The Daily Worker Newspaper, November 12, 1926, Page 5

1 } | 1] ; j | 5, om 1927 CLEANERS AND DYERS OF LONG BEACH, |SHF CALIFORNIA, STAGE 100% WALKOUT oan He By L. P, RINDAL (Worker Correspondent) LONG BEACH, Calif, Nov, 10, — A few months ago, members of Clean- ers’ and Dyers’ Union No, 176, Los Angeles, went on strike—1,000 to 1,500 strong—in protest against short pay, long hours and all around unbearable scab conditions for workers of both sexes, The leadership was in the head and hands of General Organizer A. 5. Glassman of Journeymen Tailors, The plunderbund in the paradise of the open shop did what it could to scatter the forces of organized labor by the usual formula: Divide and Rule. But the spirit of solidarity in the ranks of the workers triumphed into “the great- est victory for years” in this part of an exploiting master class world. Unionism Spreading. Organizer Glassmah and his Heuten- ants extended the cleaners’ and dyers’ organization to the Pacific ocean, Long Beach and Wilmington—centers for oil, tourists and bathing beauties, etc. Sub-Local No, 2, branch of 176 L, A. was formed, According to The Citizen, organ of the Central Labor Council of Los Angeles, and brother Glassman— the membership is approximately 400; 250 in Long Beach and the rest in Wilmington. These communities are small, but the character of the popula- tion explains the great amount of fine suits and dresses, etc., sent to the shops for cleaning and dyeing. Trouble In The Alr. The work was piling up very heavy, arid the discontent increased with the victory inthe cleaning and dyeing in- dustry of Los Angeles. To some ex- tent, the black-souled open-shoppers of that “white spot” prevented em- ployers of other cities from granting better conditions to their overworked and underpaid wage slaves. Brother Glassman speaking: “Many cases have been called to my atten- tion where workers in, the cleaning and dyeing industry have been forced to. work 60, 70, yes even 105 hours per ‘week for a period of more than a month. . . Some of our members have been working for as little as $16 per week and a great number of the men working in the industry receive $30 end less per week and.work from 60 to 75 hours per week for such wages.” Workers’ Demands Rejected. On Monday, Nov. 1, a committee of 7 met a delegation representing the plant owners: The~de in- the form of an “agreement,” presented to the agents of the bosses were, in part, ag follows: Rights of collective bar- gaining; a minimum wage scale, i. e., $22.50 for women (unskilled), dnd $60 per week for first class mechanics; a 44-hour week; no discharge without |- the consent of the union; work to be divided ip- slack seasons; 6 major holidays in the year, and other reason- able treatments and conditions—ne- cessary in order to create and main- tain a decent standard of living for the workers. It took the bosses one hour and a half to reject these demands, no counter proposal of any kind was of- fered the workers, and the conference ‘was “adjourned by the plant owners.” In the evening, same day, 4 mass meeting was held, a strike ballot taken; “almost 150 ballots” in favor of a walk-out and no opposition, Strike. Tuesday, Nov. 2 (election day). the .strike call went out. The workers res- ponded wonderfully. Every plant (119) but one in the city, the Sunset Dye Works, was affected. The man- agement of this plant turned in a riot call. The riot squad, led by Chief Yancy, “responded to find a large and most orderly gathering of men, women and girls staging a peaceful demon- stration.” The strikers, however, have ‘been accused of violence by the forces of reaction, A parade in the streets ot Long Beach was broken up by the police, and 61 men and women were arrested because of mass picketing. The strikers were questioned and re- leased, ‘When the writer reached the Sun- set Dye Works in the afternoon of Noy, 5, he found that plant shut down also, The only activity in evidence were two big “bulls,” substituting for watch dogs, So the dyeing and clean- ing business is at a complete stand- still in Long Beach and Wilmington today, and the shops evidently will remain closed until an agreement is reached, Glassman said, Bad Surroundings. The Sunset plant is located in the factory section of the city; it ts a shack-like and unhealthy-looking slave driving affair, With its dangerous fumes. of high volatile gasoline, and other “spotting” chemicals, it is a plant turning out business for the un- dertaker and the grave digger. A few hundred feet from the Sunset Dye Works, a branch of the Hammon Lumber Co, of San Pedro, California, can be seen, Mr, Hammon was the most notorious character back of the persecution and prosecution of work- ers in San Pedro and Los Angeles dur- ing the year 1923. The presence of labor-baiters like that is enough to poison the air in any community. As a matter of fact, the workers strug- gling for a living under this environ- ment were the last to listen to reason, the last to walk out with the rest of class conscious men, women and girls, Victory In Sight. Owners of forty-four out of sixty- five of the small cleaning shops have organized the Retail Shop Owners’ As- sociation, The main object of the new organization is mediation between the strikers and the plant Owners. The strikers consider this to be a good sign for an early settlement. KUOMINTANG OF BOSTON MOVES INTO NEW HOME By FRED DOUGLAS (Worker Correspondent) BOSTON, Mass., Nov. 10. — The Kuo Min Tang, Chinesé Nationalist’ Party, celebrated the occasion of mov- ing into new headquarters at 17 Hud- son Street, Boston with a program crowded with activity. A house-warm- ing ceremony was followed by an éla-’ borate banquet which in turn was fol- lowed by a reception to new members in the spacious meeting room. Tribute to-Sun Yet Sen. An impressive tribute was paid to the memory of Dr,’ Sun Yat Sen and Mr. W. Hong reviewed the life strug- gle of the beloved Chinese emahcipa- tor. Brief appeals were made by the various officers of the Boston Branch for unity and increased support ‘of the advancing liberation forces in China. The spirit of the Russian revolution was voiced by two new members, Dr. Lerner and Dr. Weinrebe, both Rius- sian born, who described the situation existent during the Czarist regime and the subsequent overthrow of the vi- cious imperialism which is making a last stand in China at the present time, and pledged their support to the Kuo Min Tang nievement. Present Play. ¢ A play by Chinese actors augmented by Chinese music rounded out the day and a midnight banquet for those who were unable toattend earlier was prepared. As usual the kept press of Boston carefully avoided mentioning the cele- bration in pious consideration, no doubt, of the feelings of the ultra-con- servative element who have long since lost all vestige of the revolutionary spirit which, characterized Boston, in days gone by, as the Cradle of Liberty. YORKVILLE, OHIO But Event Is Held in Home, Anyway By a Worker Correspondent YORKVILLE, 0., Nov, 10, — Before the meeting that was arranged by the Workers (Communist) Party started; several deputy sheriffs, heavily armed, appeared and stated that the meeting could not take place on order of the county authorities, The speaker, Comrade N. Shaffer, had not yet arrived, but when he came and demanded the reason of stopping the meeting, the deputies merely, responded that those were thefr or- ders, The meeting took place just the same, but at tha home of a comrade. If the county authorities think that they will be able to arrest the resent: ment of the miners by openly allying themselves with the coal operators— and with the reactionary machine of the union—they are sadly mistaken. The miners are waking up again, and the 300 who were present to celebrate the ninth anniverasry of the Russian Revolution will have learned more by the etopping of the meeting than by anything else. A meeting the next day at Neffs was successful. Time He Served Is Not Recorded; _ Almost Jailed Again (By a Worker Correspondent.) LOS ANGELES,.Nov. 10.—Fearful that he might be kept in Los Angeles county jail for life on a minor offense, Edward O'Neil vowed the other day that he would never again run any jisk to be arrested, O'Neil speaks from experience. Hs was recently convicted of a liquor vio- lation and was sentenced to serve 50 days in the county jail by Judge Forbes. The sentence was passed two months ago and O’Neil served it. In fact, O’Neil served 54 days—four more chan the court asked for, A few days ago O'Neil was brought into Judge Turney’s court on a liquor charge, which proved to be the same ove for which he had already served four days overtime, “Guilty or not guilty?” asked the judge. “Well, if your honor please,” O'Neil hesitatingly opined, “I've already served time for that charge—with four days addition. I sort of thought it had all been settled. I guess I'm guilty, but...” ‘ Judge Turney at once launched an investigation, which revealed that O’Nefl had been sentenced 60 days ago and had seryed the term, The sentence had not been recorded. The judge then apologized to the defend- ant, adding: “If you are ever brought in here again I'll see that the four days go to your credit.” nt . Milwaukee Celebrated the Ninth Anniversary of Russian Revolution , By Z. BEGALOW (Worker Correspondent.) MILWAUKEE, Wis.—The ninth an- niversary of the Russian revolution was celebrated here with a big mass meeting. The hall was overcrowded with workers who eagerly listened to the speakers. The noble work of the Russian workers and peasants in- spired the audience. Many workers learned the truth about Russia and the Russian revolution, THE DATLY WORKER PROGRESSIVE FARMERS ISSUE CALL. FOR NATIONAL CONVENTION MEET | AT MINNEAPOLIS, MINN., ON DEC. 6 | (Special to The Dally Worker) | BISMARCK, N. D., Nov, 10—The following call for a nuatiqnal-conven- | tion of the Progressive Farmers of America has been sent out by the head- | quarters of that body and is of interest to farmers and workers alike who | are aware of the critical situation with which the land workers of the United | States are confronted: | CALL FOR NATIONAL CONVENTION OF THE PROGRESSIVE FARMERS OF AMERICA BROTHERS: Conditions on the farms of America are becoming steadily worse as time goes by: Far: 8 a class are descending {n the economic scale, The montgage bere dt ay taken the place of the feudal barons of Hurope and yf great numbers. ree born citizens have been reduced to the level of peasantry. The montgage indebtedness of the farms of the country increased from $1,726,172,861 in 2910 to $4,003,767,192 in 1920 while farm taxes increased 140 per cent between the years 1914 and 1925. All this time the net income of the farmer has been steadily de-*—————_—_——__—_________. creasing, 1 w. cretay PF, Thousands of farmers have been ae shige eaaciek Ae Sadi forced to leave the land and enter] 6 4 JOHNSON, Chairman Board into competition with the unorganized ot Directors, Wash. P. F. workers in the cities thereby reducing] RODNEY SALISBURY, Plentywood the wages both, recelve to the starva- CL W.BE tlon point. DAN OLSON, Plent; 1, While these gduditions obtain in the| “ay oR en oun country’s greatest industry—agricul- ture—politicians and business men are making confusion worse confounded by talking about farm relief trom con- HANS RASMUSSEN, Plentywood Council W. P, F. ALFRED KNUTSON, Bismarck, N. Dakota. gress, : F. H, SCHUMAKER, Greenbay, People presuming to speak for the Wisconsin, farmers are frequently those whose principal occupation it has been to ex- ploit the tillers of the ofl. But the true voice of the farmers has hot been heard because there is no proper, organizational vehicle to give expression thereto. To find such a vehicle and to force a powerful weapon for the emancipation of -mil- lions who make their living out of the soil, a national conference of the Pro- gressive Farmers of America is con- sidered necessary and desirable, We, the undersigned, therefore, give notice to-the members of the Progres- sive Farmers,ofvAmerica and the lo- cal and state,gouncils thereof, that a national convention of said organiza- tidn willbe.held in the city of Minne- apolis beginning at 10:00 a. m. on the 6th day of December 1926. That until further notice the delegates will gather at the Vendome Hotel in that city on the date mentioned. The purpose of such” a conference is to create & National Council of the Progressive Farmers of America and to formulate @:constitution and pro- gram of action,for its guidance. INLINGFELT, Greenleaf, Wis. ©. H. HORN, Secretary Washington State Council, ‘JOHN WRAGH, Field Manager, Washington State Council. MARJORIE RING, B. of D, Wash- ington State Council. ISABEL PAYNTON, B. of D., Wash- ington State Council, C, H, PETERSON, B. of D, Wash- ington State Council, F, J. HAYNES, B, of D., Washington State Council. W, J. FORTSON, member Snoho- mish City, Washington. ART C, YOUNG, Sec. Skagit, Wash- ington State Council. J. P. Douglas. B. of D., Washington State Council. J. BE. FEIDLER, M. Nat'l Committee, Washington Council, ooo H, YOUNT, Director Tonasket ‘Council P. R. SBNATOR C. BE. TAYLOR, Plenty- wood C., M. P, F. JAS. OSTRY, D. Enterprise Council, Montana P. F, , R. H, WALKER, Yucca, -N, D,” GEO. F, COMMINGS, Eau Claire, The basis ofsrepresentation shall be Wisconsin. ’ i as follows: <° je FRED SCHOENNIVK, Weyaiiyega, Each local.council of the Progres- Wisconsin, ct sive Farmers of;America in any state] jaMES VINT, Union Grove, shall be allowed five delegates for the} pUNKAN McFARLANE, vin, local,- duly -aeg#edited. by such local. Wisconsin. ‘ : Above the five delegates for each local one delegate shall be allowed for each one hundred members. Each unorgan- ized? group‘ of’-twenty-five members shall be allowel-one delegate. Each county eouncirof action shall be allow- ed five delegates at large, and one more for each’ 100 members. Each state council shall have five members at large. No double representation. Any member of ‘the Western Progres- sives Farmers uly accredited, with dues up to date shall be alowed the privilege of the floor with no vote. The provisions’of the call are such that all representatives of councils to be seated-must show that their coun- cil is paid up''to date on the state books, and that they personally are paid up to date: Those present -who are unattached to°Councils must show that they are in good standing in order to be admitted or take part in the procedure. P. A. KRAMER, Cambelsport, Wisc. JOS LaSEE, DePere, Wisconsin: ADOLPH STOUF, Francis Creek, Wisconsin. O. E. GREEN, Braham, Minnesota. GEO, H. CHURCHILL, Milaca, Min- nesota. c WM. MIHAYCHUK, Hallock, Minn, PRICK ECKSTROM, Hallock, Minn. E. G. SKOGAN, Hallock, Minnésota, FRED MUSCHLER, Perham, Minn: FAY CRAVENS, Milaca, Minnesota. ADOLPH GUSTAFSON, Braham, Minnesota. Wise to School. LIBERTY, N. Y., Nov. 10.—Charlie Wise, 16-year-old orphan, acquitted in Monticello last evening of the murder of Miss Nina Vilona, said today he planned to go to school in Brooklyn, wy, Miss Vilona, 50, a pianist in a Mount Vernon, N. Y., motion picture theater, was slain near Bitter Sweet on July 9 while on her vacation. (Signed): ELIHU B,. BOWLES, Director of Wash. State Council, P. J. WALLACE, Chairman Execu- tive Committee, Mont. A. M. WANKEL, Sec, State Council, Montana, * *D D, LAMPSON, Sec. of the Nat'l. Com, of W. P. A. WM, BOUCK, Nat'l. Representative of W. P. Fxof A. « Hold Maid In Theft. { NEW YORK, Nov. 10—Margaret Mc- | Connachin, 52, a pantry maid, was | being held today on a charge of sus- | picion of grand larceny in connec- tion with the theft of $300,000 worth of jewels from the home of Myron C. Taylor, wealthy steel man. RALPH IN ON, Chairman Ex.| The jewels have not been, recov- Com. P. Fy gt N. D. ered. The maid was employed by the ELMER W. T, Ex. Com. N. D./ Taylors 10 days before the robbery P. BP. pS occurred. a Upton Sinctair ‘Copyright, 1926, by Uptom Sinclair) There were a few who did not drink; Annabelle was one, and Vee Tracy another. The spectre had apparently been in- structed not to go near Vernon Rosele, and if Vernon tried to approach the spectre, there would be a sharp warning, “No, Verne!” But others drank, and tongues were loosened, and came to life, and revealed a tongue! It was Vernon Roscoe’s habit to “josh” everybody, and now he got paid back, as the one-time rancher from Texas sat up in his chair and opened his long horse’s face and demanded, in a falsetto voice which sounded as if {t came from a ventriloquist: ‘Anybody here know how this old shyster got his start in life?” Apparentliy nobody did know; and Orpan put another ques- tion: ‘Anybody ever seen him in swimming? I bet you never! When it’s out-doors, he’ll tell you the water fs too cold, and when it’s indoors he’ll tell you it’s dirty or something. The reason is, he’s got one toe missing, and he’s afraid to have it proved on him. When he was drilling his first well, he ran out of money and was clean done for; so he went and took out an accident insurance policy, and then went rabbit hunting and shot off one of his big toes. So he got the cash to finish the well! Is that ‘true, old socks, or ain’t it?” The company laughed gleefully and clamored for an an- swer; and Vernon laughed as much as amyone. He didn’t mind the story, but you could never get him to tell. Instead, he count- ered on his assailant, “You ought to hear about this old skee- zicks, how he got rich leasing ofl lands from Indians. They tell this about a dozen oil men, but Fred was the real one that done it, I know because I was there. It was Old Chief Leatherneck, of the Shawnees, and Fred offered him one-eight royalty, and the - old codger screwed up his eyes and said, ‘No take one-eighth, got to have one-sixteenth!’ Fred said he couldn’t afford that, and begged him to take one-twelfth, but he said, ‘One-sixteenth or no lease.’ So they signed up for a sixteenth, ‘and now it’s the Hellfire Dome, by Jess! It that so, old skeezicks, or ain’t it?” Said Fred Orpan, “You might complete the story by telling what the old chief does with his royalties. He’s got a different colored automobile for each day of the week, and he figures to get drunk three times a day.” “Oh, take me to the Hellfire Dome!” wailed the voice of Harvey Manning. “They don’t let me get drunk but one time in a night, and none at all in the day-time!” Ix There was a large organ in this cathedral, a magic organ of the modern style, which played dtself when you put in a roll of paper and pressed an electric switch. It played the very latest jazz tunes from Broadway, and the company danced, and Vee Tracy came to Bunny and said, “My doctor allows me only one drink in an evening and I want a sober partner.” Bunny was glad to oblige, and so the time passed pleasantly. He danced with his hostess, and with the blonde fairy, Bessie Barrie. In between dances they chatted, and the Chinese spectre continued to flit about, and the deeps of the human spirit were more and more unveiled, s In front of Bunny stood Tommy Paley, super-director, hand- some, immaculate if slightly ruffled, flushed of face, and steady wpon his legs if not in his thoughts. “Look here, Ross,” he said, “T want you to tell me something.” “What is it?” “T want te know what it’s all about.” “What, Mr. Paley?” “Life! What the hell are we here for, and where do we go when we get through?” : “Tf I knew,” said Bunny, “I would surely tell you.” “But, lookit, man, I thought you went to college! I never ggt any education, I was a newsboy afd all that. But I thought when a fellow’s read a lotta books and goes to college—” “We haven’t got to it yet,” said Bunny. “Maybe it comes in the last two years.” “Well, by God, if they tell you, you come tell me. And find out, old son, what the hell we going to do about sex? You can’t live with ’em and you can’t live without ‘em, and what sort of a mess is it?” “It’s very puzzling,” admitted Bunny. “Tt’s'the devil!” said the other. “I’d pay anybody ten year’s salary if they’d teach me to forget the whole damn business. “Yes,” said Bunny; “but then, what would you direct?” And the super-director looked at him, bewildered, and sud- denly burst out laughing. “By God, that’s so! That’s a good one! Ho, ho, ho!” And he went off, presumably to pass the good one on. é {Continued Tomorrow.) STRIKE STRATEGY By WILLIAM Z. FOSTER ARTICLE XII AN Errecrive First Brow Especially must the strike strategist understand how to apply the theory of the offensive in the early stages of a struggle that has’ the earmarks of becoming far-reaching and bitter. We must learn how to start strikes successfully. In strikes, as in many other things, “Well begun is half done.” In all kinds of fights an effective first blow is often decisive. Hence, an initial shattering attack must be a fundamental part of our strike strategy. When workers are about, to strike in a plant, a sort of strike fever runs among them-from department to de- partment. They are carried away with this overmastering spirit of revolt and class solidarity. They. strike enthus- iastically in a body. In the early stages of great struggles (such as those of the railroad shopmen, Lawrence and Pas- saic textile workers, etc.), something of this same burning wave of solidarity sweeps through vast categories of work- ers not directly in the fight. The dramatic struggles going on in their industry inspires them with a sense of their own wrongs, fires them to fight to redress their own griev- ances and those ‘sippete class brothers already in the fight. It is a strike co ce a spreading revolt of the workers, . _ + Sprepinc tun Revorms | the Passa active resetves in such times and to throw them into struggle. If such a situation occurs among orga workers, (as in the case of the railroad workers at the time of the national strike of the railroad shop mechanics Bi: 1922) we must draw the various industrially related unit into the strike wave-fashion, ,one after the other or im groups, pooling their demands against the companies and breaking the resistance of the conservative leaders. ‘oa If the spreading revolt is among unorganized workers it must be extended rapidly from mill to mill and city to city along the Aines of the industry or industries. This does: not mean that formless masses of workers of all industries shall be drawn helter-skelter into the struggle. This may be necessary in certain deep-going struggles, but ordinarily our aim should be to bear closely in mind the economic rela: tionship of the groups we strike, with the plan of bringing the real pressure towards our given objective.** A great danger during such psychological upheavals among the workers is a tendency of the leaders, including left wingers, to’ fail to realize the importance of quick action in order to swing the masses into a general offensive against the employers. The workers must be définitely com- mitted to the active struggle in this first flush of revolt and solidarity by bringing them out on strike. **Strikes of related eite ot unions present many difficult problems which must be studied and borne In mind In our strike strategy. For example, the |, L. @. W. strike In New York weakened | strike in one respect shutting off the market for Once on strike they will fight loyally. But if they are not mobilized immediately and led into the struggle they grow cold, Their desire for action evaporates. They finally refuse to strike, Time and again in great upheavals amongst the wnorganized in a given industry the left wing leaders (and of course the reactionaries) have failed to take advantage of it by organizing these masses into the first shattering offensive against the employers. Consequently their strikes have paid for it in their later stages. Tur Evement or Surprise A strike strategy based on the theory of the offensive often’ gives the workers the advantage of the element of surprise. Military strategists are keenly aware of the value of surprising their enemies. They are constantly seeking to catch them napping, and to deliver attacks against them when they are unprepared. Strike, strateg- ists must bear the same principle in mind, for the class struggle offers many opportunities to the workers to strike unexpected blows against the employers. For example, the rapid extension of a strike along the lines above indi- cated often produces social conflagrations, entirely unlooked for by the employers. ‘A good illustration of how the employers can be taken by surprise was seen in the campaign to organize the steel workers in 1918-19. From long experience Gary had gained a justified contempt for the organizing ability of the A. F. of 1. leaders so far as the steel industry was concerned. Hence, when another campaign was announced in 1918 he Gut on new lines, the effect of which he completely under- estimated. The original plan of the campaign was to make a swift organizing drive simultaneously in all steel centers. The situation was such that, with just a few weeks of work as proposed, such a grip could have been secured on the mass of steel workers that Gary, taken by surprise, would have been unable, when he did realize the effectiveness of the new tactics, to take any counter measure sufficient to de- feat the campaign. But the trade union leaders, partly through ighorance and partly because they were opposed to organizing the steel workers anyway, refused to support such a swift, nationa) offensive against the. Steel Trust, which they had . every means in hand to carry out. They confined the open- y ing of the campaign to the Chicago distrigt. There it proved highly successful. In two weeks of actual work the masses were either in the unions or under their direct influ- ence. The same thing that was done in the Chicago district could have easily been done all over the c@untry, had it not been for the reactionary leadership of th unions. Gary quickly woke up after he saw what had happened in the Chicago district. His company gave the workers the basic ®hour day and checked the,movement. Thus Wwe lost the adyantage of surprise in this case where it would have been decisively favorable for the workers, The real vorking class strike strategist will always keep this ques- ion of surprise in his mind when working out his policies. i calievieg pepemnhd the pressure on the Passalc But _, (To de continues eS PE eee eee 8 a ii