The Daily Worker Newspaper, January 8, 1927, Page 2

Se ec SARC AELITT S 1 f] 1 1 2 ¢ 1 : t ‘ t 1 i ’ é t ‘ i 1 I ee ee en eo —~ Ib cet ronet eos KU Genres an tah wm ues Re ~~ Gonitact None of these plans is more christian | THE DAILY WORKER SiUBbURI Willi iLL BARON PROLONGS | PASSAIC STRIKE: Risieenn Cli Clings to the ‘Company Union’ Straw (Continued from page 1) with individual employes. than the others; some work better, under certain circumstances and some work better under others. If we are | open-minded and tolerant, we must recognize that any of these systems ef employment relations, if properly | Conducted under appropriate condi- | tions, serve well the workers and their respective communities. No one of them does justice to the worker or the public if not properly conducted. The spirit is what counts. The outcome of the Passaic strike has left the community with one or more of each of these approved type® of industrial relations, and we hope that each is determined to do its ut- most to further the best interests of all concerned, The Forstmann and Huffmann com- pany now employs practically all the workers it can use for the present but as opportunities offer, we will endeavor to re-employ as many of our former workers as we possibly can, without discrimination, You can rest assured that we will do this with the utmost good-will, The Forstmann and Huffman com- pany pledges itself to maintain as Zood employment conditions and as high earnings for the workers as any othe? woolen or worsted mill, and in return ‘merely asks for fair play while it demonstrates the beneficial results which will flow from its endeavors. Tf everybody will unite with us in this peaceful spirit, then “the good of the ¢ity,* Which, is my slogan as well as yours, will be greatly promoted. Yours very truly, JULIUS FORSTMANN, Strikers Laugh at Forstmann. oy 743 Main Ave., where the strik- ers’ union, Local 1603, United Textile Workers, has its headquarters, the Forstmann letter was greeted with un- restrained amusement, The officials of the union and the strikers about the place all secz:cd to get a good laugh out of the odd mixture of christ- jan cant and unchristian denial of the rights of the workers, and the prating about tolerance from the most intoler- and stubborn of the mill bosses of ie and vicinity. Deak Scores “Brazen Hypocrisy.” Gustave Deak, president of Local Pres. 1603, U. T. W. with which the Forst-/ and Huffmann strikers are af- , denounced the Forstmann let- ter as a piece of brazen hypocrisy: “Mr, Forstmann’s letter in reply to Mayor Burke's bid for industrial peace a@ piece of brazen hypocrisy, so ag to be laughable. Who can keep @ straight face while Mr. Forst- mann preaches tolerance and christ- ples? Mr, Forstmann who months hag been engaged » “ehristian” endeavor of trying '@ his workers and their famil- ~ | pany unio Recognition of the Union Forstmann who has jnever he ted to turn loose the clubs | jef the subservient police upon the |heads of his workers or to terrorize | |the workers and drive them back to the mills. Mr, Forstmann who refuses to permit his workers th elect th r 2 type of o desr ally insists that they must accept type of union, the impotent }company union or repre: sentative as- | sembly, as he euphoniously terms it— {he selects for them, -Mr, Forstmann, | patron saint of the espionage system j and the blacklist, as investigation |after+investigation has revealed him. | Strike Will Go On. “Mr, Forstmann has offered us his {company union before, and his strik- \ing workers have unanimously reject- jed it.” They reject it again, and are more than ever determined to continue | their fight until Mr, Forstmann is for- }eed to follow the example of the |Botany Worsted, Passaic Worsted, |Garfield Worsted and Dundee Textile | plants in recognizing the right of the | workers to organize in a real union and do collective bargaining with their employers. Strikers Endorse Leaders. At a mass meeting of striking Forst- mann & Huffmann workers at Ukrain- ian hall the strike leadership was en- thusiastically endorsed, the strikers voting unanimously not to go back to work until the right to organize was sonceded them. ; lon Dawson, who is financial sec- retary of Local 1603, U. T. W., and a Forstmann & Huffmann striker, pre- sided at the meeting. Other speak- ers were Thomas De Fazio and Joseph Magliacano, Italian organizers; Hun- garian Organizer Eil Gardes; Strike Delegate Peletzer, and James A. Starr, vice-president of the U. T. W. All stressed the importance of keep- ing up strong picket lines in order to convince Mr. Forstmann that they meant to carry on the struggle until their right to organize and do col- lective bargaining was recognized, oes Erie, Pa. Chamber of Commerce Blocks Showing of Passaic Strike Picture. ERIE, Pa.—The plan to show the seven-reel motion picture of the Pas- saic textile strike in this city on the 9th has thrown a scare into the local chamber of commerce, which, fearful that the workers here should take in- spiration from the heroic struggle of the Passaic strikers for the right to organize and do collective bargaining, has brought pressure upon the local newspapers to refuse to accept adver- tisements for the showing. Not con- tent with blocking publicity in the press and still fearful that word would reach the workers that the sensa- tional strike film was to be shown here, the chamber of commerce went to the owner of the Park Opera House, where the picture was to be shown, and succeeded in intimidating the proprietor into cancelling the date, Local labor organizations are exert- ing every effort to have the proprietor reconsider his action, and there is still hope that the picture will be shown here on the 9th, In the mean- time the action of the chamber of commerce is being roundly denounced, and the workers are being called upon to fight this attempt of big business Fuisiptance of his rotten com-|to block the showing of @ labor film. GARFIELD. MAYOR ASKS FORSTMANN MILL TO SETTLE Stresses Demage Done to City by Strike Mayor Urges Settlement. Mayor William A. Burke, of Garfield ras forwarded letters to the Forst- nann and Huffmann company and the Yew Jersey Worsted mills, making a lea for an early settlement of the strike, as it affects the city of Gar- jeld. Both mills are situated in Garfleld nd are among the five mills that nave not yet settled with their strik- ng workers, the other three being he Passaic plant of the Forstmann ind Huffmann company, the Gera Worsted, in Passaic, and the United Piece Dye Works in Lodi. The con- inued strike in those mills affects 3,000 workers, for whom relief must be provided. Stresses City’s Danger. In his letter, Mayor Burke stresses the immense damage he city of Garfield as a result of the ‘ig textile strike, and requests that officials of these mills consent to hold a meeting with the duly elected rep- resentatives of the striking workers. He points out the grave danger to in- the dustry of further strike. prolonging Everyone Affected, “We are coming to the close of a year that has been the most trying In- dustrial disorder has been prevalent during the past eleven months. This labor trouble has left its mark on time in the history of Garfield. every phase of life in our community. 'ndustries, merchants, home owners; in fact, everybody has been caught in the throes of this struggle and suf- fered its effects,” the letter said. “In behalf of our people, I urge you to assist in bringing this labor contro- versy to an immediate’ conclusion. May I further ask if you will meet with a committee of your striking employes, or to what extent you will go to settle this long drawn out af- fair.” Join the American Worker Corres- pondent movement! SERVANTS IN SOVIET ENJOY PRIVILEGES NOT RECEIVED ELSEWHERE (Special to The Daily Worker) MOSCOW—Russian servants, or- ganized in the Servants’ Trade Un- ion, enjoy great privileges in the Soviets. Among. these afe regular hours, social insurance, one month’s vacation with full pay, one day off each week, an allowance of clothing for both summer and winter, and no calls for overtime work. If the servant is illiterate, the must also allow time off id a workers’ school, and no | can be imposed except for substantial reasons, and then the employer must,.maintain the servant in food and clothing for a period of one month thereafter. 4 tw sustained by MORE WARSHIPS ~ AND TROOPS ARE ORDERED SOUTH ‘Senate Storms Against Nicaraguan Action (Continued from page 1) naval control ag a neutral zone, the jentire East Coast is about bottled up so far as Sacasa is concerned. Bottling Process. This bottling up process of the ports will effectually prevent Sacasa receiving any arms afd ammunition |from Mexican sources, it Is believed, | while the lifting of the embargo will {give Diaz access to unlimited Amer- Jican supplies. ° Vnless Sacasa is able to break the bottle somewhere, it probably means his revolution against the American- vacked Diaz will die of strangulation. American naval forces now occupy his capital, Puerto Cabezas, and have declared it a neutral zone. They sim- ilarly occupy Managua, the Diaz cap- ital, more marines having been landed yesterday, Question Kellogg. Secretary of State Kellogg appear- ed to be in for a rough time when he appears before the senate foreign re- lations committee to explain his pol- icy, There were even intimations to- day that open demands for his resig- nation will be made. “Thig last act of the secretary of state in permitting arms to be sent Diaz while forbidding their shipment to the liberals is unpardonable,” de- clared Senator Wheeler. Drop Mask, “His former statements to the ef- fect that we were not going to take sides in Nicaragua apparently were given out for the purpose of deceiving the American people, but by reason of the success of the liberals he has been forced to drop the mask, “This is nothing more or less than intervention to save the crumbling Diaz regime, The’ wabbling policy of Secretary Kellogg and his attempts to deceive the public on this question have shown him to be entirely incom- petent for the position he holds.” | \Hankow Is Aroused at British Outrage (Continued from page 1) RUSHED TO HANKOW: SUPPORT OUR PROTEST, DEMAND THE WITHDRAWAL OF (E BRITISH ARMY AND NAVY, ‘NISH THE GUILTY, COMPENSATE SUFFER- ERS, RETURN TH CONCES- SIONS, ABOLIS HONEQUAL TREATIES, “CHINESE AID SOCIETY: SEAL” Tense Situation. The situation at Hankow is a very tense one, The British are undoubt- edly moving towards armed interven- tion against the fight of the Chinese people for independence and freedom from foreign exploitation, Orders have been given to send naval reen- forcements from Hongkong. In addi- tion, the first active military order issued by the British’ government since the world war was given today in the ordering of the destroyer flotilla at Rosyth, Scotland, to bring to full strength the complement of its nine ships “for possible service in the Far East.” The Wanhsien massacre referred to in the cable took place a short time ago when British warships fired into the city of Wanhsien and killed some 500 of the inhabitants without any reason. Chinese Worry Washington. WASHINGTON—(FP)— Astonish- ed and worried by the onward sweep of the revolution of the Cantonese forces in alliance with Chinese labor unions, the Washington government has summoned Minister MacMurray home from Peking for consultation. Secretary Kellogg has on his desk a new declaration of American policy in China, ready for issuance if a sud- den crisis makes that action expedi- ent. It is the reply of the Coolidge administration to the British state- ment, proposing to the other powers that they yield to some of the de- mands of the Chinese nationalists. However, Kellogg hopes“to be able to hold this back until after Feb. 15, when MacMurray will arrive to ex- plain recent developments in Whina. It is rumored that the American note as drafted would admit the right of China to fix her own tariff rates and to gradually replace the foreign courts with Chinese courts. Ruthenberg’s Talks Sunday Evenings Are Well Worth Hearing The Sunday evening lectures of the Workers’ School are taking up the ge- neral subject of the History of the American Communist Movement. Next Sunday evening, C. BE. Ruthen- berg, secretary of the Workers (Com- munist) Party, will deal specifically with the development of the Commu- nist movement from a propaganda or- ganization into a mass party for the workers. The lectures, each Sunday evening, are held at Northwest Hall, North and Western avenues, at eight o’clock. ae a We wil! send saraplevooples of The DAILY WORKER to your friends— ~ California Nourishing to Capitalist Stabilization By J. LOUIS ENGDAHL. ARM prices must be stabilized at a point near the cost of pro- duction, is the main plank in the program of the capitalist farm re- lief experts, The great masses of the crop producers are expected to throw their hats in the air and cheer at the mere mention of this sugges- tion. They did so, in fact, inci- dental to the speech of the multi- millionaire, Frank O, Lowden, at the recent Chicago gathering of the American Farm Bureau Federation. oe 8 The “cost of production,” how- ever, in agriculture, as well as‘in industry, continually fluctuates. It is something that the capitalist profit taker is everlastingly seeking to lower, while at the same time increasing the selling price, leaving a greater margin for himself. But certainly not for the farm worker any more than for the wage worker. ee The evidently successful effort to promote the growing and fabricat- ing of cotton in Southern California is an excellent example. Los An- geles, in addition to breeding movie and soul-saving millionaires, is also turning out a breed of cotton capi- talists. Irrigation applied to the Imperial Valley has developed an “American Sudan.” Just as cotton growing in the upper regions of the Nile under the direction of London eapitalists helps dictate the policies of British imperialism in Egypt, just so the California capitalists strive for what they call “the cot- ton atmosphere” in this Pacific coast state, Just as “the American Plan” is a polite name for the open shop war against organized labor, in which the city of Los Angeles is recog- nized as occupying a premier posi- tion; in the same manner “the cot- ton atmosphere” calls for a lower- ing of the cost of production thru a worsening of the well-nigh intol- erable working conditions already imposed upon the American peas- ant. ser “Jack” Miller, head of the Cali- fornia Cotton Mills of Hast Oak- land, Cal., recently urged the cause of “the cotton atmosphere” upon these cotton capitalists, pointing out that in Alabama, for instance, a cotton mill pays no taxes for five years, and that in Massachusetts the minimum wage law is set aside for cotton textile workers. The editor of the Los Angeles Record exclaims: “This is ‘cotton atmos- phere!’” It is the atmosphere of capitalism. e+ This “atmosphere” was analyzed a little more in an issue of the Cal- ifornia Cotton Journal, the editor of which frankly urged that California substitute “common sense” for the strict enforcement of “our laws” relating to child labor, This journal, after raising the well-known slogan of “labor short- age,” deplored the fact that Mexi- cans are no longer coming into the state and that Negroes would sad- dle the commonwealth with a race problem. Then it says: “The Journal believes there are thousands of boys and girls in Cali- fornia’s public schools who are without the range of the child labor laws and who are not only willing, but eager, to help harvest the cot- By LAURENCE TODD, (Federated Press). WASHINGTON—(FP)— Following the cabinet meeting of Jan. 4, omi- nous signs of determination of the Coolidge administration to maintain military occupation of Nicaragua re- gardless of the protest of the whole Latin American world and the opin- ion of Europe were given at the White House and state department. President Coolidge thru his myth- ical spokesman declared to the press that the United States has its own governmental interests to protect in Nicaragua, in the shape of its pur- chased right to build a canal across the country, and its right to establish a naval base on Fonseca Bay. This was the first time that a military pretext for the seizure of the Nicara- guan coast held by the Constitution- alist (liberal) forces had been even hinted at. “Interests” Endangered, Secretary Kellogg, when asked whether the right of the United States to build a canal in Nicaragua was now considered to be threatened by the rise of any political faction to power in that country, replied that the interests of the American govern: ment there are endangered “by any revolution or anarchy.” Questioned further, as to whether this canal right is held to justify the occupation of ports distant from the proposed route of the canal, he de- clined to answer. Significance is seen in his making New Excuse for Nicaragua Grab Central America and Mexico. ton crop. The growers, the ginners, all should seek, yes, demand, the co-operation of the schools depart- ment in this most important matter. Law is common sense. Is it com- mon sense to ask it to save an in- dustry from damage?” ares This is an open and blatant ap- peal to wreck child labor standards in the state. Actual figures will show that there has been no lessen- ing in the influx of Mexican labor that. is exploited to the mit. Oriental labor has also been brought into the state, because it was be- lieved it would be “cheap.” Now the attack is made on child labor, again knocking into a cocked hat the argument that American “pros- perity” seeks to lift the standard of living of workers in-this country, Californian profiteers, like all other capitalists, fight to lower the standard of living. They want their cotton to compete more success- fully, which means producing greater profits in competition with the cotton from other states. Thus children must be robbed of their playtime and every possible advan- tage taken of alien peoples coming to these shores in the hope of bet- tering their conditions. California is developing as a cot- ton state. Figures for 1925, the latest available, show that it sur- passed such states as Virginia, Flor- ida, Arizona and New Mexico in the total number of ‘tales produced. The total value was $13,860,000. Cotton ts referred to as California’s new “$20,000,000 industry.” The value of the California cotton crop is nearly as great as that of Mis- souri, Thus while the states of “the solid south,” with 25,000,000 bales of American cotton in the world market, are calling for a curtail- ment of cotton production, the cot- ton industry out in California is de- manding more cotton produced by child labor, which means cheaper cotton, marketed at a lower cost of production, se This is characteristic of the Cali- fornia that has the worst state anti- syndicalistic law im the nation upon its statute books, under which work- ers have been sent to prison by the scores. 4 It is the state of the imprison- ‘ment of Tom Mooney and Warren K. Billings. It imprisoned Ford and Suhr as champions of hop field workers. It is the state of “the American plan” and “the cotton at- mosphere,” kgst example of just where the profiteers desire to sta- bilize prices for the products of the fields, at the point where the slave whip of the master class just stops short of stinging the American Peasant into open rebellion. 7 ¢ *# ‘The Log Angeles Record says: “If this is what ‘the cotton atmos- phere’ means, we want none of it. If, for a $20,000,000 industry, we must pay the lives of children—bent little backs, premature age and stunted minds—let the industry go hang. The price is far too great.” But the Record does not dictate the policies of the capitalist profit takers, Capitalism does that. And capitalist stabilization means in- creased production at decreased costs, Thus the lash is laid on the backs of the 9,000,000 farm workers, tenant farmers and mortgaged farm- ers of these United States, public the name of the Bragman’s Bluff Lumber Co. as one of the firms in Nicaragua that asked for military protection in the Constitutionalist area, Hitherto the department has refused to divulge! names of: firms that asked for armed intervention, it feared they might suffer af- ter the marines were withdrawn, The change in policy seems to point to 2 cabinet decision to maintain forces in Nicaragua for a long period, re- gardless of the hostility of the great majority of the Nicaraguan nation, Foreign observers in Washington stated, after these new steps in ag- gression in Nicaragua had been out- lined, that only the presidential am bition of Coolidge for 1928 stands between the United States and a wat These observers hold that the adven- ture in Nicaragua, patterned after the conquest of Haiti, is only a skirmish on the way to coercion of Mexico in behalf of the oil men, Bulgarian Branch of IL. D. at Gary Puts on PI Program GARY; Ind.—The Bulgarian branch of the International Labor Defense will give an enterainment and dance. at Turner Hall, 14th avenue and Washington street, Jan. 9, James the I. L. D,, will speak, Sunday secretary of ~c| SHOP CHAIRMEN “Cotton Atmosphere” of OF N.Y. UNION ENDORSE HYMAN Cleakmakers Vote for Joint Board (Special to The Daily Worker) NEW YORK, Jan, 6,—Demanding the rescinding of Sigman’s expulsion orders and a referendum to the work- ers to decide the issues in the dispute in the/garment industry, over 900 shop chairmen from the cloak shops met in Manhattan Lyceum, 66 East Fourth street, Monday evening. . They were called together by an impartial com- mittee of 50 chairmen to hear both sides present their case, but Morris Sigman, president of the international, failed to appear and refused to come even when waited upon by a commit- tee sent from the meeting. | ,Demand Retraction, The resolutions, drafted by the ex- ecutive committee of 50, were dis- cussed from the floor by various shop chairmen, and were unanimously adopted. They called upon Sigman to rescind his expulsion order, and to allow the regular elections to the joint hoard to be held, since they are now overdue. In case Sigman should not comply with this demand, the shop chairmen voted to place elections in charge of the executive committee of 50 and a similar committee of 25 shop chairmen from the dressmakers. These two committees, elected at mass meetings of shop chairmen, were instructed to invite the American Civil Liberties Union or some other impartial body to oversee the elec- tions, All Members. The executive committee in charge of the meeting allowed only shop chairmen on the floor of the hall, each man showing his card at the door, Of- ficers of locals and other members were seated in the balcony, and sev- eral hundred cloakmakers who could not be admitted for lack of room had to be turned away by the police. The meeting was opened by Isadore Brauner, as chairman of the execu- tive committee, and a temporary chairman elected, Sam Bizoff, who presided. Louis Hyman and Joseph Boruchowitz and other leaders on the issues urged a referendum to the workers as the only means of settling the dispute. New Agreement, A letter to the Association of Dress Manufacturers, Inc., was sent on Monday by the joint board of cloak and dressmakers, asking for a state- ment by noon Wednesday, Jan, 5, as to whether or not the manufacturers intend to renew their agreement with the union. ts nsession peters essen 1 was to have been renewed, accord- ing to decisions, with minor adjust- ments. These decisions were made by the executive committee upon rec- ommendation of Charles Zimmerman, manager of the dress division, and ratified by the membership. The employers agreed some weeks ago to meet representatives of the joint board in conference on the new agree- ment. Then came the expulsion of dress Local 22 by Morris Sigman on the false charge that a strike of the dressmakers had been planned and the conference was not held, Senate Orders Probe Into Bribery Charge Against Maine Solon WASHINGTON, Jan, 6.— The sen- dered an investigation of bribery charges against Senator Gould (R) of Maine. Gould’s attorney had protested that the senate was without power to in- quire into a charge 14 years old. He of the senate té exclude a member. Calles Attacks (Continued from page 1) railways admfhistration as heading a band of 200 rebels who were burning bridges to the south’ of Leon and Guanajuato, Repair gangs, guarded by federal troops, were despatched to re pair the damages. In response to an urgent telephone Mexico City, that a band of rebels were raiding the town, troops were rushed from the capital. They arrived, however, after the marauders had fled toward the Ajusco wilderness. The town of Parras, in Coahuila, was again in possession of federal troops today after the latter had frightened away a band of 200 rebels who occupied the town on Tuesday. The rebels fled before the approach of the soldiers. “Ma” Pardons 25 More. — ° AUSTIN, Tex., Jan, 6,—iwenty-five full pardons were granted today by Governor Miriam A. Ferguson. These, with seven minor clemencies, bring the total clemencies granted by Gov- ernor Ferguson in her two-year rain’ ure of office to 3,040, — ER Bc Fh le ee Ce aE RS Si Bt ee BT ta Ea Mace Mant es Se Oe Te Te TET TOT Se a The agreement which expired Jan. : ate elections sub-committee has or- also challenged the unlimited right— the Oill Interesta” message from the mayor of Tlalpan, © a town less than twenty miles from 150 federal