The Daily Worker Newspaper, May 16, 1932, Page 1

ss WORKERS _ @F THE WORLD, UNITE! ” Dailu, Central me (Seren of the Communist \ecbrattonal) “Vol. IX, No. 116. NEW YORK, MO AY, MAY 16, 193 Norker SANS DRnumiet Porty. U.S.A. Unemployment and Socia} Insura: employers Emergency relief for the poor Against capitalist terror political rights of the workers. 6. Against imperialist war; for the of the Soviet Union VOTE COMMUNIST FOR ee at the expense of the State and Against Hoover's wage-cutting policy. farmers without restrictions by the governinent and banks; exemption of poor farmers from taxes, and from forced collection of rents or debts. 4. Equal rights for the Negroes and self-determination for the Black Belt against all forms of suppression of the defense of the Chinese people and crry EDITI Price 3 Cents DOAK AGENTS KIDNAP EDITH BERKMAN FROM HOSPITAL Kill Japanese Premier; Premier Tsuyoshi Inukai was assassinated last night in Tokyo by Japanese fascist military agents. All press agencies describe a reign of terror existing in Tokyo and other Japan- ese cities. Fascist bands are reported to be riding through the streets in automobiles, hurling bombs at bank and government buildings, firing revolvers in the aire. and scattering leaflets demanding |itary dictatorship the Japanese war thatthe government be “purified.” | against the Chinese people, and the Premier Inukai, a 77-year-old poli-|Provocations against the Soviet ticlan; who represented the Seiyuki| Union can be carried out more efr party, was murdered by six men, two | fectively. of whom held him while others shot him in the head and face. He died The cabinet met in an emergency session, martial law being put into at midnight. ‘This assassination and the events accompanying it indicate an attempt at a fascist coup so that under a mil- effect throughout the country. Fi- nance Minister Korekiyo became act- ing premier and will serve until the cabinet resigns. 5.000 Mass in Chicago to Condemn Melrose Massacre Chicago, Ill, May 15.—Five Thousand Chicago workers crowded into the North Hall of the Coliseum Friday night, and pledged to cerry on the struggle for the right to assemble. It was a protest demonstration against the ac- tion of the Melrese Park city officials who lined 150 unem- ployed workers: azainst a wall and machine gunned them, eXactly a week before. Helfridge, one of the nine wounded workers, the only one to be so far released from the hospital, was present. on the platform. Three other workers who par- ticipated in the demonstration of» several hundred in Melrose Park en the day of the shooting were also speakers. They were eye-witnesses. of the murderous attack by police. The Melrose Park meeting that was shot up was itself a protest demonstration against the clubbing PEACE ae onstration there, kidnapping and “riding” by city po- lice of a number of workers since May 1. One of the workers, the un- employed carpenter, Berman, who was kidnapped at the May 1 demon- stration, was also a speaker at the EASTERN GOBI RAILROAD CONSTRUCTED BY JAPAN IMMEDIATELY AFTER OCCUPATION UPON OCCUPATION OF NINGUTA JAPAN BUILT HUGE AIRPORT HERE JAPANESE BRINGING Gin) and smashing of the May Day dem- Revolution Versus Counter- Revolution HE socialist party recently refused a challenge to Norman Thomas tor a debate with William Z. Foster on the election program of the Communist Party of the United States versus the socialist program. ‘Lhe New York central committee of the socialist party, which re- jected a motion to take part in the debate by a vote of something like 29 for 41 against thus shows clearly its fear of giving thousands of workers who would attend such a debate the opportunity to compare the revolutionary proletarian program of the Communist Party with the “third capitalist party” program of Hilquit, Oneal, Claessens, Thomas and Laidler. The action of the socialist party executive has created a considerable stir in the ranks. At the meeting of the New York City Central Com- mittee of the socialist party on May 4 the following resolution was sub- mitted by the delegate from the Staten Island branch: “Be it resolved by the State Island branch of the socialist party at its regular meeting held May Third, 1932, that we hereby go on record as opposing the action taken by the Central Committee of New York in its refusal to debate with the Communists. We contend that it is a ser- ious political error in party tactics to be unwilling to meet any and all political parties at any time in debate, that unwillingness to debate with the Communists implies a lack of confidence by socialists in their party's losophy, in their party’s tactics and in the ability of their party's spokesmen.” The members of the Staten Island branch show in their resolution the influence of social fascist theory very clearly. They accuse the social fascist leaders of lack of confidence in their party’s philosophy, etc.” They are quite wrong. ‘The social fascist leaders have entire confidence in the. program of their party as a prop of capitalism with its foundations in the ranks of the working class. They HAVE confidence in their program and tactics as defense for capitalism against militant struggle by workers fighting the wage cutting and hunger drive of the bosses, as a major defense of the system of capitalism against the proletarian revolution. But they do not want their program and their leaders openly and skilfully e xposed before thousands of workers in a public debate. They are afraid of the exposure of their treacherous support of the war drive against the Soviet Union, a concrete example of which is their slanderous attack in the last few days, coinciding with the speeding up of the imperialist war against the Soviet Union, in regard to the question of political prisoners—not in the United States or any other capitalist country—but in the Soviet Union. ~ In the New Republic for May 4 there is a letter signed by Manya Gordon-Strunsky headed “Socialist Prisoners in Russia” in which the following statements, among other equally false and vicious, are made: “The life of the political prisoners and exiles, who are very nearly all socialists, in the Soviet Union is unbearable, According to recent in- formation, there are thousands and thousands of these unfortunates. ‘The GPU imprisons not only those who prior to the Bolshevik revolu- tion at one time or other belong to one of the socialist parties, but also theif relatives and friends.” Any “socialist” in prison in the Soviet Union is one whose counter-revolutionary activities have been uncovered by Russian workers. “Thousands of ‘socialists’” in prison under a workers’ government ts obviously confession of widespread anti-working class activities, Kussian “socialists” are not workers and Russian workers are not socialists. ‘There is not a single socialist leader who dares to defend such con- crete examples of the application of the socialist party program as the fbove before an audience of workers—especially in debate with Comrade Foster. It is evident that the meeting of the New York socialist party city central committee was somewhat more lively than usual since the min- utes inform us that: “Tt was moved and carried that Comrade Claessens be sent to the Staten Island branch to enlighten the membership on the position taken by the central committee in not approving the proposed debate between Norman ‘Thomas and William Z, Foster.” {CONTINUED OF PAGE ‘THREE? ‘The Communist Party election campaign and its program of strug- gle against the war danger and the whole capitalist offensive is exposing the counter-revolutionary deeds of the socialist party. ‘The socialist party leaders dare not meet Communists in debate before worker” Sungari River have been s frontier. AIR CRAFT + RESERVE Setuery RAILROAD PLANNED BY JAPAN JAPAN SENDING AIR-FLEETS FROM HARBIN To SOVIET BORDER, 'HREE huge Japanese armies are rapidly advancing toward the Soviet borders. ‘5 on the map is the Sungari River near its junction with the Amur River, which forms the boundary between Man- churia and the Soviet Union. ized by the Japanese for the transport of troops and heavy artillery to the Soviet bor- der. This army has already advanced beyond the city of Sanh-sing and is continuing its progress to the Soviet At the left of the figure All available craft on the This army is within striking distance of the Trans- Siberian Railroad on Soviet territory, shown on the map. Imperialist press dispatches from the Far East admit that the Japanese aim to cut the Trans-Siberian Railway, and thus isolate the Soviet Maritime Province. Directly above the figure on the map, is a section of the Chinese Eastern Railway, along which another Jap- anese army is being rushed to the Soviet border. second army has already advanced beyond Haitlun, thus This violating the Japanese pledge not to use the railway to transport troops beyond Hailun. To the right of the figure 1, in the triangle formed by the Korean-Soviet border, another large Japanese army is concentrating: Both this third and the second Japanese armies constitute a grave threat against Vladivostok, So- viet Pacific port and the entire Soviet Maritime province. At Harbin and Tsitsihar, central railroad terminals in Manchuria, other large Japanese forces are concentrating for the attack on the Soviet Union, "eG Por ARTHUR Where Three Huge Japanese Armies Attempt Fascist Coup, Are Driving Toward the Soviet Border < PTT) 300 BERGER EMPLOYEES SERVICE ON STRIKE: TIE UP OVER 50 SHOPS Boss Offers T.U. Ud i Leater $5,000 to Sell Out Strike; He Reports Facts to Strikers NEW YORK.—Three hundred employees of Berger Ser- vice, cleaners and dyers, struck Saturday at 2 p.m., tying up all the company’s 50 shops, the finishing plant in New York and the dyeing plant in Fort Lee, N. J. employees, drivers and managers str’ ios 1. Return to wage paid before the > three cuts recently, totalling about 30 per cent, 2, Upward revision of wages for those drastically underpaid. 3. Recognition of the union. The men are organized in the “Af- filiated Cleaners and Dyers,” an in- dependent union which works clossly with the Trade Union Unity League. Steuben, of the Trade Union Unity The U. S. Steel Wage-Cut and the Tasks of the M. W. I. L. By JOHN MELDON second general wage-cut in the steel industry scheduled to go into effect May 15, comes at a time when thousands of steel workers are ac- tively preparing to swing from the defensive position to the offensive against the Steel Trust. The Oc- tober 1 general wage-slash found the steel and general metal workers un- prepared for strike and our union was only making the first inroads into the mills. In the brief period of eight months since the October wage- cut, the Metal Workers Industrial League has made big strides forward, gaining influence and organization in the masses of steel and metal work- ers in the majority of the important industrial centers of the country. The present wage-cut has resulted in a wide-spread desire on the part of the workers in the. industry to “do something” # willingness for struggle, and the extent to which this struggle develops against the wage-cut of May 15, depends on the Metal Workers Industrial League. Reformist Mlusions Fading _, Me present National Convention of ‘merican Federation of Labor union in the steel indutry we Amalgamated Association of Iron Steel and Tin Workers, held in Fol- Jensbee, Ohio, during the month of (CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO), Inside men, outside They demand: Council, has been invited in as a Strike leader, spoke to two meetings on organization of the strike and ac- companied the delegation elected to see the boss. Rollsberger, a brother of the presi- dent of the company, invited Steuben into another room, and offered him $5,000 cold cash bribe to “finish it for good,” to sell out the strike and smash the union. Steuben told the boss that if it were his office he would kick Rollsberger down stairs, and re- ported the incident to the strikers. The strike was voted at a meeting of all employees Friday night. Sat- urday morning the company sent a long letter to each employe, stating that it was a mistake of the em- Ployee to organize, that wage-cuts were necessary, and threatening blacklist, furthermore declaring for open shop and recognition of no or- ganization. A meeting Saturday elected a strike committee of 26, representing all de- partments, and the strikers are ab- solutely scornful of the boss's letter, There are ihree Negroes on the com~ mittee, Another meeting Sunday organ- ized for picketing today, ‘SEARCH THRU HOSPITALS, ASYLUMS; WORKERS FIND HEROIC HUNGER STRIKER | District Attorney and U. Ss. Iuenieration Com- missioner Refuse to Tell Where Hidden Protest Against Hold New Demonstrations, Rush Telegrams of Latest Outrage! BULLETIN. WORCESTER, Mass., May 15—Edith Berkman, who had been kid- napped from Boston, was located today in the Central New England Sanitarium in Rutland, Mass. The sanitarium was forced to admit work- ers searching for the kidnaped textile workers’ organizer. It was learned that Berkman had been forcibly removed by uniformed police from the Massachusetts Memorial Hospital at the orders of Secretary of Labor Doak and Boston Commissioner of Immigration Tillinghast. Today is the.eighth day of Edith Berkman’s hunger strike. Although in a weak condition, she is more determined than ever to continue the fight for her freedom. A fine demonstration took place this afternoon on Boston Commons. Ann Burlack, who led a delegation of workers to Secretary of Labor Doak in Washington a few days ago to protest against Berkman’s illegal detention, spoke. A sharp resolution condemning Doak’s strike-breaking and murderous action was passed. BOSTON, Mass, May 15.—Edith Berkman has been kidnapped out of Massachusetts Mem- orial Hospital and her friends, relatives and comrades have not been able to find out where she is! She could not have been removed with- out the orders of the U. S..Bureau of Immigration, for she was in federal custedy, held in jail for months on deportation charges for leading the Lawrence strike over a year ago, and taking part in the next strike last summer. She can not deported because of the poor case the government has and the Step Legal Lynching of Orphan Jones The Maryland lynchers are rushing Orphan Jones to the gal- lows by trying his appeal on! Wednesday, May 18, instead of in| | October. All working class organizations should at once wire protests to: Governor Albert C. Ritchie, An- napolis, Md. And Chief Justice Carrol T. Bond, Court of Appeals, Annapolis, Md. STEEL WORKERS GIVEN VICIOUS JAIL SENTENCES: YOUNGSTOWN, O.—Five workers! who took part in the May First dem-| onstration in Campbell, Ohio home of the Youngstown Sheet and Tube Co., received “vicious of months in jail. Their only “ was an attempt to speak to on May Day. sentences The sentences were given out by Sheet and Tube Company, who acted as prosecutor, jury, and judge. Cunningham, who has been the right hand man of the steel trust in break- ing strikes and demonstrations of steel workers. ‘These sentences are part of the at- tack on the steel workers to prevent a fight against the present wage-cut of 15 per cent which will go into ef- fect on May 15th. It is also part of| the attack on the preparations on} National Youth Day since two of the leaders of the youth, Comrades Smith and Carter, were among those sen- tenced. Those arrested were: Bill Smith and Carter of the YCL; A. Lewis, Ne- gro worker, Kafkaleff and ina of the Metal Workers Industrial League. Comrade Lewis was severely beaten after the trial on the way to the jail. All organizations are asked to send protests and demands for their | release to Mayor Julius of Campbell, Ohio, and Chief of Police Cunning- ham. Address protests to the City Hall, Campbell, Ohio. Prepare for the Straw Ve on the Bonus; pai six} workers | , | Mayor Julius, tool of the Youngstown His | chief witness was Chief of Police| peer pence thed plan of the immigration authorities has been to simply keep her in to prevent her organization Several months ago she was found to have tuberculosis, and was placed in the hospital. On May 7th, Edith Berk start- ed on a hunger strike to force her | reiease. Hundreds of resolutions from workers’ mass organization: gation to Secretary of La in Washington, and a demonstration before the immigr s Boston followed. Eviden idea of breaking her, making demonstrations 1 before place of confinement difficult, man has been removed. To Insane Asylum? her Berl- On May 8, Henry Pollack. intendent of the hospital, that he would two days late’ |Berkman to a psychopathic ward if \she pe rsisted in her hunger strike. | Hundreds of workers’ 01 j imme diately denounced t’ | cision, as an attempt to ill |clare Berkman insane, and probably |to drive her insane, and Pollack ap- | parently decided to wait Saturday she was taken away and jis held somewhere incommunicado. All efforts to locate her have so far jfailed. Attorr Interna- tional Labor Defense and represen- |tatives of woi organizations are rganizations the »|working on a number of clues searching all the most likely hospi- | tals sanitoriums, All so far | flatly deny having her. Refuse to Tell Workers Where. istrict Attorney Scchenck and Anna Tillinghast, U. S. Commissioner of Immigration here, refuse all in- |formation when asked where she is, There must be a new storm of reso- lutions, mass meetings, demonstra- tions, against this new outrage! Hold mass meetings and demonstrations everywhere and send telegrams con- demning this torture of this woman |leader of the National Textile Worke ers Union’ in the strongest possible terms. Let all workers know how the |eapitalist class is trying to silence |forever one of their best represen- tatives! Send telegrams to Com- missioner Tillinghast, Immigration Station, East oBston, to Secretary of Labor Doak, Labor Department, Washington, and copies to Daily Worker, ees ie Seven Demonstrators Fined, BOSTON, Mass. May 15.—The seven arrested in the Berkman dem- onstration here were all “found guilty” before Judge Joseph Barnes and were fined. All refuse to pay fines. All seven: Albert Daniels, Charles Hayes, Alan Lomax, Joseph Leeds, Nora Burke, Albert Nevins and aHrold Hickerson were convicted of disturbing the peace. Nevins was carrying a placard