The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-12-18
Hillman Regime Uses
Gangsters Against the
Amalgamated Militants


Continued from page y
to distribute when she told him. "You
are distributing your ballots in the
shops, so we will do the same thing
here" However, to keep the peace,
she went downstairs, continuing dis
tribution there.
Officials Begin Slugeng.
Max Nicholson Of the employment
department came downstairs and or
dered her, Don't give out any sample
ballots, here When Comrade Kap-
Ian stood up for her right to do so,
Nicholson went upstairs and down
came Sol Cramer, business agent of
Local 39. Cramer grabbed the ballots,
but as quite crowd of members gath
cred around, and some Of the men be-
gan to protest angrily at the violence
upon girl, demanding that he give
the ballots back or they would make
him, he was compelled to return them
The Membership lntervenes.
Then came Oscar Ellick, another
business agent Of Local 80, who tried
he same game as Cramer, wrestling
With the girl as huge crowd of mem
1ers gathered, protesting at the out
age Of attacking a woman. Ellick
ried to win out by stamping upon
he girls feet. When she explained
o the members what the officials
we're trying to do, they set up a cry
~ the hundreds, give them to us,
lever mind the officials"
But the officials had sent out hur-
y call for the gang of sluggers which
ad just finished with Simonian.
When they arrived they showed the
protesting members aside. beating up
Sam Dragonsky of Local SO, who took
her part by protesting against beat
ing a woman. He, too, was seized
and badly beaten by the sluggers who
.ried to get him into the alleyway, so
as not to disgrace" the A. G. w. head
quarters.
The gang was too much for the
members, who were probably astound-
ed at this conduct Of the officials. In
spite of the outcries of the member
ship, the gangsters and the officials,
who spurred them on-Rissman shout
ing, Break them up, break them up,
at any cost! seized the sample bal
lots and drove the members onto the
street, where they stood about pro-
testing in little groups at the behavior
Of the officials.
About 20 sluggers took part in the
assaults, driving the members right
and left, and the officials showed no
restraint over them, urging them on
regardless Of the possibility of some
one being killed by the guns and
blackjacks and knives of the DULLES.
Oscar Ellick, when challenged by
Helen KaElan, said he didn't care if
lives were lost
Jack Dilslg one Of the members
Who protested at the mistreatment of
felen Kaplan, was badly beaten by
The gang as we're three others, one
Italian being forced into the alley and
1adly naldled. Two members who,
showing only that they didn't like
TO see woman beaten, protested,
then vert on to vote, were followed
onto the street and one severely beat
en- about five minutes after they left
the hall.
When Sam Dragonsky protested at
the assault on Helen Kaplan, knives
were flashed by three gangsters, who
drove him back, while Rissman was
shouting Go to it, Go to It'll" One
OF the members who is close to the
administration, told Dragonsky, "You
better beat 1t, for if you don't you
may be killed"
There are seven casualties so far in
the election for Amalgamated officials,
and the election is still on.