The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1930-05-12
Lessons of the Trial of II in
Los Angeles

in the March demonstration, and stated
openly in court, that "the workers will not
stand for this, but will fight this terror by
still more, and still stronger organizational
means" (Spector, as witness.)
Bewildered Judge
The Judge all through the trial was bewil-
dered. A few times he stated that "this is
an outstanding, an unusual trial" At one
time he would let the comrades go on as their
own lawyers, asking questions, ETC., another
time he would cut them short, not allowing a
word. Only one thing he didn't fail to do all
through the trial was-prejudcing the jury
against the defendants, and rdiculing every
thing the defendants" said.
Of course this was stupidity and not neces-
sary. The jury does not need to be preju-
diced. 1t was enough to say the defendants
are Bolsheviks, Communists, atheists, and
the prosecuting attorney could have gotten "a
first degree guilty verdict" on them. But
Everybody has to do his share" you know, so
the judge did his.
The most interesting day of the trial was
Saturday.
Friday evening the prosecuting attorney
made his "rebuttal" He said "the defend
ants are Bolsheviks, Com-nponists, and any
other name you want to call them," and de-
manded in the name of patriotism, allegiance
to Tour" flag, the jury should convict them
He even found it necessary to state: IF you
will not convict them, you will show that you
too, are against our government!'
What else did jury of old fogies, business
men, and retired businessmen, many of whom
make living out of sitting on the jury-what
else could jury of this kind Tor any CAPT.
talst jury, for that matter) have said, if not
guilty?
Right in Their Teeth.
But when the comrades Sklar and Waldron
got on the stand Saturday morning they Stold
capitalism right into its teeth what it means for
workers, and what workers can get from cap
itaist justice and rule.
"Not fifteen defendants are on trial here,
but the working class, the Communist Party.
its leader, those are on trial. and those will
give us the verdict and answer you," said Com
rade Wadron.
"The only thing you give to the workers is
misery, starvation and JAIL the working class
at the present time is revolving against you
and will revolt still more" he continued. "If
you put us in Jail now, you can't break our
movement, hundreds, thousands, of others will
take our place and carry on our struggle till
this system will be abolished and the dictator
now will be established"
"Your system, the capitalist system is
doomed" said Comrade Sklar. eve will still see
your downfall and the rising of workers and
farmers state in the United States"
Thus spoke our comrades, fearlessly, coura-
geously, in a capitalist court, right into the
teeth of capitalism.
Unemployment-the causes of it, imperialist
wars, the building of Socialism in the Soviet
Union, the right of workers for self-defense
and the right to organize ard strike, all these
questions were discussed and our position made
clear at the March 6 trial in Los Angeles.
Hundreds of workers that filled the court
room daily, got their first lesson in Commu-
nism and capitalist justice during this trial.
Thousands of other workers got much of this
information through the capitalist newspapers
that came out the net day with big head lines
on the menace of Communism" how the Com
munists want to destroy the United States,
and how the prosecuting attorney and the
judge defended "our" country. Many workers,
as result of this, joined the Unemployment
Council right in the court room, and many
joined the Party since.
Twelve out of the seventeen were sentenced
to six months Jail and $500 fine; two to sixty
days; two to thirty days and one was acquitted.
The bail was Immediately raised to $1,000 and
the comrades went to Jail till the money can
be raised. The case was appealed to a higher
court.
But this in no way crippled our movement
as the capitalists thought it would On the con-
trary: with still more fire did our comrades
throw themselves into the work of the Party
and the movement generally; still more work
ers are flocking into our ranks, and still more