The Daily Worker Newspaper, February 13, 1931, Page 4

=~onsned by the Comprodaily Publishing Co., Inc, daily except Sunday, at 50 Bast 18th Street, New York City, N. ¥. Telephone Algonquin 7956-7, Cable: “DAIWORK.” Address and mail al] checks to the Dally Worker, 50 East 13th Street, New York, N. ¥. Page Four . By mafl everywhere: Oné year, $6; of Manhattan and Bronx, New York Ctiy, Forelgn; one year, $8: six months, $4.50. SUBSCRIPTION RATES se ix months, $3; two months, $1; excepting Boroughs ALL SUPPORT TO THE COM. ING NEEDLE TRADES STRIKE! (Statement of the District Comriittee, Commu- nist Party, District New York.) e will be a real struggle ions of the workers in are working under the The workers in the ave had their wages cut in fhe past 3 Those asses of products, Negro, earn hardly enough have to labor long hours. The not been organized, and the double problem of being for decent wages and con- being organized. le force of the bosses’ mobilized against the work- © manufacturers associa- r to its membership, call- | t to tolerate a radical worker nd to line up their workers in nt ov on (Schlesinger company | uni . This shows the close association of the fascist company union of Schlesinger with the manufacturers. In addition, the Tammany Hall he police and the courts are mob- 1 the Needle Trades but against any im- ons of the workers. ‘s and the American Federa- interested in the hoped The conditions in the ops are equally mis- rs are kept from struggling ment in conditions by the of- nion in the shops of the I. L. open fascists or social fas- e workers in the open shops look to Trades Workers’ Industrial Union for id organiz: m. In their misery, that ther only one way out and that is by organization and ditions of the Negro and Spanish ng. They are willing to fight —and the Needle Trades Workers’ Industrial Union will lead them in this struggle. What are the tasks in the coming strike? 1. The workers in the open shops, of all sec- tions of the trade, must be brought out on strike. The demands put forward by the union will rally them. 2. for an the ILGWU x10ps, which are no better than ist be brought into the struggle. these workers both by the ny union bureaucrats and their sluggers, is intense, but these workers suffer as much as the workers in open shops, and must be drawn into the strugg! 3. All workers’ organizations must be mob- ilized for the struggle. This includes unions, also of the A. F. of L., more and more of Which are recognizing the fascist character of the A. rs in shops—the company union open shops—m ‘The terrorism aga’ bosses, the c F. of L. lead p and will assist in the strug- so the fraternal organizations must | be induced to give full support to this struggle, which will be an historical one for the needle trades. What are the tasks of the Communists? Here as everywhere, the Communists must be the leaders. As much as the needle trades workers suffer from the miserable_conditions in the trade, unquestionably the Communists suffer still more, owing to the persecutions in the open shops, thé ‘sacrifices for the union, ete. What the needle trades comrades have done thus far fs only part of what will be required of them: They must be at the front in the strike, on the many committees, in the manifold activities. The workers look to the Communists, and the Communists not only will not be wanting, but will set an example to the workers, to increase their militancy and fighting ability. The Young Communists, who up to the pres- ent have been negligent in the work of the union, must wake up to their serious responsi- bility. Many of the Negro and Spanish needle trades workers are young workers, who can best be approached and rallied by the Young Com- | munists. But even were the situation in the | industry not as outlined, the Young “Commu- | nists must recognize not only that their duty is | clear, to intensify all activities before, during | and after the strike, but that just such struggles | enable them to exert a wide influence, to | heighten the militancy and revolutionary un- derstanding of the workers. The Communist Party is fully awarp of the significance of the coming dress strike, All of the needle trades workers in the Party are ‘con- scious of its meaning. The Party will throw not only its needle trades members into the battle. The entire Party and all the organizations sym- pathetic to the Party will be mobilized for the struggle. The Trade Union Unity League will rally all militant workers for the strike, for this will be a class battle of great importance not only to the needle industry, but to the entire working class, In this strike, the base of the union will be widened. Thousands of the work- THIS SAME OLD AN{WER Withn BE DIFFERENT 2E FoRE LONG By RYAN WALKER. ers of the country will see that the “Reds” are not only sincere, but have fighting ability. The winning of this struggle will be the signal for | the workers not only of the needle industry, but | of many other industries, to raise the banner of struggle against the horrible conditions that exist in practically every industry of the country. The duty of every Party and Young Commu- nist League member, every member of the Needle ‘Trades Workers’ Industrial Union, at the pres- ent time is to throw himself or herself complete- | ly into the work of mobilizing and organizing the workers for the strike. The task is big, the duties and responsibilities many. But the Com- munists, not daunted by difficulties and respon- sibilities, are fired all the more to give all their energy to the work. Every Communist, and every class conscious worker must and will give his best to make the dress strike led by the | Needle Trades .. -rkers’ Industrial Union, a vic- torious struggle. National Textile Prepares Great Struggles By PAT DEVINE. (Acting Secretary, N. T. W. U.) | NEW BEDFORD, Mass., Feb, 12—Forward to | the New England Conference! Prepare to lead | immediate strikes in ‘New England and particu- larly in Lawrence! was the keynote of the Na- tional Execu' Board meeting of the National ‘Textile Workers’ Union held in Providence, Sun- day, Feb. 1. Delegates representing Lawrence, New Bed- ford, Providence, Pawtucket, Paterson, Passaic | and Philadelphia were present and pointed out | how the N. T. W. U, was not only leading strug- gles but winning victories as evidenced by the stopping of wage cuts and speed-up in Lawrence, Print Works and Wood Mill; Pawtucket, Royal Silk Mill; and Paterson, Metal and Columbia. Every representative emphasized that today the slightest infringement on conditions of the workers brought about an immediate strike situation. New England Conference. Jim Reid, chairman of the Executive Board, in summing up the discussion on New England, drew attention to the wage cutting campaign of the American Woolen Co., largest woolen combine in the world, with 25 mills in New England, which had already enforced a 12% per cent cut in many mills, and has intimated @ flat 12% per cent cut in all the mills this spring. “We must smash the 12% per cent pro- posed cut and regain the cut already enforced,” said Reid. “New England is the battle ground today. We must build up our New England Con- ference for February 22 with representation from at least 65 mills. Concrete and detailed prepar- atory work will put this acrass.” Delegate after delegate reiterated this senti- ment and the board meeting made concrete preparations for the conference. The Boston Trade Union Unity League was brought in and all forces are being centered around the prep- arations for strike in New England. Philadelphia Storm Center. Bill Murdoch, national secretary of the union, THE COMMUNIST A Magazine of the Theory and Practice of Marxism-Leninism CONTENTS Editorials:—Social Demagogy, Speechmaking in London, Mass Action in India. Calverton's Fascim, by William Z. Foster. The significance of the Bank Failures, by Harry Gannes. The Revolutionary Movement in Mexico. Our Party Organization, by R. Baker. American Imperialism Enslaves Liberia, by G. Padmore. The Task of Our Party in Agrarian Work, by H. Puro. Resolution on the Negro Question in the U. S. Soviets in China, by L. Magyar. The Collapse of the Theory of Organized Capl- talism, by Sam Don, Look Reviews. Uae tae Make all checks, money orders, and cotrespond- tnce to: The Communist Party, P.O.B, 148, Sta- tion D, New York. Subscription rates $2.00 a r; $1.25 for six months; foreign and Canada & year, Single copies 25 cents, | MacMann has publicly announced in the press Workers Union just released from Danville jail, was placed in charge of Philadelphia during the present im- portant strike situation. It was reported that one thousand hosiery workers and four thou- sand upholstery weavers are already striking. The rest of the hosiery workers have already voted to strike in the middle of February, which means that in a few weeks 34,000 workers in Kensington will be out fighting against wage | cuts. U. T. W. and Musteite Betrayals. President Tom MacMann of the U. T. W. has been howled down every he has spoken at union meetings and tried stop the strike. that the strikes are unofficial. The Muste group of the full fashioned hosiery workers who carry out the same betrayal policy as MacMann are in the field trying to fool the workers and pre- vent a real militant struggle. The N. T. W. U. is on the field establishing united fronts from below with the U. T. W. rank and file. Our plans are being carried out inside the U. T. W. meetings. A broad conference has been arranged for the middle of February at which the struggle will be consolidated and the strike made really decisive. The Board decided to put on a concrete and vigorous campaign in Philadelphia which is the jast remaining stronghold of the U. T. W. The members of the U. T. W. were urged to join the N. 'T. W. U., the decision being that their union cards in the fake union will be accepted as transfers into the revolutionary union. Score Danville Betrayal. Another proof of the militancy and determin- ation of the workers’ to fight despite the be- trayals of the-U. T. W. and the brutality of the mill owners was the most significant lesson drawn from the Danville strike: The final be- trayal of Gorman, the U. T. W. vice president, is in line with the whole conduct of the strike. The Board issued a statement calling upon the Danville strikers to join the N. T. W. U. The Board also took steps to continue the work in Danville while at the same time emphasizing Charlotte as the main concentration point in the South, Dye Houses Concentration Point. The situation in Paterson where the discon- tent of the workers is showing itself in the de- mand for a general strike was given serious con- sideration. The Board pointed out that the de- sire for struggle was not enough. For the struggle to be successful we must have careful but energetic organizational work. To bring about this, the Board instructed the Paterson district to pay particular attention to the Dye houses which are the most stratetic center of the industry and from which a real strike move- ment will come, Bulld Fighting Fund. f ' The Board decided to urge all working class organizations and all individual sympathizers and supporters of the movement to rally to its aid in this period of preparation for struggle. New Bedford and Gastonia where the union led historic strikes are evidence that it can and does organize for struggle. The present campaign is likely to surpass in militancy even that of pre- vious struggles. Rush all donations to the N. T. W. U. National 77 Potomska Street. New Bedford, Mawes Me bt dawn iD ‘Functioning of Section Depart- PARTY LIFE | Conducted by the Organization Department of | the Central Committee, Communist Party, U.S.A. | | “XPERIENCE IN ORG WORK IN CHICAGO DISTRICT Under this heading a series of short ar- ticles will be printed, giving experiences in the Chicago District, as well as suggestions and opinions developed in the course of the work, that will be available for all districts, ments Pees. written in the previous article concerning the status of District Departments, holds true for section departments with two qual- ifications, (1) on a section scale we generally did not even make a pretense at departments, and (2) we have made less progress in improve- ment on a section scale. During the period we did not organize depart- | ments of the District Committee, it is not sur- prising that departments on a section scale were not established or where attempts were made, with no uniform policy or guidance given. At one time, only a few months ago, not every sec- tion committee even had a full compliment of leading functionaries such as Industrial Organ- izer and Agitprop. This lack of Section Departments brought com- plete bankruptcy to the nuclei and is an explan- ation of why the nuclei were not a political factor in their shops and neighborhoods, of the low political level of the membership and of why new members were not kept in the Party. It is a non-contradictiooal fact that there were a majority of nuclei functionaries who, between | the time they were elected and then succeeded by someone else (a period of several months) they were never called to a meeting, never were given directives and seldom participated in mob- ilizing the membership for a campaign. ‘The problem to decide was how to constitute the Section Departments. There were two pre- vailing conceptions, one, organize a department | of three to five comrades, a majority from the ranks of the Section Committee and a minority from the nuclei; the other, constitute the de- partment from the Section head of the depart- ment, plus the nuclei functionary of the same department. There were feasible arguments for one and against the other, but we decided on the second choice, and insofar as our limited ex- perience goes, it shows itself to be successful. ‘The reasons we decided on this method of constructing the Section Departments were: 1. To involve those comrades who were re- sponsible for the same kind of work in the nuclei, 2. To make a drastic step in overcoming the gulf which separated the nuclei from the sec- tions. 3. To insure a more uniform understanding and carrying out of all plans. Once the departments are well established and functioning, in the larger sections it may be necessary to revise this, and create Section De- partments of a smaller size, which will be more collective in the preparation of the work—since at present it is the head of the Section Depart- ment who bears the main responsibility for pre- paring all the work. Of course, under this sys- | tem, it will also be necesary to have regular | meetings at least once a month and twice of all nuclei functionaries of each Department. Not all sections in the city have as yet func- tioning departments, and those who have, are still in their infant stage, but three to four regular meetings (meetings are held twice a month) have been held. In the out of town sections, St. Louis is the only one making an effort to carry through this system. Other sec- tions still trail behind, In organizing these Section Departments on this base, some comrades thought they must wait until they got 100 per cent attendance be- fore considering it a department. This is wrong. Even if 50 per cent of the nuclei functionaries | at a cost of about 15 million dollars. By E. GARDOS. R HT on the eve of the elections, Chicago is On the Eve of Election in Chicago again in the throes of a serious financial | crisis. support by bankers, talks about a tax-payers’ strike, the warning of Col. Randolph, the pres- ident of the Chicago Association of Commerce, about the “need of calling in the militia,” using various building funds to cover the pay-roll by the Thompson administration—all show the bankruptcy and corruptness of the capitalist Politicians and the efforts of finance capital to secure full control of the fascisized city govern- ment. In spite of the avertion of the break down in 1929 by the bankers, the wolf of collapse is again at the door. When the Strawn Committee of Citizens (big bankers) delivered last year the city treasury to the bankers by securing a loan of 74 million dollars through the sale of the 1930 tax-war- rants, the bosses’ press spread the illusion that Mr. Thompson will take better care now of the city’s money. So he did—for his bosses and for himself and his machine. Mr. Sam Insull got his present of $100,000,000 through the traction steal, 5,000 more politicians were given city jobs Contracts for public works were not given to the least bidder and Mr. Wolfe, Commissioner of Public Works has been exposed of giving out contracts to his business associates at extra cost of 300 to 500 per cent more to the city. In one word, according to Mr. C. B. Barnes, 200 million dol- lars were stolen during the past year and the city is again faced with bankruptcy. Bankers Again “Save” the City The saviours of 1929, the bankers of Mr. Strawn, this time are standing pat. They refuse to buy out the tax warrants, not only because they know that it is one thing to have it and another to get the cash, but because they want to secure now complete control of all govern- ment agencies. Mr, Strawn, Traylor, Randolph and others are coming out with an ultimatum, which the city has to accept or bust. Their conditions the embodied in Bill No. 28 pending | before the Tllinois legislature, which demands the drastic reorganization of the admniistration. Ac- cording to the bill the County Board of Assess- ors, the Board of Review and the 30 Township assessors in Cook County are to be consolidated in a new board of three members. Instead of haying 417 independent tax spending bodies (townships, towns, park boards, school boards, etc.) 417 sources of graft, 417 petty politician strongholds, the entire government must be con- solidated. The argument is more efficiency, less waste, less opportunity for graft—admitting themselves that because of these “overlapping” bodies 156 million dollars were wasted last year, and only 60 per cent went for “what it was intended for.” In spite of all opposition by the various political machines, the bill has the full approval of all “civic” leader# and the entire press, and it is natural that it will be passed by the legislature. The real purpose of this bill is, of course, not better government, or better economy for the people. It is for better government for the bank- ers. These gentlemen want to secure the full control of all governmental bodies. They don’t want to rely on the 38 elected officials to as- sess the taxes, but to a board of three which they can control much eisier. They want to eliminate the 417 independent governmental bodies and have only one. They want to have a unified police system in place of the 103 in- dependent city, town, township, and park board police departments, in one word: behind the proposal we can see the characteristic trend in the American politics—the fascization of the gov- ernment, the elimination of all “unnecessary democracy, and the open control of the govern- ment by’finance capital. Sheriff Sales and Tax Payers “Strike” ‘These gentlemen, of course, don’t say a work about what will happen to the hundreds of thousands of small tax payers—not to speak of the one-half million starving, unemployed work- ers. At present, according to Mr. Albert, can- didate for mayor, 332,000 real estate parcels out of :,300,000 in Cook County are to be sold for taxes on the 1928 levy only. Because over 70 per cent of the budget is covered by taxation on real estate, it is natural that ig oh ever-increas- Threats of complete withdrawal of all | Party, per cent. It is very hard to sell now real estate, in spite cf all the “Own Your Own Home” prop- aganda of the bosses. In spite of this, Thomp- son-Cormack’ and Co. raised the recent reyalua- tion of property considerably, and the tax rate was also raised from 1,12 to 1.37. Property own- | ers have to pay taxes for 1931, at a time when even the 1928 levies are not fully paid, and the delinquent taxes amount to 52 million dollars. | The protest of the various tax payers’ asso- | ciations, asking for moratorium and for a review | of all revaluations, has been ignored by the bankers’ tools in the City Hall and Courts. | County Judge Jarecki ruled out the other day Protests on a technical basis and we are sure that the decision on the remaining 30 million dollars will be the same. The economic crisis is hitting not only the workers very badly, but | also the store keepers, small property owners, who are faced with sheriff sales, with the com- Plete loss of their savings, Petty-Bourgeoisie Cannot Fight The petty-bourgeoisie in the leadership of the tax-payers’ movement is, of course, getting “very | militant.” Besides pulling their aldermen and | ward healers by the coat ‘tails, and getting at least. empty promises, they are threatening with a tax payers’ strike. Upless the iy will re- consider its present excessive revaluation, reduce the tax rate, and issue honds to cover the def- icit due to the moratorium, they will refuse to pay the 1929 taxes! So they speak at meetings and resolutions. This threat, which, of course, will not, and cannot be carried out under the | leadership of the petty-bourgeoisie, is, however, | an indication of the discontent of the middle class and the narrowing down of the social base capital. The threat of the tax payers trike brought forth quite a consternation in the bourgeois camps. The Civic Federation issued’ a mani- festo to the tax-payers, begging them not to strike because it will only lead to chaos, by un- derminig the police and fire departments, schools, hospitals etc., and because in the long run they will be forced, even at the price of sheriff sale, not only to pay the full amount due, but also the penalties, ranging from 12 to 50 per cent. This panic stricken warning was echoed by all the capitalist newspapers. It is natural that | under the leadership of the capitalist politicians, the interests of the small property owners will | be betrayed, and the workers and small -busi- | hess men, and not the big corporations will be | forced to pay the costs of the crisis. Communists Have Only Program | The Communist Party is making the fight | against high taxes, graft, corruption an issue in its election. We ‘demand that the cost of the crisis be paid by the big capitalists, by specia? taxation of corporations who made profits of over $50,000 a year and persons having an in- come of over $5,000, besides slashing by 50 per cent the appropriation of the police department, courts and many other municipal offices and big job holders. We demand the appropriation of the nearly 60 million dollars provided in the budget for bond redemption and bond interest, and trac- tion fund, for unemployed relief. We demand the stoppage of all sheriff sales, and moratorium in taxes to all workers who own property and the complete exemption from taxation of all unemployed workers. The Communist Party is calling on all workers to Vote NO on the yarious referendums for bond issues and for reorganiza- tion of the gcvernment, which can and will only lead to further fascization and further dictator- ship of finance capital, Boycott the capitalist pri:iaries! Vote Communist! Workers! Join the Party of Your Class! ‘ Communist Party U & A P. O. Box 87 Station D: New York City. Please send me more information on the Cum- munist Party. NOME ..cecccccccvcccccsscsccccccssravevesessees AUBIN suc vanestvop saver esusvousna Uanp Sevens! CItY s.rccvccccccccccnsoecesss StAtC -sssessenes OCCUPALON ..cseeeesecsnceessecsees: ABO sevens Mail this to the Central Ofce. Communist P. Q..Box 87 Station D, New York, City, | bloody czars! | democrati By JORGE ommemennmc “Other Live Stock” We are now convinced that the democratic party belives that the farmers are jackasses, In fact we have their own words for it. After apptopriating $45,000,000 for Secretary Hyde to play with by dangling it in front of the farmers’ noses with conditions that make 1t ut-' terly impossible for poor starving farmers to get a “loarr’ as scheduled “for feed, fertilizer arms work stock,” the democrats became aware that most of their votes were dying. So they got very humanitarian, and Senator Caraway wanted a congressional appropriation to buy his brother some clothes so he could go to church, and Senator Robinson proposed $25, 000,000 should be raised to feed farmers who are starving. Then it shrunk down to $20,000,000 af- ter Robinson had a chat with Watson, the re- publican leader. But that wasn’t all. The provision\that the money be spent for hu- man food cut out, and in its place the fol- lowing was proposed, by agreement between the republican and the democratic leaders: Any money appropriation pursuant to the, authorization contained in this section, may be used in the purchase of feed for other live stock, upon the same terms and condi- tions as such money may be used for the pur- chase of feed for work stock.” We ask you to notice especially, that the only new thing in this “compromise,” that “other live stock” may be fed from loans as “administered” by Secretary Hyde, in addition to the “work stock” already provided for in the $45,000,000 “loan fund.” 4 And the demorats, led by Senator Robinson, say that this means that farmers will be fed “when necessary!” That is no escaping the fact that the democratic party thinks that farmers ve stock,” simply “other live stock” than ‘Ss or mules used as “work stock” on the farm. No greater cynicism and downright dastardly indifference to the starvation of at least a mil- lion people was ever seen under the brutal and And like the czars they will be thrown into the garbage of history by a fighting alliance of poor farmers and wage workers of country and city! “Farmers are cattle! But cattle nobody owns, so let them die!” That is the essence of the aititude of the criminals who sit and rule over the toiling masses of this country! To top it all off, comes Hoover's “assur: ance” that Secretary Hyde, the great human- itarian, will be “sympathetic’—but only to those who “have credit.” | Alas, And Also Alack! Summuarzing Tuesday’s events in this benighted land, Hearst's New York “American” gives “event | No. 3” as follows: “3.—Circulation of reports from Russia of .- a counter-revolution which sent wheat prices up in the grain market and stimulated the bull advance on the stock exchange.” : Gentlemen of the Farm Board! How could you? Even a school boy can figure out your trick. For it was none other than you, Mr. Legge and Secretary Hyde, with your 120,000,000 bushels of wheat with which you are “stabilizing” some- thing, who started that rumor! We defy anybody to find exactly where the “report from Russia” came from. It will remain a myst And for the exccellent reason that the market price was falling on that 120,000,000 | bushels, and the “reports from Russia” lifted the | price long enough to allow the Farm Board to unload a chunk and get out from under that much. But you can’t have a counter-revolution in Russia every day! And, alas and alack for those who bought—it wasn’t true. About the Stock Exchange: That ought to sink into the workers’ minds. Why is it that the price of stocks in American corporations goes up at a report that there is a counter-revolution in So- viet Russia? Just like wage cuts here, eh? The answer seems to be—what is bad for workers is duck soup for the capitalists and vice versa! The Demoreps Mr. Raskob has gone down to Washington, it is said to interest all the democrats in Con- a! on the side of the Wets. But that story is all Wet. Raskob, as admitted in the (demo- cratic, mest of the time and capitalist all the time) N, ¥. “Times,” has virtually bought the party. And it is Raskob, dear reader, talked about “food for farmers” without asking the boss. le is also the one who sat down hard on any loose talk about a cash payment of the veterans’ bonus. It is the “angels” of both republican and demo- cratic parties who have put the kibosh on “hu- man food,” antl put, also, Senator Robinson and Co. in the delightful position of classifying farmers and their families as “other live stock than work stock.” You don't have to take our word for it. Ray Tucker, the N. Y. Telegram reporter-in Washing: ton blandly admits in that paper of Feb. 11, "| this: s “Despite the attack on the settlement, members who would otherwise oppose it are responding to demands of conservative inter- ests that they take no step which will force an eylra session. This is true of both the republican and democrats. It is understood that some of the advisers and ‘angels’ in both parties have given such counsel to the respective leaders,” i ‘This is why, boys and girls, the democrati| senatorial leader, Robinson, is only using t! blackjack in the lobbies, while Watson, the repu| lican leader, is not even answering the fake “ gressives” and is letting them spout for personal ends as they please, because capitalist class has cinched the votes and a windy argument will still give the “nation,” “New Republic” and part of the masses the that this is a “democracy” “ ‘The case is clear, The slogan fur 1932 ougl to be: Hoover and Robinson for President an Vice-President. , ; This might be figured out scientifically. 7 the democrats will agree to let the souther farmers who vote democratic, starve to deat! while the republicans agree to let unemploy¢ republican voters of the north die of starvatio: It's a gre. game, only the farmers and worke don’t want to play is according to the rule ae is ey i ‘ \ 1 ) \ y f, .