The Daily Worker Newspaper, April 10, 1926, Page 5

| T The First Prize Winner. SCAB FUR WORK PROTECTED BY MPLS. ORGANIZER Delays Investigation of New York Contracts By a Minneapolis Furrier. MINNEAPOLIS, Minn, April 8 — When, five years ago, the furriers of Minneapolis were on strike, they ap: pealed to the big New York furriers’ union for ald. The New York locals reaponded not only with funds. ‘They sent some of their organizers to ae. sist the Minneapolis furriers In thelr struggle. Now, five years later, the 12,000 New York furriers are on strike, It is well for them to know thatthe same local organizer, Charles Gemel- ner, who asked and received aid of the New York brothers in 1921, does his best to hide and cover up the fact. that a certain Minneapolis fur manu- facturing concern has taken over New York contracts to make it easier for. the New York bosses to win the strike. And in this very shop, ment bers %. the Minneapolis furriers’ union are at work. Scab Work, At our last meeting three weeks ago it was reported that at the Furriers’ Manufacturers’ Co., there was unusual activity for this time of year and that it was due solely to a big con- tract that had been received from a New York concern. Gemiener and other local officials tried at first to pass ‘the matter by. After being pressed, however, they said they, would investigate and re- Port at the next meeting. (Meetings are held here once a month). But why such a long delay on a matter involving indirect scabbing on our New York brothers? Big Harm Done, It may appear that only small harm can be done 12,000 strikers by 30 or 40 men working in a Minneapolis plant, but it is well to bear in mind that all the bosses need this time of year is made up samples with which to send their men out on the road. This will enable them to hold out in New York for several months longer than otherwise. Some Questions. Robert Billings, Gemiener’s chief lieutenant in the local is working as a cutter in the above mentioned con- cern. Does he not know that the whole wesks is now run by a man. named Jurizt, a New York manufacturer whose furriers are on strike? Is it 1000 HE DALLY WORKER Page ; Five The First Number Is Out! (weve as you Fight f AMERICAN WORKER 7° CORRESPONDENT ARF MIME HAUG et Meee eee 5 cents Subscribe! Only 50 Cents Per Year! Become a Worker Correspondent! Write for Your Paper! AMERIGAN WORKER CORRESPONDENT, 1113 W. WASHINGTON BLVD., CHICAGO, ILL. WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS! By J. LOUIS ENGDAHL. 'HIS week marks the taking of three important steps forward in the development and _stPengthening of the American worker correspond- ‘ent movement. The progress thus being made should hearten every worker already active in writing for ‘his;press, and who Is interested in winning other workers for this effort. The new steps we are taking are: FIRST: spondent” is now ready. It is the The first issue (April) of the “American Worker Corre- official spokesman of the American worker correspondents’ movement and will become a valuable instrument in guiding it in the right direction, In the American class struggle. developing it into a powerful factor There will be much more to say about the “American Worker Correspondent” during the days immediately ahead. SECOND: The first conference of worker correspondents for the Chicago district has been called for Saturday, May 1. This is the first move to organize and centralize the worker correspondents’ movement. An agenda is being worked out for this conference, which it is hoped will be only the first of numerous similar conferences to be held in all the large industrial centers in the nation. It is planned to bring to- gether not only the English speaking correspondents, but also those speaking all other languages. THIRD: The Chicago worker correspondents’ class, conducted as part of the Workers’ Schoo! is planning a “Living Newspaper” for the night of Communist Pregs Day, Wednesday, May 5th, at the Workers’ House, 1902 West Division Street. The class has been encouraged by its efforts in this direction at the recent affair held by the Workers’ School and ambitious plans. are being made for the future. These three developments indicate the virility of the worker corre- spondents’ movement in the United State They hold big promise for the future. They constitute a call'to all.workers to interest themselves in writing for their press, “Can’t Walk on Street,” Passaic Bull Edict By °T. T. Young Striker. PASSAIC, N. J—Just because the’ really necessary to take such a long} people in ‘Passaic ‘are fighting for a time for investigating a situation, the | living wage, and against wage cuts, facts of which are well known to everyone connected with the trade in Minneapolis? We want the New York turriers to know the way in which the local “leaders” of the furriers are repaying them for the assistance they rendered five years ago. Particularly it is well for them to know what a “friend” and “brother” they ‘have in Charles Ge meiner, one of the vice-presidents of the Furriers’ Union. they are not even allowed to walk the streets any more, while on picket duty. Guess they will have to get a permit to walk. The bulls tell us, “g’wan, keep going.” Supposing we were tired out and couldn’t walk any more, they’d jump on your hide. Young and old men who are ex-service men who took} a miserable chance of fighting for de- mocracy, are now treated like a horse who wouldn’t work. In one instance a man, told to move on by a bull altho he owned that piece of ground, was beaten and arrested. If this kind of massacre don’t stop the peo- plé Wi take a hand_in it, to the strik- ers’ of Passaic I say. They shout at the people, “If you qon’t like this country, go back where you came from.” Why some of them ,bully ain’t citizens themselves, | Opén’’your eyes! Look around! There are the stories of the workers’ struggles around you begging to be written up. Do it! Send it in! Write as you fight! The American Worker Correspond- ent is*out. Did you get your. copy? Hurry up! Send in your sub! It's only 50 cents, A PICTURE WITHOUT A TITLE. x From Freight Handling to the Pen. By AL BAR. Sarotovskiya Isvestia (Russian) Translated By SAM MIRON, (Worker Correspondent) (I find this story on the Worker Correspondents’ page of the Russian newspaper, Saratovskiya Isvestia. It so vividly tells of the growing in- terest of the workers to write in their own newspapers about their own problems that I am sure no comments are necessary. I therefore, translate the stoty as it appears in that newabanet<—B, M) 'T is a gloomy fall night. The edito- rial room is dimly lighted with one electric bulb. Directly under the bulb is a table and on the table some notes. At the table is seated the director of the Workers Life (Worker Corres- pondents’ page). “Well, comrades, how many of you ere here? Many?” “No,” came from a far corner. “Well, so few... but anyhow move up to the table and we'll begin.” Trying not to be conspicious about six or seven men came out of the dark corners and took places at a respect- ful distance from the table. “Comrades, the last time we discus- eed the general problems of Workers Life section, and now... That was one of the first meetings of worker correspondents... Those were the first hesitating steps in the worker correspondents’ movement, ‘when our paper did not yet, like now, count its worker correspondents by hundreds, nor even by tens, but by a few scattered single ones. the door was opened, A 's figure in boots, plain jacket ek cheeiinstailak: tava, th auch Lectiogs--seihins %: noiselessly took a seat in a corner of the room. There she sat all attention, “... and so comrades, mercilessly erush every obstacle in the way of the Soviet structure, If anything is not altogether clear, come fe me for explanation.” Sih The meeting is over. ;,..« The silent- visitor emerged from her dark corner and walked over to the table. “Comrade, I wish to become a work- er correspondent. . .' / “Fine, what is your ‘name?” . “Alexandra Yooshkina, I am a freight handler.” Yooshkina became a regular attend- ant of the meetings, but she wrote very little and seldom, __ ‘“Why do you writé so Nttle’? “Oh, comrade director,” she sighed, “if only I could write myself, I would keep on writing every. day: But its my daughter, she writes under my dic. tation... “And, of course, she is young, and is either in the club or in the nucleus. She is a comsomalka (a member of the Communist youth) and therefore, Iam so handicapped,” * “But you, are you illiterate”? “Yes, illiterate, I have learned to read the printed words, but can neither write nor read the written.” ‘ELL, I'll be,”.., remarked the disappointed director,” only one woman correspondent, and she is il- literate... but that's all right, we'll fix that part.” In a short while they had a group of five to six organized, who wished it “these here comas, tion marks and the like, jalso to STA some, because we for- got a lot.” editorial sat eee Only Yooshkina studied anew. Over forty years of age, her fingers ac- customed only to rough and heavy freight, would fearfully but resolute- ly grasp hold of the fragile pen, mak- ing dashes, curves with little tails and curves without tails, “The most earnestly passionate pu- pil,” said the teacher about Yooshkina, And in about two months Yooshkina Proudly placed on the editorial table & personally written worker corres- pondent article, ‘OW, I shall write! You just keep on printing!” And she actually began to write. Among the heaps of correspondence, hers was especially noticeable by its child-like handwriting, ~with home- made ink from indelible pencil, She wrote for the Workers Life page, and Party Life section, Much of it, of course, found its way into the editor’s basket, Perhaps you think Yooshkina was satisfied with herself. Not at all. “I just began” she would explain. She was the first to take the journal- ist courses as soon as she learned to write, And she was the most devoted and earnest student, At practical work in the class and for first page editorials, Yooshkina’s work stood out prominently. Her stories were the first among the best! “There is a story, which may be set as an example even for some of the old professional journalists,” said the instructor at one reading. From elementary lessons in writing to editorials is an enormous step, The example of the fron,,will of Yooshkina for achieving the freeing of women shall be an example.to thousands of PM tetrad. The Second Prize Winner. BOSTON A.C, W. SIGNS AWAY ITS | STRIKE RIGHTS But Does Not Provide Against Lock-Out By a WétKer Correspondent BOSTON, Afril 8—m an agreement made public ‘tM~’Boston between the Amalgamated @lothing ‘Workers of America andsthe: Tremount Clothing Company provisions have been made calling for conrpulsory arbitration and the prohibition cof all strikes. This Zorn, businessimanager of the Amal- gamated Clothing Workers’ organiza- tion of Boston Provisions: Thes ‘Agreement. 1. In the event that any controversy arises which ‘cannot be adjusted by the representatives of the parties in- volved, a board Of arbitration of three members shallrbe constituted in the following manner: Each side to the controversy sallchoose one represen- |tative and the two representatives so chosen shall mutually select a third impartial chairman. The decisions rendered by this board shall be ulti- mate and final, Bosses’ Chairman. This chairman who holds the bal- ance of power and so possesses auto- cratic authority is Maurice B. Hexter, executive director of the Federated Jewish Charities of Boston and an in- structor at Harvard. He was chosen in spite of his close association with wealthy men and with the university. Strike Foiled. 2. The contfact explicity forbids strikes or lockouts. “There shall be no strikes, stoppages, or lockouts, either of thé ‘entire manufacturing organization of°the employers, or of sections of said organization, during the life of this ‘greement,” the con- tract reads, “tt is understood, how- ever, that the’ émployer may make stoppages of ‘the entire organization in the event that there is insufficient work for the organization in the ag- gregate, or any individual sec- tion.” Lockgut Provided. Tt will be that in spite of the fact that the yinion under the terms of the agreemnet gives up completely its right to use its economic power in order to obtain its demands, yet the employers mak¥-no similar pledges. It will also ‘be Moted that the agree- ment provides. that the employer may make stoppage. of the entire organiza- tion or of sections of the organiza- tion, which means that while the workers are prohibited from using the strike weapon the employers may use the lockout as ‘a threat against the workers. i While Manage Zorn is enthusiastic about the agreeifient, which, it seems, has been in forcé*for some time, while he prates about’ the assurance of peace inthe industry, M. B. Trichter of the Tremount Clothing Company is far less optimistic, out the necessity of Boston's meeting the competition of Philadelphia, which is an open shop town. In other words, he feels that the workers must sacri- fice and give concessions in order to drive them down to the level of con- ditions in Philadelphia. Disaster for A. C. W. Manager Zorn declares that public opinion will be the force which will keep the recalcitrant party in line. In other words he completely re- nounces all confidence in the economic power of the workers in his organiza- tion. The agreement} mentioned above, which it is declared is in force in other cities as well, means disaster to the Amalgamated Clothing Workers. It is a false message to the workers that they can rely upon a so-called im- partial chairman Ahd the myth of pub- lic opinion to segure their demands. It is an attempt to make the workers feel that they can settle their differ- ences around the ‘table instead of thru the power of organized labor. Last Word for Workers, The workers of the Amalgamated will do everything in their power to repudiate these false and suicidal pro- posals and will, it is hoped, in the coming conventidfi place in office those who are interested in building up the strength and power of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America instead of making negotia- tions with the bosses which make for the ruin of the organization. WORKER ——— eat a iam 7. | _ at CORRESPONDENCE What? Where? When? Why? How? BY WM. F. DUNNE, agreement’ is sponsored by Samuel | The agreement makes the following | WORKER CORRESPONDENTS BY JANUARY 13 1927 Win the L for the best Worker Correspondent story sent in during the Friday, April 16, will win “WHITHER “TOWARDS CAPITALISM OR SOCIALISM?” | By the Author of “ 2nd Prize: “THE AWAKEN 3rd Prize: THE WI The first prize goes to a left wing fur worker in Minneapolis, Minn., who exposes the assistance the so-called labor leaders of Minneapolis are rendering to the New York bosses to assist them to break the present strike. The second prize goes to a left wing Amalgamated Clothing Worker In Boston, Mass., who shows up a workers the right to strike. This agreement has been accepted by the yellow labor officials in the Boston Amalgamated Clothing Workers’ Union. The third prize goes to a left wing Leather Goods Worker in New York City, who shows how that trade has been put on the downgrade and the working conditions are getti of a union official with a weakness All three articles were written by militant workers in unions. They appear on this page. REFORMER GETS SEVERE JOLT BY DENVER WORKERS Religious Dope. Falls Short of Mark By a Worker Correspondent DENVER, Colo., April 8+-Raymond Robbins of Chicago spoke'to @ good- sized crowd at Grace Church, Den- Mr. Tritchter points~ ver’s Open Forum, on the subject “Corruption in Civic Affairs and How to Establish Democracy.” Establishes Democracy. One of the main points in his lec- ture was that democracy can be established anywhere and that he helped establish it in a most cor rupted ward in Chicago—the seven- teenth. He contradicted his argument against using force by telling how they had to organize all the workers in the ward and go to the polling places and by using strong arm meth- ods rout the plug-uglies and hirelings of the political bosses who were pres- ent to start trouble and keep the work- ers from voting for the candidate, Al- derman Dever, after he was counted out the first time. When finally cornered by a ques- tioner about his moral force argument he backed water and admitted that in} the.end force was necessary. He stated that the people must have | “faith in god” to do “anything worth | while.” He said if Martin Luther and | Cromwell had not believed in god} they would never have won the many battles they did. A questioner asked him what caused the Red Army of Russia to overcome all of its enemies when they did not believe in a god. The audience laughed while the speaker tried to ex- plain it away by stating that the Red Army as well as its leaders, Trotsky, Lenin, etc., had faith in the ideal for which they fought and they did it re- ligiously. . Why Waste Time? A questioner asked, “why should the workers put so much time at munici- pal reforming when they could be edu- cating their fellow workers to the ideas of Communism.” He admitted that if democracy finally failed he was willing to help establish a Co-operat- ive Commonwealth, but, he thot that the surplus wealth, created by the workers under capitalism, can be used for many public improvements instead of giving the workers all they pro- duced and probably have most of it wasted, It only proves reformers are the bunk, A handbook for the worker who wishes to learn HOW to write for the workers’ press. A new Another new and unusual book which will be off’the press just about in time for the winner. . Six months subscription to The Workers Monthiy—= 80 good a prize that it matches both others. publication that should be read by every worker. Cents 12 copies for, one dollar. re THE DAILY WORKER PUB, CO, 1118 W. Washington Blvd. % Chicago, Th, atest Book by Trotsky! Ist Prize week, to appear Ih the issue of RUSSIA?” ‘Whither England?” | ING OF CHINA,” by Jas, H. Dolsen. NNERS new shop agreement which denies ng worse daily due to the treachery for serving the bosses. BALDWIN TALKS ON ‘TOLERANCE,’ DETROIT FORUM Questioners Shoot at His Pacifism By a Worker Correspondent DETROIT, April 8—Roger Baldwin, who is director of the American Civil Liberties Union, addressed the Detroit Labor Forum on “Prospects for Toler- ance,” The speaker gave many examples of the use of the police, militia, injunc- tions, courts and. imprisonments against striking workers. He pointed out that the United States government had shaken hands with the fascist governments of Hungary and Italy and appeared ready to extend loans and support to any such governments in Europe. A Hungarian who has been a United States citizen for six years has pro- ceedings pending against him for loss of citizenship because he wrote a let- ter to a friend in Hungary advocating the overthrow of violence of the bloody Horthy regime. “United Front.” A good illustration of “the value of using a united front of all parties in- terested in preserving free speech” was cited. This was the occasion on which William Z, Foster and a bishop | Spoke from the same platform in New- jark, N. J., to uphold the right of free speech in that city. Both were ar- rested and the case caused such strong feeling in many circles that the police authorities were compelled to revise their attitude. Roger's Pacifism, The speaker maintains a pacifist attitude and is strongly opposed to any of violence. In spite of this he is forced ‘to’ admit that tolerance “in America is lessening and that capital- ism is upheld by violent means, He said that in such parts of the U. S. A, as Kentucky, West Virginia and the south, members of the non-privileged classes have ‘virtually no rights and mine workers’ organizers have been compelled to flee in peril of their lives. Lively Questions. Many lveély questions were asked after the “speech. In answer to a query as to whether the speaker was opposed ..to. the. Russian revolution on pacifist grounds he answered that the violence arose not from the revolution but from the subsequent counter-revo- lution, The speaker had previously given England as the best example of a free country, but made no comment when confronted by a questioner witt the recent example ‘of a peaceful un employment demonstration in London being trampled underfoot by the mounted police. The speaker for next Sunday, April Ul, is Judge Jeffries of the Detroit recorders’ court on “Labor and Poli- tics,” and on Sunday, April 18, Scott Nearing on “The Crumbling British Empire.” WORKER CORRESPONDENTS, ATTENTION! All worker correspondents of our foreign language press are urged to send in their names and addresses sta. ting for which paper they write. It is very important The American Worker Correspondent 11138 W. Washington Bivd, Chicago, Il, | slaves of the trade The Third Prize Winner. ‘PROSPERITY’ IN LEATHER GOODS WORKERS’ UNION Bad Cuiadiitioins in Pocket Book Trade By A. LENKER (Worker Correspondent) NEW YORK, April 8 — In the fancy leather goods ‘ade there are em- ployed about 6,000 workers with its | main center in New York, then comes New Jersey, Philadelph Of these 6,000 about young worke to sections s and Chicago, alf of them are The trade is divided in- h as pocketbook makers, framers, cutters, operators and. help- ers, To some. of the sections are at- tached others than the classified see- tions, such as.parers, handle makers, frame coverers, shear cutters, etc, The pocketbook trade is seasonat. The fall season begins about August and ends the beginning of December. Then there {fs the spring season which begins about February and ends the beginning of May. In these few months the ‘workers have to make enough to keep their body and soul together. But do they make enough? The average earnings of the pocket- book makers, framers, operators and cutters is between $35 and $38 per week; then come the helpers who average about $12 to $15 per week. How on earth can a man with a fam- ily live on $35 a week? Most work- ers usually borrow as much as they can during slack times and hope that the coming season will be a good one. But these visionary good seasons are getting worse and worse every year, Why? Slaves of Trade. The answer is because we are the instead of its masters. When pocketbook makers are busy, the framers usually are idle, and visa versa. Consequently they suffer because there is not much work on bags for them. But this is not all, Every year hundreds of workers come into our trade. It is not unusual to have operators from the needle trades, bookbinders and general help from other trades. Of course, there are workers that léave the trade, too, Where do they go? Anywhere they can find work. It’s peculiar that when it’s slack an allied branch of the trade like leather belts (which is not af- filiated with our union due to Mr. Wolinsky) gets busy and many work- ers are forced to work for starvation wages because they have to compete with boys and girls of 10.and 12 years of age. The evils that exist in the trade are witout number. Workers are fired on the least pretenses. We have a piece work system that allows work- ers of the union to exploit their fellow workers. This is done by having a “teamer” work with 2 or 3 helpers for starvation wages. These helpers are usually young workers who flock every season to the pockethook makers’ section to ask permission to work as “teamers” making it possible * for them to earn more money. The pocketbook makers’ section usually has to refuse the request be- cause of chronic unemployment in the trade. Wolinsky Falls for Bosses. When the progressive workers fought for a minimum scale of wages for helpers, the union manager, Wolin- sky, suggested that the teamers who do piece work should pay their helpers 40% of their earnings. Wolinsky want- ed to satisfy the helpers at the ex- pense of their fellow workers instead of the bosses, He wrote in the bosses’ magazine that it is more practical to work with two helpers than with one, when there was a decision of the pocketbook makers’ section that no team should have more than one helper. The general cry amongst members in the union is, “What's the use” of complaining, and to whom? The bust- ness agent tells you one thing and when he sees the boss who hands him a “fat cigar” your whole complaint vanishes into the air. Such is the cry. Here are some specific examples, A ° young worker came to Wolinsky to complain that the boss refuses to pay him his wages on the excuse that he spoiled work, He asked Wolinsky to do something. Wolinsky told him he could’nt do anything. The worker finally collected the money in the court thru the Legal Ald Society, It is not an unusual sight to see one poor worker ask another for fifty cents to get bread for his family, These are the “prosperous” conditions in our union, TO WORKER CORRESPONDENTS! When you send in news be brief, Tell what, who, when, where and why! 250 words but not more than 500. Always use double-sp; ink or typewriter, and write on one side of the paper only, Tell a complete story in as few words possible. You are NEWS correspondents—don't philosophize, e ? \ é i 1h !