The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1929-04-12
WEISB0RD TELLS
OF STRIKE AIMS
Speaks at Big Meet of
Gastonia Workers

Continued from Page One)
but you've got a low standard o.
living. In 1850 the government o.
this country announced a 10-houl
day in navy yards and for public
works, and here you are so far be
hind times that you're working /:
hours a day.
Others Also Fought.
ain 1886, we see in the north {
big movement for an eight-houl
day. The manufacturers began ,
systematic drive for European la
borers. The workers over there
driven under the lash of bloody arts
tocrats like you arr here came over
"These fellows came over on the
word of the same swindlers who
promised you money to come off the
farms. Then they were driven into
their hell-holes, and to lower stand
ards of living. Then they formed
unions and became militant. Thai
is why we have come to Gastonia-
to help you in your struggle for ex.
istence.
Stay Unless Carried Out.
eff the authorities want to know
what we are doing, let them fine
out. Not one of our organizers will
leave here unless they are carried
out. The United States belongs tt
the workers. The bosses would like
to have us talk about the red flag
and revolution. The Revolutionary
War, the Civil War, and this last
war were fought by these sam,
brave people for Manville-Jenckes
Mr.. Cannon, Mr.. Duke and the 9th
ers.
Fight the Lynchers.
"Well be r1en. They will learr
how we can fight. One word abou
lynching. If a single hair of oul
organizers is touched we'll hole
Baugh and his company personally
responsible. Mr.. Baugh, you'll per
sonally have to pay for any Grim
inal outrage. We can do as strikers
did in Kansas City. Some men start
ed a lynching bee. The workers
formed a defense corps to stop the
lynching mob.
'I'm here from New York. We've
got four or five strikes on now, a
Cleveland, Wilkes Barre and il
Rhode Island, besides here. l can
not say how long this is going t.
last, but we are not children at this
thing. l was born in this country
I was leader in the Passaic strike
| was also a leader in the New Bed
ford strike. The bosses tell you we
lost that. The takers of the Amer.
lean Federation of Labor forced us
back in the mills.
Spread Strike to Win.
"Our strike depends upon how
you spread this movement to Green.
vile, to Charlotte and to all the
mills. Go say, come on brother
white and black Our union knows
no political or religious distinction
We have no color line, although the
bosses wish you did. Tell your
brother workers in these other mills
now is the time for US all to mo.
bilize.' We will spread this strike
throughout the south. The quickest
way to win victory is for all the
mills to go out.
"This militia question is very
easy. You girls and women go il
body to these soldiers. They are
not hard-boiled gunner. Only the
top-sergeants are. Ask these boys
do you mean to shoot US down anC
stab US and our children?' Frater
nize with them. Urge them to create
trouble in their ranks so when the
order comes to shoot US down they
won't obey. You'll see these boys
throwing down their guns and uni
forms.
Delegation To New York.
'1'm taking back one man, one
woman and one child from here 81
they can speak at big mass meet
ing we are going to hold in Madi
son Square Garden so we can raise
funds for our big drive. And her,
is $500 which the unions of the cas-
gave me to bring you for relic
work. We are a militant, fighting
union. Remember the north will
help you 100 per cent. But now il
the time to go around the country
side to ask the farmers to give 20,
food. They will do it, the poore
ones more than the others. We arr
even appealing to our European
unions to help us in this big strike.
snake this a flame that vii
sweep from Charlotte to Atlanta ant
beyond, so we can have at least 200,
900 cotton mill workers on strike
You cannot get ahead by yourself
Stick together. Don't listen to thu
poison of the bosses. Extend thu
strike over the whole countryside
We need mass action"