davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1925-08-05
COMMUTERS OPEN
RAIL RATE FIGHT
100000 Launch Nation.
Wide Battle in New York. /
"PIot" Is Seen. 1
By the Associated. Press.

By the Associated. Press
NEW YORK, August 5.-A national
commuters fight against what is des-
cribed as a Conspiracy" among rail
roads to raise computation ticket
rates is being organized here.
The move is backed py 1000. .00n
citizens in the metropolitan area
living in New Jersey, Long Island
Westchester County, \. Y, and
Connecticut.
Though principally concerned with
the flight on the 40 per cent com
mutation rate increase obtained
through the Public Service Commis-
sion by the New York, New Haven
and Hartford Railroad. the organiza
ton will resist similar demands by
other roads. Legal representatives of
these communities have been called to
meet today in the offices of the New
York Bar Association.
Charles A. Van Auken, corporation
counsel of New Rochelle. n. Y, and
chief counsel for the protesting com
muters, said that similar fights Will
have to be waged in Chicago and all
large committing centers.
II can not prove it," he said, but
! am sure there is a conspiracy among
the railroads of the country to bring
about increased Communication rates.
The New Haven was selected to make
the start because it was in the best
position to demand an increase. 1t
had the right 20 claim it was using
the right-of-way of another road. the
New York Central, and was paying
excessive rental fees"
The commuters yesterday won a
partial victory when counsel for the
New Haven agreed that rebate slips
should be furnished and the increased
fares refunded in. case the commuters
won their fight. Ruling on an appli-
cation to enjoin the rate increase was
expected today from Supreme Court
Justice Tompkins at Nyack, n. Y.
Evening star., 1925-08-05

of work in the anthracite fields last
ing for a short time.
This possibility, however, is viewed
by Government observers as not of
great moment to the consuming pub
lie, as coal production has been rela-
lively high this year, and a short sus-
pension would not mean a change
either in supply or in price.
Anthracite production in the United
States up to the end of the week of
July 25 aggregated 51,S37 900 tons,
only a few thousand tons less than
production for the same period last
year, and in the face of a declining
market. Production for the week of
July 25, totaling 2,049 900 tons, was
looked upon as a forecast of higher
production for the remainder of the
agreement period, and even if the
miners do suspend work on August 81
for a few weeks. they win begin work
at the end of the suspension period
with greater vigor than before.
Evening star., 1925-08-05
Given Duties Here.

Capt. Clay Anderson, Corps of
Engineers, has been relieved from
duty as an instructor at the Engineer
School. Fort Humphreys. Va, and
assigned to duty as instructor of the
District National Guard. According
10 the orders, he will remain at Camp
Humphreys during the Summer train
ing until August Is, when he will pro-
ceed TO Virginia Beach, Va. for duty
in connection with the encampment of
the District of Columbia Militia at
that place. after which he will take
regular station in this city,
The daily worker., 1925-08-15
Party Trade Union Work 1v@zE.

first fruits Of this we're presented to
the last convention Of the party in the
form of an Industrial program The
outstanding features Of this program
were proposals to drop the slogans of
amalgamation and organize the unor-
ganized. On the question of amalga-
nation, the minority program said:
Neither the workers of the unor-
ganized industries nor the hundreds
of thousands of organized workers are
interested in any organizational i'm
provement of the existing craft unions
Our vigorous campaign for amalgama-
tion was in place for the period of
prosperity and it helped to stir up
great sections of organized labor"
To this mistaken proposal of drop
ping the campaign to consolidate the
unions, the minority added the equal
ly serious error of proposing to dis
continue our active work for the or
ganization of the unorganized. They
declared that our slogan, "Organize
the Unorganized", was a proper slo-
gan during a period of complete EN-
ployment, increase in wages, and de-
crease in hours" AS a substitute for
these two basic campaigns the minor
ity proposed to center the Industrial
work around the organization of the
unemployed, altho unemployment had
manifestly not taken on sufficiently
mass character to make this program
practicable. Since the party conven-
tion the efforts of the minority to de-
velop a trade union program have
been marked by the most serious op-I
portunistic deviations, which will be
discussed in later article.
A FTER the factional situation de-
4 veloped the minoritys minimizing
OF trade union work showed itself in
tendency to attack and belittle the
comrades and organizations engaged
in activities in the trade unions. The
August Thesis of 1923 made a long
attack upon the party members who
were active in the trade union move
ment. This lead has since been fol-
lowed, with the result that in large
sections of the party the feeling has
been developed that in some way or
other work in the trade unions is not
vital and that party members who
take the lead in that work are not
The daily worker., 1925-08-15

that no worker in an industrial coun-
try like America can be a real Com
munist unless he is an active labor
unionist The party must take de-
termined stand against any sign of
slackness in labor union activity. The
work in the labor unions must be re-
garded as the basis which will deter
mine the success of the party in most
other spheres of work.
Why all this repeated insistance by
the Communist International for in
creased activity by the Workers Party
in the trade unions? The answer is
found in the facts that only about one
third of our party members are at the
same time members of the trade un-
ions, and Of this trade union member
ship only a very small portion are
really active in the trade unions That
is to say, the Workers Party is doing
only a fraction of the work that it
should in the trade unions, and this
fact is well known to the Comintern,
which is determined to correct the
situation, and to throw all available
forces of our party into this basic
work.
It is one of the greatest errors of
the Central Executive Committee min
ority group that they do not take to
heart these repeated Instructions from
the Comintern on the question of
trade union work, and join whole
heartedly with the Central Executive
Committee in a campaign to improve
the situation in this vital respect. This
is due to a fundamental lack of ap-
probation of the importance of work
in the proletarian mass economic or
ganizations. One of the most serious
weaknesses of the minority as whole
is its -underestimation of party work
in trade unions.
THIS underestimation and lack of
understanding of trade union work
has long characterized the minority
leadership and has manifested itself
IN various ways. When the minority
group controlled the Central Executive
Committee, and before the present fac
tional situation developed, the indif-
ference of this group towards trade
union work showed itself by surren-
The daily worker., 1925-08-15

ON many different occasions the
" Communist International in it's
various communications to our party,
has stressed the necessity of our de-
voting more attention to the trade un-
ion work In the decision of the En-
larged Executive Committee on the
American question, it says:
"In America the regular work OF
party members in the trade unions
must be considered now as the fun
damental work on which depends the
success Of the party in most of the
other fields, and especially the strug-
gle for a Labor Party Therefore, any
tendency to neglect or minimize the
Importance of this work must be ener-
getically combatted."
THE Comintern found it so neces-
L sary to stimulate the Workers
Party ON the question of Communist
work in the trade unions, that it, in
conjunction with the Profintern, has
addressed a joint letter to our party
on this general subject. This letter
bristles with instructions to devote
more and more attention to activity
in the mass economic organizations of
the workers. 1t says:
1T is of extreme Importance to the
life and growth of the Workers Party
that its members as a whole realize
better the necessity of more intensive
work in the trade unions. The labor
unions are the basic mass organiza-
tions of the workers. They wage war
against the employers on one of the
most important sectors of the front
of the class struggle. The capture Of
the leadership of the labor union
masses in their struggle is necessary
not only for the Strengthening of the
Workers Party at the present time
but also for the ultimate victory of
the revolutionary struggle. The cap
ture of the labor unions is our first
and foremost task"
And again
THE Party must use disciplinary
measures to compel it's members to
join the labor unions and to become
active in them. It must be firmly fixed
in the mind of every party member
The daily worker., 1925-08-15

dering this activity almost entirely
into the hands of those who now make
up the majority of the Central Elk
ecutive Committee. From the foun-
dation of the Workers Party, and dur
ing the last months of the under
ground party, the Pepper-Ruthenberg
group left the working out and appli-
cation of trade union policies almost
completely in our hands. The objec-
tive situation was highly favorable,
with the workers then engaged in the
greatest series of strikes in American
history Our campaigns prospered
and the Trade Union Educational
League made rapid headway 1t imme-
diately became the leader of the whole
left wing in the trade union move
ment.
The Pepper-Ruthenberg group gave
this work their blessing from afar.
They were Nncritical, usually adopting
unanimously without discussion all
the propositions of the Industrial De-
partment. Yes, despite this policy of
non-participation in trade union work,
we found the minority delegation at.
Moscow during the last hearing on
the American question graciously tax
ing the credit for all the work that
was done. They declared that the
party work was highly effective in the
trade unions and then took to them
selves the full credit for it simply be-
cause it was performed when they
were in the majority in the party. But
the truth is that the only real credit
they can claim, if credit is due for
such, is for not hindering the work at
that epoch. They had almost nothing
to do with its actual performance.
A FTER the dispute in the Central
4 4 Executive Committee in August.
1923, regarding the Federated Farmer
Labor Party policy, which was the be-
ginning of the present factional situ-
alton, the weakness of the minority on
trade union work manifested itself in
new forms. For one thing, the min
ority found it necessary to have
trade union policy. No longer could
1t surrender completely this important
branch of party work to our group.
The minority then began to dabble in
mapping out trade union policies. The
The daily worker., 1925-08-15
By VIM. z. Foster

| Communists in the full sense Of the
word. The impression has been cre-
ated that trade union work, as such,
is to some degree syndicalistic. Many
comrades seem to take sort Of pride
in the fact that they play no part in
the struggles Of the trade union or
ganizations.
AS for the Trade Union Educational
League, it has been singled out for
attack. Campaigns have been openly
carried on against 1t by responsible
party workers. In view of the dificult
situation that the league has been
working under, with the right-wing
bureaucracy shooting into it from all
sides, such opposition from within our
ranks has been particularly disastrous.
Instead of correcting the glaring weak
ness of our Party's work in the trade
unions, the policy of the minority
tends only to increase it and to make
the situation worse.
In the long dispute that has con-
question of the character of our trade
union work and the emphasis to be
placed on this branch of our activity,
has been an underlying issue of basic
character, even tho the discussion has
mot turned so directly on this point.
In the Parity Commission the two
groups came to theoretical agreement
regarding our tasks in the trade un-
ions. When they accomplish this in
the execution of the practical work in
these organizations, then the party
will be far along on the way to unity.
pUT how can this understanding be
- brought about? Certainly not by
the majority group adopting the min
ority attitude towards work in the
trade unions. There is only one solu-
tion to the problem. This is by the
minority's fully and freely accepting
the Comintern's position that the
work in the trade unions is a vital
and fundamental task of the party.
and then by giving their active CO.
operation and participation in this
work With this accomplished, the Boil
shevization of our party will proceed
apace in all its aspects, and the party
VIII rapidly assume position of far
greater power and influence in the
labor movement as whole.
The daily worker., 1925-08-15

9. International Trade Union UnItv.
THE party must launch an active
= campaign in favor Of international
trade union unity. 1t must fight in
every trade union for the endorse
ment of the demand for a world unitv
congress and for the participation Of
the American Federation of Labor in
1t, on the basis of the R. l. L. U. pro-
posal. 1t must also fight for the sup
port of the Anglo-Russian committee
as the first step towards trade union
unity and for the af1liation of the var
ious national unions to the respective
industrial secretariats.
The labor union work is of extreme
importance to the consolidation of the
Workers Party. Everything possible
must be done to insure the success of
this work. The various points of this
letter must be closely studied and ac-
lively applied. If this is done, the
party will widely extend it's influence
over the masses and be placed on a
more solid basis. We call upon the
entire party membership to put into
effect the. policies laid down in this
letter.
With Communist greetings,
(Signed) A. w. kUUsINEN, secre-
tary Executive Committee Communist
International.
(Signed) A. LOZoVSkY,
General Secretary Of the Red Inter-
national Of Labor Unions.
The daily worker., 1925-08-15
The Workers Monthly

TOO little is said, too little is writ
4 ten and much too little is done
about so good a magazine as the Work
ers Monthly.
This is written without qualification.
And no worker, Communist or other
wise, would fail to agree after close
reading of the current August issue.
1t isn't simply because of the at
tractiveness of the magazine, because
it's so easy on the eyes" from its
decorative cover to the last page In it.
True such artists as Fred Ellis, G Pic
coli, Maurice Becker, bon Brown and
others have done much to make 1t at
tractiye, sindeed-and the myriad OF
photographs add to the magazines
beauty and worth. But because of the
valuable contributions primarily, this
issue land this magazine in every is
sue) deserves a good deal more of at
tention,
Articles by Arne Swabeck on the
Steel Industry, by William 2. Foster
and Earl r. Browder on the needle
trades and one by Alex Reid on the
miners give the keynote to this issue.
In these are the life OF the working
class and in these are struggle with
bosses and labor fakers! and here Is
also the Communist presentation of
not facts alone-but also principles
and program as guidance for future
leadership.
To the articles on industrial strug-
giles and working class political action
are added number of other most in
teresting features. Moissaye Olgin's
article on Russia, is personal account
Of activities under workers govern.
ment that will give you vision OF an
other world. And the article on Ameri.
can concessions in Russia will bring
this other world closer home TO you.
The daily worker., 1925-08-15
A Letter from the COmintern
and the Profintern.

not fail to utilize 1t.
z. The Work Among the Negroes.
NEGRO workers are becoming an
: ever more important factor in in
dustry, The employers are doing
everything possible to utilize them in
the struggle against the whites, thus
exploiting both the whites and the ne
groes. The labor bureaucracy falls
into this trap set by the employers
and sets up all sorts of barriers to
prevent the Negroes joining the
unions. This tendency must be re-
lentlessly fought against. The Work
ers Party must demand the admission
of the Negroes to the respective
unions, and see to it that they receive
equal protection with the whites.
Where the leaders refuse to admit
Negroes into the unions, special Ne
gro labor unions should be formed in
that particular industry.
8. Connections with the Workers of
The Colonies.
THE party, thru the league, should
= set up close and permanent con-
nections with the labor unions in the
Philippines, Haiti, Cuba and the other
countries under the economic and po-
iitical subsection of United States i'm
perialism. The purpose of these con-
nections should be to render the ut
most support to the workers in the
colonies and semi-colonies in their po-
litical and economic struggle against
the invaders.
The daily worker., 1925-08-15
AReuiiew

Perhaps one article deserves special
mention. Twenty Years After" by
Harrison George is surely one that
would stand out in any issue of even
as good magazine as the Workers
Monthly. Here is the history of the |.
w. w. for twenty years in nutshell
the history of struggle in this coun-
try and a spectacle Of a withering or
ganization that once personified strug-
gle to American workers.
Another really unusual feature ap-
pears in this issue of the Workers
Monthly. >Like in the publication OF
the original draft of the Communist
Manifesto, which appeared for the
first time recently in the Little Red
Library series, tho written as long as
seventy five years ago, an article THE
Organic Composition OF Capital writ
'ten by Karl Marx, is the first appear
ance in this country of letter in
which Marx analyses the roots OF the
difference with Ricardo and other bour.
geois economists. The appearance OF
such treasures make the Workers
Monthly doubly valuable to every
worker.
Many other features are In the Aug.
ust issue of the Workers Monthly
many other good ones many other
things deserving much to be said about
them. Without question, about everv
issue Of the Workers Monthly (read
II yourself If you doubt our word) too
little is said. too little is written and
much too little is done.
The daily worker., 1925-08-15
Trade Union Work

exclusive organ of the Communists
and their closest sympathizers, ire
spective of whether such tendencies
are a result of pressure from outside
or of pressure on the part of the party
member anxious to Keep out non-par-
tisans. The party must strive to con-
vert the League into an extensive
Left Bloc Organization, lining up all
the revolutionary and progressive ele-
ments in the labor unions against the
reactionary bureaucracy
The Communist strategy in the la
Dor unions must be to unite, thru the
medium of the Trade Union Educa-
tional League, all the left wing ele-
ments against the old officialdom and
their policies. Every struggle of the
workers and all everyday activities
must be directed to this object. One
OF the important features Of the work
in the labor unions is without fail to
utilize the elections of trade union Of
hcers and of the delegates to the To-
cal, district, national and A. F. of l..
conventions. Among the so-called
progressive elements there is a grow
ing tendency to develop an opposition
against the reactionary labor union
bureaucracy and to put up their own
ticket in opposition to them at elec-
tions. This tendency must be stimu-
lated and developed by the Workers
Party as means of bringing the work
ers under its influence. In every cleo
tion, both in local unions, central
trades councils and in the internation-
al unions, the Communists. where
they are not sufficiently strong to se-
cure the election of their own candi-
dates, must unite with the progress
sives and support joint candidates on
the basis of the united front. 1t should
be remembered that the officialdom of
the American Federation of Labor and
of the international unions does not
represent a single reactionary mass.
The closer the labor union official is
to the shop and the dues-payer, the
more subject is he to the direct infiu-
ence of the masses of the workers.
Among these elements there are many
who are disgusted with the policies of
the heads. This discomfort, tho not
yet organized, nevertheless represents
opposition to the old course. The
party must give every possible assis-
tance to the progressive elements in
their struggle against the reactionary
bureaucracy. The league must strive
to establish a united front with these
elements on the basis of concrete
program Of action.
The league should be actively sup
ported by the party in prosecution of
the league program endorsed at the
Third Congress OF the r. |. L. u.
Particular attention should be given
to the following points:
I. Strikes and Wage Movements.
THE party must actively engage in
every strike and wage movement.
II must also rouse the masses to take
up such movements. II must skillful-
ly utilize these movements for politi-
cal ends. II must have a program of
demands for each mass movement of
this kind and the Communists must
fight for the leadership in the strug-
Gle. The wage cutting campaign car
led out by the capitalists must be op-
posed by a counter-campaign OF
strikes.
The daily worker., 1925-08-15
From the Executive Committee of the
Communist international and the
Executive Committee of the
Red international of La
Dor Unions.

TT is of extreme Importance to the
life and growth of the Workers
Party that its members as a whole
realize better the necessity of more
intensive work in the labor unions.
The labor unions are the basic mass
organizations of the workers. They
wage war against the employers on
one of the most important sectors of
the front of the class struggle. The
capture of the leadership of the labor
union masses in their struggle is vital
ly necessary not only for the strength
ening of the Workers Party at the
present time, but also for the ulti-
mate victory of the revolutionary
struggle. The capture of the labor
unions is our first and foremost task.
That the Workers Party as a whole
does not yet thoroly realize the ex-
ceptional importance of trade union
activity is clear from the fact that
only 40 per cent of the party mem
bership are members of labor unions.
and even Of these only very few are
active in the latter work. If the unions
are weak and are dominated by the
reactionaries, it :. is the business of
the Communists to strengthen them
and to wage relentless fight against
the leadership and the policies of the
reactionaries. In those places and in
dustries where no labor unions exist
the Communist must take the initia-
tive and organize unions. We must
not sit with our hands folded and wait
until the labor bureaucracy finds it
necessary to form unions. The organ
ization Of the masses into labor unions
is the historical task of the Commun-
list movement in America.
THE party must use disciplinary
measures to compel its members
to join the labor unions and become
active in them. II must be firmly fixed
in the mind of every party member
that no worker in an industrial coun-
try like America can be real Com
munist unless he is an active labor
unionist. The party must take a de-
termined stand against any sign of
slackness in labor union activity. The
work in the labor unions must be re-
garded as the basis which will deter
mine the success OF the party in most
other spheres Of work.
The Workers Party must render the
utmost assistance to the Trade Union
Educational League. Wherever the
party has branches the latter must
regard II as their duty TO set up and
maintain local branches Of the League
Party members who are trade union.N
lists must actively engage in the work
OF the League. In the League as
whole and in each separate labor
union organization the party members
must be united into Communist fac.
tion and on all questions act unani-
mously and as one body.
THE Workers Party must also do
everything within it's power to pre-
vent itself becoming isolated from the
masses. 1t must resist the tenden-
cies to reduce the Trade Union Edu-
cational League to the position of an