The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-06-21

The 8th Congress of the Workers
of the paper industry of the U.S.S.R.,
which conceded with the 10th ami
versary of the legal existence of the
Paperworkers' Union, open in Moscow
on May 18th.
In 1917 che paperworkers' union
numbered 5000 members; at present
the membership has increased to 49,
200.
The paper industry of the U.S.S.R.
has reached the pre-war level (the
production in 1926 being 263,000 tons
as against 100000 tons in 1879. To-
gether with the growth of the in
dustry, the material position of the
paper workers has also improved,
their wages before the revolution be-
ing extraordinarily low.
Norway Workers.
The representative of the Nor
wegian paper workers, Comrade
Sporpind, speaking at the opening of
the Congress said:
"The Norwegian workers are en-
gagged in a serious struggle with the
employers. The lockout, recently an
uounced by the employers has been
going on for 10 weeks. AS a result
several thousands of workers have
been thrown on the streets. The
owners demanded wage-cut of %
and even so per cent. As the workers
would not treat, the owners turned to
the Government for assistance. The
position of the Norwegian workers
is very bad. They are carrying on a
fight with both the owners and the
bourgeois government.
But we hope" concluded Sporpind
shat the workers of the whole world
and the Russian comrades will sup
port us in our fight. Our workers
are unanimously in favor of the crea-
ton of a United International Or
ganization of Paperworkers and Of
close contact with the Russian Union"
"The Swedish workers are very in
terested in everything connected
with the U.S.S.R. On my return from
the U.S.S.R. in 1923 1 gave about
60 lectures which were attended by
the workers who displayed great in
terest in them"
Clerks Unions.
Representative of the clerks
unions of Belgium, Germany and Fin
land were present at the opening on
May 18th in Moscow of the All-Union
Congress of Clerks. The British INA
tional Union of Clerks" sent a tele-
gram of greeting to the Congress,
in which it was stated that the shar-
pening of the struggle with the new
Bill against trade unions would not
permit of their representatives being
present at the Congress.
Hopes For Revolt.
Comrade Everling, representing the
Belgian organization, in his speech
to the Congress said, incidentally:
II must say that previously we
were somewhat .mistrustful of the
programme of radical changes and
wide aims of your movement, but on
having the opportunity, during our
few days sojourn in Moscow, of see
ing your institution, we can now only
wish that we shall soon see in Bel
GUM what we now see in the U.S.S.R.
Our clerks are divided, in the class
rooms there are only 5000 members.
Our clerks as whole are far behind
the working class, but we shall fight
for UNITY, which will help us to
direct the clerks movement into the
path of true class-consciousness.
The President of the Finnish Trade
Union of Clerks, Comrade Laakso ex-
tended the Congress an invitation to
the Forthcoming Congress of { he
Finnish Trade Union Of Clerks.
The first big paraffin factory has
been constructed and has begun work
in Grozny (Caucasus). Previously
paraffin was neither produced in
Russia, nor in the U.S.s.R. The en-
tire demand for paraffin was covered
by foreign imports. The new works
will not only satisfy the demands
Of the home market, but a consider
able quantity will be put aside for
export. Orders for paraffin have
already been received from Germany,
Turkey, and other countries.
The first works for the production
Of projectors has been opened in
Moscow.
Spinning Factory.
In Danilovka, near Moscow, the
foundation stone of a AiR spinning