The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-09-26
By D. BENJAMIN,

ASSISTANT DlreCLOr w OTKSfS OCnOOi).
The workers of New York City
and New York State are now facing
the question of electing assemblymen,
aldermen, municipal court judges and
other officials of the city and coun-
try. Last year the governor of the
state was elected, as well as con-
gressmen; the year before, the may
or; and, in 1924, the president of the
United States. 1t is well that at such
times we ask ourselves several ques-
tons: what have these officials,
whom the votes of the Workers are
supposed to have elected into office,
done to improve the conditions of the
workers, what have they done to build
no and strengthen the working class
organizations, what have they done to
serve the interests of the workers and
poor farmers of this state and coun-
try as against the interests OF the
capitalist class?
Reaction Rules.
A thorough analysis of the present
period shows that the Coolidges, the
Smiths, the Walkers, down to the as
semblymen of the state of New York,
the members of the board of alder
men of New York City. The city
magistrates and judges have even
used their power to aid the bosses in
their attempts to lower the living
standards of the workers. The re-
publican and democratic parties have
ever been ready to help the American
capitalists to put across one Of the
darkest reactionary periods the work
ers of this country have faced. Instead
of resisting the open-shop drives of
the employers, the terrorism of the
bankers and fascists, the war moves
of the imperialists, the government
from top to bottom, from president to
mayor, from congressman to alder
man, from supreme court to munich
pal court, has been a willing tool in
carving out the wishes Of the ruling
class. The present period is one Of
reaction: the government and capital
list parties are "agents of reaction"
They must be held responsible by the
workers of this country.
One. need only summarize the main
events and developments of the past
year to realize the correctness of these
assertions. The war danger involved
in the imperialist attack on the Sow
let Union and the Chinese revolution
is the greatest threat to the well-be-
ing of the working class Of this coun-
try. The evergrowing conflict bet
tween America and the British as evil
denced by the break in. the Geneva
Disarmament Conference, and the
quarrel over the question of debts, is
constant cloud hanging over the
lives of the workers and farmers of
the U. S. The numbering of hundreds
of Nicaraguans by american democ-
racy," the sending of battleships and
marines to China, the attack by Amer
lean Imperialism on the rights Of the
people of Mexico and Panama means
war for the American people. The
persistent refusal of the American
government to recognize the Work
ers' and Peasants Republic of the
Soviet Union, the appointment Of
Dwight Morrow Of the House of Nor
gan as the ambassador to Mexico
show that the American government
is but the executive committee for
the American capitalist class.
The Bosses Offensive.
Then witness the illegal" murder
of Sacco and Vanzetti This was a
shot directed at the very heart Of the
working class. 1t was notice given
by the American business class that
they would not tolerate attempts on
the part of workers to organize and
improve their conditions It was a de-
turers and mill-owners to stifle all
signs of protest against the present
order This was in line with the pol
icy of the coal operators, textile,
clothing and shoe manufacturers in
their attacks upon the unions in chose
industries. The coal operators have
shown that even class-collaboration
agreements do not satisfy them; they
are out to destroy the Miners Union
or reduce it to impotence. The cloth
ing manufacturers of New York are
to reintroduce the old sweat-shop con-
ditions. Fhe subway company in this
city fought tooth and nail the at.
tempts of the subway workers to. or.
ganize.
There is the concentrated and bit.
ter attack of American capitalism
upon the foreign-born workers. Not
only were attempts made at the last
congressional session to pass laws t.
finger-print, register and photogran
foreigners IAN attempt to divide ths
labor movement) as a preliminary 4,
wholesale intimidation, strike-brea..
ing and deportation, but, at the pres
ent moment, there are plenty of signs
] tbaI A