The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-06-11

crushed by the army of WI Pei-fu, who executed
43 leaders, imprisoned unknown hundreds, and dis
solved all trade unions. Even sympathizing schools
were closed and active unonists were driven from
the factories and railroads. when not imprisoned and
shot. During this reign Of terror the entire move
ment was crushed, except at Canton, where the
trade unions remained intact.
Until September, 1924, there was period Of re-
action Then the movement began to revive again.
On January IS, 1925, occurred the beginning of a
series of strikes in Shanghai, Tsintao, and other
cities These all successful and regained some
Of the losses of hours, wages and conditions which
had been lost in the year and half of reactisn
The period of inaction after the defeat of 1923,
had been made use of by the workers to assimilate
the lessons of the past experiences There also
occurred during this period a great change among
the leaders Of the Kuomintang who finally had come
to realize the vastly important role of the working
class in the Chinese National revolution The
masses themselves had achieved political conscious
ness, and learned the necessity of strong trade
unions. International relations had been established
during the struggle, when the Russian and Japanese
trade unions sent kilograms of solidarity and the
Chinese trade unions had addressed themselves to
the trade union movement of the world
On May l, 1925, the Second All-China Labor
Congress was held at Canton in an atmosphere of a
rising movement. More than 100000 members were
represented. At this congress- the All-China Labor
Federation definitely formed theory tactics.
and organizational methods firmly established and
a recognized central leadership set up.
Quickly thereafter followed the massacre Of 3Oth
Of May at Shanghai, and the Shankee massacre at
Canton June %. These occurrences were the
signal for national upheaval. Strikes broke out
y,oro III
glorious strike of the Hongkong and Canton work
ers against the British and the blockade of Hong
kong for more than year. In Shanghai more than
100000 workers into the trade unions Great
movement sprang up at Dairen, Tientsin, Tsintao
Marking Kiukiang, Hankow. Living and working
conditions were everywhere improved In Shanghai
q general wage increase of 1879 was secured. Not
only the industrial workers, but also the artisans
throughout China, flocked into the movement
The Third All-Chna Labor Congress was held on
May J. 1926, in Canton. Already there were 1900
600 members. Concrete resolutions were adopted on
all problems of the movement. The movement after
May 30th had raised the level of the entire working
class. Previously the political side of the trade
unions had not been firm; the trade unions
were deep in the political struggle and leading it.
Active and permanent contact had been established
with the International Labor Movement. The move
ment had become mature.
Militarist agents of Imperialism still tried to
crush the rising trade union movement, especially
at Tientsin Tsintao, Shanghai and Mukden. But
steady and rapid progress continued and continues
up to day The of all China had been won
to the trade unions and for the revolution.
The Northern Expedition of the Revolutionary
Armies was prepared by the great national strike
movement following May 90 This was the basis of
the military victories which resulted in the occupa-
ton of the Yangtse Valley the capture of Marking
and Shanghai, and the present drive toward Pek-
ing When the revolutionary army entered Shang-
hal for example, they found the city already polced
by the Workers Guards, and an administration
jointly established by the trade unions commercial
associations and students unions, already function
ing.
This is general and very brief review of the
history Of the Chinese labor movement results which
in Europe or America would have taken decades to
accomplish, have been accomplished in China in a
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