The Daily Worker Newspaper, June 8, 1934, Page 3

DAILY WORKER, NEW YORK, FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 1934 Page Three Employer Hosiery Convention For “Cur Rieve Endorses Wagner Company Union Bill; Delays Strike READING, June 7.—Confi- dent of the support of the heads of the American Fed- eration of Hosiery Workers, Harl Constantine, Executive Director of the Hosiery Code Authority and managing di- rector of the American Association of Hosiery Manufacturers, today asked the workers to “take part of the burden of production curtail- ment through hours’ curtailment,” in addressing the 23rd anual con- vention of the A. F. of H. W. He suggested a curtailment of hours from 40 to 35, which is about | 14-per cent. When faced with the question if the workers would not then insist on an increase of wages tg com-| pensate them for the loss in hours, Constantine opined that they would, but that, of course, in his opinion it would be impossible for the man- ufacturers to give them an increase of 14 per cent in wages. “The manufacturers could not stand it,” he said. In his opinion the workers should accept a 35-hour week with about an increase of from 5 to 7 per cent. In other words a direct wage cut is to be their contribution to easing the “purden” of the manufacturers. Endorse Company Union The union misleaders are already Jaying the ground for a deal on this point. The proposal entered by the executive board of the union, calling for a reduction of the pres- ent 40-hour week to 30 hours, with 3% corresponding increase of wages, is preliminary to acceptance of the curtailment. The reason given by the board for the curtailment in hours is that it would remedy the “evil of overproduction.” The mis- leaders are laying a bargaining ground for the final acceptance of the bosses proposal that the work- ers shall share the “rich man’s burden.” The heads of this union, Rieve, ete., in line with the whole policy of the American Federation of Labor, have asked for the endorse- ment of the Wagner (company union) Bill, demanding “teeth in it” (no doubt better to bite the work- ers with). The Reading Agreement One of the most shameful agree- ments ever drawn up by these fakers, was approved by the execu- tive board of this union. This agreement is to be foisted on the Reading Hosiery workers. It calls for the recognition of the American Federation of Hosiery Workers, but Sives over all power to a compulsory arbitration tribunal. It definitely states “this tribunal shall fix the wage scale,” “the Company reserves the right to lockout any depart- ment or dismiss the entire person- nel of such department and /or the entire mill where members of the union in any department refuse to carry out the decisions of the im- partial Chairman” . . . “In the event the Union and Company cannot agree, the grievances shall be re- DAILY WORKER Excursion Sat., June 9th All ticket can be obtained at the City Office of the Daily Worker, 35 E, 12th St. The of- fice will be open on Friday until 12 p. m. Tickets in ad- vance $1.00 at Pier $1.25. Chil- dren in advance 50 cents at pier 75 cents. BUNGALOWS FOR RENT (Formerly Wocolona) Monroe, N. Y. WRITE OR SEE JOSEPH ©. GEORGE MONROE, N. Y. ‘The ideal week-end and vacation center Nature Friends Camp OF PHILADELPHIA Offers splendid 0) ming and all outdoor iters. Good food Beautiful avin, For informati fon 4245 between 5 rates for clubs 2: Milwaukee, Wis. @ An Important Lecture in MILWAUKEE on the most challenging fact of today “SOVIET RUSSIA” CORLISS LAMONT will speak on “ON UNDERSTANDING SOVIET RUSSIA” SUNDAY, JUNE 10th, 8 P. M. Engelmann Hall Milwaukee Auditorium Admission 25c. Auspices: F. S. U. Meet SEAN He'll speak informally at our campfire. SWIM! DANCE! $14 a Week. Oars leave 2700 Bronx Also Friday, 7 P. M., Saturday o Before He Sails Back to Ireland! We'll Swap Stories, Sing, Chuckle over our camp paper. Saturday's Program? Jane Dudley in an epic dance. Miriam. Bileckér in Agitprop and Elise in her inimitable Jazz dances. TENNIS! CAMP NITGEDAIGET Beacon-on-the Hudson, N. ¥. ALL PROFITS THIS MONTH GO TO COMMUNIST PARTY! Speaks At tailment” Army of Hungry In California Grows by Third | ‘ SAN FRANCISCO, (FP).—Re- lief rolls in California have leaped up from March to April. The number of persons on relief in the state increased 35 per cent in one month; in San Francisco the increase was 40 per cent, from about 22,000 to about 31,000. The increase is noted in state statistics in every city. Though unemployment has decreased, a larger number of families and persons than ever before have come to the end of their savings or other resources and have been obliged to appeal for government aid. Three Held on High Bonds for Picketing a Jersey Factory JERSEY CITY, N. J., June 7.— Declaring that strikes and picket- ing would be eliminated in Jersey City, the local Chief of Police yes- terday ordered the arrest of two members of the Furniture Workers Industrial Union who were picket- ing the Miller Parlor Furniture Co., at 261 Orient Ave. Police also arrested Martin Har- ris, photographer of the Workers’ Film and Photo League, who had taken pictures of the police attack on the pickets, and Gale Straus, representative of the union. All four are held under exorbitant bonds of $2,500 each. The two pickets are Max Mortman and Tonascheffsky. The plant is one of eight, which broke their agreements with the union, aft oving from New York to Jersey City. The union will con- tinue to picket the plant in defense of the interests of its members: and the rights of the entire working | class to organize, picket and strike, ferred to the Impartial Chairman for settl it. . . his decision shall be final.” “It is further agreed that all decisions of the Impartial Chairman in all matters concerning the hosiery industry shall also be binding upon the parties to the Agreement.” Postpone Strike The old agreement of the A. F. of H. W. in Reading expired on June ist, The above is quoted from the new agreement, which the bosses have already refused to sign. The union has _ formally served notice that a strike of the hosiery workers would take place unless the agreement is accepted, but the fear of the officialdom to bring the workers into struggle is evidenced by the fact that they are postponing this strike indefi- nitely. The executive board of the union has passed a resolution en- dorsing the strike call, this strike call to be good for 60 days and more, to be used at the discretion of the local leaders. The union in Reading is con- trolled by Socialist Party members and is affiliated with the local Fed- erated Trades Council (S. P.-con- trolled). It was this outfiet that sold out the workers in their strike last summer and are now preparing another betrayal. The hosiery workers of Reading must demand the calling of a strike in the industry, immediately, that not Reading alone shall be called out, but that Philadelphia should come out at the same time. Un- Jess this is done there is very little hope that the Reading workers will wni their demands for union recog- nition. They must definitely reject the arbitration clauses in the new agreement and demand complete recognition of the union, with rank and file control. 5 Jobless Mass at}: St. Louis City, Hall, 12 Today Pittsburgh Unemployed Demand Cash, Clothing, | Medical Aid ST. LOUIS, Mo.. June 7.—Calling upon auto workers, nut pickers, P. W. A. workers laid off in recent weeks and others to pack the Al- dermanic Chambers here on Friday, June 8. the Unemployment Coun- ceils will demand the passage of the St Louis Workers’ Municipal Relief Ordinance. The demand for the passage of the Ordinance, proposed weeks ago by the Unemployment Councils after numerous public! hearings had helped to formulate | it, is now becoming city-wide. Numerous unions, as well as the neighborhood meetings, are en-/| dorsing and demanding the passage | of the ordinance, which calls for the payment of a minimum of $10} for each unemployed worker with- out discrimination to single, Negro or foreign-born workers, and $3 additional relief for each de- pendent. Last week several hundred nut | pickers rushed the relief station | after being laid off by the sudden} closing of the Funsten factories. | Some 1,500 auto workers have been | thrown out on the streets following | the sell-out of their strike, and | 3,000 laid-off P. W. A. workers are daily visitors at the relief offices. On top of this mass attack upon| the workers, a vicious wave of dis- crimination against Negro families is practiced at the relief agencies, With mass starvation, special in- vestigators are sent out by the Citizens Relief Committee to fam- ilies applying for relief, with orders to cut relief allowances. Paid a “commission” on each dollar they reduce relief budgets, they are threatened with the loss of their jobs unless they carry out the or- ders of the relief officials, * * Unemployed Force Meeting With Pittsburgh Council PITTSBURGH, Pa., June 7.—The Pennsylvania State Emergency Re- lief Board, through co-operation of the Pittsburgh City Council and George Mills relief director of Al- legheny County, is evading the meeting with the representatives of | the organized unemployed. When Relief Director Mills was forced to ‘phone Eric Biddle, state relief administrator, to make the arrangements for the meeting, the board stated that their present schedule is too heavy to allow a place for the workers’ delegation, and suggested a meeting two weeks from now at which the workers’ delegates can state their demands. Pittsburgh Councilmen pleased with the postponement, McGee especially stating that he for this purpose. Parl Frankfeld, secretary of the Unemployed Coun- cils, demanded that in the mean- mediately go forward with a plan for improving relief. Councilman Gallagher was forced to call a meeting of his committee | for this purpose next week, at which | Frankfeld will present in the name | of the Unemployed Councils a plan for the immediate expenditure of $800,000. The issues which were to have} been taken up at the board meet~- ing. but which will be the crux of the meeting with the city council- | men, will include rent payments, | cash relief, clothing orders on| stores, surplus food orders and| Fur Men Strike In Connecticut |New Wave Brings Five| More Strikes Since First of June |_ BRIDGEPORT, Conn., June 7 | Five new strikes since the first of the month is Connecticut's contri bution to the latest wave of strikes that is sweeping the country. On June first, the painters’ locals in Bridgeport and New Haven voted at a secret meeting to strike on | Monday. On that day all the union painters in both gities struck for NEW REPUBLICAN CHIEF Henry P. Fletcher, newly elected as Chairman of the Republican Painters, Steel, Thaelmann’s Heroie Fi ght Against Fascism Praised by German Socialist Workers Jeu, chen Foasaighatilben . Se pase Foauane Tithe da Ae ko 19 505 Lusmsenn Ao nahte 4 a National Committee, is closely | $115 an hour. The ergoloyers are Mii, alimehiae LabolenusatenaKins sosaal Ge, bound up with the Mellon and | offering 75¢ an hour. On June 5,| U 2 Reed interests in Pennsylvania. |the members of the Brotherhood | Sreuerlerdr, aarealanns Har. prolarnnsnchann Gama adusa, He has connections with many of |of Carpenters and Joiners in cogs One SPY Leben che fi the same big financial interests | Bridgeport and New Haven went) sen car aperT cree now supporting the Roosevelt ad- | out on strike also for $1.15 an hour. | “ih, chan Sraserpettinbeiter” ourhea ust A general strike of all building| trades workers in the state is} le reregae j ministration. A few smaller hat and fur shops | in Danbury and Bethel were closed | $88,000 Cc a sh by os oe a: few days. | Bail Set For 11. se sserean maitre rue Relief Fighters | with scabs. About 1,000 strikers and | sympathizers greeted the strike- Hillsboro Press in Lynch Incitement | breakers who were leaving the fac- | tory yard in taxis, with a hail of Against Jobless bricks and stones. The police im-| | mediately went into action against | the strikers. A number of scabs as| well as policemen were badly hurt. Five strikers were arrested. | The Vulcan Malleable Iron Works | | of New Britain, an affiliate of the | | Eastern Malleable Iron Company of | | Bridgeport, which has been on) strike for the past two weeks, was | the fascist ordinance passed by the| “Tuck this week by a big majority | City Council, banning the right of | Of the over 300 workers. The vote workers to assemble, organize and| ‘ strike was taken Monday night picket. Property, if offered for bail| *' @ meeting of the shop local of must be twice the cash amount, the| the Steel and Metal Workers Indus- | court ruled, That is, unless $88,000 | trial Union, into which the men are| cash bail is raised or property of- | Orsanized. Both the Bridgeport and fered to the value of $176,000 is|New Britain strikers will concen- pledged, the workers will be impris-| trate on the head plant of the oned until the Grand Jury meets in | Fastern Malleable Iron Company in November | Naugatuck, in order to make the A meeting will be held at the | foundry workers strike general in Montgomery County Jail in wWitt,| the three Connecticut plants of the | Monday, and an emergency confer- | Company. ence to fight for the release of the workers will be held in Taylor Springs within two weeks | Local papers are screaming lynch | slogans against the militant work. ers in jail, and all who dare to fight for adequate relief. The Mont-| HILLSBORO, Ill., June 7.—Bail of $8,000 each has been set against 11 workers arrested in the recent demonstration for relief and against To Organize Nat'l Union of Telegraph sake adrry tin dar K-P.D. Bhar * aoaaalanaer gewitag vince heldlywka fir abtincey ppd tne nee i Rian pronb stark. tyrhetin den MLK tar Ve An War A Ais dae oh Sk me Mrtreke abn her =~ Awd ate tinued a ateht sun, dew pmppratarnsear x. Aare Litt ne ake toring, dn a vel i hi! oye bataacbryctineke Pot Hle if tens Sasatran Mehusher p04 y esi Hae $. pp Con basruanrar Rhee fetus fk. tory, tgrngee Prat rn annane wer lardetarke ! AL, apa sane yoe 4 hutefon, é Rot Frat! Paw i pa towan, beset Poe in Hay Bomar, : as The German Socialist Workers’ Letter to Ernst Thaelmann On the Strike Front |Steel Workers to Hold Picnic in McKeesport MCKEESPORT, Pa.—The ‘Union Delegation Demands Release | Of Thaelmann| (Continued from Page 1) | | Branch of the League of Struggle first | for Negro Rights will hold a Scotts- annual district picnic of the Steel | boro-Thaéelmann protest: and Metal Workers Industrial Saturday, 6 p. m. at Dawson and meeting were! would prefer a meeting specifically | gomery News carried this state- ment: “Grown tired of the attitude as- the charity of the nation in these trying times, when work and liveli- hoods won't go round, several groups have decided to give not only théir ‘moral support’ to officers in en- | forcement of the laws, but are of- |fering to give ‘muscular’ support |and whole-hearted co-operation.” The International Labor Defense, whose lawyers were refused admit- | out of town by local mobs on Mon- preme ourt to force reduction of | sumed by some who are living upon | |'T.M.U. Appeals for Aid| time the Pittsburgh committee im-| day, announces that it is taking a| To Send Organizer On Tour announced yesterday. independent messengers’ Messenger Boys |_ NEW YORK. — The Telegraph | Messengers Union is starting a drive | for a national organization of mes- | Senges and is sending its general tance to the jail and were forced | organizer on a countrywide tour, it Coe Bane | It 4s the intention of the union| | writ of habeas corpus to the Su- | to consolidate the gains made by the | unions Union and the International Work- | Longwood Avenues, Bronx. ers Order will be held on eran Al ’ . . June 9th, at Olympic Park, ic | port, Pa., one of the largest 800 Demonstrate parks in Pittsburgh District. |In Philadelphia This will be the first picnic to es- | (Special to the Daily Worker) tablish an annual Steel Workers| PHILADELPHIA, June 7.—Shout- Day in the Pittsburgh District. On|ing demands for the freedom of this day the steel workers, under | Ernst Thaelmann, Angelo Herndon the leadership of the Steel and|and the Scottsboro boys, 800 work- |Metal Workers Industrial Union,|ers including many longshoremen will demonstrate their unity and|and seamen, massed in an anti- | readiness to struggle for better con- | fascist and anti-war demonstration |ditions, against company unions,|on the waterfront this morning and for the right of the workers/ under the auspices of the Commu- to join the union of their own | nist, Party. choice, The demonstrtors carried many Many members of the Amalga- | banners protesting the growing fas- mated Association have alréady|cist terror in this country against bought tickets and have signified | strikers, demanding a solid unity | Kees | the enormous bail, when they struck in Minneapolis, ex | Detroit. and Cleveland, in April—to| * | affiliate ‘with these unions and to June 11, at 7:30 p.m., at the Stowe | establish locals in the respective School Auditorium, Seventh and | cities, Cutter Sts. | In order to do this, however, and These meetings will serve to rally| to send the organizer on the trip, the unemployed in support of the! the union is making an appeal for coming steel strike. funds. “In the month of May,” the | statement continues, “we spent $107.50 to send three mass delega- tions to Washington code hearings and to fight the telegraph com- panies. We gained many conces- West End Brooklyn Workers Act on Social Bill H. R. 7598/ BROOKLYN, N. ¥.—At a con- their willingness froups of A, A. members to the | their striking comrades on the West picnic, Jamés Egan, National Secretary | fighting solidarity with of the 8. M. W. LU. will be the|Olutionary workers principal speaker on thé speaking program. There will be dancing, re- freshments and entertainment, to bring large Fur Dressers Prepare For General Strike NEW YORK.—To open up a mili- | medical and dental aid. Pie re I. Amter to Speak in Ohio On H. R. 7598 CINCINNATI, Ohio, June 5.—| Three meetings, to be addressed by I. Amter, National Secretary of the ference held Sunday, June 3, plans/| were made to force Congressman Carley of the Eighth Congressional | District to sign the round robin) petition to release the Workers’ Un- employment Insurance Bill (H. R.| 7598) from the House Committee on Labor and onto the floor of Con- | tant fight for the re-establishment of the $2.10 price for fleshing rab- bits, the Fur Dressers and Dyers Industrial Union has appealed to the members and the executive board of Locals 25 and 85 of the A. F. of L. to meet jointly at the Industrial Union Auditorium, 131 W. 28th St., Saturday at 11 a.m. sions and much prestige. This| struggle has left us without any| funds in the treasury. The mes- sengers themselves, who earn be- tween $6-$8 a week, can't finance this drive. We therefore appeal to all workers, to all working-class or- ganizations, to all sincere and sym- Unemployment Councils on “The Workers’ Bill (H. R. 7598). How the Fight for It Can Be Won’— are being arranged in Southern Ohio. He will speak in Hamilton, Ohio, Saturday, June 9, at 7:30 p.m. on the Court House steps. On Sunday, June 19, at 7:30 p.m., in Middl town, Ohio, at 1605 Garfield Place; in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Monday, Terror Severe; Printer | Given Six Months on Chain Gang By NAT ROSS s BIRMINGHAM, Ala., June 7.— The strike situation in Birmingham, where 8,000 ore miners are out, re- mains very tense. The Brittling cafeteria workers are still on strike. The Selma Cotton Mill still main- tains a lock-out and the steel workers at the Thomas Furnace are still fighting for the recognition of their union. The strike of the meat cutters in the chain stores is now in its sixth week. At the same time 250 pack- ing house workers struck last week in Birmingham for recognition of their A. F. of L. union, and for a ten per cent pay increase. There is a great deal of talk about a general strike in the city, especially with the situation becom- MURRAY & ALL SPORTS AT Park East Daily at 10:30 A. M. 3 P.M, FStabrook 8-1400. Birmingham gress for immediate vote. Cultural Center at 1280 56th St., Brooklyn. From there the workers | will march to the home of Con- | where a demonstration will he |held and a delegation elected to ‘place the workers’ demands. Workers Discuss General Strike As pathtic elements, to aid us. Union, 114 W. 14th 8t., N. Y. ©.” The Daily Worker gives you full gressman Carley at 510 84th St.,| news about the struggle for unem- ployment insurance. Buy the Daily ‘Three Worker at the newsstands. cents a copy. Send A parade and demonstration will | contributions immeédiatély to the Na- be held on Saturday, June 9, start- | tional Organizational Committee in ing at 12 noon from the Boro Park} care of The Telegraph Messengers to discuss the question of a united general strike. ‘The industrial union proposes that a united general strike be called; that the unions fight jointly for the re-establishment of the $2.10 price; that a committee of 25 of the A. F. of L. and a similar committee from the Industrial Union shall be set up to make immediate preparations to lead the strike. |of seamen and longshoremen with | Coast. Other banners expressed the of and the oppressed Negro | this country. | Telegrams were sent to Hans Luther, German Ambassador in Washington, demanding the im- mediate release of Thaelmann from the Nazi dungeons, and to the Rank and File Strike Committee of the West Coast longshoremen and sea- men pledging action against all ships coming into Philadelphia from the strike area. Enthusiastic applause greeted the speakers, Edward Bender, A. W. Mills, H. M. Wicks, MacHarris, W. Powell, as they outlined the grow- ing wave of Fascism in the United | States, and call on the workers to Struggle in a solid body against | Fascism in Germany as a means of | defeating the fascist elements here. Germany people of NEW YORK.—Robert Hamilton, ; author and journalist, who has re- | cently visited Germany, will speak | at fhe John Reed Club, 430 Sixth Ave., on “The Life of Ernst Thael- mann” on Sunday, June 10th, 8.30 p.m. Many Factories Walk Out ing tense in the steel mills and coal mines of the Tennessee Coal and Tron Co. City street sweepers, under Com- munist leadership, are also prepar- ing for a strike. The only thing that can prevent a general strike is the strikebreaking activities of the A. F. of L. buroc- racy, who are working behind the scenes with the N.R.A. officials. Police Act as Scabs The general city-wide strike of the twelve packing houses was pre- vented when seven firms agreed to a@ seven and a half per cent in- crease. The five firms on strike are: Armour, Swift, Cudahy, Wil- son and Hormel, All plants are being picketed day and night, but. the companies, with the help of county deputies and city police, are acting as convoys for meat ship- ments for some of the packing houses, while police are trying to attack the picket lines. One of the Negro strikers, George ©. Spruce, was arrested but later released. At the same time a Hill grocery and meat store was dynamited, causing | terror, provocation, arrests and | | frame-ups on the part of the | bosses and their agents, is real | mass action and militant picketing. | Arrest Pickets In the meantime, picketing con- | | tinues at the ore mines. The steel/ | corporations are trying to starve! the miners back to work, with little | | Success. The A. F. of L. leaders of | the strike recently ordered all} unemployed sympathizers off the) picket line, which resulted in a few) scabs getting into some of the) mines. At the same time the co-| operation between the A. FR. of L.| | bureaucracy and the National) | Guard led to the arrest of a whole| picket line which was imprisoned | for four and a half hours in a black- | smith shop in Bessemer. Under Communist leadership, | rank and file groups in the unions) are meeting in order to strengthen the picket lines, and to call for more support so that the strike can be kept solid, and the demands of the ore miners can be won. The Young Communist League is issuing a} leaflet to the National Guards, ap- $100 damage. Governor Miller also! Pealing to them not to attack their test against the Alabama terror, which forced the release of the arrested Communists, has not yet stopped the terror activities of the police and thugs, The atmosphere of an armed camp is increasing, especially since the authorities fear another strike in coal as well as in steel, not to speak of a general strike. The authorities are espe- cially infuriated by the remark- able growth in solidarity between white and Negro union men, A great deal of talk is heard that without white and Negro sticking together, the South will never be unionized. In the strike zone, individual strik- ers are being beaten by the deputies | and some arrested. In the mean- | time, the White Legion is trying to passed, get, anti-Communist laws while it increases its strikebreaking and scab activities under the lead- ership of R. S. Gulledge, well known Gastonia breaker and stool pigeon. The articles of John H. Lawson, who was here as the correspondent of the Daily Worker, have created such a stir in Alabama that a num- and Kentucky strike-| offered $900 reward in connection | with the bombings and dynamiting in the mine strike. The Communist Party is warn- ing the strikers to watch out for the maneuvers of the bosses, It _ points out that all individual vio- Jence, as well as bombings and dynamiting, are against the inter- est of the workers, and that such acts are stimulated by stool pi- geons and scabs. The Party says fellow workers on strike. Despite the terror in the ore strike area, white and Negro workers are mect- ing together to map out joint plans. A white worker, having overheard that the deputies would raid the. home of a Negro Communist, in- formed the Negro comrade of this, | took the literature away from the house and distributed it on the picket line before the deputies arrived. that the answer to the violence, ber of conservative editors have been forced to attack the White Legion, among them being John T. Graves, | 2nd, of the Birmingham Age Herald, Times. However, Robert Williams, printer, has heen convicted of printing “s@urrilous and abusive” literature, and sentenced to six months on the chain gang and a $190 fine. He was arrested for The tremendous nationwide pro- printing a Communist Party leat- |and Reese Amis, of the Huntsville’ let outlining the revolutionary Position on the unions. His case is to be appealed with the support of the International Labor De- fense. Chief of Police Luther Hollums has also refused to return a type- writer and several suitcases full of books, and papers belonging to the Communist Party and the I. L. D. which the police seized in their raid when the six leaders were ar- |rested. The I. L. D. is filing suit | to recover this property. Prepare Frame-ups The trial of Sam Arnett, deputy sheriff, and Grady Baker, county | marshal, charged with the murder |of the two Negro union miners, George Bell and W. H. Ford, was postponéd until June 26, by Judge H. B, Abernathy, who said that the evidence was thus far conflicting, and that unless the state produced additional testimony, he would dis- charge the defendants. But at the same time, in the county court of misdemeanors, Ben Winston, Joe Evins, and William Holloway are now on trial for assault with intent to murder for the wounding of six deputies in the battle which ended in the murder of Ford and Bell. Thirty other cases with similar charges against miners are to be heard. The evidence already shows that Winston, Evins and Holloway were boaten and intimidated into signing confessions that the Com- munist Party told the Negroes to fight for their rights, and there- fore they thought that this meant shooting for their rights. It is ~ | Articles byLawsonCreate Sensation Throughout Alabama | still not unlikely that the author- ities will try to frame Communist | leaders on murder charges, al- though there are no grounds whatsoever to support such frame- ups. Frances Perkins, Secretary of La- bor, assured industrialists of Ala- bama when she was in Birmingham recently, that she would not oppose the “traditional” differential, which gives the southern workers, espe- cially the Negro workers, the lowest. wages in the country. Her glowing reports as to the “fine conditions” in the southern textile mills are being widely quoted in the southern bosses press. Coming in the face of threatened textile strikes against miserable wages and conditions, this is not without real significance. It shows where the Roosevelt adminis- tration stands on the oppréssion of southern labor. The manifesto of the Eighth National Convention of the Com- munist Party is being distributed among the strikers, miners, steel workers and railroad men, and re- ceiving a warm response. The Communist Party and the I. L. D. call on organizations throughout the nation to intensify the wave of protest against the Alabama terror in order to help the workers here win their right to organize, and the fight against the differential wage for southern workers. co ee amc AP aA | Group of 10 Address Communist Leader in Moabit Jail PARIS, June 7.—The heroie stand of Ernst Thaelmann in Moabit Prison is convincing hundreds of former members of the German Social-Demo- cratic Party that Thaelmann’s Party, the Communist Party of Germany, is the only Party that shows the way to fight fascism suc- cessfully, to set up a workers’ Gere many. The letter from ten Socialist workers, reproduced on this page, illustrates how the contrast between the shameful cowardice and bé- trayal of the German Socialist lead- ers and Thaélmann’s courageous at+ titude is acting as a powerful fer ment within the Socialist ranks. These workers, now refugees from Nazi Germany, write In Emigration May 10, 1934 Ernst Thaelmann Berlin-Moabit. Comrade Thaelmann: We, former Social-Democrats and members of the Reichsban- ner, send you our proletarian greetings and gratitude. As functionaries of the S.P.D. [Social-Democratie Party of Ger- many—Ed.] we saw you, the “transport worker,” in a false light and opposed you, just as we considered the K.P.D. [Com- munist Party of Germany — Ed.] not merely the “erring brother,” but the “enemy.” Your heroic stand against the fascist jailers, as well as that of the many known and unknown Communists, has prefoundiy moved us—particularly sinee we have experienced the full measure of disgust with the behavior of Loebe, Severing, and their ilk. You—and they—two worlds! In our eyes social-democratie Policy has gone under disgrace- fully! Its program and leadership were all sham! Through you we have heen ime pelled to the united front. RED FRONT! (Signed) Peter Bachmer, Ernst Laengler, Fritz Weinberg, Hans Mueller, Hugo Sondermann, Al- bert Bohn, Robert Hermann, Peter Roller, K. Maur, Hans Stirner. The fight for the life of Ernst Thaelmann is embracing ever-wider cirelés of the population, in France as well as in the rest of Europe, Reports to the international head- quarters of the anti-fascist move- ment indicate that the campaign for Thaelmann’s freedom is ap- proaching the leve) which, through international pressure, will make it impossible for the Nazi hangmen to behead the German Communist, Party by beheading its leader, Ernst Theelmann. The International Committee for Thaelmann’s Liberation appeals to the workers and intellectuals of the world to redouble their efforts to force the Hitlerites to release the leader of the German working class. Hat Strike Spreads To New ; Factories | Workers Walk Out in Yonkers and Newark NEW YORK.—The strike of 2,000 hatters, which began here last Fri- day, is spreading rapidly to the hat factories in other séctions of the country and to non-union hat shops in New York. 3 Two shops in Yonkers, the Dal- ton. and Security shops, were struek yesterday, The latter shop moved away from New York several months ago in an attempt to halt union organization. Along with these the Omaha shop came out and in Newark workers in the Ferry Hat factory are striking. Reports from Norwalk, Conn. state that workers of the Crofford and Knapp Co. have held a meet- ing and expect to walk out. The strikers, members of the United Hatters of North America, are demanding increases in wages and recognition of the union. The national officials of the union have attempted to smother the strike movement by refusing to give financial assistance to the strike committee. A committee was elected yesterday to appear before the national president, Michael Green, and demand that the strike be given the full support of the leadership. Hold Shop Gate Meet On H.R. 7598; Plan City Demonstration MILWAUKEE, Wis.—Four work- ers were jailed for five days after police here broke up a shop gate meeting on the Workers’ Uncmploy< ment Insurance Bill (H. R. 17598), at the Seamen Body Corp. For the past two weeks mectings have been held at all the important shops here to popularize the bill. In 11 of the largest shops, A. O. Smith, Inter- national Harvester, etc., hand bills and leaflets were distributed and on the following day meetings held at the gates. At International Harv- ester, despite a company union, 500 workers voted enthusiastically for the Workers’ Bill. The mectings will continue thru- out this week and will culminate in a city-wide demonstration before the home of Congressman rhino | to demand that he sign the robin on the Workers’ Bill