The Daily Worker Newspaper, March 15, 1934, Page 5

DAILY WORKER, NEW YORK, THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 1934 Page Pive CHANGE ae WORLD! By SENDER GARLIN HE Art of the Dance—whether bourgeois or prole- tarian—is one of my aesthetic blind spots. I was there- fore rather glad to receive, from a reader of this column, “the following comment on the recent forum-recital, ar- ranged by the Workers’ Dance League of New York. “The Workers’ Dance League,” writes S. R., “arranged a forum on the dance at the New School for Social Research “Jact Sunday, at which John Martin, dance critic of the New “York Times was the only speaker. ‘The Trends and Future of the Ametican Dance’ was the topic announced. “The forum clearly proved irritating and boring to the audience, Mr. Martin talked on and on, with no limit to his time, leading the audience into the usual blind alleys of bourgeois art criticism. With- out the faintest conception of the social basis of art, he spun theories of ‘beautiful’ and ‘ugly’ dancing. ‘Insistence on beauty,’ he said, ‘is nothing but sentimentality.’ (Whatever that means.) Then he con- tinued with, ‘We have developed an audience that will take ugly danc- ing.’ Class Criticism—Even in the Dance “Just what is the class nature of this defense of the New York Times. critic for ‘ugly’ dancing? Writing for the Times, Mr. Martin naturally defends capitalist ideology as it reflects itself in the dance, The present-day bourgeois dance is steeped in individual theories of dance technique (‘of which no two dances are alike,’ Mr. Martin con- fesses); in mysticism, art for art’s sake and in other inconsequential narcisstic conceptions. “This, incidentally, is the type of dancing which many members of the average concert audience, unacquainted with Mr. Martin’s laudatory comments on these ‘geniuses’ in the dance, have the temerity to characterize ag ugly. “In his talk last Sunday, Mr. Martin declared that this type of ‘ugly’ dancing had, as yet, found an audience only in New York. ‘West of the Hudson it is a sad story, he reported. Unfortunately for Mr. Martin’s thesis, however, both Isadora Duncan and Pavlowa made many triumphant tours, not only west of Hudson, but in many parts of the world. And Isadora Duncan, because of the revolutionary content in her dance, as well as her enthusiasm for the Soviet Union, received anything but laudatory comments. This was reserved for the one or two precious New York originalities following their measly one or two dance performances a year. “Of course, the Workers’ Dance League must strive to win over the more socially-minded dancers in the dance like Dorsha, Sophia Delza, and critics like Paul Love, for example. At the forum on Sun- day, however, the bourgeois critic, Mr. Martin, succeeded—it appears— in winning over the Workers’ Dance League’s audience. “It is unfortunately true that many members of the Workers’ Dance League still worship Mr. John Martin of the New York Times, Gespite the fact that his criticism fundamentally—more by omission than commission—strikes at the very basis of the aims and work of the Workers’ Dance League. The Role of Detachment “It is quite clear to all who listened to his speech, as well as to those who from time to time read his comments in the Times, that he consistently refuses to evaluate content in the dance. Hence his spirited defense of the eccentricities of form which present-day bour- geois dancers are splitting hairs over, and which, as Mr. Martin says, many people have the bad taste to laugh at. “There is purpose behind Mr. Martin’s defense of, say, Martha Graham’s ‘genius.’ Let Romain Rolland explain this purpose: “The role of detachment,’ wrote Rolland, ‘pleases the political masters, for the detachment of the aesthete isolates him from the arena, where the destinies of the people are decided’.” * * * An Organizational Criticism NOY that this more specialized aspect of the subject has been handled, T should like to put in my two cents on the organizational side of the forum-recital, arranged by the Workers’ Dance League. Tt is an axiom of revolutionary organization that we never mobilize an audience for a speaker who, directly or indirectly, attacks the aims and work of the organization. Now this is what Mr. John Martin of the New York Times did last Sunday, for I heard it myself. Defenders of Mr. Martin in our ranks may say that “he is coming our way,” which may or may not be so. But it must be acknowledged that there should have been at least one speaker definitely representing the revolution- ary viewpoint. To depend upon the chairman and questions from the floor is not enough. (There was no discussion, incidentally, because the forum didn’t begin untél 4:30.) é * * * . Want A Bite? HN R. McMahon of Little Falls, N. Y.. an old friend and neighbor “of Ryan Walker, the famous revolutionary cartoonist, who died in Moscow two years ago, sends in the following item: DOG FOOD FOR AMERICAN WORKERS. At last the New Deal has put dog food on the table of American workers. : It comes in one-pound cans and is a ration equally suitable for dogs and people. - “Fit for Human Food,” reads the label and this statement is fol- lowed by the government endorsement—“U. 8. Inspected and Passed by Department of Agriculture.” So the pure food law protects the com- bined fare for canines and folks. Through some inadvertence the feeding directions on cans only apply to dogs. The amount fed depends on size and condition of animal. “For puppies thin with milk or water.” Doubtless for children a similar dilution is advisable. When the Department of Agriculture gets around to it, we may expect recipes for the economical and tasty serving of dog food on the table. One ten-cent can ought to be enough for an average family of the unemployed—enough to make them throw it at the heads of the master class. It is recommended for cats also. It contains no horse meat but is made from meat by-products, grain and other whoiesome ingredients. A firm of Chicago packers, Empire Beef and Provision Co., whose main line is human provender, produce the new dog-man ration under the name of Wilsco Dog Food. Save the labels and send twenty or thirty of them to General Johnson, who will probably reward you with a picture of a kennel beneath a blue eagle rampant. * * . This Money-Changer Is Back in the Temple! HAD been wondering what had happened to that literary ‘ tacketeer, Charles Yale Harrison, thought he left the revolutionary movement in an awful lurch, when he demonstratively resigned as a contributor from the New Masses about two years ago on the ground that Stalin was somehow or other responsible for the suicide of Trots- ky’s daughter. Well, it seems that Charles Yale is still afloat, for a postcard re- ceived in this office today informs us that he is scheduled to deliver a double-barreled disquisition “on the provocative tonic, ‘Political In- fluences in Contemporary American Literature, or The Effect Which Fascism and Communism Is Having on Our Younger Writers’,” in the Educational Series of the Junior Federation of the Brooklyn Federation of Jewish Charities at the Temple Beth Emeth of Flatbush, _TheatreGroups Prepare National’ ‘Drama Festival the pace in organizing for the Fes- | tival. New groups have been formed in Portland and Seattle and work | was carried on in Tulare, Bakers- field, Fresno, Carmel, Oakiand, and | Berkeley. In the Los Angeles sector alone are ten theatre groups which, together with groups up and down the Pacific Coast, will participate in a two-day Western Theatre Fes- tival to be held March 17th and 18tn at the Orange Grove Theatre, Los Angeles. On Friday, the 16th, the Rebel eee he pad oe will give a lal performance 0! Banating the Circle. a full length comedy by the Russian author. Kataev. The West Coast will send | one English-speaking and one for- | eign language group to Chicago. An | outstanding event was the presen- | tation of a play based on the revolt of Chinese sailors on a British tanker anchored in San Pedro har- bor. It was called Mutiny On A British Tanker and was artistially powerful as well as politially per- tinent. Other events of note are plans for producing Peace On Earth ;and Fortune Heights by the New Theatre Group of Hollywood and the ten-day run of Squaring the Circle, beginning March 7th at the Orange Grove Theatre. Originally | another theatre, the Figuerea Play- house, had been contracted for, but the contract was cancelled by the owners when it was discovered that & “radical” group would use it. After the run of Squaring the Circle the Rebel Players will go into the fight and demand a full explana- tion of the ban. The Blue Blouses, the group concentrating on agitprop work, has been allowed to organize separately and is no longer con- nected with the Rebel Players, which now devotes all of its time to full-length plays. A tour of South- ern California has already been ar- ranged for the Blue Blouses. Caer ear NEW YORK.—Two workers theatre groups survived the district com- Petition in which twenty-four work- ers theatres participated At the final competitions held on March 10th at the Fifth Avenue Theatre, the Ukrainian Theatre Group won the foreign language competition, with the Coney Island Workers Club (Jewish) second. In the Eng- lish-speaking section the Workers Laboratory Theatre of Harlem came out on top, the runners-up being the New Experimental Theatre of Harlem, and the American Youth Club of Brooklyn. Before leaving for Chicago, the Workers Labor- atory Theatre will present a full evening of its repertory (March 24), including two new productions, La Guardia’s Got the Boloney, and a special production in four scenes of Lev Slavin’s Intervention, a Soviet «Play presented in the Soviet Union. The Workers Laboratory Theatre will tour to Chicago, playing one- night stands along the way, as will the winning English West Coast group. A feature of the New York finals was the presentation of two scenes of Harry Alan Potamkin’s Strike Me Red of the Young Pioneers, which had the audience calling for more. i | WEST COAST—This district sets | Tickets are being distributed in all quarters for the New York Finals Competition of the National Theatre Festival to send two groups, one English-speaking and one foreign language, as the New York representatives to the National in Chicago (April 13-15.) The affair will be held Saturday, March 10th, 8:30 p. m., at the Fifth Ave. Theatre, 28th St. and Broadway. John Wexley, the author of “They Shall Not Die,” will be Chairman. Tickets may be purchased at Work- ers Book Shop, 50 E. 13th St., and League of Workers Theatres office, 42 E. 12th St. TUNING IN TONIGHT’S PROGRAM WEAF—660 Ke. P. M—Mary Small, Songs 15—Billy Batchelor—Sketch '30—Bhirley Howard, Songs; Jesters Trio s—-The Goldbergs—Sketch ‘00—Vallee Orch.; Soloists 9:00—Captain Henry Show Boat Concert. 10:00—Whiteman Orch.; Al Jolson, Songs 11:00—Viola Philo, Soprano 11:15—News Reports 11:20—Cyril Pitts, Tenor 11:30—Stern Orch. 12:00—Lunceford Oreh. WOR—710 Ke. 7:00 P. M.—Sports Resume 8:00—Little Symphony Orch.; Philip James, Conductor; Martha Attwood, Soprano 9:00—Variety Music 9:15—Dramatised News 9:30—De Marco Girls; Prank Sherry, 9:45—The Witeh’s Tale 10:15—Current Events—Harlan Eugene Rea a 10:30—The Jolly Russiens 10: Boake Oarter 11:00—Moonbeams Trio 11:30—Coleman Orch. Sots WJZ—760 Ke. 7:00 P. M.—Amos 'n’ Andy 7:15—oT Be Announced 7:30—Sagerquist Orch.; Don Ameche and Sally Ward in Dramatic Sketch 8:00—Cape Diamond Lights 8:30—Adventures in Health—Dr. Herman Bundesen 8:45—To Be Announced 9:00—Deeth Valley Days—Sketch 9:30—Duchin Orch. 10:00—Canadian Program 10:30—Merie Alcock, Songs; Archer Gth- 11:00--Cavaiiers Q af vs uartet 11:15—News Reports 11:20—Anthony Frome, Tenor 11:30—Madriguera Oren. ae WABC—860 Ke. 200 P. M.—Myrt and Marge raat Plain Bill—Sketch .; Stoopnagie and Budd, edians; Connie Boskell, Songs Evans, Baritonet Concert Com 10:30—Evan Orch. 11:00—Vera Van, Songs 11:18—News: Jones Orch. The Hordes The hordes that battle for Onte more the bloodsoaked And now again the long ete: Cracked bodies, or the yello' Of night glow on the entrai And we who once awoke fro! Broken asunder by the flam: Of shelis whose death cam By JOSEPH FREEMAN That Battle the world’s domain Sweat impatiently within each camp; earth roars with the tramp Of Armies thundering across the plain. rnal rain Shall drum in darkness taps upon the damp ww lonely lamp ls of the siain. m. the slow dream Of peace and childhood to behold the sky ing steel e with a monstrous scream, Shall this time, having lived, know how to die, Poetry.) Rifle in hand, to make a just dream real. (From “Dynamo,” No. 1, a Journal of Revolutjonary Commissi By GENE RUSSELL business articles; able use type- writer; small remuneration. Ap- ply after 4 v.m. Suite 1806A, 67 W. 44th St., New York.” * . A few days ago this advertise- ment appeared in the want-ad sec- tion of a New York daily news- Paper. Harboring no illusions in my mind about the nature of such jobs, find ont what it was all about rather than with the thought of fitting into the “position.” found it was the office of a publica- tion called AMERICAN SYSTEM PUBLICATION, “A Magazine of Business Achievement.” Someone at a desk beckoned to me to come forward. After ques- tioning me as to my experience, he proceeded, with an air of dissatis- faction with my qualifications, to tell me his proposition—not without a few preliminary remarks about how appropriate and lucrative the proposition is, considering these trying times. In effect his story was: “We publish a magazine. These men you see around you write for us on @ commission basis; they work here in this office from nine in the morning to five in the eve- ning. . . . And,” he added slyly: “Like a regular job.” At this point he paused while with a gesture of “generosity” he handed me a copy of the magazine (October, 1933). Then he continued: “This is what the writers do: “From the various publications stitutions and individuals . . . then articles are written about them. Never of a negative character. “When the article is written, we do the rest. If the article sells to the institution or individual the writer gets 10 per cent commis- |to write more favorable stuff.” As I began to arise to leave, he asked, seemingly not noticing the flush of anger upon my face: “How do you like the proposi- | tion?” I did not answer. Quickly T made for the door. For, had I answered the way I “liked” his proposition, he would have heard and felt an expression of the deep-lying hate I possess for such parasites—and the bigger parasites who support and rally them. Once outside I reconciled myself to the ugly fact that this is a true picture of, the capitalist press—the capitalist press in bold relief. Later I read in this magazine un- “Writers, experienced, for short | I responded more with a desire to| | _ Upon entering my destination, I} items are selected about certain in- | sion—otherwise he must try again | “Creative Writing on a 10% on Basis” | der the head of “Sympathy for Mew Germa . . + with the creation of the | faseist regime for the first time in |the history of the German people . . the nation was firmly united behind a strong, forceful and popu- lar leadership. Despite the press of | outside interference, most of which has been . . . based on exaggerated stories without foundation in fact, la spirit of hope... has possessed | this people. . Bread may be lacking, clothing may be insufficient People and the - but the... | nation, high destiny. Huts . this is a different pic- ture from that presented by the nation’s enemies, but we believe it |to be exact and authentic, vouched for by all who have made an in- telligent and disinterested study of |the Hitler regime. It is a picture which Dr, Louis A. Ewald, President of the Federation of American Ba- varian Societies, Chairman of the German-American Conference of | Greater New York and Chairman of the Goodwill Society [my empha- | American nation . . . Dr. Ewald is {neither rabidly partison nor opposed |to the ambitions of any race. . simply believing as the average citi- zen not swayed by propaganda be- |lieves that to Germany must be re- | served the right to work out her own salvation. ... We can see no reason for outside protest of the sort which now fills the land. “,.. If Germany has lashed out on new lines, if she now strikes tion, such is her own concern, more, we believe, to be viewed sym- | pathetically and with a gesture of assistance... . ” Consider: This unprincipled profit magazine dares to say: “We can see no reason for protest” when the entire working world rises in uni- son against the relentless butchery of the fascist regime. sympathy for the bloody Hitler ter- ror! Sympathy for a government which came into power drenched | with the life-blood of the workers! In the same issue of this publica- tion—among a number of other anti-working class articles and eu- |logies of working class enemies— was an article against the Needle Trades Industrial Union. The ar- ticle brazenly called “pon the proper officials to take such action as is necessary to remove the dis- satisfied pickets.” Mirrorred in this comparatively “small-time” publication is the countenance of the entire bourgeois press. Supported by advertising matter running into millions of ; dollars annually all its reading mat- ter is written with a lying, hypo- critical eye toward the advertiser. 'Leaders of the Pisletiiecn Red| Army of the U.S.S.R. TH. SIMON BUDENNY was born in 1883, the son of a peasant in the Don Region. He was a soldier dur- ing the Russo-Japanese War in 1905, and during the imperialist war of 1914-18. During the latter he was promoted to non-commissioned officer and Master of the Guards. Stage and Screen Deval’s Comedy “Another Love,” Monday at Vanderbilt “Another Love,” Jacques Deval's comedy will open next Monday night at the Van- derbilt Theatre. George Oppenheimer adapted the play. Mary Servoss, Ray- mond Welburn, Suzanne Caubaye and Iris Whitney head the cast. John Howard Lawson's play, “The Pure in Heart," has been postponed to Satur- “Rickard of Bordeaux,” Gordon Daviot's day night at the Longacre Theatre. drama of Richard IT, in which Dennis King plays the lead, will close on Satur- day night at the Empire Theatre. The Production may make a tour of the prin- cipal cities. Shepperd Strudwick and Puller Mellish are the latest additions to the cast of “Races,” the anti-Nazi play by Ferdinand Bruckner, which the Theatre Guild will Present here in April. Les Simonson will design the settings. Thsen’s “Ghosts” will be revived for a serles of special matinees by the cast of “No More Ladies” at the Morosco Thea- tre. Lucille Watson, Edward Fielding, Miriam Battista, ey Cass and John Bramwell will take part in the produc- tion. “Lot In Sodom” In Last Two Days At Acme Theatre 9 “Lot_In Sodom,” now showing at the Acmé Theatre, will close on Friday along with the Palestine picture, “The Dream Of My People,” in which Cantor Rosen- blatt is featured. On Saturday morning, the Acme will Present the Soviet film “Rubicon” or “The Strike Breaker” for its first showing in America. The picture was produced in the U.S.S.R. by Soyuzkino and was di- rected by Vladmir Weinchtak. “The House of Rothschild,” a new Twensieth Century film with George Ar- liss in the leading role, opened last night at the Astor Theatre. “The Quitter,” with William Bakewell, Charles Grapewin and Barbara Weeks, is the new picture now showing at the May- fair Theatre. “Midnight,” based on the Theatre Guild play, is the screen feature at the Roxy. Henry Hull plays a leading role, In 1917 he carried on revolution- ary work at the front and was chairman of the Soldiers’ Council. Budenny joined the Communist Party in 1919. qa year previously he formed the first Red Cavalry Division which gradually was built up into a regiment, brigade, cavalry corps and finally the First Red Cav- alry Army. During the Civil War Budenny with his cavalry army had | various brilliant victories over the | cersiry of the White armies (an- — arene an oe BUDENNY | nihilation of cavairy corps of Gen- eral Pokrovsky, siege of Mamontov and Schkuro, annihilation of six Cossack corps of General Payloy), His victories were decisive in liqui- dating the White Southern Front. In April he led his cavalry army in forced marches from the Cau- casus to the Polish front where he broke through the Polish army and pushed ahead up to Lemberg. From Poland he again went in marches to the Southern Front, where he broke through the Wrangel army. Budenny has been decorated with three Red Orders and a golden sword of honor for his outstanding deeds. He has been a member of the Supreme Revolutionary Mili- tary Council since 1923, and In- spector of the Cavalry since 1924, again look forward to a) sis—G, R.], would present to the) boldly to achieve her own salva- | It calls for | \City Club Council New Orleans Unions Prints First Issue CLUB.—Organ of the City Club Counell of New York. February- March issue 1984. (Of New Bulletin’ | Reviewed by ALAN CALMER. RED “radicels” still talk of the American masses as hardboiled | individualists who scorn organiza- | tion of any character. Just the op- posite is true. Almost everybody be- longs to some small neighborhood or shop grup which is known famili as everybody goes to gab and drink and plan “affairs.” A list of such social clubs in the United States would stretch across the continent | any number of times. The vast majority of these clubs haye never been reached by the arms of the revolutionary move- ment. Many of them, while ap- parently non-political in character, are tied up—through single mem- bers or, more frequently, through “advisers”—with the political ma- | chines of the bourgeois parties. The City Club Council of New York has been trying for two years to build such organizations around the revolutionary movement. Im- mediately after their Second An- nual Conference held early this year, they have issued the first number of a mimeographed bulletin con- taining news of their recent activi ties, which include not only sports | and educational and social work | but also interesting dramatic ef- forts. Some of the clubs partici- pated in the semi-finals of the Na- tional Theatre Festival held last month in New York, This bulletin also includes a re- port which links the relief problems of members of the clubs with the |Gemands of the Washington con- | vention against unemployment. An- | other report, on “The House Beau- | tiful,” is a plea for more attrac- tive clubrooms. Other articles which try to be breezy fail through lack of good writing. | Like most mimeo publications, this | bulletin also reveals the crying need | for mimeograph “spets” in many of Jour revolutionary organizations. | This highly important propagan- | distic tool (which, as the mother of thousands of small papers, will oc- cupy a prominent place in post- ‘| revolutionary museums) deserves the | attention of more competent crafts- | men, of knights of the mimeograph. iL. O. W. T. Offers New| Course \in Theatre Directing NEW YORK —The League of | Workers Theatres (Section New York) in co-operation with the Stu- dio of the Theatre Collective is in- augurating a course in the Funda- mentals of Directing. This class, given especially for Theatres of | Action, will be conducted by John |E. Bonn. | The class will be extended over a period of five months and upon |satisfactory completion it is ex- pected that students will be | equipped to direct Theatres of Ac- |tion. The fee for the course is $4, $2 for members of the League of Workers Theatres. Classes will be held every 21, from _7 to 8:30 p.m. The office 15th St., will be open Mondays and Wednesdays from 3 to 8:30 p.m. for registration and further informa- tion. WHAT’S Thursday SPRING TERM Workers School Regis- tration is open, 35 E. 12th St., New York. | Register now before the rush | YORKVILLE Br. F.8.U. Protest Meeting against the defamation of the Soviet Union by Fascist agents. Speakers: M. Halber- stadt, B. Friedmann; Labor Temple, 247 | E. 84th Bt, at 8 o'clock. NURSES and Hospital Workers League general membership meeting; 106 E. 14th St., 8:30 p.m. THOSE interested in singing, modern | proletarian music and who can reed notes | ere requested to come to Pierre Degeyter | Club Chorus, 5 E. 19th St., 6 o'clock, for audition. “LABOR, under the N.R.A. and under the Soviets,” lecture by Hayes Jones at West Side Br. F.S.U., 2642 Broadway at 100th St., 8:30 pm. “Adm. 15¢. GERTRUDE HUTCHINSON will speak on “New Morals In A New World” at Wilkins Hall, 1330 Wilkins Ave. Auspices, East Bronx Br. F.S.U., 8:30 p.m. SINGING OLASS—Harmony, theory aad solfeggio at Mosholu Prog. Club, 3230 Bain- bringe Ave. 8:45 p.m. Yasha Friedman, | instructor. “WORKING and Traveling in the Sovie Union” at Burnside Manor, 85 W. Burn- |side Ave, 8:30 p.m. Speaker, Manuel Granich. Adm. 19¢. Unemployed free. headquarters, Bedford Center, 1083 Berger St. near Nostrand Ave., 8:30 p.m. Al) sympathizers are welcome MEETING of New Youth Club in East New York, 962 Sutter Ave. 8:30 p.m. All Interested are invited. tra for Town Hall Concert. All members including Concertinas must come, & p.m. CANARSIE Br. 527 LW.O. meeting at 1182 E. 92nd St. at Flatbush Ave., 8:30 p.m, Friday ONE YEAR of Hitler Dictatorship. Open Forum at German Workers’ Club, 79 E. 10th St., 2nd floor. Speaker: A. Harris. Adm. free. “ONE YEAR of Hitlerism, What Next?” lecture by Otto Durick, editor of “Der Ar- beiter’’ at American Youth Federation, 323 E. 13th St., near Second Ave., 8:30 p.m. Adm, 10¢ GRACE HUTCHINSON, lecture on “New Morals in a New World” at Tremont Prog. Club, 866 EF. Tremont Ave., 8:45 p.m. V. JEROME lectures on “The Armed Revolt of the Austrian Worker at Pol- | lowers of Nature, 12 E. 17th St | Dancing afterwards. Adm. Harlem Palace, 27 W. 115th St. Concert and Dance for the benefit of the Harlem ection. Latin American and American | Music. Adm. 200. Boston, Mass. SPECIAL attention to all mass organi- zetions and Trade Unions in Greater Bos-| ton. Be sure that your organization has) its representative at the first Greater Boston Daily Worker Conference to be held Friday, March 16, at 8 p.m., Dudley St. Opera House, 113 Dudley St., Roxbury. | HOUSE PARTY Friday, March 16, at 8 P.m. at home of Lee Kaplan, 52 Brunswick ‘St., Roxbury. Adm. 10c. Auspices, Amer- | ican Workers Chorus. } Philadelphia MARINE Workers Industrial Union Dance and Entertainment, Friday, March 16 wt 312 South Second St. Adm. 5c. 10th JUBILEE Concert of the Prejheit Gesangs Farein, Friday, March 16, at 8:30 p.m. Academy of Music, Broad and Locust | Sreets. Oratorio “Tzwel Brieder.” Tickets | can be obtained from all members of the Chorus. “the club” — where | Wednesday evening, starting March | of the Theatre Collective, 52 W.| By JOHN L. SPIVAK NEW ORLEANS, La.—Or- |ganized labor, which at one time was strongly entrenched here, is now completely shat- jtered, New Orleans was an | American Federation of Labor | Stronghold with almost all craft. | Organized, but since the depression A. F. of L. business agents co- operated with employers to reduce union wages “to meet the requi }Ments of the times” and in due time most of the unions were d stroyed and those that are left are weak and impotent. Even in the days when union la- bor was well organized and even before the depression the open shop was already. making inroads with little or no objection on the | part of the walk- ing delegates, who have since adopted the eu- phonious title of “business agents.’’ The open shop in- roads were tacit- fl ly accepted by the union offi- cials, The wor Ri = ors themselves, “JOHN L, SPIVAK placing faith in the A. F. of L. representatives, of- fered little objection, so that the |New Orleans Association for Com- merce used to state officially: “While nearly all crafts are or- | ganized, open shop conditions pre- vail as a rule, union and non- union labor working together har- moniously.” As a result of this “harmonious working together,” organized labor | here still has a few locals and busi- ness agents but scarcely any mem- bers. Labor leaders have stopped | worrying about labor's needs since | the depression and have become jsmall time politicians playing jaround with local political lights. |The workers are forgotten and nei- ther they nor their leaders are do- ing anything to offset the tide of | wage cutting for those few who stll | have occasonal work. New Orleans is more of a “white |collar” town than an industrial one. |The largest individual industry from the standpoint of the num- ber of workers is the longshoremen, with the public service (power |trust) ranking second. Longshore- men once numbered around 8,000 and the power trust some 3,500. number of power trust employees as longshoremen since the city dropped from second largest port in the United States to fourth; and of these 4,000 longshoremen (the rest have found work with government Telief projects) only a small, lim- | ally. | Labor spokestnen’ here are éven lotte, N. C. The one outstanding thing I gathered from A. F. of L. leaders here is that they simply do not know what is going on, ex- {cept that the unions have been shattered. They have no facts, no |figures and those few figures they offer an inquirer are exaggerated in their favor. When they give you what they think are facts they are actually only guessing and fre- quently guessing wrong. Everybody seems to be in a nebulous state. I ;ot the impression that they were floating around in air, looking wor- ried and harrassed with a sort of intense frenzy. I expected some of them—and this is true of public of- ficials as well as labor leaders—to grow tails suddenly. They were for all the world like dogs trying to |catch their own tails which were | hurting them and turning round | and round in an increasingly dazed frenzy. They know only that organized labor is simply a name. No one jeven talks about unions; they know that those who do occasionaly get work are paid a wage far less than the minimum living scale, and they |don’t know what to do about it, so they play politics. I do not know | whether they are playing with lo- cal politicians for their private ad- vantage now that the unions are shattered, or whether they actually think that this procedure might |help them in their organizational work. The Central Trades and Labor Today there are about the same | jited number work even occasion- | more lost than they were in Char- | Completely Shattered SPENT several days hunting Mr, Dempsey After a number of phone calis I finally managed to get from the Community Ohest, af which he represen labor, the headquarters address. It was Bien- ville St., I was told. There, in the office of a small local union, I was informed that Central Trades onle its mail there occasionally ane the headquarters was on So, part St. There, in the motion picture operators’ local I was told again that he did not appear there except for appointments—that he The to find him, I was told, his barroom or that bar- |room. I followed him from bar- room to barroom but he was al- | ways two barrooms ahead of me. I leff notes for him in all of them; I left notes in his car, at his home }and in the end I never did see him. ‘When he was not in a barroom he was said to be down to the city hall consulting with the Mayor. T am inclined to think that he did not want to see me and answer questions about union labor in New | Orleans. | I give these details not to show that Mr. Dempsey goes to barrooms but to show what has happened to what was once a stronghold of union labor. The Central Trades is nothing more than a name, a president and a few members of affiliated locals which still show some signs of life In my effort to locate an A. F. of L. spokesman who might know the activity of what locais were left, I finally met with William L. Don- | nels, editor of the Federationist, |organ of the Louisiana State Fed- eration of Labor. From him T tried |to get facts and figures. For years |he has been telling what is left of | organized labor here just what the labor situation is. Most of his an- swers were like those I got from | smal local business agents who, though knowing a little about their own local, could not be expected to know the whole labor situatton. I asked Mr. Donnels first how many members there were in the | Central Trades and Labor Council “I would rather not say. I'd rather you'd get that from Demp- | had no definite headquarters, way best was jated with the Central Trades?’ “There are about 100 locals in the city and about 75 affiliated with the Central Trades.” |_ “And with all thege the Central Trades cannot afford an office or |a telephone?” “We have an office.” He gave me the address on Bienville St. I told him I had been there, too, and what the loca! union officials at both places told me. The editor smiled |and shrugged his shoulders. “How many workers are there in New Orieans?” | “T don't know.” “How many are unemployed?” | “I showld say about 75 per cent. of them,” “How many of those employed are working only time?” “About 50 per cent of them.” | (To Be Continued) t are part | Boston to Hear Dana in '8 THustrated Talks on BOSTON .—Beginning this Thurs- day evening, March 15, Professor H. W. L. Dana will give a series of eight iNustrated lectures on “The Land of the Soviets” Union Hall, 62 Chambers St., West End, mn. ‘The lectures are held under the auspices of the Workers School of Boston. | The fee for the eight leetures is $1.50, single admission 20 cents. Chieago Pen & Hammer | CHICAGO. — Professor Frederick |L. Schumann of the Political Sci- ence Department of the University jof Chicago will lecture on “The World Prepares for War” and So! Galatsky on “Anti-War Activities |and Organizations,” this Friday, March 16, in Room 440, Lyon & |Healy Building. Auspices Chieago |Pen & Hammer. | PARIS COMMUNE LECTURE “How many locals are there affil-* |The Land of Soviets”. at Credit - Holds Anti-War Forum Council here, with James Dempsey | jas president’ and which claims 75| NEW YORK—Alexander Trach- | affiliated locals out of the claimed |tenberg, member of the Central ‘ame. It has no such number of | Will speak at the Workers’ School |the claimed 15,000. It cannot af-| March 18, at 8 pm. on “The Paris REHEARSAL Freiheit Mandolin Orches- | | j , 8:30 p.m. | 15e. | HARLEM Neighborhood Get-Together st | | | MENTS \——-THE THEATRE GUILD presents—, JOHN WEXLEY'S New Play THEY SHALL NOT DIE || ROYALE Te, 45th st. w. of Broadway. Eves. 8:20. |] Mats. ‘Thursday and Saturday, 2:20 EUGENE O'NEILL's Comedy AH, WILDERNESS! with GEORGE M. COHAN GUILD ‘Thea., 52d St. W. of B Ey.8.20Mats.Thur.&Sa MAXWELL ANDERSON’S New Play “MARY OF SCOTLAND” with HELEN — PHILIP HAYES MERIVALE ALV. Thea., 52 St., W. of B'way Ev.8.20Mats. Thur.&Sat.2.20 Starting Saturday! } AMKINO presents “RUBICON” “The Strikebreaker” A SOVIET Production Produced in U.S.6.R. (English Titles) bays | PALESTINE | “Soca: 2 Days Todey aiso:—"Lot in Sodom’ ACME THEATRE Gsinse: Union Sq. | ——RADI U BOB Ht See Se the Me Opens 11:30 A. M. RUDY ALICE JIMMY VALEE FAYE DURANTE George White Scandals And a great Music Hall Stage Show RKO Jefferson Mth St. & | Now 3rd Ave. | Richard BALTHELMESS, Ann DVORAK in “MASSACRE” Also “ENLIGHTEN THY DAUGHTER” | with HERBERT RAWLINSON |. Theatre Union's Stirring Play LAST WEEK! PEACE ON EARTH | CIVIC REPERTORY Thea., 14thSt.a6thave | WA. 9-7450. Evgs. 8.45. 30°°"1" NO Mats. Wed. & Sat. 2.30. TAX | 7, IEGFELD FOLLIES with FANNIE BRICE | Willie & Eugene HOWARD, Bartlett SIM- | MONS, Jane FROMAN, Patricia BOWMAN. | WINTER GARDEN, B'way & 50th. Evs. §.36 Matinees Thursday and Saturday 2:30 “Her Master’s Voice” | | . ‘Thea., W. 45th St. Evs, 8.40 | Plymouth yurwen tues eae O MORE LADIES A New Comedy by A. H. Thomas with | MELVIN DOUGLAS, LUCILE WATSON | MOROSCO Thea., 48th, W. of Biway. Brs | 8:50. Mats, Wed., Thurs. and Bat. at 2:43 ¥ | Roland YOUNG and Laura Hope CREWS in © 100 locals in the city, is only a | Committee of the Communist Party, ~ |locals and no.such membership as | Forum, 36 E. 12th St., on Sunday, ~ |ford even an office or a telephone. ' Commune and Marxism-Leninism.” ” AMUSE THE ANTI-WAR HIT! _