The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-03-28
(ContInued from PAGE u


fraction comrades. Voice: and Dom
BALI,
II am prosecuted for speech del
iyered at a meeting arranged by the
officials of local railroad workers
union in Przempl on Nov. IL, 1923.
Il was speaking almost Immediately
after the affair Of Nov. 6, when an
avalanche of strikes covered the whole
country. The government of Mr. Whites
proclaimed a regular lynch law against
the strikers. In answer to this, the
Central Trade Union Commission call
ed a general strike. That strike, really
general as you know, was liquidated
very quickly, for the affair at Cracow
startled everyone in the country be-
ginning with the right groups and end
ing with the left.
Being in Przempl shortly after this
came to the aforementioned meeting
of railroad workers, and thought it
proper to speak on this matter to tell
the assembled workers of the result
of these struggles, to consider with
them the mistakes in order that the
working class should not make the
same blunders in the future. l point
ed out that when the capital of the
whole country marches in battle for
nation and attacks with homogene-
GUS front, the working class cannot
counter attack with individual groups,
but must enter the battle with a
united homogeneous front, with all
industrial and transport workers in
all parts of the country. Then the
chances Of victory would be absolu-
tely on the side of the working mass
es. That is the way l discussed things
at the meeting. 1 also mentioned
something else and on this my indict-
ment Is based.
Il am accused of capital treason of
Article 5S Austrian criminal code.
which foresees the penalty of death.
This indictment was prepared on a
very curious basis. namely this:
while speaking attacked all groups
Of compromisers and quoted part of
an article published originally in
Droga (The Way, belvedere or
gan, and written by Mr.. Holowko.
alderman Of the city of Warsaw and
member Of the Polish Socialist party.
This very characteristic article, en-
titled "The Fear of Power" reads in
part as follows: N
Never, never yet was the time
for Selling the power Of govern
ment SO opportunei as now. The
left should desire it more now than
ever before. The possessing class
should really be forced to pay
taxes. :. The governing power now
should be representative Of those
classes in whose interest it is to
keep the mark in place, to lower
the cost of living, tosfill the treas
nry; this is desired blythe whole
working class world in Poland. If
we want life not to pass oyer our
heads. we must get lid of the fear
Of power we must desire it with
our whole soul and use ell means
to achieve it,
Communists VIII sieze Power
And finally a warning: And who
knows whether our aversion to power
will not prolong our present fatal state
to an end that win be a catastrophe.
We forget that not all the left parties
in Poland are afraid of power; there
is one that is ready tn assume it any
moment, having in readiness already
prepared methods and patterns of
governing. Everyone knows that l
have the Communists in mind: and.
what is worse, looking at Russia we
cannot deny that they know how to
rule. We must admit that they are
fine administrators and PSYCHOLOGISTS.
Everyone sees that political and econ
omical conditions in Russia are stead
lily improving. Who assumes power
under difficult conditions, he wins
Surrounded by Police
For the second time l quoted here
in the diet the same article that /
cited at the railroad worker meeting
in Przempl. This quotation, supported
by witnesses of course is the basis
of my indictment! I do not in the
least intend to defend myself here and
know that ultimately this question
VIII not be settled by the diet. 1 see
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS