The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-05-09
Expose Treason of Renegade Socialists in Minneapo:

life they denied themselves and fam
lilies in order to buy shares In the
Star. The workers also have now had
ample time to think over the hypo-
critical promises which Van Lear
made them when he said, II will be
there to protect the interests OF the
workers" He is as reliable now, as
he was then.
do not propose to insult the Trib-
une nor the Journal by comparing
the Shiny Star to these organs of
black reaction. The Star is an out
cast in the journalistic house of pros
titution. 1t deserves no support what
soever from the working class and
should get none.
There is the Money.
In 1921 Van Lear was a candidate
for mayor. He was defeated. Leach
was the victor. In that campaign.
Leach said some very bad things about
Van Lear. He wrote an open letter to
Leach, in which he demanded that
Leach produce some proof of his state
ments, and those of his henchmen. or
stand convicted of being a contempt
IDLE liar" That's what Van Lear, the
master of bluff and buster, wrote.
Soon after his defeat, he issued a
universal appeal to the farmers and
workers for funds. with which to fight
Leach in the courts on a charge of
SANDER. He meant business. The
workers and farmers, taking cogniz-
ance OF the cause for which the ap-
peal was made, responded with their
dollars.
This historical legal action vanished
rnysteriously into the clouds. The
money was collected. But no action
resulted. What happened to these
funds? Nobody knows. No account.
ing was ever made. If this is not
stealing from the working classes
then what does stealing consist Of?
There are men in the penitentiary for
doing less than this. Van Lear is as
truthful now, as he was when he cir
culated that appeal.
Moreover, this renegade socialist
who used to spread the doctrine of the
class struggle; who preached ANAL
gamation, has been the bosom political
friend of Leach since 1922. The man
whom he virtually called "contempt-
lille liar" in 1921. No, Van Lear is
not a comedian; he is political hypo-
critic. In 1928 he says, I'VE could do
worse than not to endorse Leach for
mayor" 1t is simply revolving. this
black record of his, as It trails over
the body Of the working class move
ment.
But it is not for nothing that the
Minneapolis chamber Of commerce had
Van Lear riding in back seat with
them over the state, in their magni-
hciently appointed special train in
1923. Van Lear was advising the
farmers to "eat more wheat" Appar.
entity he thought that they were eat
ing oats.
The Descent into He'll.
Van Lear is now associated with
Lewis Harthill in the publication of
that harum-scarum rag called Mime
Sofa" With this last venture of poIiti-
cal depravity, he has hit the very bot
tom of political baseness. He can't
go any lower.
Since he handed over the Star to
the capitalists, his job there was done.
His mission now is to destroy the
workers Representation in tha c;tv
council by vomiting a stream of filth
against the workers movements. This
Is the new job which the capitalists
have detailed for him. It would not
do for him to remain idle. AS neither
Van Lear nor Little Lou" can write
a line, Howard Guilford does that.
This fellow Guilford is a profession.