The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-03-23
CHICAGO JOBLESS
FORMUNEMPLOY
COUNCIL AT MEET
Issue 7 Strong Demands
Want Work or Relief
(By a Worker Correspondent.

CHICAGO, by MaiI) On Mon
day morning at Redifer Hall, 80 N.
Wells St., there was held mass meet
ing of the unemployed. The meeting
was called under the auspices of the
Young Workers (Communist) League
of America, and about 500 persons
were present.
Huge Crowd.
Though the meeting was scheduled
for 1870 in the morning, there was an
overflow crowd in the hall at 1000
o'clock, A larger hall was rented in
the same building and this too was
soon crowded with unemployed work
ers. Many had to stay outside as
there was not a square foot in the
hall that was not occupied.
The meeting was opened by Samuel
A. Herman, of the Young Workers
League. After a few preliminary
remarks, he introduced Edgar Hart
of the Workers (Communist) Party.
Following him, Gilbert Green, Dis
trict Organizer of the League, made
short address. By this time the
hundreds of unemployed workers
present were eager to discuss neces-
sary measures in Behalf of the I'M
employed. The Y. w. L. representa-
tives had laid down the following de-
mands as a basis for discussions:
1. A $500 daily minimum wage
grant for all unemployed young work
ers to be paid by the local authorities.
Adult workers to be paid larger
minimum wage based on number of
dependents necessary to support.
2. The immediate establishments
of centers of an educational and So
cial character for the benefit of the
unemployed. These to be under labor
control.
3. Free food and clothing for the
children of the unemployed workers
to be supplied in schools.
4. No discrimination against the
Negro unemployed workers in all
matters of unemployed relief.
5. Six hour day-five day week
for all young workers. The eight
hour day-five-day week for all adult
workers. I:
6. The abolition of child labor and
state maintainence Of all children at
present employed. +
7. Work or Relief.
Negro Appeals For Unity.
Unemployed worker after unem-
ployed worker took the floor in dis
cussion and pictured wildly the
misery and wretchedness that is the
lot of the workers in the country of
Coolidge prosperity" A Negro
worker in particular struck a sym
pathetic chord when he remarked
"We workers must get together to
demand relief or work regardless of
color, race, or religion" Many SER
vice men who were present took the
floor and spoke bitterly against
governmental neglect of the problems
of the unemployed workers.
After a lengthy discussion, the
task of organizing the unemployed
workers present into an unemployed
council was begun. The unemployed
were asked whether they desired to
organize themselves into an "Unem-
ployed Council of Chicago" AS one
man they responded with a thunder
Gus "Aye." Thcreupon, an executive
committee of 80 was chosen to repre-
sent the unemployed workers. On
committee were many young work
ers. Several Negro workers were also
members of the committee. The mass
meeting was adjourned after the un-
employed workers were informed that
the executive committee would hold
short meeting for the purpose of
drawing up a resolution to present to
Mayor VIM. Hale Thompson The
announcement of the resolution to the
mayor was received with applause and
high enthusiasm. Before leaving the
hall those present were asked to
sign their names and addresses on
sheets of paper, so that we could
notify them of future meetings Of the
Council" Several hundred names
anu dNlIli SoSGo WSIc bIiuS SeCuISu.
However, if work for the unem-
ployed cannot be found, the city au-
thorities must grant relief for the I'M
employed until work is found for
them. The committee then elected
Samuel A. Herman as their chairman.
The meeting was then adjourned and
the entire committee walked over to
the City Hall and presented the reso-
luton at the mayors office. The
mayor not being there, his secretary
John Kelly received the resolution
and promised to present it TO the
mayor upon his return.
The Committee thereupon decided
to hold a meeting on Wednesday,
March 21st at Redifer Hall, 30 N.
Wells st. At this meeting many i'm