The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1930-06-25
CHICAGO JOBLESS COUNCIL
PRESENTS DEMANDS TO
CITY GOVERNMENT

THE delegation of unemployed workers from
the Unemployed Council of Chicago ap
peared before the Judiciary Committee of the
City Council of Chicago on Tuesday, June II.
Oscar Nelson, of the Chicago Federation of
Labor is the chairman of this committee and
in that capacity explained to the fellow mem
bers of the committee that the Unemployed
Council had made several attempts to inter
view them. He finally read off the demands
that were presented to them on March 6. The
Judiciary Committee then proceeded to ques-
ticn the delegation of the unemployed as to
where they born, where they came from, and
why. In this connection they attempted to
make big noise against the foreign-born,
saving that Kjar, chairman of the Committee
of Unemployed, should be deported and tried
to play friendly role towards the Negro
workers, saying that they were all right and
good fellows.
At this point, the delegation of the unem-
ployed interrupted and refused to submit to
an inquisition. The Judiciary Committee then
made a big show of the fact that Kjar was
not a citizen, but when Kjar offered to explain
why he is not a citizen, they were not so
anxious to hear him.
Then the secretary of the delegation, Steve
Nelson, was given the floor to present the de-
mands of the unemployed. He emphasized the
SOAASSS'A4N
.-rowth and effect upon the working class.
He cited cases where corporations were max
ing billions of dollars in profits-especia
the u S. Steel Corporation with its profits OF
$197, 000, 900 of which they received back $751;
100000 from the government. At this mo-
ment several of the aldermen interrupted by
saying that the city administration had moth
ing to do about it. Steve Nelson demanded to
know why it is that the government can per-
NIT the eviction of unemployed workers for
non-payment of rent, and wanted to know
why the government cannot pass law pre-
venting the eviction of unemployed workers
who cannot pay rent on their homes. Inc
aldermen wanted to know why the Unem-
ployed Council did not go to Washington about
It, and learned from Comrade Nelson that they
were going everywhere until the unemployed
get relief.
Steve Nelson then pointed out that another
function of the Unemployed Council was to
fight racketeer employment agencies. The
aldermen declared that workers were not nee
essarily victims of such agencies since there
was a free employment bureau, but the COM
mittee of unemployed pointed out that these
AGENCIES have no jobs to offer because the
whole business is a graft between the employ
ers and agencies.
When confronted with the question of the
employment of children, the Judiciary Com
mittee demanded that instances be cited; but
when the committee of unemployed began to
enumerate long list of such places by name,
the whole matter was hushed up.
In desperation, and claiming that the I'm
employed Council had nothing to propose, the
Judiciary Committee asked for concrete pro-
posals. They were given the list of demands.
A list of corporations earning millions of dol
lars in profits was given with the demand
that they be taxed for the benefit of the I'M
employed. To this Alderman Bowler reacted
by violently declaring that if he had his way
all foreigners would go back where they came
from, and he would throw Steve Nelson out
of the window. Nelson replied that even this
would not feed the unemployed and the prob
lem of unemployment would continue in spite
of such fascist measures, pointing out that
the only thing the city administration has
given the unemployed so far is three hundred
arrests and brutal beatings, especially of the
Negro workers, who were manhandled, by
the infamous Chicago detective bureau by
Commissioner Siege, who is part of the admin
istration.