The daily worker., 1924-03-26
NELSON DOES
NOT KNOW IF
He WILL ACT
!" Might EmbaHass Mayor, =
Says Labor Alderman

Alderman Oscar Nelson, of
the doth Ward, did not know
yesterday if he would discuss
the strike of the garment work.
ers at the meeting Of the city
council today. That is what he
told the DAILY WORKER.
Nelson, besides being an al
derman, is lawyer for the In
Iternational Ladies' Garment
Workers Union, handling the
cases of strikers arrested by
the city police.
He will defend more than two hum
dred cases of arrested strikers to-
morrow before Judge Walker in the
jury branch of the municipal court.
Labor Committeeman.
In addition to being the LAWYER for
the union, Nelson is a vice-president
of the Chicago Federation of Labor
and member of the committee of Is
and the committee on injunctions of
the Federation. He was also a mem
Der of the Citizens committee which
disbanded Monday. In the past, or
ganized labor has looked to him to
represent their interests in the coun-
ell.
Strikers Demand Nelson Act.
Half-drunken policemen have been
smuggling the strikers and arresting
them wholesale for walking on the
streets. The strikers have been de-
manding that Alderman Nelson, la
Dor representative, raise a protest in
the city council and call for an Of
fetal investigation into such out
rageous and illegal actions by paid
city employees against workers on
strike.
Recently Nelson presented the case
for the organized firemen Of the city
who were seeking a raise in pay. But
he has kept silent in the council
while paid city employees were trying
to break the strike of the sweatshop
workers.
Does Not Know"
Nelson was in the Office of the Chi
cago Federation of Labor when he
was reached by the DAILY WORK
Err.
"Will you discuss the strike of the
garment workers at the meeting of
the council tomorrow" he was asked.
Il don't know. ! don't know what
will come up there" he replied.
"Will you tell the members of the
council about the Citizens committee
report?
Might Embarrass Mayor"
II don't know. The report was
made to the mayor. He may report
to the council on it himself. If 1
say anything it might embarrass the
mayor in carrying out the recommen-
dations of the committee Nelson
said.
If the opportunity presents itself
and Nelson can speak on the strike !
without offending any of his fellow
politicians he may or he may not say
a few well-chosen words is in effect
what he said to the DAILY WORKER.
Look to Labor Alderman.
Since the Committee of 15 and the
committee on injunctions has de-
layed acion on 'Dennie's" injunction
and mass picketing the strikers are
looking to Nelson to bring the case
of the strikers to the attention of !
the city fathers.
They hope he will report to the
city council on the citizens commit
tee for the settlement of the strike |
which disbanded Monday and tell the |
councilmen why the bosses were able |
to refuse to arbitrate. The strikers
say the bosses who have refused TO
arbitrate were able to do it only
because they had the police force
fighting for them.
Bosses Depend On Police.
II the police force was not con-
stantly trying to break the picket
line by mass arrests and beating up
strikers. the strikers say the bosses
would feel less secure in their posi-
tion. Feeling that in all practical
ways the city administration is be-
hind them the bosses refuse to deal
with the union.
II the city politicians were really
impartial the strikers say the bosses
would not be so stubborn.
Oscar Nelson's position in the CITY
council gives the strikers spokes-
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