The daily worker., 1929-07-26

cases oil harSheSt oppression against
workers in Western Pennsylvania,
the heart of the Mellon Grundy coal
and steel realm.
These Pennsylvania cases are of
national Importance also and de-
serve the utmost consideration Of
the working class everywhere. They
deal with fundamental rights of
the working class the right to
hold opinions, the right to assemble,
the primitive right to live as civil
lized humans.
Important Cases.
The first is that of John Tapol-
chani, of Herminie, Pa, who will
lose his citizenship papers because
of membership in the Communist
Party - unless the working class
rises as one against this attempt to
set vicious precedent.
The second is that of the Wood
lawn case, in which the defendants
have been sentenced to five years
imprisonment and the brutal Flynn
anti-sedition law, a war time meas
urc held over since 1918.
The third is the Cheswick case,
in which 21 miners were arrested
at a Sacco-Vanzetti demonstration
two years ago, in which men, wo-
men and children were beaten by
the Pennsylvania state troopers, the
"Cossacks," who belabored everyone
with clubs, riding down on the mass
that had gathered in peaceful as
semblage.
Out of this latter case grew the
frame-up against Salvatore Acco-
risi, of Staten Island, N. Y, who is
charged with the murder of Troop
er ]. J. Downey killed during the
attack on the workers. Accorisi will
be extradited to Pennsylvania to
undergo the torture of the third de-
gree, and probably, the electric chair
unless the courts are forced by the
fight O. the |. L. D. to let him go
free.
Arrest 8 Young Communists.
The latest case is that of three
members of the Communist Youth
League arrested for daring to hold
a Gastonia open air meeting. The
charge was that they held the meet
ing without permit, for which they
had applied and were refused.
The International Labor Defense
is fighting all these cases, which
are of the utmost Importance to
the entire American working class.
Behind these cases is seen the
metallic fist of the steel companies
- the henchmen of Andy Mellon,
the Secretary Of the United States
treasury.
The Tapolchani case is especially
important in that it can establish
precedent against workers who be-
lieve in the class struggle. What
happened in t.is case is illuminat-
ing in exposing the manner in which
fascist governments work hand in
hand with so-called democratic"
United States.
Fascists Are Iustigators.
Tapolchani! a barber, had written
a letter to his brother in Hungary,
chiding the latter for being a po-
liceman, zone who attacks workers
for the bosses," Tapolchani wrote.
The Horthy government opened
the mail, and sent the information
back to the United States Federal
government. The American govern
ment eagerly responded and charg-
ed Tapolchani with false oath,
claiming membership in the Com
Party "was incompatible
with citizenship" and for that rea-
son, the Federal Court decided to
revoke the papers. The l. L. D. is
taking the case to the Supreme
Court OF the U. s. A.
The three defendants in the Wood
lawn case, members of the Com
munist Party, Pete Muselin, Milan
Resetar and Tom lima, are out un-
der bail of $1,000 each.
Their case is also being appealed
to the Supreme Court of the United
States.
Cheswick Case.
In the Cheswick case, ten miners
have been indicted and are held for
trial on the following charges, which
may mean eight Joars in Jail: in
,iting to dioting, resisting an officer, I
and unlawful assemblage.
One miner is still in the hospital
with broken neck as result of
The beating inflicted on the work
ers by the police.
The International Labor Defense.
fighting all these cases, simulta-
neously with the tremendously i'm
oortant Gastonia c. C, must gain a
membership of 10c, 1000 by the end
If the Gastonia trial to aid not only
he class war prisoners in one sec
ion of the land, but all the work
ers oppressed by capitalist exploit
alton.