The Daily Worker Newspaper, March 3, 1927, Page 1

as closely acquainted with him. Only } ¥ aut | The Daily Worker Fights: - . | For the Organization of the Un- | organized. | For a Labor Party. | For the 40-Hour Week. Vol. IV. No. 42, Workers’ Leaders Mourn Ruthenberg As soon as news of the death of C, E. Ruthenbep\ preached men and women prominent in the labor movenp#:t, they began to send in to the offices of the Workers Party and to its press statements of regret and regard. Below, are some of those received, others are left out merely because of the inability to prepare them in time for publication, COMES AS SHOCK TO SCHLOSSBERG: JOSEPH SCHLOSSBERG, General Secretary, Amflgemated Cloth- ng Workers of America: “His death is a shock to me, I was informed a fhort time ago that he had pulled through. This is so sudden I hardly know what to say.” HAYS ADMIRED RUTHENBERG, THE/ FIGHTER. ARTHUR GARFIELD HAYS, noted attorney pf the American Civil ies Union: “Personally I have always beeri very fond of Ruthen- While I did not agree with his views I alwhys have admired a good fighter and he was éne.” CHINESE EDITOR JOINS IN/SORROW. H. LINSON, editor-in-chief, “Chinese Noltionalist Daily,” organ of the Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party): “We are very sorry that an able man as ©. E. Ruthenberg leaveps us s0 soon. “WORKERS’ GREATEST LOSS#” SAYS BRODSKY. JOSEPH R. BRODSKY, noted labpr attorney.—“The death of Ruthenberg is the greatest loss that the SUBSCRIPTION RATES: In New York, by mail, $8.00 per year. Outside New York, by mail, $6.00 per year, | cialist party in 1917. He was most instrumental} sustain. “His entire life was devoted to th self interests.” FURRIER STRIKE LEADE! BEN GOLD, General Manager ceath of C, E, Ruthenberg is a great for the liberation of the working cl labor movement. “Charles E. Ruthenberg had bee! 12 the workers cf this country, Th xt this time when the need of mili phgent dant pie Peht~agsine >the ‘apitalist class calls for energetic ai “The gself-sacrificing career of orking class of America could otkers’ interests regardless of MISSES GREAT FIGHTER. f the Furriers Joint Board,—“The Ks to the entire movement that strives s, and particularly to the American fa valiant fighter for the best interests ss of such a man is especially great it and uncompromising leadershin, is Jess. working class opposition, sie C. E. Ruthenberg will serve slisti; Agsigns of fragt ttny san inspifation in all the struggles of .4@American workers against their \.csses.” . The Joint Board building at 22 East 24nd street, is draped in black ; nd red and bears the slogan, “We mourn the Ipss of Comrade C. E. Ruthen- berg—Brave fighter for the working class.” “HIS MEMORY WILL LIVE,” SAYS \fRACHTENBURG. ALEXANDER TRACHTENBURG.—“Th who have been af- filiated with the revolutionary socialist and Cymmunist movements of the United States during the past twenty yeary know of Ruthenberg’s iti and organizational activities. cy was aia on the left in the socialist berty. Whether in the ‘fight of 1912 or 1917 and 1918, he stood for revolutionary socialism agai formism. 7 er itathanbely died a felon in the eyes of the capitalist state. His memory will live in the hearts of the American workers in whose be- half he gave the best years of his life.” INSPIRED WORKING CLASS WOMEY. The United Council of Working ‘Class Beene vi ment: é 1 TS Spent the loss of our devoted leader, Comrad, C. E. Ruthen- berg, secretary of the Workers (Communist) Party of merica, who inspired to action the working class women to take thei: place in the struggle, side by side with the working men, for the liberation of the exploited masses. ) Signed—UNITED COUNCIL OF WORKING CLAS HOUSE- WIVES, Kate Gitlow, Secretary. \ GITLOW SAYS, “HE ALWAYS OPPOSED IMPERIAL! “Comrade Ruthenberg is dead. The revolutionary proleta world and particularly the American working class has lost a grealy leader, a courageous fighter and a most loyal champion. Comrade Kuth nberg’s death deprived the capitalist ruling class of the United States in ifs effort to-again send him to prison this time to the Michigan penitentiary for a long period of time. Comrade Ruthenberg gave his whole life to the cauge of the working class. Comrade Ruthenberg devotedly served the revalutjonary movement of the workers to overthfow capitalism. All the oppressed and exploited masses found in him a determination and indefatigableness to serve their cause, "4 “Comrade Ruthenberg was a bitter and uncompromhising opponent of imperialism, its wars of plunder and butchery of the lucing masses. He (Continued on Page Two) |CURRENT EVENTS m2. ormanern | HE death of C. E. Ruthenberg brings a feeling of loss to the revolutionary movement and a sense of personal loss to those who were issued the fol- ten away during the night as news of the intended raid reached us. Ruthenberg was one of those that remained. * *. * OTHING could be more peace- ful than the scene as automobiles laden with federal officers and local two weeks ago comrade Ruthenberg He looked the i ge into this office and gave us Pa) tind to play a leading role in party councils for many years to come \ yather than to be stricken down by the grim reaper in the prime of his life and at the heisht of his revolu- tionary career, * 1 Skt torr life was full of incident, particularly since his ar- rest in the early days of the war for anti-war activities. Since then he was under constant indictment and spent much time in prison. I recall very distinctly the famous Bridge- “man_raid when sixteen Communists y were arrested on the morning of Au- gust 22, and herded in Berrien’Coun- ty jail. It was a beautiful morning ‘after a rainy night. Most of the delegates to the convention had got- deputy sheriffs appeared. Several of us were taking a nap while waiting for a train; others were laying on the grass chatting. Then the detec- tives arrived. I can still see Ruth- enkergz sitting on the grass with a smile on his face as the blustering agents tried to awe the little band. It was not necessary for them to ask for his name; he was well known among that fraternity. * * * Wwe were taken to the county jail. The small-town bailiffs expected to see a gang of bearded ruffians, armed to the teeth and it was with no little concern they ap- proached the pen that held us. How- ever after a few glimpses their fears vanished. They found a group of (Continued on Page Three) NEW YORK’S LABOR DAILY | THE DAILY WORKER. Entered as second-class matter at the Post Office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. NEW YORK, THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 1927 <<a PUBISHING Comrade C. E. Ruthenberg General Secretary, Workers (Communist) Party EATH has taken from the ranks of the revo-; lutionary movement in America, Comrade C. E. Ruthenberg, the leader of the Workers (Com- munist) Party, the vanguard of the American proletariat. i - Comrade Ruthenberg was best known to and) most hated by the American capitalists as a| Communist, as an implacable foe of capitalist | exploitation and oppression. He died on March 2, 1927, after being operated | on for an acute attack of appendicitis which de-| veloped into peritonitis. He made a valiant fight | to the last to continue so as to be able to render unceasingly his best and his all towards the vic-| tory of the American working class and the in-| ternational proletariat. | Comrade Ruthenberg was the leader of the| left wing and the anti-war movement in the so-| in drawing up and securing the adoption of the famous St. Louis anti-war manifesto of the so-| cialist party. It was Comrade Ruthenberg who led the fight against Hillquit, Berger and the| other right wing leaders and inspired and organ- ized the left wing forces in the socialist party in 1919. Soon Comrade Ruthenberg became the leader of the Communist Party of America, or- ganized in September, 1919. The courageous fight made by Comrade Ruthenberg before the Michigan court where he was charged with participating in a convention of the Communist Party of America, gained for the American Communist Party the nee OF ndegatity ic ice 4A fers ns Comrade Ruthenberg was born on July 9, 1882, in Cleveland. He was the son of a longshoreman. He was a factory worker, clerk, newspaper cor- respondent and then gave his whole time to the revolutionary proletarian movement, beginning with his work as organizer and secretary of the socialist party in the city of Cleveland from 1909 to 1919. Comrade Ruthenberg has been a mem- ber of the Executive Committee of the Com-| Workers munist Party and the Workers (Communist) | pledges itself and the entire membership o} to mightier effort in the class war against capi- talism. The many months he spent in Sing Sing prison for playing the leading role in the organ- ization of the left wing movement in the socialist party only steeled his revolutionary ardor. His conviction as a Communist in the State Court of Michigan, now under consideration by the United States Supreme Court, was a signal for Com- rade Ruthenberg and all of his followers to battle harder than ever against American capitalist tyranny. The Workers (Communist) Party of America is conscious of its tasks as the vanguard of the American working class. We recognize our severe loss in the death of Comrade Ruthenberg, who was the most dynamic force in our campaign for the development of the labor party move- ment, the building of the left wing in the trade unions, the campaign for the protection of the foreign-born workers, the struggle against American imperialism and other major cam- paigns of our party. We pledge ourselves to prosecute with greater vigor than ever all of these campaigns. Comrade Ruthenberg was a Bolhevik. His life and efforts have been an inspifation to the militant and revolutionary workers ¢¥-America. His death will only serve to steel our tevolu- tionary purpose, to close our ranks, to fight on until the victory of the American working | Workers’ and Farmers’ Soviet Republic of the United States. Comrade Ruthenberg’s last words to} the and the other American workers were: “TELL THE COMRADES TO CLOSE THEIR RANKS, TO BUILD THE PARTY. THE AMERICAN WORKING CLASS, UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF OUR PARTY AND THE — WILL WIN. LET'S FIGHT The Central Executive Committee of the (Communist) Party of America ; the Party of America from their very inception. He| Workers (Communist) Party to fight on in} the has been executive secretary of the Communist| spirit and determination of our dead lezider, Party from the day of its organization until his} Comrade Ruthenberg. imprisonment in New York State Prison. He he- came general secretary of the Workers (Com- munist) Party of America and has been secre- tary until the day of his death. Since 1924 Com: rade Ruthenberg has been a member’ of the Executive Committee and the Presidium of the Communist International, the highest bodies of the International Communist movement. In his! revolutionary activity Comrade Ruthenberg| showed unflinching determination and indomita-| ble courage. His term of penal servitude in the | jail of Canton, Ohio, for his opposition to the! great imperialist war only served to inspire him! N MEMORIAM | The sudden death of Charles Emil Ruthenberg, General Secretary of the Workers (Communist) Party, leaves a great gap in its ranks and takes from the revolutionary | movement of the United States one of its most devoted, capable and energetic leaders, | In Ruthenberg was expressed, as perhaps in no other | personality, the continuity of the American revolutionary movement. He was the sole outstanding figure who car- | ried over into our party the very best traditions of the pre-war socialist movement. As secretary of the Cleve- land section of the socialist party, Ruthenberg con- sistently fought the opportunist tendencies and the op- portunist leaders of the socialist movement. The knowledge and skill which he developed in the struggle against American capitalism and its allies in the ranks of the workers he brought to the young Com- munist party and our party will feel his absence deeply. Ruthenberg lived in and for the Communist Party as no section of the party knows better than the staff of The DAILY WORKER. This is not the time nor do we intend to try to fully appraise the contribution of our dead comrade to our party, the American working class and the international revolutionary movement. It is enough for the moment to say that he lived and died a revolutionist and that our grief is great. We grieve not so much for ourselves, although the personal loss is poignant, but for our party and the American working class which has all too few of the type, of Ruthenberg—able, far-seeing and courageous. Upon The DAILY WORKER staff in the three years of its existence has fallen the burden of chronicling the deaths of Comrades Lenin, Frunze and Krassin, It has For the Central Executive Committee, Workers (Communist Party. Members of the Political Committee: | ' MAX BEDACHT. ALEXANDER BITTLEMAN, J. P. CANNON, J. LOUIS ENGDAHL. WM. Z. FOSTER. BENJAMIN GITLOW. JAY LOVESTONE, Secretary, Organization Department. been a task we have carried out with heavy hearts but the history of the class struggle takes no account of the sorrow of individuals. Once more we have to tell of the death of a loved and respected comrade, representative of our party in the Executive Committee of the Communist Interna- tional, as part of our daily routine. ; We wish it were not so. So close has been our as- sociation with C. E. Ruthenberg that we can hardly force ourselves to believe that we shall work with him no more. We expected to write soon that he had gone to prison because of his loyalty to the cause of the workers. He would have been removed from active struggle for a time but he would have returned and this we could have stated. But death does not release its prisoners. Death can- | not deprive us of Ruthenberg’s memory or of the fruits of his lifetime of endeavor for his class. The DAILY WORKER will continue to speak and fight for Communism as did Ruthenberg ana ill honor his memory by eyer pressing forward in the struggle for the conquest of power by the American working class and its most conscious and disciplined section— The Workers (Communist) Party of America. Charles Emil Ruthenberg, our comrade, is dead. Long live the Communist Party of America! Long live the Communist International! DAILY WORKER EDITORIAL STAFF— William F, Dunne J. Louis Engdahl, Verne Smith ~ T. J. O'Flaherty . Published Daily except Sunday by THE DAILY WORKER FINAL CITY EDITION Sri ‘ , CO., 38 First Street, New York, N. ¥ Price 3 Cents “Let's Fight On” His Last Behest While Dying, After Operation in Chicago, Urged Comrades to Build the Party Comrade C. E. Ruthenberg, General Secretary of the Work- ers (Communist) Party of America, died yesterday morning in the American Hospital at Chicago, after an operation for acute appendicitis, developing into peritonitis. His last words, when he knew that death was near were: . “TELL THE COMRADES TO CLOSE THEIR RANKS, TO BUILD THE PARTY. THE AMERICAN WORKING CLASS, UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF OUR PARTY AND THE COMINTERN, WILL WIN. LET’S FIGHT ON!” Members of the Political Committee, signing for the Central Executive Committee of the Workers (Communist) Party, have issued a statement which appears on this page, giving a brief history of Comrade Ruthenberg® many activities in the workers’ cause, | [and vistaios the party to fulfill faith. CE Ru thenberg, the Revolutionary Fighter of America’s Workers | Funeral Sunday. The funeral of Comrade C. E. Ruth- enberg will take place Sunday, March 6, at 1 p. m., from the Ashland Boule- vard Auditorium, at which a mass | memorial service will be held. The speakers will be Wm. Z. Foster, Jay | | Lovestone, Max Bedacht, Nat Kap-| lan and Arne Swabeck. class is assured, until the establishment ¢f the | members of the Workers (Communist) Plarty.| | Comrades and friends will have an | opportunity to view the body of Com- | | rade Ruthenberg at this memorial service from where it will be taken |to the crematory: | Fell In Action. Comrade Ruthenberg died at his| | post. Until the moment of his sudden {and fatal illness, he was giving his jentire time and great energy to the | |task of leading the very vanguard of | |the militant workers of. America in| (their struggle for a class farmer iabor | |party, and for working class activity } |by the trade unions, as well as en- gaging in the multitudinous duties | of education and organization which | the Workers (Communist) Party is | carrying on, | An International Figure. Ruthenberg’s death has its inter- | national significance. One of his last | official acts was to sign as general | secretary of the party the manifesto calling upon the American Federation | of Labor to state clearly its position in the present situation, when Wall Street’s marines are invading both China and Latin America. His Own Policy. In issuing this statement, at the | orders of the central executive com- mittee, Ruthenberg was merely car- | rying on the policy of anti-imperial- ism which he had always pursued, He was the one most responsible for the drawing up and adoption of the St. Louis anti-war manifesto of the socialist party, in the days when it was dangerous for anybody to oppose the capitalist slaughter being waged in Europe, and Ruthenberg was lead- er of the left wing of-the socialist party. Trusted Leader. When he died, and since 1924, Com- rade Ruthenberg has been a member | of the executive committee and the | Presidum of the Commuhist Interna- tional, the highest bodies of the In- ternational Communist movement. | As soon as news of Ruthenberg’s | death reached the prominent mem- | bers of the working class movement } in America, they -began to send in messages of regret and commemora- tion to the party offices of the Work- ers (Communist) Party, and to its press. Albert Weisbord, successful leader of the famous Passaic strike called for redoubled effort of the American workers, to make up for the loss of the genius of Ruthenberg. ' Cc, E. RUTHENBERG. The above is a reproduction of a picture taken at the time’ of the raids on the Communist Party Convention at Bridgeman, Mich. John Ballam, active party trade unionist, spoke of the long career of absolute devotion to the working class exemplified by Rufhenberg. Freda Kirchwey, managing editor of The Nation, said, “The American working class loses one of its most fearless leaders.” Alexander Trachtenberg told of Ruthenberg’s always standing “for revolutionary socialism against re- formism.” Charles Krumbein, New York in- dustrial organizer, spoke of Ruthen- berg “fighting when it meant much to fight,” in the days of persecution. Bertram D. Wolfe, head of the New York Workers School, praised the in- | dominatable spirit of the Ruthenberg, who declared, only a few weeks before his death, “Since 1917, there is one period of only 6 months during which I have not been in jail or under in- dictment,” Ben Gitlow referred to the pioneer work done by Ruthenberg in organ- izing the Communist movement in America, and declared the party mem- bers pledge themselves, “to build up in the United States a powerful sec- tion of the Communist International,” as the best tribute to Ruthenberg. C. E, Ruthenberg, general secre- (Continued on Page Two) DETROIT FEELS THE LOSS OF OUR FIGHTING COMMUNIST LEADER By CYRIL LAMBKIN. (Special To The DAILY WORKER.) DETROIT, Mich., March 2i—The shock caused by the death of C, Ky Ruthenberg will reverberate thru thousands of Detroit Communists and militant workers generally. He was well known in Detroit. When he spoke to an audience of 5000 which filled Arena Garden on the occasion ef the first Lenin memorial meeting in February, 1924, they listened to him with rapt attention. Twice every year he addressed mass meetings here and always hundreds of workers, attracted by his eloquence and devotion to the cause, attended. He was the principal speaker at the “Save Sacco and Vanzetti” meeting held here last June. He will be remembered aleo for his courageous and intelligent defense at his trial at St. Joseph which was featured on first pages of the Michigan newspapers. Lata nara A AE