The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-03-29
INDICTED MINERS
CALL UPONL.ADOR
To DEFEND Them
Urge Mass Meetings
and Seek Financial Aid

message to the mine workers of the
country as well as to the labor move
ment generally was sent out today by
thk Bonita-Moleski-M Defense
Committee signed by Stanley Dzien-
gielewski, secretary, appealing to the
workers of the country to rise in the
support of the innocent progressive
miners who have been indicted for
murder. The committee which has
been endorsed by the imprisoned
miners is their official defense or
ganization. The statement follows:
with the approach of April 9th
the eyes of all miners in the anthra-
cite region, of miners throughout the
country, and of all workers the
country over are focused on Wilkes
Barre, Pa, where the Luzerne County
Jail houses the three latest offenders
against corrupt unionism and chal-
lengers of capitalist Justice, Sam
Bonita, Adam Moleski and Steve
MENDOZA. On that date the forces of
the state, the corrupt district machine
of the United Mine Workers, and the
ulcerous individual contractors will
combine in an attempt to railroad to
the electric chair Sam Bonita, and
perhaps imprison for life Adam Mole
ski and Steve MENDOZA.
In Labor's Cause.
"The vital significance of this case
to all workers lies in the fact that
these militant fighters against cor
ruption in their union contended
against the same ruthless, bureau
cratic forces which today are threat
ening the ruin of the American labor
movement. Already in the interests
of the militant surge of honest, pro-
gressive anthracite miners three men
have been murdered brutally; first
Thomas Lillis, treasurer of local 1903,
and only one month ago Alex Camp
bell and Pete Reilly, returning from
visit to Sam Bonita in Jail, were at
tackled by hired gunner and their
bodies riddled with bullets from re-
volyers, automatics, pump guns, rifles
and machine gun.
"The blame for this reign Of terror
can properly be placed on the officials
of District One Of the anthracite.
Rinaldo Cappelini, president of the
district and a cog in the Lewis
machine must bear the responsibility.
Cappelini Helps Prosecution.
"Cappelini and his murder-nlachine
are in open alliance with the state in
the frame-up prosecution of Bonita,
Moleski and MENDOZA. Before even
the formal hearing was held, a secret
conference took place, attended by the
district attorney of the county, city
and county police officials, and Of
fetal representatives of the Cappelini
machine. Plans were discussed as to
the best and shortest method of send
ing Bonita, Moleski and MENDOZA to
the electric chair, and according to
the Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader of
February %, 1929 the prosecutors of
the state were given the promise OF
the labor leaders that they would give
the commonwealth their wholehearted
support
A Common Cause.
"The progressive conference of
April First to be held in Pittsburgh
viii be attended not only by soft-coal
miners who are on strike, but by an
thracite miners and even unorganized
delegates. The whole miners union
is in the throes of a cleansing
movement, of militant surge to rid
the organization of corrupt officials
such as John l.. Lewis, International
President, and Rinaldo Cappelini and
other Lewis men. Attendance at the
April 1st conference in Pittsburgh
will be a blow at the murder machine
of District One, and-support of the
defense committee of Bonita, Moleski
and MENDOZA is a blow not only at the
corruption Of District One, but at the
whole Lewis machine of corruption
in the miners union!
"Workers Support the National
Bonita Molesl MENDOZA Defense
Committed
"a donation toward the defense of
the three miners is an act of self
preservation! 1t may not be long be-
fore workers in other industries will
be subject to the same combination
Of murders, corruption and frame-up
as are the anthracite workers of Dis
trict One today!
''Workers Organize mass protest
meetings! 1t is only through the
solidarity of all workers and their
united efforts in support of Bonita,
Moleski and MENDOZA that these three
victims of capitalist-class-j justice can
be saved from martyrdom!
Workers should send donations
as literally as possible-to the Ma
tional Observation-Disclosures De-
Tense Committee, 513 Coal Exchange
Building, West Market Street, Wilkes
Barre, Pc.