The Daily Worker Newspaper, January 5, 1927, Page 4

TME DAU, WUAKRCAR News and Comment Labor Education Labor and Government Trade Union Politics FIRE FIGHTERS WANT EQUALITY IN PENSION PAY Propose Disregard of Official Rank WASHINGTON, Jan. 3—Old age pensions for city fire fighters in the United States and Canada should be Desed on a fiat rate of pension, re- rdiless of the rank of the pensioner, Wissatt Strikers Still Need Help; Many Cities Exhibit Passaic Films (Special to The Dally Worker) PASSAIC, N. J—Denouncing the continued efforts of the daily press to broadcast the impression that the Passaic strike was all over because of settlements in four of the’ nine struck mills, Alfred W; nknecht, re- lief chairman, issued an urgent ap peal to organized labor and _ the friends of labor to see the strikers through the present difficult period, and with immediate strike relief, help them effect a complete victory over all the affected mills. “The big 5' e is not ended! Five of the nine struck mills are still hold- ing out against the workers’ demands for the right to organize and do col- lective bargaining. 0m Warren, Ohlo, Shows Film. WARREN, Ohio—Organized labor and every fire fighter should be re- Jin this city 1s solidly behind the quired to contribute from 1 to 2 per/ showing of the Passaic Strike film cent of his salary toward the pen-| scheduled for Jan. 16 at the Opera sion fund, says President W. Baer of | the International Association of Fire | Fighters. j Based on Survey. | His opinion is based upon the ex- Perience of scores of mu departments, disclosed in re general questionnaire which the union has sent to 800 cities. Ti Questionnaire covers all the impor- | tant facts as to conditions in each | city fire department, and the results | of the study are to be made the basis | of recommendations by a special com- mission of the international union. Firemen Contribute, “The ideal pension plan,” Baer told the Federated Press, “is one in which the city creates a board of pension administration, to which the firemen are by ordinance authorized to elect @ome of their own representatives. They earn this right by contributing ®@ considerable share of the pension fund. If they pay from 1 to 2 per cent of their salaries into this pen- sion fund their contribution is likely to be from 20 to 30 per cent of the total. In cities where the firemen have no representation on the board the fund has generally been depleted by granting big pensions to the chiefs and sub-chiefs. “The only sound policy is to pay the same amount to a retired chief as to a retired man of the rank and file. Where the men have a say that is | done. In those cases the chiefs do not contribute any more than the ordi- fireman.” Half pay is the pension rate favored by the union officers. They propose that the rate be calculated as half of the normal pay of the “largest body” of men in each department. This Keeps all pensions equal in each fire department. No scheme is advanced to equalize pensions as between one city and another, beyond the general rule that firemen in each city will tend to agitate for a wage rate equal to that in other places of equal size and of like living standards. Predicts Big Fight in Bituminous Coal ST, LOUIS, Mo—A strike in the | bituminous coal industry next spring | was predicted here by Paul U, Kel- | foss, editor The Survey, who ad- | @reésed the American Association for | Tabor Legislation. He said it would be “deeper, more bitter, more search- jag, more baffling than any we have had in the country in years,” . to a | bui House. The picture is being put on by a committee elected by the Trumbuil | County Central Labor Union, under the chairmanship of Jean Blair, who ess representative of the trades. The steel workers are ably represented by Brother Me- ‘Keown, Brother Frank Marshall and 3rother Piper, eee Expect Two to Settle. PASSAIC, N, J.—At a special meet- ing of striking workers from the Gera and New Jersey Worsted Mills, held at Belmont Park, a committee of six strikers was elected in readiness for expected negotiations with these two of the five mills which are still hold- ing out against the union. oe @ PASSAIC, N. J. Jan. 3, — The de- mands for the Passaic Strike motion picture are increasing with the vic- tory developments in the strike area where four of the nine struck mills have been forced to recognize the un- ion of the striking textile workers. “8 « SOUTH BEND, Ind—(FP)— The central labor body of South Beng will show the Passaic textile strike’ Jan. 17. oe 8 LOS ANGELES.—The Passaic tex- tile strike film will invade the Los Angeles theatrical district Thursday evening, Jan. 6, when it will be shown at the Forester Hal, Olive and Tenth streets. The showing will begin at 7:00 p. m. and continue to 11:00 p. m. ‘A. F. OF L. SEES NO HOPE OF GETTING: LABOR LAWS THRU Everything to to Be Side- Stepped, Report WASHINGTON, Jan. 3.—Reports by legislative agents of labor unions to the legislative board of the American Federation of Labor indicate that no labor measures will get thru congress at the present session unless great | pressure is exerted in support of a chosen few of them. One such meas- | ure which may be driven thru is the | longshoremen’s accident tion bill. Discuss Retirement Act, Changes in the federal old age re- tirement law will probably be dis- cussed in the house committee, but will not get to a vote on the floor. The long-debated convict labor Dill compensa- | forbidding the interstate shipment of prison-made goods will not even get out of committee. The workmen’s compensation meas- ure for the District of Columbia is pigeonholed for another year, unless congress is jolted by letters and tele- grams of protest from all over the country. WCEL Radio Program Chicago Federation of Labor radio | broadcasting station WCFL is on the air with regular programs. It is from the Municipal Pier. TONIGHT. 6:00 p. m.—Chlicago Federation ef La- bor Hour, 6:30—The Brevoort Concert Trios Little Joe Warner. 8:00—Rosalle Saalfeld, Billy Willams, Charlie W Harry Dream Daddy Da’ 9:00—Alamo Cafe Da Orchestra. 11:00—Alamo Entertainers, By THE TOADE UNION EDUCATIONAL LEAG 156 ' MA Washington. Street: he Obicoge U, ° On sale now thru the Daily Worker Publishing Co., 1113 W. Washington ORDER Blvd., Chicago, Il. NOW] anv 4 DON'T LET LACK OF AID FOR PASSAIC TURN WINS || INTO FINAL DEFEAT, PLEA NEW YORK, Jan. 3, — “Think what it will mean for orderly indus- trial progress in America If at this last moment the utter failure of re- lief should turn victory into defeat in Passaic,” Norman Thomas, chair man of the Emergency Committee for Strikers’ Relief, stated in a holi- day appeal for aid to the striking textile workers. “Let no one think that such a de- | feat would mean peace in Passalo or in the textile industry generally. The settlements with the Botany Mills and a number of others mark | the beginning of better conditions and of something like orderly self- government in industry. Such op- portunities must not be lost at the last minute.” Funds should go to the committee at 799 Broadway, New York, or the General Relief Committee, 743 Main Ave., Passaic, N. J. i Painters Get 5-Day Week. DENVER.—The 5-day week goes in effect for union painters Feb, 1, thru negotiation by Local 79 with the em- ployers. The hourly raté of $1.25 re- mains unchanged, The union favor- ed the change on grounds of health and to diminish unemployment among its members. Conductors Celebrate. Division 1, oldest and largest local unit in Chicago of the Order of Rail- way Conductors, celebrated its 50th anniversary with a ball here New m | chief. ames ue — Policies and Programs The Trade Union Press Strikes—Injunctions Labor and Imperialism EMPLOYMENT BUREAU FEELS GOOD ABOUT °26 Jones Sees “Healthy” Year Ahead WASHINGTON, Jan. 3.—Optimism, the official keynote of statements from appointees of the Coolidge ad- ministration, marks the review of 1926 issued by the U.S, employment service, of which Francis Jones is He says the pas® year was more than prosperous, and 1927 should equal or surpass it in opportunities for jobs. “Remarkable Year.” “The year just passed into history,” says Jones, “was remarkable for its industrial activity; its building con- struction, which almost equalled the phenomenal record of 1925; the soil producing bumper crops; railroads scoring new high records; the auto- mobile and truck industry with the banner year to its credit, and road construction on a large scale—all re- flecting in a tremendous volume of | broadcasting on a 491.5 wave length | Year's Eve. By LELAND OLDS, Fed. Press. Workers in the men’s clothing in- dustry thruout the country in 1926 earned an average wage of 75 cents an hour, according to a survey of the industry by the U. S. department of labor. For the average full-time week this meant earnings of $33.23. Both averages mark a slight decline from 1924 when the last survey was made. The department attributes this decline to an increase in the percentage of female labor in the industry. The survey covers centers Mke Chi- cago, Rochester, Cincinnati and New York where the Amalgamated Cloth- ing Workers’ Union has established high average wages. It includes Cleve- land, Philadelphia, Boston and St, ; Louis and also the small towns of east- ern Pennsylvania to which some manu- | facturers have gone in an attempt to evade decent union conditions, | The average hourly wage of men in the industry was 93.7 cents compared | with 93.7 cents in 1924, Their average | weekly earnings rose from $41.15 to $41.51 in the 2-year period, For women workers the hourly averages were 64.4 cents in 1924 and 54.8 cents in 1926, while the weekly average rose from $23.04 to $24.28, These figures must be combined with others showing the average an- {nual employment in the industry to ob- tain a fair picture of the earnings of these workers, The clothing industry is highly seasonal, Its employes are fortunate to secure steady work 40 weeks in the year, The report shows that the propor. tion of men to women workers is much greater in New York than. other im- portant centers, For instance, the rev port includes 890 men coat basterg in New York, but only 97 women, In Chicago there are 897 men and 261 women coat basbers, In Rochester the figures are 85 men and 266 women, Similarly tha report includes 1,857 men coat operators and only 119 a6) nme employment, Sees Healthy 1927. “The business outlook for the year now beginning, according to our sur- vey, indicates a healthy condition thruout the country, Optimism and confidence prevail; capital and labor have a better understanding, and with no apparent dark spots on the horizon the volume of employment should equal, if not surpass, “the year just closed.” The report fails to mention the possibility or desireability of raising the wages of the workers of the coun- try. It is concerned exélusively, as usual, over the prosperity of the bust- ness men and big scale’ industry, Spokane Answers EAR COMRADE: ¥ Will answer your letter of the 21st and will say that what little | do for The DAILY WORKER | ddh't want pub- lished—I merely went ‘arid did what 1 could and | am willing to do that any time. | have got to’ make a liv- ing in my trade and business and this is a very conservative town. We have only fivesriembers in good standing and we can practi- cally do nothing until we get a larger membership. Up to date | haye sent"you $50 fromsthis branch. This is the same as $10 per mem- ber, and only three ofthe paid-up members have paid—the other two are too hard up to do so, Now, | believe in action ever so little Is better than none. This Is my answer to your chatienge. YOUR GOMRADE. Average Hourly Wage and Week’s Pay in Clothing Industry Falls Below 1924 women in New York, but 404 men and 563 women in Chicago, and 186 men and 363 women in Ba’ 4more, The average week in the industry in 1926 was 44.8 hours. This meant about 44 hours @ week in Baltimore, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, Rochester and St. Louis, In Cincinnati the average drops some- what under 44 hours approximating 41 hours for several occupations. In Cleveland the average falls between 45 and 46 hours. In thé ¢mall towns of eastern Pennsylvanig the average ranges from 48 to 53 hor New York I. L. D. Asks Help for Big Bazaar Workers! The time has arrived when something of a real help must be gtven to our splendid fighters who are lying in the penttentiaries of America, In all working class papers one reads of more and more men and women being oppressed and victim- ised because of their loyalty to the clase to which they be The International Eabor ‘Defense (New York) i@ holding a Bazaar on the 10, 11, 12 and 18 of March, 1927, from which it is expecting to realize $10,000, which will be of the greatest service to our prisoners and our class, Are you prepared to do your bit towards making the Bazaar a suc- cess? You men can raise the question of support for the Bazaar in your unions, Women, you can play a lead- ing part in supplying articles for sale at the Bazaar, Start right now, The first conference of the Bazaar committee will take place Thursday Jan, 6, at 8 p, m, at Manhattan Lyceum, 66 Hast 4th Street, Sympa- ‘thetic organtzationg are urged to send delegates, ohue Information regard! the Bazaar can be had from Ini tional Labor Defense, New York sootton, 799 Broad. Wy, Room 422, Young. Comrade Section The Rich Boy and the Poor Boy By JENNIE BURTON, Detroit, Mich. NCE there lived a rich boy and a poor boy near each other.” The rich boy’s name was Roland Wealth and the poor boy’s name was Johnny Red. All the boys liked Johnny and hated Roland. The boys called Roland “Fatty Arbuckle” because all he did in school was eat candy all day long. The teacher had to give Roland good marks or he would be fired because Roland’s father was a capitalist. Johnny was the best student in his class, One day Johnny and Roland had a fight. All the boys cheered for Johnny to win. Johnny gave Ro- land two black eyes and kicked him off the street. This is what the workers should do to the capitalists. They should kick them off the earth. Answers to Picture Puzzle in Issue of December 28. Dear Comrade: I am sending you my answer to the puzzle, The millionaire capitalists are try- ing to shake hands with the working man and the capitalists want to make believe they are good to the workers. The working man puts his hand back and then begins to think. Then the workingman hits the capi- talists for he doesn’t like them. If the workingman would shake hands with the capitalists, the capt- talists would squeeze him. What the workingman did was right. Yours truly, Rosie Janeba, Delmont, Pa. see Dear Comrades: The picture in The DAILY WORKER in the Young Comrade Section means that the bosses are asking the workers to give them more money and better things, but instead the workers give the bosses a taste of the hammer and make them feel the power of the workers. Jennie Burton, Detroit, Mich. eee Dear Comrade: This picture means that the capitalist wants to shake hands with the workers to fool them but the workers were fooled so much | that they got tired and hit them with a sledge hammer. Your Comrade, George Kvaternik, Kansas City, Kansas. Answer to Puzzle. Last week we had a puzzle which asked for the following places: 1. A place where workers are free and not under the bosses’ rule, 2. A place where the people are fighting the priests and where the priests are being kicked out. 3. A place where there is misery for the workers and workers’ children. These are the answers sent in by— Jennie Burton of Detroit, Mich., and George Kvaternick of Kansas City, Kans. 1. Soviet Russia, 2. Mexico, 3. United States and all other cap- italist countries, Why There Are Rich and Poor MACHI This picture shows why there are IV DUSTRIAL NE rich and poor people in America. Can you explain? Send your answers to: Dally Worker Young Comrade Corner, 11138 W. Washington Bivd., Chicago, Ill. WHO IS THIS? He organized and lead a great big strike of textile workers. He showed the workers how to fight the bosses and so the workers are now winning the big strike. He helped organize the workers children to back up their parents in the strike. WHO IS HE? WHERE IS THE STRIKE? . You know—sure! Then write ws and tell us. Write to: Daily Worker Young Comrade Corner, 1113 W. Washington Blvd., Chicago, Ill. Write for a Wouldn’t you like to get a fine big magazine FREE? Free Copy! Well, you can if you want one. If you send fn your name and address to us we will send you a FRED copy of The Young Comrade. The Young Com- rade is just the paper for all workers’ and farmers’ children. It is full of pictures, jokes, stories, articles, poems, puzzles and games. You'll be glad you wrote for it when you get it. You can get a copy FREE by writing us your name and address. If you want to get a new copy every month then send us 50 cents and we will send you The Young Comrade for a whole year. How's that? Write to Daily Worker Young ington Blvd., Chicago, Il. Comrade Section, 1113 W. Wash- SUBSCRIBE NOW! 1 enclose 50¢ (25c) for one (2) year of the Young Comrade: NAM crcovvesssnsnessersssses Workers (Communist) Party Functionaries’ Meeting Sunday, Jan. 9th, to Discuss Russian Party NEW YORK—A meeting of all par- ty functionaries of all party shop and street nuclei, all officers and members of the executives of the sections and sub-sections and language fraction or- ganizers and secretaries as well as all members of the district executive com- mittee and its sub-committees, will be held on Sunday, Jan, 9, at 10 a, m. at 108 HE. 14th St., to listen to a re- port by Comrade Bertram D. Wolfe, the district agitprop director, on the situation in the Russian Communist Party and the opposition in the Com- munist International. Comrade Wolfe will also take up other agitprop problems, All com- rades must bring their membership cards with them to be admitted, Los Angeles Observes “The Daily’s” Birthday LOS ANGELES, Jan. 3.—The Los Angeles DAILY WORKER Builders’ Club calls upon every rebel in Los Angeles and vicinity to remember the date of Jan. 15, Sat., because on that date at 8 p. m. they will celebrate the third birthday of our militant la- bor daily by a banquet to be held at Co-operative Center, 2706 Brooklyn Ave,, with an elaborate musical pro- gram and an excellent plate dinner. * oe @ Los Ange Honors Lenin, LOS ANGELES.—A memorial meet ing to honor the memory of. Nicolai Lenin will be held Friday evening, Jan, 21, 1927, at eight o'clock “Wt: the Co-operative Center, 2706 Brooklyn Ave., main speaker. > if with Albert Weisbord) ap the: SECOND TERM OF CHICAGO WORKERS’ SCHOOL OPENS JAN 10; ADD NEW COURSES The second term of the Chicago Workers’ School begins on Monday, Jan. 10, The classes are given every evening. Some new subjects have been added to the ourriculum, which is as follows: Problems of Labor Movement, with particular reference to Chicago, Monday; Swabeck, teacher, Elementary Economics, Tuesday; L. Fisher, Elements of Political Education, Wednesday; W. Simons. American Imperialism, Thursday; M, Shachtman, American Labor and Polltical His- tory, Friday; R. Cooper. Classes in Englis! Monday a 1902 W. Division street; L. off, Thursday at 1806 S. masiie avenue; L, Beidel, The enrollment fee is $1.60 for each class. Cl s given at 10 South Lincoln street, Liebknecht Meeting St. Louis, Jan. 9th ST. LOUIS, Mo.—A Karl Liebknecht Memorial meeting will be held here Sunday, Jan, 9, at 2:30 p. m, at the Croatian hall, 1826 Chouteau avenue. Besides prominent speakers, a young Pioneer will address the audience. A musical program has been arranged, Subscribe to the The American Worker Correspondent 1118 W. Washington Bivd., Chicago, III. Oniy! 50 Cents a Year. r Attend Lectures of Workers’ School Held Every Sunday, Evening All workers are urged to attend the lectures given by the Chicago Work- ers’ School every Sunday evening at eight o’clock, C, E. Ruthenberg, se- cretary of the Workers (Communist) Party is speaking on the history of the American Communist movement. ‘The lectures are held at Northwest Hall, North and Western avenues, All are invited. The first lecture was held last Sunday, Boston Givés Courses Interesting to Worker BOSTON, Mass.—The agitprop de- partment of District No, 1 has made extensive plans for educational work in Boston and vicinity, It intends to open a list of courses in the follow- ing subjects: English for Foreign Workers, Fundamentals of Commu- nism in Yiddish, Imperialism, Theory and Practice of Trade Union Work, Marxism for Advanced Students, and Inner Party Theory and Practice, There will also be a class in worker correspondence, It is also intended to conduct similar classes in foreign languages, particularly in Russian end Yiddish, Registration for all clases is now open. All comrades interested m any of the courses outlined above should be at the party headquarters on Mon- day, Jan. 10, Every Worker should read The American Worker Correspondent, * Why’ Not Become a W orker cid eee ce ae tage eee rae i ) |