davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-11-26
Five Years Of Chicago Society for Tech Aid to Soviet Russia

"Our country" but because it was
the country of the social revolution.
The second revolution since the Paris
Commune which attempted to destroy
the system of exploitation, which took
away the land from the "pomieschik,"
the rich land owner and turned it over
to the peasants, which took over the
factories and turned them over to the
workers for the benefit of the nation.
Besides that the country, the revolu-
ton was being attacked from all sides
by recognized and civilized" robbers
and murderers, as no war was declar-
ed against it by the so-called civilized
countries.
Members of different factions and
parties joined the society, as it has
been and still is a non-party organ
ization. The aims of the organization
as stated in the bylaws, are:
Aims of the Organization.
a. Registration and organization of
all technical, industrial and profess
sional forces in America who are will
ing to go to Soviet Russia for the pur-
pose of helping the Russian Socialist
Federal Soviet Republic liz the work
of reconstruction on the basis of Com
munist Socialism.
b. Preparation of the forces with
the aim of utilizing them to the best
advantage in Soviet Russia.
c. Anyone engaged in industrial
technical or professional work who
recognizes the constitution Of the Rus
sian Socialist Federal Republic and is
willing to go to Soviet Ru STA may be-
come member of the society.
d. Persons who have been active in
he counter-revolutionary movement,
or are at present opposed to the Sow
let government, cannot become men,
bers Of the S. T. A. s. r. OF U. s. and
Canada.
AS soon as the organization was per-
fected a school was organized where
the Russian language, mechanical
drawing, auto and tractor classes, gem
eral school subjects in the Russian
language were taught. Another school
which was started shortly before by
the local "intelligentsia" with the
backing Of the representative OF the
non-existing Kerensky government
was forced to close up for lack
of students, altho they had a fund Of
over $1,000 according to their printed
report. The students in a body de-
cided to join the Soviet School, as the
school Of the society is known.
BY that time, in the end OF Decem.
Der, 1920, the United States govern
ment decided to bestow upon the so
ciety the blessing Of its democracy.
A dozen patrol wagons backed up in
front OF the school which was At tia
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-11-26

time located on Robey street, and
about $50 students and teachers were
taken away to Jail where they were
treated rough, according to the gener-
al rule of that time.
In New York after the school of
the society was raided there, even the
ceiling was covered with blood
In Chicago only one member (Efm
Shyed) had his nose broken, but that
did not happen in the building of
the school but while he was in safe
keeping in Cook county Jail. Many
others were beaten up, but not so seri-
ously. For the first few days most of
the members were held at the Chicago
avenue police station In a cell where
two could sleep or six could sit on
the two benches there were twenty
four. The other cells were similarly
crowded or even worse.
Up till that time no politics or even
political economy were taught in the
school for the simple reason that
there were too many political factions
among the members and the society
wanted to avoid friction. But this
lesson in bourgeois democracy that
was given to the members, mostly
half-illiterate peasants and workers,
by the United States government did
more than any Communist Party could
ever expect to do in such short per-
iod. Not only were they not scared
away from the school, but they rallied
to it and great many Of them joined
the Communist Party at the first op-
portunity, altho the party was driven
underground after that. The members
of the society raised among them
selves about $4,000 for bail and de.
Tense but that was not sufficient as the
smallest amount demanded for bail
was $1,000 and some were put under
as high a sum as $4,000, as the writ
err OF this, for instance. Besides that
the government refused to accept its
own currency and forced us to buy
Liberty bonds instead.
After the raids the membership
grew to such an extent, that soon
there was no more room in the build
Ing and the society took over (rent-
ed) the building of the 'Kolchak"
school (as the other school which was
forced TO go out of business was
known. There were two floors and
basement and two-story garage in
the new building. The ground floor
Of the garage was used for practical
work and the second floor for theore.
teal work and for electricity. A
school for children was also organ
lied IN the building. Up TIL that time
the only school for Russian children
was In the church. Besides the regu-
lar classes there were organised popu-
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-11-26
Little But Important

A window cleaners strike probably seems more
like something for the forge of the funnysmiths
than part of the class struggle Maybe It was at
one time cEasErs esn
But in New York City where the great structures
that house tOiling millions tower skyward and con-
stitute one of the worlds wonders the window
cleaners are on strike. In miniature this strike
duplicates the whole struggle of the American
working class. The employers who once competed
are now organized in an association. They have
their private detectives and their gunner. In the
strike the city police take the side of the employers
The offices of the union are raided and its active
workers arrested.
The union gets little support because it is separ
ated from the rest of the workers as are most
Of the American unions. 1t fights its own battle
well, its members exhibiting the courage that is
shown in every strike, but it faces not only its
bosses but the whole employing class
This is one of the unfailing symptoms of the
growing intensity of the class struggle-that every
strike, no matter how small, becomes a struggle,
with associations of capitalists and then with the
physical force instruments of the capitalist state
whose role is that of savior of capitalism as
against the working class which is forced to
fight it.
We hope the window cleaners clean the bosses
and that they learn the real lessons of the struggle
Strikes in which these lessons are neglected, are
never won no matter what the immediate conces-
sions to the workers are.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-11-26

lar free lectures on Sundays on diff
ferent subjects including political.
In 1921, the society sent over n
the economic front of Russia the first
group of automobile and tractor ma
chanics who are at present working IN
the Russian-American Auto factory
Canon near Moscow. In 1922. n
tailors' group and some more mechan-
les were sent. In 1923, went the first
groups OF the agricultural commune.
Red Ray, which has its commune in
the Odessa district More groups fol-
lowed in 1924. Another group of the
same commune will leave in about a
month.
Since the activities of the organiza-
ton started the Russian colony has
been thoroly awakened to self CON
seriousness. There are now in Chica-
go and vicinity nine Russian children's
schools including the one of the So
ciety, which are united into an indie
pendent federation. This federation
has started classes also for adults.
where besides the Russian lang
uage English is taught. The classes
OF the Soviet School were merged with
the classes of this federation. which
is using the building of the society
free OF charge. There are also two
cooperative restaurants, organized by
the members of the society. The
mechanical classes were discontinued
as the most active ones left for Rus.
STA, and the others have learned the
English language sufficiently to attend
the regular schools in the city.
| The popular lectures are still con-
inued with free admission. There
was added also popular plays. The
members Of the society built decent
little stage in the assembly hall where
popular plays in Russian are present
ed Once on the stage OF the Soviet
School appeared some Of the best
players in the world but the society
was unable to advertise them, and is
still unable to mention their names.
because the prejudice against Il Is still
great. and that may hurt the artists.
Attempts are being made TO arrange
also popular concerts with good artists
but they are too expensive.
The society will soon celebrate the
fifth anniversary of its existence.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-11-26
The Golden Geyser

being unduly influenced by the extra
VACANT optimism of the hour they for.
gest that many pro- 1lems have yet to
be solved before a period Of general
prosperity can set in"
The optimistic school of thought.
says the Annalist, believes that the
present level OF stock prices reflects
an Industrial condition which does not,
In fact, exist. This school points to
the high operating costs in industry at
present, to the Irregularities of the
general situation, to the measure of
unemployment now evident in this
country and to the fact that forward
buying, at least in the immediate past,
has not been of the sustained char.
acter calculated greatly to improve the
ratios Of operation"
Railroad Stocks.
1t seems to be agreed that the boom
got its start among railroad stocks.
The Annalist gave political account
of this in its issue Of Nov. II:
Trading in railroad stocks in the
last eight days has represented about
40 per cent of the business transacted
on the New York stock exchange; UNI
der ordinary circumstances this per-
centage is less than 20 per cent -
Continuing later Sin other words
Wall Street believes that the social
lists, the Reds and the 'Pinks, as
we'll as the obstructionists, have been
dealt blow by the conservative land
slide here and in England from which
they will not recover for many years.
This has been the main incentive to
big markets, and particularly to big
railroad markets. The opinion is
widely expressed in our financial dis
tricts and in railroad circles that now
the railroads will be left entirely
alone to work out their own salvation
without being Obliged to defend them
selves from drastic and sometimes
detrimental legislation"
Steel a Basis?
The almost iiliterate Investment
News" of Chicago, which likes to op-
pose what it calls "nationalism of the
railroads" (meaning Naturalization
as not least of the indications Of the
new era Of prosperity" mentions "the
larger output in the steel Industry"
etc, naming also copper and construc-
ton and general optimistic senti-
ment"
But the Annalist remarks that the
increase in the untitled orders of the
steel corporation ''was distinctly not a
boom element. 1t was not merely only
half Of the increase in September, but
it was the smallest upward movement
since September, 1921. If the Iron Age
is to be credited, this comparatively
small gain reflects the failure Of steel
buying to perform the post-eIection
leap which had been expected of it,"
And the magazine of Wall Street re-
marks: Conditions in the steel trade
are extremely erratic. with an entire
series Of mixed conditions thruout the
country"
Cheap Money-"UnempIoyed Capital"
Another basis of the cry of capitalist
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-11-26
The Men Who Make Bread

Bread! Sst
Everyone eats it, but only bakers make it. The
work is done in a hot and unhealthy atmosphere
and the wages of unorganized bakers are unbelieve
ably low
The profits of the industry are extremely high
because bread is a necessity, the market is in
exhaustible and labor is cheap. There has just
been organized continental bread trust that CON
trolls production in 80 of the largest cities, but
the Bakers Union is. extremely weak and its or
ganization campaigns have not been successful al
tho it is a semndustrial organization taking in
all workers in the bakery and confectionery trades.
Once it was militant organization but of late
years it has succumbed to GOmpersism and lost
most of its fighting spirit.
The fighting spirit of the bosses is on the in
crease and their power is immensely greater than
it was a few years ago that organization is more
than ever necessary.
What is wrong with the bakers? In a light in
dustry of this kind, producing necessity whose
scarcity is felt at once why is there little organ
ization?
Because the Bakers Union by entering upon pol
icy of getting along with the boss" killed off the
initiative of the membership, corrupted the leader
ship and ruined0 the organization. 1t is only one
example of the fate that overtakes any section of
the workers that listen to the siren song of identity
of interest between robber and robbed
The bakers will discover, as the justification of
the industry proceeds, that instead of class col
liberation they must adopt the Communist policy
and tactics-cOnstant struggle and industrial
unionism based on shop committees.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-11-26
By Robert MinO

theory of international restoration
capitalism. 1t is a theory basic % 1
social-democratic parties of Ev3w
who have united for the first tinf
hesively in what might be called tt
Dawes International veritaH
socialist salvation army of faith in I'll
restoration of world capitalism thu
the plan of Mr.. Morgan's Mr.. DAVE
The faith is faith in capitalism itseI
and where it is not hypocrisy hidin
treason, it is idiocy. The best possibI
face is being put onto the situatio
by the organs of Wall Street Tn
estimates of these organs can to som
extent be taken seriously when the
make confessions and deem it necef
sary to issue warnings. The NOR
responsible" Of these organs make n,
further claim than that, as the Annal
list says: THE course Of trade an,
industry is upward, but with SLOW
and very uneven progress" The "slop
and very uneven progress" is really
the fevered fluctuation of a genera
process of decline.
The many problems vet ~
be solved" mentioned by the Maya
zine of Wall Street-well, that means
that between us and the wiIl-o.tbe.
wisp of normally" lies the war with
China-the real world war-and revo-
luton.
The Annalist says: ut ought to be
well-known to every business man.
and is known to many, that orr IN.
dustrial producing plant is in nearly
every direction very much larger than
Is needed for the steady supply Of
our domestic needs With every
allowance for confidence and ontin-
ism, the hard fact remains that We
cannot absorb our own maximum out.
put, and cannot market abroad the
surplus over home consumption that
spells real prosperity"
The New York Journal of Commerce
is quoted:
Such condition existed shortly AZ.
ter the world war and eliminated In
the panic and depression Of 192O-1S21
At the present moment we have album
dant material for bringing on a ike
state Of affairs"
Those who are not doped with Ill
fusion know that the contradictions 70
capitalism have not been solved hut
tremendously sharpened by the world
war-that the breakdown of capital-
ism was not repaired but its hopeless
ness was made doubly sure By the
peace" treaty, and that the invasion
OF Europe with the Dawes plan a
but the preparation for vaster world
war with final, blood-letting drive az
imperialism to solve a problem which
cannot be solved by capitalist-imue-
rialism.
Gather your stock profits. man ~
wall Street, In fact you are specu-
lating in the purely gambling phase
for the very reason that Industrial In
yestment does not promise an attraa-
tive return.
Underneath the Golden Geyser Mas
the soaring, burning lava Of the vol
cano.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-11-26

Herbert Hoover, the archangel of the American
babbittry, has just sent out a report compiled by
his personally conducted department of commerce.
The report is rather optimistic and might even be
described as glowing forecast of the opportunities
for plundering the workers Of this nation.
1t is not this phase of the report that interests
us just now altho we take issue with Herbert on
his estimate of the chances for increasing pros
perity. His figures point out an important fact
altho he does not mention it. 1t is that in 1924
there was IS per cent greater production in all
lines of industry than in 1919 altho THERE WAS
A REDUCTION IN WORKING FORCES OF IL
PER CENT.
In other words, due to Increased efficiency thru
speeding up the workers and the introduction Of
improved machinery unemployment increased in the
greatest boom period this country has ever wit
messed rse.
Here is some food for thought by those deluded
beings who contend. that the salvation of the
working class depends upon the sterilization of
capitalism and increased production
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-11-26

Soviet government to this country.
Russia at that time was isolated,
blockaded and invaded by almost ev-
cry civilized" country that claimed
they were fighting ito make the world
safe for democracy" The press of
these civilized" countries, including
the United States. kept up and to a
great extent is still keeping up bar
rage of lies about the revolution and
Russia. BY this time most Of the
readers have learned the truth and
are not so easy fooled by such yarns
as the naturalization of women and
children" etc.
In the meantime within the borders
of Russia a death and life struggle
was going on between the Communists
on one side and the czarists, white
guards, social-democrats, social-revo-
lutionists, anarchists and plain band
its on the other. The enemies of the
revolution sabotaged all attempts to
revive production. There wasn't much
time to do it any way as all the en-
ergy Of the government was taken up
by the production of ammunition for
defense. Even before the war Rus
STA was not developed country. One
could find machinery imported from
different countries in any city. With
the blockade most Of the factories
were forced to shut down as they were
unable to procure parts which were
worn out. The technicians, the "in-
telligentsia," as a rule deserted the
factories as they considered II an
insult to be the employees OF plain
workers who took over the factories.
These were the conditions under
which the society was organized. At
that time Russia needed most OF all
technicians, mechanics who could be
depended upon to serve the country,
the workers and the peasants and
their government, the Soviet govern
ment.
The Russian colony in this country
was also split up into many factions.
With the organization OF the society
most Of these factions disappeared
The mass of the workers and peasants
Joined II. II was question OF help
Ing Russia not only because II was
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-11-26

optimism is Cheap money" The New
York Journal of Commerce says in a
warning spirit that There is a large
surplus Of unused gold in the coun-
try and money rates are very low"
In Barrons Financial Weekly Of
New York, "the Trader writes that
There is hardly an important voice in
the Street that dares to contradict the
universal view of a new and magical
era The first and most inn
portant factor that has been at work
since last spring is cheap money. Put
ting it another way, it is Iow-cost cap
ital. :"
The Annalist cuts into the cheap
money" optimism with the staggering
suggestion that the existence of abun-
dant low rate funds which made specu-
lation profitable was somehow relat-
ed to "the absence Of large opportuni.
ties for profitable employment of more
funds in trade and Industry" "The
sounder view," it says, "of the bust
ness significance of active and ris-
ing stock markets is pretty certainly
not that they are forecasters of bet
ter business but that they are the evil
dence of preceding declines in bust
ness"
Capitalist Restoration.
I And when it all boils down, we find
at the bottom fundamental tenet of
the faith of capitalism-that World
Capitalism can be restored. Every
where and all times, any estimate of
coming American conditions is an es-
timated Of world conditions. For in
stance, Barron's Weekly says:
"The second fundamental factor is
the real financial Mobilization of Eu-
rope. The reparations problem has
been solved, the English debt funded
and the remaining big step to be ac-
complished was the adjustment of
the inter-allied war debt !"
The Annalist emphasizes that:
Another factor of Importance, not
unconsidered by the stock market, is
the fact that the Dawes plan has gone
into effect abroad; that 100000, 900
$1,000 " ~ AAActAJ hdO DCCA louCCCOblUlly
tioated, and that Europe appears on
its way to political pacifcation."
Later it refers to the optimists' theory
being based partly on the belief that
our international trade will increase
rapidly with the next year or so, thus
taking up the surplus of goods not
needed at home"
The Financial World" Of New York,
claiming to feel that there is a real
basis for general business improve
ment, adds that there is the feeling
that at last we are about to emerge
from the conditions traceabIe to the
world war and it's effects. The tide
has turned in the affairs of Europe.
The Dawes plan is functioning, and
the recent triumphs of the conserva-
tive party in England tends to encour-
age confidence
Any theory to the effect that the
rise in stocks forecasts a reaching Of
"normalcy"-a period of development
Of capitalism Of the pre-war type-is
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-11-26

& new era Of prosperity that prom
- ises to surpass anything that
this country has ever seen is actually
dawning," cries the Chicago Invest
ment News" across the prairies Of the
West. And the Chicago Tribune prints
headlines of s11O,OOO,OOO Profit for
John D. Jr, in Wall Street Boom. .
The Chicago Economist" raises it's
Western he-man voice to say that
Whatever degree OF dissatisfaction
there may be in the existing business
situation:
Possibly not in the last twenty-five
years has the horizon appeared so
free of even the suggestion of dark
clouds, especially of political or
financial tint, as at the present mo-
ment." Brokers of the big financial
breed are adding tens and scores of
millions to the rewards of their labor
at the work of owning stocks.
The Golden Geyser," it is being
called by the Wall Street denizens.
The Golden Geyser spouts warm,
yellow, molten gold It began to spout
at the moment of the announcement
Of the election of Coolidge Business
confidence, they say, caused it to be-
gin-confdence in the safeguarding of
profits at home and the sterilization
Of European capitalism with the gold
en- fist Of Morgan clothed in the silken
glove of Dawes. I'VE are out Of dan
gerl" shout the average men of Wall
Street
But geysers are of volcanic nature.
Hot, burning lava is in the bowels Of
that volcano.
From the depths of Wall Street it.
self, to which Chicago's State Street
is as the main thorofare of Gopher
Prairie-sounds the dignifed and aw-
full voice of the "Annalist."
I'm attempting to judge the pros
pect for business in the near future, it
is necessary to a just appraisal of the
situation to choose soundly between
the obvious and superficial 'hurrah
boys attitude which is just now large
ly prevalent, and the less. exciting and
spectacular alternative Of consulting
things as they are" The Annalist re-
fers sarcastically to "the confidence
party"
The Magazine of Wall Street says:
"The fact that these interests Qarge
operators) have been unloading in
wholesale way indicates to us that the
stock market outlook is not as favor
able as the public is leading itself to
believe" It also says:
"Since President Coolidge's election
there has been a widespread attempt
to make It appear that business
boom Is in prospect. AS much as this
is to be desired, it is nevertheless true
that examination Of current conditions
with an eye toward a reasonable view
Of the future indicates that no such
thing as boom is in sight. It is well
for business men and investors to take
calm view of the situation, lest in