The Daily Worker Newspaper, November 24, 1926, Page 1

ROSELL Ae Fale LOA AL} ge | Vol. Ill. No. 267. . Subscription Rates: Succes ce tm $8.00 per your. | ‘The DAILY WORKER Raises the Standard for a Workers’ and Farmers’ Government GIRL TELLS UNV ARNIShED TALE TO SHOW WHY GIRLS STRIKE; NOT ONLY FOR WAGES, BUT TO SAVE WOMANHOOD By HARRIET WRAY. (Worker Correspondent) NEW YORK, Noy. 22.—Thousands tion, their hands chapped and cracked from constant contact with the glue, the smell of which pervades the en- RAISE FUND TO WOR a8 Second-class matter September 21, 1923, at the Offige at Chicago, Ilanois, under the Act of March 8) 187% WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1926 <q» *” Publishe PUBLIS. “3 BOX MAKERS FIGHT DEFEND JAILED N. J, STRIKERS NEW YORK-=-Protests against po lice brutality in the paper box mak- ers’ strike. will be carried direct to Mayor Walker this week by a com- mittee pf prominent citizens, headed of paper box workers, three-quarters of whom are girls, are in the eighth week of a strike. The wages of these young girls are very low, averaging not more than $16.00 with hours from 46 per week up. In addition to this the speed-up system prevails, so that all day long the girls are worked to the limit of their strength*and en- durance. The absence of a wage scale works to keep the wage level low, for each time a girl changes jobs, she generally does so at a loss of pay. This Strengthens the already too well-en- ,trenched bosses, so that they do not hesitate to use the vilest and most vulgar language to the girls. Tt is not enough, apparently, that their health must be sapped by over- work, bad ventilation, air laden with dust particles from the cardboard chips, tending to develop consump- tire shop; but, added to all this, many of the bosses make indecent advanc- es to the young girls and when re- pulsed, they proceed to make life as miserable as possible for those girls, who have the spirit, decency, and self- respect to spurn them. Too often from a false sense of modesty, the girls hesitate to voice a Protest against these things, with which severybody in. touch with the industry is familiar. These are some of the reasons why girls in the paper box shops go on strike. They have nothing to lose and everything to gain by revolting against these miser- able, degrading, and intolerable con- ditions. This struggle is for the 44- hour week and a minimum wage seale, but it is also for the right of working class girls to be treated with a proper degree of respect and con- sideration. PLAN TO ORGANIZE NEW YORK SUBWAY WORKERS, NOW IN COMPANY UNIONS By SYLVAN POLLACK. (Special to The Daily Worker) NEW YORK CITY.—Plang for the organization of the workers on the Interborough Rapid Transit and Brook- lyn Metropolitan’ Traction subway ines by the Amalgamated Street and Electric Railway Workers’ Union was | endorsed by the Central Trades and Labor Council’ on ‘the recommendation of its executive board. P. J. Shea, representative of that union, discussed what progress has been made so far. “We have a large number of men on the I. R. T. lines organized,” said | Shea, “but we have not as yet made a start in Brodklyn on the B) M. T. lines. However, in Brooklyn we have many members at large who have been with ug-since 1920. “We want the moral support of the | Central Trades and Labor Council so We can organize the 20,000 workers on the traction lines, yho work under deplorable conditions. “There are company unions on both systems. We have made great inroads in the company union. on the 1. R. T. With the support of the coun- cil we shall be able to organize both | the I. R. T. and the B, M. T.”, | Ina brief reply, President Joseph Ryan stated that the council would support the work of organization with all the strength of that body. Bruere on Company Unions. Robert Bruere, one ot the editors of the Survey, gave a lecture on com- pany unionism, which he used as a cloak for an endorsement of the B. & O. plan and class collaboration in general. The only militant note in his speech was when he mentioned the fact that the American Federationist, official organ of the A. F. of L., ac- cepted advertisements from corpora- tions which have company unions, mentioning the Standard Oil Com- pany, General Electric, Botany Mills of Passaic, N. J, and Proctor and Gamble, soap manufacturers. He did not, however, condemn’ their accept- ance, Conference to Be Held. It Was announced that a conference called jointly by the Teachers’ Union and the Centra] Trades’ and Labor Council under the signatures of Henry R, Linville and Joseph P. Ryan, the respective presidents, would be held December 9 at the headquarters of the BREEZY AND HOPEFUL NOTES ON NEW YORK BOX MAKERS’ STRIKE By One of the Strikers NEW YORK — That kitchen cer tainly is the goods, and all who are working in it, Sisters Wray and Trupin, and that chap who makes the wonderful coffee are surely en- | titled to our utmost appreciation for their good work. The United Council of Working Class Women, and Comrades Kate Gitlow"ahd Juliet-Royntz are right n the job, as usual. Someday, when the strike is over, we'll get some sleep—that is, all but Harry King—that bird never sleeps! And when you mention Harry, of course, Sal is there also. If there is a wise bird in. our whole outfit, Charles Lynn is the one—he flies so funny that he’s got all the cops gray headed! We may not have a Caruso in our midst, but when it comes to the old “Solidarity” song—Charles Sanfra- tello is the goods—he’ll soon have us all trained right! And of course we have our Brown- | sville representative—that tall guy, Paul Deitch, who is right on the job, where he is supposed to be. For a hard working chairman, Brother Mordkowitz has that call. A meeting without him would in- deed be strange. Where he gets all the energy is a mystery, but he surely keeps up the pace! pressmans’ union, 22 West 16th street, to devise ways and means to formu- late a policy for the continuance of the fight for the rights of Abraham Lefkowitz and the other two teachers who have been refused promotion on the charge of radicalism. All organi- zations are urged to send delegates, Scab Labor for City Hospital, The delegate of Local 51+ of the painters’ union announced that a non- union contractor has the job of paint- ing the Bellvue Hospitat, ‘a city insti- tution. Secretary Coughlin promised to investigate the matter. SPECIAL TO STRIKING PAPER BOX MAK If you would like to receive ERS The DAILY WORKER regular- ly, simply write your name and address on the blank below and send it in. We'll pay for your’ subscription while the strike is on out of a fund which is being raised by friends of the strikers and of The DAILY WORKER here in New York. ea ape ee aa aN ee eo DAILY WORKER EASTERN AGENCY, 108 st 14th Street, New York City. s 1 am a striker and would like to read The DAILY WORKER, Street and number City woe ° e = = 5 $ I. L. D. and Liberties Union Act Quickly . (Special to The Daily Worker) PASSAIC, N.. J. 0. 22.—-A joint committee for the defense of Passaic strike prisoners, organized by the In- ternational Labor Defense and the American Civil Liberties Union, is starting a national campaign to raise money to defend the strikers in the prejudiced courts of the textile dis- tricts. Elizabeth Gurley Flynn who starts this week on a tour of the country for the International Labor Defense will make the cause of the Passaic strik- ers one of her principal appeals. Legal Defense. The, joint committee for Passaic Defense, as established by the I. L. D. and the Civil Liberties Union will handle the legal defense of the ele- ven men who have been held in the Bergen county and Passaic county jails since September on alleged bombing charges as well as the minor arrests that occur daily, and the eighty or more cases now on appeal. The union has not yet been able to obtain the release of the eleven men who have been in jail for two months, because they are under such exorbi- tant bail it has not been possible to raise it. At present it stands at $290,- 000, reduced seyeral weeks ago from | $455,000. Since this fund was started just a few days ago, a thousand dollars has been raised by the strikers right in the Passaic district. Contribution lists are being turned in at union headquarters im a steady stream, showing how strong sympathy for the strikers still is even after ten months of strike and repeated appeals for money. | ¥ Daily Worker Offers Another Fine Concert The next Sunday afternoon concert arranged by The DAILY WORKER in New York will take place at Yorkville Casino, 210 Hast 86 street, on Dec. 12, stanting at two o'clock. The program will be announced within a few days, in detail. The main feature will be a quartet consisting of Joseph Stopak, violin, Joseph Still- man, viola; Naoum Henditzky, cello; and Samuel Jospe, piano. There will be some extraordinary dances by Vera Nileinovic, The Freiheit Singing So- ciety has been invited to sing. Those who attended the previous DAILY WORKER concerts may feel confident that this concert will up- hold the high standard of excellence set by them and arrange to bring their friends with the certainty that they will spend an enjoyabie afternoon, Tickets may be had at fifty cents at The DAILY WORKER Eastern Agency, 108 East 14th street. A Bargain in Workers Monthly The DAILY WORKER Eastern Agency, 108 East 14th Street, New York, has a number of complete sets of back numbers of the Workers Monthly which have been returned from the news stands and will sell them at one dollar per set, 24 num. bers, Nov. 1924, to Oct. 1926, inclusive. If sent by mail, postage 25c. extra Supply limited. Order at once if you want the set. Volunt Alwi Welcome. if you have spare time and are wil- ling to work, drop into the office of The DAILY WORKER in New York, Room 32, at 108 East 14th street and volunteer, Particularly needed: Book- keeper, stenographer, addressers and news stand collectors. Concert Dance in New York. Did you ever have a real good time? lere is your chance. Section No, 1 of the Y, W. L. is arranging a concert dance on Saturday, Dec. 11, at 108 B. 14th St. We have already engaged a jazzy orchestra and much talent will be there to entertain you. So don’t forget to be there. We are waiting for you. by Forrest, Bailey, director of the Civ il, Liberties Untfon. This is the climax in the eight weeks’ strike of 3,500 underpaid toit- ers who are wesisting police inter ference in an industrial struggle witn their greedy employers. Strikers charge. that police not only club frail girl amd other pickets but also “scab” by assisting drivers of wagons who deliver “scab” boxes. Bailey, in addressing a largely av- tended meeting Of strikers, announc- ed that the Civil Liberties Union wih co-operate to the limit of :the strik- ers in their demand for police neu- trality. THe Civil Liberties Union, he said, will als@ prepare to carry to the highest cout the defense o1 charges of disorderly conduct arising out of the strike. These police beatings, however, do not put fear’ into the hearts of the strikers. On the other hand they ac: as a boomerang. They give courage and determination to those on the firing line. Line Holds Firm. For nearly eight weeks these 3,500 paper boxmakers have stood solid in their fight to better working cond. tions. A Few, if any, have broken ranks. Not more than ten have entered into other lines of Work while 100 have returned to shops which have grantea the strikers’ demands. The others. without exception, have stood solia. Day after day, they attend meeting». take their places on the picket lines. jand do other Work that is necessary jin an army of workers in battle with the capitalist enemy. The struggle’is clearcut. It is be- tween two well-organized forces. The workers’ army is formed of members of the Paj x Makers’ Union of Greater ww York. This organiza- tion is well “guadtwted, its officials conscientiously representing the rank and file. They.have been selected by the workers. themselves, and have their full confidence. The union is; organized along indus. trial ilnes. From the paper cutters who take the cardboard and cut ana score it, to the drivers who deliver the finished product to the firms’ cus- tomers, these poorly paid wage work ers are’in onesunion. The employ: ers, a8 usual, are, organized. They are determined to win by hook or by crook, Just before the strike they were d:- vided into four groups, namely the Metropolitan, Independent, Interstate and United associations. While the union had an agreemen: with independent members of thre of these organizations it also had » real agreement with the United. .To day the bosses haye one organizatiow ~The Greater New York Paper Boa Makers’ Association. Nearly 139 shops in all were organ ized in the union, close to 100 ot Association. Bosses Prepare Lockout. The agreement with the United ex pired on Sept. 30. But the bosses prepared for a lockout as early as last May at the beginning of the dul: season. They pressed for changes in the agreement at that time. Finally they issued an ultimatum that if the union did not come into a conference then they would declare a lock-out. They did so at the be- Greek Fur Bosses Urge Company Union NEW YORK, Nov. 21.—Greek fur manufacturers of New York are en- couraging what) might be termed a company uniom—the Fur Workers’ Brotherhood. ‘hig organization was started by one of the manufacturers during the fur workers’ strike to off- Set the great gaius the International ur Workers’ Union had made among Greek worke The United Fur Man- afacturers’ Association, the Greek manufacturers’ | organization, now states that it will give preference to brotherhood members in retaining workers during the coming slack sea- son and in re-hiring workers after the slump, NINE KILLED WHEN BOILERS OF TUG EXPLODE; SEARCH FOR BODIES ANACORTES, Wash., Nov. 22.—Search for the bodies of nine men who were thought to have been killed whe: n the tug Bahada blew up, was under way in Puget Sound waters, near Samish Isiand, today. When the tug, when was towing a log raft from this city to Bellingham, failed, to reach its berth a vessel was sent to Investigate the delay. The raft 8_.found and also fragments of the tug’s pilot house and life boats, indi- cating the boilers of the Bahada had explode+ c s \ POLICE BRUTALITY FAILS TO SHAKE COURAGE OF PAPER BOX STRIKERS TAG DAY FOR PASSAIC CHILDREN IN NEW YORK ON THANKSGIVING DAY NEW YORK, Nov. 22.—A tag day for the Passaic strikers’ children will be held in New York City on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, No- vember 25. All workers are urged to partici- pate in this street collection as the situation in P. ic demands imme- diate help. With one mill settled and another one to be settled this week there are still 14,000 workers on strike and their families need food, shelter and clothing. Workers are asked to report at the following stations: 799 Broad- way, room 512; 108 East 14th street; 1347 Boston road, Bronx, N. Y.; 63 Liberty avenue, Brooklyn, N. Y.; 1373 43rd street, Brooklyn, N. Y.; 29 Graham avenue, Brooklyn, N. Y.; 1940 Benson avenue, Bath Beach, Brooklyn; 352 Brook avenue, Bronx, N.Y. ginning of July, thru a letter saying that they would have no dealing with the union. But they reckoned, with- out their host. They did not have them being affiliated with the Unitea | the old-time type of labor fakir to consider. The officials, as in former times, could not be used by one boss o pit against another boss. The pres: ent leaders can’t be bent to th? bosses’ will. The union today hires no gangsters to suppress opposition in the union. Instead there is the freest discussion of évery act of the union and of the strike. In this way itis harder for the bosses to use tools in the union effectively to make false moves to defeat the strikes. Defeat would bring employment a* all hours in unsanitary shops. Vic- tory will bring a 44-hour week instead of the 46-hour week in most of the shops béfore “the strike. Forty-four hours is ample enuf when conditions understood. The very nature of the work brings dust from paper flying around. Many of the shops are the worst dumps in the city. In a good many cases they are really sub-cés lars where employes do not see the sun and proper light ‘at any time. Tw berculosis must result from such con. ditions. Few people of middle age are employed in the industry be cause the death rate is high. This is why most of the paper box makers are young, a good man} of them in their teens. Despite this condifion, wages ars low. Girls get from $16 to $25 weekly and men an average of $35 weekly. Help from Others. The union knows its opposition; hence its preparation. First of all it has the support of the Pulp, Sulphite jand Paper Makers’ Union of America, Day by day it holds large meetings in the Church of All Nations, 9 Second avenue, and elsewhere. At one of the noon rallies, which are |!argely attended, John P. Burke, presi- {dent of the international, assured the |strikers that his organization is back of them. He backed it up with more ‘than words, a check arriving a few jdays later for a substantial amount. In the very near future it is expected |that the union, which was organized as an independent union four years |ago, will become affiliated with the ‘international. bane Sten By T. J. OFLA HERTY _ Now that the elections are over, th administration is getting truculent towards Mexieo, openly seizes Nic- aragua and establishes a conservative puppet on the presidential throne, dic- tates its policy to that fake goyern- ment, advises Diaz (the aforesaid puppet) to buy off the liberals with money, furnished by the Waii Street bankers and compels. Diaz to accuse Mexico of aiding the liberal revolu- tlonists, At the same time the pope issues another one of his ‘spook-in- spired encyclicals to the episcopate of the world and declares that the fight against the Mexican government will continue until the Mexican govern- ment is defeated, which means over- thrown, (Continued on page 6) We will send sarsple cop DAILY WORKER to your’ friénde— send us name and address, °°” ae CER. in the average paper box shop are, NEW YORK EDITION ne ed Daily except Sunday by THE DAILY WORKER HING CO., 1113 W. Washington Blvd., Chicago, Hl Price 3 Cents For Eight Weeks Workers Carry on to Union Victory By GEORGE E. POWERS, (Worker Correspondent) NEW YORK, Nov. 22:—That thousands of paper box work- ers are now in their eighth week of a strike is a fact. In one sentence that can be stated, but it welld take volumes to relate the sacrifices, sufferings and privations that these workers and their families are undergoing. Wooster, Mercer and Greene Streets, the heart of the Paper Box section of New York, are the trenches of a bitter war that is being fought out to a finish. On the one side, the bosses, greedily lusting for more and more profit, the armed scab-herders rushing taxi loads of colored jScabs to the shops, the police, everywhere the police, swinging clubs, ready to pounce upon a¢-—-—-—-—— picket at the slightest wink of | quest, + eventually took the form of an a boss, and, of course, well-fed |uitimatum in May, with five months judges sitting at ease ready to Jot the agreement left. “Sign the same give “legal” justification in heavy|}terms for another two years, or take fines and jail sentences to the vicious, ja lockout” was the ukase delivered to bought-and-paid-for brutality of the/the uhion during the sloy part of police; and on the other side? The|the slack season. In order to gain workers, girls and men, mostly girls,|/time, the bosses were met by a union and young ones at that, fighting with |committee and discussions we re open- naked hands but courageous hearts/ed with a club; as it were, hanging against heavy odds. {over the heads of the union delegates. Background of Struggie. | The meetings availed them nothing, Why is this strike being so bitterly | however, and so they resorted to more Jand stubbornly contested? To give |threats and then to bribery. both of an adequate answer to that, it is|which failed completely Brutal, last necessary to know something of the treacherous violence was at background of this struggle. During Sorted to, and one of the unio! the past two decades, many attempts |loyal and active members was black- were made to organize the workers of jacked into insensibility by gangsterg this industry. Until 1923, these efforts alleged to have been hired by the all. had the same uniform ending— association bosses. (Recently two failure to establish a permanent union. |COlored strikebreakers, who were in- The paper box workers never hesitated dicted by the grand jury, having been to throw down the gauntlet to their ex- caught red-handed slashing a striker Ploiters and go out on strike, but no With a razor, were defended by Attor- lasting organization was left for fny Ney Wallerstein, ‘secretary of the length of time following those strikes, | United Paper Box Manufacturers As- ’s most luntil. the formation of the present | sociation.) At’ the same time thi union in 1923. * )measures were being used, the associa- At that time the union was affiliated ‘tion also officially declared the agree- jwith the Pulp, Sulphite and Paper Mil] ‘Ment null and void, in a communica Workers of America. An agreement tion, however, was forced by a ser was concluded with a considerable| Was retracted during the four months jnumber of firms, most of whom were |Temaining before the “legitimate” end | members of the United Paper Box/in& of the agreement s ;Manufacturers’ Association. These| tion. however, was forced by a series jbosses have always talked of “want-'Of shop strikes to give up, apparently |ing a union,” their alleged reason be- |the idea of the “open shop.” ing that a union would “stabilize” | Prepare to Fight Union. j wages and thus reduce competition, fyidently re re was no | between the bosses. Be that as it may, chance of getting control of the union the agreement drawn up, while it left again, the united b allied them- much to be desired, was the best, ap- | selyes with the thr 3 parently, that could be achieved un- sociations and prepare der the circumstances. the strike opened up v Early Betrayal. were so well prepared n front What followed showed WHY the of every shop in Brooklyn and New bosses were willing to “be in favor” York there stood a ‘cop” and in many of a union. Under the leadership of es, two or more. On ¢ wagon, one Morris Waldman, then manager, jas if by magic, there also appeared a strikes were called for the advantage | blue-coated, brass-butt defender of of certain bosses, regardless of the | workers’ interests, a la Brindell style. Gangsterism reigned supreme, eventu- ally taking control of the union, so that when a healthy opposition to Waldman's mismanagement arose, he proclaimed “martial law” and let loose ja small army of paid gangsters. Work- “law and order,” and frequently a rear guard straddling a horse. Other “preparat made that vi lice on the picket Tule, many pickets beaten and then « lice. With fines ga well ns” were so ious: hostility of the po- ecame the provoked by being _ 2 and ers who dared to express disagree-|up, the limited funds of the ment with Waldman’s “policies” were could not Jast forever. Very likely deprived of’their jobs, every effort be- this particular development is also ing made to force them, even by part of the “preparation.” But week starvation, into submission to Wald- after week went by and the strike man, which meant, of course, submis- held as firmly as on the first day. The sion to the bosses. bosses are now convinced that this Growing discontent of the member- union is, once and for all, a union for ship with these conditions finally led the workers. That is why th have to the forced retirement of Waldman not yielded sooner in this bitter eight from the scene. Prior to this, on ac-| weeks’ struggle, and will not yield count of Waldman, affiliation with the ‘until forced to. Very likely the “bosses International, the parent body, had want a union,” BUT, WHAT KIND been-dropped, With the demise of OF A UNION# “Not a union of the Waldman also went the guerillas, and workers, by the workers and for the the new administration, with Fred | workers! Not ‘@ inion that goes out to Caiola as manager, stepped in, It may |organize the unorganized. That, how be stated, in passing that this admin-|ever, is the only kind of a union worth istration has consistently advoca ed | thinking about, The paper box strik- affiliation, elected an affiliation com-|ers want that kind of a union, and mittee and stands ready at any time are fighting to a finish for it. to take this logical step in union or- ganization. From the very outset, the | a... present administration, which aimed Striker Jots Down to reconstruct the organization along Some Militant Notes lines’ of clean, honest, democratic, mili- ae tant unionism, was beset with traps By CHARLES LYNN, a Striker. and pitfalls laid by the manufacturers NEW YORK Bosses make the jand their agents. It might be said tho orkerg push clocks in order to rob jone aim animated the bosses in all! icm of a few minutes of their lives \their negotiations with the union—| or profit. how to regain control of the union. There Paper Box bosses are like Bosses Fear Real Union, uzzards who live on the flesh ana ood of some dead animal Mvidently fearing that the union was going to function as it shoul But the Paper Box workers are no [as a genuine labor organization should nger dead! They have leaders who wholly in the interests of the workers wwe the spirit to better conditions the officials of the United Paper Bo ot only for the Paper Box workers | Mirs, Association early in the sprin; it for.every worker who produces lof 1926, many months before the end to wealth that a few enjoy. ing of the agreement, wanted to kno. So march on, fellow box-makers, “where they stood.” This demand, # ‘first expressed politely as a mild rv » battle has only just begun and story comes to those who fight, \