davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-01-07
Chinese Customs Fall
OFF From 1924 Total,
Especially in South

PICKING, Jan. 5.--The receipts of
the Chinese maritime customs for
1925, while showing a gross increase
as computed in Chinese taels, the
money unit in which tariffs are levied,
had a net decline of about a50O,0OO
from the 1924 receipts, with the aver
age exchange value of income com
puted In British currency.
This was shown by the report is
sued by Sir Francis Aglen, the inspec-
tor general of the international or
ganization which administers the GUS
toms.
Tientsin and other northern ports
showed increases over their 1924 re-
ceipts, but the Yangtze River and
southern ports, with the exception OF
Wuhu, on the Yangtze, had falling
of.
The income Of the customs was suf-
ficient to cover China's foreign and
domestic loan obligations, but the re.
port shows that redemption of the
consolidated debt is a year in ar
rears.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-01-07
GENERAL FENG
CONTROLS new
PEKING GOVT
Premier Favorable to
the KuOmintGng

WASHINGTON, jan 5.--(FP)-An
official dispatch from Minister Mac
Murray in Pekin tells Of three DEGREES
issued by the provisional chief exec
utiVe, Tuan Chi Jul, who was set up
last year by the pro-Japanese war
lord Of Manehuria, Chang Tso Lin.
FaVors Soviet.
These DEGREES amount to abdieation
by Tuan, at the order of Gen. Fena,
who has been known as the Chinese
military leader most closely in SYM
pathy with the Soviet Union. Feng
now holds all of northern China
south Of the great wall, including the
seaport of Tientsin.
The DEGREES provide for a cabinet
which shall have actual power over
the government. The new premier is
Hsu Shin Wing, a supporter OF Gen.
Feng, and was chief secretary Of the
Chinese political Cancellation con-
ference of last spring. He is said TO
be in favor with the Kuomintang
party which has its centre in Canton.
lmperiaIists Losing.
This assertion OF the victory Of
anti-imperialist forces In Pekin is
looked upon as a serious setback for
American, British and French plans.
Gen. Feng was outspoken last year
in his insistence upon immediate can
collation. of foreign special privileges
in China.
Japan's situation is uncertain, ex-
ctpa that, by the restoration of Chang
to full control over Manchuria, the
Japanese domination Of Manchuris is
made more complete than ever be-
fore.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-01-07

MUST cast his vote for his "repre-
sentative" After every worker has
been forced to vote for the chosen
few, those who receive the highest
votes, become the representatives Of
the employees. AS a rule these rep
resentatives" OF the workers are moth
ing but company stools and will
always vote the way the bosses want
and will do all in their power to carry
into effect the speed-up systems the
bosses devise II Is these conference
boards that have devised the bonus
systems and the speed-up systems to
better exploit the workers.
What chance has a real representa-
tive OF the workers on the board?
The answer to this question can cas-
lily be answered. by telling OF an in
stance where a real representative OF
the workers was nominated and
elected.
In one of the packing plants OF
South st. Paul, MINI, owned by one
Of the big Four" packers, worker
on the hog-killing floor, who had been
an ardent and active union member
OF many years standing and who had
organized the workers there into a
union and carried on successful fight
against tlle company only 10 be later
betrayed By one Of the international
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-01-07
SOVIET REFUSAL
TO GO TO Geneva
DISTURBS SWISS
Fear League May Move
to Other Country

LONDON, Jan. 5.-The Soviet gov
ernment's refusal to participate in the
disarmament meeting Of the league
Of nations if held in Geneva is causing
anxiety to the Geneva business men.
Since it was necessary to transfer
the international navigation meeting
from Geneva to Paris on account of
the Soviet governments attitude in
connection with the murder and ac-
Cuittal Of the murderer of NJ. vorovsky
in Lausanne in 1928, the Geneva mer-
chants are worried for fear other
meetings will go elsewhere. This
would mean serious loss of business
for them.
The Swiss government has now ad-
dressed letter to the secretariat Of
the league of nations saying that Ge-
neva is considered as international
extraterritorial ground and whatever
.reations exis tbetween the Swiss gov
eminent and other governments will
not affect the presence Of other gov
ernments' representatives in Geneva.
Altho there is no diplomatic recog-
milton Of the Soviets by Switzerland,
the Swiss will extend to the Soviets
the same facilities for entering the
country assured delegates of other
countries.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-01-07
Now that the Handle
Is Amalgamated with
the Umbrella, Use 1t I!

NEW YORK, -(FP)-- On these
rainy winter days, consider whether
the umbrella you carry is union made.
The Umbrella Workers Union, now
amalgamated with the Umbrella
Handle & Stick Makers, is planning a
national organization campaign among
all umbrella workers. The first mass
meeting is scheduled for Jan. 81 at
IL st. Marks Pl., New York.
Business agent Abramson estimates
the total number Of umbrella workers
between 5000 and 1000, over half of
them in New York. The umbrella
workers expect the American Fedora
ton of Labor to give the union an in
ternational charter instead of its pres
ent federal one as soon as the big
drive gets under way
Goldsmiths, silversmiths, woodwork
ers, polishers-all men-are in the
handle trade. In the UNI
brella covering trade about 1870 of
the workers are women. Workers of
all nationalities are in the industry.
Metal umbrella frame workers, having
little contact with those in the finish
ing trade, are not now being organ
lied by the union.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-01-07

intendents-are appointed by the
company. The chairman of the board
Is also picked from among the bosses
delegation and has full power at all
times to cast vote In the delibera-
tons OF the board.
When elections have been declared,
blanks are passed out to the workers
In the various departments and they
are told to make nominations for the
Representatives" they want to repre-
sent them in the conference board.
These workers are told that they must
nominate someone. About this time,
the stool-pigeons that the company
maintains go around the departments
urging the workers to nominate them
or to nominate some candidate which
the bosses have already decided upon
After the nominations are all gath
cred in, the conference board goes
over the nominations and those VINO
have received the highest number OF
nominations are then placed on bal
lot. These ballots are then handed
out TO the workers and they are told
they must cast a vote for their rep
resentatives" or lose their jobs.
Vote or Lose Job.
Regardless OF what the workers
viewpoint may be as to the candidates
and as 10 the conferences board he
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-01-07
BRITISH STOP
RELIEF GIVEN
nHIMEcE IkRnD
UHHHIHkOE LHUUN
Workers International
Relief Protests

The international Workers Aid has
sent the following telegram to VIM.
E. 5orah, chairman of the foreign re-
latIons committee, Secretary of State
Frank Kellogg and Esme Howard,
British ambassador, Washington, D. C.
Fancy Reasons.
"Tientsin China port police under
control Of British consular authority
forbid distribution of food and cloth
ing by Workers International Relief
among starving workers. Only ex-
PLANTATION offered is that the dead need
no relief. the wounded are healed and
the unemployed will soon get work,
therefore no relief is necessary. We
call upon you to use your good Office
against such inhuman action"
Signed: International Workers Aid
Per Bishop VIM. M. Brown.
+. G. Biedenkapp.
A more dastardly justification for
the suppression of the struggling
Chinese workers could not have been
invented by Satan himself. But the
port police at Tientsin, China, under
the control of the British consular
authority are giving this as their ex-
cuse for stopping the Workers Inter
national Relief from bringing food to
the hungry Chinese men and women
and children.
Distribute Food and Clothing.
The Workers International Relief
has been collecting funds from work
ers and sympathizers in all countries
and distributing it in the form of
packages of food and clothing. The
police, seeing the Chinese workers
thus encouraged by this act of solid
arity, are now prohibiting the further
distribution of these relief packets.
The international Workers Aid
American section of the w. l. R., calls
upon all workers and friends to lend
their financial and moral aid to the
Chinese workers. Send your contri
button to the l. w. A. national office
1853 w. Madison St., Chicago, Ill.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-01-07

officials who played the bosses game
and placed on the blacklist of the
meat packers and only regained his
job after demand by the workers in
that plant for his reinstatement under
threat Of strike in busy season,
was nominated as the workers repre-
sentative for the conference board.
He received the highest number OF
nominations. In some departments
every nomination was made in his ia
vor. Attempts were made to keep him
off the ballot. The men in the plant,
when they heard OF this attempt, de-
clared in no uncertain terms that such
a move would not be allowed TO pass
without action on their part. His
name was placed on the ballot.
In the elections that followed, he
was elected by an overwhelming ma
jority. The company was forced TO
seat him In the conference board. The
men claimed great victory. They
began TO visualize a great change in
the working conditions in the yards.
But their visions were short-lived-
their hopes were blasted within a few
days. The workers presented their
grievances. The board heard them.
No action was taken---all matters be.
ing tabled. {
Prosecute Real worksrs' Delegate. :,
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-01-07
CONTINUED from page u


ton the plans OF the bosses. The rep
resentatiyes of the workers DARE not
at any time voice the opinion OF men
on the killing-noor, the cutting room,
the fertilizer room or any other de-
partment in the yards.
AT the meetings OF the conference
board the bosses present and seek new
plans, new ways Of speeding-up the
workers. Their problem is how can
we get rid OF John and have Steve and
Jake do the extra work, and then,
how to get rid OF Jake or Steve and
have one do the work where formerly
three were required. These are the
problems Of the conference board!
Bosses Put Over Delegates.
How are the conference board dele
gates electedi The conference board,
which is composed Of an equal number
of bosses and so-called representatives
OF the workers has elections about
once a year and sometimes once In a
year and a half. Elections are held
whenever II best suits the interest OF
che bosses and serves to forestall any
attempts on the part OF the workers to
defy the conference board and start to
organize on their own hook. The
packers delegates--bosses and super
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-01-07

and will give an excellent account of
themselves by and by.
seamen Released in Australia.
The transport workers here are
highly pleased at the turn Of events
in Australia, where the high court has
ordered the release Of Welsh 9''' ~
hansen the seamen's union officers
who were under arrest by order 0. lAe
arbitration court and held in readi-
ness for deportation, now the high
court says such deportation is uncon-
stitutional.
Greetings to U. S. Left Wingers.
In the name of the left wing men
for whom. l am authorized to speak
/ desire to send greetings from all
such workers on this side to our fell
low workers in America. Many things
have happened during the year 1925,
that have vitality affected labor.
We look forward to the coming year
in the ardent hope that we shall not
be found wanting and that our COM
rades in the United States will march
with us and the rest of the organized
workers towards that complete eco
nomic freedom which the workers
thruout the world are needing. Long
live the workers of the world!
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-01-07
Frisco Workers VIII
Hear Debate on Soviet
Russia's Dictatorship"

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 5-A debate
between J. A Mcdonald, principal of
the San Francisco Labor College and
Walter Thomas Mills, member of the
socialist party, will take place in Cali
fornia Hall on Jan. 10. The subject
Of the debate will be: Resolved
That the attitude Of the Bolsheviki in
suppressing free speech, free press
and free political association is for
the best interests Of the working class
OF Soviet Russia. Mcdonald will take
the Affirmative, Mills the negative.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-01-07

favor of the worker, when It fears
that an adverse decision might ex-
pose the nature OF the board. On
minor matters, where It means little
to the packers the board decides in
favor OF the workers. When II comes
to major issues, when real grievances
that vitality affect the interests OF the
company are accidentally raised. the
matter is left on the table for the
next meeting and at the next meeting
the accident" has been "righted,"
When the company wants anything
put thru II goes thru quite speedily
and Is put into operation and enforced.
Woe unto the worker who dares 10
raise a real grievance or attempts 10
resist the boards dictuml For he
finds himself out on the streets seek
ing a new master.
In the next article an attempt on
the part of the conference board at
Armours plant In Chicago to lengthen
the 54-hour straight time pay week TO
a 60-hour straight time pay week and
thus give the company six hours more
Mt straight time before time and a
half for overtime shall be paid, and
TO allow the packers to exploit their
slaves more than 10 hours In one day
will be exposed.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-01-07
DAILY WORKER STARTS
SERIES OF ARTICLES ON
CONDITIONS IN yards"

The first article on the conditions
In the "yards' Of Chicago appears
In this Issue Of The DAILY WORK
Err showing up the conference board
that Is maintained at Armour & Co.
and how II functions In behalf Of the
bosses enforcing their speed-up sys-
toms and aiding the packers make
moro and more profits.
In the second article, which ap-
pears tomorrow, The DAILY WORK
Err will show how the conference
board, which Is controlled by the
packers, lie planning to lengthen the
54-hour week to a Colour week, and
to remove the ten-hour maximum
day provision and thus allow the
packers to exploit the workers IL to
ID hours per day.
The company maintains a vicious
speed-up system which exhausts the
workers after six or seven hours and
many oftentlmes drop to the floor
overheated and exhausted. ,n
The company does not depend up-
on the conference board alone to en-
force Its decisions but gives the
workers brlbes In the forms Of.
bonuses to speed up and to eIinln-
ate workers In their departments
Another scheme that the company
uses to the utmost Is that of selling
shares In their holdings to the work.
ers. They then say to the worker,'
"Now II you want to earn dividends
you must work faster" Not only
does the worker who owns the
shares work harder but he also at
tempts to make the worker next, to
him speed up.
Sanitary conditions in the plant
have been improved but very little.
The Iooker-rooms Of the workers are
small, dlnay affairs, with slime and
all kinds Of muck on the floor and
dirty water dripping thru the cell
Ing onto those In the locker rooms.
In order to forestaIl organization
efforts and keep the workers from
talking too much amongst each
other they maintain an extensive
police and spy system, with a num-
Der Of stools placed among the
workers to probe out and report
union men or workers who desire
better conditions.
Race prejudice is fostered and
nurtured In the yards" to the great
est possible degree. National hat
reds and personal hatreds are play
ed upon to get the workers to dis
trust each other. On the floor race
prejudice and national personal hat
reds are not allowed to show them
selves, but the moment these work
era get out Of the plant they will not
fraternlze with one another. In this
way the company keeps the workers
from organizing Into powerful indus
trial unions.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-01-07

In a few days this worker began to
be prosecuted. He had worked in this
department for many years, he was
an expert with the knife. The hogs
he shaved were sent back to him. The
cuts he made we're not right. He had
to do his work over again day after
day. Then the company fired him.
Instead of having a new election the
conference board appointed COM
pany stool-pigeon to the board.
What about the grievances Of the
workers? The grievances OF the
workers in the yards are many.
Their grievances are increasing. Con-
ditions, instead OF improving are get
ting worse and worse. Petty tricks
are pulled of on the workers
them lose many hours pay
per week. The answer as TO what
chance a worker with a grievance has
before the conference board can be
easily told by the following incident:
Worker Laid OF.
One worker on the hog-kiling floor
Of one Of the slaughterN houses con-
trolled by the food trust, started his
work at ten minutes OF seven az the
FIRST end OF the chain. After he had
finished his work at his end OF the
chain and was about 10 go home a lit
lie earlier than usual the boss placed
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-01-07

him ON the hind end OF the chain,
where he worked until ten minutes OF
six that night. He worked a total
OF 10 hours and 30 minutes that day
He was paid for 10 hours which was
his regular workday. He took up his
grievance with the Representative" OF
the workers.
The conference board discussed
the case. 10 found that the worker
was entitled TO this extra half.hour's
pay. The company paid hIm,-but
laid him of in the busiest part OF the
season for a few days without a single
reason offered by the boss. Tho the
conference board had decided In his
favor, fearing that this incident might
expose It's true and real character as
a tool Of the packers, he was perse-
cuted because he dared 10 appeal.
The workers representative on the
board when confronted with the evil
dent persecution OF this worker by the
packers, bellowed-''he was a god
damned fool. He should have kept his
damn trap shut. How does he expect
to hold down a good job and raise
hell? lie ought to be thankful that he
is still working here"
Fears Exposure.
The conference board, once in n
while. Just AZ in this case decides in
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-01-07
Flood Sweeps Thru bikes.

AMSTERDAM, Holland, Jan. s.
Holland is suffering from a flood that
has been caused by heavy storms and
torrential rains. The Rhine, Meuse
and other rivers have been rising
steadily. The main bikes on the
Dutch side of the rivers have collaps-
ed with the result that extensive re-
gions in the southern part of the
country have been flooded. Waters
are running at a furious rate thru
many villages in the provinces of
Limburg and North Brabant. Cattle
poultry and even houses are being
swept away.I
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-01-07
Kansas City Packing
House Workers Get
Starvation Wages
Continued from page u

hour. This is the only house in Kan
sas City using the moving or belt
work tables. Machines are being in
stalled right along to cut out hand
work in this plant.
Company Union Aids Armour.
We go rubbing, boning of hams and
the like to hogs that have been killed
and shipped from two points in S0utl
Dakota, altho this is contrary to an
agreement made some time ago. There
is no union here except the company
union which takes orders from the
company. Nothing is done about the
violation Of the agreement. The con-
tract reads that we are to be paid
overtime for this brought-in cutting.
Tho we are speeded up from lao hogs
to 400, we receive no extra pay.
In the killing department which now
kills all the beef and sheep formerly
killed in Fowlers, with no more work
ers added, the average kill is 400 and
the bulletin in this department states
they can kill 1900 hourly.
Must Wear Badge.
There have been no strikes recent
ly in the plants. It is impossible 30
get inside of the gates without a
badge. The worker must pay 81 for
the badge when he gets the job.
There has been a new thing come
up in the last few days, that shows
how much the workers are dictated 10
In the Armour plant. There was an in
surance proposition offered to the
workers some time ago, but many
did not take It up, so these workers
were Informed that those who refused
to carry the insurance would lose their
Jobs. When one boss was asked what
would happen If the worker was LET
out of his job, with the amount paid
In, he was told not to ask so many
questions. Another who had been out
OF work months and had only been
at work 4 months said he had not
worked long enough. The boss answer
was 20 yes you have" The PROPOSE
tion was 15c. week on a $1,000 life
Insurance policy.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-01-07
TOMORROW NIGHT NEGRO /
LABOR CONGRESS- HOLDS /
IMPORTANT MEETING

A protest meeting against Pres.
Calvin cooIidge's message to con-
sress on the Negro problem In the
United States will be held by the
American Negro Labor Congress on
Thursday night at 314o Indiana Ave.
at the Unity Community Center at
8 p. m. Many prominent Negro
speakers will address the meeting.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-01-07
CUDAHY MEAT PACKERS GIVE
WORKERS ICY DEAL; unrest
SPREADS THRU ENTIRE PLANT
BY a Worker Correspondent.

OMAHA Nebry Jan. Swallowing announcement in the
local papers that Cudahy would begin cutting
workers would be needed 1000 applied for jobs They
hired about 80 of the 1000 and Instead of paying the 40
hour that they had promised they offered cents
hour.
This year most of the work being by machines
ting with circular the long way and with band
also using to hoist and the large
blocks All the workers propel toward
the conveyor Last year they had only saw all
done by hand So whether the worker got job