The Daily Worker Newspaper, February 20, 1928, Page 2

Page Two THE DAILY WORK ER. 'W YORK, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1528 Massachusetts Does Goo FOSTER EXPOSES ANTI-STRIKE LAW AT BAR HEARING 1 Bourbons Will Not Hear Leader (Continued from Page One) books and newspapers were dropped nervously. Chairman Cohen sought first of all to gag Foster thru a show of friend- ship. “T am sure, Mr. Foster,” h began ingratiatin: “that you will appreciate that the hour is already late. We anounced that we would stop at 12. It is already 12:20. Wouldn’t you be willing to submi your views in a written memoran. dum?” “I should like to testify just as the ethers have done,” Foster replied in @ quiet voice. Fear the Facts. “Now, Mr. Foster,” said Cohen, “TI want to ask you fra! is it your purpose to use this chair as a forum for your propaganda? Because if it is, I want to say that we are not going to let you.” “You have before you a proposal to set up legislation which is of in- terest to the workers and I want to speak against it,” said Foster. “Stop,” shouted Cohen, “we will not permit you to make any speeches. If you continue to testify here you will have to agree to answer ques- tions, otherwise we will not go on.” “Alright, then I will answer ques- tions,” Foster replied. “The Bar Association assumes,” Cohen hegen, “that contracts made on the industrial field are enforceable. But you are opposed to all agree- ments, is not that so?” “No, not to all agreements, but—” “Ym not going to let you make speeches,” Cohen interrupted, pound- ing his gavel in rage, but as he stopped, Foster finished: “—T am not opposed to all agree- ments, but they cannot be enforced by law.” “Then you are opposed to arbitra- tion?” Arhitration Operates Against Workers. “Yes, I am. All arbitration is against the interest of the workers and all arbitration laws are in effect compulsory arbitration. The out: standing example of this is the Wat on Parker Law—-” At this point Chairman Cohen rose up in rage. “You will not be per- mitted to use that chair for propa. ganda.” “For three days,” Foster continued “you have listened to employers’ pro- paganda from A. F. of L. labor tead- ers, from employers, and from labor economists. I want to present thc point of view of the workers—” | miners. cold, as a result of which Frank when struck by an auto. Accident, by the company. Miner’s Wife Tells Workers of Hardships Victoria Wrubal, wife of a striking miner of Renton, Pa., now in New York with her two small children, Mary and Stella, told del- egates at the Miners’ Relief Conference at the Labor Temple Satur- day of the severe hardships among the families of the striking Mrs. Wrubel told how her 6-year-old son Frank contracted pneumonia when operators put the family out of their house, into the died. Her husband was crippled she thinks, was deliberately caused GREEK PICKET IS GIVEN 30 DAYS “Stop, stop,” Cohen shouted, “you will not be permitted to continue.” “You don’t have to shout at me,” Foster replied, “I can hear you.” “Well, now. . .” “T merely want to express my views on. the proposition before the house “There is nothing before the house,” Cohen thundered. “Your announcement refers to the fact that your proposal is based on the Watson-Parker Law, and I want to speak against the Watson-Parker Law.” “No, you cannot, you will not be permitted to do so,” Cohen shouted, pounding his gavel. “You will not be permitted to use that chair to make any speeches.” “I protest against this method of being gagged when the others have carried on their propaganda. Emory has spoken here for hours, the A. F. of L. officials—” As it became evident that Foster was continuing with his attack in spite of the attempt to prevent it, an increasing apprehension appeared to spread over a number of those pres- ent. Labor Fakers Tremble. The fat frame of Victor Olander rocked from side to side. John P. Frey’s features had turned from their regular swarthy appearance to a white ash. The face of Matthew Woll, in appearance like that of a Jesuit priest took on the guise of almost diabolic fear. With the exception of the shouting of Chairman Cohen, the room was deathly still. “T do not care to hear any more,” Rush C. Butler, chairman of the full Bar Committee, interposed at this point. “If this man is not proceed- ing under the assumption that the constitution of the United States is binding, I do not want to hear him.” Cohen turned to Foster, evidently relieved that a way out of the di- lemma apparently had been found. “Do you hear that?” he shouted. “We ‘will not listen to you any longer. We don’t want to hear you.” “Yon will not hear me now,” Foster eplied as he left the stand, “but we find ways to get the workers to us, and we will organize them Aimee tetadibh any th oth y that oth- wena F called back. t sou want Member of Empros Staff Sentenced Konstantin Peliris, 28-year-old member of the staff of Empros, Greek Communist newspaper, was sentenced Saturday to 30 days in the workhouse for taking part in a demonstration of Greek workers. The demonstration was held in protest against the ex- esses of the Greek fascist govern- ment against the workers in Greece Magistrate Simpson told Peliris that he had a good mind to put him in jail for 10 years. The worker was sentenced solely on the testimony of Policeman Brown, who severely beat Peliris without cause when police as- saulted the demonstrators on Thurs- day. The magistrate told Peliris that if he wanted to stay in this country he must respect the flag or face deporta- tion, The demonstration Thursday was held by the Greek members of the In- ternational Labor Defense before 68 ark Row, where the offices of the Greek consulate general are located. se 8 The demonstrators on Thursday sent a message to Consul-General A.| Machairas, protesting against the campaign of terror being waged by the Greek government against the working classes of Greece, “Hundreds of workers are being thrown into prison and exiled to dis. tant and deserted island,” the protest says in part. “The deputies of the united front are under criminal prose- RELIEF MEETING HEARS REPORTS Solidarity Resolution Sent to Strikers | (Continsied from: Page One) jtee, which to date has remitted over | $17,000 to the strike areas of Penn- |sylvania, Ohio and Colorado, and pred 350 cases of clothing, each | wei hing about 250 Ibs., valued at | aprroximately $65,000. “This,” she aid, “is only a fair beginning. Much | more remains to be done! The strik- \ing miners of Pennsylvania, Ohio and Colorado must be made increasingly aware of the solidarity of labor! Such | knowledge, backed by a steady flow of relief funds. is the most effective ; weapon they have with which to fight the open-shop onslaught of the em- ployers!” Solidarity and Relief. i Several resolutions were offered |and unanimously passed by the body of delegates. One, a resolution on | solidarity and relief, is being sent to the striking miners. Another, a pro- j test against the use of police brutal- lity, evietions and injunctions, is be- | ing sent to the president of the United States, the senate investigating com- | mittee, the governors of Pennsyl- vania, Ohio and Colorado, and to the striking miners of the three states. |The latter resolution includes a de- ;mand that the senate investigating committee include the soft-coal indus- try of Colorado in its investigations. A special relief drive to take place on March 2nd, 8rd and 4th was an- nounced, and volunteers for service during any or all of those days were cution and the most elementary rights asked to report to the office of the of the workers are denied.” The resolution demands the release of the prisoners and “the return of the constitutional liberties to the work- ing classes,” pee ere LIE dignity of the “Nothing occasion. can be accomplished without a deep | eppreciation of its dignity,” he said without apparently noticing the smiles of gentle irony on the faces of his listeners, “no work of art, no piece of legislation.” He referred at length to the “sat- isfactory results” which had already been bronght about through the hear- ings. “Only one dissenting voice has been raised to our proposal. Every one has agreed to the principle of our efforts with the exception of Mr. Foster, We will be glad to receive this. view in the form of a memoran- dum.” W. Jett Lauck, a professional class- collaborationist, testifying earlier, gave his complete endorsement of the principle of the proposal. The testimony of Lauck is consid- ered very significant as he speaks almost officially for the trade union bureaucracy. Green and others of the union officials have for “diplomatic” reasons, it is believed, failed to indi- cate their full support of the move, but the words of Lauck are taken as the guide to their real position. “The time is very opportune,” Lauck tes- tified, “and delay is dangerous.” The latter was a reference made after he had hinted that the country was ap- proaching a period of struggles be- tween the workers and their employ- ers, * * ° (What William Z. Foster would have said had he been permitted to continue will be printed % tomor- row’s issue of The DAILY WORKER.) ( Pennsylvania-Ohio-Colcrado Miners’ Relief Committee, 799 Broadway. This drive, as a result of the vast impetus to miners’ relief activity given by the conference, is expected to net $15,000. | Calls for Permanent Relief Body F. G. Biedenkapp, executive secre- |tary of the Workers’ International Relief, spoke on the necessity of a permanent relief organization in this eonntry with which many _ trade unions and workers’ organizationy should be affiliated, so that in case of a strike, relief machinery may at once be put into motion on a largo seale, “Such an organization,” said Biedenkapp, would be efficient and large enough to extend aid to strik- ers of other countries in times of need—thus demonstrating effectively the international solidarity of all la- bor, A motion was made, seconded and passed to the effect that the in- coming executive committee be in- structed by the body of delegates to seriously consider affiliation of the organizations present with such an international relief body—the Work- | ers’ International Relief. An enlarged executive ccmmittee was then nominated and elected. The twenty-seven members of it repre- sent as many trade unions and work- ers’ organizations. The meeting was then adjourned after a motion had been passed that the new executive committee meet for the first time within a week from the date of the conference, By special motion, all organizations which desire representation on the executive committee may obtain such representation, though tiey had not been represented at the conference, after their candidacy has een voted on by the executive committee of twenty-seven, 2 ; &- F‘GHT TO FREE A MILITANT MINER |Not Guilty Plea Made By Benito | (Special to The DAILY WORKER) WILKES BARRE, Pa., Feb, 19— Sam Benito, Steva Mendola and Adam Mileska were arraigned in the local court here yesterday before Judges Fine, McLean and Jones charged with the murder of Frank Agati, reactionary district official of the United Mine Workers Union, who was shot and killed at the union head- quarters here. Pleads Not Guilty. Benita, progressive president of Local union 1703, pleaded not guiliy through his attorney Frank flan- nery. Mendola was excused from testifying. Moleski, previously re- ‘easéd as a material witness upon his own recognizance, was rearrested yesterday and charged as an acces- sory in the shooting. He was placed on the witness stand and tesvified as to alleged happenings at the shoot- ings in the union headquarters. Moleski declared that Agati as- saulted Benita before any shooting took place. Also that the first shot came from Benita, though another witness present at the shooting in the reactionary Capellini machine testified he did not know who fired the first shot, Moleski Recent Member. There is much conjecture as to why Moleski was arrested and how much pressure is being exerted upon him by local authorities, It is being pointed out that Moles- ki has only been a member of Local union 1703 for a couple of months and has known Benita only during that time. Assaulted Benita. That Agati first assaulted Benita, when the local union committee met with Agati, is unchallenged. It is not yet determined whether Agati also fired the first shot and that Benita who is alleged to have shot Agati was then compelled in defense of his own life and of the others present to shoot back, through his overcoat, not even having time to draw his gun, That Benita and the other progres- sive miners had occasion to fear as- sault and even murder by the reac- tionary officials of the union and their hired gunmen is seen in the fact that Benita had a permit to carry a gun for protection. This is further substantiated by the cold blooded murder of Thomas Lillies, progres- sive miner, by gunmen. The Cap- pellini machine is working hand in hand with contractors and the Pennsylvania Coal Co. Railroad Them to Chair. The charge of murder against Ben- ita, Mendola and Moleski indicates that the reactionary union official- dom in this district under the leader- ship of Capellini and John L. Lewis, national president, in combination with the coal operators, contractors and the local police are determined to railroad these men to the electric chair or prison. A determined legal and labor defense and mobilization of the miners and the working class forces will be required to prevent an- other frameup against the militant workers. Benita gave himself up voluntarily to the local police. --Reactionaries. Use Terror. It is evident that the Mine Work- ers’ officialdom under leadership of Capellini and Lewis are irying to Stem thé tide of revolt against their betrayals by murder and other forms of terror. Not a day passes but that progressives are threatened with death at the hands of the reaction- aries. These shootings are a part of this struggle. The rank and file miners are re- sentful and protest against the con- tinuation of a situation which is making their living conditions worse and breaking down working condi- ions and the union, The following facts are cited as proof of their contention: Lease Coal to Individuals, The contractors system which is used to speed up the miners and cut wages is on the increase and gives the contractors actual control of the union. This is done by the company leasing coal mining to individuals who then have the right to hire labor. This is permitted by the local and in some instances by the miners’ union officiaidom. This is in vio- lation of the union agreement regard- ing working conditions, safety con- ditions, ete. Originally Capellini lead the strug gle against the contractors in thc Pittston territory. The rank an’ file elected Capellini as district president who then betrayed the miners. Sympathy is manifested every- where for Benita. On the other hand Agati is described in the local capi- talist newspapers as a personal body- guard of Capellini. Others more bluntly described him as a gunmen. . Urge Martial Law. How the coal operators and their supporters would like to utilize the present situation to smash the pro- gressive miners movement’ and the miners union itself is shown by an named Figlock, who is an organizer} Photo shows removal of body. Taken from Subway Excavation Wnen three buiidings iell into the subway excavation at Sih Ave. and 52nd St. one worker was killed and another seriously injured. ATTACK IS MADE ON MINE LEADER “Save-the-Union” Meet Calls for Action (Continued from Page One) shooting of Grecio. The “Save-the- Union” conference adopted a strong resolution calling upon all miners to unite to end the murder campaign against the militant workers, and raised the slogan: “Cappelini Must Go!” Last night’s tragedy caused a turmoil in the ranks of the United Mine Workers here. From the offi- cers down to the humblest union man there was fear openly expressed that the shooting up to date are only the opening guns in a warfare never before experienced in union circles here. Statements were made guard- edly, and there was no one who would venture a prediction where the pres- ent bloodshed would end. The Pennsylvania Coal Co., for whom the members of Local 1703 work, is on good terms with Cappel- lini and it is against the control of the Pittston union by Pennsylvania company contractors that the rank and file has rebelled. SENATE PROBE OF COAL WILL START WASHINGTON, Feb. 19. — The first gesture of the senate investiga- tion of the conditions in the bitumin- ous coal fields of Pennsylvania and Ohio will begin Wednesday when a sub-committee of the Senate Inter- state Commerce Committee will be- gin a survey of the field. This sub- committee, headed by Senator Good- ing (Rep., Idaho), will take no evi- dence, it has announced, but will simply inspect the region where tens of thousands of miners have been fighting over a year for a decent wage. Besides Gooding, the sub-com- mittee is composed of Senators Met- calf, (Rep. R. IL); Pine, (Rep., Okla.), and Wagner (Dem. N. Y.). whose past records indicate that no sympathy or understanding of the workers’ problems may be expected from them. BN te ae Bosses Welcome Inquiry. PITTSBURGH, Pa., Feb. 19.—The Pittsburgh Coal Co., thru its presi- dent, J. D. A. Morrow, has announced that it will welcome the senate in- vestigating committee ‘with open arms,” and will place all its facilities at the senators’ disposal. editorial on one of the Wiles-Barre newspapers. In discussing the shoot- ing, it calls for state troopers to take over control of Pittston. It wants martial law in order “to bring about safety.” Wide sentiment exists among the workers for the organization of a broad labor defense movement to en- sure adequate legal defense and pro- tection of Benita and other defend- ants, also to demand and fight for the immediate release and freedom of these miners. The Internationat Labor Defense is vitally interestec in the case, The conference of progressive miners in the anthracite district which | takes place here today will probably take a stand for the militant defense of the progressive miners under ar- rest, * * * Shoot at Progressive, SCRANTON, Pa., Feb. 19,—Louis Delfonsi, rank and file leader has been shot at, but the bullet went wild. Delfonsi is a member of th’ Grievance Committee of No. 6. Hi friends believe that he is marked for death like dip Lillies for ives ing opposed to the contractor system. No sieee have been made ap UNEMPLOYMENT BRINGS HUNGER All Sections Report Crisis Increasing (Continued from Page One) figure is based on the placement av- erages of the men’s division of the six State Labor Department employ- Jersey City, Trenton, Newark and ed as its opinion that the unemploy- ment was greater at present than in 1920 or 1921. es * 6 Out of work in New York most of the time for ten months, and unable to support his wife and seven chil- dren by the sale of a few knicknacks here and there, Morris Yanover, a world war veteran, 38 years old, suf- fering from the effects of war gas, is unable to pay his rent and buy suf- ficient food for his family, The gas in his home has been turned off. Yanover and his family of eight oc- cupy four rooms on the second floor of 337 Hopkinson Ave., Brooklyn. 7 *£ @ Asks Shelter; Gets Jail. MONTCLAIR, N. J., Feb. 19.— James Redmond, a homeless and un- employed Negro worker, asked that he be allowed to sleep in the police station here. The police judge an- swered his request for shelter with a 30-day sentence. See wane PHILADELPHIA, Feb, 19. — A Pennsylvania report showed decrease during January of 27 per cent in con- struction employment, of 14% per cent in the electrical manufacturing trade and of 8 to 11 per cent in the building material and furniture trades, * * * Illinois Decline Severe. CHICAGO, Feb. 19.—The Illinois building trade ratio of employment decreased 5% per cent during the month and 38 per cent as compared with a year before, Employment in per cent below the same month last year, in the wood trade it was gown 21% per cent. The Illinois report set |forth the probability of early increase in employment with the ending of winter, but added: “It should be borne in mind that, in addition to the usual volume of unemployment, 120,000 workers have been dismissed in Illin- ois since 1923,” 139 WORKERS LOSE LIVES IN JANUARY ALBANY, Feb. 19 (FP).—Indus- trial accidents took the lives of 139 workers in New York state in Janu- ary, James A. Hamilton will hold hear- ings to determine whether all of these accidents were compensable. The workers left 65 widows, 70 children and 11 pare:.ts who were dependent on them. In 64 cases it could not be determined how many dependents were left. UNDERPAID BANK CLERKS. WILKES-BARRE, Pa., Feb. 19.— In .sentencing Adam Steinberg, a bank clerk, to three years for em- bezaling $19,000, Judge Kosek de- clared that tl ‘ailure of banks to pay their clerks a living wage was yosnanathin for nasrhr every area af embezzlement by clerks. Judge Kosek said that the banks force their em- ployees to dress neatly and associate in good society, altho meager wages Jare paid them. This its in the ment bureaus in Camden, Paterson, | Atlantic City. The department stat-| all metal trades combined was 12% | State Industrial Commissioner | d Work in Big Daily Worker Subscription Campaign [LL.D.LAUNCHES Yorke®s Bow IATTACK ON PRESS SHOWS ALL NEED OF SAVING PAPER Boston ‘Leads Drive but Other Cities Gain Dozens of subscriptions collected by workers in the campaign to gain 10,- 00 new subscrihers to The DAILY WORKER indicate that Boston is awake to the task which faces it. The drive, that is netting scores of new subscribers every week, has grippe not only the city of Boston but th Massachusetts, Workers Aroused. Workers in the shoe industry, fn textiles and in many other branches of Massachusetts industry are aroused to the importance of saving The DAILY WORKER, the only mili- tant organ of the American working class, Under the capable direction of Comrade Benjamin Brown, the sub campaign is piling un results to a de- gree never reached before. Alex Bail, organizer of District 1, Workers (Communist) Party is giving the full cooperation of the Party machinery in an effort to put the Massachwuetts | district in the front ranks of the na- tional drive for subscriptions. The Massachusetts workers realize that they are being given the strongest jcompetition by the other districts thruont the country and are making a special effort to keep their terri- tory at the head of the list. Scores of subscriptions have already been re- ceived and many more are promised daily. Save DAILY WORKER. The workers of Massachusetts \know that the arrest of Wm. F. Dunne, Alex Bittelman and Bert Miller, is the first step in the drive to smash the militant American Ja- bor movement and jail its leaders and they are more determined than ever to defeat the hosses by saving The DATLY WORKER. While Boston has the lead at pres- ent for sub collecting in Massachu- setts, cities such 2s Worcester, Lowell, Haverill and others are doing their part and The DAILY WORKER is anxious to receive accounts of their Haverhill and others are doing their different towns. To Curb Prison Sales WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 (FP).— Measures designed to regulate and restrict the distribution of prison- made goods are heing sought by the American Federation of Labor in its campaign to prevent prison-made pro- ducts from competing with products made by free labor. MISSING FROM FERRY. SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 19.—As a result of the flooding of the main deck and inner cabin of the ferry- boat Peralta, Saturday night, three persons are reported missing today by the police. About thirty pas- sengers were swept into the bay. J. W. Collins, a worker employed by the Pacific Telephone and Tele- graph Company, Mrs. Evelyn Kraft, 38, a Negro whose home is in Oak- land and Hugh Findley, of Berkeley, an assistant editor of a trade maga- zine are those still missing. our g readers Many of our readers like to get the DAILY WORKER at their newsstands or news- dealers, and for various rea- sons cannot get it. We ask our readers to speak with their newsdealer, fill out the coupon, and send it in to us, so that we will be able to make the necessary arrangements, to have it de- livered regularly, CIRCULATION DEPT, DAILY WORKER, 33 First St. New York City. My newsdealer is (name) : No. of copies ......, | ; My name ......... i Deeb ee eee eeewenetecoens My AGdreS8 oes eeeceseeseeeees whole industrial district of easterm)