The Daily Worker Newspaper, January 28, 1927, Page 1

The Daily Worker Fights: For the Organization of the Un- organized. For a Labor Party. For the 40-Hour Week. Vol. IV. No. 13. SUBSCRIPTION RATES: In New York, by mail, $8.00 per year. THE DAILY WGI “Entered as second-class matter at the Post Office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 8, 1879. Outside New York, by mail, $6.00 per year. NEW YORK, FRIDAY, JANUARY 28, 1927 tt Ee Published MER. PUBLISHING CO., [ FINALCITY CITY i I ed Daily except Sunday by THE DAILY WORKE. 4 83 First Street, New York, Price 3 Cents LEWIS’ PAYROLLERS LUG HAPGOOD AGAIN Force Against China Perilous, Says Borah Kellogg Says U. S. Willing to Recognize Any Government “That Can Speak for China” WASHINGTON, Jan. 27.—Warning the United States and Great Britain that the sending of large fleets and armies to China may have “a very disastrous result,” Senator William A. Borah {R) of Idaho, chairman of the foreign relations committee, today urged evacuation of all Americans in China. Borah declared he favored the protection of American lives in China but “I am in favor of protecting them at the present time CURRENT EVENTS | By T. J. O'FLAHERTY LL the venom in the poison vials of the British right wing labor leaders who betrayed the striking miners when the general strike was called off, is now poured on the head of A. J.«Cook, fighting secretary of the Miners’ Federation of “Great Britain, beloved by the militant rank and file but hated by the traitors who deserted the miners in the midst of battle and doubly hated by the capi- talist class of Great Britain. ee. ee ESPECTABLE labor leaders like J. H. Thomas, Ramsay MacDon= ald and Philip Snowden, whose tongues are calloused from kissing the King’s hand and who anoint their lips with ointment so that his majes- if necessary by bringing them out of danger until all danger is passed.” He said he: “thoroly sympa- thized” with China’s efforts to get rid of foreign domination. Willing To Make New Deal. WASHINGTON, Jan. 27.—The Cantonese nationalist government can definitely hope for recognition by the United States as soon as it has brought the greater part of China under its control, according to the interpretation placed here today on Secretary of State Kellogg’s state- ment of American policy toward China. (The Cantonese government now controls two-thirds of China. What is Kellogg waiting for?—Ed.). Secretary Kelloge’s announced wil- lingness to “enter into negotiations with any government of China who can represent or speak for China” is considered especially significant. the river. JOINT BOARD IN LETTER T0 6. E. B. ty’s sensitive ears may not be of- fended by harsh tones when they at- tend his fetes and levees, now snarl like badgered curs at the leader of the miners’, union, simply because Cook refused. to..surrender..on the government’s terms but fought on until forced to the wall by the united forces of the government, the coal operators and the yellow socialists. Ries Added hope of recognition for the Cantonese is seen in the section which declares that “the United States has watched with sympathetic interest the nationalistic awakening of China and weleomes every advance made by the Chinese people toward reorganizing their system of -govern- ment.” Restatement of Aims. Aside from these allusions to the } ASK CONVENTION Denounce G. E. B. To ALF. L. Locals ‘The New York Joint Board of the | Fur Workers union yesterday sent a letter to the International Executive Board demanding that it immediately E have already called the atten- tion of our readers to the at- tack made upon Cook by Miss Mar- garet Bondfield of the British Labor Party in the course of a speech de- liyered by the lady in Chicago a few weeks ago. The object of this in- ternational campaign of calumny is to discredit Cook in the eyes of the masses. Those leaders who! are in perfect accord with the tory govern- ment’s policy which is an extreme anti-labor policy, fool themselves if they think the British workers are going to join them in excommunicat- ing Cook. They are evidently fol- lowing this policy because they are as much interested in preserving the empire as the tory leaders. ee ee, | OOK was recently in the Soviet Union where he attended a con- vention of the Russian Trade Unions. He pledged himself at that conven- tion to carry on the struggle against British capitalism more determinedly than ever on his return. He is ful- (Continued on Page 4) recently changed political situation, the memorandum concerns itself with a restatement of this government’s desire for a unified, independent and prosperous Chinese nation and its willingness to release as early as possible the tariff control and extra- territoriality provided by treaties. The United States can not, how- ever, abrogate these treaties, the statement makes plain, But they “must be superseded by new treaties negotiated with somebody” represent- ing China and subsequently ratified by the senate of the United States.” Business Altruism. Kellogg’s emphasis on the fact (Continued on page 3) issue the call for the regular na- tional convention to be held during May of this year. It ‘also sent a lengthy statement to all local unions the American Fed- eration of Labor in the United States reciting in great detail the entire con- troversy that has been going on in the Fur Workers’ union. Letter Places Blame. | The letter to the General Executive Board points out the chaotic condi- tion to be found in most of the local unions in the United States and Canada. It says in part: “The fur workers of Locals 1, 5, 10 and 15 of the New York Joint Board, who constitute eighty per cent of the entire membership of the In- ternational Fyr Workers’ union, are at present engaged in a bitter strug- gle with the International officers, who do not dare to facq the fur workers of New York because of their treacherous betrayal during the (Continued on Page 5) IMPORTANT NOTICE ress all mail for The pay ¥ WORKER to 33 First Street, New. York, Wuchang, “The Pittsburgh of China,” is the center of the junction of the navigable rivers, Yangtze and Han, city of Hankow, and the city of Hanyang, where large arms; factories and arsenals are located. Hankow was the seat of the reactionary general, Wu Pei-fu before his arm: cities are now in the possession of Canton. smoke hovering over the steel mill district now in the ha “PITTSBURGH OF ca” ALSO SMOKES Within a few miles Wuchang was last to fall. Fur Workers State Their Case Sell “Daily Worker” At Miners’ Convention INDIANAPOLIS, -Ind.—Natalie Gomez is The DAILY WORKER “newsboy” at the Indianapolis Con- vention of the United Mine Work- ers of America. Delegates coming in or going out of the hal! will find her near the door. She will also take oe for The DAILY WORKER Mee pan cations of the DAILY WORKER Publishing Co. The DAILY WORKER is sold at all union conventions. “FEDERATIONIST” READY TO ACCEPT OPEN SHOP CASH WASHINGTON, D. C., Jan. 27.— Why the American Federationist, of- ficial organ of the American Federa- tion of Labor, runs ads of anti-labor corporations month after month is partly disclosed by William Green, nominal editor of the magazine. Green was asked by n correspondent whether the A. F. of L, endorsed the anti-union policies of advertisers “Selling advertising space in the American Federationist to production companies does not constitute an en- dorsement of the industrial relations policies of the company,” writes Green. “Of course I was quite aware Continued on ee ad 4 Was scattered by the victorious Cantonese. of the revolution, the iron and steel industry that has been developed at of Wuchang are the great commercial All three The photo above shows the clouds of It was taken from Hankow, across WASHINGTON IS GOING SLOW ON MEXICO CRISIS Waiting tee Favorable Mass Opinion WASHINGTON, Jan. 27.—The Mexican situation marked time today in so far as this government was concerned. Packed Delegations Defeat Free Speech Progressives Denied Voice Thru Official Journal; Struggle Begins Over Lewis Expulsion Policy (Special to The Daily Worker) INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., Jan. 27,—Powers Hapgood was assaulted for the second time this week by Lewis’ payrollers when he de- manded recognition at the miners’ convention this morning, He was saved from a severe beating only by the massing of progres- sive delegates about him. The convention was in pandemonium with machine supporters and left wingers on the verge of open conflict, averted only by the presence of a squad of police, Hapgood arose to defend a resolution sponsored by his local union demanding free speech in the gagged Miner’s Journal, Ad- vancing rapidly to the platform, the brilliant young progressive leader called for recognition. “You are not a delegate to this convention”, bellowed Emperor Lewis, pounding with his gavel. Hapgood flashed his credentials, while Lewis roared “be seated, be seated”. Administration pluguglies rushed up to Hapgood, one of them throwing him 10 feet down the aisle while another launched out with stinging blows to the face. Powers, slight in build and still suffering from the terrific beating inflicted by international union officers last Sunday, put up a brave resistance as progressives lran to his help. | i A free for all was stopped only by police interference. Progres- |sives closed ranks and fought for Hapgood’s resolution. John Brophy, John Hindmarsh, Leroy Scanlon and Frank Derch de- |nouncing the gag on the journal which excluded the progressives |from its pages in the recent election while running long eulogies lof Emperor Lewis and his associates. President Harry. Fishwick, Illinois, defended the gag policy. | Vice President Murray entered a lengthy discussion of the coal |miners, progressive organ, asserting that Albert Coyle of the Engineer’s Journal and Verne Smith, former Industrialist editor, were the real editors. A copy of the Robinson resolution, | placing the Senate on record in favor | of arbitrating the land-law controver- sy, was before President Coolidge, | Brophy pleaded for minority rights of expression in the Miners’ | Journal, which Hindmarsh proclaimed the “flabbiest piece of liter- ature published anywhere on the American continent”. but there wa? no indication of andl * * * executive action upon it. Mr. Coolidge is studying the reso- | lution with a view, it is understood, | to making a comprehensive statement | of the administration's policy toward Mexico, either through a message to! Congress or by a public statement, as was done in the Chinese situation. Secretary of State Kellogg declined today to comment on the resolution in any way. Mass Opinion Against Him. gress has no right to interfere in his foreign policy movements, he is con- organized mass opinion against inter- vention. It is now definitely known that the principal factors in the trouble be- tween Mexico and the United States are the Doheny, Sinclair and Stand- ard Oil of Indiana interests that (Continued on page 2) While Coolidge insists that Con-} vineed that the Robinson resolution | | LEWIS SEEKS TO RULE BY TERROR | By JACK KENNEDY. (Special to The Daily Worker.) INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 27.—Terrorism seeks to rule the con- vention of the United Mine Workers. It is the terrorism of a ruthless, brutal, relentless machine, guided by the hand of the blackest figure in American trade unionism, Emperor John L. Lewis, that held the convention in its clutches Wednesday and | continued to prepare to wipe out every vestige of progressivism in the miners’ union. Progressives, fighting against being swept off their feet, saw |the Lewis juggernaut, under perfect discipline and control beat William Stevenson from the platform, threaten to expel left} wing forces root and branch, |- attack the Soviet Union in vi- | cious language unequalled by the |national civic federation. ‘ The machine centered on John (Continued on page 2) First Day and Half of Miners’ Convention By WILLIAM - F. DUNNE ( Special to the Daily Worker.) NDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 27.—After a day and a half of the U. M W. A. convention it is’ possible to draw @ number of conclusions. They are: (1) The Lewis machine is organiza- tionally stronger from the convention r+-~ Spat than three years ago, but 1s politically much weaker. (2) The weakening of the union which has tuken place in the last three yearn has enabled the machine to tighten its grip on the apparatus of the union Lut has at the same time loosened, its hold on the membership. (8) The ma- chine strategy in this convention is of double character and consists of: (a) Bitter personal attacks on John Brophy designed to show him incom- petent as a union official and (b) f ‘ PHILADELPHIA Lenin Memorial Meeting C. E. RUTHENBERG, speaker. To try to connect him with the Com-| first of this year was only 273,407. munists and picture him’ as a mere} The report shows further, and this instruntent of the “American Mos-|is decisive in respect to proving the covites. complete inability of the Lewis ma- Hate To Talk About It. chine to win the confidence even of It is already evident that the weak-| former union men that FROM SEP- ened point of the Lewis machine is, TEMBER TO JANUARY, DURING the weakness of the union. An anal- |THE TIME WHEN ALL’ PRODUC- ysis of the president’s report, the) TION RECORDS WERE BROKEN shortest report made to a U. M. W..IN AMERICA DUE TO THE A. convention for many years, shows SHORTAGE CREATED BY THE that Lewis has been forced to admit BRITISH STRIKE THE U. M. W. serious losses since the signing of, A. ACTUALLY LOST 19,000 MEM- the Jacksonville agreement. , BERS, But it is in Secretary-Treasurer| These figures demonstrate two Kennedy’s report that the Achilles, things conclusively. That the vote heel’ of the administration shows’ in the recent election, as given out nakedly. The figures for dues-pay- by the machine, in round numbers ments show conclusively, when spread 60,000 for Brophy and 173,000 for over the usual three month intervals Lewis, is a brazen and obvious fraud. that the total dues peying member- » A Miracle! ship of the U. M. W. on January Consider the figures: The total vote is 233,000. The total dues pay- ing membership is 273,000, This means that with the exception of some 40,000, every member cast a vote! Such an occurrence is a physical impossibility, and never in the his- tory of the union has there been such a high percentage of ballots cast in| either local, district or national elec- tion. The first figures sent out by the machine gave the total vote as around 290,000. This figure the ad- ministration had to revise after the secretary-treasurer had compiled his membership figures as the dirst an- nouncement actually made the total vote cast 17,000 more than the dues- paying membership. For these rea- sons the Lewis machine, in spite of a packed convention, is in deathly Shows Ruin Wrought by Lewis vote gaining strength. Ghostly Locals, A second great weakness of the! machine, and a weakness of which it is miserably conscious, is the discrep- ancy between the membership fig- ures in Kennedy’s report and the} say nothing of scattered frauds in| western Pennsylvania and other sec- tions. The report shows that a total of 18 local unions in District. 31, West Virginia, paid in the last six months’| period a total of $1,131.00 in per capita. But in the convention there are seated 166 delegates from this) same district with a total of 225 membership of approximately 25,000. fear of the demand for a tabulated But the cold figures of the report size of the delegations from West) Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee, to! | Prove that in the last six months, membership of 58. Eighteen dele- {when the hurrah campaign of organ-| gates representing 58 members is cer+ izer Van Bittner was at its height,| tainly Democracy in excelsis. the actual membership was and still! District 19, Kentucky, is another is 377. The brutal truth is that there| shining gem in the Lewis diadem, The are 66 delegates from District 31 rep-| secretary’s report shows that up to | sent 377 members. January first there were only eight |. The brass band and the “God bless} local unions in this district. These Van Bittner’ gospel shouters which! eight locals paid in but $1,488.75 to } accompany this valiant group every-| the national of: in vix months. But votes which ostensibly represent a} | modity character. Extraordinary Representation. | District 17 is not quite so bad, but | while the secretary’s report shows} eleven locals paid only $175.50 per) capita in six months, there are eigh-| | teen delegates here representing| eighteen locals, | where about the convention city does) not quite make up its obvious com-| The figures of the report show that all locals in this district have a total! from January first to the first day of the convention there was appar- ently a marvelous growth of union- ism in District 19. It appears inthe convention with 48 delegates, repre- senting 48 locals, having a total of 60 votes. District 28, Kentucky, is another example of the manner in which the machine organizes for conventions. The secretary’s report shows that (Continued on page 2) Labor Institute, 8th and Locust Streest PROGRAM—Freiheit Singing Society. “STRIKE,” Mass Revo- lution play, by the Workers Theatre Alliance. Movie, Local Party Activities. Young Pioneers. Elkin Keitses of Y. W. L. Workers (Communist) Party. ADMISSION 25 CENTS. Friday, January 28, 8 P. M. Chairman, J. 0. BENTALL,