The Daily Worker Newspaper, September 22, 1930, Page 4

ruplisted by Page Six the Compro@afly Publishing Co., Inc., daily, except Sunday, at 26-28 Union a Cable: Y. Telephone ks to the Daily Worker Stuyvesant 169€-7-8 28 Union Square “DAIWORK,” New York. N. ¥ Dail Central Orga Yorker ‘the-Ediymynist Party US.A. Vs ot SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Sy mat! everywtere: One year $6; six months $3; two months $1; excepting Boroughs of Marhattan and Bronx, New York City, and foreign. which are: One yr. $8; six mons, $4.60 CONDUCT OF COMMUNIST TRIALS By CARL SKLAR. ntenced to’ Folsom.) It has been our experience in southern Cali- with re 9 ng ac- y among non-Party workers but rt while ago geles Section Com- ainst a comrade well. n the Par an mittee expresse er rades arrested rae 1 of co: ployment demo zed the that were on h 6 at the tions—this comrade antagon asking the type of questions not “legally” proper. t partieu- ked in the asked whether he or wages. This was character of the j the It developed that about 70 per cent of the panel from which the done to class ry panel. expose ury was to be sele sted of individuals that were reti rest composed of busi- ness-men and professionals. The second ground for the comrade’s com- plaint was that h an attitude would “an- tagonize” the jury as well the judge, and that such things really “were not done.” It was not the “regular” or “legal” procedure to ject political issues into the selection of the sharply criticized of legalistic illu- The Section Committee this opportunistic expressio: sions. The committee clearly pointed out that such illusions meant the elimination of a clear cut class line which at the same time exposed the character of the courts as agencies of the capitalist class used for the suppression of the workers. Such illusions, it was pointed out, would change this clear cut class line into shameless speculation as to this judge, or that juror, and instead of shattering the illusion that there can be no “jus for workers in capitalist courts—would further such an illu- sion among the masses as well as in the Party. Instead of placing squarely in the forefront the r ues and mob: asses behind these es, the Communi: the trials of all class fighters would be nar- rowed down to fit the frame work of capitalist Section Committee, therefore upheld the policies applied and rejected the manifestation of legalistic illusions in the committee. The comrade then acknowledged hs error. Repetition in the Imperial Valley Trial. The above issues were cleared up in the Sec- tion Committee on May 4th. On the following day I was arrested on a warrant and taken down to El Centro to join other comrades and fellow work who awaited the well known trial of the Imperial Valley cases. This trial was scheduled for May 26. What was our amazement when a decision came from the Section Committee to the com- rades in prison in the Imperial Valley that they must leave the case in the hands of the lawyers. What was the only possible conclusion and practical effect of such a policy? First—the comrade who advanced the might as well have said: “Comrades, we must go easy in putting forward a class position. Let the lawyers do the talking. Let them con- duct the defense on legal grounds. The po: sible sentences are too heavy to “take chance: vilitantly putting forward the real cla s of the case.” condly this policy at once reflected itself ne of the defendants v kewise illusions. These illusions went so hen the lawyers advised that the or- of the Commun Party of Los An- s and likewise the organizer of the Inter- nal Labor Defense should not take the witness stand—adyancing the illusion that this may prevent conviction—some of the com- rades on trial temporarily succumbed to this proposal. Legalistic Hlusions Shattered. The wrong line adopted with regard to the conduct of the trial reflected itself in each phase of the case. But alas! The looked for results did not materialize. The “trial” was condu istic manner. Wor no ed in a highly legal- came to see and hear the fight. Unfortunately there was nothing to hear except the long, highly technical argu- ments ched in incomprehensible legal phraseology. The workers came—yawned a while—and left. In all accounts of the trial it was the attorneys that were featured as the “fighters.” Instead of using the courtroom as a (and this methed would have kept the co room filled with workers), instead of making this a fight of the workers against the bosses stice” the entire trial was turned into an illu ve search for “justice” in the capitalist court, through “legal,” “safe” and boss methods. | 7 ‘e” policy calculated to result in lignier senten succeeded in “moderating” the trial and its class line—but not the sen- tences. These were meted out to their ma: mum limit. An Important Political Omission. e@ on the question of the Imperial Val- ley tric], it is necessary to point to an im- port-nt error made in connection with the canpeign on these cases both locally and na- tienall; Nowhere is it being pointed out that this event represents not only an attack upon the Communist Party and the revolutionary trade unions as the vanguard of the working class by the growers of the Imperial Valley—but by the entire capitalist state machinery of south- ern California. Led by the Los Angeles Chamber of Com- e the state apparatus dealt its heaviest blow first of all against the Communist Party. Members of the CEC and Poleom speak of these convicted in the Imperial Valley case as “organizers of the Agricultural workers of Im- perial Valley.” This is politically incorrect and likewise in- correct as a matter of fact. True, there were a number of organizers, of tre agricultural wor'ers. Truc—the organiza- tion of the Imverial Valley wor: one oi the outstand’ng issues of the t But just as outstanding was the atteck on the en- tire revolutionary movement all over south- ern California and the fact that the capitalists and te state clearly recognized in the Com- mivr's’ Pevty the leader and besic force of the move ; Carl Skiar was tried and convicted precisely above argument | se he or; er of the Communist Party of southern fornia. Spector was convicted not for actual p of the Imperial Valley struggle but the active members of the Commu- in Los Angeles and secretary of the becau: was Waldron. It was in this way that the Imperial Valley frame-up was calculated to cripple the entire working class movement in southern California and particularly the Communist Party. larry Harvey, and other comrades, Not to understand this, means not to under- stand what took place in the Imperial Valley and also the entire situation in southern Cali- fornia. It means not to understand the fact that the Imperial Valley case was only a con- tinuation of the previous fight which devel- oped such a sharp form in southern California against the Communist Party and the entire left wing, and also the fact that this attack continues today with unabated fury. February 26—a Communist Trial. The trial of the comrades arrested at the February 26 unemployment demonstration in Los Angeles was t a Communist trial. The policies applied in this trial are devoid of illusions. The issue of class against class was clearly put forward. There was no shameful specu- lation as to “this juror or that juror.” There ar of “antagonizing” the judge. The court Communists who conveyed the issues invelved room was used as a forum by to the largest possible m s of worker The proceedin; the court room were used by the organization as a means of propaganda among the w The ten comrades on trial act as their own attorne: They fight for the interests of the Party and the working class in a way that the workers can under- stand, Here capitalist cla The entire ju facts exposed. trial workers on the though Negroes and per cent of the city Mexican or Negro w sses. justice was exposed. allenged and the re no indus- Second: that al- ans comprise 25 population—not a single as to be found among more than 100 jurors examined, Third: the fact that 7p per cent of jurors examined were retired, the rest mostly in business and well paid professions. Fourth: the jurors were selected by the judges who in turn are aceuts of the capitalist class and select the jury along very strict class lines. Other Issues Brought Out. Through the witness stand and through the concluding speec! the comrades, in fact through every ie means, the class line was p' The comrades were devoid of illusions and testified clearly and mil Y. Labor Juries. Just a word about labor juries. The and purpose of the labor are properly understood. For this reason impor- tant errors have been mi of labor juries. Usually, twelve workers are selee:d at in the selection lom. They y be ced up a few day or a few hours before ie instances such a labor jury the courtroom in order to avoid masses do not know tke: leer a guy of workers until a hasty jecfiet cores out | with the n.”” The r value of a workers’ jury is eon- tained in the aizgn through ch the | jury is selectey ch a must be repre- sentative of masses of wor'ers and ork- ations. The workers must know ence of the jury and must look forward to its deci In this way tke ion of the labor jury mvst be a part of afousing mass support in the case. Un- less such a mass basis is laid in the selec- mn of the jury and is part of the mobiliza- tion of the masses behind the class victims —the labor jury simply becomes a subter- fuge. The jury does not have to consist of the traditional number of twelve. The jury can be larger in the event real mass response comes from o selection of the jury This article i, ions and shops in the 0 means intended to als such as Castonia, and Billings, ete. It can be said, however, that the ‘experiences in these cases including the Imperial Valley case bear out in practice the conclusions of the arti » conclusions heve been based on ex- periences acquired in the struggle in South- ern California. ‘ In the course of this experience the local party has learned to continue the class strug- gle in court and to discard legalistic illusions. This has already had a profound effect upon the ideology of the party members and the workers generally. 26 trial’ was a Communist has placed into clearer light our ‘tion and hes corrected the gross legalistic applied in the trial in Imperial Valley. The capitalists plotting war against the Soviet Union. T Committee, Easley. Mathew Woll and other fakers of the A. F. of L. the socialist party are slandering the So- The Communist Party is mob ing all workers for the defense of the Soviet Union. Vote Communist! viet Union. Workers! Join the Party of Your Class! Communist Party US A. 43 East 125th Street, New York City 1 the undersigned. want to join the Commu nist Party. Send me more information. NAME) 6s 55:3 5:5)0'5:5.0 40s 56 ohng capes opulence AAMTESH .. cs es cececeeecresss UMP. . cs senee Occupation . Age ..... Mail this to the Central Office Vatly, 4 best both dt. New York, NOT Communtst | VERY POOR FARE FOR A HUNGRY STOM ACH Why is the Scei-list Platform Giint on Wege-Cutting? The following is the th’rd of a series of {articles written by Comrade I. Amter, at Hart's Island Pen! ary, on the “soc z party platform. Revolutionary workers witl find thece articles of great value for their discussions with their fellow workers on the present election campaign. oe Te By 1. AMTER. Piiconer No. £2351. Can ste in the syd Congres- sional Distriet—Bronx) (Communist lt is not an accident that wa even weaioueu in i platform of the cutting is not list” party, because the ating with the employers in reducing wages. Being supporters of capitalism and seekivg new methous of having the workers shouldered with the consequences of the economic crisis, the “socialists” are working together with the possible, but forcibly if necessary. Muste Helps Treachery of Green. Hoover biufied the workers into the vain be- lief that not only tae employers who ai.ended the November conferences would “upbold wages,’ but that this would be the general policy of the capitalists of this country. Almost before the ink was dry on the statement issued in November, the wage cutting campaign began and embraced every industry, but particularly e unorganized and sick industriss—coal, tex- , steel, auto, rubber, chemicals, etc. Up to date, some hundreds of wage cuts have been m and y¢t only recently William Green pr Hooyer for having “upheld wages!” This shows not only the insolence but the black treachery of the leadership of the Amer- ican Federation of Labor. A. J. Muste, “socialist” trade union leader, assails the leadership of the A. F. of L. for non-militaney in resisting wage cuts. But Muste should not talk so loud. The “socialist” led union of the Full-Fashioned Hosiery work- ers only a short time ago under pressure of the “socialist” leaders accepted a wage reduc- tion of 30 to 40 per cent. Here is the apostle of ‘militant action” criticizing the A. F. of L. leadership and himself guilty of one of the worst wage cuts that have been put across on the workers, 16,000 textile workers being af- lecveut Social Democratic Wage Cuts. The same policy is being forced on the work- ers In the Amalgamated Clothing Workers and Ladies Garment Workers—both ‘ socialist” con- trolled unions. Js this a peculiarity only of the American “socialist” party? By no means. In Germany, by agreement of the eypoyers end the social-democratic trade union leadership, a general wage reduction of 7% per cent is being forced on the workers, This was approved by the government while the social-democrats still were in the ministry. la Vege’, with the British Labor Covern- ment (socialist) in power, with unions con- BY BUR YOUNG COMM Along the Front . Some News from C! ‘o on the Carrying Cut of the Shock Plan. Tn Ga One in the Cary Tin Mill, the | shop nu other in the U. S. Steel Mill. We got out a bul'et'n for the mill which wes distributed a few dys ago, end near'y created a revolution in the plant, it was so successful. i Sundey we went to Ga: ited and talked to young wo We got a large number of to sign up for the Yourg Cor elected of- fie: of ve comrades bosses to put wage cuts across “painlessly” if | concrete ete. E week reg perform, union. In the city cf Chi g, paid dues, meet every ‘y comrade has a task to in the building of the ny 70 a meeting is going to be held 6n Thursday, of some young work- ers (Polish), from the stoc’s yards, We have enough to a shop nucleus there now. Phe spirit of the comrades is growing daily, and we ave vil convinced that we will have at least the five ‘shop nuclei by the end of the Skock Plan. Comrades are out collecting PRE-PLENUM DISCUSSION IST LEAGUE U.S.A. , we have two functioning | on the Young Worker, and you will get some dough in a day or two, Tonight we have a meeting of a new unit in Maywood and a new unit in Indiana Har- bor. Work has been started on the unemployed conference and youth committees are being formed in the unemployed councils. A conference for a basketball league is making the most progress. One. of our weak- nesses is in connection with the anti-lynch conference. We are only just getting to work on it here, but will do our best to make it a real success, * Raho Chicago seems to be coming along now. The comrades in the district must discuss the methods by which these achievements were made, as well as some of the lessons to be drawn from the work. All such experiences should be written up and sent in to the Na- tional Office, Young Communist League, 43 Fast 125th Street, New Yors. All comrades in the units, and in the districts are asked ! to contribute to this column regularly. Tomorrow some news from the Cleveland Shock Front. trolled by “socialists,” wage cutting is proceed- ing. One hundred twenty five thousand wool workers had their wages cut, with the goy- ernment and trade union ofiicials doing every- thing to put it through, despite the resistance of the workers. In Fyance, the adoption of the socialist insurance law, which required a three per cent compulsory contribution by the work- ers, meant a reduction of 3 per cent in wages, The workers demanded: an increase in wages —but the “socia trade unionists sabotaged and seld out: the strike that took place. . Wages Cut in the Anthracite. The excuse of'the capitalists of the Unitea States is. twofo There must pe a wage adjustment” in unton shops and factories so that they can compete with non-union shops; and secondly there must be a general wage ision”—that wage cut—so that the United States may compete on the world mar- ket. The ¢ 8 ave using the excuse the world ove ry to saddle the workers with the effects of the economic crisis and keep up their own profits, William Green no longer can lie about wage cuts. His conservative Heutenants are having no easy time explaining how Hoover “kept wages high” and how wage cuts mean wages “up.” The workers are discontented. The or- ganized workers know that their wages are the next to go down. John L, Lewis, the coal min- ing traitor, forced the anthracite miners to agree to a “fact-finding committee” which will take up “readjustments” of wages—that is, will put over wage cuts. The building trades work- ers in mest cases are not getting the official wage scale, but, are glad to get jobs at $5-6 a day. A Wall Street paper con say quite correctly that whether the trede union leaders admit it or not, wage cuts have been going on quietly for some time. “Socialist” Platform Silent for Good Reason. There is good reason, therefore, why the “socialist” platform can talk much and loud- ly about booze and graft, but can “forget” the vicious wage cutting campaign, which as yet is not yet in full swing. The employers will take full advantage of the fearful un- employment this: fall ahd winter to slasi ‘ the bosses. wages on all sides. Already it is announced in the steel industry, the coal mining “fact finding committee” will cut wages, textile and auto will cut. The bosses are relying on the full cooperation of the fascist A. F. of L. leadership, they will depend not less on the { “socialist” party, which may mouth phrases of | “militancy” but betrays the workers never- theless. Why do the “socialists” use militant lan- guage? For the simple reason that the work- ers are getting into a fighting mood; they are being forced to live far below the sub- sistance level and whole families have to go to work. In Colorado it is reported that fam- ilies of six and seven working in the beet- fields have a total income of $500 a year. The workers—with the unorganized, un- skilled and semi-skilled workers leading be- cause they are being attacked first—are be- ginning to fight. Auto workers, textile work- , agricultural workers—are organizing and. fignling, organizing into the revolutionary unions of the Trade Union Unity League, they are beginning to strike against wage cuts. Under Communist leadership, they are going into the fight against this vicious attack of No Accident. It is no accident the wage cuts play no part in the “socialist” platform. The workers must understand this, as they must understand the strikebreaking unemployment insurance scheme of the “socialist” party. They must understand that the fight of the working class is against the capitalist class, their govern- ment end their tools among the workers—the fascist A. F. of L. leadership and the social- fascist “socialist” perty. The Communist Party in its program of the everyday struggie and in the election campaign calls on the workers to organize and strike against wage cuts. This is one of | the primary demands and needs in the pre- sent situation. The Communist Party thus proves to be the only real party of the work- ing class fighting always in its interest. Workers! Support the program of the Com- munist Party! Support its candidates in the elections! Vote Communist. (Written at Hart’s Island Penitentiary.) By JORGE Sweet Land of Frame Up We may be wrong, but we think that the story we are about to relate could happen only in these United States. Anyhow, here it is: The New York Police Department, com- manded by the paragon of patrolmen, Mr. Mulrooney, who knows how to handle the Civil Liberties Union in a way to make them agree that he’s the Cat’s Meow, has what is known as the “Bomb Squad.” As everybody knows, a “Bomb Squad” is to find bombs. If some bombs aren’t found now and then, what the hell is a “Bomb Squad” for? Ergo, Detective Eugene Canevari of the “Bomb Squad” bethought himself of the ne- cessity of finding a bomb. But nary a bomb could be found. Not to be thwarted by such trifles, he kept on detecting and finally made friends with a title setter by the name of Prosperino Rozzano, 35, of 6805, 14th Ave. Brooklyn. To Rozzano, the ferret of the law confined the information that he was just pining away for a bomb, was going down to an early grave if he didn’t get a bomb, and added that for a bomb he would, pay $100 cash, coin of the realm. i It appears that tile setting is a bit slack, and Rozzano, touched by the appeal of Mul- rooney’s man-hunter, assured Canevari that he, Rozzano, would not let such a friend go bombless into the Great Unknown. He himself would make Canevari a bomb. And he did. But when he delivered the bomb, and got the $100 in his jeans, Canevari up and arrested him, and appeared before Magistrate Jeanette Brill charging Rozzano with bomb making. et And Mulrooney, valiant defender of the law, promoted Canevari at once. Why not? The Bomb Squad had actually fourtd a bomb! But, curses! In the presence of the court, Rozzano took the bomb he was arrested for making, and tore the thing to pieces. And it was shown to the magistrate, who knows a bomb from a bribe, that all it was made of was some tiles, tin cans, papers, a rubber tube and some tape; the only explosive added be- ing some rather bad-smelling old socks, And what happened? We'll tell you— Canevari re-arrested Rozzano for “accepting money for false pretenses” and Rozzano is yet lying in durance vile in this city of New York, United States of Graft and Corruption, That’s all! * ° . Tales for Children Once upon a time, a long, Jong time ago, at least as far back as last year, there was a gipk by the name of Lovestone, who thought he was Prince of Wales in the Communist Party of the U. S. A. So he fell off a horse and has been picking himself up ever since, but with- out notable success. He now comes up with the claim that it’s his crisis because he saw it first. Rather oddly admitting that there is a crisis, by the way. Way back in February, 1928, he says, “I said that—It cannot yet be said at this time that we are facing an immediate deepgoing crisis. But the continuous development of the contra- dictions within American capitalism is pro- ceeding at such a pace that the coming of the deepgoing crisis is unavoidable in the near future.’” Now that was 0.K., wasn’t it? Yes, it wasn’t because the poor fellow kept on say- ing exactly the same thing—always moving up that “unavoidable near future” unt% the Communist International got out a new calen- dar on him, where his always approaching “near future’ was found somewhere in the past. Anyhow, great be the rejoicing that he at last has found a crisis. But what does he propose to do about it? Change the trade union line? Never! Neither in 1928 or 1930, neither when the crisis was merely “unavoidable” nor when it is here. However, there IS something he proposes. The whole phone-booth full of Lovestoneites is determined to “Vote Communist.” But with the specific qualification that they do so in spite of disagreeing with the analysis, pers- pectives, principles, strategy and tactics of the Communist Party. Otherwise, we're all oO. K. On the same basis, the “Majority Group” proposes a united front to beat back “the attacks of reaction.” We are assured that all the masses concealed under Gitlow’s vest are just thirsting fot the blood of reaction, but are painfully prevented by lack of a united front. This is downright sad. But still there is hope. If Bert Wolfe is suffering from wage cuts, what is to prevent him from organ- izing with the other “proletarians” of his factory and striking under the leadership of the Trade Union Unity League? Nothing at all. What is that? There aren’t workers enough in the whole “majority” to make-up a quorum? Tell us, then, how that “broad united front” is to be organized. Oh, you want us to turn over the workers! And a “Joint Committee” in which you're the “joint” and also the “com- mittee.” Thanks for the buggy ride, we’re for the united front from below! See the Thesis on the United Front of the Fourth Congress of the Communist Interna tional, paragraph entitled “Russian Experi- ence.” ~ F * * * An Oceanic Conspiracy Remember about the big medicine man, Go! ernor Pollard of Virginia, who in company wi a crowd of other yoodoo worshipers went ot on a ship into Hampton Roads and ceremo! ously threw the eifigies of “Old Man Depret sion’ and “Old Lady Pessimism” into the sea’ Well, reports that have been suppressed by the censor, say that Father Neptune, who hi something to say aboul high and low tide, i not about business conditions, conspired with Old Man Wind and. Old Lady Waves, and brought the darn thing right back again and landed them high and dry on the beach at Norfolk. William Green and Mathew Woll are among the rulers of America. They support all the capitalist parties, Republican, Democratic, “socialist,” that stand for this capitalist so- ciet Vote against capitalism! Vote Com- munist! ny