The daily worker., 1930-06-03
JAILED JOBLESS
DELEGATES IN z
COURTS TODAY
Appeal Conviction and
Trial on New Charge

as militant worker; Robert Minor,
editor of the Daily Worker, and be-
fore that of other workers papers
and magazines, outstanding member
of the defense organization for
Mooney and Billings years ago, Is
rael Amter, district organizer of the
New York District of the Commu-
mist Party, and prominent as a Par
ty leader in other districts before;
Harry Raymond, member of the
Marine Workers Industrial Union,
a migratory worker in many parts
Of the country, and always a mill
tant, and Joseph Lesten, another
marine worker, a young worker.
Represent the Unemployed.
These defendants were an elected
committee, chosen on the spot by
unanimous vote of the vast throag
of unemployed and striking workers
in Union Square during the inter-
national unemployment demonstra-
tions. They are charged with as
saulting this policeman, and have
been convicted on a charge of "un-
lawful assembly," because they
carried out the instructions of these
| jobless multitudes, and tried to
march to City Hall at their head,
to present there demands for Work
or Wages, seven-hour day and five
day week, unemployment relief from
the city treasury, unemployment in
surance to be paid for by taxes on
profits and inheritance and admin
istered by the workers, no speed-up,
no wage-cuts, etc.
The crowd was broken up with
police brutality; the five on the COM
mittee nevertheless got as far as the
city hall square and were arrested
there approaching the mayors Of
flee, with the grievances.
Railroaded.
Every item of the U. S. constitu-
tional amendment which includes the
"bill of rights" was broken in the
conduct of the case by the Tammany
judges, the same crowd who boast
of the grafters Vitale, Vause, etc.
as their fellows. Chief Magistrate
McAdoo denied bail, and his denial
of bail has since been upheld by
higher court, though condemned by
the bar association. Habeas Corpus
proceedings forced admission to bail
of $4,000 each on the misdemeanor
charge ("unlawful assembly, and
$4,000 more for the felony charge
assaulting policeman").
No Jury Trial.
Every effort of defense attorneys
failed to force the granting of
trial by jury on the misdemeanor
charge and the five were railroaded
through special sessions where trial
is before three judges to sentences
Of three years each Except for Les
ten who was given 80 days). Ali
attempts of the defense attorneys to
force granting of bail pending ap-
peal of the case failed, and Lesten
served his sentence, while Foster and
Amter are at present in Harris Is
land penitentiary; Minor is very i'll
in the prison hospital at Blackwell's
Island, and news has just been re-
ceived that Raymond has been trans
ferred from Rikkers Island to Harris
Island. The head Of the probation
bureau which recommended sentence
on these workers is himself now held
for trial on charges Of graft.
While in prison, Foster was NOM
mated by the Communist Party state
convention, May 25 in Schenectady
as governor of New York and ac-
ccrted the nomination.
Their Fight Goes On.
The prison regime is severe for
all these workers representatives.
They are allowed visitors only one
every two weeks. The food is lack
ing essential qualities, and is mon
otonous. Foster keeps his health,
Amter, who particularly requires
milk and fruit, has been denied these
and has been sick several days. They
receive mail and publications sent
directly from the publishers, but no.
other publications.
All are reported in the best of
spirits, however, and send by friends
and relatives who visited them their
revolutionary greetings to the work
ers and pledge to carry on the fight
for work or wages, and defense of
the Soviet Union.
While these workers are in court
today, t unemployment conditions
grow steadily worse. (See other
articles in this paper). The Coun-
ellis of the Unemployed which call
national convention to meet July
AS in Chicago include now in their
demands, "release of the elected rep
resentatives of the unemployed.
Great mass meetings demanding the
release of Foster, Minor, Amter and
Raymond have been held, and moro
will take place.