The Daily Worker Newspaper, May 20, 1926, Page 5

5 THE DAILY WORKER 1000 WORKER CORRES PONDI NTS BY Sener 13 | 1927 UNION MEMBERS’ NEEDS NEGLECTED AS LEADERS SCRAP FOR SUPREMACY AT VIRGINIA A. F. OF L. CONVENTION By H. J. POWELL, Worker Correspondent, RICHMOND, Va., May 14.—(By Matil.)—Tbe annual convention of the Virginia Federation of Labor was held in Roanoke, May 8 and 4, This gathering did practically nothing in the interests of the workers of Virginia. Its only “positive” achievement was the maintenance of supremacy by the J, H. Hall faction of pie-card artists over the similar labor faking gang centered around W. F. Robinson, The fight between these two ag- gregations is not based upon any dif- ference in principles. It is the old, familiar fight of “ins and outs.” John Hopkins Hall, leader of one fraction, is the present commissioner of labor, and therefore represents the “ins.” As there is not enuf “pie” to go around, those who have been left out in the cold, form another faction, In this despicable, sordid fight for. supremacy, the interests of the union members are entirely neglected. On the one side, Hall, seven deputies from his department, and numerous henchmen, on the other Robinson, E. C. Davidson, general secretary}treas- urer T. A. of M., and most $f the Richmond delegation, fought like dogs. over the bones thrown labor fakers by the democratic party of Virginia. Politicians on the Job. The convention was opened by the usual insipid speeches from “politi- cians” and social workers. Then fol- lowed a discussion on the report of the legislative committee. In this discussion, E. C. Davidson was criti- elzed for alleged participation in fil- ing bogus endorsements of W. F. Robinson in the latter's contest against Hall for the Labor Commis- sionership. Tha votes after the dis- cussion showed the Hall gang safely in control—114-58. Four “major” resolutions came be- fore the convention and were adopted. At a time when thousands of workers are unemployed in Richmond aloné, when metal workers and railroad workers are being speeded up to an intolerable degree, when good oppor- tunities exist for organization of the workers, when the governor of Vir- ginia cynically attacks the workers on every front in his message to the leg- islature, at such a time these “labor” cogs in the democratic machine stressed the following four resolu tions: . (1) A resolution favoring a compul- sory free public school text book law. (2) Instructing the officers to con- duct a state-wide campaign for the purpose of inducing the workers of the state to qualify and vote in all Transfer General Petroleum Assets to the Standard Oil SAN FRANCISCO, May 18. — The transfer of the General Petroleum Company assets to the Standrad Oil Company of New York was author- ized at a meeting of the stockholders here. Former Sultan Mohammed _ VI. Dies of Heart Failure ROME, May 18. — Mohammed VI a former sultan of Turkey who abdi- cated when he heard that the Angora government intended to try him and his ministers for treason, died at San Remo of heart failure. Cemetery Workers Get Increase, SAN FRANCISCO —(FP)— Ceme- tery workers in Sam Francisco receive a 25¢ daily wagé raise from May 1 granted by the Associated Cemeteries, The men had asked for $6 a day, their previous wage being $5.. At the end of a year wages will be revised if the cost of living has changed. PAAAAAAAAAAADBADBABAABAADAD Congratulations! Chicago comrades congratu- late Comrades Rose Wagman and Robert Garver on the birth’ of a baby daughtér, born on May 12th. May she grow up as red as her parents! MILITANT—MASS ORGAN of ‘the Polish Workers in Americal! elections, so that these agents of the bosses may have more “voting cattle” to sell to various democratic politic- ians, Of course, no mention was made of a Labor Party. (3) Various amendments to the workmen's compensation law were “recommended” (!) (4) Support was pledged to the workers on strike at the Lynchburg Plant of the Norfolk and Western Overall Company. Truly wonderful accomplishments! Another Friend of Labor, The final day of the convention wit- nessed a heated argument over the question as to whether Maj. Chas, F. Kizer, “labor” representative on the Virginia Industrial Commission, was a “friend of labor” or not. This typ- ical “friend of labor” was criticized for failing to appear before the courts of justice committee of the general assembly in behalf of amend- ments to the workman’s compensa- tion law. His supporters put forward the delightful excuse that he was at- tending a funeral of a relative at the time. Chasing a corpse instead of fighting for the living workers! In- deed a typical example of the “re- ward your friends and punish your enemies” policy. A very lamentable feature of this convention was the absence of any “left wing.” At the next convention a strong group of real militants Should appear to fight both gangs of selfseeking adventurers and force them to serve their capitalist masters openly, not on the pay of union men, In the meantime, in the local unions and central bodies, the militants must get together and do for themselves what the Hall and Robinson gangs will not and can not, as lackeys of the bosses and the democratic party, ever do for them. Above all, they should strike at the heart of the collabora- tion between the bosses and the labor fakers by discarding the futile “non partisan” Gompers policy and creat- ing the great need of the hour—a Vir- ginia Labor Party. SEND IN A SUB! FRISCO SCAB HERDERS SHOUT ‘LAW *N ORDER Open Shoppers Ask Aid to Crush Strike By a Worker Correspondent. SAN FRANCISCO, Cal, May 18— Resolutions demanding that Mayor James Rolph, Jr., act at once to re- tore law and order in the building war, were adopted at a meeting at the Builders Exchange this afternoon, following a visit to the mayor's of- fice by a committee from the Build- ers Exchange, the General Contrac- tors Association, and the Home Build- ers Association, Judge Golden, who dismissed three strikers charged with assault in the early stage of the strike of Carpenters for a closed shop, came in for censure for saying publicly that “all scabs and those responsible for bringing them in should be tarred and feath- ered and rode out of town on a rail.” Senator A. E. Boynton, who is also managing director of the Industrial Association, an open-shop outfit, at- tacked the grand jury, saying that “Altho they are estimable people they have refused to return indictments against the strikers.” Boynton also declared that there would be “no com- promise, arbitration or conciliation on the question of maintaining the open- shop.” Andrew J. Gallagar and Walter J. Schmidt, supervisors, declared the strikers were no more law violators than the Industrial Association which was guilty of “blocking delivery of ma- terials to buildings employing only union men.” Present indications are that the union men are winning out in their fight for a closed shop both in Oakland and San Francisco, BRITISH WORKERS RESIST ATTEMPT OF BOSSES TO SMASH THEIR UNIONS The alignment of the British govern- ment with the capitalist class in an onslaught on all wages transforms the miners’ battle to preserve their mea- ger living standards into a struggle of labor against capital for ultimate con- trol of the British industrial system. Government Backs Mine-Owners, The government openly. took sides when prime minister Baldwin said in the July 1925 crisis: “Not only must the miners accept a reduction in wages, but all the work- ers in this country must take a re- duction in wages to help put the coun- try on its feet.” He followed this with the appoint- ment of a coal commission of which Labor's research department says: “The persons selected were a com- bination of prosperous individuals who had considerable experience in capi- talist government with prosperous in- dividuals whose financial and commer- cial interests were a guarantee that they would not betray the interests of the capitalist class.” One member held directorships in 10 corporations including Vickers, which has important coal interests. They rec- ommended a cut in wages sugar coat- éd by proposals for reorganizing the industry. Sankey Report. The lockout of the miners May 1 and the general strike of British la- bor May 4 have their origin in the government’s bad faith with the San- key coal commission of 1919. Besides recommending hours and wages which were put into effect, the Sankey re- port stated: “Eyen upon the evidence already given, the present system of owner- TRYBUNA ROBOTNICZA (A Weekly) \f you are a Polish worker—or know one— Subscribe TRYBUNA ROBOTNICZA 1113 Ww, Washington Bivd., Chicago, III. | C1 srresssnsrsonsssesseede $2.50 a year, $1.50 six months. Canada and Foreign: $2.76 a y ir, $1.50 six months rococo re esnnenensseenvabsanscesenssennnscensesse ship and working in the coal industry stands condemned, and some other system must be substituted for it, either nationalization or a method of unification by national purchase and, (or) by jomt control.” When this report was presented to parliament Bonar Law announced for the cabinet that the government had adopted it “in spirit and in letter.” The government never carried out this pledge. S. O. Davies appearing for the miners before the 1925 commis- sion said: “In considering the attitude of the miners this fact must not be lost sight of for one moment—that the mine- owners, with the backing of succes- sive governments, have succeeded in preventing the reorganization on which alone the prosperity of the in- dustry might have been founded. In spite of the condemnation by the 1919 commission and by the whole of pub- lic opinion when the facts were brought together, the reorganization has been sabotaged and the miners, after successive struggles against the mine owners and the governments which have carried out the wishes of the mineowners, have been driven down to a level worse than that which was universally condemned in 1919.” The proposed reductions in wages, following the refusal of the govern- ment to extend the subsidy beyond April 30, would mean in the most pros- perous district wages only 42% above 1914 while in Scotland and Northum- berland wages would be 10% and 3% above prewar. The cost of living stands 76% above 1914, Seek to Smash Union. To carry out such reductions, says the labor research department, the mine operators have “from the first recognized that it is essential to break up the Miners Federation.” The first blow was aimed at the principle of na- tional wage agreements and brought the lockout and general strike, The outcome will determine wheth- er industry is to be controlled in the interest of the millions who work or the few who live on royalties, rents and profits. Open Another “Labor Bank.” SAN FRANCISCO — (FP) — The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers has taken over the former Kohler & Chase Bldg. in San Francisco and will open it in August as the Brotherhood National Bank, San Francisco branch, The bank will be capitalized at $500,- 000 and $150,000 surplus, The build- ing was leased for 25 years for $12,- 500,000, ) ‘ \ DARROW NOW MEMBER INTERNATIONAL LABOR DEFENSE EXECUTIVE Clarence Darrow, the well-known attorney, has become a member of the National Committee of interna- tlonal Labor Defense and declared hig Intention to support Its work, “1 shall be glad to do anything I can for your organization,” he says In a telegram to James secretary of the I. L. D. know of anything that Is needed. You can add my name to your committee if you wish.” Mr. Darrow is a nationally known figure and has become famous for his defense of labor cases. He has just returned from Detroit where he successfully defended the case of the Negro,Doctor Sweet, “We are,glad to add the name of Clarence Darrow to our executive cdmmittee,” said Cannon upon re- ceipt of the telegram. “It Is a sign of the growing Influence of Interna- tional Labor Defense and a tribute to its pradtical service and work. It is ah indication of the charac- ter of I. L, D. which aime to include in its ranks all those who stand on the common platform of defense of the rights of labor. Our alm is to constantly broaden the base of In- ternational Labor Defense as a na- tlonal, non-partisan body uniting In its ranks all shades of labor and progressive opinion. The action of Mr. Darrow is another big step in that direction.” more Nationwide “Beer Trust” Probe Is Now Under Way CLEVELAND, O., May 18.—The fed- eral government’s probe into a gi- gantic, nationwide “beer trust” was opened here with more than 300 wit- nesses On, id. While federal officials refused to comment the probe, it has been learned the government is in- vestigatii an alleged combine of Ohio ant ennsylvania brewers to manufacture and export beer contain- ing more than 2.75 per cent alcohol. The headqtiarters of the “trust” was said to bé’ Scranton, Pa, Andres Will Go to England Seeking Help in Dry Law Enforcement WASHINGTON, May 18. — L. C. Andrews, ¥ czar, and other Ameri- can officiais, will go to London about the middle of July to work out plans for the cq;operation of Great Britain with the United States in suppress- ing rum running off American shores. Senate-Committee Favors Additional Teeth in Dry Law WASHINGTON, May 18.—The re- vised Goff Mill, placing “new teeth” in the national dry law, was favorably reported td the senate by Senator Means, republican of Colorado, chat man of the senate’s “prohibitio: committee, Lawyers for State Seek to Prove Scott Is Sane “They will never hang Russell Scott,” declared William Scott Stew- art, attorney, as the state was pre- parting to prove that the convicted murderer of Joseph Maurer, Chicago drug clerk, is sane and should be re- turned here from the Chester asylum for the crfininal insane and hanged. Scott was saved from the gallows by a last mifnute insanity plea by At- torney Stewart. Now the state con- tends that Scott no longer is insane and three Alenists will go to Chester tomorrow to examine him, Population of China Incréases 36,000,000 PEKING, May 18—The 400,000,000 population of China has been increas- ed by 36,000,000, according to census figures published by the Chinese post- office, which places tha present popu- lation of China proper, excluding Mon- golia and Tibet, at 436,094,953. The census estimates the population of Peking at 1,014,610, and that of Shang- haj at 5,550,200, House Adopts Report on Naval Appropriations WASHINGTON, May 18.—By a vote of 808 to 85 the house adopted a com- promise conference report on the naval appropriation bill. Under this compromise the house agrees to a personnel of 82,500 instead of its own figure of 82,000 and the senate'’s pro- posal of 83,000 men. The Lakehurst dirigible balloon station is retained, at reduced cost, and the fuel allowance is increased by $800,000, Debate Open-Shop, KANSAS (OITY.—(FP)—A debate on the open shop will be staged by the Midwest. Student conference which opens in Kapsas City June 18. Other topics include the goose step in Amer- ican colleges modern economic isms and labor political parties. Headquar-: ters are at 3409 Campbell St, American workers. MERICA’S leading novelist has written this story. A writer whose gifts thru a life-time have been devoted to picture the life of His many novels have been translated into all languages and in Russia have been sold into millions of copies. “Oil” is a new novel. story of the California oil fields— of the sudden rise of great wealth; the bitter exploitation of the workers; the driving power of OIL which not only moves industry but is also motive power for world exploitation of Labor—and filthy corruption of politics which in the case of the Teapot Dome proved one of the greatest national scandals in years. [Yer A Book of Red Cartoons with Each New Sub or Renewal for One Year! Send Subs to THE DAILY WORKER 1113 W. Washington Blvd. Chicago, Il. A powerful —— RATES A New Novel by Upton Sinclair BEGINS IN THE ISSUE OF wvune 15 First American publication in The DAILY WORKER of a new novel by the author of “THE JUNGLE” "KING COAL” * 009,” and other novels of the working class. FGo00 4.year 4 S.30- omanthe L200 2mente [Roo a wn io 6 momtlr a ¢ > }