The Daily Worker Newspaper, September 11, 1926, Page 2

Page two = rc Sound : THE DAILY WORKER - eermrerm nec ce a ER OI ON ARR STOREY NN eR NE NS roe PRESIDENT ASKS [421 ENGINEERS HELP BRITISH STRIKE Urges American Labor Equal Russian Gift (Special to The Daily Worker) CLEVELAND, 0O., Sept. 9.—A dir appeal to the workers of Ameri Support the striking miners of Great Britain has been made over his sig- nature by Acting President L. G. Grif- fing, of the Brotherhood of Locomo-! tive Enginee in the organization journal for September. In addition to this, individual letters have been sent by the international headquar. ters to each of the 88,000 members of the brotherhood, urging them to donate to the relief of the British min ers’ families. Superb Heroism. President Griffing says in his signed cle Nn all tre union history there i not a finer example of loyalty to the union nor to one another than shown by these hard-pressed Br workers. With superb heroism are sticki out until they se nomic ju 2, even tho the power of the British ernment is ar. rayed ag Executives Resolve. President Griffing t that the recent meet- shington of the Associated Railway Union executives heard from the delegation of British miners then touring ed States a story of ‘eme hard s in the’ mine fields, ge of and that the executives’ meeting went on record to make an appeal for con- tributions. The international unions among the railroad organizations have not as yet contributed directly, but several inter- nationals connected with the A. F. of L. have given a thousand dollars or So to the miners’ cause. Follow Russian Example, Griffing’s message calls attention to the gifts of the Russian workers in these words: “The labor movements of France, Belgium, Germany, Russia and other European countries are contributing with equal generosity, one national union having already collected and sent in over two and one-half million dollars for the miners’ relief fund. And he adds in his appeal for con- tributions a wish that the American workers may do as well: “I am con- fident that the workers of America and the members of this brotherhood in particular will be equally respon- } sive to the dictates of our ‘common humanity and the fraternal bond that unites us with our brother workers of all lands.” ERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR ISSUES SECOND APPEAL FOR AID TO BE SENT TO BRITISH MINERS WASHINGTON, Sept, 9.—All international and national unions, state and local central labor bodies, and loca] trade unions are asked, by the executive council of the American Federation of Labor in a second appeal for aid tor the starving families of the British mine strikers, to give gener- ously—“give to the limit of your ability.” Issue New Appeal. “The Executive Council,” says the new circular, “at its meeting held in Montreal, August 24-30, reviewed the distressing situation prevailing among the mine workers and their families in Great Britain where a strike has existed for the past 18 weeks. result of this review it was de- cided to issue another appeal to the membership of the Federation and their friends to make voluntary finan- cial contributions for the purpose of supplying food and clothing to the striking miners of Great Britain and their families dependent upon them. Intense Suffering, “This strike of the miners,in Great Britain has reached the point where suffering among the miners’ families is intense. The industrial. struggle has been carried on week after week until hunger and distress are being keenly felt. The miners; are resisting 1 reduction in the méager wages they heretofore were receiving: ‘ They are .| heroically fighting againgt a lowering of their living standards. The action of the British mine owners in attempt- ing to force this reduction is a chal- lenge to the mine workers. of Great Britain. Give Help Quickly, “The mine workers of Great Britain have appealed to the working people of America to help them in their hour of need. Recently a delegation rep- resenting the British Trade Union Congress and the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain visited America call- ing upon the membership of organ- ized labor and their friends to supply financial help to the strikers. This delegation related stories of sacrifice, suffering and distress which were of a most touching and pathetic nature. They pleaded for help. They urged that help be extended and that it be extended now. “Do Not Delay.” “The executive council, therefore, in transmitting this supplementary ap- peal is repeating the message of this delegation. We earnestly and sincerely urge you to make such voluntary con- tributions as circumstances will per- mit. Give to the limit of your ability. Send in your money immediately, Do not delay. Let the sympathetic and generous heart of the organized labor movement of America respond quickly to the appeal which the hungry men, women and children who are the sut- ferers in the miners’ strike make to us, “Send all contributions to Frank Morrison, A. F. of L. Bldg., Washing- ton, D. C.” OO LADIES’ GARMENT WORKERS’ LOCAL IN CHICAGO OPPOSES NEW PIECE WORK FEATURES; WANTS SECURITY Local 5 (Chicago) of the International Ladies’ Garment Workers Union has adopted amendments to the recommendations of President Sigman. There was discussion of proposed comment and changes at two meetings, and then at a special meeting called to decide the matter a set of recom- mendations were adopted which the members of Local 5 hope the Test of the union will also consider and adopt. They are as follows: In looking thru the recommenda-#—— tions of Presidest Sigman, we find that he discussed generalities only, and no immediate improvements in condi- tions. Some of the proposals, such as: 40 hours per week, and guaran- teed length of employment are sure- ly acceptable to all, but the change of system to a minimum scale and the Proposed adjustment of prices, spell in practical operation—piece work— or standard of production, with some features in it that will be worse than under ordinary piece work. We therefore wish to make the fol- lowing recommendations for imme- diate operation: 1. To enforce that the employer does not make any individual com- Plaints to the worker on production. No Wage Cut. 2, All workers whose prices were decreased since week work was es- tablished should receive an increase equal to the price they received when week work was established includ- ing the $6 increase in 1921, 3. Workers coming in to new jobs, shall receive the same price, which is standard for all shops, and the em- work” and not the standard of the price, Watch Sub-contractors. 4. That the office be instructed to immediately go into conference with the jobbers and with the employers, having contractors or sub-contract- ors, for the purpose of having them sign a “jobbers’ agreement,” in which they must guarantee the union condi- tions in the shops of the contractors and sub-contractors, and also assure with a penalty levied on them, against its violation, by having non-union con- tractors working for them, In case the jobbers refuse to go into agree- ment with the union, the union con- tractors must be instructed not to take out any work from them, Forty-Hour Week, We recommend the following pro- posals to take into conference with the employers: 1, Forty-hour, five-days a week work. 2, Guarantee for 36 weeks per year employment with a minimum income of $2,000 per year. Hach’ employer shall pay a fixed sum weékly, during the busy season to guarantee the pay- Dloyer cannot “lay him off” on ac-|ments of the difference in the event count of the pricg. The paragraph in the agreement in this instance calling for one week tenure of employment and that during this week the employ- er has a right to lay off the worker, without review, shall be interpret to mean, “as far as the skil'/ot - GINSBERG’S’ Vegetarian Resteurant 2324-26 Brooklyn Atenue, LOS ANGELES, CAL. House—North Side, Chicdgo, tl, Price $3,900 1 BUILD 6 rooms; tile bath} hard- wood floors; furnace; builtdn feat. ures, Central 2503, a tet of not having forty weeks employment per year, 73. The employers shall increase their payments to the “Unemployment [iar pex Fund” to five per cent of their payroll, and the workers shall not pay any. Equal Division, 4. The fund shall be conducted in the headquarters of the union and un- der the supervision of the joint board. There shall be equal division of work in each shop on duplicates as well as stock, 5. The head cutter shall not do any stock or duplicate cutting during the dull season. 6. The books of the employers and jobbers may be investigated at any time by the union or an accountant assigned by them, for the purpose of finding out to whom the work is sent out. mhenicemectnamtp bene WRITE AS YOU FIGHT | As ad MOTHER BLOOR SPEAKS FOR PASSAIC RELIEF ON STREET IN BUFFALO BUFFALO, Sept. 9. — On Satur- day evening, Sept. 11, at 8 o’clock an open air demonstration will be held here at the corner of Main and Mohawk for the Passaic Strikers’ Relief, James Campbell of the Molders’ Union and secretary of the Buffalo conference for Passaic relief will be the chairman, There will be ad- dresses by Ella Reeves Bloor, the field organizer of the General Relief Committee and by two of the strik- ers, In Rochester, Field Organizer Bloor has already secured a number of delegates to attend a relief con- ference to be held at the Amaigama- ted Hall, Sept. 17, at 8 o’clock, Mother Bloor with her corps of strikers is visiting unions all this week and next. After the Rochester conference she will take the strikers to Montreal to visit the Canadian Labor Conference which starts on Sept. 20, On their return they will stop at a meeting at Toronto, SAM GOMPERS ON THE MEXICAN QUESTION, 1924 What Will Green Say at Detroit Meet? (Special to The Daily Worker) WASHINGTON, Sept. 9. — Samuel Gompers, in his speech of greeting to the delegates of the Mexican Re- sional Confederation of Labor who visited the convention of the Ameri- can Federation of Labor at El Paso on Mtv. 17, 1924, hailed the present regime dn Mexico as the work of the labor movement. The Federated Press, in view of dis- cussion as to whether the A, F. of L. should abandon its affiliation with Mexican labor, reproduces, in the week of Labor Day of 1926, a part of that greeting: Good Will and Fraternity, “Men and women of labor of Mexi- co,” he began, “thrice welcome to the convention of the American Federa- tion of Labor. Ten years ago no such united gathering could have taken place between the workers’ represent- atives of Mexico and those of the United States, “Time, circumstance and experi- ence have demonstrated to us that if you and we and those whom we rep- resent shall maintain the high ideals of organized labor of pur respective countries, nothing but fraternity, good will and mutual interest will serve the people of both republics. Stirred by Feeling. “In the by-gone days adventurers and profit-mongers have taken advan- tage of situations to stir up ill-feeling on both sides of the line. We believe, and time has verified this belief in- to a conviction, that if the men and women of toil in Mexico, and the men and women of toil in the United States, were organized and manifest ed good-will toward each other, the profitmongers would be driven back and good-will established among the peoples and the nations which we have the honor to represent. “Mexico! Obregon, Calles, Trevino and Morones united to make Mexico. “In the name of the men and wom- en who toil in our country, the spirit of the men and women of this conyen- tion dnterpreting the hopes and ideals of American workers, I bid you and your associates welcome to this con- vention, and wish for you all success in the attainment and achievement of the hopes and ideals of Mexican toil- ors and Mexican statesmen and pa- triots, that we may live to help in the peace, not only of our two coun- ‘ries, but in the peace of the whole world!” Went to Mexico. Following that convention, which was marked by great enthusiasm for the cause of the Mexican workers, President Gompers and the executive council, with many other delegates, traveled to Mexico City as guests of the government, to witness the inau- guration of President Calles and to attend the meeting of the Pan-Ameri- can Federation of Labor. He stood between Gen. Obregon, the retiring chiet executive, and Calles his succes- sor and friend, on the balcony of the national palace on the night of the in- auguration, sharing with them the honors of that historic event, Within a few days his last iness came upon him +H JANTI-FASCISTI IN CONVENTION CHEER GITLOW A. F. of L. (Special to The Daily Worker) NEW YORK, Sept. 9.—With seven hundred delegates present from all parts of the country, the opening ses- sion of the Anti-Fageisti Alliance’s convention in Cooper Union Sunday cheered itself hoarse} when speakers denounced Mussolini?for his bloody rule. Benjamin Gitlow, mepresenting the Workers (Communist) Party of Amer- ica was greeted with enthusiasm as he offered the anti-Fascist organiza- tion the hearty support of Commu- nists, ; “We are actively) engaged in a struggle against Fascismo in the Unit- ed States, in Italy and in every oth- er country where it manifests itself,” said Gitlow, “It came “into existence atter the heroic struggle in which the {tallan workers were betrayed. They were seizing factories, raising the Red flag and gaining control of the army. and navy. The movement was betray- ed and reaction came in with Musso- lint and Fascismo. It is a brutal, military and savage regime. The eightshour day has been abandoned in Italy, strikes are-dilegal and mili- tant workers are assassinated, “No wonder the capitalistic govern- ment of the United States, headed by a strike-breaker, President Coolidge— does everything possible to aid Mus- solini. It is no wonder that Gary helps him, for Gary lives by keeping in subjection the steel slaves who la- bor in the steel mills of this coun- try. The workers in all countries are united in the movement against Fas- cismo, and those in Italy will over- throw Mussolini and seize the fac- tories and the government, Every movement on the part of the workers here is brutally suppressed by ithe capitalistic government of the United States.’” The 700 delegates from all parts of the country cheered, mention by Git- low of Soviet Russia, and there was added tumult when ‘the orchestra started playing the Internationale. Dr, Charles Fama, secretary of the United States board of pension sur- geons and captain of the medical corps reserve denied that he was either a socialist or # Communist but denounced Mussolini’as a “cowardly scoundrel” and said h@ was in power only because the 0) ition was not united, The evening séssidn was held at the Rand school. A tplegram was re- ceived and read there] from President Green of the Americafi Federation of Labor assuring the ¢c position to Fascism word implies.” Green said “Fascism has succeeded in destroying indepen- dent democratic trades, unions in Italy, free speech, free press, and democ- racy in government.” Telegrams were sent President Coo- lidge demanding for ‘the victims of Fascist oppression the:right of asylum enjoyed here of old,iand to Judge Webster Thayer, the! trial. judge in the case of Sacco and» Vanzetti, de- manding a retrial. Sessions continue in the Rand school. Solid With Mexican Labor. At the meeting in the Rand School the conference heard Roberto Haber- man, representing the Regional Con- federation of Labor of Mexico, the largest organization in the country, and the Mexican Minister of Mines, Commerce, Labor and Industry. Haberman pledged the support of 2,000,000. organized workers of Mex- ico to the fight against the fascisti, and recounted the history of a simi- lar battle which has raged for a cen- tury in Mexico and is now being won by the forces of progress, Rome and Mussolini, He showed the close relationship in theory and effect between the move- ment led by the Catholic hierarchy of Mexico to take from the peasants their land and to peonage, “which is worse than slavery, for slaves cost money and have to be looked after.” “Rome is the greatest enemy of Mexican labor from the point of view of the fascisti and the hierarchy,” said Haberman, The conference adopted a resolu- tion to send a telegram to President Calles of Mexico to assure him of its solidarity with him in the struggle against the papacy. 1, L. GW. in Campaign. Morris Sigman, president of the In- ternational Ladies’ Gatment Workers pledged the aid of his organization in the anti-fasciat moverhent, “not only with sympathy but with every other support that can lead the great fight for liberty to victory.” A resolution was adopted asking Italians in the United States not to employ Italian governmental agencies in sending funds to relatives in the fatherland, Telegrams pledging the alliance's “solidarity and support” we nt the Passaic textile strikers, the striking English miners, the Cor- rier degli Italiani of Paris, which is the organ of tormer Premier Nitti, and the People d'Italia, a San Francisco anti-fascist daily, We will send sampie coples of The DAILY WORKER towyour friends— send Us name and address, \ = ‘Show Agreement Existed to Hide the Anthracite Green Offers Support of | SUrender From Miner's |\covernmes Continua By J. LOUIS ENGDAHL. URING the world war the heavy censorship, combined with the fact that even so-called “independ- ent writers” were engulfed in the tidal wave of jingoism, prevented the truth about the struggle being told, except as it appeared in the proscribed revolutionary press. When the blood bath ended with the truce between the contending capi- talist nations, ambitious authors, politicians and other spokesmen of the established order began issuing their books under the general high- sounding title, “Now It Can Be Told.” The same process unfolds itself, gradually but inevitably, in the war between the mine workers and the mine owners, especially in the an- thracite fields of Pennsylvania. There is this difference, however. One of the spokesmen for the hard coal barons now declares that the mine owners actually had an agree- ment with the miners’ officials to suppress and hide the actual facts about the traitor settlement that was put over on the strikers at Scranton, Pa., Wednesday, Feb, 17, 1926. It was as if the German kaiser and the British king had got- ten together to frame a peace to safeguard their own power, behind the backs and against the interests of the peoples of these two coun- tries. eee The mine owners’ spokesman de- clares: “Not much wag said in the news- papers at the time of the settle- ment of the anthracite strike ... as to the extent of labor's defeat in this conflict. To make as little talk as possible, out of respect to labor, was a part of the agreement, and all parties to the agreement acted accordingly. “Since then, however, the settle- ment has become fully public and the defeat which the labor inter. ests suffered has been gradually recognized.” eee In order to carry out his part of this compact with the mine owners, President John L. Lewis crushed all opposition in the Scranton Tri-Dis- trict Convention called to ratify the agreement. When Delegate Ed Scharfenberg arose alone, among the hundreds of delegates, to challenge the surren- der to the mine owners and to ex- pose the nature of the pact with the bosses, President Lewis, as chair- man, ordered his expulsion from the convention. Not one delegate dared continue the fight. At that time The DAILY WORK: ER exposed the foul nature of the base surrender. In its issue of Monday, Feb, 15, it ran a heavy black border entirely around its first page, and the headline told the story in three words, “MINERS’ BLACK FRIDAY.” There was cause for mourning. At that time The DAILY WORKER raised the slo- gan, “LEWIS MUST GO!” ere The coal miners are today realiz- ing more and more the full extent of the defeat that President Lewis forced upon them seven months ago. Now that the truth of what The DAILY WORKER charged last win- ter is becoming generally known, it is not necessary for a tool of the mine owners to declare that, “the FAIRY TALES for Workers’ Children HERMINIA ZUR MUHLEN With over twenty illustra- tions and four color plates by LYDIA GIBSON. 75c Duroflex settlement has become fully public and the defeat which the labor in- terests suffered has been gradually recognized.” The coal miners have learned the truth out of their own bitter experiences. The tide of: op- position to President Lewis and his surrender is rising, One indication of the growing op- Position to Lewis is now seen in the fact that William J. Brennan, former president of Anthracite Dis- trict, No. One, United Mine Work- ers of America, has announced him- self as candidate.for secretary- treasurer of the international union in the struggle against the Lewis regime. The first paragraph in Brennan’s program is a@ repudiation of the anthracite, agreement, with special opposition to sections three and four, t Lite, SP. Tt was the proud oast of the Lewis machine, which includes the present secretary-treasurer, Thomas Kennedy, who helped put over the anthracite agreement, that arbitra- tion had not been agreed to. Yet the worst kind of arbitration is pro- vided for in section three, that Brennan especially attacks. This section sets forth that issues in controversy shall be referred to a board of two men “with full power and without reservation or restric- tions.” Neither one of these two men is to be “connected with the United Mine Workers of America,” unless this can be agreed to, and the mine owners certainly will not agree. The miners are merely to name three men and the mine own- ers three men, The miners select one man from the owners’ list and the owners one man from the min- ers’ list. It is certain that the coal barons will get the man from among the three on the miners list who is the most favorable to them, who can be most easily influenced to support their cause, or lean in their direc- tion. If Lewis can be guilty of the anthracite surrender, then it will not be difficult for the mine owners to find “their. man” among three names that the Lewis administra- tion would offer them to select from. On the other hand the three names that the mine owners will offer can be depended on to be 100 per cent for the coal barons. If a third man is drawn in, he is selected by these two already picked. The chances are, therefore, all on the side of his being another mine owners’ man. No more vicious method of arbitra- tion was ever conceived. nr @ It is to this triumvirate, packed on the side of the mine owners, that future disputes as to wages must be submitted, altho President Lewis has assured the miners that their wages cannot be reduced during the five years’ lite of the anthracite con- tract. This is only another decep- tion. The miners have already had their eye-opening experiences with the Jacksonville agreement covering the soft coal flelds, under which the mine owners have as usual forgot- ten all about the “sacred right of contract” and slashed wages wher- ever the mine workers have failed to offer resistance. wr. P. é AH this should help convince the coal diggers everywhere thruout the Jurisdiction of the United Mine Workers of America that President Lewis, who is now up for re-elec- tion, is doing the dirty work of the employers inside the union, just as Frank Farrington, the suspended president of District No. 12 (IIli- - nois), after doing all the damage he could inside the union, contracted to Join the employers ranks and fight the miners from ‘the’ outside for $25,000 per year. Farrington was put on the skids and his exit from the union was a hurried one. President Lewis comes up for re-election in December. The miners should make sure that Lewis follows Farrington into the discard, at least insofar as the miners’ union is concerned, Klan Dry. Leader Met Defeat in Democratic Primary in Georgia ATLANTA, Sept, 9, — Congressman William D, Upshaw, militant dry lead- er, was defeated ni the Georgia dem- ocratic primary Wednesday by Leslie J, Steele, prominent lawyer of Deca- tur, Ga. Returns today showed Upshaw ran second in the heated three-cornered contest with mayor Walter Sims of Atlanta third, SPRINGFIELD, Ill, Sept, 9. — Two are dead today, while millions of dol- lars worth of damage is being checked up by farmers, businessmen and pro- erty owners as the aftermath of two cloudbursts which started late yester- day and continued until early today thruout Central Illinois, a eeinenbelis F BUILD THE DAILY WITH A 8U NO CHANGE IN ADMINISTRATION MEXICAN POLICY to Force Concessions (Special to The Dally Worker) PAUL SMITH’S, N. Y.; Sept. 9.— The United States government will continue its “hands off” policy in Mexico, President Coolidge definitely anounced today, following a long con- ference. with Ambassador James R. Shefiield. The president indicated that diplo- matic relations between the two gov- ernments are very harmonious. The Mexican government has al- ready made many recessions in the matter of the land laws, it was of- ficially stated, and while some prob- lems remain to be settled there is every probability that they will be ad- justed amicably, Music Strike Goes on as the Leaders Talk (Continued from page 1) as enjoyable as orchestrated perform- ances, Still a Chance for Spread, There is still a chance of other theatrical crafts coming out on sym- pathetic strike and other theaters, out- side of Chicago, going without orches- tras in support of the local fight. Points at issue Same. The points at issue remain the same, The question of the duration of the contract and the number of musicians to be used in smaller thea- ters, The men are of the opinion that the owners will very soon have to come to time. If they are losing rather good weekly salaries, the dwin« dled gate receipts are far in excess of this and are losing heavily for the exhibitors. es. @ Detroit Operators Out. DETROIT, Mich., Sept. 9,—Fourteen leading theaters were without motion pictures today as a result of the ina- bility of owners and operators to reach a wage agreement in connec- tion with the operation of four houses. The walk-out of the operators was re- vealed when the houses fajled to show Pictures at noon, as scheduled. 9 Som Stage Workers Gain Increased Pay. NEW YORK, Sept. 9.—Wage in- creases of 20 to 40 per cent have been won by the 2,200 New York stage hands in legitimate theaters, vaude- ville, burlesque and movie houses and in stage construction shops. Theat- rical Protective Union, Local 1, made the two-year agreement. Heads of carpentry, electrical and property de- partments in legitimate theaters get $10 a week increase. “Grips”—clear- ers and operators manipulating scen- ery—get $1 more per performance and rehearsal, overtime and broken time, increases of 25 to 50 cents an hour. Shop employes and journeymen get $2 a day more, apprentices and car loaders $2 more. In vaudeville, bur- lesque and picture houses department heads get $7 a week and 25 cents ad- ditional per hour of overtime. Pate ie Boston Musicians Win Wage Demands, BOSTON, Sept. 9.—Union musicians of Boston are getting $72 a week for 14 performances in vaudevilie and moving picture theaters, $94 in fea- ture picture and legitimate houses, $60 for 12 performances in burlesque shows and $64 for eight performances in musical shows. Wage increases are about 15 per cent over previous scales, The agreement is for two years, 4% @ Settle Wage Demands by Long Dis- tance Phone. NEW YORK, Sept. 9.—Settlement of the pending strike of musicians in Orpheum Circuit theaters in San Fran- cisco and the west was achieved by long distance telephone. Joseph N. Weber, president of the American Federation of Musicians, officials of the stage hands’ unions, which threat- ened sympathetic strikes, and officers of the Orpheum Circuit conferred in New York and communicated their Proposals to the western union and theater representatives also in con- ference in San Francisco, Rob Paper Co. Payroll, CLEVELAND, 0., Sept. 9, — Three masked bandits at noon today held-up two officials of the Jaite Paper com: pany, at J. Ohio, near here, robbed them of $3,400 payroll and escaped in an automobile, Every sub you send is a fist you shake in. the face of the boss, Send one at least from your shop.