The Daily Worker Newspaper, July 21, 1926, Page 5

PLUTES FEAR BREAD RIOTS MAY LEADTOREVOLT Dread Repetition of the French Revolution ‘Will the mounting price of bread in France bring revolution? That ques- tion, according to the New York Times Paris correspondent, is alarming of- ficial circles, The bread problem, he Says, bas been back of every great French social upheaval, Frano Worthless The franc today is worth scarcely 1/8 of prewar.’ We perhaps think of it as a remote problem, of interest only to financiers, But to the French worker the decline of the franc means that the price of bread rises faster than wages can keep pace, Bread Riots, French capitalists know that bread riots led up to the French revolution of 1789 which abolished feudalism and the monarchy. As early.as 1775 in Dijon, Auxere, Amiens and Lille the People took the houses of monopolists, destroyed their furniture and smashed their flour mills. At Paris they plun- dered the bakeries and distributed food to the crowd. Riots Lead in Revolt, In 1782 and 1783 the riots began again. In 1786 the Lyons silk weav- ers struck for Aigher wages to meet the increasing cost of bread. They were suppressed and 3 leaders hanged, By December 1789 the rioting devel- oped into revolt. And always it was bread. Peasants and workers forced well-to-do farmers to sell grain at a fair price. They seized the grain of speculators and distributed it. They demanded better wages and abolition of taxes that kept up the price of food. In Paris the first open battle was fought around the paper factory of a capitalist who answered the demand for bread with the suggestion that the workers eat hay. Twelve soldiers were killed and 80 wounded. .On the People’s side 200 were killed. and 300 wounded. F Fear Another Revolution. So the revolution was born in bread riots. The parliament or estates-gen- eral was summoned to save the gov- ernment from bankruptcy. The 3rd estate, representing the commons, de- clared itself the national asssembly. The driving force was the demand of half-starved workers for bread. Kro- potkin in his Gréat French revolution says, “At the time when the famine ‘was growing more and more severe the people knew that in Paris and the vicinity there was food enough to feed everybody, and the poor said to one another that without an insurrection. the monopolists would never leave off starving the people.” Speculators Control Wheat. Today, as 150 years ago, there is plenty of wheat in France, as the French minister of agriculture admits. But as in the era preceding the great French revolution, it is in the hands of capitalist speculators who take ad- vantage of the government’s currency inflation to boost the price until the worker can’t buy enough bread for his family. The milling trust is re- ported an important factor in this holdup. Steel Trust to Give 25c Medal for 25 Years Toil PHILADELPHIA, Pa., July 19. — A very “liberal” member of the United States Steel corporation has made a suggestion which appears to have been accepted by the heads of the concern. All workers loyal and true to the corporation for 25 years are going to get a silver medal. (This token of appreciation is Worth 25 cents.) They are going to receive a 25-cent medal—one cent a year for 25 years faithful service. CORRESPONDENCE What? Where? | When? Why? How? BY WM. F. DUNNE, A handbook for the worker who wishes to learn HOW to write for the workers’ press. A new publication that should be read by every worker. bs 10 Cents 12 copies for one dollar. ‘THE DAILY WORKER PUB. Co. i 1118 W, Washington Blvd. Chicago, Il... , Bicknell, Ind., Coal Miners Send $591 More to Aid Passaic Strikers PASSAIO;*N. Ji, July 19. — The following letter, with a check for $591 has been received by the General Re- lief Committee of Textile Strikers, 743 Main Ave,, Passaic, N. J.; a “Fellow Workers: “Please find enclosed a check for $592 from Local Union No. 884, United Mine Workers of America,.of Bicknell, Ind, As you remember I sent in ad- vance of this a check for $250 which makes $841 we have sent you. Hope this will hea great benefit in helping win the strike and with good luck and best wishes, I remain, “Albery Henry, Treas. Local 884, United Mine Workers of America, Bicknell, Ind.” NEW YORK LABOR AWAITS CONEY ISLAND GONCERT To Jam Stadium with 25,000 Workers NEW YORK, July 19.—A grand con- cert will take place in the Coney Is- land Stadium at Surf Ave and 6th street, Cony Island, Saturday eve- ning, August 28, at ®:30 p. m. Organized labor in New fork will stage the biggest demonstration held in the country for the benefit of the textile strikers when they pack the Coney Island Stadium having a seat- ing capacity of 25,000. The concert ill be featured with an unusual classié program. <A few of the out- standing features will be Fokinas’ Ballet, known thruout the world for their beautiful and artistic perform- ances, two of the most popular sym- phony orchestras now playing in New York City and one,of the best choirs along the Atlantic seaboard. Other features are being arranged that will be announced later, All labor unions of Greater New York, fraternal societies, liberal and radical groups are urged to mobilize all their forces behind this affair. All are called on to buy and sell tick- ets and advertise this concert. This concert will be held under the auspices of the general relief commit- tee of the Textile Strikers’ Confer- ence of New York City. Put your shoulders to the wheel and pack the Stadium and help put the Passaic strike over the top to a final victory and aid in the establishment of a strong, powerful union in the textile industry. Brownsville Has Second Passaic Relief Conference BROWNSVILLE, Pa., July 19. — A second relief conference for the Pas- saic textile strikers was held at the Miners’ Hall here, Brother Thomas Bevan, delegate of Local Union No. 2086, United Mine Workers of Amer- ica; W. S. Zimmerman, chairman of the conference and organizer for the American Federation of Labor, and Brother Robert Norman of West Brownsville, delegate from the central trades council—all of. them veterans in many battles of the workers—were among the trade union delegates that were present to aid the Passaic tex- tile workers carry on their fight against the mill barons, Plans were made to hold a milk tag day for the strikers. Large cash do- nations have been sent to Passaic from this section by trades unions and fraternal organizations. Chicago Electrotypers Aid Passaic Strikers Chicago Electrotypers’ Union No. 3 donated $50 to the Passaic strike re- lef. The following greeting accom- panied the check: “Enclosed herewith please find our check for $50, Which is a contribution from our organization towards the suc- cess of your present struggle. Sowith best wishes for your success, * “Fraternally, “Frank R. Adams, President.” Elevator Constructors Send Check to Passaic PASSAIC, N. J., July 19.—Local No. 15 of the International Union of Ble- vator Constructors, sent. $15 for Pas- saic strike relief, explaining that “the condition of our general fund at the present time is such that we are un- able fo make @ larger contribution, but I assure you of the hearty sympathy of our Organization and our approval of your efforts to organize the textile workers.” Sustain Fire Fighters Raise WASHINGTON—(FP) — Interna- tional headquarters of the Fire Fight- ers’. Union in Washington has been Sotifiod that the Missouri supreme court has upheld the wage increase of $20;@ month which the voters of St. Louls gave the members of Local Ry heey acer The city council in Louis refused to abide by the rofengndum. and the local appealed to a | = THE DAILY worK &2 ~~ “2 Sea sete cenemenene eee ee ip meetin nani meme CHARLIE, BROTHER OF THE LATE “BILL” BRYAN, IS IN THE RACE “FOR GOVERNORSHIP OF ‘NEBRASKA YMULLEY Bryan is in the campaign for governor of Nebraska on a platform which calls for no increase in the two cent gasoline tax, enforcement of the prohibl- tion laws and other odds and ends. There are others in the fleld—all capitalist politicians so far. LABOR CHAUTAUQUA IN MINING | CAMPS INSPIRES UNION FIGHT FOR MINERS’ NATIONALIZATION By ESTHER LOWELL, Federated Press. DAGUS MINES, Pa., July 19.— (FP)—Over the hills from Kersey and trooped to the Labor Chautauqua in have been closed since April 1. The youngsters’ eyes nearly popped out watching with delight the clever volunteer entertainers—most of them from miners’ families themselves. The “sweethearts of the Labor Chau- tauqua,” the Waugaman sisters,—Lei- la and Maude, lived up to their name with their singing and recitations. Joe Martina did a fast Charleston tothe tune of Steve Bacha’s mouth- organ and Alec Macready and John Marusa put on a funny mock boxing- match—all four boys coming up from Madera? The Noel sisters and broth- or, the Phillips’ father and sons, Vi- vian’ Ballet the dancer—all of them sheered the crowd. With not a movie nor a Tadio in town and only three telephones (two for the company), Dagus Mines couldn’t help enjoying the treat! Nationalization Still an Issue. Speeches sandwiched between the entertainment during three days all tended to show that the soft coal in- dustry can no longer be run chaotic- hally as it is and give the miners a liv- ing. John Brophy, president District 2; James Mark, vice president; Paul W. Fuller, educagional director in charge of the Labor Chautauquas; and Clara Johnson, assistant to Fuller, spoke—all urging the miners to study their problems, to learn about the na- tionalization of coal program to which the union is officially committed, Brophy quoted the engineers’ indict- ment of the present management of the industry. He told the miners to R. R. Workers on City Transport Should Act with Electric Unions By a Worker Correspondent The suburban service of the Illinois Central is now electrified. It is no diferent than that of the elevated service of the streets. It is no differ- ent whether steam or electric power is used, the employes are engaged in the transportation of the same com- modity, the commuter, But if the employes of the city lines go out on strike the railroad employe thinks of himself as a railroad em- ploye and will stay on the job of trans- porting commuters. Thousands .of commuters will be forced to the steam lines. It will be necessary to run hundreds of extra trains and the use of hundreds. of extra railroad em- ployes, The railroad employe will be forced to scab on the carmen, should they go out on strike. It is time that the rank and file of the several transpor- tation unions got together, instead of allowing themselves to be used to de- feat each other by their officers and the corporations. Illinois Central Flagman, Between Ten and Twenty Injured in Ohio Train Wreck BAST LIVERPOOL, 0., July 19.— Between ‘tem and twenty persons were reported injured near Sumittvilf, 0., when a | Pittsburgh-Fort Wayne and Chicago passenger was wrecked. The night express, which had been re-routed over the Alliance, 0.-Roche- ster, Pa,, track, struck an open tema =n tits Sia eee tne dla cllasiemet up the hollows from the strung-out settlement of Dagus Mines, even from non-union Byrndale, 12 miles away, miners and their wives and children the hall of Local 2044, United Mine Workers. The season's fourth Chautauqua sponsored by District 2 came to this isolated community where formerly 600 men worked. The three mines of the Northwestern Mining & Exchange Co., an Brie railroad subsidiary, a EEEEE EEE work with other groups of workers for the accomplishment of national- ization when democrats and republic- ans turn them down, Women’s Auxiliary. Many of the younger women and girls of 16 to 20 attended the special women’s meetings and joined the new Women’s Auxiliary, Local 3, formed with Miss Johnson’s assistance. How America Lives” will be studied by the group. Local 1, Coalport, has 59 wo- men learning about industrial rela- tions; while Local 2, Madera, has 30 devoting themselves to public owner- ship. Miss Johnson is the young Sag- amore school teacher who wrote songs for the strikers’ choir to sing to scabs when picketing: was banned. Need Funds, Coalport, Madera and Grass Flats have each enjoyed the Labor Chau- tauqua this summer. Other mining towns are clamoring for their chance, but funds for the Chautauqua have to be raised outside of miners’ pockets. The district union treasury cannot fi- nance even this important work when so much relief has to be paid. Last season Fuller held 10 Labor Chautau- quas, all over the district. ‘The re- sponse is always worth the effort, bucking up the spirit of the miners and their families in this trying pe- riod. Fuller is hoping that enough friends of the miners can be found with the means to give for carrying on Labor Chautauquas throughout this region for the rest of the summer. DEMS AND REPS PILLAGE POLLS; JUSTICE SQUINTS The democrats stole three times as many votes as the republicans, if that is any consolation to you, according to the results of the investigation into the election frauds to date. The ballot burglary averaged 37 votes a precinctfor the democrats, against 12 for the republicans. Pick your favorite burglar. Judge Gets His. Judge Jareski, ‘who 1s counting the stolen and unstolen votes, received 266 more pilfered ballots in the 27th ward than the Crowe nominee, Joseph Sav- age, This news produces chuckles in the Crowe criminal court headquar- ters. The Brennan democrats contributed bales of ballots to the Crowe-Barrett republican camp in order to exting- uish the Deneenites, It is reported that the Crowe-Barrett republicans did the right thing by the Brennanites to help George crush the rival democrats under the leadership of O'Connell and Dunne. There is nothing like unity and co- operation boys! Sheetmetal, Workers Meet, WASHINGTON+~(FP) — Represen- tatives of the 15d*locals of the Sheet Metal Workers’ Intl, Assn, with the general executiven board are in spe- cial session to consider the peace pact with the United:Brotherhood of Car- Penters & Joiners, signed by Pres. Hines and ratified by the Carpenters’ executive board, / as you fight. JAMES GAINS CONTROL OF BiG RAILROAD Is One of 10 Richest Men In Nation Wealth produced by workers in cop- per, silver and gold mines has enabled one man to gain virtual control of one- seventh of the railroad mileage of the United States. This comes to light with the announcement that Arthur Curtis James, copper magnate, has se- cured a controlling interest in the Western Pacific railroad. This prob- ably makes him the largest railroad stockholder in America. One of 10 Richest. James is reckoned one of the coun- try’s 10 richest men; He is one of the 3 or 4 owners of the Phelps-Dodge corporation with enormously profitable metal mines in Arizona, New Mexico and over the border in Mexico, As a director of Morgan's First National Bank of New York and trustee of the United States Trust Co. he is a part- ner in the money trust which, accord- ing to the Pujo congressional commit- tee, dominates American industry. James is one of the multimillion- aires that have separately incorporat- ed their enormous power as investors. The Curtis Securities Co., of which he is president, might well be desig- nated James, the capitalist exploiter, while A. C, James, the individual, is publicly thought of as a philanthrop- ist and sportsman, Dodge Income Taxes. By having the bulk of his income come to the Curtis Securities Co. for reinvestment, James has been avoid- ing the graduated income taxes by which congress hoped to make the very rich pay a part of their share of the war cost. This was pointed out by Sen. Couzens in his attack on Mellon’s scheme for untaxing the rich. A large part of James’ fortune, now reckoned at about $200,000,000, came to him by inheritance from his father. According to the New York Times, James is believed to be the largest stockholder in the Southern Pacific, Northern Pacific and Great Northern. The last 2 roads control the stock of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy. James is reported to own most of the minority stock in this very profitable road. His control of the Western Pa- cific now gives him a big say in the management of the Denver & Rio Grande, which is jointly controlled by the Western Pacific and Missouri Pa- cific roads, With James’ assumption of control T. M.* Schumacher, “becomes: operat- ing head of the Western Pacific. For years he has been employed by the Guggenheim and Phelps-Dodge inter- ests to represent their contro] in the transportation industry. In addition James joins the directorate, bringing with him Hale Holden, president of the Burlington and Colorado & South- ern; James E. Gorman, president of the Rock Island, and Winthrop Ald- rich, representing Rockefeller hold- ings. Controls Colleges. James has the usual influence of a multi-millionaire outside of business. Along with Dwight Morrow of J. P. Morgan & Co, and George Plimpton of Ginn & Co. he is one of the domt- nating trustees of Amherst College. He is trustee of Hampton institute, the Metropolitan Art Museum, the New York public library and director of Union Theological seminary. His vast fortune, accumulated at the ex- pense of workers in the copper in- dustry, enables him to extend his con- trol not only to transportation but also to the country’s cultural life. He is a factor in the control of education by big business. Methodist Snoopers Seek Pennsylvania Blue Law Violators PHILADELPHIA, July 19.—A girl and two men are under arrest charged with violation of the Sunday blue laws of 1794 in connection with the Sesqui- Centennial Exposition here. Twelve warrants were sworn out after investigators for the Methodist committee of 100 had visited the grounds last Sunday and taken the names of persons selling tickets, However, only three of the twelve ticket sellers could be located, but the investigators indicated they would continue their search, A hearing has been set for July 19 on the application for an injunction closing the Sesqui-Centennial on Sun- day. Chorus Girls Kick for Pay from Boss Who Left in Night ATLANTIC CITY, N, J., July 19.— Fifteen chorus girls and 45 other stage workers stormed the doors of the Sa- yoy ‘Theater to demand their wages and belongings. Three of the girls de- clared that the paymaster and show officials disappeared Saturday night, leaving the workers unpaid and stranded, Lessors of the theater were in the International Theaters of America, Inc, WRITE AS YOU FIGHT! Open your eyes! oox around! There are the stories of ithe workers’ atruggl around you begging to be written up. Do it! Send it in! Write ( Page Five (Copyright, 1926, by Upton Sinclair) WHAT HAS GONE BEFORE, ,_J+ Arnold Ross, oll operator, formerly Jim Ross, teamster, drives with hie thirteen-year-old son, Bunny, to Beach City to sign a lease for a new oil fleld. Meeting his “Lease Hound,” Ben Skutt, in a hotel he goes to meet a group of small property owners whose tand he wants for drilling. But other oll concerns have been intriguing and tne meeting breaks up in a row. Bunny meet Paul Watkins, son of a Holy Roller, who has run away from home. They become friends but Paul leaves for other parts before their acquaintance ta very ola. Dad begins to drill in Prospect Hill near Beach City. He needs the roads fixea and smooths the paim of a city official. in short order his first well, ““Ross- Bankside No. 1,” {3 begun. Dad spends busy days In his little office and Bunny Is always with him—learning about oil. Bertie, Bunny's sister, comes home from finishing school on a vacation. She Is very snobbisn. Her Aunt Emma has been trying to make a lady of her. bunny tells Bertie about Paul. Berthe doesn’t like Gunny to know such “Horried Fellows.” In the meantime Dad is getting along with his well. With many careful and toilsome mechanleal operations, Ross-Bankside No. 1 is ready to drill and by noon the next day hae filled up the first tank. In a week Dad had several more derricks under way. He was working hard with everything coming his way. Bunny asks his Dad to take a rest and go quail hunting over in the San Elido valley, Dad protests that it's too far away and is told that that’s where Paul's family i and they're up against it and Bunny wants to help them, Finally Dad wae persuaded. They get their camping outfit ready and the next day arrive at the Watkins ranch. The old man welcomes them and with little Eli and the three girls tagging behind show them a place where they can camp, In hunting for quail on the Watkins’ ranch, Bunny and Dad find oll oozing out of the ground, Dad, after satisfying himself that there Is oil on the land, decides to buy the Watkins ranch. Dad goes into the house with Mr. and Mrs Watkins, leaving Bunny to do as he pleases, while Dad wheedies the farm from the Watkinses. oe e - e Vu There was Dad’s voice, calling Bunny; so he said good-bye, and ran down the arroyo. Dad was sitting in the car. “We're a’goin’ in to Paradise,” he said. “But fi change them oil shoes.” Bunny did so, and put the shoes away in the back of the car. He hopped in, and they drove down the lane, and Dad remarked, with a cheerful smile, “Well son, we own the ranch.” He was amused by the scene he had just been through and told Bunny about it, overlooking the possibility of complications in Bunny’s efelings. Dad had tactfully begun talking to Mr. and Mrs. Watkins about the family’s lack of bread, and that had started Mr. Watkins telling the whole situation. There was a sixteen hundred dollar mortgage against the ranch, with nearly three hundred dollars interest overdue, and they had got a final notice from the bank, that foreclosure proceedings would begin next week. So Dad had explained that he wanted a place for summer camping, where his boy could have an outdoor life, and he would buy the ranch at a fair price. Poor Mrs. Watkins began to cry—she had been born on this place, it seemed, it was her homestead. Dad said she didn’t need to worry, they might stay right on, and have all the farming rights of the place, he would lease it to them for ninety-nine years at ten dollars a year. The old man caught Dad’s hand; he had known the Lord would save them, he said. Dad decided that was a good lead, so he explained that the Lord had sent him, according to the revela- tign of the True Word; after which Mr. Watkins had done jist whatever the Lord had told Dad to tell him to do! And J. Arnold Ross had put the affairs of that family in order, you bet—there would be no more nonsense of giving away their money to missionaries! The Lord had told Dad to tell Mr. Watkins that he was-to use his money to_ feed and clothe and educate his children. The Lord had furthermore told him that the equity in his land was not to be paid in cash, but was to consist of certificates of deposit in a trust-company, which would pay them a small income, about fifteen dollars a month—a lot better than having to pay the bank nearly ten dollars a month interest on a mortgage! Moreover, the Lord had directed that this money was to be held in trust for the children; and Bunny’s friend Paul could thank Dad for having saved him a share. Mr. Watkins had said that one of his sons was a black sheep, and unworthy of the Lord’s care, but Dad had stated it as a revelation of the True Word that there was no sheep so black but that the Lord would wash it white in His own good time; and Mr. Wat- kins had joyfully accepted this revelation, and he and his wife had put their names to a contract of sale which Dad had drawn up. The purchase price was thirty-seven hundred dollars, which had been Mr. Watkin’s own -figure—he had said that this hill land was worth five dollars an acre, and he figured his improye- ments af five hundred. They weren't really worth that, they were a lot of ruins, Dad said, but he took the old man’s valuation of them. The contract provided that Mr. Watkins was to have water sufficient to irrigate two acres of land, which was jist about all he had under cultivation now; of course, Dad would give him more, if he could use it, but Dad wouldn’t take no chances of disputes about water-rights. In the morning Mr. and Mrs. Wat- kins would drive out to Paradise and Dad would hire a four- passenger car there, and drive them to some other town, where they could put the matter into escrow without too much talk. In the meantime, Dad was on his way to Paradise to set the town’s one real estate agent to work buying more land for him. “Why don’t you send for Ben Skutt?” asked Bunny; but Dad answered that Ben was a rascal—he had caught him trying to collect a commission from the other party. And anyhow, a local man could do it better—Dad would buy him with an extra commission, let Bunny watch and see how it was worked. For- tunately, Dad had taken the precaution to bring along a cashier’s check for three thousand dollars. “I didn’t know jist how long we might camp,” he said, with his sly humor. So they came to an office labelled, J. H. Hardacre, Real Estate, Insurance and Loans.” Mr. Hardacre sat with his feet on his desk and a cigar in his mouth, waiting for his prey; he was a lean, hungry-looking old fellow and was not fooled for here was money and he swung his feet to the floor and sat right up. Dad took a chair, and remarked on the weather, and asked about the earthquake, and finally said that he had a relative who wanted to live in the open for his health and Dad had just bought the Abel Watkins place, and he jist thought he’d like to raise goats on a bigger scale, and could he get some land adjoining? Mr. Hardacre answered right away, there was a pile of that hill-stufft to be had; there was the Bandy tract, right alongside—and Mr. Hardacre got out a big map and began to show Dad with his pen- cil, there was close to a thousand acres of that, but it was mostly back in the hills, and all rocks, Dad asked what it could be bought for and Mr. Hardacre said all that hill-stuff was held at five or six dollars an acre. He began to show other tracts, and Dad said wait now, and he got a paper and pencil and began to jot down the names and the acreage and the price. Apparently everything around here could be bought—whenever the man failed to include any tract, Dad would ask “And what about that?” and Mr. Hardacre would say, “That’s the old Bascum tract —yes, Ireckon that could be got.” And Dad said, “Let’s list them all,” and a queer look began to come over Mr, Hardacre’s face— it was dawning upon him that this was the great hour of his life, (To be continued.) a smart ie