The Daily Worker Newspaper, October 6, 1926, Page 2

Page Two THAN 60,000 IN YEAR, REPORT TO DETROVT CONVENTION REVEALS By J. LOUIS ENGDAHL, (Special to The Daily Worker) DETROIT, Mich., Oct. 4—The American Federation of Labor meeting in its 46th annual convention here today was faced with a crumbling membership according to figures contained in the report of Secretary Frank Morrison, showing a total membership of 2,813,910 for the year ending August 31, 1926, as compared with 2,877,297 for last year, a drop of more than 60,000, Secretary Morrison seeks to cover up this drop by declaring that “the membership reported does not include all the members involved in strikes or lockouts, or those who were unemployed during the fiscal year, for whom per capita tax was not received.” Secretary Morrison further declares: “A survey of the membership of the national and interna- tional organizations and the unjons directly affiliated with the American Federation of Labor +— indicates that because of strikes or unemployment there were at least 500,000 members for whom per capita tax was not paid to the American Federation ofLabor.” More Strikes In Other Years, Therefore, Morrison confidently points out, “adding this number to the 2,818,918 paid-up members will give a grand total of 3,313,910 members,” But the came conditions hold tre for ell previous years, especially for those years of industrial depression end of many strikea, for which the membership appears in the report ona per onyite basis, and without any pad- ding. Y “It’ Secretary Morrison argues cor- rectly, them he would have to add 500,000 to the total figures for each year, which would then irevitably de- velop-the drop of more than 60,000 for this year Just the same, + The Figures Don’t Lie, As a matter of fact, the unions that have conducted the big strikes during the past year have paid their usual per capita tay. The United Mine Workers of Amer- ica, that conducted the anthracite coal strike last winter involving 158,000 workers, and that has had numerous Strikes on its hands in the bituminous fields, paid per capita on 400,000 mem- bers as in 19: This figure is far above th nemhbership of the miners’ union, now estimated at not more than a quarter milion, The International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union, that has had several big strikes during the past year and is even now in a big struggle in New York City, paid per capita for 90,000 members, the same as last year. Many of the building trades’ unions that have been engaged in struggles for higher wages during the past year, like the carpenters, the bricklayers, electrical workers, laborers, machin- ists, painters, plumbers and plasterers, paid a 1926 per capita, equal to or @reater than in 1925. In fact, the building trades as a whole showed an increased membership. Suspend 91,200 Members. Secretary: Morrison might find bet- ter reason for the drop in the fact that this year sees the Brotherhood of Railway Clerks, with the 91,200 mem- bers on which it paid per capita tax, suspended from the A. F. of L. asa result of the jurisdiction fight of this omganization with the Teamsters’ Union. The decision of the 1925 con- vention at Atlantic City went against the clerks in favor of the teamsters, headed by Daniel J. Tobin, who is treasurer of the A. F.of L. The clerks refused to accept the decision and were thrown ont. The railway clerks belonged to the group of railroad unions that secured a big membership during the war and then lost most of it during the strike of 1922, Most of the unions reporting losses, according to per capita paid to the A. F, of L., are railroad unions such as the boilermakers, railway car- men, maintenance of waymen, station- ary firemen, switchmen and railroad telegraphers, none of which has con- ducted any considerable strikes during the past year. These railroad organizations, belong- sing to the railway employes’ depart- ment of the A, F. of L., showed a gnembership of 237,600 In 1925, com- pared to 184,000 for this year, a drop of more than 50,000 members. The drop, of members for all the unions af- fillated with the railway department was 19,700 from 1924 to 1925. The tabulation of the membership of the American federation for the Jast 30 years appears in an adjoining column. The American Federation of Labor at the present time is made’ up of four departments, 107 national and in- ternational unions, 49 state federa- tions, 833 city central bodies, 769 local department counctls, 29,417 local uniong and 380 local trade and federal labor unions, American “Ideals” and Not Numbers, The A. FP. of L. offictaldom is not excited about this dwindling member- ship, It worries more about the “ideals” of its reactionary regime, claiming that the record of the past year “re- flects with gratifying definiteness that our movement ia maintaining success- fully those ideals and practices that ‘have made it distinctively American and successful mands of American industry.” It ts cfhimed that the A, F. of L, jg @ “public institution” and therefore in meeting the de-’| HERE ARE MEMBERSHIP FIGURES OF A. F. OF L, FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS The membership figures of the American Federation of Labor for the last 30 years, showing this year’s membership to be the lowest since 1918, are as follows: Year. Membership 264,825 278,016 349,422 548,321 787,537 1,024,399 1,465,800 + 1,676,200 - 1,494,800 1,454,200 1,538,970 . 1,586,885 - 1,482,872 + 1,862,112 ~ 1,761,835 » 1,770,145 1,996,004 .. 2,020,671 - 1,946,347 . 2,072,702 . 2,371,434 » 2,726,478 . 3,260,068 . 4,078,740 . 3,906,528 . 3,195,625 . 2,926,468 . 2,865,799 . 2,877,297 oe 2,813,910 _—— “public accounting” rather than an accounting to the working class. $31,438.32 for British Strike. While the A. F. of L, raised $200,- 710.67 for the anthracite coal miners’ strike, it gathered only $31,438,32 in relief for the British coal miners’ strike from July 6 to August 31. The Woodrow Wilson Memorial Building fund now totals $1,574.61, Farrington on the Job. Frank Farrington, the suspended president of the Illinois coal miners, having signed a contract to work for the Peabody Coal Oo. for $25,000 an- nually, carried the check of the A. F. of L., totaling $1,660.68 to Geneva, Switzerland, where it will be used to decorate one of the rooms in the In- ternational Labor office building, where the official labor wing of the imperialist league of nations is housed. It is stated that Farrington is bring- ing back the receipt. Since then Far- rington failed to appear as a delegate to the British Trade Union Congress, which was the job given him by the last A. F, of L. convention. A. F. of L.'s Road to Power, The executive council recommends that efforts be directed toward mak- ing the grant of corporate power of capital dependent upon freedom of like power of organization upon the part both of the workers as well as the consuming public, “thus re-estab- lishing a fair degree of freedom ot play to all economic, industrial and social factors and elements in indus- try.” It calls for further investigation of the “provision in employment con- tracts against joining a trade union as being contrary to public policy and therefore unenforceable at law.” i It claims that attempts to establish compulsory arbitration have practi- cally ceased and hails the ‘Watson- Parker bill as a victory for collective agreements. Its optimistic declara- tion over the passage of the Watson- Parker bill is as follows: Hall Watson-Parker Bill, “Thus to all practical intents and purposes the long, trying, as well as bitter campaign of the trade union organizations and the American Fed- eration of Labor for the right to col- lective bargaining and freedom from domination of the state in the form of compulsory arbitration or thru in- dustrial courts has come to a success. ful ending. Again organized labor in America has vindicated its course and demonstrated the wisdom of its judg- ment, In addition, it hag rendered a great public service and has blazoned the way for more constfuctive poll- cles and helpful procedures hoth to industry a8 well as the general public good.” Tt was practically the same execn- tive council that wrote the above para- graph that years ago hailed, in similar terma, the Clayton act that was to wipe out the Sherman anti-trust law in its application to labor. As a mat: the fexecutive council's report fy 4 | tor. ot tact, the Watson-Perker bill |doss provide for thé ‘compulsory arbi- tration that the coumnell's report says it does not, just as the Clayton act was not an “emancipation proclama- tion of American labor.” Organized Work Discussed. Under the subheading, “Organiza- tion Progress,” the-report reviews the number of organizers in the fleld, tells of the number of cities and states vis- ited by the moving picture first shown at the Atlantic City convention last year, tells of organization efforts among women workers, but lays down no comprehensive plan for the organi- zation of the workers in the great basic industries, No mention is made of the organization drive for the auto- mobile industry promised last year. Fight “Company Unions.” The executive council promised that “the American Federation of Labor will oppose to the full extent of its power the efforts of the employers to compel their employes to join com- pany unions,” which, it is pointed out, “are more or less patterned after the company stores which prevailed in American industry to some extent a number of years past.” Sees “Open Shop” Attack Weaken, * It is declared that the agitation for the “open shop” or “American plan” has spent its force. It is stated that “American wage earners are the highest paid workers in the world.” Under the heading of “employe stock ownership” it is pointed out that “it is a bad policy for the: wage earner to put all his eggs in one basket—to invest his savings in the same com- pany from which he draws his wages falls under this admonition.” The executive council promises to continue its investigation of this de- velopment, stating: “We believe that this subject is one which should re- ceive the attention of all workers.” Note of Warning Is Sounded. In discussing the question of union banks and union insurance enter- prises, which give rise to other labor ventures in the investment, security and building field, the executive coun- cil sounds “a note of warning against this increasing tendency to divert the attention of the trade unionist from the more primary need of trade union organization and trade union function- ing. We decline to give our approval to such tendencies and developments and caution our trade unions and worktrs to use the utmost care and vigilance in investing or participating in such ventures.” The Citizens’ Military Training Camps receive the usual endorsement, because, “in the Judgment of the ex- ecutive council, we believe it would be advantageous to all the boys of our country to take advantage of the op- portunity afforded to them in these camps.” President William Green.and most of the executive council recently vis- ited the Plattsburg encampment in New York state as the guests of the United States government. The coun- cil reports that relations with the American Legion have been “of a very friendly character.” Under the heading of “international relations” the activities of the A. F. of L. in the Pan-American Federation of Labor are reviewed at length with- out mention of its present attitude toward the internal situation in Mex- ico. Regarding the Amsterdam Inter- national, the report says: “Tho correspondence has been con- tinued with the International Federa- tion of Trade Unions (Amsterdam), as yet there has been no agreement upon the differences that prevent the affilia- tion of the A. F. of L. to the Amster- dam International.” __ The report attacks the Communists and holds out some hope of affiliation with Amsterdam when it says: “The Amsterdam International has been standing splendidly in defense pf trade union principles against all ap- peals to compromise with Communist groups. The good will and support of American labor are with the organiza- tion in’ this position. We trust that eventually a mutually satisfactory basis for reaffiliation will be devel- oped.” The executive council clings closely to its non-partisan political policies, urges the workers to go to the polls and vote for the best men in the old parties and promises to defend the pri- mary system of choosing candidates. It is on this basis that it is now enter- ing the congressional campaign. The usual attack against the Com- munists is made by the executive coun- cil in its report. No mention is made in the report of the council's investigation into the recent successful strike of the Fur- riers’ Union in New York City. More Scab Coal to England. NEW YORK, Oct, 4.—One hundred and ninety-eight ships from many na- tions are en route to Hampton Roads, Va., for West Virginia coal to be taken to the strike-bound island of English, say reports trom the Hamp- ton Roa maritime exchange re- ceived in New York marine circles. All coal coming from the interior is snapped up by waiting ships. The record for the piers for the first 29 days of September shows 2,681,291 tons dumped into holds of ships, 9 THE DAIEY WORKER ey eh PORTERS URGED TO FIGHT FOR THEIR RIGHTS Nothing Can Be Won by Crawling Policy A meeting of, the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters was held at Pil- grim Baptist Church, 33rd Street and Indiana Ave., at three p. m, Sunday afternoon, 4 Obligation to! Porters. Miss Mary McDowell, welfare and social worker, stated as her experi- ence traveling for many years in Pull- man cars that she felt\under obliga- tion to Pullman car porters who have been in charge of thé-cars where one lies down to rest m he goes on @ long journey, sugtanotaaid the necessity of organization, and stated that in view of the factithat the Nogroes as a whole had made progress in all lines of endeavor, it is assured that with the proper leadership they could succeed in organizing for their eco- nomic welfare, by far the most »im- portant work of life. A. Philip Randolph, general organ- izer of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, was introduced by Chair man Webster as a-new type of Negro leadership with efficiency, intelligence, loyalty and honesty in which the Ne- gro race was sadly in need, Early Struggles of Porters. He opened up by analyzing a recent statement in Baron’s Weekly under the title of “Pullman Porter, the Bene- fits of His Racial Monopoly.” His logical analysis literally tore this ar- ticle to pieces and it was made‘ the laughing stock of the whole meeting. He also talked briefly on the early struggles of the Brotherhood of Sleep- ing Car Porters, stating that the la- bor organizations generally passed thru three stages, the stage that they are ignored, the stage that they are opposed and the stage that they are accepted and recognized, and that the brotherhood had passed thru the first stage and was now leaving the second stage and about to get to the point where they would force the Pullman Company to recognize them. He also stated that the organization had been able to secure the endorse- ment of the N. A. A.C. P., the Na- tional Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs, @ number of baptist churches, and the leaders of the Urban League. In fact, they had reached the stage now where théy receive the sup- port of almost the entire Negro race. Police Jail Twi Negro Women in Date Plant Strike (Continued from page 1) and one-half cénts per pound stuffing dates, At this rate, extra speedy worked might be able to nfake $2.60 a day by working nine hours without a let-up. } The average amount earned by the workers was $14 a week. But the Maras company desired to cut their earnings even stil], more and issued Friday's notice. ther workers at the factory have even lower scales. Hold Meeting. From the factory premises the workers went to 30 North Wells St., where a strikers’ demonstration meet- ing was held. The trade union com- mittee of the American Negro Labor Congress offered its assistance and helped organize a relief committee that will work with the I. W. A. A delegation was sent to headquart- ers of the Chicago Federation of La- bor to ask for unionization, No action had beef taken by the federation up to Monday night, A temporary union organization, however, has been be- gun. Headquarters are at 30 North Wells street. Send us the name and address of a progressive worker to whom we can send a sample copy of The DAILY WORKER, 7 SCAB TAX! DRIVER IN HARD LUCK; MUST PAY BAUER FOR LOST GAS It Is reported ‘that Henry Bruse- ing, @ scab driver working on the Bauer taxi company's cabs, whose chauffeurs are on strike against a new rule of the company compell- ing them to pay cents a gal- fon for gasoline used while on duty, had fallen upon bad luck while op- erating on the south side. Brussing appea In a police sta- tlon with an Aimee Semple McPher- son story of being “kidnappe cab, or rather the company cab he was driving was found in ashes at 55th and Normal avenue. The me- ter was saved. It showed 30 cents. The scab will be expected to pay for the 10 gallons of which, like the “kidnappers,” had escaped, WEDNESDAY, OCT. 6th at 8 P. M, ELECTION MASS MEETING t<3 “The Workers and the Elections” Speakers: " BENJAMIN: GITLOW MATHILDA KALOUSEK é DETROIT OPEN SHOPPERS ISSUE CHALLENGE TO. AMERICAN LABOR FEDERATION; NO UNIONS WANTED By J. LOUIS ENGDAHL,.. (Special to The Daily Worker) CONVENTION HALL, DETROIT, Mich., Oct, 4—One of the most vicious blasts ever let loose by the “open shop” press against the American labor movement, was turned full force thru the editorial columns of the Detroit Free Press against the 46th Annual Convention of the American Federation of Labor that assembled here today. The A. F, of L. delegates were told that"Detroit is second only to Los Angeles, “The Unfair,” in the general use of the so-called “American Plan” or non-union plan in industry, “Hands Off Auto Industry!” The A- F. of L. delegates are told not to attempt to tamper With this “American Plan” thru efforts to or- ganize any workers in Detroit during the stay of the convention here. They are especially warned to keep their hands off the auto industry. In the whole history of the Amer- ican Federation of Labor, it is doubt- ful if any convention has ever re- ceived such a hostile greeting from the local employers’ press. The labor delegates are told that to’ organize Detroit's workers is a “destructive” proceeding. They are told to “re serve their strength for-employment in placeq where there is real con- structive work for them to do.” A Flat Challenge. The editorial greeting under the heading “As the A, F. of L. Conven- tion Opens” does not say where this place is to be found, On the eve of the publication of this editorial the delegates to the Building Trades Department had pledged themselves to do all in their power to strengthen various crafts during their stay in the city. The delegates met with the local build- ing trades council» and even Robert Dissman, the fraternal delegate from Germany to the Metal Trades Depart- ment, met with and spoke before a mass meeting of German-speaking machinists in an effort to strengthen their organization, The question of the organization of the auto industry has also been refer- red by the Metal Trades Department to the A, F. of L, convention and will no doubt receive some consideration. Evidently no matter how slight that consideration may be, it will not be pleasing to the local open shop inter- ests and their subsidized press. Boasts of Open Shops. The Detroit Freel, Press editorial, |” after pointing out what it claims to be “the modern character of the fac- tories, the liberality of the wage scales and the genera] condition of prosperity among both employes and employers and the hafmony of their relationships,” declares to the A. F. of L. delegates, that “the remarkable situation which awaits their examina- tion ‘has developed under the Am ican open shop plan which, except for Los Angeles, perhaps, is nowhere more generally in use than it is in this city.” The Detroit Free Press then issues its challenge to the convention in these words: Challenges Convention. “Nothing that can possibly benefit anybody will be accomplished by any attack upon the American plan in Detroit. We say this because there is a prevalent rumor that the heads of the American Federation are. con- sidering such an attack in the form of an effort to ‘unionize’ the town. “If those officials undertake to feature the convéntidn of their organ- ization in this city by attempting to tamper with industrial arrangements that are satisfactory and. beneficial to all coxfcerned and are a‘basis for the present state of general comfort among the peopte of Detroit, they will be starting a destructive movement whfch will be an assault upon the community in which they are guests. If it is even partly successful, it will hurt Detroit, its people and its busi- ness, particularly the automobile busi- ness, It will seriously injure labor. It will be an ‘act of general unfriend- Hness toward this city. Hope A. F. of L. Heads Understand. “It is to be hoped that the heads of the A. F. of L,, generally level-headed men, have abroad enough vision to realize this, and will withstand any temptation to attempt a move for the mere advancement of’ the size of their organization, and will reserve their strength for employment in places where there is real constructive work for them to do,” The so-called “American plan” is at- tacked in practically every report made to the di in the reports submitted by the heads of the various departments and espe- clally in the annual report of the A. F, of L.'s executive council. Labor's open hostility to the “American plan’ seems to have gotten undeg the skins of the local “open shop” interests, They do not relish labor leaders com- ing among them, even when® they camouflage themselves as bankers, in- surance and real estate men, which are the new duties assumed by the of- ficialdom of labor, in the words of President James O'Connell of the Métal ‘Trades Department, i) Upon:his arrival in the elty tor the opening of the convention, President EMMETT MEMORIAL HALL, 2179 ‘ 5 ( va Avenue Ogden and ites here, whether. pT Ce ak Sse ad Soli te A ce William Green, of the A. F. of L., discussed at some length his views on the so-called five-day week institut: ed et the plant of the Ford Motor company, He said; i "The Ford ‘plan should not be re- garded as a distinct innovation, The short work-week has for some time been in certain branches of the print- ing trades, the building trades and metropolitan department stores in the summer season, Says Policy Elastic. “It inevitably will be adopted by virtually all industries, because the high-pressure. grind of modern indus- try is such as to induce physical de- generation of the workers if they do not have some hour-shortening relief. “Let me put it this way. The policy of the American Federation of Labor is sufficiently elastic to meet any and all developments in American indus- try. We believe our record proves this especially as it covers wages and working hours. ;; But Stee! Trust Is Open Shop, Too “Our policy has been a progressive one, adequate to the needs of pro- gressive developments. These de- velopments have been gradual. In support of this statement, I need only city the action, about a year ago, of the United States Steel corporation in granting the eight-hour day. This acquiescence on the part of the steel company marked the culmination of a movement the A. F. of L. had had under way for 25 years, “Call it foresight, if you liké—we have seen this thing coming and our policy has been accurately in line with what we felt must come to pass, We have consistently maintained that hours must be reduced in direct pro- portion to increased “productivity in industry. Increased Productivity. “Productivity has increased in un- bellevable bounds, Ih the past 15 years, production in the automobile industry, with which, of course, De troit ‘is chiefly concerned, has in- creased from 25 to 50 per cent. Some estimates are as high as 100 per cent. “We do not, of course, want shorter hours ‘at the expense of wages. But we know that this need not be, that production increases with the shorter week, Five-Day Week, “The five-day week seems inevitable because of the strain under which workers are placed in modern indus- try, There is the incessant roar that wears men out and causes physical degeneration. If men are to work under such nerve-racking conditions their, hours “must conform’ to the tax put upon them. This is to the direct advantage of the employers. If men are driven from the job, it means large labor turnover, and labor turn- over costs the employer big money. Industries Ready. “I believe that eral industries are now ready for the five-day week, especially the automobile industry as a whole, the mining industry, the gar- ment making industry and the build- ing trades, “The short wéek is one of the de mands of the striking garment work- ers at Passaic, N. J.” FLOOD WATERS — IN OKLAHOMA. NOW RECEDING 1,500 Driven from Their Homes ‘ KANSAS ORTY, Mo., Oct. 4— The flood waters, which swirled into north- ern Oklahoma, sending hundreds ot 3 i i fiie * fs I ! i i Hi if g Hi __ ALE.OFL MEMBERSHIP DROPS MORE A. F, OF L, MEETS IN BLAST FROM | OPEN SHOPPERS (Continued from page 1.) mately fail because it cannot serve the needs of the workers.” Green then declared that the or- geunized labor movement thru many years had fought for child and woman workers and for remedial legislation for all labor. “The organization that cannot protect the economic welfare of the workers cannot live in Amert- ea,” said Green, claiming that. the company union could not do this. Five-Day Week, “The American Federation of Labor is committed to a program and organ- ized for a purpose, the economic, so celal, political, and cultural welfare of the working class,” Green then turned to Ford’s five- day week, declaring that organised labor had always fought for the short- er work-day and the shorter work- week. “We welcome the efforts of any em- ployer who accepts the shorter work; week,” he declared. 403 Delegates, On. the first report of, the creden- tials committee 403 delegates were seated. They represented 91 nation- al and international unions, four. de- partments, 28 state federations, 72 central labor bo@ies, 16 local and fed- eral labor organizations and seven fraternal delegates. Fraternal dele- gates are here only from Great Brit- ain, Canada and Mexico. : The local labor officials on the day’s program. all stressed the declaration voiced by Martel that the delegates wold hear “the complain and howl of those who oppose. the labor move ment.” They claimed, however that this was not an expression of opinion by the people of Detroit, but in spite of the small minority that believes that the labor movement can be broken up. President Wade was the only speak- er mentioning the Detroit Free Press by name calling forth the laughter of the delegates, “Detroit is a wonder. fur city,” said Wade, “not because of the open shop movement, but in spite of it.” The convention heard-the re- Port of the executive council end then went for an automobile sight-seeing tour of the city. CURRENT EVENTS By T. J. O'Flaherty. (Continued from page 1.) that. takes office without the use violence, P see H2®* FORD purchased 200 ehips from the United States shipping board at 2 per cent of their war time cost. He expects-to make five mil- lion dollars on the deal. Henry once: said that history is bunk, 80 is every- thing else, so far as Henry {is con- cerned except business. * ee AS ‘the Leviathan was leaving New, York for Burope a few days ago. & detachment of destroyers fore down on her, throwing up great: clouds of smoke about the giant ves-, sel. Navy planes circled overhead. This was not done for amusement. It was part of a progrem of navel maneuvers which encourages the eus- picion that our rulers are inclined to. think there may be another nice it- tle war al of us. Now what was. the “war to end war” fought for? ¢ S258 R. H. L. MENCKEN is getting funnier every week end, In his weekly epistle to the bune, he strikes et many subjects and does his ingly! Hank is when he dabbles in much at home as cussing organic evoll latest discovery is- $27 Fee gE cy Pe Peit é i a : workers and peasants inks ‘coaiareuecnate! Soviet regime than they i 5 fee except cheap jazzy slang and jibes at the working class. We suppose he must give the babbittry a rest occa- f f |