The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-05-02
EngdahI Writes Of
First Demonstration
On Soil Of Germany
BY ]. LOUIS ENGDAHL.
Especial to The DAILY WORKER.)

NppeCkdi 70 Inc JAM WOhhGhsl
BREMERHAVEN Germany (By
MaiD 1t. was the familiar Hammer
and Sickle on the red background Of
pin worn by a Bremerhaven COM
rade on the lapel of his coat that es-
tablished the connection between the
Workers (Communist) Party of the
United States and the Communist
Party of Germany as the President
Roosevelt, on which I had crossed the
Atlantic, came to anchor in here in
Bremerhaven Harbor.
The symbol of the unity Of the
workers and farmers of the Union of
Soviet Republics, that has become the
symbol of the Unity of Revolutionary
toll the world over, thus prevented
break in the impressive program pre-
pared by the German Communist
Party for the reception of the ashes
of our late leader, c. E. Ruthenberg,
and their fitting conveyance over the
soil Of the German capitalist repub-
lie on their way to their final rest
ing place in the Kremlin Wall at
Moscow.
The steamAhip ticket carries all
passengers thru direct to Bremen.
one of GeI7nany's largest seaports
that, however, like Hamburg is not
reached by the biggest ocean liners.
Met By Comrades.
I might have gone on there. But
the German comrades planned other
wise. Our ship came in too late Fri
day afternoon April Is, which marked
the beginning Of the Easter holidays
in Germany, to make a favorable
tide It, therefore, came to anchor
IN the harbor and a tender had to
come alongside to take off the pas
9sengers, the baggage and mail as
had previously been done at Ply
mouth, England, and Cherbough,
France. So our German comrades
came out with the tender altho this is
supposed to he "verboten" They
came over the side of the big ship it.
self
It was Folkert Potykus, a Bremen
haven party functionary, who wore
the Soviet emblem. With him were
Josef Stakeholder, another party func-
tionary, and Otto Lindau, one of the
editors of the Arbeiter-Zeitung, Of
Bremen, that serves the entire north
west district of Germany. They inn
mediately took charge of the urn con-
tanning the ashes of Ruthenberg, on
behalf of the organization locally.
Thru previous arrangement with Gus
toms officials everything went thru
without hitch, even my own bag
gage. escaping the usual thoTo search.
Encountered Delay.
1t may now be told, in explanation
of the short delay encountered in
sending Ruthenberg's ashes on their
way to Moscow, following the tremen-
dous memorial gatherings in New
York City, that numerous obstacles
had to be confronted and overcome.
First of all, it was decided to send
the ashes legally. After being selec-
ted, therefore, by the party political
committee for this mission, / made
application for a passport in New
York City. The application was for
warded as usual to Washington. The
passport is usually granted in three
or four days. waited week and
then telephoned Washington from
New York to be told that the appli-
cation was under consideration" but
would be acted on Immediately. Sew
eral more days passed. Then l was
told that the department of Justice
had been asked to give a report on
my anti-war activities and that this
report was not yet Forthcoming. that
had not presented sufficient evil
dence that / was born in the United
States, and that even my fathers an
plication for citizenship papers was
being questioned. That didn't look
favorable. Several more DAYS mas
sed. Then ! sent telegram on Fri
day, April /, to the department that
was coming to Washington person
ally to make direct demand for the
passport. The same day a telegram
came back from Washington that the
passport was on its way and would
arrive on Saturday, as it did.
French Official Red Tape.
In the meantime obstacles were be-
ing confronted in the taking of the
ashes from New York to Moscow. 1t