The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-06-18
ROTTEN MESS OF
/. CLASS PEACE IN
LAWRENCE UNION
Union Meeting Aids
Only the Bosses
(Continued from page ID

a. ID. SUTHERLAND was the urSC DuSl-
ness man to speak He had It all fig
ured out that the low tariff was the
fundamental cause of the depression
and visioned that a higher tariff
would bring prosperity to the worker.
AS If this hoary joke had not been ex-
ploded long ago.
U. T. w. Organizer Speaks.
The next speaker was Thomas J.
Regain, organizer for the U. T. w. and
residing in Lowell, Mass. Textile
manufacturers held a conference in
Lowell a few weeks ago and one of
the statements issued from this meet
ing was that the textile industry in
Massachusetts must return again to
81 hours week. in order to COM
pete with the south.
Mr.. Regan said in answer that
other states in New England where
the workers are working the "a hours
or more, conditions are just as bad as
in Lawrence, Lowell or any other
city in Massachusetts,, and SO he did
not see any benefit for the workers
in going back to 81 hours.
Drive for Longer Hours ForetoId.
He argued that the large manufac-
turers would, in September Of this
year, deliver the ultimatum to the +,
workers that unless they went to
their legislators and asked that the
eight hour law, so-called, be abrogat-
ed and the workers allowed to work
10 hours a day for the same pay, and
at the same time resembling the order
effecting the employment Of women
and minors, the mill owners would
remove their mills to the south, where
child labor is allowed.
He closed by explaining the class
collaboration principle of the U. T. w.
saying 1t wasn't his purpose to over
throw the government but only a de-
sire on his part that the manufacture
ers meet with the workers and 'Tay
their cards on the table and be
friends" He had no remedy to stop
the drive for longer hours.
God Of Battles Shows up Himself.
The Rev. Donald H. Gerrish, who
usually struts around in an army uni
form was the next on the program.
Gerrish who is the principle gospel ex-
FOUNDER on Defense Days" and who
loves the smell of fresh blood of hui
mans Che was chaplain in the last"
war; was full Of pious optimism. He
pointed to the poetic lines on the
school wall: "The thoughts of Youth
this should apply to grown ups as
well. He meant by this that the fu-
ture would take the workers out of
their present dungeon Of despair.
This reminded one to think of that
poetic soul in the story Masters and
Slaves" who says, And what is pow
erty? Imagination" Rev. Gerrish:
What is hunger? Optimism" He
concluded by quoting Cal, Have faith
In Mass" Mayor Rockefort said that
unemployment was general in all in
dustries and was a direct aftermath
OF the world conflict. He also was
optimistic and pictured rainbow
just ahead.
At Last a Worker!
The only one that had a message to
deliver on the causes of the depres-
sion" of real value to the workers was
Comrade Samuel Bramhall, former
textile worker and a hard fighter in
the class struggle for many years.
Comrade Bramhall was the leader in
the Lawrence textile strike of 1919.
The strike was won after a hard fight
and the capitalist press and politi-
clans have had It in for Sam" ever
since.
He stated the basic cause OF the
trouble was in the capitalist system
itself, and that the business men and
preachers present were only beating
around the bush and attempting to
lead the workers up a blind alley. He
mentioned the speeding up system
that has been put into effect in the
mills and which has thrown hundreds
Of workers out of work.
At this point, what workers were in
the hall, showed their approval by
giving him a ringing applause. while
no other speaker was thus favored
during their talk, which showed that
the workers appreciated hearing the
truth.
The audience seemed very much in.
terested In Comrade Bramhalrs re-
marks but the chairman decided that
enough was said and insisted that
the speaker be seated. Protests were
made from the floor on this ruling to
no avail.
And II Ended by-Helplng Businessl
A resolution was passed calling up
on the mayor to call conference of
manufacturers, merchants and textile
operatives to form themselves into a
Community Committee" to see what
could be done to help business along.
A worker made an amendment to the
resolution which was seconded but
which the chairman decided to ig-
more. The merchants and their holy