The Daily Worker Newspaper, August 5, 1926, Page 4

Page Four See. } He Su cial nob Btaaet: oil THE DAILY WORKER susucein 2 TWO CHARLESTON DAILIES TIED-UP BY ‘COMP" STRIKE Printers Demand More Pay, Shorter Week CHARLESTON, W. Va., Aug. 3, — The Daily Mail and the Gazette have been tied up by a strike in their com posing rooms, The union seeks in- creased wages and shorter hours. Under the old contract which expir- ed at midnight Friday, the day men got $47 and the night men $50 for 48- hour week. A new scale of $50.60 is demanded for workers on the day shift and $55 a week for those on the night shift. In place of the former 48-hour week, the Charleston Typographical Union demands the 44-hour week. Offers of arbitration made by the bosses—who always profit thru the proceedings—were turned down by the union at three different times, Walter E. Clarke, publisher of the Daily Mail, and William EB. Chilton, publisher of the Gazette, in a joint statement threaten the union that i it does not agree to sign the old con- tract or go to arbitration they will operate on an open-shop basis. In case an attempt is made to go on anj| open-shop basis the other crafts threat | en to walk out. Textile Machine Firm Turns to Other Lines | LOWELL, Mascs., Aug. 3. — Work- ers in the Saco-Lowell shops, reputed the world’s largest builders of textile machinery, are hoping that the com- pany’s plan to build cabinets for ice- less refrigerators and oil burners for house heating will mean more work for them, The depression in the wool and cotton textile business has reacted upon the machinery manufacturers. | | will ‘be well on the way toward be- jevery NOT -This is the fifth article in a series on the development of The DAILY WORKER into a mass organ of the left wing of the Amer- ican labor movement, The struggle before the militants of the American working class today is to build their “DAILY” so that it will develop mass influence, This is not the task of an individual, or group of in- dividuals, but of the whole left wing. se 8 * By J, LOUIS ENGDAHL, UST a few words about East Pitts- burgh, Pa., and John Kasper. East Pittsburgh alone cannot build a mili- tant movement of labor in the United States. Nor can John Kasper. But if thousands of industrial cen- ters thruout the land duplicate the ef- torts of East Pittsburgh, Pa., and if tens of thousands of militants get busy, just as John Kasper was active in The DAILY WORKER Subscription Drive just closed, the “The DAILY” coming a “DAILY” of the masses, the Workers (Communist) Party will be growing into a party of the masses, and there will be a powerful left wing in the American trade union LET US HAVE MORE JOHN KASPERS © AND MORE EAST PITTSBURGHS TO HELP BUILD THE DAILY WORKER movement. eae I spoke in Hast Pittsburgh on last International May Day. East Pitts- burgh is a beehive of toil, the location of great industrial plants, where unor- ganized labor must obey practically whim of the great exploiter. But it does so now only under pro- test. The proceeds of the May Day celebration went toward supporting the shop paper issued by the party to awaken the workers to struggle. The DAILY WORKER “sub” drive was on, even then, and subscriptions were being taken by loyal comrades (Continued from page 1) next time with a big delegation that will sweep some of the old fogies out. The Miners’ Union was poorly rep- resented as far as numbers are con- cerned. There were only about 10 dele- gates, whereas they could have had hundreds of delegates. The building trades ruled the convention, and among them Cincinnati was heard from at all times. Family Quarrel, President Kummer of the Cincin- nati Central Labor Council had to face a resolution condemning him and the council for not having given proper information to the executive council of the American Federation of Labor, when it held its sessions in Cincin- nati a short time ago. The resolution declared that Kummer pronounced the Hotel Havlin fair, whereas the Build- ing Trades Council declared it unfair. Kummer defended his action and the convention decided to expunge the entire matter from the proceedings. Which shows that both Kummer and the executive council of the A. F. of L. were right—so what more could you want? Unity With Boss Don’t Work, But there were a few high lights in the convention. Kate Richards O” Hare spoke at the convention. Mrs. O’Hare represented the committee for fighting contract convict labor, a com- mittee made up of representatives of the United Garment Workers’ Union and the manufacturers. This is the first time in the history of the labor movement, that the manufacturers and the workers have got together on “such an important proposition,” she said. A united front of the workers and bosses! But it does not work very well. Mrs. O'Hare declared that in the department stores of Akron you can find all kinds of prison-made goods, despite the fact that the bring- ing in of prison-made goods into the state of Ohio is forbidden. Her speech was forceful and aroused great enthus- jasm. Well, What Does It Mean, John? John Frey, presidegt of the Ohio State Federation of Labor, became quite vehement in his denunciation of Ohio Labor Dodges Big Problems Judge Bonsall of the federal court in Indianapolis, who issued an injunction against the organizers of the Street Railway Employes, who, after ignor- ing the injunction, continued their work and were rearrested and kept in jail without bond. The injunction also prohibited the strike. Mr. Frey, de- nouncing the court, said that Judge Bonsall was proving to be an open tool of the big interests. “I am weighing well every yord I say, and I know what it means to make a state- ment of this kind at a labor gather- ing.” He was enthusiastically ap- plauded. Some Good Work. The convention, however, was not altogether reactionary. It unanimous- ly adopted a resolution demanding a new trial for Sacco and Vanzetti and expressing confidence in the innocence of the two men. It also passed a res- olution pledging support to the Brit- ish miners in their fight against the coal operators and the British govern- ment. A collection was taken up and brought in $115. No Politics Is Capitalist Politigs The organized workers of Ohio are not as conservative as this conven- tion proved to be. The progressives must organize and send a good group of young, forward-looking men to the next convention, to take up the REAL issues before the workers of Ohio. The fact that Frey stated that he would not allow any political candi- dates to speak to the convention nor would he have any messages or let- ters which they wrote, read to the convention, did not indicate that Frey was safeguarding the interests of the workers. He stated that the Ohio State Federation of Labor will review the record of every candidate and will select the men who deserve the support of labor. on-partisanship,” they call it: the smooth politician who knows how far he can and must go will have a good record. But labor will not be properly protected or represented un- til labor has its own party—a Labor Party. This may have occurred to Frey—but neither he nor the consery- ative old men at the convention could voice it. PILSUDSKI’S POLAND The worker Szczepan Lapuch was one of twelve workers killed In a peaceful demonstration in the streets of Warsaw. picture with three of his twelve children and his wife. He is shown in this Workers are denied the right to protest against unbearable conditions in Pilsudski’s “democratic” Poland, KASPER BRINGS THE RED FLAG OF MOSCOW TO EAST PITTSBURGH JOHN KASPER, The May Day celebration was the most successful ever held locally, Some of the first worker correspond- ents of The DAILY WORKER sent in their articles from East Pittsburgh. The printed word, as a method of reaching the workers, is in favor here. The local agitators and propagandists know its value. They make use of it, That is why the example they have set is worth following. eee It was into this rich environment, rich in opportunities for. building the power of the working class, that John Kasper came on from New York. There are a thousand other localities in this country equally rich in pos- sibilities. Kasper would have served equally well in any one of them. But he could serve in only one. It hap- pened to be East Pittsburgh. The of- ficial report of the subscription cam- Paign results declared: “The one great perforance of the whole campaign, in all the districts, has been the record of John Kasper of East, Pittsburgh. He got busy late in the, campaign to get ‘subs.’ But by his OWN EFFORT, this Builder se- cured nearly FOUR TIMES the quota of his own city, getting 593 per cent with a total of 8,895 points (which means 89 yearly subscriptions, or their equivalent in shorter term ‘subs’).. “The banner from the Communist Party of Moscow, honor emblem to the city winning the greatest achievement of the campaign goes to East Pitts- burgh and John Kasper. His record gives East Pittsburgh a lead of nearly 300 per cent better than its nearest competitor, Miami, Florida.” eee The accomplishment of John Kasper can be viewed in another way. Thru his efforts East Pittsburgh was able to score more points than the whole city of Cleveland, Toledo, Buffalo, Kansas City, St. Louis, Milwaukee, St. Paul or even PHILADELPHIA. This was pointed out in yesterday’s article. It is repeated here again today, It cannot be repeated too often. ** Kasper didn’t find his job easy. Many of his letters came in post- marked, one, two and three o'clock in the morning, We venture here the declaration that Kasper never met the opportunity to get DAILY WORK- ER subscriptions with the declaration, “IT haven’t got time.” Instead he went right after it and nailed it. He was a go-getter for his “DAILY.” ee Some may ask what this has to do with the editorial side of The DAILY WORKER. It has a very great deal to do with it. With nearly 100 yearly “subs” assured from Hast Pittsburgh, the workers in this Pennsylvania in- dustrial center are going to make themselves felt. The DAILY WORK- ER is going to hear about their griev- ances in the shops. The worker cor- respondence is going to pour into The DAILY WORKER'S editorial of- fice in increased volume. Real cam- paigns will be waged in support of the slogans of the party and the left wing. This means activity, living news for The DAILY WORKER, a live and interesting paper. Thus the achievements ~of East Pittsburgh, Pa., and of John Kasper, will help, to a very great extent to breathe life into the militant section of American labor, that so badly needs the breath of life. Let us have more John Kaspers, most East Pittsburghs. Street Nuclei 37 and 25 Hold Joint Meeting August 10 Street Nuclei 37 and 25, Chicago, Workers (Communist) Party, will hold a joint meeting at 402) North Drake Ave on Tuesday, Aug. 10, at 6:30, A British miners’ social will be giv- en at 8 o'clock in the’ same hall, ro na EX-PRESIDENT BACKS CALLES IN CHURCH WAR Obregon’s Stand Averts Civil War (Continued from page 1) tention to continue enforcing the laws \of the land. Plot Squelched. The alleged plot against the life of | President Calles appears now to have | peen thoroly squelched withthe arrest of seven more alleged plotters, thus making a total of fifteen in jail for \this sort, but it is believed that the | order which ‘has prevailed is indica- | tive of an intent by the people in gen- eral, except for a handful of fanatics | perhaps, to leave the working out of |this difficult situation to! the recog- | nized leaders of the government and |the church. : ¢ Take Protestant Church. Reports were current today that United States Consul General Weddell Has filed a report with the state de- partment, concerning the closing of the episcopal church of San Jose De Garcia, an American institution, which }is tantamount to a protest and that |the United States government may be |drawn into the controversy, Boycott Fails. The economic boycott kas by no means seriously affected the economic life of the country, Following the aab- bath, business resumed on Monday al- most normally in Mexico City, A League for The Defense of the Liberty of Conscience has been set up to oppose the Catholic League that initiated the boycott. Young Communist’s Appeal. The Young. Communist League of Mexico has issued a leaflet that is being distributed at churches and pub- lic gatherings calling upon the work- ers to fight the efforts of the clergy to enslave the Mexican people: “Awake, working men of xico. More than half a mililon working men and farmers were injured by the cruel war of fifteen years. They are now threatened by the hypocrite clergy. The priests are trying to conquer the unions which cost so much blood and so many lives. Chicago and Rome. “Will the working men and farmers permit such a thing? Chicago and Rome, Imperialism and religion shook hands in a united offensive against the laboring class of Mexico, “Tired of working under cover, they are now agitating in the name of re- ligion to make> the masses fanatic against the conquests gained after many sacrifices. Appeal To Youth, “Members of the Young Men's Cath- olic Association, you place is with the masses of working men. Landowners, industrialists, priests and imperialists, ag in the time of Porfirio Diaz and Vic- toriano Huerta, again are trying to place us in chains. “The wave of baptisms,- confirma- tions and marriages has lately allowed the clergy to accumulate -a fund to resist. Their boycott is nothing but an attempt to cause the masses of work- ing men to hunger. Clergy For Intervention, “The clergy who use the words “my country” most frequently,.in their speeches would be the first to expose the country to intervention by im- perialism, With what pleasure they would receive an American, guarantee giving them the privileges to exploit the masses of workingmen, “Down with the criminal boycott, which*is directed against the work- ing men! Down with imperialism. Every business which suspends its ac- tivities must be taken over and oper- ated by working men.” Authors Address People. A leaflet has also appeared signed by the “League of Revolutionary Writers,” which is addressed to cath- olics and asks them to support the government in the present fight: “Catholics, each cent that you give to priests is transformed! into hunger of the poor. While farmers and labor- (Special to The Dally Worker) MEXICO CITY, Aug. 3. — President Plutarco Elias Calles, president of Mexico~has taken occasion to issue a further statement of the position of the government towards the church in the present religious controversy now sweeping Mexico. This last declara- tion, made for the press, answers the episcopal latter circulated by the catholic bishops of Mexico. Calles de- clares that the letter contains false- hoods and that the motives of the clergy are: “First, the fear of losing that which they call sacred property and which, since the reform laws, sealed with years of struggle, every Mexican knows and feels to be the property of the nation; second, the demand of the government upon the priestg in charge of the churches to give to the munici- pal authorities the report required by the law, that is to say, the registry of the priests before the authorities of the government; and, third, the belief that the purpose of the government: is to make the country non-catholic in preference, they think, of some other religious creed. Collective Use of Property, “To stop the selfish proceedings and to elevate the character of the govern- ment and the people we propose to ac- complish the necessary modification of the laws so that now the fulfillment of the constitution may not be translated into the personal benefit of any one but into the enrichment of the country by collective use of the clerical prop- erty.” The statement goes on to make clear that the actions of the govern- ment are not directed at the catholic church alone but at all forms of reli- gious finstitutions: “As to the assertion of the Mexi- can episcopacy that the government is aiming, not as the constitution or- dains, at freedom of worship, but at making Mexico nen-catholic, we shall only say that they cannot point out one act or legal disposition directed or applied only to catholic priests. Regulate All Creeds, “In every case it js a question of general dispositions to make effective the separation of the church from the state, the church meaning not only, as the bishops claim, the catholic church, but any other religious creed that expresses itself by manifestations of external worship and which on that account may have thru its aspects or Se | Calles Explains Official Attitude in Answer to Letter of Episcopate relations with the masses the neces- sity of being regulated in order that the, liberty of religion may really exist. EExplains Laws, “IT am going to point out briefly all that is prohibited and all that is obligated by the last law that amends the penal code and which establishes penalties for transgressions against the constitution. “This law is, according to the ex- pressions of the Mexican episcopacy, that which has been making religious worship impossible, because it abso- lutely hinders preaching, the adminis- tration of sacraments and the religious practice in general. “The decree to which I refer, com- plying with that which the constitu- tion ordains, prohibits foreigners as ministers of any creed. Regulate Schools, “This measure, which the law ob- liges, has benefited the Mexican clergy for elemental reasons of professional competency, The law enforces rules on education in private schools in which primary instruction is given, leaving religious instructions wholly to the secondary schools, the voca- tional and commercial high schools in general, the universities, etc, “It is forbidden by the law that any individual in the exercise of his min> istry or priesthood of any religious creed, by means of written declara- tions, or talks or sermons, should pub- licly incite his readers or hearers to ignore the political institutions or to disobey the laws or the authorities or their mandates. Attack State. “Probably this article is the one that in the judgment of the Mexican episcopacy hinders preaching. This indicates that they are taking advan- tage or wish to take advantage of the pulpit not only to preach religion, but to incite the ignoring of the laws or to make propaganda against the gov- ernment or, in general, for purposes shat are not of a religious but of a po- litical nature, “The law forbids the forming of political groups whose titles may have qualifications that relate them with confessing religion. That is to say, there cannot be in Mexico a party that would call itself the catholic party or the protestant party, although the protestants and the catholics have a perfect right, and they excercise it constantly, of grouping themselves in political organizations.” Class Lines in the Mexican Church War much headway. Today their church is little more than a name, Class Lines Apparent. . IERTAINLY there fs nothing more striking about the present conflict in Mexico than the sharpness of class lines, The outstanding supporters of the clergy are invariably drawn from the ruling class in society. The lead- ers of the so-called “League for the Defense of Religious Tolerance” are aristocrats, Read over your paper at random until you come across one of the stories of “popular violence” on behalf of the church. It is always “a young girl belonging to one of the best families in Mexico City arrested for throwing stones at a government official” ... or “A group of wealthy students attempting to start.a disturb- ance... .” On the other hand, the anti-catholic supporters are in their overwhelming |majority workers, peasants and pet- |ty-bourgeoisie, The labor unions are of especial strategic importance, and 75 |Per cent of the Mexican proletariat is | organized in labor unions, Except for isolated exceptions, notably the cath- olic unions, of course, these are pre- dominantly anti-clerical. HE powerful Regional Confedera- tion of Labor is solidly behind the government. In answer to the query as to whether or not the rank and file jers are dying of hunger caused by floods which have almost destroyed several cities in the republic, the slergy in the Cathedral of Mexico City in one day, for baptisms, con- firmations and marriages alone, re- ceived 25,000 pesos, causing hunger that kills their brothers.” Labor Satisfied, The labor organizations that parti- cipated in the huge parade on Sunday are entirely satisfied with the success of this showing of a solid front to the clergy, Certainly Catholics were duly impressed with the demonstration since there have been no reports of disorders in the past several days and everything is quite calm, aa ee 22 Stricken by Poison in Wedding Party Food As a result of eating poisoned food, 22 persons are recovering in Chicago hospitals today. During a wedding cel- ebration at the home of Tony Manrillo last evening 14 were stricken after partaking of a wedding cake. Two of the victims are still in a serious con- dition. Barly in the day eight persons were poisoned after their curiosity “had prompted them to taste of some strange seeds found in the basement at the home of Mrs.vAnna Walske. Prompt first aid treatment in both cases undoubtedly averted a serious tragedy. F] al jof the confederation accepts this stand, one has only to point to the parade of 100,000 in Mexico City, The C. R. O, M., thru its general secretary, announces to union workers that if any commercial or industrial estab- lishment supports the economic boy- cott, the confederation “will take the necessary steps to control the estab- lishment until the ownefs or managers cease supporting it.” The correspondent of the New York Times raises frail doubts as to the strength of the C, R. O. M. “Another group known as the United Workers,” he writes, “has control of the majority of the (cotton) mill workers in the re- public.” This is true, but no matter. The opposition group (which by the way is not known as the “United Workers” but as the “General Con- federation of Labor") is anarchist in ideology and at least quite as op- posed to the catholics as the C. R, O. M. is, Independent unions, such as Ithe electricians, oil workers, etc,, take as determined a stand, Only in the case of the railroad workers has there been any serious doubt. Calles, true revolutionary na- Uonalist but always the petty-bour- yeois, has committed grave crimes wainst the railwaymen, Their lead- ars supported de la, Huerta in 1924. Despite the circumstances that their tt leadership is now totally changed, Calles has''seized this single fact as an excuse for launching attack after attack against the railway unions. When the clerical conflict burst into flame he was engaged in crushing a strike on’ the Tehuantepec railroad and a general strike on all lines was threatened because of his attitude. It is to be hoped that the present grisis will make him realize that he cannot play with the labor move- ment in this fashion." If he adopts a different attitude toward the rail- road workers there is little reason to doubt that they will stand with the rest of the working’class against Catholic reaction. No such qualification is needed to indicate the alignment of the Com- munist Party. Government persecu- tion will never keep the Communists from taking a militant part in the anti-clerical struggle. The Peasants. MONG the peasants the situa- tion is not the same as among | the city workers. The peasants con- stitute the chief basis of popular Catholic support. Nevertheless, they have fought energetically against the reactionary-clerical alliance in past revolutions. And in the north ern and coastal states the majority of them have broken away from in- fluence of the Church entirely, Organizations like the “League of Agrarian Communities of the State of Vera Cruz” can be counted de finitely with the anti-clerical forces. As to the “Partido Agrariata,” that is a different mater. The correspon- dent of the Times reports that Soto y Gana and the rest are taking a stand against the government, but even if this should be true it is dif- ficult to believe that the “agraris- Red Cartoons Ce TT TTT The Book of the Year Se TT TTT TTT Lg you will find many‘ beautiful draw- i ings like this one LYDIA GIBSON the, talented proletarian artist | whose splendid work is included | with the choice work of* Fred Ellis Robert Minor ' Art Young | William Gropper and others ef 17 artists repree |Sented in over 70 cartoons and drawings. Attractively bound in brown art-board covers 1,00 |Autographed by Robert Minor and Fred Ellis If Ordered Before August 15 Ge TTT LL TEU TN $ tas” can maintain their forces in-|will renew your subscription for tact. That “religious” struggle in Mex- ico is being waged upon class lines is obvious in every particular of the situation. There is nothing acci- dental about this. It is merely an indication of the fact that the fight against the Church is a phase of the fight against the other enemies of the Mexican masses. A Call to Solidarity. HERE the Mexican workers stand one year if sent in the mail be- fore August 15. This special offer is good only until this date and can be applied to both new subscrip- tions AND renewals. CLIP THE BLANK we know. What we must mow cle | ‘IlIINIINININNIIIIUIIiINIII HINT IIND termine is; What shall be the stand of the workers of the United States? Ricardo Trevino of the Mexican Con- federation of Labor has sent a cable- gram to the A, F. of L, declaring that Mexican labor is with President Calles and soliciting support. While the im- perialist organs are howling their heads off against Mexican “bolshey- ism,” the executive council of the A. F, of L. is silent. Class conscious trade unionists should take up the ‘sue in their local unions and in cen- tral labor bodies, demanding that the American labor movement pledge prompt and immediate support to our Mexican brothers, THE DAILY WORKER 1113 W. Washington Bivd., Chicago, Ill, Enclose $....... for 1 year sub to the D. W...cccecsesssssue for autographed book of i RED CARTONS... Addre: Sity we BRAC] Sasseriesenescorsnsseorsreressssssnnenvecsoesnmeeesonssesssons