The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-01-29


airy movement in this country, soon
vijtauer is an excellent speaker, and
spoke at many meetings before work
ers OF Czecho-Slovalxian origin. At
meeting in Chicago, he defended the
Soviet regime, and explained to the
workers present the nature of the
struggle that led to the overthrow OF
the czaristic regime and the Kerensky
government. He showed the analogy
between the struggle in Russia and
that in other countries.
That was his crime" On the basis
Of the evidence given by spy, he was
arrested and is held in Ellis Island
for deportation.
The Labor Defense Council is con
Quoting his case and also has in
charge the case Of John Lassen, editor
of the Elore, the Hungarian labor
paper. Lassen was arrested in Novem.
Der, 1924, for publishing a poem which
he wrote. Lassen, too, is a we'll
known revolutionist, having been
forced to fee from Hungary because
Of his activity. The Horthy govern
ment, which is a vassal OF the French
and the American government
would like to lay hands on Lassen.
The American government, it would
appear, intends to do the Horthy fas-
cist government that favor
Horthy Hits At Workers.
Horthy's government is one of the
vilest governments in existence. Dur
ing his regime, Horthy has broken UP
all the labor organizations in the coun.
try. Workers clubs, newspapers and
trade unions have been suppressed. 4
campaign of terror was carried on
against the labor movement, for Hor-
thy can rule only IL the workers are
denied every right that even the ICON
stitution" Of Hungary guarantees"
These guarantees are the same as in
Italy, Roumania and Jugoslavia. They
are on paper, but the capitalist gov.
crnments interpret them as they
please.
This is similar to the guarantees"
Of free speech, free assemblage and
free press in the United States. One
need only look at the coal fields of
Pennsylvania and West Virginia
where miners meetings are disrupted
by the police, where the press is sup
pressed. The Lassen and Vijtauer
cases are the best evidence of free
speech and free press" in the United
States.
U. S. Falls in Line.
One OF the glowing examples of
free assemblage" in the United
States is embodied in the case of
Charles E. Ruthenberg, secretary of
the Workers Party, who has been SEN
fenced to three to 10 years in the
Michigan penitentiary, for attending a
convention Of the now dissolved Com
munist Party, which was held in
Bridgeman, Michigan, in August, 1922
There was no evidence produced that
any "crime" was perpetrated at the
convention. Ruthenberg's conviction
and the intended trial of the other go
indicted for the same crime" will re
quire big fund to conduct these casea
and save these revolutionary workers
for the labor movement. The Labor
Defense Council together with the In
ternational Workers Aid, has arrang-
ed a four days joint bazaar, which will
take place at the Lyceum, seth st. and
Ord Ave-, New York City, from Feb. IL
to IA. II all prognostications prove
true, large sum of money will be
raised, thus ensuring proper defense
of the accused.
Open Shop is the Goal.
II these workers are sent to prison,
the capitalists of this country will be
encouraged to carry on their open
shop campaign against the whole or.
ganized labor movement. Hence it be-
comes the duty Of the trade unions
to support the defense of these victim
lied workers will all energy. II there
is not complete solidarity OF all work.
ers today, the entire labor movement
OF this country will be demoralized
and crushed. The wage cuts that are
being imposed on the textile workers
and miners are indications of what
faces the labor movement. There must
be an "all-together" in defense of
working class interests.