The Daily Worker Newspaper, June 25, 1926, Page 2

Page Two GARY CORONER WHITEWASHES STEEL COMPANY Blames Workers for Fatal Explosion (Special to The Daily Worker) GARY, Ind., June 22.—The coroner's inquest into the deaths of the workers, victims of the explosion in the by- products plant of the Iilinois Steel Company, subsidiary of the Gary-con- trolled United States Steel Corpora- tion, absolves the steel coropration from all blame for those killed in the blast and places the blame on the workers in the plant. | The coroner’s verdict is that “twelve men were killed all told—as ® result “of an explosion of gas, the cause of which is unknown but ap- parently the result of some unknown workman opening a valye and allow- ing gas to escape and becoming ig- nited from some unknown course.” The Gary workers’ investigation committee issued the following state- mént on the verdict of the Gary coro- ner: WORKERS HIT WHITEWASH “1. The Gary coroner made no se- rious efforts to establish the facts of the explosion. He did not visit the @cene of the explosion when he re turned to the city some days after the explosion occurred. Call in Company Heads. “2. He called in to testify only the officials of the plant, among whom were Major A. M. Burr, head of the safety department of the steel com- pany; Glen A. Reckenwall, assistant superintendent of the coke plant; Fred A. Weber, pipefitter foreman of the coke plant. Refuses to Quiz Workers. “8, He did not call in to testify any of the workers who worked in the plant because, so he states, ‘they know nothing about the cause of the explosion and no one will ever know.’ Accepts Company Version. “4, He accepted without question the opinion of the steel company of- ficials that the explosion was due to carelessness of some worker opening @ gas valve, Flew in Whitewash, “5. This opinion is contradicted by the testimony of the pipefitter fore- man, Fred A. Weber, who states that after the blast the pipelines were ex- amined before the gas was turned back into them and then examined four times after the gas was turned on and none of these sections revealed any defect. If a gas valve were open, as claimed by the officials of the plant, the section would not fail to show it. Coroner Forgets Workers. “6. The coroner did not ascertain how many workers were working in the plant on the day of the explosion “and yet they state that all workers ‘are accounted for.’ Sent in Information. “While demanding a congressional investigation the Gary workers inves- tigation committee appeals to all workers and citizens having informa- tion regarding the explosion to re- port to James M. Garnett, chairman of the committee, at 1951 Washington street. Faulty Apparatus, “The committee especially solicits information about the conditions of the apparatus, whether there was any complaints from the workers about leaking gas pipes prior to the explo- sion, whether there was sufficient and reguiar inspection of apparatus for safety, and whether there was any change among those in responsible jobs whereby inexperienced or new men would take their places. “The Gary Workers’ Investigation Committee.” Enright’s Brother, Covicted Murderer, Is Released on Bail HORNELL, N. Y.—(FP)—June 22, —When an ordinary working man is convicted of killing a human being in this state, it is almost unheard of for the courts to permit his release on bail. But Michael Enright, brother of Ex-Police Commisisoner Richard En- right of New York City, found more favor with the judges. Recently Michael was convicted of first degree _ Manslaughter for the killing of Tim- othy Shay, farmhand, and was sen- tenced to serve from 7 to 14 years in prison. Now he has been releayed | on ball in the custody of his tamil _— a decision on an appeal, League of Nations Weakens as Units Begin W: ithdrawal Above is the Rt. Hon. Sir Willough- by Dickinson, one of the English founders of the league and its vice- president. Brazil has withdrawn, Poland and Spain are talking about it and a similar move is on foot in Can- ada. This league of capitalist nations is due for a short life, ANTI-TRUST LAW AIDS OPEN SHOP SAYS ATTORNEY Capitalists Need Not Fear Such Laws (Special to The Dally Worker) QUEBEC, June 23. — Speaking be- fore the convention of the New York State Bankers’ Association, Walter Gordon Merritt of New York, who was the attorney that succeeded in estab- lishing the Sherman “anti-trust” law as applying to labor unions in the Danbury Hatters’ case, declared em- phatically that ‘anti-trust’ laws are primarily aimed at breaking labor unions and establishing the “open shop” and capitalists are fools if they oppose such laws, “Liberty” Means Open Shop. “What was the result of the Dan- bury Hatters’ case?” asked Merritt. “That case and those which followed upon it made America an open shop country, where every employer has ac cess to the markets of the nation whether he employs union or non- union men, and where the products of non-union men have equal rights with union made products. Is there an in- dustrialist in the country who would knowingly surrender this? “There is ground for claiming that the ‘liberty laws’, as I call them, are responsible for the generous measure of co-operation and good will existing between employers and employes thru- out the United States. It is the liberty guaranteed which has furnished our American employers with the oppor- tunity of securing improved industrial relationship,” said Merritt, undoubted- ly referring to the company union system and class collaboration schemes worked out with consent of some union officials. Open Shop Riveted In Government. “English policy has practically grounded closed shop conditions in government and daw, In the United States, where individual liberty pre- vails, the open shop regime is riveted in government and law. The anti-trust laws are largely responsible for this.” “Ts it not true that the great general strike, which shook the foundations of the British government, was due to conditions which could not easily arise in a country of industrial freedom?” Mr. Merritt made it clear that “in- dustrial freedom” to him means the open shop, New York Court Aids Bus Company Dodge $100,000 Damage Suit NEW YORK, June 22.—Efforts to speed a $100,000 damage suit against the Fifth Avenue Coach Company by Walter Woodward, former employe, who was injured by an automobile bus while making repairs on another bus, have failed, Supreme Court Jus- tice Delehanty was willing to push the case ahead, but objection was made, and the appellate court sidetracked the suit until an appeal by the coach company against a ruling by Dele- hanty can be argued on July 2. The appellate court was not im- pressed by a showing that Woodward is a permanent cripple, that his wife is on the verge of nervous prostration, that a 4-year-old son is in a hospital, WORKERS CHEER THIRTEEN 1924 STRIKE PICKETS Hold Celebration in the Union’s Headquarters (Continued from page 1) will organize the industry in spite of their judges and the actions of the bosses. Build Strong Union, “The workers will see to it that a strong union is built and that we get better conditions.” Sister Dora, member of Local No. 22 of the New York International Ladies Garment Workers Union congratu- fated the released pickets on their fighting spirit and urged them to con- tinue their fight until the conditions that are prevalent in New York City are prevalent in Chicago. She urged them to struggle for the shorter week, higher wages and a strong union in the Chicago market. No Fear of Jail. Sara Schneider, who served a ten- day sentence, urged a continuance of the fight for better conditions and told the members not to be afraid of going to jail for their fight, Marion Brostick, who served a ten- day sentence, also urged the members of the union not to be afraid of jail, but to continue their fight. J. Levine, manager of the Chicago Joint Board, greeted the released pickets in the name of the entire membership and urged them to help earry on the fight of the union for better conditions. Workers Must Sacrifice, “Every struggle of the workers to improve their conditions is marked with sacrifices,” declared Levine. ““Every gain is marked by sacrifices. ‘Whether it be two cents more an hour or a few minutes off each day these gains are marked by sacrifices. .You served in jail. It is not necessary for me to tell you why you served in jail.” Workers Greet Pickets. The thirteen 1924 pickets were met at the Cook County jail by several hundred garment workers, Bouquets were presented to the released prison- ers from Locals 100, 59 and Polish Local 60 of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union, the Women’s Department of the Organization Com- mittee of the Chicago joint board, from workers in the Blossom Shop, Hyman Brothers Shop, Byer-Beren- baum shop, Berman-Baer Frock com- pany and from the Northwest Mothers’ League. The delegation from the Northwest Side Mothers League were S. Greenspoon, Paula Tatarsky and Freda Seigel. Wild cheers greeted each of the prisoners as they were let thru the doors of the jail to freedom. The de- monstration was such that passers-by queried, “Is this a wedding?” Not For Clergy, A number of Catholic clergymen at- tending the XXVIII Eucharistic Con- gress, the medieval revival staged by the catholic church in an attempt to recruit new members into the ehurch and to plunge those that are now mem- bers of the church deeper into the ignorance and superstition fostered by the church, who had been visiting the jail thought the demonstration had been staged for them. They were soon put at ease (?) that the demonstration wag not for them but for thirteen girls who had been jailed for fighting for better conditions. “I'd like to go to jail too, if I could have such a delegation to greet me and to hand me boquets after I got out,” declared one as he elbowed his way thru the delegation greeting the jailed pickets. Roll of Honor, Jennie Miller, Eva Jacobs, Jennie Chanin, Sara Schneider, Esther Rich- man, Rose Silver, Mrs. Kate Koppa, Bessie Gettman, Mrs. Rose Goodman who must support three children, An- na Berenbaum, Caroline Wiglowski, Mrs. Mae Boncinsky who has a hus- band and three children dependent on her, and Marion Brostick were re- leased. Twenty-Four to Serve Sentences There are still about twenty-four more garment workers that will have to serve their sentences, Nine are now in the jail serving from 15 to 60 days sentences. A number of pickets are expected to go to jail this week. Machinists’ Drives for Membership Get Some Lost Ones Back (Special to The Daily Worker) sulted in a big revival of active mem. bership, according to Acting Prest- dent Conlon and Secretary-Treasurer Davison of the grand lodge. Total was in May, 1925, WASHINGTON, June 23.—Member- ship by lodges of the International As- sociation of Machinists thruout the United States and Canada have re- membership has returned to what it THE DAILY WORKER PIGKETS SEEK TO. SHORTEN TERMS OF THO Offer to Stay in Jail Three Days Longer Thirteen members of the Interna- tional Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Un- fon, who have already ended their sen- tences for defying the injunction against picketing issued by ‘“Injunc- tion Judge” Denis BE. Sullivan, before leaving the jail, held a meeting at which they offered to serve three days longer so as to cut down the 45day sentences of Mrs. Victoria Ciesla- kiewicz and Mrs, Eleanor Sadlowski. After the meeting of the prisoners in the jail, a committee was told to submit their proposal to the warden. The proposal of the committee was turned down by the warden, who de- clared that he had no power to com- ply with their request and that the arrangement could not be made. Mrs. Victoria Cieslakiewicz has four children that need her attention. Her fifteen-year-old girl)is.a cripple and needs constant attention, This crip- pled daughter will:have to go with- out that attention for over a month more.‘ Mrs, Sadlowski has a 10-year- old boy. SWEDISH CROWN PRINCE IS GUEST CHICAGO'S “400” Will Squander Some of Unemployed Fund Here Crown Prince Gustav Adolphus and Princess Louise of Sweden, who are touring America squandering $60,000 taken out of the unemployment fund, @re now in Chicago ‘being wined and dined by the official 400 of the city. Dodges N. A. A. C. P. Invitation, Mayor William B. Dever, who dodg- ed an invitation of the National As- sociation for the Advancement of Colored People, to address their open- ing meeting and weléome the Negro delegates to Chicago, heads the re-| ception committee to greet these gl payasites. The prince with his princess are to live in the mansion,of “Hell ‘an Maria” Dawes, vice- ident of the United States, during“their four day stay in Chicago. Revel While Workers Starve. A banquet was held in honor of these two representatives of Swedish royalty at the Palmer House last night at which a many’coursed dinner was served t 1,400. Mrs. Edith Rockefeller McCormick is staging a dinner to these two this afternoon at which about 60 of Chi- cago’s “elite 400” will be present. The elaborate program to welcome and entertain these two rivalled in splendor the medieval. XXVIII Euchar- istic Congress taking place in the city. The two parasites, leave Chicago Saturday. eee Visits Steel Mill. GARY, Ind., June 23—Crown Prince Gustavus Adolphus visited the Gary plant of the Illinois Steel company. The steel mill is one of three indus- trial institutions the prince wanted to visit while in America. The Edison plant at Orange, N. J., and the Ford factories at Detroit, were the other two. Chicago Labor in Protest for Sacco and Vanzetti (Continued from page 1) stein, of the International Ladies’ | His record shows why he is a fit Garment Workers’ Union, and Fred Biedenkapp as the speakers. Sticker Campaign. up thruout the city, are being issued by. the local conference committee. to the case of Sacco and Vanzetti. Missing Cal. Woman Evangelist Is Found Exhausted in Mexico (Special to The Daily Worker) Semple MacPherson, “the world’s greate: vangelist” who disappeared May 18 while she was bathing in the surf, is alive. That was the positive statement to- day of the evangelist’s mother, Mrs. Minnie Kennedy, who talked over long distance telephone with the woman 7 ® Loyalty to ———— HRU the whole 28th Eucharistic Congress of the catholic church, there runs a tremor of fear. It is the fear that drove the papal power that is in Rome to send this international gathering to the U. 8. to imbibe nourishment from the golden riches of the world’s greatest imperialism. For all is not well with the authority of the church on its home continent of Europe, ° ese ¢ One-half of the continent is now under the emancipating Soviet rule of the workers and peasants who tore off the blinding bandage of both the Roman and Greek catholic churches. In the rest of Europe the power of the church has never recovered from the great slaughter into which it helped hurl the nations. Catholic Austria-Hungary fought catholic Italy, and now Monsignor Ignatius Seipel, D. D., Ph. D., one of the prominent figures at the Chicago gathering, spends his time between the religious ceremonies in the sta- dium and the gatherings of the money changers in LaSalle street, beseeching financial aid from the ‘pond brokers for his bankrupt Austria, helpless ward of the league of nations, over which he ruled at one time as a clerical premier of the Christian Social (Catholic) Party. It is the money changers of the faith, the honored laymen, who get all the favored places at the festivities, Reports from Germany concerning last Monday's plebiscite show that there was a vast defection from the ranks of Rhineland centrist party (catholicy. Despite the opposition of the catholic church to the con- fiscation of the property of the de- posed parasite monarchists, the catholic coal miners and industrial workers joined the Communist united front and demanded confisca- tion, The Germania, the church's | daily organ, openly accuses the catholic workers with “insubordina- | tion to ecclesiastical authority,” 26 First came the bitter attack on Mexico, In fact, it has already been pointed out that another of the reasons for holding this Eucharistic Congress in the United States was to bulwark the position of the church against the effort of the Mex- ican masses to free themselves from benighting catholic influence. Loss of prestige and power for the cathol- ic in Mexico means defeat thruout Central and South America. Then followed the attack by Sec- retary of Labor Davis, as the mess- age bearer for President Coolidge, against the militants in the labor movement. If there are any dissent- ing elements in the catholic church, holding views differing from those in the saddle, they get no opportu- nity for expression in this congress. The appeal by Davis was plainly against any sections of the Amer- ican population that might challenge the position of the Coolidge re- action. se Then Pierce Butler, United States supreme court justice, who was ele- Ally of the House of Morgan Talks at Eucharistic Congress (Continued from page 1) . Labor’s Insubordination to Catholic Church Is All Labor By J. LOUIS ENGDAHL, loyalty to the corporation interests in Minnesota, was given an opportu- nity to strut before the throngs at- tending the congress. He signifi- cantly declared: “Grave problems likely to disturb social tranquility perplex the times. The rapid growth of industrial cen- ters, controversies as to wage and conditions of work, ¢ considerable unrest in respect of economic condi- tions, and many other things disturb and appear sometimes seriously to threaten social order and. peace,” and much more. Pe) Pierce Butler, the railroad lawyer, did not have to look to Burope for an urge to make that declaration. At the moment he was talking, they were counting: the ballots back in his home city and state, St. Paul, Minnesota, showing that Magnus Johnson, the candidate of the left wing of the Minnesota farmer-labor party, had been nominated for United States senator. This had been accomplished against the at- tempt of the O’Connor (catholic) democratic machine to interfere with and disrupt the independent political struggle of the workers and farmers. Butler, like Frank Kellogg, secretary of state in Coolidge’s cabinet, who is a Minnesota corporation lawyer, knows that Johnson's nomination means a suc- cessful development of the attack of the workers and farmers against the landlords, bankers, food profit- eers and great industrial overlords in this state, To him Johnson's nomination threatens “the social order and peace.” But of course that is just another reason why labor should be all the more in favor of it and recognize.that the catholic church is a political, power opposed to them. see Thus the speakers at the Euchar- istic Congress yery clearly show how they use Pélfigon, and especial- ly the catholic religion, to cloak their defense of the capitalist social order, The /catholic church is a handmaiden of capitalism. ‘The tremor of'fear that runs thru the whole Eucharistic Congress, voiced in the speeches of its most representative spokesmen, is there- fore a fear for the future of the present social system that it sup- ports, a .¢: @ No repetition is being made in this congress of the usual attack by the catholic church on the Union of Soviet Republics. That would bring the political activities of the catholic prelates too much into the limelight, If the issue were raised, ‘broader masses would learn of the efforts of the catholic church, thru the Polish bishop, Cieplak, and many others, to plot the,overthrow of the Workers’ Republic, That the cathol- fc church is plainly on the defensive before the enlighteried workers of the world is very evident. It should be kept in that position. Insubordi- nation of catholic workers to their church and religion means greater loyalty to their class, the working vated to thjs position because of his | Class. nova, archbishop of Toledo, Spain, and personal representative of King Alfonso, and Cardinal O'Donnell, pri- mate of Ireland, There might have béen others. But these I heard in their native tongues. And they made no pretense of having their remarks from Massachusetts. Placing him on| translated into the English languago its program means that the Catho-| 0 that the masses could understand lic Church is working for his election.| what they were saying. orator for a Catholic congress. Walsh talked about two things, the Catholic Ten thousand stickers, to be pasted} church, and the necessity of religious internationalism of the teaching for the children, “The Catholic church is universal, The stickers contain slogans relating | world-wide, appealing to all races and and the throngs ap- Yet it was because they were for- eigners, radical foreigners, that Sac- co and Vanzetti were victimized in KH was because Be ‘came into Massachusetts as a ‘foreign agitator,” among Catholic and protestant shoe workers that An- LOS ANGELWS, June 23,—Aimee |thony Bimba was declared guilty of nationalities,” plauded. Walsh's own ‘tate. sedition. But Not for the Workers. Walsh preached internationalism for the Catholic church, which also means for organized business, but he is opposed to internationalism for the worker: When foreign‘born workers talk to found in an exhausted condition in scibieteee, vaca they pene the risk Agua Prieta, Mexico, this morning.| or peing arrested. But before the Among the hundreds of thousands of men, women and children, who have crowded the Stadium during the last few days, the vast majority have been of the working class, The children have been singing, for the most part ignorant of the songs, the women have been singing and kneeling, ignorant of the Latin in- ‘The night that I attended was “For Men Only!” But many women ‘and children had crashed the gates. When the religious mummery reached its SENATOR TO CALL FOR GARY PROBE IF GIVEN FACTS Wants Data As Basis for Resolution ‘The DAILY WORKER has received in reply to its telegram to various sen- ators and congressmen urging an in- vestigation of the Gary disaster the following letter from Senator Burton K, Wheeler of Montana, member of the sehate committee on interstate commerce: United States Senate. Committee on Interstate Commerce. Washington, D. C., June 21, 1926. Editor of The DAILY WORKER, Chicago, Il, I am in receipt of the following telegram: lemand growing here for im vestigation of Gary disaster be lieved to have been caused by vio- lation of state and interstate laws governing storage of explosive chemicals. Urge you to Initiate such an investigation in behalf of” wives and families of dead and In- Jured employes of stee! trust.” I am not familiar with the facts in this case at all, and wish that you would have somebody write me the details concerning same, as without more information I would be unable to do anything at all. In order to start an investigation I would haye to set forth the date and names of the people that were killed, how they were killed and all about it. You can probably send me some newspaper clipping covering the matter, and if I can see any way of getting anything done in the matter will be glad to introduce a resolu- tion. Cordially yours, B. K. Wheeler, The DAILY WORKER has sent Wheeler its issues from June 15 to date containing the accounts of the disaster, together with the following statement:. Chicago, June 23-25. Senator Burton K. Wheeler, Washington, D. C. Dear Sir: In reply to your letter asking for newspaper clippings and further facts concerning the Gary disaster as a basis for a senate resolution asking an investigation we are for- warding under separate cover cop- jes of our publication carrying the story of the disaster from June 15 to date. In addition, we suggest that you secure copies of the Chicago Tribune ‘and the Daily News of-June 16, 16, 17 and 18, which give the usual newspaper version of the disaster. We state further for your Infor- mation that In many ways the Gary disaster is similar to that which oc- curred in your home city of Butte on or about June 7, 1917, in which the lives of 164 miners were lost, Gary Is controlled by the lilinole Steel Company, a subsidiary of the steel trust, to even a larger extent than Butte was controlled by the Anaconda Copper Mining Company in 1917. The coroner’s investigation was a ghastly farce, the steel work- are unorganized and without re- dress, there ig no newspaper in Gary that cares or dares to criticize the company. We believe you have it In your Power to render a service to the steel workers, the progressive move- ment, the trade union movement, and the wives and families of the dead and injured men by demand- ing and energetically prosecuting the investigation of a disaster which Independent Investigation, econduct- ed ir great difficulties, shows to have been caused by the grossest carelessness in providing safety m res and violation of laws gov- ig the handling and storage of dangerous chemicals and explosives, Sincerely yours, (Signed) DAILY WORKER, Willlam F. Dunne, J. Louls Engdahi, Editors, WRITE AS YOU FIGHT! We need more news from the shops and factories. Send it Int —_—_—_——————— height, they lighted candles in tho night, men of the worling class, many of them in their working clothes, workers still followers of the Catho- le Church, that aids the exploiters in their efforts to maintain world rule for reaction. ifth Annual JULY 4TH PICNIC Held on Legal Holiday f = Fear Attempts to _ Assassinate Pilsudski MONDAY, JULY 5 Chernauskas’ Grove, 79th St. and Archer Ave. | After asking the woman twenty per-| vast array of the Eucharistic Con- sonal questions, Mrs. Kennedy an-| gress, for which all Chicago is eup- nounced posed to have thrown open its doors, “It seems to be her, all right, thank’ there passed a procession of foreign- % and that a 6-yearold daughter 1s re- covering from an operation. Dispos- sess proceedings are pending against Meanwhile the application of the machinists for reinstatement in the building trades department of the (Special to The Daily Worker) WARSAW, June 23, — What may the family. American Federation of Labor has | god!” ; ( to assassinate ers: the Rt-Rev. Augustin Hloand, Large Dance Floor Good trad Sr Pilsndsn! ose frustrated, been the subject of discussion be-| Miss MacPherson claims to have|p, D,, tahop of Katawice, Upper S!- f mucle sha woman, who had been serving Five Children Die in Fire, tween the machinists’ officers and the | been kidnapped and held for ransom. | jesia, who spoke in Polish; the Rev. Refreshments Games | | prison sentence, was arrested in the} TROY, N. Y., Juno 23.—-Five chil- executives of the Sheet Metal Work-|She was taken, according to the state-| Mgr, Ignatius Seipel, D. D., Ph. D.,| 9] 4 tse ¢ y the marshal. dren lost their lives in a fire which| rs and the Blevator Constructors, | ment over the telephone, to Mexico | former premier of Austria, who spoke | Speakers: C. E. Ruthenberg and Alexander Bittelman. || - | wo had reached the mar. | today destroyed the home of Mr, and | whose jurisdictional claims are thot|where she was found at Auga Prieta.|in German; Henri Bourassa, editor of | q haan l Mrs. Francis Aldrich, n Wateford,| to have been satisfied, The machin-| She was being held for ransom. Le Devoir of Montreal, Canada; ADMISSION 'S. Aldrich is on the point nd | ists gave up all claim to handling A sensational sedrch death, has been in| Most Reverand Joseph Pallea, D. haba ’ highs)