The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1930-07-02
BY MORRIS BACKALL

against the cold blooded murder of Herzel
Weizenberg, and the injuring of David
Mahanna by the gang of the reactionary A. F.
of L. labor leaders of the Painters Union
COUNSEL.
1t was Saturday, June 2Sth, when Herzel
Weizenberg and David Mahanna distributed
the leaflet issued by the progressive group of
the Painters Union local, agitating for the
slate that the progressive group, under the
leadership of the Trade Union Unity League,
put forth exposing the underhand activities of
the treacherous A. F. of L. business agents
and leaders in the Painters locals.
The same leaflets were distributed in all
other local unions of the Painters where an
election took place for business agents and
for secretary treasurer and members of the
district council. Leaflets announcing the Ma
tional Unemployed Convention to be held in
Chicago July As were also distributed. But
at the meeting Of local lat, 10 W, Adams ST.,
the Wallace gang felt that their candidate, the
former secretary treasurer Wallace, might lose
against the candidate of the progressive
Charles Walters. They Immediately dragged
the two members of the Trade Union Unity
League and of the Unemployment Council,
Weisenberg and Mahanna, out of the hall. But
when outside they were met by scores of
gangsters who were terrorizing the elections
at all other locals, and were attacked with
knives, brass knuckles and lead pipes. AS
result of this brutal attack Herzel Weizenberg
died a few hours later, and David Mahanna
was Immediately arrested, having been beaten
into unconciousness. The police were on the
spot and it was only through the efforts of
the international Labor Defense that David
Mahanna was released and medical attention
given.
The progressive painters of Chicago, as all
aeei1-a x.o,-ya, of aItX
that the reactonary labor leaders of the
Painters Union as most of the A. F. of L.
burocrats are united with the underworld. A
great many of the leaders of the Painters
locals are themselves notorious gangsters and
spectacular members of tie underworld.
The candidacy of the progressives for secre-
tary treasurer, Charles Walters, was examined
by the examining board. He was qualified as
candidate for secretary-treasurer. The
progressives acted according to the require
ments of the Constitution of the Brotherhood.
His candidacy was also endorsed by local No.
275 of which he is a member.
Gets Wide Endorsement
At the time when the campaign was on for
members of the district council, Charles Walt
ers, the candidate of the progressives, spoke at
many local meetings and he was enthusiastic
ally endorsed by all the locals. The reception
for the progressive candidates was so great
that all the reactionary forces felt that their
foundation is falling under their feet. AT local
lat the membership that consists of 500
demonstrated such enthusiasm for Charles
Walters that when Wallace appeared he lost
his head, feeling that he could not longer rule
the membership with his iron hand.
1t is therefore evident that the reactionary
burocracy that always conducts its elections
with brutal force, surrounded by hired gang
sters, threatening to kill anybody that stood
in their way, prepared this year still more and
was ready to kill anybody who threatened their
rule.
When election day came, the A. F. of L.
burocrats of the painters locals felt that the
membership was dissatisfied with their rule
and that the progressives came organized with
their own ballot cards with the name OF
Charles Walters as secretary On
the other hand the situation in the city was
favorable to their intentions. The chief OF
police came out with the statement that he
will drive all 'hobos" unemployed delegates)
out of town. Police brutality increased against
the revolutionary workers, reactionary elements
attempting to suppress the Convention of
Unemployed that will take place the 4th and
5th of July, beginning with the open demon
stration in Union Park Friday, July at 3
D. m. and continuing Saturday, July with the
convention at Ashland Auditorium.
The Murderous Attack
It was, therefore, natural that when they
felt that the progressive candidate Charles
Walters might be elected against Wallace, that
they should start brutal, murderous attack
IN Herzel Weizenberg and David Mahanna
At the election meeting at lat at 10 w.
Adams St., under the personal direction of
Wallace they killed one in cold blood and in
iured another worker in order to scare the
progressives and insure the election of the
A. F. of L. burocrats with their bulwark of
gangsterism, Wallace. Every gangster that
participated in the killing carried Wallace
badge.
From Local lat Wallace and his gangsters
went to Local 275. There they attacked a group
of girls who were distributing the same leaf
let's of the progressive group. They tore all
the cards that bore Walters name. They beat
up thos who distributed the cards.
The same gangsters carried the vice-pres-
ident of Local 275, John Hendrckson, through
the back door, forced him to follow them with
guns, gave him good beating, took him for
"ride" and told him in plain words that if
he continued to agitate for the progressive
candidates he was taking a chance with his
life, and that he should not show himself at
the local union because they had already ex-
PEELED him from the union.
At the election meeting of Local 1874 the first
report of the watchers that 420 members
came to vote. The burocrats count was 1850
members voted for Wallace and only II for
Walters. The watchers of the progressive vot-
ers were run out of the hall; were told to beat
it and not show their faces any more at the