The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-03-08
Make 1t a Real Investigation


John Fitzpatrick, acting on the authority Of
the Chicago Federation of Labor, appointed
committee of fifteen to investigate the conduct
of States Attorney Groves office, in its rela-
ton to the strike now on in Chicago, involv-
ing the dress manufacturers and the lnterna-
tional Ladies' Garment Workers Union.
In letter to Robert E. Grove, John Fitz-
patrick charged the states attorney, with hav-
ing assigned police attached to his office to
strike duty He charged Grove with having
his police acting the role of agents provoca-
teur by mingling with the people in the strike
district and fomenting discord.
There are other charges contained In the
letter that appeared yesterday IN tull IN the
DAILY WORKER, which call for the most
thoro investigation.
The committee of fifteen appointed by John
Fitzpatrick to make an investigation OF the
anti-labor conduct of Robert E. Groves office
owes it to the workers of Chicago to make
thoro probe, not alone of Groves Office but
of the offices of Mayor William E. Dever and
Chief Of Police Collins.
The members of the committee appointed
by John Fitzpatrick are:
Anton Johannsen Carpenters Union.
Robert Fitchie, Milk Wagon Drivers Union.
Oscar Nelson, Post Office Clerks Union.
Agnes Nestor, Woman's Trade Union League
David McVey, Lathers' Union.
Frank Buchanan Iron Workers Union.
John O'Neil, City Firemens Union.
Victor Olander, Seamans Union.
Anna Fitzgerald, Womans' Label League.
Chester Semple, MOders' Union.
John Clay, Laundry Drivers Union.
John A. English, Printers Union.
Harry Van Arisen, Pressmen's Union.
Charles Glover, Blacksmiths' Union.
Harry Sheck, Union Label League
At the first meeting this committee held on
Thursday last in the office of the Chicago Fed
Grafton of Labor, it was charged that the
plain clothes thugs employed by Grove are
afsU~ on the payroll of the city administration.
We find States Attorney Grove, the repub-
lican, and Mayor Dever, the democrat, and
alleged ''friend of labor" both equally respon-
sible for the actions of the police in assaulting
strikers and protecting strikebreakers at the
behest of the manufacturers.
The committee might ask Mayor Dever, why
Captain John Alcock, notorious man bruiser,
was transferred from the record department,
where he was placed because of his unsavory
reputation for manhandling prisoners, to the
head of the army of policemen detailed by
Chief Collins to guard the strikebreakers and
beat up the strikers.
In order to retain the political friendship of
certain labor leaders, Mayor Dever may prom
Use the committee, that the present mis-
handling of the strikers by his police officers
will cease But the committee should not be
satisfied with empty promises
If Mayor Dever wishes to have order in the
strike district he can do what genuine work
lngclaSS mayor does, when strike develops
within his jurisdiction. Appoint force of
special officers recruited from the Chicago
labor unions. Such a committee would be in
terested in maintaining order. The police and
the gunner from Groves Office are not.
The workers of Chicago are watching the
committee of fifteen. They will expect an I'M
vestigation that will go to the bottom of the
situation, regardless whether those affected
are democrats or republicans. The DAILY
WORKER is firmly convinced that real inves-
tigation will show that in this strike the Off
cialdom of Cook County, in the City Hall as
we'll as in Groves office is carrying out the
orders of the dress manufacturers and the
Chicago Chamber of Commerce.
The almost deadly silence maintained by the
capitalist press of Chicago is also proof that
every agency of capitalist power in the city is
solidy lined up against the workers. The
DAILY WORKER alone is throwing the
searchlight on the strike and giving the gar
ment workers the necessary backing and pub
licity.
The DAILY WORKER urges the committee
Of fifteen to make real investigation