The Daily Worker Newspaper, April 20, 1928, Page 6

. pression of vengeance of the coal operators «gainst the Mine rtittternynw THE DAILY WORKER operators. Page we THE DAILY WORKER, NEW YORK. FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 1928 Published by the NATIONAL DAILY WORKER PUBLISH'NG ASS'N, Inc. Daily, Except Sunday 83 First Street, New York, N. Y. Cable Address SUBSCRIPTION RATES Phone, Orchard 1680 “Daiwork” By Mail (in New York on’ By Mail (outside of New York): £3.00 per year $4.50 six ni $6.50 per year $3.50 six months $2.50 three months. $2.00 three months. \ Address and mail out checks to fo THE DAILY WORKER, 33 First Street, New York, N. Y. | -ROBERT MINOR Assistant Editor.. WM. F. DUNNE &itercd as second-class mail at the post-office at New York, N. ¥., under the act of March 3, 1879. Working Class Will Not Accept Verdict Against Bonita The verdict of “manslaughter” against Sam Bonita, courage- ous president of Local 1703, of the United Mine Workers at Pitts- ton, is a framed up verdict. | We intend to go to the bottom of the facts which indicate | that the case was not only a frame-up, but a frame-up in more ways than one. | The hideous story has already begun to leak out, and the facts will stir the mine workers of the Anthracite districts when they see them in all the astonishing details. The jury was loaded against Sam Bonita; as we have said before, it was a jury wuich by nature and composition could not have exercised its own mind but was absolutely bound to reflect the influence of the big coal corporations in the community. But | even this loaded jury was tampered with in a way to startle the | hardest-boiled jury-tamperers of the San Francisco frame-up ring | or of William J. Burns. For the moment we do not refer to ques- tions of the ordinary methods of tampering with juries behind the scenes. We refer to the open acticn of Bill McClean, the coal op- erators’ judge in the case, who publicly tampered with the jury after it had brought in a verdict, miserable and cowardly, it is true, but which did not fully enough carry out the will of the coal | i Secondly, a Pittston newspaper has turned up the fact that} eleven out of the twelve jurors were convinced that Bonita did no more than return the fire of a gunman who had already shot at| him. These eleven jurors, of a class composition entirely preju- | diced against the mine worker, nevertheless in the jury-room stated their belief that Bonita was not guilty and that they wanted to acquit him. There was a long dispute in which the re- maining juror declared that he would stand out for conviction | “until the cows come home.” The weak eleven jurymen, con- vinced of the innocence of the defendant, then compromised on | a verdict of ‘involuntary manslaughter” on the condition that the judge be requested to show “mercy.” This was the cowardly | manner of wavering betiveen their mental conviction of the in- nocence of the prisoner and the coal corporation influence over their “souls” wielded by the twelfth juryman. With two empty words, “involuntary” and ‘“‘mercy,” the cow- ardly jurors covered their consciences and placed into the hands of the cual companies agent, Judge McClean, the power to do that which he was so pleased to do with Bonita. McClean, in defiance of all legal form, refused to accept the compromise verdict and bluntly instructed the jury to return with a verdict of manslaughter without any “involuntary.” When the jury crawled back to the coal company judge, hav- ing carried out his command, McClean was free to do anything short of giving the mine workers’ representative life or the chair. The stupid word ‘‘mercy” was ignored and Sam Bonita was given the heaviest sentence in the power of the coal company judge to mete out—a sentence which if served out will mean the sys- tematic torture of the miners’ local president at hard labor for a term of from six to twelve years. A \ Next—the ugliest phases of the whole rotten frame-up seem to be indicated vaguely by the failure of the attorneys for the defendant to ask for*an appeal! How far does the frame-up go? What is the reason these attorneys did not raise the real ues of the case during the trial? Why did they not show that it was a struggle over the effort to impose the contractor system en the mine workers? Why did not these lawyers call the imfa- mous Cappelini, John Lewis’ henchman, who was framing up the case against Bonita, to the witness stand? Why did these lawyers fail to show that John L, Lewis was pulling wires for the death of the Mine Workers’ local president? Bill McClean, agent of the coal companies and judge in the case, in his words from the bench, when he refused the first verdict of the jury, gave obvious indications that a certain verdict is In the trial of Sam Bonita, fighting president of Local 1703 of the United Mine Workers, eleven jurors said they believed Bonita not guilty. THE JURY FINDS—— One stood out for conviction. Bonita was convicted because of which controls the court and dominates the lives of these puppet jurors. The custom of celebrating May Day| in Ch as a proletarian holiday was/ inaugurated about nine years ago. Since May Day originated in the{ struggle of our fellow werkers in the} United States, we would naturally wish to join in this international cele- bration to make it a landmark for our victory in China too. Hence, pres-| sure was brought to bear upon the| publi¢ officials in Canton to make it a public holiday. Evér since then, we workers in Canton enjoy this pub- lie holiday with greater enthusiasm than any other. May Day in Canton. May First would be quite a sum- mer day in Canton. Our celebration could comfortably be held outdoors. Thousands of us would flock to the First Public Garden, or the Eastern Parade Grounds, or the Cemetery of the 72 Great Revolutionists, or the Campus of Sun Yat-Sen University. These are the favorite open air meet- ing places. We would have the right of way of practically the entire city. Throngs would march through the “Ma-Loos,” the modern roads travers- ing the city, bearing banners and pla- ecards with slogans of the following nature: “Workers on to Victory,” “Down with Imperialism,” “Masses, Awake!”, “Workers of the World Unite,” ete. This May Day Celebration has al- way aroused mass.interest. It is one of the rare occasions that we workers meet together with the peculiar feel- ing of power and victory. Formerly Canton Workers-Send May 1 Greetings we were nothing but mere coolies. But ever since we celebrated May Day, we have learnt that we are more than coolies. Therefore the foreign im- perialists and thé ruling class of China, who used to kick us around when we did not please them, have learned to treat us differently, be- cause they have realized too that there are powerful organizations be- hind now. Though workers, still, we are slaves no more. Result of Organization. The contrast can still be seen now. Workers elsewhere in China, who have not learned the lesson of organiza- tion of the May Day celebration, are still knocked about or kicked around at will as mere pigs or dogs. There- fore, organization and solidarity have been our blessing. The month of May is certainly a stormy one for old China. On the 7th of May, 1915, Yuan-Shi-kai sub- By Fred Ellis Kellogg “Peace” ‘Notes Do Not Fool Workers Editor, The DAILY WORKER: It is amusing to read from day to day despatches between M. Briand and Secretary Kellogg concerning the “outlawing of war.” It is time that these two gentlemen realize that the workers are far too intelligent to be psychologized by such words as “outlawing war.” Every class conscious worker, and by the way they are the ones whose lives are always sacrificed, knows that as long as capitalist nations are in existence, so long will war be nec- essary. New markets to sell their products, new territories to exploit, are factors which are absolutely nec- essary for the existence of the capi- |talist state, and these of course, lead to economic rivalries between na- tions which eventually bring on war. It is time that these two statesmen stop such nonsensical talks as “out- lawing war” between capitalist na- tions. 3ut since they are so eager to see |the abolition of war, since they are }so eager to stop giving the workers blood baths, why did they reject the Soviet Union proposal for immediate and complete disarmament, which would have brought about the aboli- tion of war, since without any arma- ments there can be no war? No, they | would not accept the Soviet’s proposal | because they know their states can- {not exist without possessing arma- |ments, and that their discussion con- cerning the “outlawing of war” is mere hypocrisy. C., CHARLES ALEXAND§R. HOD CARRIERS TO CELEBRATE. WASHIHNGTON, April 19—The Its 25th anniversary will be cele- brated by the International Union of Hod Carriers, Building and Common Laborers, in Washington, Wednesday, | with a dinner at the Hamilton Hotel | at which executives of the American | Federation of Labor and of its build- ing trades department will be guests. | The organization at the last conven- tion of the A. F. of: L. was granted representation on a basis of 70,000 members, the coal companies’ power ee mitted to the 21 demands of the, Japanese imperialists, pledging China! But the event of May 30th 1925, in to be its vassal state, The masses were} which the British imperialists shot indignant but powerless, being totally| down ruthlessly many of the Chinesd unorganized and _ without political | workers and students in Shanghai, leaders. On the 4th of May in Sard met a different reception, because by the students of Peking rose up to Pro-| that time the workers had already or- test the Treaty of Versailles which | ganized. Then, instead of empty word granted the Shantung Province to the protest or supplication, the workers Japanese imp: s. But that again) of Canton initiated the most militant was a mere protest to which the boycott of the British imperialists, foreign imperialists turned a deaf ear. i Thru this aggressive boycott, the A Memorable May. Photo shows the Cantonese workers celebrating May Day in 1926. The Cantonese 24 hours, to demonstrate their solidarity with their fellow-workers thruout the world. mighty British imperialism lost rrae- tically all its trade in South China, besides its long, carefully-fostered imperialistic prestige. It was finally compelled to sue for peace from the workers of Canton. Now all the Chinese militarists and the foreign imperialists have begun to realize that the workers in China are the most powerful and militant group which is destined to control the future of China. This fear has mani- fested itself clearly in their recent cooperation to suppress the workers by the most barbaric means. But they are knoking their heads against solid rock. The power of the workers in China is growing fast despite tremendous obstacles. We, as Chinese workers, therefore, take this occaston to send greetings to our fellow work- ers in the United States, and let us all call out in unison, throughout the entire world: Workers of the World Unite! Demonstrate for international labor solidarity on May First! workers stopped work in a solid body for “Anti-War” Conference of Liberals Puts Gag on Real Progressives By HUGO OEHLER. KANSAS CITY, Missouri, Apr. 12 (By Mail).—The spring conference of was expected and understood in advance, and that the word ‘“‘in- voluntary” was a deviation from the text of something agreed} upon. How far does the frame-up go! | In all events the working class } to accept the| fiendish judgment of the coal compan: against Sam Bonita, | president of local 1703. That verdict expresses nothing but the fact that Bonita is an enemy of the coal.companies, and the tence of twelve years in the penitenti sen- | is nothing but the ex-| Workers. Not Mendola, and not Moleski, and not Bonita, either, shall be given up by the workers to the coal operators’ jails! The working class must fight these verdicts and compel the liberation of Bonita, Moleski and Mendola! The Anthracite work- ers, supported by the entire working class, must make the fight for the freedom of these men a part of the fight to defeat the coal operators and their agents, Lewis and Cappelini, in the big strug- gle of which this hideous sentence is a part. The Anthracite miners should regard the verdict as a signal to strengthen the Save-the-Union committees and Defense Com- mittees to prepare the districts to swing into line with the big national strike of the entire coal industry. The coal operators sentenced Sam Bonita. |students, local individuals, and Kirby | Mine workers, beat the coal operators! oa ORE the Fellowship of Reconciliation was. held April 10-12 with delegates from Oklahoma, Ka Nebraska and ouri and with a good number of Page and Paul Jones. The program} ted that they had a “constructive | olicy against war and crime.” And the order of business had such choice subjects “Militarism in the United states,” “Discussion on Latin Amer- ican Relations,” “Problems of the Pa; | cific,” “A Constructive Foreign Pol- icy,” etc. With delegates numbering } some thirty-odd, the conference got} down to business—business of talking | and that’s about all. | A representative of the Young Workers (Communist) League and, one from the All-American Anti. Imperialist League were present. 1 Paul Jones takes the position that | the United States is not the most militaristic nation, and Kirby Page | makes much over the feeble protest that was heard when congress spent | millions for a bigger navy. The trend | of the conference was pacifist and idealistic. When any of the high- lights would deal with economic prob- | lems they would always modify them | to such an extent that at the finish, there was not much left. Their con- | structive policy at the close turned many of the delegates learned of for into a policy of capitulation to the/the first time. Militarism in the present order, to pacifism that in-| United States is a nice thing for pa- evitably helps the war-mongers by cifists to talk about but when the spreading illusions in the minds of' Young Workers League representa- sections of the workers. | tives ask for concrete steps, for mob- The storm center of the conference ion of the workers into confer- seemed to come from the two “unin-' ences and mass meetings, for direct vited guests,” and the diseussion|fight against the Citizens Militdry hifted-to: problems and factors that! Training Camps, for the sending of Cd Facing the Cell By. pavib GORDON. in weary of pacing my cell for hours; i'm tired of sinking into abysms of dizziness Pacing three lady-steps one way, Facing sharply To pace three steps back And face about and pace again and pace and face forever. I am become ‘ A three-paced oval fldor; My mind rushes wildly to freedom— Three paces — — — Forced back by steel-made reality It rushes forward madly, Clamoring for freedom From the hell of three paces, face, three paces again Until I am the steel that cages me. . Tombs Prigon, Cell 611, April 6, 1928, { the comrades into the capitalist forces?cause the Communists are for class to carry on the work against mili-|war and the Fellowship will oppose tarism, ete., the conference was at/those who stand for class war as well first shocked and then treated it as|as the others, a curiosity, The danger of war, the correct But They Don’t Mean It. analyses of the Pacific problems, the Latin American discussion proceed-|Latin American question, as well as ed nicely until a resolution was asked | militarism were not advanced by the for to be sent to the Washington stu- | Fellowship group nor was one con- dent conference, to the government |crete step taken to do anything, and the press and then things | Talk, Talk, Talic. changed. When medical relief was| Talk was the order of business and asked for Sandino’s army it was |action was either dead or not. born eliminated in the Lewis machine yet. Many of the dele; fashion. When “Enlist .with San-|conference-with new Hees auent Cone dino” leaflets were distributed it re-|munism and the anti-imperialist newed the discussion and some spoke |forces of the imperialist countries of treason. ‘ ‘and the colonial countries. Some ex- A “constructive foreign policy”|pressed the idea that there were turned out to be asking the govern-|shortcomings in the steps to be taken ment to sign some more treaties, set | by the conference and referred to the up a few more arbitration bodies,|two “gentlemen” of the left. outlaw war and such as well as dis-| ‘The members of the fellowship or- armaments in the future, The dis- | ganization will have to learn, if they cussion leader, Kirby Page, the chair- are going to be of any benefit to the man, Paul Jones, and most of the | majority of mankind, that the ques- conference agreed that neither the tion is not that between war or pa- financial capitalists nor the imperial- | cifism but the choice between imper- ists have control of the government. |ialist war or revolution, They will It’s only a matter of changing the |have to choose, for, as pacifists, they public opinion. But how to change it | inevitably help the war mongers, The Was not stated except join the Fel-|“two from the left” at the conference |lowship; ete, {pointed out what steps for the ma- The Soviet proposal at the Geneva | jority of mankind must be en, and conference read by the Young Work- | that the problem is war and revolu- ers League representative, was treat-| tion, and revolution must be the choice ed with respect, but was considered |of the masses who want a way out to one that would not be carried out be-|a better society,