The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-03-15

wv by commissioner of Public
Welfare Mary Mcdowell was meet
ing on Thursday, and strong doses
of brotherly love were recommend
ed by the assembled liberals as ex-
cellent strike weapons, the Chicago
police under the authority Of
Mayor Dever were dragging pick
cts into the police stations. Dever
like Pontius PLATE washed his
hands Of the strike and turned
solution of the problems created
by it over to his commissioner of
public welfare, but his policemen
continued to take orders from the
clothing manufacturers.
The DAILY WORKER would like
to know what is the "Committee of
Firteen" appointed by John Fitz-
patrick doing? 1t Aas organized
for the purpose of helping the
striking dressmakers, but so far it
has accomplished the following re-
suits:
1. It had it's picture taken.
2. It appointed subcommittee
to interview the mayor.
But Mr.. Dever stated to the
DAILY WORKER, the day after
the subcommittee interviewed him
that he was not aware that the
conduct of the police was improper.
Anton Johannsen, is chairman of
the COMMITTEE of Fifteen. The
DAILY WORKER was informed
by John English, organizer of
Typographical Union No. 16 that
the understanding among the mem
bers Of the committee was, that
after the interview with the
mayor, another general meeting
would be called if there was any
further improper interference on
the part of the police with the
strikers. No meeting has been held
since, the DAILY WORKER has
been informed. Evidently the
COMMITTEE of Fifteen" is of the
opinion that there was no improper
interference, since they bid "friend
of labor" Dever good morningl"
Since the Chicago Federation of
Labor authorized its president to
appoint the committee, there was a
splendid opportunity for action.
The committee was expected to in
vestigate the office of Robert E.
Grove in its relation to the dress
makers strike. But not alone has it
failed to do that but it has not
even issued any publicity on the
strike or threw even the moral
power-not to speak of the physi-
cal power-of the workers of Chi
cago behind the striking dress
makers.
Professors Shame Labor Leaders.
1t is typical of the laziness Of
labor officials that a committee of
citizens, clergymen and college
professors included, took the
leadership in this strike away from
the Chicago Federation of Labor.
This committee, without any real
power behind it at least called at
tention to the brutalities of the
Chicago police, those under the i'm
mediate authority of Mayor Dever
as well as those who work from the
states attorney Office.
The DAILY WORKER has made
appeal after appeal to the Som
tnittee Of Fifteen" for action. In
so doing it was orSy animated by
the desire to help the dressmakers
win their strike. 1t hoped that
John Fitzpatrick would do some
thing besides write a letter to
Mayor Dever's political enemy
Robert E. Grove. The workers
are not interested in a contest be-
tween the two capitalist group1
who are fighting for the spoils OF
Office in this city.
Constructive Criticism.
We have been told that criticism
is easy; that we should tell the
COMMITTEE of Fifteen" what to do.
We have done that. We advised
the calling of great mass meet
ing, the organization of a publicity
department and we also urged the
Committee to demand of the
mayor that he pick a committee
of special officers from the Chicago
labor unions to preserve order in
the strike district. All of these
demands were practical and quite
possible Of fulfillment.
But surely there are enough
brains on the COMMITTEE of Fiji
teen" to plan some form of action.
What is Mr.. Victor Olander doing
with his head? And Oscar Nelson,
attorney, and Republican poll
ticianl These two men alone who
boast about their knowledge Of the
labor movement, should be equal to
adopting a plan that would aid
few thousand garment workers in
winning a strike.
The DAILY WORKER, however
again comes to the aid Of the sore
ly pressed labor leaders, who have
allowed the "intellectuals" from
Hull House TO come to the front in
defense Of the striking garment
workers while they peacefully
smoke their pipes in their offices.
The DAILY WORKER calls on the
COMMITTEE Of Fifteen" to
Immediately make arrange
ments for a monster mass meeting
of the workers Of Chicago and ex-
plain the causes Of the strike to
them. This would bring the whole