The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-06-03
LABOR DEFENSE
COUNCIL ISSUES
NATIONAL CALL
To Form all-Inclusive
Organization
CONTINUED from Page u

prisonersj ex-class-war prisoners; and
all working-class organizations.
George Maurer, national secretary
Of the council, sgaye the following
reasons for the committees action:
First, the American labor movement
has never had aIlaEge central defense
organ that is able to defend workers
of whatever belief or aflliation and
1t is high time one existed Second
ly, there is everyc reason to believe
that a new epihanaic Of labor per-
secution will seizevthe country before
many more mouths have gone by; the
economic situation isn't very promis-
ing, there are indications of another
strike period and sre-action. is unques-
tionably gaining, strength not only
abroad but here asowell.
Old Class War Fighters
Thirdly, numerous requests have
come to our Office asking what is
now being done for such old class
war prisoners as Ford and Suhr, Ran
gel and Cline. Mooney and Billings
and dozens Of others that are now all
but forgotten. We intend that there
shall be revival of interest in these
old fighters, everyone of whom was
framed up on fiimsy chargse and sent
to the penitentiary for long years.
"And lastly, but by no means of
the least Importance, we think that
the hundreds and more class-war
prisoners now behind the bars are
deserving Of better treatment than
mere postcards on their birthdays. We
think they are entitled to systematic
patronage in the form of material
comforts for themselves and regular
care for their families. And we think
there are thousands Of other workers
of the same opinion"
Deserves Support
The following members of the Ma
tional Executive Committee approved
the calling of the, conference: E. C.
Wentworth. chairman; VIM. H. Holly,
c. E. Ruthenberg. NJ. J. Loeb and Rev.
Davis Rhys Williams. There were no
objections.
E. G. Wentworth, the chairman,
said after the meeting, 81 don't see
how it will be possible for any labor
ing man or labor Organization to fail
to support a movement like this"
The purposes of the conference, the
manifesto issuing. the call says, are
to devise ways and means to-,
/. Initiate and .centralize nation
wide campaigns for amnesty of all
class-war prisoners, for the repeal of
all criminal syndicalism laws. to OPP
pose anti-labor legislation, and against
persecution and deportation OF foreign
born workers.
2. Collect material and give pub
licity to all facts pertaining to work
ing class persecution, to publicly ex-
pose brutal treatment of political
prisoners and to expose secret anti
labor activities, such as labor spy sys-
tenn, etc.
8. Provide legal and moral aid to
all workers attacked for expression of
opinion or for working-class activity
4. Give material and moral aid and
comfort to all prisoners who have
been incarcerated for expression Of
opinion or for working-class activity.
5. Supply material support for the
families and dependents of such
prisoners.
6. Protest against terrorist activ-
tiles against workers in other lands
and to give moral and financial aid
whether possible to the victims Of
such terror.
z. Merge all forces willing to Co
operate in this work into a broad ma
tional organization, based upon indi-
vidual and collective membership that
will stand as an everything and
ever-ready champion for the defense OF
all workers, regardless of their polit'
ical opinions or Affiliations, attacked
through the courtss or otherwise, for
their activities in the labor movement.
The call concludes, 1.-THE Labor De-
tense Council is fully confident that
supporters of this conference will
come forward ino imposing numbers
and make the conference on June rs
the starting point sfor a great defense
organ that will unity all forces friend
ly to the American workers move
ment into a solid bulwark against
the attacks OF predatory capital upon
any and all workers OF whatever be.
lief or affiliation.r riir
The slogan for5he conference will
be, Unite all forces for Labor De-
fense." .s6
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