE Y CONDUCTED = BY TH WORKEDS UNG WORKERS LEAGUE THE YOUTH AND THE TRADE UNIONS HE trade union movement of this country today stands as the most backward in any capitalist country. |The bureaucratic leaders of the trade unions, in place of instilling in the minds of the workers the ideology of struggle against their exploiters and oppressors are advocating policies of collaboration and submission. In place of appealing to the pride of the work- ers as a, class, teaching them to fight as a class, their policy is that of com- promise and co-operation with the masters, The older generation in the trade unions is thoroly imbued ‘with this spirit of Gomperism. On the new gen- eration of workers, which is just learn- ing from bitter experiences the char- acter qf the existing system of exploi- tation, rests the hope of creating a working class movement in which Gompersism will be succeeded by the spirit of class pride. and the con- sciousness that it is the destiny of the workers to create a new social order, that it is their task to take control of the productive forces of society and so order and organize them that they will serve the interests of those who pro- duce wealth in place of for the en- richment of a small class of exploit- ers, - The work of imbuing this spirit in the young workers who will be the militant fighting center of the working class movement tomorrow, is the task ot the Young Workers (Communist) League. In directing the work of the league into these channels in an effort to reach and influence the young work- ers in industry, teaching them the necessity of their organizing to fight against the capitalists to make of them miliant trade union fighters, the Young Mba seis (a aestataemd Sieosr: "li 28 hommes ale Sad ES League is tak- EVERY LOS ANGELES YOUNG WORKER SHOULD BE A YOUNG COMMUNIST IN THE Y. W. L. LOS ANGELES, Cal—We read in books that youth is a,golden time, an enviable time; it is the time for love and laughter, for freedom and To- mance. Is this true? Perhaps for the sos and daughters of the boss class, but not for the sons and daughters of the working-class, who constitute the majority of the population, The young workers all over America do not have laughter, and freedom, but rather misery and slavery. The young work- ers are even more cheated than the adult workers. Because of their youth, the bosses take advantage of them and pay them lower wages, and give them worse conditions. Added to this the young workers are often kept out of the unions by unfair restrictions. Even in our own Los Angeles, which real-estate sharks advertise as the paradise of the U. S. the youth.is exploited. For the young workers, Los Angeles is not a paradise, but a hell. Throughout the country, L. A. has a reputation for being a hell-hole for the working-class, because of its open shop policy. This “American plan,” which the bosses praise to the sky means to the worker: no union, and consequently, low wages, long hours, and poor conditions. Not only do the young workers suffer because of star- vation wages, etc. But whatever few unions there are, discriminate against them. As a result the mass of young workers are outside of the unions, thus harming themsetves and also the adult Workers, The only way the young. workers can accomplish anything is by unit- ing themselves. Many factories such as Bishops’s, Western Electric, Lewel- lyn Iron Works, Haverty’s Plumbing Shop, Goodyear Rubber Co. and numerous others, employ thousands of young workers, and pay them meagre wages. These youth workers would constitute a mighty foree, if organized, a force which would make itself felt. Victory for the youth work- ers can come only thru organization. They must join the unions, They must force the unions to elimniate all un- fair restrictions. The Young Workers (Communist) League, a militant or- ganization of young workers is fight ing ‘against these condition. It de mands for the young workers; a five- day week, @ six-hour day, equal pay for equal work, no unfair discrimina- tion against the youth by the unions, low initiation feé for the young work- ers so/that they can join the unions, abolition of child labor, and state maintenance for the child while at- tending school so that he will not be foreed to work. The Young Workers (Communist) League calls upon the youth of Los Angeles to join them in their fight for these demands, ir message is: Young Workers, ‘anize! Let us solidly, fearlessly and unflinchingly stand together, The Young Workers (Communist) League invites all young workers and students to attend their meetings, which are held as follows: Western Section, every first and third Wednesday nite, at the Coopera- tive Center, 2706 Brooklyn Ave., Cen- tral Section, every first and third Friday nite at 138% §. Spring St. “The untons ai 8 of the) workers’ power,’ ing up one Of the most-important prob lems of the working class movement, It is thru establishing contact with the young workers in industry, fur- nishing them with the spirit of class struggle against the master class, that the Young Workers (Communist) League will become a powerful force in the American labor movement. These tasks are now being taken up by the Young Workérs (Communist) Teague in earnest. The work of es- tablishing its influence has been be- gun, The future promises achieve- ments and success, inspiring the fight- ing spirit in the young workers, and bringing them under the influence and leadership of the Young Workers (Communist) League. Our party must give earnest and en- thusiastic support to this work of the Young Workers (Communist) League: The task of spreading our ideas and our campaigns among the young work- ers has not been supported to the full extent that the party is able ‘to give support. We have not built the Young Workers League wherever there are units of the Workers (Communist) Party. The energetic campaigns now being undertaken by the Young Work- ers (Communist) League must receive the full support of every party unit. The party membérs must study the proposals, organization plans, cam- paigns initiated by the Young Work- ers (Communist) League and devise ways and means of aiding them in car- rying out the campaigns, The way this aid can be given best is thru the organization of units of the Young Workers League wherever units of the party exist and the full support of those units of the Young Workers League which are now in existence. , SKI RUNNING BY THE TEXTILE WORKERS UNION, A ski run by the Textile Workers’ Union took place in the Moscow Gu- bernia on January 9 and 10. The fin- ish line was at the Moscow peasant economic exposition. Of the 400 pat- ticipants 250 finished the run, cover- ing distances from 50 to 100 kilom- eters. It took place at a temperature of 23 degrees. Fifteen participants suffered slight frost bite, Utilization of Winter Sports, The Railway administration of the R. 8. F. S. R. equipped the track in- spection service with ski runners this winter by way of experiment, Georgia. The supreme council for physical culture in May of this year plans for the first time a national chess tourna- ment, “I Did Not Raise My Boy to Be a Soldier,” Complain Ministers (Special to The Daily Worker) BOSTON, March 15.—The executive committee of the Massachusetts Fed- eration of Churches, thru its secre- tary, Rev. B. Tallmadge Root, has in- formed the. war department that it is opposed to compulsory military train- ing in educational institutions. The communication asks for the abolition of requirements for such drill, . It states that the committee “recognized the necessity of preparations for de+ fense.” Just how and when such nec- essary training is to be given the churchmen did not say. The statement illustrates the utter hopelessness of the pacifist position and the inextricable confusion of bour+ geois opinion on the subject, Why Not Become a Worker Correspondent?