The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-11-25


charges in such cases involve the
political or industrial opinions Of these
members. The Labor Defense Coun.
ell reserves the right not to handle
any particular case when, in the
judgment of its executive committee
the case should be otherwise handled
and the Workers Party reserves the
right not to refer to the Labor De.
Tense Council any case which it pre-
fers to have handled otherwise.
2. The Workers Party will aid the
Labor Defense Council in raising
money for the defense Of these cases
by such means as are agreed upon
between the two organizations, and
agrees to set up no other legal defense
machinery without the concurrence of
the Labor Defense Council.
8. Altho the activities of the Labor
Defense Council are free from control
by the Workers Party, the council
agrees to discontinue its activities for
Workers Party members at any time,
when in the judgment of the Work.
ers Party they are no longer neces.
sary or desirable.
Case Of John Lassen.
The case of John Lassen, editor of
the New York Hungarian Communist
daily, came up for consideration. John
Lassen is charged under federal postal
laws with sending unavailable litera.
ture thru the mail. He had written
and published in the paper a poem en-
titled ITO Arms, To Arms" in which
Coolidge, Horthy, the Hungarian
tyrant, and other rulers were cited as
detectives of proletarian attack. The
New York branch of the Labor De
Tense Council has engaged Attorney
Joseph Brodsky to defend Lassen
The defense declares that the Ian
guage used in the poem is symbolic
Coolidge's name having been used tc
typify the system for which he stands
Lassen is out of $500 bail. Under
the postal law, the maximum sentence
is five years, and $4,000 fine.
The financial report disclosed thai
since June, 1924, nearly $4,000 has
been paid out for legal and defense
expenses and printing of briefs in the
Ruthenberg, Kovakovich, Kush, Halo
men and Vajtaurer cases. In July
August, September and October only
$4,000 approximately was raised, al
a cost of about 80 per cent. The funds
came in mainly from Workers Party
sources and workers fraternaI organi
cations, but responses to appeals tc
the working class are not as good as
previously. This is due to their in
creasing shortage of money and the
pressure of other appeals. In the face
of such condition, greater efforts
will be made to reach out into the
progressive and liberal field for funds
as well as moral support. Loca
branches Of the Labor Defense Coun
Gil, especially in the larger cities, raise
funds by running affairs, ETC., but il
many instances they take care Of loca
cases, engaging legal aid, paying
necessary costs, etc. In this they are
encouraged.
The meeting was attended by Ed
ward c, Wentworth, Roger N. Bald
win, George Maurer, Moritz ]. Loci
and Mary t. Ferguson.
New Committee Chosen.
Seven Chicago resident members
were selected for the national execu
tive committee. They are Edward c
Wentworth, VIM. H. Holly, Mary T
Ferguson, NORTH ]. Loeb, George
Maurer, David Rhys williams anc
c. E. Ruthenberg. In addition George
E. Hooker, Robert Morss Lovett, Ed
win j. Kuh, Jr., and Miss Catherine
Lille were approved as executive com
mittee members. 1t was decided thai
an effort be made to get one or two
trade unionists on, also.
1t was decided to set up Iega
advisory committee. Samuel H. Hol
land and Ernest r. Reichmann wer,
approved as members thereof.
The secretary was asked to keep il
close touch with executive committe,
members for advice on such matters
as appeals, printed matter, etc, which
must not of necessity wait for deci
sions Of the executive committee.
The Labor Defense Council hal
benefited considerably in the pas
by the advice and assistance of tn,
American Civil Liberties Union an,
Roger Baldwin. and will continue I,
keep in close touch with them.