The Daily Worker Newspaper, April 6, 1934, Page 5

| 4 ~ to speed the accomplishment of the re DAILY WORKER, NEW YORK, FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 1934 CHANGE a ‘WORLD! By SENDER GARLIN (Batting for Michael Gold) - An Open Letter Mr. John L. Rice, Health Commissioner of New York, 139 Center Street, New York City. My dear Mr. Commissioner: Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness in sending us your mimeographed press release in which you recom- mend Spring health diets. I know that our readers will find these recommendations extremely helpful, particularly those of our readers who have been unemployed for the past few yars. You say that “there still are too many persons who adhere to the old fashioned idea that their bodies require attention only at given intervals.” That is quite true, Commissioner, and in the words of The Nation, we “deplore” that fact. Unfortunately, however, it is still necessary to pay fees to doctors in order to get a proper medical exami- nation. Did you ever thinks of that, Commissioner? Of course they might go to some of the city clinics, but where would they get the money to go to an honest and competent doctor afterward to undo the physical harm done them by the cynical youngsters who practice medicine on the poor in the city’s hospitals? * * * Some People Are Reckless! YOUR press release you assert that “the person who takes proper care of his body seldom requires a bottle of tonic in the spring, or at any other time.” You sure know your stuff, doctor! The way people neglect their bodies is something terrible; it would rile even a fellow with cool nerves. Especially the 17,000,000 unemployed throughout these great United States and the several million in our own fair city. Now, doctor, just consider the reckless way in which many people without jobs mishandle their own bodies. Lots of them sleep four and five huddled up in one room, and you know how bad the ventila- tion is in some of those tenement buildings (including those owned by the city of New York). Many of these poorer families don’t even have the good taste to move out of those terrible flats—especially when there are so many modern, well-equipped, sun-lit apartments that are vacant on Park Avenue, Riverside Drive and even up in Mt. Kisko in the ‘Westchester Hills where the air and scenery would remind you of your Jast visit to the Swiss Alps. * * * Nature Is So Wonderful AM especially keen about emphasizing this point because of the profound observation further on in your release that “nature has provided most of the tonics needed by human beings in sunshine, fresh air and water.” And you strike an aggressive note when you say that “the sooner every one makes greater use of these elements the sooner will the halth of the nation improve.” dees, it does make one impatient to contemplate the stupidity of most people when they ignore these demands of nature for “sunshine, fresh air and water.” Especially when all this is so easily available down in Palm Beach, Bermuda or right in our very midst, say up in Lake George, Lake Placid and the Thousand Islands. : Commissioner, let me. say frankly (and I hope you don’t think I’m trying to flatter you) that I admire your straightforward statement that “as a matter of fact, if more exercise were taken in the sunshine and fresh air many of the present diseases would become less prevalent.” ‘The trouble is that most people limit their exercise to walking, in- steed of using their swimming pools or going on fox-hunts in Vir- ginia. And instead of walking in the country where the salubrious air would invigorate them, they insist on walking by the hour on the city’s hard pavements in search of work. * Food—-For Thought ‘OU certainly provide wonderful food for thought, as it were, when you say that “just as you change to Spring clothing so you should change to Springtime health rules.” Of course, most of the so-called poorer class of people (some of my best friends are in this category) don’t have to change back into Spring clothes because by the time Spring comes around their clothes have been worn down to the ap- propriate weight which you suggest. Of course, this takes us far afield into discussions of economics and politics, so I guess we had better pass this aspect by. Especially when we consider that the medical profession as well as the administration of public and private hospitals is so far above those sordid money considerations which prevail in the world of commerce! T am pleased to note that your mimeographed release does not eonfine itself merely to suggestions about fresh air and exercise. And in so doing you show a breadth of vision and scope which is refreshing in a public official. For you also take up the question of Spring food. You say that in addition to fresh air and exercise, “it is well to add more fresh vegetables to the menu, to drink more milk and to change from heavier to lighter foods.” - Your suggestion about adding “fresh vegetables” to the average menu appeals to me most. Because it seems to me so utterly sensible. When you consider that so many thousands of tons of fresh vegetables are dumped into the ocean in order to jack up the price, if does make one furious at the stupidity of most people in not adding more fresh vegetables to their regular diet—doesn’t it, my dear Mr. Commissioner? * * * We Might Get a Law Passed COURSE, even if we had a law passed it would probably be diffi- cult to enforce the rule that most residents of the community add more fresh vegetables to their regular diet. So it seems to me practical (since we are both practical men) to start on the public institutions. Take the Municipal Lodging House, (sometimes called the “Flophouse”), at 25th Street and the East River. The men there are entirely without shame, it seems. They crowd themselves into a huge dormitory and so many of them are there that they overflow into an abandoned pier. Just consider what they eat: breakfast—boiled oatmeal, 3 pieces of bread with one pat of butter and “coffee” (without milk). No lunch, undoubtedly in conformity with your recommendation to “change from heavier to lighter foods” in the Spring. Supper: usually stew, 3 slices of bread with one pat of butter and again “coffee” (without milk). These men can look forward, however, to next December—if they remain hungry after their meals—because once a year the City of New York splurges and gives them a Christmas dinner! Now, Commissioner, I hope you will forgive me for having taken up so much of your valuable time. I'll close now and let you go ahead with your press releases. Yours, with a springy step, SENDER GARLIN, * * * * * TOMORROW: Michael Gold on “A Great Mexican Artist.” American Metal Workers to Hail Shock Brigaders Tonight AY FIRST in Swerdloysk, U. 8. 8. R., this year, will see a big demonstration of solidarity. Here| Immediate correspondence workers from the United States will| Urged from steel and metal local present to the Udarniks (shock | Unions and shop groups, W. 1. R, brigadiers) of the steel mill, a ban-|Dt@nches and other groups, to the ner from the Workers International ed brigadiers of Swerdlovsk. The Relief and over a hundred prizes ate : in recognition of their tireless work | 4 Solidarity affair to celebrate Udarniks achievements in in raising steel and iron production to: balla Goclatin and ¥ Metal Workers Industrial Unton, are preparing their gifts. is second five year plan. , be held tonight under the auspices Steel and metal plants as well as of the N. Y. District W. T. R. at the ‘Workers International Relief | Workers Center, 50 E. 13th St.’ branches the country over are ar- ranging, through shop collections, affairs, etc., to purchase prizes and inscribe the name of their branch, shop or union local upon them. Fountain pen and refill pencil sets and watches have been chosen thus New York City, organized into All local unions and groups, wish to send a gift, can obtain Pe pte a Ley he rapt Ot- e . G New York City, fs Eestiad Page Five Noted Soviet Film| Director Explains, Methods of Work NEW YORK.—V. I. Pudowkin, one of the outstanding Soviet directors and internationally prominent theo- Tist of the film, has always been opposed to the use of professional | actors in the motion picture. Speak- ing in defense of his theory of “types instead of actors” in a recent lecture before his students at the Moscow Film University, he said: “I want to work only with real ma- terial—this is my principle. I main- tain that to show, alongside real water and real trees and grass, a property beard pasted on the actor's face, wrinkles traced by means of paint, or stagey acting is impossible. | It is opposed to the most elementary ideas of style. “But what should one do? It is very difficult to work with stage actors. People so exceptionally talented that they can live, and not act, are yery seldom met with, while if you ask an ordinary actor merely to sit quietly and not to act, he will act for your benefit the type jof a non-acting actor. "T have tried to work with people who had never seen either a play or a film, and I succeeded, with the | help of montage, in achieving some | result. It is true that in this method one must be very cunning; | it is necessary to invent thousands | of tricks to create the mood tf-) quired in the person and to catch | the right moment to photograph him, “For example, in the film, Storm Over Asia, I wanted to have a crowd of Mongols looking with rap- ture at a precious fur piece. I en- gaged a Chinese conjurer and photographed the faces of the Mon- gols watching him. When I joined this piece to a piece of the shot of fur held in the hands of the seller, I got the result required. Once I spent endless time and ef- fort trying to obtain from an actor a good-natured smile—it did not succeed because the actor kept on ‘acting.’ When I did catch & moment, and photographed his face smiling at a joke I made, he had been firmly convinced that the shooting was over.” In 1905, the film classic based on Gorki’s novel Mother, Pudowkin used as one of his leading players, A. Chistiakoy, the accountant for the Mejrabpom studios. After com- pleting his work in this film, the accountant returned to his ledgers and journals. He left behind him, however, a remarkable role in a film that has been accepted as a classic in all the capitals of Burope, and which placed Pudowkin in the front ranks of the world’s film cre- ators, Obed Brooks Speaks in Boston Tonight BOSTON.—Obed Brooks, literary critic, speaks on “Marxism and Lit- erary Oriticism” at the Boston Workers School, 919 Washington St., Boston, tonight at 8:30. [TUNING IN| John Werxley, author of “They Shall Not Die!” and other plays and member of the John Reed Club, will be inter- viewed by Florence Erskine over Station WLTH, Brooklyn, at 3:45 p.m, today. Coeter aie TONIGHT’S PROGRAM WEAF—660 Ke. P. M.—Morton Bowe, Tenor 5—Billy Batchelor—Sketch 30—Trappers Music 7:45—The Goldbergs—Sketch 8:00—Concert Oreh.; Jessica Dragonette, Soprano 3 9:00—Lyman Orch.; Prank Munn, Tenor; 10:00—Mr. Cousin from Kentucky—Sketch 10:30—Jack Benny, Comedian; Bestor Orch.: Robert Simmons, Tenor 11:00-—Rolfe Orch. 11:15—News: Rolfe Orch. 11:30—American Legion Program; Speak- ers, Senatro David A. Reed of Penn- syivania; Representative Wright Pat- men of Texas, and Others J2e80 A, M.—Simons, Oreh. . . WOR—710 Ke. 1:00 P,.M.—Sports Resume 7:18—Front Page Dramas 7:30—Sizzlers Trio 7:45—Stories of the Sea 8:00—Jones and Hare, Songs; Selvin Orch. 8:30—Musical Revue 9:00—Osborne Orch.; Interview by Radie Harris 9:30—Teddy Bergman, Comedian; Betty Queen, Songs; Rondoliers Quartet; Stern Orch. | 10:00—Godfrey Ludlow, Violin 10:18—Ourrent Events 10:30—Jack Arthur, Baritone 11:00—Moonbeams /Trio 11:30—Dance Music renee WJZ—760 Ke. 7:00 P. M.—Amos 'n’ Anay 7:15—Stradivarius Quartet 7:30—George Gershwin, Piano; 7:45—To Be Announced 8:00-—Walter O'Keefe, Comedian; Shutta, Songs; Dolin Orch. 2:30—Dangerous Paradise 8:45—Carlos Gardel, Songs 2:00-—Leah Ray, Songs; Harris Orch. 9:30—Phil Baker, Comedian; Belasco Orch. 10:00—Stories That Must Be Told—Pulton Uursler 10:15—Newton Baker, Former Secre- tary of Ws Louis J. Taber, Master of the National Grange; Dorothy Oen- fleld Fisher, Author, Speaking at Oit- izens Conference on the Crisis in Ed- Concert Ethel WABC—860 Ke, 1:00 P. M.—Myrt and Marge 7:15—Just Plain Bill—Sketen T80—Armbrurter Orch; Jimmy Kemper, ‘1:45—News—Boake Carter 8:00—-Men About Town Trio; Vivien Ruth, Songs 8:15—News—Edwin ©. Hill 8:30—March of Time ; Denny Oreh. e Doll in the Pink Stik Dress— Sketoh Seape aa Fastman, Moprano; Concert 11:00—Edith Murray, Songs 11:15--News; Jones Orch. 11:45—Busse Orch. 12:00—Belasco Orch. 12:30 A. Mi-rRobbins Ore 1:00—Pancho Orch. 10:00—" TENEMENT FIRE Dedicated to the Socialist Party By HARRY ALAN POTAMKIN The following poem by Harry Alan Potamkin was written in the early part of 1933. It deals with a tenement fire on the East Side which destroyed an unemployed worker's family. The horror of this episode aroused even the Jewish Daily Forward to protest and political speeches. Conditions in the tenement areas remain unchanged—if the workers are not slowly starving to death, they are burned to death. The tene- ment fire of 1933 repeats itself in 1934, and reads the same way. : does the Jewish Forward—no change has been made in its policy. This | Play have been reduced so t So poem is'a challenge to working class readers of the Forward and to Socialist Party members,—-ELIZABETH POTAMKIN, Yes, they are dead and you are bringing them to me, I cannot hold them nor receive them, my arms cannot release the hands, my elbows are too dry. And you would have me weep, T am their husband and their father who has not husbanded their needs nor fathered them in their little wishes, nor could I where was my daily bread? where then to lay my head? nor do I weep that they are char and ashes. Their death was sure in the charnel-house the tenement walk-up to death the daily order of their bread and sleep walk-down to hunger \Scottsboro Play By John Wexley To Continue Run | NEW YORK.—Co: that John V on the S | Not Die!” was to be closed tomorrow night, an announcement yesterday declared that the play is to con- tinue et the Royale Theatre. “They |Shall Not Die!” was produced by! the Theatre Guild. John Wexley is! a member of the John Reed Club. Prices for this widely aimed | t good | orchestra seats may be had for $2, the best mezzanine seats for $1 and| | balcony seats during Thursday and Saturday matinee performances for 7 cents All New York readers of the Daily Worker who can afford to do so are} urged to see ‘They Shall Not Die!” to keep it running as proof that the) workers can and will support a revo-| | lutionary play. | | es Symposium on Proust and James Joyce at the| John Reed Club Tonite | NEW YORK. — “Marcel Proust and James Joyce in the Light of} | Marxist Criticism” is the subject of | |a dual symposium whceih will take place tonight at 8:30 p.m. at the| John Reed Club, 430 Sixth Avenue. | The speakers will be Wallace Phelps | there must be iron lowering with their a trembling ladder over the ledge, and this was bare of feet that day rushing the torrent visitants harass my shall never cry nor It was expected, this is one certaint; by gentle ways we'll And I say No! And T say No! I who am bereaved say No! WHAT Friday WORKERS SOHOOL Spring Term. Last eek of registration; 35 E. 12th St. Classes are filling up. ECTALS in hooks and pamphlets this cis ‘Workers Book Shop, 50 FE. 13th Bt New York City. UNITY THEATRE, 24 E. 23rd St. presents three revolutionary plays, “Credo,” “Death of Jehovah” and “Broadway 1933,” 9 p. m. Adm 35¢. DR. LIBER lectures on “Sexual Sterili- zation, How, Why and Whom?" Vegeta- rian Workers Club, 220 E. 14th St, Ad- mission 15c, 8:30 p.m. SYMPOSIUM on “One Year of the New Deal.” Speakers, Henry Kramer, N.R.A. M. T. Vermel, Labor Research Association. American Youth Federation, 144 2nd Ave. PIERRE DEGEYTER Club, party, enter- Muriel Wilson. Soprano 8:30 p.m. Adm. 10c. 9:30—Variety Musicale; Pic and Pat,/ tainment, dancing, refreshments, Begins Comedians 8:30 pm. at 5 E, 19th St. JOHN REED CLUB Symposium. Philip Rahv and Wallace Phelps on “Proust and Joyce in the light of Marxism” at 430 Sixth Ave., 8:30 p.m. FIRST SPRING Festival of H. A. Potam- kin Youth Br. F.8.U. Film showing of “Road to Life,” entertainment and re- freshments. Labor Temple, 247 F. 84th St 8 p.m, Adm. 150 “WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS as a Proletarian Writer” discussed by Betty Krues at “Blsat,"” 38 B. 20th St., 6:30 p.m. JO WANG lectures on “Is Japan Liber- ating the Chinese People” at Harlem In- ternational Br. F.S.U., 87 W. 128th Bt, 8:15. p.m. RABBI BENJ. GOLDSTEIN lectures on “Religion and Communism” at Mosholu Prog. Club, 3290 Bainbridge Ave., 8:45 p.m. JOSHUA KUNITZ, editor New Masses, speaks on "New Soviet Literature” at ‘Tre- mont Prog. Club, 66 . Tremont Ave., 8:45 p.m. GEORGE WILNER speaks on ‘The Present Situation in Austria” at Open Forum of Imperial Valley Br. IL.D., Mt. Eden Workers Center, 268 E. 174th Bt., ‘Health of the Working People” at Boro cor. Clay Ave. Admission free. DR. Hi GRAZEL speeks on Park Workers Club, 18th Ave. and 47th St., 8:30 p.m. RUBY BATES, Rabb! Goldstein, Ada Wright and Wm. Patterson will speak on “Scottsboro and Capitalist Justice” at Brownsville Youth Center, 108 Thatford Ave., ASTORIA FORUM, “Do You Believe ‘Your Newspaper?" 25-20 Astoria Boulevard 8:30 p.m. Adm. free. DANCE and Parts at 524 Hudson Bt. Auspices Elle Reeves Bloor Br. I1.D., 8:30 p.m, Subscription 15¢. Saturday WORKERS SCHOOL OPENING ASSEM- BLY, Spring Term, 3 p.m. at 35 %. 12th St. Room 307. ENTERTAINMENT and Dance at Ger- man Workers’ Club, 79 EB. 10th St. Dons- tion 18¢. DANOING, Entertainment, eats and fun at party given by Y.C.L. Unit 1 Sec. 5 at 603 E. 126th St. 7T_and Dance at Tremont Pros. Club, 866 E. Tremont Ave., 8:45 p. m. Program by the 5 Aristocrats; solo and group entertainment. Nomad Jazz Band. DANCE and Tntertainment given by Bronx Section LL.D., 2075 Clinton Ave. 8 p.m. Rose Name. Gladstone, tenor, J. Schlien, pianist. HOUSE WARMING. Entertainment and Dance given by F.8.U., Mt. Eden Br. at 14001 Jerome Ave., corner 170th St., 9 p.m. Negro Jazz Band. 4th ANNUAL Spring Frolic given by Int- or Youth Club T.W.O. Hot band, Dancing contest, entertainment; 1304 So. Boulevard, near Freeman St. INAUGURATION Dance of Club Obrero Chileno, L.W.O. at 246 E. 116th St., 8 p, m. Music by Bobbi and his Borincanos. soprano, | Several acts by yarious artists. Contribu- tion 50c, ladies free. SOCIAL, Concert, Dance at West Side Br. F.8.U., 2642 Broadway, cor. 100th St. Hat check 28¢. AMALGAMATION Ball of Shoe an Leather Workers at Central Opera Hous 6th St. and ard Ave, MARGARET SCHLAUCH peaks on “Folklore in the Soviet Union—A Marxian Point of View” at Bedford Cen! 1083 Bergen St, eor. Nostrand Ave. Adm. 15¢, in the ravaged street. Law had ordained safekeep their civil birthright: escape the dismal window out of the flame and smoke to alleyway and ravaged street. But law's a screen for avarice, loose and despairing the flames were loving, my wife and children lovable. And I amid these tears the outcries, keen and wail of breastbeat wilderness, out of a world of gain, and you, polite reformers, you, New Leaders, you, my Forward ones, you, forensic gentlemen, pacify the flames that burned them low with tears philandering. Open your parliamentary lips politic with platitude , saying: Something somewhere’s an error I who do not, cannot, will not weep and Philip Rahv, both members of the John Reed Club and editors of | “Partisan Review.” | After the main talks are over, the meeting will be opened to discussion ste — by members of the audience. weight WL, Winning Troupe To Appear in Detroit DETROIT.—The Workers’ Labor- atory Theatre, prize winner of the Theatre Festival Competition held in New York recently, will present four short plays, a dance number, and a piano recital Friday, April 6, at 8 p. m., at the Women’s Federa- tion Building, Second Boulevard and Hancock, under the auspices of the Detroit John Reed Club. hung of the mourners, Assembly of Workers’ School Students Is Called for Saturday NEW YORK.—A general assembly of all students registered for the |new Spring Term of the Workers . School will take place this Satur- day at 3 p.m. at 35 E. 12th St., third floor. Speakers at the assembly will dis- cuss the function of the Workers School in the revolutionary move- | ment, the relation of its students to working class activities, and the role of the bourgeois and reformistic ed- ueational institutions. dead, wish to. y ll mend it, Theatre Bows Atk for| “Stevedore” Taken by 15.N.Y. Worker Groups NEW YORK. — Fifteen working class organizations have arranged for benefit theatre parties at “Steve- |dore,” the second Theatre Union production, in the first week of its rehearsals, according to Sylvia Regan, audience manager of the Theatre Union. The play will be| opened at the Civic Repertory Theatre on April 18, and three pre- view performances are planned. The benefits have been taken by the Young Worker, the Office Work- | ers Union, the Friends of the Water- front Workers, the Pen and Ham- mer, the Bill Heywood Branch of {the I. L. D,, the Moshulu Parkway and the Prospect Park Branches of \the Friends of the Soviet Union, the Moshulu Parkway Progressive Club, and other groups. of wife and children ? Detroit, Mich. A LIBERTY Celebration for Political Prisoners on Saturday, April 7, 8:30 p.m teresting program, well known speakers; at John Reed Club, 108 W. Hancock. In- dancing to fine orchestra. Binghamton, N. Y. RED PRESS Banquet at Lithuanian Hell, 313 Clinton St., April 7, 8 p.m. under auspices of Binghamton City Central Com I.W.O. Plate Dinner and Dance. Admis- | sion 50c. Boston, Mass. CONCERT and Dance Friday, April 6, at New International Hall, 42) Wenonah St., Roxbury, 8 p.m. Music by the Olym- pians. Auspices, American Workers Chorus. Subscription 25¢, City Clubs to Meet to Prepare Members for May Ist Rally NEW YORK—The City Club Council, of the English-speaking clubs has sertt full instructions to all its sections to mobilize for the city-wide May -Day conference on April 14, All clubs are instructed to visit all other organizations in the neighborhood to see that delegates are sent. Following the city-wide confer- ence, on Sunday, April 15, at 1 p.m., the council is calling a club con- ference to make detailed plans for the May 1, demonstration. At this conference, which will be held at the headquarters of the council, 11 W. 18th St., the clubs will receive final instructions on how to mobilize their full memberships and other workers for the mightiest May Day | jin the history of the club move- ment. All club delegates must attend both conferences. All clubs should begin to prepare now for the May 1 Demonstration. 1 Stage and Screen “Pirates of Penzance” Opens Monday at Majestic; “Wife Insurance” Here April 12th “Pirates of Penzance” will be the second production of the Gilbert and Sullivan troupe, and will open next Monday evening at the Majes- tic Theatre, Leading players of the company include Vera Boss, Wil- liam Danforth, Vivian Hart, Roy Cropper and Allen Waterous. i Frederick Jackson's comedy, “Wife Insurance,” is announced for! \ | next Thursday night at the Ethel Barrymore Thea. Harvey Stephens, Kenneth McKenna, Ika Chase and Lillian Emerson head the cast. “Are You Decent,” Crane Wilbur's new comedy, is scheduled for April 12 with Eric Dressler, Lestre Vail, Alice Fischer and A. J. Herbert as the principals. The theatre has not been set however. “They Shall Not Die,” John Wex- ley’s drama dealing with the Scotts- boro case, is announced to close this Saturday. The play opened at the Royale Theatre on Feb. 21, “BLAST” FORUM TONIGHT NEW YORK—“Blast,” proleta- rian short story magazine, will hold a forum tonight at 33 E. 20th st. Betty Knies, intimately acquain- “Tale of Two Cities” at the Free Theatre “A Tale of Two Cities,” drama- tized from the novel by Charles Dickens, is now being offered by Butler Davenport at his Free Thea- tre, 138 E. 27th St. The cast in- cludes Mr. Davenport, John Simons, Edwin Wilson, Joseph Demier, Syl- via Shane and Barbara Fay. Juliana Taberna replaced Milli- cent Green yesterday in “Peace on Earth,” the anti-war play now play- ing at the Forty-fourth Street Theatre. Miss Green will have an important role in “Stevedore,” which the Theatre Union will offer on April 17 at the Civic Repertory Theatre. ted with William Carlos Williams and his work, will discuss Williams as a proletarian writer. Indianapolis Branch of LL.D. Sends First May Day Greeting The Tom Mooney Branch of the ILD. of Indianapolis, has sent a $3 greeting to the May Day edition of the Daily Worker, which will appear in a special 24- page, half-million-copy edition. ' This is the first May Day greet- | ing which the “Daily” has re- ‘ ceived. '|“Martha” At The Hippo- Rew other branches of mass and |drome Saturday Afternoon Rk ot kere ei Party | “Martha,” in Enelish, will be of- and cultural clubs and gro ps, | ‘ered by. the National Opera Com- are urged to take up the ques- pany at the Hippodrome on Satur- oe Be sending greetings to the ee ane jciedanglatie ds eed ys REO ORs wicte) wen of the week-end include “Carmen, The deadline for greetings to | ‘his evening; “Aida,” Saturday the edition s April 22, cn Peete fy meta oa The San Joaquin Valley Gets the “Red Jitters” By JOHN L. SPIVAK FRESNO, The San Joaquin Valley has the Com- Cal. — munist jitters. For that mat- ter, as near as I have been able to ascertain, the whole state has tt ties among mi- incredible conditions which about 100,000 mi workers live and work i vegetable and cotton fiel and other valleys were ne’ upon the public until Communists started organizing them Here, more than a: vhere T been so far, the chief forward de« velopment since the start of the depression has been the desire to organize and to fight bitterly for their organization and the current strike demands. The failure of the N.R.A. and its results have not va- ried much in California as in other areas I visited. The story of the depression and the change wrought by it in the lives of all workers is have the same story I have found in other areas. Wage cuts, price rises, families disintegrated, but nowhere did I find actual accomplishments both from the viewpoint of win- ning slightly improved conditions and an eager desire for organiza- tion to continue along the same line as I find here. As a result of this development,| ‘which started under Communist leadership in 1932, the “red jitters’ | Swept over this valley and the rest of the state, The press is filled with it and the steps taken by the law enforcing agencies, vigilante com- mittees and out and out fascist groups. The public knows that Communists are organizing, and the sympathy which Communist, organ- izational activities among migra- tory workers is view by labor in gen- eral has terrified agricultural em- ployers and this fear has spread to banking and politics. In these fruit, vegetable and cot- ton areas the organizers have a tremendous advantage. There can be no long strike. Either the farmer gives in or his crop is ruined—and most of them would rather give in than bring ruin upon themselves. To fail to pick the crop mieans be- ing thrown out as an independent farmer, of joining the ranks of the migratory workers as so many have been forced to do, not through strikes, but as a result of the’ de- pression. So far as the workers themselves are concerned if they lose a few weeks or a month's work at the most, they are not much worse off than they were before. As the mi- gratory worker expresses it: “Sure, what we got to lose?” During 1931-93 thousands of them had no work which might be called Steady even with the greatest ex- aggeration. They wandered from field to field seeking work, and very little work was available. They would hear of a crop ready to be harvested and would rush there only to find some one was there ahead of them. It was like the old gold rush days. Migratory workers rushed about looking for a bread strike, and failing to find it learned to be indifferent to the few weeks or a month’s work that they might lose by going on a strike. HROUGH the Communist-led strikes, some 30,000 of these 100,- 000 migratory workers took out cards in the Cannery and Agricyl- tural Workers Union, affiliated with the T.U.U.L. Very, very few of these maintain their status as dues pay- |ing members after the strike is won and they move on to other fields. iW under | They their cards with them, | but f no organizational |The winning of the strike particular area was all they wanted Nevertheless, the knowledge that by organizing they could and did lachieve wage advances, spread {among them. By their very wan- |derings the word spread of the accomp’ The result | was that duri were a nine — spo: Z agricultural workers, h were won. But grated five of these groups, ular farm area affected organizational activities, has left | ffect upon other fields of work |with the result that groups like 1 rmen and longshoremen and jother A. F. of L view ‘ommunis i a fa- vorable and sympathetic eye. To |the 30,000 agricultural workers who |took out cards, were added some |6.000 workers in industries other |than agriculture | In the total number of strikers jand areas affected by the Commu- nists the Department of Labor here credits the Communist leadership with more than they themselves | claim. There are approximatels farmers including migratory 350.000 work- ers and “home guards” as they are jtermed. The home guard is the |farmer who lives in or near the jland where he finds employment Seven per cent of all these farm- ers own 90 per cent of all farm land in the state. sree 6 we HIS high percentage of land own- ership should be borne in mind. |for in many instances the large landowner dictates the price of fruit, vegetables and cotton as well as the price of labor in the fields. |The small farmer has to tag along or be ruined. Hence this power to control prices served as a powerful weapon in the hands of the large landowners in lining up some of the small farmers to combat agricul- tural workers’ demands. Fifty-eight per cent of all agricul- tural workers in this state own no land whatever. Of those farmers who still clung to their 20 or more acres during the past few years some 30 per cent, or about one out of every three, cannot make a living off their heavily mortgaged farms, and have to hire out to the large landowners for an average period of 50 days a year. So bankrupt are almost all small farmers that many of them, having lost their land to the local bank, tefuse to take it back when the bank offers it te them for nothing! There was an interesting case I heard of which illustrates what has | happened to the farmer here in the | past few years: 3 One farmer whose ranch:had al- ways been mortgaged (as the ma- jority of them were even before the depression) figured out that during the past 20 years he had paid in mortgage interest and loan interest four times what the farm was worth. When he finally couldn't meet the interest paympnts any longer, the bank took over the prop- erty and hired him to work it. The farmer found it a great relief: he got a regular wage, worked eight hours a day and had no worries about depreciation, interest, etc. Then the bank discovered it was losing money on the proposition of paying him a living wage to run the place. The bank offered to give the farm back to him. ‘Nothing doing.” the farmer re- turned. “I lost money on it for years, Now it’s your turn!” (To Be Continned) AMUSEMENTS OW ON BROADWAY. The great Anti-War Hit! ‘Peace on Earth’ ‘Thea..W.ofB’way. Eva, 8.45 44th ST. Matinees Wed. & Set, 2.40 208 GOOD SEATS AT 5% TO $1.0 ROBERTA A New Musical Comedy br JEROME KERN & OTTO HARBACK NEW AMSTERDAM, W. 42d St. Evgs. 8.40 Matinees Wedne: and Saturday 2.30 GILBERT & SULLIVAN CAST ALL THIS 46! me “4 29 vue “THE MIKADO Week April-8—“PIRATES OF PENZANCE” MAJESTIC THEA., 44th St., W. eves. 8:30, ¢ to $2.00. Mats. Wed & Sat. 50c to $1.50 STAR THE THEATRE GUILD presenté— IN WEXLEY’S New Play JOH THEY SHALL NOT DIE ROYALE Ttt:, S200 8 w. ot Eves. Mats. Thursday tnrday, 2:00 EUGENE O'NEILL’ Comedy AH, WILDERNESS! with caouds M. COHAN +. 52d St. W. of BYway 20 Mats, Thur.@Sat.2.20 MAXWELL ANDERSON’S New Play “MARY OF SCOTLAND” with HELEN PHILIP HELEN HAYES MERIVALE MENKEN ALVIN Thea., 524 St., W. of B'way Ry.8,20Mats. Thur. &8at.2.20 | MUSIC 7 IEGFELD FOLLIES with FANNIE BRICE Willie & Eugene HOWARD, Bartlett SIM- MONS, Jane FROMAN, Patricia BOWMAN. WINTER GARDEN, B'way & 50th. Evs, 0 Mats, Monday, Thursday & Saturday 2:30 GLADYS ADRIENNE RAYMOND | COOPER ALLE! MASSEY THE SHINING HOUR BOOTH THEATRE, W. 45th St. Evgs, 8:40 Mats. Monday, Thursday & Saturda 0 AMERICAN PREMIERE |CHALUTZIM| (Pioneers of Palestine) with the Habima Players Hebrew Talking Picture of the Workers in Palestine (English Dislogue Titles) This Picture Will Not Be Shown In Any Other New York Theatre This Season ACME THEATRE lth STREET and UNION SQUARE Pao Bt Ae Rea ake Pee sr tre ation | ‘Opens 11:30 A. M. sucks “WILD CARGO” with FRANK BUCK in PERSON plus a MUSIC HALL EASTER STAGE SHOW Extra! Walt Disney's LITTLE BUNNIES" || CHICAGO OPERA “Gauss || Tonight at 8:15 “FAUST” Tomorrow Eve. ____IL TROVATORE || Prices: 25, S50, Sic, 99¢, tax included BROADWAY Ott | 536&B' way House | Ctr. 7-0542 -HIPPODROME OPERA || Tonight at 8:15 - CARMEN. 2:15 (In English) MARTHA & ____ AIDA Fre, CAVALLERIA & PAGHTACCL 7 25e-B5e-d5e-B3e-99e pg | ax. —Box Office open daily at 10 4. M.—! -RTPPODROMP, 6 Av.£43 St. VAn 3-4 MADISON SQ. GARDEN TWICE DAILY 2&8P.M. | SUNDA NOW Doorsopent &7om RING LING BARNUM BROS and 3 BAILEY ALL NEW THIS YEAR { BIGGER THAN EVER! 1000 NEW FOREIGN FEATURES Oe eae eee TICKETS at Garden, Macy's and Agencier Includin s { | { CIR | Tickets Admitting to Eve Cincludi Sears) $1.10 10 93-50 Inching Fee Chil ‘Afters | ®KO Jefferson Mth 8t.& | Now ' ard Ave. | FRANCES DEE # GENE RAYMOND » “COMING OUT PARTY” alse:—“THUNDERING HERD” with RANDOLPH SCOTT & JUDITH ALLEN What is your Unit, trade union, mass organization doing to get new subscribers for the Daily Worker? Help put the sub drive over the top!