The Daily Worker Newspaper, December 22, 1926, Page 5

News and Comment Labor Education Labor and Government Trade Union Politica lruR WORKERS MAKE PROTEST BEFORE FEDERATION AGAINST BREAKING UP OF GOLD MEETING BY ITS MEMBERS Protest against the part played by officials of the Chicago Federation LEFT WING IN JEWELER UNION. of Labor and members of affiliated unions in breaking up the meeting of the Fur Workers’ Union here, because Ben Gold, leader of the New York furriers’ strike, spoke, was made on the floor of the federation meeting Sunday, R. Goldstein, delegate to the C. F. of L. from the fur workers, told the delegates of the attack made on the meeting, + which was regularly called by the ex- ecutive board of the union, by right wingers of outside unions and organi- zations, and informed them that the union officially protests against such interference in the affairs of the union by outsiders, No comment on Goldstein’s report was made by the officers of the fed- eration, who quickly passed this issue up. E Three Unions Get 40-Hour Week. Three organizations reported to the federation that they had obtained the 40-hour week in their industry in Chi- REVEALS POWER Beardsley iia Hard Time to “Rule” Union By a Worker Correspondent. NEW YORK, Dec, 20. — The elec- ‘tions held in Local 1, International Jewelry Workers’ Union last August ,was. won by the right wingers, due to ‘their control of the offices of the un- ion, but the progressives have not lost control over the, membership meet- ings; on the contrary their power is growing steadily. Beardsley, the or- ganizer and his gang, being aware of this and fearing the coming elections is January, have decided to “act.” cago, They are the cloakmakers, cap- makers and fur workers. J, Levine, manager of the joint board of the International Ladies’ Gar- ment Workers’ Union, reported that the union’s new agreement goes into effect Monday, Dec. 20.. The agree- ment, which Levine pointed to the delegates, was.won largely because of the New York cloakmakers’ strike, provides for the 42-hour week for one year'and a half, and for the 40-hour week during the completion of -the three-year agreement. Result of New York Strike. Levine told the federation that had Pass “Hush” Laws, A special meeting was called by the local for the purpose of adopting “resolutions.” The letter did not state what kind-of resolutions. A the meet- ing the bomb exploded: (1) you must mot disciss union activity anywhere outside of the local; (2) must not dis- tribute any literature or leaflets with- out sanction of office; (3) election to ‘be held once a year instead of every | it not been for the heroic struggle of six months as was the custom. the New York workers the Chicago Poor right wingers—they had to |union would have been unable to force ‘work hard, postpone and drag out the |the manufacturers to agree. meeting to carry these resolutions by} Levine informed the federation that & vote of 57 to 50. This vote revealed |it must consider means of combatting the strength of the left wingers, and |}the injunction menace to the labor we can assure the right wingers that }movement. He again reminded them the “devil will get his due.” No hush |of the injunction against the union Jaws will cover up their record of|secured by a small dress manufac- failures, Envied Sigman. Beardsley was really jealous of his “comrades,” who were ruling with an iron. hand in some needle trades lo- cals, but alas! he had no local worth- while to “rule” so he had to stand for the criticism of the lefts. Now, thanks to the efforts of the lefts, a campaign was made and quite a few members were taken in. Instead of solidifying the local and attempting to really fight for better conditions, he got busy trying to crush the pro- gressive needle trades unions in com- pany with the slugger-hero” Becker- man and aréh-betrayer Sigman, Beard- sley started a drive to “clean” the un- fons of Communism, but indications are abundant that he will be given the gate by his own lo¢al before very long. Close For Inventory. DETROIT, Mich This week the Ford plants will close partially for the taking of inventory. It is said they will again be in full operation by Jan, 6, Vlang e Red Calendar “ow yout Home or in your "4 pall f A PICTURE OF LENIN and a list of revolutionary dates on attractive red card-board with a calendar attached. 25 Cents 15 cents in lots of five or more, POR eee THE DAILY WORKER PUB. Co. 14118 W. Washington. Bivd, ; CHICAGO, ILL. turer employing a dozen workers, pre- venting the union from picketing the shop, or talking to the scabs. Ses such a small manufacturer can secure an injunction to tie the hands of the union, what can’t a large manufac- turer do,” asked Levine. Dress Workers’ Agreement Expires. He reported that the dress’ workers’ agreement expires on Dec, 31 here. The workers in this industry are not well organized, he said, but with mili- tancy and determination they should be able to force a favorable settle ent. Paul Rapapport of the capmakers reported that an agreement had been reached whereby this organization ob- tains the 40-hour five-day week, to go into effect on July 1, 1927, for three years. Details on other working con- ditions and wages were left to be set- tled by a committee of the union and the manufacturer. New standards of pay are being negotiated for, he re- ported, Fur Workers’ Agreement. Goldstein of the fur workers \re- ported that his union has obtained a 40-hour week, but that it was granted only for the slack season. In the busy season they must work 44 hours a week, he said, This was only a partial victory. The reason the Chicago union made the demand, however, he reported, was because of the fur work- ers’ strike In New York for the same demand. Take Up School Situation. Action by the federation to gain tor the school teachers of Chicago bet- ter salaries and to abolish the evil of large classes in the schools, was urged by the Chicago Federation of Teach- ers, represented by Delegate Mead. Mead pointed. out that the teachers were fighting three evils in the school system, the introduction of the “speed- up” ideas of modern industry into the schools, low wages for teachers, and over-large classes. Rap Inequitable Taxes, The excuse the administration gives for the condition is that the school system has not sufficient money to remedy the situation, Mead declared. For that reason the teachers are con- ducting a campaign to have large cor- porations who are now evading taxes to paying only a small amount of what they should pay, be made to pay just amounts. In this connection President Fitz- patrick pointed out that $32,000,000,- 000 worth of property in Cook county is escaping taxation. Out of $36,000,- 000,000 in property in the county only $4,000,000,000 is assessed, he said. “It is high time that the Chicago Federa- tion of, Labor raises its voice in pro- test against this,” he said. “Evasion of taxation by the corporations means that the cost of government is taken from the backs and omenre of the workers.” He suggested that a campaign of education over the radio station be conducted to inform the people of Chicago of this inequitable situation. MANY “PASSAICS” IN UNITED STATES, SAYS WEISBORD, WHO FINDS WORKERS EAGER TO LEARN OF TEXTILE STRIKE “There are many Passaics in the United States. Workers in many indus- trial centers in the country are experiencing the same conditions that pre- tallized.” ; they possess the same spirit, which needs only to be crys- So says Albert Weisbord, leader of the Passaic textile strike, in Chicago, who is now on a speaking tour that is taking him into practically every industrial center in the country. Weisbord has been on his tour for two months, and will continue for near- ly three months more. On his tour he has come ijn contact with countless numbers of workers, who gathered for his speeches-on the Passaic strike, in which he carried the message of the strike to the workers of all indusries, - Great Interest in Passalo. / “There is great interest in the Pas- saic strike, its causes, its results, and what {t demonstrated. to the labor | movement thruont the country,” Weis- bord said. Everywhere the workers are eager to learn of the great strike, he repotts. In many cities, even of- ficials of American Federation of La- bor organizations attended the meet- ings and took active part in the dis- cussion, despite the warnings of the higher-up A. F. of L. officials to “stay away from Weisbord meetings.” Many Buy Pamphlets. An extraordinary large sale of pamphlets on the strike is strong evi- dence of the great interest being dis- played in the strike and the strike tactics employed, Weisbord points out. His tour has been a real success both from the standpoint of awakening the country’s workers to Passaic and from the financial standpoints The workers have contributed to few causes, as they have for Passaic at the meetings. Will Rally to Defense. Weisbord is traveling while he is under indictment on five charges, orought against him for ils activity in Passaic. The enthusiasm he has created will serve, it is felt, to create a great wave of public opinion in his favor in case the charges are prose- cuted. He is charged with sedition, sostility to the government, distribu. ton of Communist literature, inciting o riot, and carrying weapons, The wolitical character of the charges is readily seen. An attempt to imprison he strike léader will undoubtedly be nade, and when it is, the thousands t supporters Welsbord bas made on his speaking tour will rally to hie de- ense. If the charges are upheld, Veisbord would face a prison sentence * from 6 to 63 years. Bt, Several unsuccessful attempts to Sah cuk Up the meotings aud yrovent] in” GARY WORKERS HEAR WEISBORD SPEAK ON GREAT PASSAIC STRIKE GARY, Ind., Dec, 20.—The* meeting Saturday night at Turner hall, under the auspices of the Workers Party, at which Albert Weisbord spoke, was a great success, An audience of several hundred listened to the story of the Passaic strike. Among them were a large number of Mexicans and Ne- groes, the poorest class of Gary’s in- dustrial population, and many of these braved the loss of their jobs in flouting the anger of their bosses by coming. The “law” was represented by six men of the department of justice and fifteen dicks and-uniformed policemen of the Gary force. They held frequent conferences among themselves ~ in whispe’ The police captain and a sergeant came in and looked around. At times it seemed that the meeting would be broken up. References to Russia and the sig- nificance of the Soviet to the Ameri- can working man aroused great en- thusiasm, There is much unemployment in Gary and a restless feeling on the part of the workers. “I had expected about 100 at the meeting in a city of that size,” said Weisbord afterwards. “It was astonishing to speak to several hundreds, The meeting was one of the most successful that I have addressed on my tour.” Weisbord speaking have been made in practically all the cases with the A. F |, of L, officials working hand in hand with the anti-worker police. Outstand- ing attempts, which failed, occurred at Derby, Connecticut, South Bend, Indiana, Perth Amboy, New Jersey, and Elizabeth, New Jersey. Weisbord is now headed west. From he goes to Minneapolis and 1 and then to Duluth, Seattl inciseo, Los Angeles and citi will form his next jump. ) 5 THE DALLY WORKER Policies and Programs The Trade Union Press * Strikes—Injunctions Labor and Imperialism WESTERN UNION OPERATORS PUT ON PART TIME Rump Teion.! Soft-Soaps Exploited Workers By a Worker Correspondent. NEW YORK, Dec. 20.—One hundred and fifty Mérse dperators, employed at the Western. Union Telegraph Co. were put om part time basis this month, as @ result of the speed-up system introduced by the company. Machines Replace Men, The Western Union has developed and instaliéa- telegraph machines whereby any'voung boy or girl, trained for a perida of two to three months. can produde*more than any telegraph M6rse operator. The aver- age Morse’“Operator can send or re- ceive 30 t040 telegrams an hour, while the “fia@chine operator can do about 100 inthe same time. A good operator gets $35 to $40 a skilled week, a machine operator only be- ‘ween $18 and $23. Very few get above that: rate, Blast Workers’ Hopes. The Western Union, which has been vaying the Morse men very low wages for years, féeding them with hopes— of steady jobs, seniority rights and tigher wages—is rewarding them now vith four-hour shifts. The company union, instead of at- sions .whereby they could transfer their men torsother departments. They simply: left them in the cold, with no drospects ofcany kind. Preach Humanitarianism. The company union, instead of at- empting to;remedy the situation, is reaching .{fhumanitarianism.” The ulletin boards on every floor are illed with company union bunk. Six Building Trades Unions: in. Seattle on 5-Day Week Standard NEW YORK, Dec. 20.—Seattle, ‘Wash.,.leadssip. the number of build- ing trades unions having a recognized five-day work,week, as far as a survey has been able.to discover. Painters, plasterers, lJathers, plumbers and steamfitters, and. electricians in Seat- tle are all enjoying the shorter work week, Painters in New York, Boston, Bridgeport, Newark, San Francisco, Portland, Seramton and Seattle, as well as in meny. smaller towns, have the five-day week. President George F. Hedrick of the painters’ intemmational union has stat- d that 35,00Q;out of a total of 110,000 unionized painters have the five-day week, Plastererg.4n- Boston, Buffalo, Phila- delphia, Providence, Pittsburgh and Seattle are under the five-day week. Lathers in Boston, Buffalo, Seattle and Pittsburgh have it. Silk Workers Receive Wage Cut as “Present” PHILLIPSBURG, N. J., Dec. 20, — Workers at Tirrell Bros. Silk Co, have | been given a wage cut just before the holidays. Warpers are posted at 12 per cent less pay and weaver, 1% cents less pér yard. The Reynolds Mill is. closéd: Two othe? mills, Standard and Wal- lace, are not expecting to put in pay cuts, officials” say. Service Company Must Pay’ Youth for Burns ‘The Public Service Company of Northern Jilinois, after vainly trying to secure first a new trial and later an order a an arrested judgment, has been ordered by Judge Marcus Kavanaugh to pay $20,000 to Theodore Jansha, 20 years old, of Waukegan, Il. A jury, had. awarded Jansha that amount for burns received from a high tensign electric wire. 1 TG PE RE Texas Oil Company. AUSTIN, Texas—The state of Tex- as, claiming. title to 608 acres in Har- ris county, has brought suit for $50,000,000 against the Atlantic & Gulf Petroleum Co. for oil and gas taken from the land. RED CARTOONS with over seventy cartoons and @rawings by seventeen proletirian artists. Size 9x12 potively bound, 2 $1.00 RECEIVER TAKES CAR LINE; CITY TALKS SUBWAY} Traction Muddle Grows Ever Muddier Two important developments in the city’s transportation question are the receivership for the Chicago Railways Co. and the report of the council's transportation committee recommend- ing the immediate starting of sub- ways, While a receivership for the sfrface lines was expected Feb. 1, when the franchise expires and the bonds fall due, it was a surprise when it was annoynced that on petition of the Westinghouse Electric Co., and with the consent of the railway’s directors, Federal Judge Wilkerson had already appointed receivers. The receivership extends to only a, part of the surface es, which are, a consolidation of eyeral companies, It does not affect rhe Chicago City Railway Co., the Cal- imet and South Chicago Railway Co., or the Southern Street -Railway Co., perating on the South Side. The court authorized the Toad af- fected to continue unified operation the other lines, thus insuring the issuance of transfers as usual. Whether the city will participate in its share of the company’s receipts, 55 per cent, is a question, Mayor Dever charges that the re- ceivership is dishonest and that its affect will be.to take control of the lines from the Illinois commerce com- mission and will block the city’s effort o have municipal control indefinitely. The council hastened to grant a six months’ extension of the present and -xpiring franchise. President Busby of the Chicago City Railway Co., one of the lines not in receivership, nounces that his company will acc the grant of an extension. Plan for Subway. Meanwhile the transportation com mittee had recommended to the coun cil immediate steps to build two sub- ways as a start in that means of so- sation, one on State street between the elevated structures at Roosevelt read and Chicago avenue, and west to vanklin; the other to be a curve from the, Washington street tunnel easl to Michigan boulevard, south to Jackson, west to Franklin, and south to the Van Buren street tunnel. The cost of these, it is planned, is to be split between the city and the owners of property to be benefitted. The prop erty owners are yet to be heard from ‘a this matter. None have so far rushed forward with certified checks. The tunnels are to be used partly by tie” surface lines and partly by the cievated system. The program contemplates submit- tirg the scheme to the voters at the primary on Feb, 22. Dever and the Commission. By a coincidence, while all this is going on the Illinois Municipal Con- ference is holding its meetings in the city. Mayor Dever, in speaking of the conference, urged the repeal of the act establishing the Illinois commerce commission, He claims that its de- cisions are only obeyed by the trans- portation companies when they are favorable, but contested in the courts when they do not please. | At the same conference Professor Merriam urged an amendment to the state constitution permitting cities to issue bonds for the purpose of buying their public. utilities. “The law per- mits dissatisfied cities to purchase their public utilities,” he said, “but it makes no provision whereby the nev essary money may be raised.” Who Shall Control? Thus the immediate question of transportation for Chicago is mixed up with the question of where cou- trol of franchises shall lie—whether in home rule, as advocated by tho mayor, or at Springfield, as the trans- portation companies wish, according to, the mayor’s charges against tem, ‘The mayor says that while all the city asks is proper service on the part of the companies, what the latter most desire is to engineer the control from the city council to the commerce com- mission or the legislamire at Spring- field. It is this which, according to Dever, has caused the companies to delay the building of needed exten- sions_to its present systems, Mussolini Unable to Come to Chicago Saturday, December 25 Signor Mussolini sent his regrets for being unable to attend the Novy Mir masquerade ball next Saturday, Dec, 26, at Mirror hall, 1140 North Western avenue, near Division street, He promised to name his representa- the black shirts, there. Keren- Nijukov and a couple of grand dukes may be present, if permitted to land by the state department. The worker correspondents’ class of Chicago, The DAILY WORKER, the Young Worker, the Young Comrade and many other comrades will be there, Beginning at 6:30 p.m, End- ing 2... Nobody knows his end. Asks Bar to Prison-Made Goods, NEW YORK, Dec. 20-——-Otto Nichols, general organizer for the United G ment Workers, has asked the indu trial survey commission to prepare a bill prohibiting in New York the sale of prison-mide goods from other states, unless they are so labeled, cial Kh agilinieinrpe WRITE A® YOU FIGHT! 4 The Manager’s Corner Red Corners. Comrade Tomsky, head of the All-Russian Trade Union Council, reporting at the 15th Party Conference of the Commu- nist Party of the U. S. S. R., calls attention to the fact that from December 1, 1925 to June 1926 the number of Red Corn- ers in Russia increased from 16,000 to 19,000. These Red Corn ers have become. cultural centers for the Russian workers, their chief weapons cyainst ignorance and illiteracy, the main channel for adult proletarian education, These corners are, of course, conducted with the full support and encouragement of the trade unions and the government. The Russian workers are fortunate, insofar as they have been able to establish for themselves a system of proletarian education: to combat the legacy of ignorance and illiteracy, which ezarism and capitalism hag left them. But the workers of America.are not so fortunate. The education of capitalism is the education of submission to exploitation and slavery. It therefore behooves those American workers, who realize the vicious influences which are being brought to bear to tighten the fetters of wage slavery wpon them, to create their own instru- ments of proletarian culture and education. Something has al- ready been done along this line through the establishment, of Lenin Circles, (self-culture groups) in various cities throughout the country. These circles devote one evening a week to the seri- ous study of Communist literature. A book is read by one com- rade and from time to time questions are asked and the points raised are discussed and explained. The possibilities for this sort of sclf-culture are considerable. In fact no group of rad- icals, whether it be in the party, the trade unions or other organ- ization, can avoid stagnation unless some work of this kind t@ carried on. In order to encourage the formation of Lenin Circles or Red Corners the DAILY WORKER will publish from time to time, a set of stimulating and thought-provoking questions by Will Herberg dealing with some Communist book. These quea- tions should be used as a basis for Lenin Circles throughout » the country. The DAILY WORKER will do everything in its power to assist these self-culture groups. It will also ‘be glad to hear what established groups are doing and to give others the benefit of whatever experience they have obtained. BERT MILLER. The Drive For $50,000 to KEEP THE DAILY WORKER / DONATIONS+DECEMBER 7. CALIFORNIA— DONATIONS—DECEMBER 9. CAILIFORNIA— Street Nucleus 1, San Francisco $ 6.50) Mrs. Freidman, Oakland .. 3.00 MINNESOTA—~ Maud Jackson, Oakland .. 3.00 Finnish Women’s Sec., Minneap- fi COLORADO— F olis ..... 7. Saul Varpaunen, Le: * New Yoni : ion » Leadville 5.00 . P. Fitch, Etna ... ~ WW N. Engstrom, Chicago 4 OHIO— S. Lucherine, Chicago 4 Josephine Brelich, Neffs 5.00] A. F. Mahi, Chicago 5.00 Tony Sablich, Neffs 2.00/ Walter P. Sukut, Chicago 15 Frank Sepich, Neff 10.00 | St. Nuc. 26, Chicago ; a Frank Frian, Neffs 5.00) H. Torplund, Chicago : 8.00 WASHINGTON— | Workmen's Sick & Death Benefit George Chukar, Tappenish 2.00 Fund, Br. 49, Chicago ..... . 10.00 Frank Golich, Tappenish 2.00 | MONTANA— DONATIONS—DECEM | John Mullan, Butte .. 3.00 CALIFORNIA— NEW YORK— Freiheit Conference, Los Angeles 25.00| F: Allek, Brooklyn osm 2.00 M. French, Oakland 50} J, Anskiene, Brooklyn 1.00 T. Saari, Oakland 1.00} K. Anskis, Brooklyn 2.00 George Weis, Oakland 1.00} K. Ermanto, Brooklyn 2.00 ILLINOIS— Louis Novick, Brooklyn . 2.00 A Friend 2.00 | A. Pajouskas, Brooklyn .. 1.00 Pierson, C! $.00| |. Pajouskas, Brooklyn 1.00 A. M. F.. 10.00| J. Pajouskas, Brooklyn . 1.00 MICHIGAN— | A. Yeskenicinte, Brooklyn 1,00 From Detroit .... 2.00|. J. Yeskenicite, Brooklyn 1.00 MISSOURI— | N. H. Yeskenicinte, Brooklyn 1.00 H. A. L. Holman, Kan: 7.20| Workmen's Sick & Death Bei D. Snyder, Kansas City 10.00; fit Fund, Br. 47 8.00 NEW YORK— American ‘Lithuanian Workers’ Frank Zagmester, Gasport 2.00 Literary Society . OHIO— OREGON— ‘ Joe Bortopp, Cleveland 8,00| Street Nuc. 4, Astoria ..., Frank Hribar, Cleveland 3.50 | PENNSYLVANIA— PENNSYLVANIA— W. P., Chester ...... E. Stephanon, Phitadel 5.00| 8. Validrich, Farrell . Mrs. T. M. Nagie, We: 25.00 | WISCONSIN— WISCONS!N— Alex W. Fedenia, Milwaukee Nucleus 1, Milwaukee 7.00| Uljus Wilen, West Allis Nurses, in Defending Their Rate of Pay, Hint That Doc Doctor Gets His Share (guavoeae: has, according to Miss Ahrens, been in use in her organisa- tion in home nuursing for some time, and that they themselves are trying to introduce it into hospitals. A nurse’s work, she says, usually keeps her busy much less than the working days of a year and cuts. annual in- comes to between $1,300 to $1, 800° a year. The Nurses’ Club has 3,500 mem- bers supplying dll the hospitals of Chicago, and it will refuse to aban- don its present rules and schedule, whatever action the doctors may take. Intimating that the pay of nurses has increased at a much less rate than doctors’ fees, Minnie H. Ahrens, of the Chicago Nurses’ Club, takes issue with the Chicagq Medical Society, which has announced its intention of starting its own nurses’ registry and cut the cost to patients. Miss Ahrens says that members of her organization must spend years in study and practice and be capable in their work. For this they are enti- tled to a day not longer than 12 hours and be paid at least $7 a day. The group plan, which the doctors Government Has 10,000|Carpenters in Mass. Miles of Airways for) Urge F ive-Day Week’ Business, Hoover Says FALL RIVER, Mass., Dec, 20.—Five day work weeks are favored by the Southeastern Massachusetts Carpent- ers’ District Council. The monthly meeting endorsed this national pro- gram of building trades workers, The bay state workers expect their ¢am- paign for the shorter work week to bring it generally thruout the distriet in the next two years. WASHINGTON, Dec. 20-—Growth of commercial] aviation has been so rapid this year that the government will have more than 10,000 miles or air ways in operation by Dec, 31, it was announced by Secretary of Commerce Hoover. Congress is to be asked for an addi- tional appropriation of $4,000,000 to extend lighting and radio facilities along the routes, Hoover Said, “The pen te mightier than tha sword,” provided you know how to use &. Come down and learn now in the worker correspondent’s classes, Use your brains and your pen to ald the workers in the class struggle, WHAT ARE YOU—SLOVAK OR AN AMERICAN? If you are American read the fighting labor daily paper-—The DAILY WORKER, If you cannot read English, subscribe to the only Czeeho- slovak workingclass daily paper in the United States and Canada— _ THE DAILY ROVNOST LUDU 1510 W. 18th Street, Chicago, lil. Subscription rates: By mail $6 a year; for Chicago $8 a year, Page Five « 4