The Daily Worker Newspaper, August 2, 1933, Page 1

Ld ? Is the Daily Worker-on Sale at Da il Your Union Meeting? Your Get A Regular Subscription from Every Member. of Your Organization rker (Section of the Communist International) NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2, 1933 * Club Headquarters? THE WEATHER—Today: Showers; cooler; light westerly winds. Bateved as vocwnd-cines matter nt fie Post Office ot New York, M. ¥., uéer te of March , 1078, _ Vol X, No. 184 "Price 3 Cents (Six Pages) CITY EDITION 35,000 MINERS OUT; DEPUTIES KILL 1, WOUND MANY 25,000 in Union Sq. Demo The Coal Miners’ Strike By J. STACHEL. Te strike of the soft coal miners of Pennsylvania is already a major struggle. Some 35,000 miners are engaged in the struggle for better conditions, for the right to organize. The strikers are showing the greatest militancy and-determination. Already not only the local police, company thugs, and state troopers but aiso the National Guard is mob- ilized in the attempt to break this heroic strike of the miners. The min- ers are not only holding their own in the face of this array of force. They are also spreading the strike every day to new fields. Already the capitalist press reports indicate that the capitalists are fearful that not only will the miners strike involve new tens of thousands of miners, but that it may well involve the steel workers of this region. * * * Wet are the issues of the strike? On the face of it the strike began merely on the issue of the recognition of the United Mine Workers of America. At the beginning the U. M. W. A. leaders put up the ap- pearance of being in favor of the strike. But as the struggle develops the issues of the struggle, the role of the various elements of the strike become very clear? The miners though they did not express it in their strike demands because of the efforts of the U.M.W.A. leaders to confuse them, are fighting for higher wages, for more work, for better conditions, for the right to organize, against the company oppression in the mining towns. * * * Ha operators are refusing to allow the miners to organize even into the U.M.W.A. because they wish to continue to pay starvation wages, be- cause they wish to continue their unchallenged tyranny over the miners and because they rightly fear that the rank and file of the miners even if forced into the U.M.W.A. will not be so easily fooled with promises. The operators saw on more than one occasion how the miners defied the po- sition of John L. Lewis and his lieutenants and they see it now in the present struggle. * * e+ 'HE government is out to break the strike. Governor Pinchot in send- ing in the National Guard to break the strike did it in the already well known Roosevelt style and with the approval of the Roosevelt administra- tion. Governor Pinchot tries to create the impression that he is “neutral” and’that he is sending™the army ‘té"éven help the miners and against the violence of the local sheriffs. But it is already clear that this was but a means through which to get the National Guard entrenched in the strike area, Already the National Guard is breaking up picket lines and help- ing the company to import scabs into the mines. The government in the interest of the so-called recovery act is trying to’ break the strike. This in fact is the very purpose of the National Recovery Act—to enforce wages on the workers and to stop the growing strike movement and strugg- les of the workers, . * THE U.M.W.A. officialg.ave already exposing themselves. They are ask- ing the miners to return to work. But it is to the credit of the militant miners in the Terminal mines who silenced Pat Fagan, the district leader of the U.M.W.A. when he tried to-persuade them not to strike. The UM. W.A. leadership tried to act in the interests of the “enlightened” capital- ists who realize that the A. F. of L. organization is under present condi- tions necessary as a step against the militant unions and the militancy of the workers. At the same time it tried to refill its empty treasuries as part of its campaign of support of the N.R.A. and is now already retreating and fears" the developing strike movement. These leaders. knéw that the development of the militant struggle of the miners is not in their in- terests and is not what they intended from the beginning. They merely thought they could “frighten” some of the die hard operators into ac- cepting the UMWA, but they never intended to stir up “class war.” r * * * [@ is to the credit of the National Miners Union that in the face of this difficult situation it is doing everything possible to clarify the issues before the miners, to expose the role of the UMWA leaders, and at the same time fight for the unity of the miners. It is especially important to note that as the UMWA leeders beat a retreat the NMU is on the job and has been responsible for bringing many mines on strike jointly with the rest of the miners who are already on strike. ’ .* * * * NOW the critical stage of the strike is being reached. Now the miners must be more than eyer‘on guard. The miners must now thru mass picketing and militant struggle extend and consolidate their strike. Every attempt of the operators to break the strike thru open force or thru seeming and cunning “concessions” must be exposed and defeated. Now the’ miners must beware of the “conciliators” from the state and federal labor departments, from the NRA. Now the miners must be- ware of the open strikebreaking of, the UMWA officials and also watch out for all underhand schemes to break the’ranks of the miners. * Se * WHAT must the miners do? In the first place the miners must adopt ; fighting economic demands. The proposals of the NMU printed in this issue on pa e 3 of the Daily Worker in our opinion furnish a sound basis for the working out of the strike demands, Secondly, the miners must form their own broad strike committees in every mine. The min- ers must democratically elect joint strike committees for the various companies and for the whole strike. Alf questions must come up for final decisions by the miners themselves. It is especially important to prevent the operators and UMWA officials from breaking the ranks. The miners in each mine and in the whole strike must act as one. ) Third, mass picketing must be organized. Only the mass action of the miners can prevent the sobs from entering the mines under the present conditions of the strike. Fourthly, the miners organized in the UMWA, the unorganized and the miners adhering to the National Miners Union must work jointly for their common interests. Fifthly, the demands drawn up should be presented ‘to the operators for direct negotiations with the miners rank and file committees. Sixth, the miners must insist on their right to belong to a union they themselves really choose, er this be UMWA, or NMU. - Ne * * * ‘rest of the miners throughout the country and the workers in other industries. we.are sure, admire the fighting svirit of the min- ets and will support their struggle. We call upon all workers *: and their organizations to at.once send in telegrams and resolutions to the fighting miners pledging their support and to stand prepared to collect and send strike relief to the miners so that they may continue the fight to victory! AR e i e~ EVERY Communist miner must prove himself in this strike as the best fighter in the interests of the miners. This requires not only that he should bring to the miners clarity on all questions, help to strengthen the strike in every way thru assistance, advice, bi tin the first place to be in the front ranks on the picket. line, in organizing the miners ranks, in the collection of relief and in every other way necessary. |The NAZIS KILL 4 WHO DEFENDED SELVES BLOODY SUNDAY’ ALTONA, Germany, Aug. 1.—The | four Communists sentenced to death for their part in the defense of the workers on “Bloody Sunday,” July 17, 1932, were beheaded today. On “Bloody Sunday,” the Nazi Storm Troops swarmed into Altona, workingclass district of Hamburg. workers erected ¢ barricades and defended themselves heroically. Twelve persons wexe reported killed and 50 injured. KILL CUBAN AT ANTI-WAR MEETING Kill 17 Year Old Girl as Thousands Pour Through Streets SANTIAGO, Cuba, August 1—The anti-war demonstration here, one of the many organized all over the island by the Communist Party, was attacked today by the Cuban sol- diers and police. Lavasi, was shot ‘an a ie bad been just freed under the order affecting political prisoners. A stool pigeon, Jose Martinez, said to be responsible for the shooting, was badly beaten by the enraged crowd of workers, before the police succeeded in getting him out of the hands of the demonstrators to a hospital. ~ Thousands of the demonstrators poured through the main streets in defiance of the police and soldiers stationed there to prevent any fur- ther demonstrations. Cops Drive Delegation From Cuban Consulate NEW YORK. — The delegation elected by the demonstrators in front of the Cuban Consulate yesterday was refused a hearing by the consul, and hustled out by cops. Fifteen mounted and 50 foot police lined the streets as the workers dem- onstrated. Speakers from the Antf- Imperialist League, the Julio Mella Club, the Marine Workers Industrial Union, the Workers Ex-Servicemen’s League, and the Communist Party, addressed the meeting before the del- egation was elected. In the consul’s office Betincourt, one of the assistants, said the consul refused to receive the resolution; he wanted it mailed to him. Robert Dunn, nationgl chairman of the Anti-Imperialist League, and chair- man of the delegation, began to read it. As soon as he began, four cops started hustling the delegation out, while 15 consulate assistants looked on with scared faces. Balbo Six Days Late. SHOAL HARBOR, Newfoundland, August 1—For the sixth day Gen- eral Italo Balbo, the fascist flyer and his crew manning 24 planes, Postponed their return to Italy on account of the weather. one newspaper, 120 degrees in the sun. One who has known the bitter, dangerous breath of a New York heat wave, when every stone sizzles and fries, will appreciate these fig- ures. It was in such weather that a suc- cessful Anti-War demonstration was held yesterday in Union Square. There were four columns, and some of thq fighters against imperialist war marched seven miles in the lethal heat. ; Thousands of workers gathered in historic Union Square, with their massed placards, slogans and blazing red banners, ‘The column that started from the Battery, some three miles away came marching in proudly, singing the In- ternational. This section had a brutal send- off. At the offices of the Cuban consulate a delegation of workers and intellectuals had entered to register a protest against the White Terror of-Machado. But New York’s police were Teady, as eyer, to defend mur- der and tyranny. The delegation was manhandled and kicked out. Led by the Red Front Band, in uniform, the column formed its ranks and left in good order, promising to return some future day. A seaman, an ex-war veteran, a Negro and a Chinese worker, and a woman worker led this section. They held aloft a great cartoon, showing Capitalism in the act of starting an- other World War. The seamen marched in blue shirts and overalls, their work uniforms and Sunday best. Tall, rugged men, with the tropic sun and polar gales burned on their faces, they are al- ways an impressive sight in New York’s red parades. But there was something especially significant yes- terday about them, for their slogans and banners told of the war muni- tions they are now handling in prep- aration for the next world war. A group of Japanese and Chinese workers marched side by side, their (Continued on Page 2) French Communists Protest War Budget PARIS, Aug. 1.—Today’s anti-war demonstrations throughout France are the climax of a three-day cam- paign of the Communist Party to build up a mass protest against the French naval budget. France has spent more than $560,- 000,000 on new warships between 1924 and 1932. A heavy increase in the Navy appropriations is provided in the new budget, for which the ma- jority of the Socialist deputies in the French parliament voted re- cently. Immense demonstrations are be- ing held tonight in Paris, and in the seaport of Bordeaux, Brest, Boulogne, Havre and Marseilles, as well as in hundreds of smaller cen- ters. ~ nstrate A March from Four Sections of City _ in Huge Rally; Pledge Fight on War In Blazing Sun, Workers March in August 1 Rally By MICHAEL GOLD Yesterday was probably the hottest day in the records of New York’s weather bureau. At noon the thermometer had reached almost a hundred. The humidity was at saturation point; 12 persons had died, 25 were pros- trated. Hundreds of factories and offices closed. The day before, it had been as bad. Six persons had died, and the thermometer registered, according toe—- Arrest 46 German Com- munists for Anti-War Leaflet Distribution BERLIN; Aug. 1—Forty-six Ger- man Communists, carrying on the struggle against war on August First, despite the illegality of the Party un- der Hitler, were arrested today for distributing anti-war leaflets. They have been sent to a concentration camp. JAPANESE WAR BUDGET HIGHEST ~ IN ITS HISTORY To Build 36 Warships and Figh i Squadrons TOKYO, Aug. 1.—Japan’s August ist answer to Americas big naval program is the highest naval and army budgets in Japan’s history. The combined appropriations for next year total $347,200,000, and represent 45 per cent increase over the current budget. The naval program provides for the building of 36 new battleships, at a cost of $50,400,000 to match Secretary of the Navy Swanson’s program of 37 new warships for the U.S. It also provides another $21,- 000,000 to modernize existing ships. The total navy estimate is $190,- 400,000, one-third higher than the largest previous allotment, and $34,000,000 higher than was recently predicted. The army estimate is $156,000,000. The two together make a deficit of $280,000,000 in the total government budget of $644,000,000, In addition to the 36 battleships, which include two aircraft carriers, two cruisers, 14 destroyers, six sub- marines and one mine-layer, the navy is also planning to add eight new air squadrons, bring the total to 89. Japan had only 17 air squadrons in 1931. 1500 Women Strike for Higher Wages CAMDEN, N. J., Aug. 1.—Fifteen hundred women piece workers went on strike here today in the factory of the Congress Cigar Company. The company has signed Roose- belt’s Cigar Trade Code, but this has made no improvement in the condi- tions of the workers, who ate strik- ing for $1 per thousand cigars, in- stead of the present rate of 75 cents per thousand, a 35-hour week, and a minimum wage of $14 per week. gainst I ° | urged the delegation to see Frank J.| ee ee Police Provocation, Record Heat Fail to | Dampen Spirits NEW YORK.—On a day or record | heat, 25,000 workers massed in Union Square at 5 p.m. yesterday, and pledged themselves to struggle against | Fascism and war, and for defense | o the Soviet Union. Gathering at four distant mobili- zation points, 12,000 marched, carry- ing banners and shouting slogans, the long way to Union Square under the broiling sun. They maintained unbroken pro- letarian discipline throughout, de- spite an extraordinary massing of mounted and foot police, and plain clothes men, who attempted innu- merable provocations. Shrieking police cars and fire trucks raced up and down the East side of the square, as the cops attempted to break up the marching ranks pouring into the square. Galvanized by the opening words of Robert Minor, speaker for the (CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO) Austria Arrests 35 in Vienna to Smash | Aug. 1 Demonstration VIENNA, Aug. 1—Seventeen Com- Munists were sentenced to prison terms and 18 were held for trial on charges of high treason here yester- day, following a raid on Communist headquarters to break up today’s anti-war demonstration. Despite the arrest of their leaders, the workers of Vienna will demon- strate against war today, in the face of elaborate preparations by the Dollfuss government to prevent the demonstration. O’Brien ‘Busy’ With Aviators, Cannot See Jobless Delegation NEW YORK.—Mayor O'Brien was) too busy joy-riding with the Molli-| sons, British aviators, to see a dele- gation elected at the Battery Park anti-war meeting to see him and de- mand adequate relief for the unem- ployed. The delegation, headed by Robert Minor, on reaching the City Hall, was met by a police lieutenant, who Taylor, Commissioner of Public Wel-| fare, instead of the mayor. The dele- | gation flatly refused and insisted on) ‘seeing O’Brien. “The mayor is with Captain andj Mrs. Mollison,” O’Brien’s lackey in- formed the delegation. “Why do you) want to bother the mayor? He can’t do anything for you.” Several of the workers in the dele- gation whose relief is cut off de- clared that it was useless to see Com- missionet Taylor, and angrily de- clared that it was the mayor's job to see representatives of the starving unemployed instead of going joy- riding with the British aviators. Urged to leave the City Hall, the delegation remained, after an inter- view with the mayor's secretary, and then left, announcing that they would be back and demand that Mayor O’Brien see them. The mayor's sec- retary refused to-arrange a definite appointment, Halt Steel Hearing As Meld By JOHN L. SRIVAK. (Special Daily Worker Correspondent) WASHINGTON, Aug. 1—The steel code hearings suddenly adjourned late last night, and to repeated in- quiries, the answer was “for several days”. Definite information when they are to be re-opened was not given at the National Recovery Ad- ministration offices or in the Com- merce building. The adjournment was made short- ly after the announcement of John Meldon, National Secretary- of the Steel and Metal ‘Workers’ Industrial | Union, “The gteel workers will mobi- lize to fight’ for their own demands, and the Steel and Metal Workers Union will organize that struggle, against the open shop and the ef- forts to put over this slave code.” Information why : the ‘steel code -hearings were suddenly adjourned was unavailable, though steel mag- rates and A. F. of L, officials were supposed to appear today with briefs pe ‘ on Presents Code, Spy Facts and more testimony. Mysterious Actions The whole thing seems mysterious and smacks“ of further continuation of the “NRA farce behind closed doors, presented by Johnson.” A blanket of silence in official cir- cles surrounds the challenge offered by Meldon regarding Perkin’s state- ment, “There are complaints of spies in the steel industry, but I don’t know, and I cannot get information about it,” to submit detailed data of the steel spy system against the workers. . Meldon said: “Miss Perkins said no one can get information on the re- ported spy system. Our union has this information in this hall, and will present it to the chairman. The head of the spy system on the work- ers is H. C. Tuttle with headquarters in the Carnegie Steel Company Buildirix. % Offer Post Box Lists “We will submit a list of post of- fice boxes where spies send their re- ports as well as the names and pic- tures of spies. “Evidence points to the fact that post office offieials are aware that post office mail boxes are used for spy reports on the workers, and the officials coperate with the steel spy heads.” Meldon’s startling statement left the crowded audience breathless. Ro- bert P. Lamont, head of the Steel and Tron Institute, representing the steel barons here, kept his poker face, while Donald Richberg, counsel for the NRA, glanced at Lamont and laughed. A. F. of L, officials looked blank and startled. Don’t Acce; Meldon's offer to place witnesses on the stand with detailed evidence of the spy system was unaccepted. The hearings. adjourned shortly thereafter. Meldon’s called at Perkins’ offine shortly after the adjournment and offered to lay the spy evidence before her. Perkins’ secretary said she was very busy. Frank Palmer of the Federated | Press, who Meldon suggested be call- | ed as a steel spy expert was not| called, Richberg ignoring his pres- ence though though Palmer had a brief case full of evidence on the steel companies’ Spy system. He had data and documents proving the operation of the steel spy system. Sixteen iron and steel workers de- legates who had left their jobs hoping to testify to conditions and present their code were not heard and left | Washington swearing in lurid steel} language that the avhole thing was “a lot of hooey to kid us.” Commenting on the hearing Mel- don said: “The only thing missing in the whole farce was the midget who appeared at the Morgan hear- ing.” Meldon was called late yesterday afternoon and presented the code} drawn up by the Steel and Metal Workers Industrial Union and ac- cepted by thousands of steel workers, eae (See Page 3 for Steel Code stories) | mperialist War N.M.U. Takes Lead As. Rank Defies M and File isleaders Strike Spreads Throughout Bituminous Field; Miners Picket Despite Pinchot’s Troops PITTSBURGH, Pa., Aug. 1—One miner was dead and 15 others in hospitals after a gun fire and tear gas attack at mines in Fayette county by deputies and troops. of the pickets who was fired on —® by deputies at Colonial Mine No. 3, is Louis Padorsky, 38, one 2,000 OUT IN CHELSEA SHOE STRIKE Leaders of National! Union Are Forced to Arrange Picketing BOSTON SURE TO JOIN Demand Wage Raises) Denied by Board of Arbitration BOSTON, Mass., Aug. 1. — Two thousand shoe workers of Chelsea, Mass., declared a gen- ergl strike in the shoe industry of that city last night. The strike starts today, which is the day that the agreement of the bosses with the National Shoe Workers As- sociation expires. Mass pressure of the rank and file of the workers forced the leaders of the National to arrange for picketing this morning. In a frantic effort to head off the strike of 7,000 Boston shoe workers, officials of the National union ad- journed a mass meeting here today to prevent a strike vote. The pro- posal of the officials was to extend the present agreement, which ex- pires today, for two more weeks, Strike votes are scheduled for to- night, in spite of the officials, with workers voting in separate locals. Shoe workers of Lynn are now |also on strike, but, the number has not yet been estimated When the shoe workers of New England went out in a general strike last March, the Lovestoneites, Jonas and Zeligman, and their allies Mahan and other leaders of the National union, got the workers to give up their demand for a 20 per cent wage raise, to go back to work, and to rely on the decision of the state arbitra- tion board. On June 17th the State Board handed down two decisions: one a flat 12% per cent increase in back pay to last from April 20 to June 17, and, after that, wages figured on a price list effective in Lynn in 1928. For the. largest number of workers this decision meant ‘a cut in wages. The stitchers of Boston were the only group that refused to accept the de- cision, as a result of which the shoe bosses granted them a 15 per cent raise until August 1, and other im- provements. Rooseve!t Cuts Vet Insurance By 50 Per Cent WASHINGTON, August 1—As a result of Roosevelt’s recent slashes in veterans’ compensation amounting to over $450,000,000, 600,000 bled veterans will re- ceive only 50 per cent on their government insurance policy pay- ments, it was announced today This will cost the disabled vet- erans an additional loss of $3,600,- 000 for the year. + 900 Shirt Workers Strike in Frackville FRACKVILLE, Pa., Aug. 1—Nine hundred workers of the Bob Shirt Co. | and the Merrit Shirt Co. struck to- day demanding a minimum wage of $15 weekly and a maximum 35-hour working week The miner ;near Grindstone, | The following counties in western |Pennsylvania are already involved in the strike: Fayette, Allegheny, Westmoreland, Washington, Greene, Jefferson, Clearfield and Indiana. The miners’ strike in western Pennsylvania now embraces 35,000, with additional thousands of miners joining in. The movement is sweep- ing aside the obstacles set up by the coal operators, United Mine Workers officials, state troops, deputy sheriffs and company thugs. Six were shot at the Star Junction mine of the H. C. krick Coke Co., in a fight between miners and deputy | sheriffs. In a clash at the Edenborne |mine of the same company forty were injured. At Colonial No, 3 mine, troops sent by Governor Pin- chot drove back the picket line with fixed bayonets, while guardsmen escorted the strikebreakers. Local unions of the United Mine Workers of Ambrica at Pittsburgh Terminal mines No. 2, 3, 4 and 8 voted immediate strike yesterday. Pat Fagan, president of District 5 of the U. M. W. of A. and International Board member John O’Leary, who were present, were forced to sit down when they opposed the strike at a meeting of miners from mines No. 8 and 9. Fagan then issued a farewell appeal that “all loyal mem- bers of the U. M. W. of A. will go |to work tomorrow morning.” The treacherous appeals of the officials are being swept aside as the rank and file is spreading the strike. | Through the efforts of the Na- tional Miners Union locals at Mo- tour No. 10 mine of the Pittsburgh Coal Company, a strike was called is morning with the unanimous support of all in that mine. In. Li- brary, Pa., it was decided in agree- ment with the committee in the mine that the August Ist meeting will be used as a mobilization meet- {ing for the strike. Broad rank and |file strike committees are being set |up at Nos. 8 and 10 mines. Spread Strike The strike is spreading into Alle- | gheny Valley, affecting Montour No. 4, Sill Station, Midland, Westland, Buffalo, Cross Creek, Henderson, Rich Hill and Moon Run mines, all of the Pittsburgh Coal Company. Pricedale, Blythesdale, Warder and’ Smithdale are also out, as well as numerous small mines. The Lilly mine near Brownsville and the Avella mines in Washington County are joining the strike. Grave fear is expressed by the coal operators and business men as the strike spreads. The Uniontown Retail Merchants’ Association noti- fied President Roosevelt that the strike in Fayette County threatens the collapse of the National Recoy- |ery Act. The New York Times re- | porter in Uniontown ‘expresses the opinion of government and company officials that the strike will spread |to all mines and will draw in the steel workers. He states that “per- jsons close to them (meaning the jcoal operators.—Ed.) admitted “- expected the sweep to continue until | the whole region is tied up. Inas- | much as the coal produced here fur- |nishes the coke for steel-making, | the effect of such a tie-up on the steel industry is obvious.” The militancy among the miners \is high, and they are determined to | defeat the operators’ starvation pro- | gram. This morning 3,000: demon- strated at the Nemechlic mine in | Green County, Major Momayer was conferring with Major General Shans non, the National Guard commander, and asked for 17,000 additio1 | guards for the strike area. State | police have been rushed to Washing~ | ton County on the request of Sheriff | Seamen. HAVANA DRIVERS STRIKE HAVANA, Cuba, August 1—Join« ing the strike movement that 4s |rapidly spreading all over the ts- land, the bus drivers today quit | work here in protest against the municipal taxes. The strike is rap= idly spreading through the pro= vinges. 1 ds i ene