The Daily Worker Newspaper, October 1, 1931, Page 2

oe Racketeers in Movie Union $800,000 Looted From Terrorized Workers By Gang Run By $50,0( )0 A Year President | RK.—Direct connection YO of Roosevelt with the 's who run the Mo- ion and Governor $800,000 racke' tion P: Operators Union, Local 306 here seems pretty openly estab- lished by criminal charges which | another clique hooked up witl Title and the Republicai chine, has brought against | , president of the union. | opposition clique, mortified | t that all this good graft | 0 its enemies, and worried | the last gubernatorial | e Kaplan gang donated n portable moving picture g Walker, Roosevelt and | politicians in action, | has brought considerable evidence of g larceny of union funds, ex- t nd violence against union | members by the Kaplan clique. But | it isn't getting them anywhere. | With an attorney named Birn- baum, one of Tutle’s friends, they of- fered proofs that Kaplan gets $50,- | 000 a year in “salary” and enforced “gifts” from a membership of 2,500, | of whom 700 are not allowed a vote in union meetings, and those who can | vote will get their heads knocked off the ‘and by Kaplan's hired gunmen if they| vote against him. They showed that | courts have held that the Kaplan gang made use of $800,000 which they | ean not account for. | But District Attorney Crain not | only refused to allow most of this | evidence to be recorded in his of- | fice, but refused absolutely to take the case to the grand jury for an} indictme The opposition has ap- pealed to Governor Roosevelt, but as he publicly thanked Kaplan for the | movie picture trucks in the last cam- | paign, and as his lieutenant governor | Lehman is an honorary member of | the union—and of the Kaplan| clique, they might as well give up | hopes. | ‘The lawyer of the Kaplan gang | this case is the same Tammany in Brooklyn, John H. McCooey, | ised some stir recently by ap- son a judge in a crook- pointing hi ed deal with all parties concerned. It is said that McCooey gets $60,000 | the money taken out of the} ets of the union members. for Kaplan’s legal work. Sheriff Thomas Farley is another | honorary member of the union, and Enown to be one of Kaplan's closest. PENA of many Fire Commissioner John orman is ancther honorary mem- cf the union—and of the Kaplan gang. Selling A Strike Hundreds of movie operators are strike, Kaplan’s way of conduct- a strike will surely lose it, for he ts no militant picketing and no of the strike by the strikers. ers’ only hope is to discard } liques of grafters, elect their committees, and win, and vote} nunist this year against the fammany grafters. A member of the union has the following to say about how business is conducted at union headquarters: The Racket “This local consists of nearly 2500 700 permit men and the The card men are en rest card men. , those who joined the union before | jefs of the Tammany | 1926, the permit men are the late | New York City | comers, i. e, who joined after 1926. “There is a president: Sam Kaplan, | assistants: Max Sternberg and Morris | Rokter, business agent Jack Wolheim, | secretary—Frank Day; finance secre- tary—Dave Engel, and a long list of | Kinds of assistants to the men- | fioned authorities, typists, secre- taries, body guards, executives of all kinds, inspectors, stewards, etc. “Sam Kaplan is getting $50,000 a year and “expenses.” Sam Kaplan is the owner of the Sam Kaplan Man- ufacturing Supply Co., a non-union shop and listed as worth $250,000. “Once a week, on Friday, Kaplan comes in supported by his two gun- men bodyguards and spends a few hours in his chambers taking up | claims of one official (NO, no tplain | members!) against the other: they | are always grumbling against each | other, After the chief séttles the difference between his henchmen he | departs with the thugs until next Friday. Each thug gets a salary of | $125 a week and there are two shifts, | so guarding Kaplan who is really not | fit for dog meat, costs the local $500 a week. “Frank Day, Dave Engel, Jack Wolheim and the rest receive from $7,500. to $15,000.a year (officially). When Simon Terr was taken off his throne as business agent and Jack Wolheim was put in his place the noble Si did not want to go back to work as an operator but insisted on a fat job in the local and he was made a “secretary” to the chief. Salary? $7,500 a year. Function? Nothing. Max Sturnberg is an old man of about 65 years. Max Sturnberg owns a mansion that cost $50,000. What is Max Sturnberg doing in the local? Keeping the records of the applica- tions—a job which a girl for $25 a| week would do with much more ef- ficiency. Sturnberg is getting as much as a governor of a State. “Dave Engel is finance minister of the local. Dave has a big staff of bookkeepers and secretaries. He is in charge of the money, the sweet- est job. Dave Engel is no fool at all, boys—he receives money, gives out receipts and never takes the trouble of entering the receipts in the proper place. Dave Engel is also getting salary. “This is how this racket is organ- ized—just like a gangster picture in the movies. Kaplan the chief and the rest his subordinates. Looting “In 1926 with the advent of the talkies the union needed more oper- ators. New members were admit- ted. Initiation fee—$500 a head and 10 percent weekly of one’s pay. Last year it was raised to 20 percent. In 1930 the initiation fee was rais- ed to $1000, People were kept in| constant terror for their jobs. To/| say something against a union offi- cial means to be out of a job for months or to be kicked out entirely. “The jobs are distributed accord- ing to the relationship of the mem- bers to the higher ups. For the same hours one is receiving $85 a week and the other $40. Members are threatened with being bumped off if they “squawk.” Knitgoods Meeting ‘Tonight, A membership meeting of the knit- |lead the workers by a fake unity slo- | THURSDAY— Printing Workers Industria] League will hold general membership meeting at East 19th St. 8 p. m. The executive committee will meet at 7:30 p,m * Friends of the Soviet Union will hold its enlarged executive meet October 1st. The meeting will be of | great importance since ar! rements | must be made for the October 2nd affair at the Grand Opera House. | | goods workers wil be held tonight at |7:30 at the office of the union. All | knitgoods workers from union and | open shops are invited to attend this meeting, } Build a workers correspondence group in your factory, shop or neighborhood. Send regular letters to the Daily Worker. Vegetarian Workers Club will hold a general membership meet- | ing at 108 East 14th St, 8 p. m. | eae pian International Labor Defense, Steve Katovis Branch will hold an open-air meeting at 7th Street and Avenue B, 8 p. m RS Youth No. 405 y at 134 East 7th St., workers and | HAVE YOU AN AUTO Which the Communist Party can use for organization work? 1.W.0. meets Thursda: 8 p.m. All young students invited, Sigs Mie a ¥.W.0., Intwor Youth meets at 8:30 p. m. sharp. Election o” officers and report on activity. All invited, i} oS EONS | Spartacus Youth [WO will hold a pre-plenum discussion, October Ist, 8:30 p. m. at 1 Fulton Ave., Middle Village, L. 1 Will you sell it—or contribute it? Inquire—Ninth Floor 50 E, 13th St., New York City Ramsay MACDENALD ftAS ORDERE!) THe GFFicer OF Tee Day WoRKER 1 LOnDON- Ray News ITE: Re one DAILY WORKER, NEW YORK, T THE ADVENTURES OF BILL WOR KER er SAI) THE fo] “Souaulsy” Lord Ram gDeLE ICES CO Dany WorRkee HURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1931 WWE ARE OF THe TeacHeRs “ \ @ LL OF “THIS in LoniDort —Oh, These “F air-Minded Socialists” — ORDERD To RAID THis OFAC Br Cait | \OFFICERS, THat aPere may Bird {_THE Quaros, | | DisResPecy To me-t UT OUR. WAG G ap \ ee o. He Fes A EMPLOYMENT. A INGE Ss ei 4 NT) ALSO THe Pay UT: Wwe coe aioe G LVCEmert MIN LD Te Lwas Ont | Mint Wou — By RYAN WALKER WAG TER OFTHE US L AND THIS lw New Yori, |) FURRIERS MARCH TO WEBSTER HALL IndustrialUnion Fights for Real Unity NEW YORK—The Needle Trades | Workers Industrial Union has issued a call to the fur workers of New York to march to Webster Hall, 19 E. 11th St., where the postponed “Unity Conference” is being held tonight, | right after work. The Industrial | Union in its statement to the fur workers exposes the new manouvers | of the company union agents to mis- | gan. In the statement of the Industrial Union points out that the company union is very resentful against being | forced to admit the furriers to the conference because they have been | accustomed to carrying on their sec- | Tet deals behind closed doors. The | N.T.W.LU. also points out that in the latest leaflet they state that the conference was called, no to discuss | plans of how to bring about unity amongst the furriers, but to dictate | to the furriers that they must sub- mit to a “union” adminisered and controlled by the bosses and their agents of the A. F. of L. ‘The statement further points out that the fur cliques are opposed to/ the program of shop struggles and unity of the workers in the shop be- cause this program is opposed by the bosses. the cliques promise “democ- racy” and “unity” to the furriers cf the brand which has existed in the fur industry since the A. F. of L. began making its program on the | workers. The Industriel Union 1s going to the cenferenc: to fight for the de- mands of the furriers as expressed at Cooper Union, to fight for the unity in the shops on the basis of struggle for better conditions and to build unity and cue union of the workers above the heads of the bureaucrats of the A. F. L, Proletarian Banquet To Be Held for Working Woman On Oct. 4th at 35 East 12th St., New York a proletarian banquet and dance ‘will be held fo rthe Working Woman. This affair has been ar- ranged by the New York District in connection with the drive of The Working Woman now going on, for 1,000 new subscribers, and a sustain- ing fund of $1,000. A very interesting program will be given including revolutionary songs by Anuta Lensky, mass singing and dancing etc, Comrade Pauline Rog- ers who has just returned from an extensive stay in the Soviet Union will give a report on women shock brigaders in the USSR. TONIGHT! TONIGHT! LOUIS SINCLAIR Speaks on “Rationalization in Industry” | At 35 East 12th St., Room 305 Auspices—English Speaking Branch LW.O. 500 ADMISSION FREE Bensonhurst Youth 1.W.0. w'll_meet at 7:30 p. m, at 48 Bay St., Brooklyn. All young workers in- vited. Os gee Drug Clerks, Attention ‘A special meeting of interest to all clerks will be held by the Medi- Workers Industrial League 8 p.m. at 108 Hast 14th St, Members must attend without fail.” All drug clerks invited, | a te ees Domestic Workers Union, Seandinayinn Branch will meet tonight at the Central Opera. House. A Daily Worker car- toonist, recitation, etc, Admission free, All invited. | -servicemen’s League, ranch No. 1 | The regular membership meeting Workers © B of the WESL will take place tonight nt 79 East 10th St. 7:30 p. my in preparation for the 3rd Big Parade. All out! rae Workers Order, Branch No. 500 meet at the Workers Center, ast 12th St., in room 305, tonight. er will address meeting, . + WORKERS STRIKE ad ant unorganized workers are called upon to attend the strike conference of the Jewelry Workers Industrial Union. At Mryant Hall, 6th Avenue and 42d St, 6 p. m., pending a fast spread- ing JeWelry, strike, AN ewelty The Bronx Workers Cooperative Is Calling a SPECIAL MEETING All Workers Creditors FRIDAY EVE., OCT. 2nd, 8 P. M. At the WORKERS CENTER, 35 E- 12th St, At this meeting will be reported the place of paying out $15,000 to All Workers Creditors Which will be decided by the Board of Directors All preferred stockholders are invited to this meeting WORKERS SCHOOL Trade Union Ball Prepares Attractive Program for Workers The Buro of the TUUL has just | issued the following statement to} the workers of New York. | “The revolutionary unions and | leagues of the city of New York are at present involved in numerous strike sty s under the leadership of the TUUC. One of the most seri- ous difficulties we are faced with daily is lack of finance. The purpose of the October hd affair is not only a@ mere social affair but will also help greatly to ease up the great financial difficulties, ,and make it possible for the Council to carry on our work in a more effective way. “It is therefore, the duty of every militant worker to come to the One Big Ball on Saturday, October 3rd, at Rockland Palace, 155th Street and 8th Avenue. The Workers Cultural Federation has arranged a splendid program which includes the John Reed Club artists who will draw car- toons, and the Workers Laboratory Theatre which will put up a play. One of the best Negro orchestras the John C. Smith band will provide us with the best dancing music. Tick~- ets in advance,are 50 cents, at the door 60 cents.” STARTS OCT. 5TH NEW YORK—The fall term of the Workers School will start on October 5. Many workers have already regis- tered for the various courses offered. Only a few more days are left for registration. Workers are advised to register now in order to be enrolled in the classes desired as the number of students in each class will be lim- ited. One of the important features of the coming fall term is the big num- ber of courses offered for function- aries of the Party and revolutionary trade unions in their various fields of activities. Some of these courses are Finance Secretaries, Shop Paper Methods, Negro Problems, Trade Union Strategy and Tactics, Work Among Women, Social Insurance, Co- lonial Problems, Public Speaking, Revolutionary Journalism, Organiza- tional Principles of the Youth, His- tory of Youth Movement, Principles of Working Class Child Leadership, etc. Party and league units, trade unions and mass organizations” are Boss Negligence Causes Building Crash; 7 Injured NEW YORK.—John Petrofski, a | used old beams and forced the work- building trades worker, is at the point | ers to carry on the work under the vi urged to send members to take these courses on a scholarishp basis, of death and six other workers lie seriously injured in the Bellevue Hos- pital as a result of premeditated, criminal negligence on the part of the contractors who were recon- structing a five story tenement house at 327 E. 13th St, ‘The seven workers had gathered on the first floor ready to mount the scaffold to commence plastering when the west wall of the building gave way burying the men under tons of brick and debris, Petrofsky was buried out of sight for over 20 minutes and when rescued by his fellow workers and firemen the doctor gave little hope for his recovery. The crash could have been avoided had the contractors used new beams which are required by law for such reconstruction work. The bosses, however, greely for profits and cal- lous about the safety of the workers, most terrific speed-up and constant danger. There- will no doubt be an investi- gation held by hte Tammany graft- ers to cover up the criminal tactics of the contractors, who are in the habit of paying the building inspec- tors heavy fees to overlook viola- tions in building construction which endanger the lives of hundreds of working men. The workers in the building trades must organize com- mittees on the job to demand that a stop be put to the speed-up and that the utmost safety precautions be used in all building construction. The Building Trades Industrial League demands that those responsible for teh maiming of these seven workers be punished and calls on all building trades workers to organize and strike against unsafe conditions and. speed- up. PUT THE PARTY ON THE BALLOT IN EVERY WORKERS DISTRICT The Communist Party, District { No. 2, calls upon all workers to mob- ilize to complete the signature drive this week in all sections of the City. This is the final appeal to all work- ers and working class organizations to prevent defeat in certain districts that are still very doubtful. Imme- diate response in all sections from workers who have not yet done their share for the collection of signatures and the mobilization of workers in all organizations for this emergency call will undoubtedly enable the Party to get on the ballot in all sec- tions of the City, All mass meet- ings, shop gate meetings, street ral- lies and meetings of organizations should place this appeal as a first point on the agenda in order to put every doubtful section on the mop. Every day brings new devolpments in every section of the City, which should be brought to the attention of the working class for struggle ix connection with the Communist Par- ty Election Campaign Platform. A striking example occurred yesterday when one worker was buried and 6 almost crushed to death when the Tear wall of a 5 story tenement at 327 East 13th St. collapsed, burrying the workers beneath it. This is the JOHN J. SMITH, Admission 60c, ONE BIG BALL of the TRADE UNION UNITY COUNCIL . 5 EAST 19th STREET Program Arranged by WORKERS CULTURAL FEDERATION Including—JOHN REED CLUB ARTISTS who will draw cartoons WORKERS LABORATORY THEATRE which will present a play ROCKLAND PALACE 155th Street and Eighth Avenue Saturday, October 3rd Negro Orchestra In advance 50c, LIVE IN A— 2800 BRONX ARCOGES, Inc. m, to8 p Office open from: Si WORKERS COOPERATIVE COLONY We have a limited number of 3 and 4 room apartments NO INVESTMENT NECESSARY — OPPOSITE BRONX PARK Comradely atmosphere—In this Cooperative Colony you will find a library, athletic director, workroom for children, workers’ clubs and various cultural activities Tel. Estabrook 8-1400; Olinville 2-6972 Take Lexington Avenue train to White Plains Road and Get off Allerton Avenue —_— PARK EAST ™. every da: Second:.catastrophy this week, On the lower East Side, one of the most congested workers’ sections of New York, early in the week, 4 children were burned to death in.a fire trap ‘T-story tenement at 121 Avenue “OC.” ‘These examples of the sacrifice of workers’ lives as a result of capital- ist greed and profit are burning is- sued which should be brought out on the streets, andthe workers or- ganized to fight against such condi- tions under the leadership of the Communist Party. All out for signatures for the re- mainder of the week! The Communist Party must get on the ballot in every district! | Class for All First | Voters Tonight at |the Workers School) | Class for Frist Voters will be | held Wednesday, September 30, |and Thursday, October 1, also | Wednesday, October 7 and Thurs- day, October 8, at 7 p. m., at the Workers School, Carl Brodsky— instructor, All workers are urged to register immediately and to attend these classes in order to know what to do during the registration days. Registration begins October 5th to 10 inclusive. Everybody must register or they cannot vote. Registration days Oct. 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9—Polls open from 5 p, m. to | 10:30 p. m.; October 10—Polls open | from 7 a. m, to 10:30 p. m. 4 ‘Dressmakers Cheer for |United Front Struggle; Three Meetings Tonite NEW YORK—A huge open air | mass meeting of dressmakers yester- |day afternoon at 36th Street and | Eeighth Avenue called by the United |Front Committee of dressmakers cheered Ben Gold, secretary of the Needle Trades Workers Industrial Union, and members of the United Front Committee of Dressmakers as they outlined a program for united front action of all workers in the shops to stop wage cuts and improve working conditions. ‘The Industrial Union is aranging two branch meetings of dressmakers in Harlem and the Bronx, for 8 o'clock tonight. The Harlem meet- ing will take place at the Spanish | Workers Center, 110 W. 116th St., |sador Hall, 3875. Third Avenue. Members of the Industrial Union, as well as registered workers, Negro and white, are called to these meet- ings where important problems con- cerning the workers in the shops will be discussed. AMUSEMENTS A Theatre Guild Production “HE” By ALFRED SAVOIR Adapted by Chester Erskin GUILD W. 82n4. Eves. Mts, Th. & Sat. The Group Theatre Presents The House of Connelly By PAUL GREEN Under the Auspices of the Theatre Guild Martin Beck THEA, #50" St. & 'R Ave. Matinees: Thurs. & Saturday MAE r WEST ‘Thea, 45th W. B'wy. Tves 8:40, Mts. Wed. & Sat. 2:30 & 43rd St, BIGGEST SHOW IN NEW VORK 8 KK O | GAYNOR--FARRELL ACTS “Merely Incl. namer| Mary Ann” ROYALE GROPPER WILL DRAW for MORNING BAZ Comrades, the time is VERY Party a tremendous success. BOB MINOR Prof. H. W. L, DANA—LOUIS LOZOWICK Just Returned from the Soviet Union RATIFICATION MEETING F.8.U. WORKERS DELEGATION TO THE SOVIET UNION CENTRAL OPERA HOUSE Friday Evening, October 2nd, 8 o’clock 25¢ IN ADVANCE | Friends of the Soviet Union, 799 Broadway, N.Y. YOUNG WORKER must be represented at this very important conference. delegates are expected to report concretely what their or- ganizations have done to make the bazaar of the Communist RED FRONT BAND ‘ SECOND MASS CONFERENCE ” the DAILY WORKER FREIHEIT & AAR Tonight, October Ist, 8 o’Clock 35 E. 12th Street (Room 205) SHORT! EVERY organization The jand the Bronx meeting at Ambas- | ‘The Constant Sinner’ MINOR TO SPEAK AT FSU AFFAIR Meet to Send Off Delegation Robert Minor, one of the leaders of the American working class, and Louis Lozowick, executive secretary of the John Reed Club, who has just returned from Soviet Russia, will be the chief speakers at the Ratifica- tion Meeting and gala entertainment being arranged by Local New York, Priends of the Soviet Union, on Fri- day, Oct. 2, at 8:30 p. m., at Cen- tral Opera House, 67th St. near Third Ave. At this meeting the two New York workers ‘who will be members of the American Workers’ Delegation to the Soviet Union will be ratified. This delegation, which will go to the U. 5. 8. R. for the 14th anniversary of the Russian Revolution, is now being or- ganized by the Friends of the Soviet Union; it will consist of workers from the basic industries from various parts of the country. A splendid program of entertain- ment is being, prepared for the Oct. 2 meeting. A ion is 35 cents at the door, 25 cents with a throwaway. Imperial Barber Shop J. DIAZ, Prop, 1890 SEVENTH AVE. Bet. 114th Estabrook $215 BRONX, H. ¥. Intern] Workers Order DENTAL DEPARTMENT 1 UNION SQUARE i) 8TH FLOOR All Work Done Under Personal Oare ot DR. JOSEPHSON Rens nemeee -omcgereermaneney re mnatrgmenscrosmemerenerenne} UNITED RESTAURANT OPEN ALL NIGHT 110 AVENUB A Near 7th Street New York City Patronize the Hygrade Dairy & Vegetarian Restaurant A PLEASANT PLACE TO EAT Special prices from 5 to 9 p. m. West 28th St. near 7th Avenue SOLLIN’S RESTAURANT 216 EAST 14TH STREET 6-Course Lunch 55 Cents Regular Dinner 65 Cents Vhone Stuyvesant John’s Restaurant SPECIALTY: ITALIAN DISHES A place with atmosphere here nll endicale” meet 302 E. 12th St. New York | Rational Vegetarian Restaurant 199 SECOND AVENUE Bet, 12th and 13th Sts. Strictly Vegetarian food MELROSE DAIRY VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT CK ed 1781 SOUTHERN BLVD., Bronx (near 114th Bt. Station) VELEPHONE INTERVALE 9—9140 Advertise Youur Union Meetings Here. For Information Write to Advertising Uepartment The DAILY WORKER 50 East 13th St. New York City