The Daily Worker Newspaper, April 23, 1926, Page 1

The DAILY WORKER Ratees | WORKER Raises the Standard for a Workers’ and Farmers’ Government THE DAILY WORKER. Vol. II. No. 87. WOLFE Isms” PASSAIC POLICE FOR NEW CRIME Weisbord “Arrested for Introducing Speaker (Special to The Daily Worker) NEW YORK, April »20—When Ber- tram D. Wolfe, director of the New York Workers’ School and member of the Workers (Communist Party, learnt thru reading news items inthe metropolitan press that Albert J. Weisbord, the Passaic textile strike leader, was charged with having intro- duced Wolfe at a meeting in Passaic and held under $10,000 bail on this charge he made the following declara- tion to the press: Passaic Has New Crime. “T learn from the New York City papers of April 18 that one of the three ‘crimes’ charged against Alber* J. Weisbord, which have resulted in his imprisonment in Passaic, is the crime of having introduced me at a meeting. It appears then that the mere act of introducing me at a public meeting in Passaic is sufficient to 9c- casion the arrest of a citizen and his being held on the astounding bail of $10,000, “I do not know whether this strange tribute to me on the part of the Pas- saic authorities is due to my past ac- tivities or to the speech made by me miter being introduced at a meeting of Feb, 24. Arrest Weisbord, “The newspaper account reads: ‘He (Weisbord) is charged with inciting hostility to all government in that he introduced Bertram Wolfe of munist Party at a mee’ ot Feb, 24." as I and several ‘iousknd witnesses ‘will recollect, was a summary of the facts as to the enormous profits made ‘by the textile barons of New Jersey from their underpaid workers. I chose as my text a banner, carried in the line of march in the parade of Feb. 23 which read: ‘Bosses open your books and show us your profits.’ Summarizing the results of.the inves- tigations of a research worker of the ‘Workers’ School, who studied the cor- poration reports of the Botany, the Gera, the Forstmann-Hufimann and other textile mills involved in that strike, I showed that these profits were indeed enormous, running up into the millions, before ever the wage cut had been made and I promised to turn over these statistics to the strike committee in order that when the bosses should come crying poverty and inability to restore wage cuts, ‘these facts as to profits could be rub- bed into their noses.’ This is an ade- quate summary of my speech of Feb. 24 for which not I but Weisbord has been arrested. Lawyer Raps Authorities. “I am moved to ask the Passaic authorities why they do not make me responsible for this heinous offense in place of Weisbord. No existing Jaw makes the chairman ofa meet- ing responsible for what speakers, in- troduced by him, may: say. “At best, he is but my. accomplice and I am compelled to agree with the statement of Weisbord’s attorney, Mr. Feder, as reported in the Times of ril 18, when he safd! ‘{ would™point “out that introducing a man is no crime; Weis- bord-was' a passive listenet.. The _ overt act, if any, was on the part of another person (meaning me). Yet on this charge, he (Weisbord) is be- ing-held fn $10,000 bail, Sir, on the , overt act of the other person,’ “If the Passaic authorities were really interested in punishing the sup- posed criminal instead of holding Weisbord in jail, so that he cannot properly direct the strike, they had sample opportunity to arrest me when he introduced me a second time at a meeting on Tuesday, April 6. Yet no Move was made against me at that time. : Wolfe Hits Absurd Charge. “As to the charge that I am ‘against all government’ as also stated in the accusation against Weisbord for hav- ing introduced so dangerous a person- age as myself—this is absurd. I am opposed to the present domination of governmental authorities in the tex- tile area of New Jersey by the textile and in favor of a ‘Workers and farmers’ government’ America Semele speeches and writings % , mpe amply at Unite for’ recognition and of the Soviet Union at the Col 4 peers this May First, _iaerrer Subscription Rates: In Chicago, by mall, $8.00 per year, Outside Chieago, by’ mail, Entered at Second-class matter September 21, 1923, at the Post Office at Chicago, Llinole, under the Avt of March 3, 1879. $6.00 per year, ho a2 A GENTRAL LABOR | Urn PROTESTS AGAINST ANTI-ALIEN LEGISLATION BOSTON, Mass., April 21.—The Boston Central Labor Union adopted a resolution condemning the anti- labor and anti-foreign-born legisla- tion ‘that has been introduced in congretis, The Central Labor Union resolution points out that the legis- lation is backed by powerful groups of employers. GOLD EXPLAINS AGREEMENT TO FUR STRIKERS Members Hear Results of Green Conference (Special to The Daily Worker) NEW YORK, April 21 — Aat a meet- |bord, strike leader, in his first public | lease from jail, came on tht platform ing of shop chairmen which packed Manhattan Lyceum to capacity this afternoon, Ben Gold, chairman of the General Strike Committee read to the striking fur workers the agreement which had been reached Sunday at a conference called by William Green, president of the American Federation of Labor, The Conference. President Green had called together representatives of the New York joint board of the Furriers’ Union, and some of the International officials, to discuss the fur strike, and the condi- tions which had led certain officers— who had absented themselves. from councils of the General Strike Com- to:listen to the Tan taatnans Ben Gold who had been excluded the hall. Green Agrees to Speak, Members of the General Strike € mittee had held a preliminary coni ence with Mr. Green on Saturday| + afternoon and on Sunday the delega+| tion presented to the federation presi? dent an invitation to address a mass’ méeting of fur strikers this.. week: This Mr, Green has agreed to do Oi Wednesday afternoon, and a hall is, being sought for the purpose. Details of Sunday’s important con- ference have been announced in a formal agreement drawn up by Mr. Green, and it was this which was read to the shop chairmen today. The agreement, which was reached by the consent of all those present. provides: The Agreement. FIRST:—It is agreed that a com- mittee composed of a representative of the*American Federation of Labor, the president of the International Fur Workers Union and his colleagues, and a committee representing the General Strike Committee of Locals 1, 5, 10 and 15, shall mget withthe (Continued on page 2) William Daech Will Speak on the Miners’ Union at Open Forum NEW YORK, April 22,— William Daech, formerly sub-district prseident of the United Mine Workers of Amer- ica, has been secured by the Workers’ School Forum, 108 E. 14th street, for this Sunday night, April 25, at 8 p. m., to discuss the topic, “What Is the Sit- uation in the Mine Industry?” Will the miners’ union survive -its defeat and betrayal? Will the five- year agreement, which ties the union hand and foot but enables the bosses to continue their slow encircling Remember, injunctions do not make 4 movement of union territory, be kept? Will the next strikes be outlaw strikes or will the officialdom be forced to sanction the breaking of the five-year agreement? Will the mine owners succeed in closing down the union mines and strengthening the non- union territory until they have broken the union? What will be the effect of the defeat of the American miners on the British mine conflict, scheduled for May 1 an dthe effect of the strug- gle of the British miners on the Amer- ican coal mining industry? , These and other similar questions Willibe discussed by William Daech at the: wopen forum this Sunday night. Ohas.:-Krumbein will be chairman of the forum. FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 1926 ali ished Dally except Sunday by TAB DAILY WORKR PUBLISHING CO, Tia ‘W. Washington Bivd., Chicago, ML HUGE MEETING = HAILS PASSAIC STRIKE LEADER Weisbord Assails In- junction on Leaving Jail (Special to The Daily Worker) PASSAIC, N. J., April 21 — Eight thousand strikers cheered for more than ten minutes when Albert Weis- appearance since his arrest and re- erected on a vacant lot in the neigh- boring “Village of Wallington, where the mayor permitted the strikers to hold their meetings after the reading of the riot act in Garfield last week. In his speech he took up the hap- penings of the past week since his ar- rest and then dealt with the new problem confronting the workers, with particular reference to the injunction recently secured, which he branded as a “scrap of paper.” He told the strik- ers: “You cannot be arrested for de- fying an injunction.” Injunction Cannot Break Strike. “An injunction is not a criminal pro- ceeding but a civil proceeding,” said Weisbord. “I want you thoroughly to understand this. People who are not afraid of bullets, people who are not afraid of the clubs of hired policemen such people are not afraid of a scrap of paper. “This is not the first strike in which an injunction has been issued. From the procedure of the bosses in strike after strike in the past I knew and-I prophesied two weeks dgo that this would be the very weapon to which they would ‘resort. But let; me tell. tter service of an injunction just. as y did before. Fellow workers, we will not allow injunction to break our strike. make one single scab out of any union borer. ‘ On To Victory. “My advice is as follows: You will Observe’ the same peaceful orderly Hanner as you did before. And, as the result I venture to predict that when the mill owners see the futility of their injunction victory will be ours, The action of Mayor Samuel Nelkin of Wallington in offering his ground for meetings after the rights of free as- semblage has been denied in Garfield, ‘made possible the great mass meeting today. Mayor Nelkin represents the sentiment of large groups of citizens in Passaic and vicinity, who outraged by the drastic measures taken in Gar- field, to put a curb on free speech and assemblage, have offered their aid to the strikers.” The Roseville Fire company of Sad- dle River township, in a resolution passed by their body, voted the use of their fire hall for meetings in case a hall is needed in that section. Saddle River towfiship is on the boundary of Garfield, just across the street from the spot where a meeting was broken up by Sheriff Nimmo and his men and Norman Thomas arrested. Picketing Continues. Picket lines marched at al Ithe mills, excepting the injunction-protected mill, Monday morning. The loudly heralded “opening” of all the mills, which the mill agents have announced for every Monday morning the last few weeks, again did not take place. Not a single scab was added to the small groups in the mills, The strike stands firm. Other speakers at the meeting were Lena Chernenko, one of the active leaders of the picket line and a thorn in the flesh of the police who have ar- rested her a number of times; Robert W. Dunn of the American Civil Liber- ties Union; Anthony Capraro, organ- izer for the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America, and Alged Wagenknecht. They all eulogized the magnificent solidarity of the strikers.in face of the repeated brutal assaults of the police and the despotic actions of the courts in endeavoring to break their strike, Capraro assured the strikers of con- tinued support of his organization and Wagenknecht ‘stressed the fact that relief was coming in sufficiently to en- able all strikers to live until the bosses were forced to yield. Whole Nation Backs Strike, ) The continued support of the entire nation heartened the strikers at the beginning of their thirteenth week of strike, Large contributions included the following: International Workers’ Aid» $75; Brotherhood of Painters, )' Decorators and Paperhangers of Amer- i od » ste (Continued on page 2.) { This is Wh effective ag PICKETS AND POLICE THUGS the police terrorists of the strike zone describe a riotous picket line because it is | inst the exploiters of women and children in thé disease-breading slave pens of Pas- saic and vicinity. THE FIRST RELIEF STATION Store No. 1, the first of the four relief stores opened in the strike zone to supply food for the 16,000 textile strikers of Passaic. NEW YORK WILL HOLD: SPIRITED MAY DAY RALLY Labor Conference Seeks Parade Permit NEW YORK, April 20.—What prom- ises to be one of ‘the biggest and most spirited’ May day celebrations held in years isvbeing prepared by the labor conference for May day cele-| bration. The labor conference for May day celebration, whieh held a meeting in) the Labor Temple, under the. chair-| manship of Charles Zimmerman of the joint. board of the Cloak and Dressmakers’ Union, and at which 22} trade unions, 22 other workers’ ar- ganizations and the Workers (Commu- nist) Party and the Young Workers (Communist) League were represent- ed, was charged. with the feeling that this May day was destined to be one of the most significant in recent years and plans were laid to. hold a gigan- tic demonstration at some. central point where all of New York's work- | ers are to assemble. Since the conference the committee hae made efforts to secure the New Madi: Square Garden, the Giant Stadii the Polo Grounds, and the Lewison Stadium, but none of these are available, Oonsequently, the May day committee is compelléd to divide | its forces in. many halls, ample: The International Ladies’ Gar- | | ment Workers’ Union id will | For ox-| be held at Mecca Temple; Local»No.) 54 of the Amalgamated aud various other Brooklyn . organizations will hold their meeting at the Amalgamat- ed Labor Temple, 21 Arion Place,} | Brooklyn, A meeting for other or-| ganizations will be held at Cooper Un-| jon and various other halls are being} secured for additional meetings. | At the Cooper Union meeting, where most of the workers not belonging to/ the organizations named aboves will | | congregate and at the overflow in| halls near Cooper Union, C. BE. Ruth-} enberg, Wm. F, Dunne, M. J.. Olgin,| William W. Weinstone, Bertram D. | Wolfe, Charles Krumbein and others | | will speak, All meetings will be held | simultaneously on Saturday afternoon, May 1, at 2 p.m. There will be an appropriate musical program, | The committee is attempting to se- | outdoor demonstration’ at Union | Square in the morning at 11 a. m. from | which the workers will march to the respective halls, 2,000 Mexicans ‘Aes Homeless Thru Flood SAN ANTONIO, Tex. April 21— This city's danger from a serious flood was apparently past today. Two thous- and Mexicans were homeless foiiow- ing yesterday's deluge that caused several thousands of dollars property loss. LONDON, April 21—If the new suf- frage bill now before the house of |commons 1s passed, more than 2,000, 000 more women will be placed on the voters’ lists, As a result there will Be’! more women than men voters in the, British Isles. CHOOSING JURY SLOW PROCESS © IN SWEET TRIAL jac Defense Tries to Weed Out Klansmen (Special to The Daily Worker) DETROIT, Mich. April 21— 4 NEW YORK EDITION Price 3 Cents ™ CAL’S GANG IN NEW SCANDAL ‘GERMAN CLAIMS MEASURE MAKES GRAFTERS RICH ‘Expose Bares Loot of Secretary Mellon (Special to The Daily Worker) WASHINGTON, April 21—A good. sized scandal is brewing over the dis- closure that Secretary of the Treas ury Andrew Mellon and Representa- tive Ogden L. Mills of New York, co- authors of the bill to return the prop- erty belonging to German nationals that was seized during the war and authorizing a huge bond issue by the treasury to pay for the awards by the German-American Mixed Claims Com- mission, would both be beneficiaries to a large amount if the measure be- comes law. The scandal is greater because of Mellon’s open defense of the proposal and his admission that he would gain hundreds of thousands of dollars by its enactment. The Rockefellers, and representatives of J. P. Morgan and Company and other millionaires will also be recompensed from the public treasury, Garner disclosed The lid was ripped open’ as a result of the bitter fight between the two old parties for political advantage in next fall's elections. The democrats just it every chance to expose the ration, especially in view of the possibility of a political turnover of senate seats by the republicans. Thus it has come about | that Representative Garner, democrat, jof Texas, a rank reactionary, spilled jon the floor of the house some facts | showing up the grafting Coolidge ad- | ministration. «. To Recompense Kaiser, =~ ~ The Mixed Claims Commission, he showed in a public statement, had awarded sums amounting to over $40,000,000 to corporations in which Mills, Mellon and other prominent millionaries are financially interested and in some of which they are officers, Even Kaiser Wilhelm, as a stock- holder in German shipping lines whose vessels to the value of $33,000,000 were seized during the war, will receive cash from the United States treasury in compensation for such holdings, Garner declared. Their Hands in the Dough. | The five corporations in which Mel- lon is interested would benefit to the amount to $1,085,160. Rockefeller, thru the awards to the Standard Oil companies, would get $12,089,531. The “Big Three” packing trust, Armour and Company, Swift and Company, the Cudahy Packing Company and their subsidiaries would be handed a total of $1,001,803. Representative Mills is a director of the Mergen- thaler Linotype Company, and the United States Trust Company, the claims of which amount to $272,282. The J. P. Morgan Company and Thomas W. Lamont and Dwight W. Morrow, two of its directors, will | draw from the United States a com- bined, total of $5,968,840. J. S. Frey- j linghausen, Otto H. Kahn, Paul M. ; Warburg, T. Coleman Du _ Pont, (Continued on page 2) MACHINIST LOCAL DONATES $100 TO CHICAGO STRIKE trial of Henry W. Sweet, one of the Wyo tes $25 Mo More ra N. 4d | defendants charged with conspiracy to | | murder Leon Breiner, is moving very | + Sealine = slowly due to the examination of jury: men which is being conducted so a: klan from the jury. Closely Question Jurors. Clarance’ Darrow of Chicago and Thomas Chawke, attorneys for the de- fense, question each juryman as to whether he “has the least prejudice toward a man due to his color, religion |or station in life,” as to whether he could consider the testimony in this case as fairly in face of the fact that Negroes were the occupants of the house from which the fatal shot was fired and whites were on the outside, as they would if circumstances were the reverse, and whether the fact that the defendant is a Negro would pre- vent them from giving benefit of his right before the law to be considered “innocent until he is proven guilty.” To these and many such questions | Nearly every juryman answered to in dicate that he. did»not have theleast bit of Prejudice. In one Anstance, | while declaring that-he was not preju- (Continued on page 2) jto exclude members of the ku klux | cure.a permit for a parade and. an) Textile Strikers Local 390 of the Machinists’ Union has contributed $100.00 in aid of the strike being conducted by the Machin- ists’ District Council of Chicago against the American Oven works, California and Kedzie, where the men in the machine shop walked out de- manding recognition of the union and }a closed shop, The same meeting of } Local 390 that took the above action donated $25.00 to the striking textile workers of Passaic, Determined to Win, The Machinists’ District Counell, in the midst ofa city wide organization drive is determined to bring the Amer- jean Oven workers to time as an ex- ample to other open shop firms, The American company has Joined the Metal Trades Association to get as- sistance in breaking the strike, Support Radio. Local 390 also voted to support the radio station project of. the Chicago Federation of Labor and decided to | Pay the assessment being levied for | that burpom, ig 5