The Daily Worker Newspaper, July 10, 1926, Page 2

Page Two MW.FIGHTS — FOR ITS LIFE IN PA, MINES State Court Outlaws All Picketing By ART SHIELDS, Federated Press Correspondent, CLEARFIELD, Pa., July 8. — The hardships of a non-union mining com- munity are summarized in a state- ment by John Brophy, president Dis- rict No. 2, United Mine Workers, an- nouncing a movement to organize the men employed by the big coal sub- sidiaries of the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh railroad interests in In- diana and Jefferson countries, Field offices have been opened in Indiana, Pa., some fifty-odd miles east by north of Pittsburgh and organizers are get- ting busy despite injunctions, mounted guards and ever-present company “spotters.” Brophy’s statement hits the “spot- . ter,” 28 well as at the company store, and the fraudulent weighing that robs the miner at the tipple, the 40% and 50% wage cuts and all the other lead- ing features of the scab coal town scheme. The statement follows in part: Terrific Wage Cut. “In addition to the direct wage cut of more than 30%, there are indirect reductions that bring the total cut down to 40 and 50%. Little or no pay for ‘dead work’ has become the rule. Complaint about short weight is gen- eral, Without a union there is no checkweighman on the tipple to guar- antes that the men get paid for all the coal they load. The high price company store still further slashes the miners’ standard of living. Men complain that if they purchase goods from independent merchants—who charge 15% less than the company stores—they are endangering their jobs. “Working conditions are worsened. For example, more car pushing is re- quired of the men than formerly, Motormen and other day men have been speeded up. The men are work- ed to the point of exhaustion. Con- stant complaint is made that non- union management neglects safety: rules. Usual Spy System, “To mention a grievance to the boss invites discharge. “A large and oppressive police and spy system is maintained. The B. R. & P. miner is constantly under scrutt- ny, even in his personal life outside of working hours, the company ‘spot- ter’ is everywhere. And the cost of these spies is thrown on the industry while the management refuses to bear the cost of the American standard of living. “With all this, full time is not secured, though the management had promised that the lower wages would bring steady employment. Some of the B. R. & P. mines are not oper- ating at all, and the rest average but three days a week. Non-unionism has not brought prosperity. Instead several Indiana merchants have gone bank- rupt and commercial travelers say business was never worse. The Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh group is the largest coal enterprise in central Pennsylvania, employing some 8,000 men at its peak. The company repudiated the Jacksonville three-year contract late in 1294. After long periods of lockout and starvation, most of the mines were eventually opened. Strikes followed, then came injunctions and wholesale arrests. The union still holds a few towns in this region and seeks to recover its lost ground, in the weak sector. ee Supreme Court Upholds Coal . Injunction, PHILADELPHIA, July 8. — Penn- sylvania’s supreme court upheld the Jefferson county court injunction against union miners of District No. 2 who are striking against the Rochester & Pittsburgh Coal & Iron Co, mine at Adrian, Pa. The supreme court struck out the word “peaceful” before picketing but otherwise sustained the ban on the miners’ parading on high- ways as “intimidation.” The union workers are fighting to enforce the 1294 wage scale which the company violated. Crowe-Barrett Gang Stole 27,723 Votes in April Primaries The Crowe-Barrett republican fac- tion profited by the theft of 27,723 votes in the twentieth ward alone in the April primary election, it was re- vealed here today by recounting teams. The twentieth, stronghold of Morris Eller, sanitary district trustee, deli- vered an average of 1,000 stolen votes to each Crowe-Barrett candidate, and the Deneen-Lundin faction also pro- fited by the connivery, its 26 candj- dates having veceived 9,917 stolen ballots. In 32 precincts of the ward, Joseph P. Savage, successful candidate for the nomination for county judge, has lost 535 votes to Judge Daniel P. Trude, U Film Star Sued by Co. LOS ANGBLES, July 8—Florence Vidor, motion picture star, was ‘sued tor $1,200 today by the Collection Service Corporation, acting as, as- signee for the Edward Small Co. of Hollywood, representatives of motion picture players. ternational Association of Machinists operate with them in this great move- tion first among themselves, creating @ better good fellowship to the ultimate goal of success, the union is now in a posi- tion to command the respect of those joining in the movement in this dis- trict and portune time to get on the band wagon of progress and assist building up the organization in order to improve con- ditions and wages among the machine shop workers. committee and help put your shoulder to the wheel of progress or still re- main stagnant to the point of allow- ing the employers dictate as to what conditions and services? seriously and at once render your de- cision by making out an application to join the Machinists’ help put this movement over success- fully, Engels today was back in the cast of after an illness of several days, it HE DAILY WORKER ” Se Great Meeting of Striking Cloakmakers in Madison Sq. Garden CHINESE SEAMEN AT CANTON PULL STRIKE AGAINST DOLLAR LINE CANTON, China, July 8—The Seamen’s Union has called out the Chinese crew of the American steamer Grace Dollar, demanding in- creased wages. The company re- fused and is taking the ship out with a skeleton crew of foreign scabs, U, S, PACKERS RUIN BRITISH IN TRADE WAR Swift Fights for Rule with Argentine Beef LONDON, July 8.—A trade war be- tween the great American meat pack- ers and those of Great Britain, both getting most of their stock from the great Argentine ranches, has cost the British packers somewhere between $25,000,000 and $50,000,000 so far in the fight for the market in the British Isles. The American firms of Swift & Co, and Armour and Wilson compa- nies have been price cutting to the English trade to the extent that the British firms of Smithfield & Co., James Telson and Sons, the River Platte Fresh Meat Company and the Nansinea Company of Argentina, in which British capital is involved, have suffered serious losses. Small Firms Ruined. These British firms and some new ones entering the field during and since the war have also their own big- Will you join with the organization| ser British rival to combat, the Ves- tey Company, and the battle between the giants of Vestey and Swift is slaughtering the smaller firms, who see their bankruptcy in the price- cutting war of the Vestey and Swift interests to monopolize the British market. Argentine beef is now re ported selling below cost in the Lon- don market, Two Workers Killed by Train. DU QUOIN, IL, July 8—The bodies of two unidentified men, who appar- ently had been struck by a train, were found along the Illinois Central railroad tracks here today. Kansas City lwbor agency stubs were found tho bodies, DISTRICT SIX OF |. AM, IN UNION DRIVE Machinists Asked to Get in the Union By WILLIAM J. MURPHY, Bus, Agent, Dist. 6, I. A. of M. PITTSBURGH, Pa., July 8.—The In- in District No. 6, Pittsburgh, Pa., is waging a campaign to increase its membership among the machine shop workers of this locality. The organizing committee, com- posing some of the real old time mem- bers of the union working at the trade in this vicinity for many years, realize the urgent need for an organization to combat the poor conditions in the machine shop, as wel las low wages, are working night and day as well as Sundays to interest the workers in the machine industry to organize and co- ment to better the welfare of trade. Realizing the necessity of organiza- the spirit of fraternalism and among the machine shop workers in the organization, Many former members are coming back in the fold in great numbers, as they realize that this is the op- wages you sell your Think this ,matter over Union and Jeanne Engels Back, LOS ANGELES, July 8—Jeanne “Rain,” the play she made famous, ms ithnachaltaetaatot scalp All’s Well of Large Peso HE silk industry is prosperous. If the workers conducted an energetic campaign for wage in- creases, resulting in courageous strikes, the silk barons would deny this. They would hide their profits and declare they were losing money. General E. C, Young, president of the Belding-Hemiway company, “spills the beans,” however, in the current issue of “Investments,” a quarterly issued by the Bankers’ Trust company, of New York, The colonel finds that business is good in the silk industry. He declares this results from: First:—Great savings resulting from consolidations within the silk industry. Second:—Greater stimulation of silk sales than cotton or wool, Third:—Larger supplies of raw silk, Fourth:—The application of labor saving devices to the silk industry. “+e Nowhere is there any hint that the silk workers have received the results of any of these benefits. They have not, Yet the conditions which Colonel Young cites offer an ideal applica- tion of the new wage theory of the American Federation of Labor, that the workers are entitled to the bene- fits accruing from the elimination of waste and the introduction of la- bor saving devices. Consolidations in industry—mo- nopoly—resulted in the elimination of waste, The A. F. of L, officials insist that labor should share in the increased profits resulting from the elimination of this waste. Increased sales result in mass pro- duction and the elimination of ad- ditional wastes and consequently greater profits. Every industry hunts strenuously for its supply of the needed raw materials. Wars are fought and will be fought again for this neces- sity of industry. The supplies of raw silk are 61 per cent greater to- day than 15 years ago, comparing with 27% per cent for cotton and nine per cent for wool. Another basis for an increase in profits. (Continued from page 1) Street and Electric Railway Em- ployes, the A. F. of L. union of car- men, is in the city and has aids in- vestigating the strike. P. J. Shea, vice-president of the organization, is also here and labor officials close to the Amalgamated state that President William J. Mahon is due to arrive from Detroit in a day or so, The strike leaders have indicated that they are perfectly willing to become @ part of the A. F. of L. organization. Long Mass Meetings. The daily mass meetings are the main features of the strike and they last from noon until midnight, with but an interval in the evening. Be- sides the officials of the union on strike, a number of other prominent labor speakers have addressed the meetings. At last night's meeting Carl Brodsky, president of one of the elec- trical workers’ locals, addressed the strikers and pledged the support of his union, Robert W. Dunn of the American Civil Liberties Union pledged that his organization would defend any strik- ers deprived of their rights to picket or engage in any work essential to the winning of the strike. Joseph R. Brodsky, attorney for the furriers who just emerged from a successful strike, pledged the support of that organization, This afternoon P, Pascal Cosgrove of the Shoe Workers’ Union, addrssed the strikers and pledged the support of his organization, ‘The appearance of local labor lead- ers on the strikers’ platform and the pledges of other organizations effec- tively gives the lie to the propagan- dists of the Interborough to the effect that the balance of labor is not behind the strike, Garment Strikers Back Fight. The general strike committee of the 10,000 garment workers affiliated with the International Ladies’ Garment Workers, at a meeting last night, un- animously adopted the following reso- lution, pledging aid to the striking sraction workers: ‘The General Strike Committee of the Coat Workers of the Interna- tional Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union, representing 40,000 striking workers, hails with joy the long overdue revolt of the traction work- ers of New York City inst the brutal and shameless exploitation and betrayal by the company thru the medium of its company-owned unions, directed by the Hedley-Con- nolly combination, “The Cloak Makers’ General Strike Committee, speaking in the name of the 40,000 strikers, prom- ises to support to best of its wi i mei ‘SOVIET UNION CUTS 109%, OFF RETAIL PRICE Closes “Scissors” by Four Years’ Work MOSCOW, July 8.—All retail prices of manufactured goods will be re- duced ten per cent from their May level by August 1, according to a de- cree of the Soviet economic council. This is a further step toward equal- izing the prices of manufactured pro- doucts and the products of the coun- try. The immense crop this year will contribute toward cheaper food costs and in a measure lower the costs of all production. The ability to equal- ize the prices of city and country products represents the “closing of the scissors” which threatened to cre- ate the same dislocation in economic life as exists in other countries where the prices of all commodities are dis- proportionatelyyhigh compared to the prices of farm-products. ‘Conquers Dang: Four years‘ago the “scissors” threatened to cut off the ligaments of economic life between city and coun- try in Soviet ‘Russia, There was no purchasing capacity, no surplus in city or country, It is a wholly different story today. Efforts to increase production are most successfal and with this and the export of grain, the standard of life is wholly changed, both the city and country workers are eating as they never ate before, enjoying more meat and the luxury of white bread never dreamed of under the czar. Little Foreign Aid, Russia, even according to its capi- talist enemies, appears as an undeni- ably peaceful, prosperous and indus- trious country, with a potential com- fort for its workers in the vast wealth rapidly being developed almost wholly by the workers’ government without the aid of more than a little foreign capital. % nN Plague Threatens Japan. TOKIO, July &—Tokio and Yoko- hama health authorities today were taking precautions against the spread of the bubonic plague following the death of one person in Yokohama and the isolation of three suspected cases, An anti-rat drive has been launchd and the mithorities are paying in- sf an nnna rosaries sant ee %, By J, LOUIS ENGDAHL, 7! | SUBWAY TIE-UP LOOMS IN N.Y. AS . TRACTION MEN UNITE AGAINST CO. in the Silk! Industry, Joyous Claim New York Bank Then the development and use of labor saving devices that eliminate skilled labor, Here is another in- crease in production at a reduced cost, which again means higher pro- fits. The new wage theory of the American Federation of Labor de clares that this again should result in the shorter work-day and in- creased wages. +e But none of these results accrue to the silk workers. Colonel Young in the employers’ mouthpiece speaks only of the benefits derived by the bosses from all these avenues that lead to greater opportunities for profiteering, The new wage theory of the A. F. of L. that pleads with the bosses, without any organiza- tion strehgth to support that plea and turn it into a definite, victor- ious demand, does ont interest the colonel, All this should be of intense in- terest to all the silk workers, in such great centers as Paterson, New Jersey, where the spirit of struggle among the highly exploited silk toil- ers burns as valiantly as ever ,in spite of many setbacks. It is the same spirit that urges on the striking textiles workers of the neighboring city of Passaic, New Jersey, in the 23rd week of their war against the’ entrenched textile mill interests. ° ‘The same applies to the steel in- dustry, the rubber industry, the automobile industry, the metal min- ing industry, where the new wage theory of the A. F, of L., promulgat- ed at Atlantic City, has not gone into effect by one iota because the basis of struggle, the economic or- ganizations of the workers has not been laid and built upon in these industries. The gloating of the silk baron, Colonel Young, in the official house organ of the Bankers’ Trust com- pany of New York City, however, should cause all workers to stop a little, think a great deal and then proceed to act a little for them- selves in the bitter struggle for existence, ‘ the strike of the traction workers.” The joint board of the Furriers’ Union, meeting while the great Casino mass meeting was in progress and when the elevated men were walking out, discussed the strike and the re- volt against the company union that has for ten years held the subway and elevated workers enslaved and adopted the following resolution: “The Joint Board of the Furriers’ Union, representing 12,000 workers of New York, which has just emerged successfully from a bitter strike, greets the striking traction workers of New York City who are fighting against the bitter exploita- tion of the traction monopolists. “We rejoice in the challenge thrown by the long suffering trac- tion workers against the Hedley- Connolly conspiracy against labor, known as the Brotherhood Com- pany Union, é “We call upon all labor to rally to the support of our brother strikers, and pledge our unlimited moral and financial support.” Today, the second of the strike, traffic congestion is worse than it has thus far been. Less frequently , the scab-manned trains creep thru the subway. The average speed from Columbus Circle to Battery Park un- derground is less than five miles an hour. Runs that usually require thir- ty minutes now require many hours and some trains stall in the subway and the passengers must get off and walk in the dark along the rails in constant danger of coming in contact with the deadly electrically-charged “third rail.” ' Make Strike General. The strike committee of the newly organized Consolidated Railroad Work- ers’ Union has broadcast an appeal to all subway and elevated workers in all other branches of service to make the strike general, and the response last night indicates that President Lavin correctly estimates the situa- tion when he claims that the end of the week will see both the elevated and subway lines in the Interborough completely paralyzed. Berkeley Mass Meeting Demands Release of Sacco and Vanzetti BERKELEY, Caly., July 8.—At a well-attended meeting in Com- rades Hall @ resolution was adopted protesting against the attempt to elec- trocute Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti for a crime they never com- mitted. The mass meeting in its res- olutton demands unconditional release of these two Italian workers, | SENDINASUBL SUBWAY STRIKE. SHOWS HOSTILE STATE POWERS Government Uses All Aid for the Bosses NEW YORK CITY, July 8—The striking subway workers who have opened the fight against the company union by organizing the Consolidated Railroad Workers, a real union, are finding the government their leading enemy. ‘Commissioners Gilchrist and Lock- wood of the transit commission, in consultation with strike leaders, sub- mitted a list of seven names of promi- nent men from whom three were to be picked for the proposed arbitration, But the commission insisted that the company union be permitted to name one of the three. The commission was protecting the company union, But the men even agreed to this, arbi- tration falling thru when the com- pany refused to arbitrate. James L. Quackenbush, general counsel for the company, publicly states: “Every returning employe will be protected by a company represen- tative, and, what is more, we expect a bluecoat alongside each motorman.” That the police were ready to help the company appears from the police statement that the department could put 15 field inspectors, 85 captains, 515 lieutenants, 964 sergeants and 13,701 patrolmen on strike duty, a te New York Communists Call for All Union Aid to Tube Strikers NEW YORK, July 8. — The Work- ers Party today issued the following statement on the situation of the In- terborough motormen and switchmen: The “brotherhood” on the Inter. borough is one of the worst types of company unions. It was organized by the company after a strike called by the Amalgamated Association of Street and Electric Railway Employes of America was broken some years ago. i Under this company controlled “anion” the workers are completely helpless and powerless. Every deci- sion of the committees of the various f “Jocals” must be referred to the com- | pany for approval or rejection, The i delegates or representatives are com+ Pany succors and stool pigeons, Yellow Dog Contract Furthermore the workers on the L R. T, have no freedom even to with draw from the company union slave- ry. Every worker hired is compelled to sign a “yellow dog contract” obligating him to become a member of this bogus “brotherhood.” He also signs a pledge never to belong to the regular A. F. of L, union or to urge or advise his fellow workers to join \ 1 j } : I | the Amalgamated Association of Street and Electric Railway Workers, He signs away every right to become affiliated in any way with the organ- ized labor movement. Workers who rebel against this company union tyranny, enforced with “yellow dog contracts” are discharged from the service of the company. A 100 per cent “closed shop” in favor of the company and its bunk “union” is thus enforced. A Complete Bondage. To “sell’ its company union despot- ism to its workers, the I. R. T. has also adopted other “welfare” activi- tiés, A company magazine extols the glories of the company union and carries on systematic attacks on the organized labor movement. Stock , sales to employes, benefit associations | and other welfare wrinkles are also used as a substitute for real wages and decent working conditigns, It is against this form of refined | company tyranny that these workers on the I. R. T. have decided to organ- ize. They have decided to resist the autocratic schemes of the company and to have a union of their own. They are following the examples of the millions of American workers who have united in bona fide labor unions of their own to fight the exploiting corporations. Every worker in the New York area connected with unions in every trade and industry should rally to the sup- port of the awakened traction slaves in their battles against the company union, A REAL LABOR UNION IN- STEAD OF A BOSSES’ SUBSIDIZED FAKE UNION. | él Workers (Communist) Party District Two— William W. Weinstone, General Secretary. Senanenenanetlienemaieieitae caret caret ae Your nefghbor will appreciate the favor—give him this copy of the DAILY WORKER. [REMEMBER RIRTHDAYS OF THESE VICTIMS OF CAPITALIST ‘JUSTICE July 3—Leonardo Vasquez, No, $7245, Brazoria County Farm, De walt, Tex. July 4—Warren K. Billings, Fol- som Prison, Repressa, Cal, duly 17—Frank Bailey, No, San Quentin, Ca bi July 28—Charles Cline, care Fi guson Farm, R. |. Midway, Tex, 2 July 30—William Minton, No, 38124, San Quentin, Cal, July 30-—Joe Varela, San Quentin, Cal,