The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1930-07-05
By r, B. HUDSON.

DOLCE refused permission for the Commu-
mist Party to hold campaign meeting on
Delaware and Christian Streets in Phila-
delphia The Marine Workers Industrial
Union was also refused permission to hold a
meeting on the same corner. Two attempts
were made to hold meetings but were broken
up by the police
Police say no meetings. The workers want
to know if we are going to speak. Shall the
police rule or the workers? The meeting will
be held.
Six-thirty in the morning. . Workers
from all over the city mobilizing for De-
Tense Corps. First a group to protect the
speakers. Then tasks are assigned to various
comrades, some to mingle in the crowd, some
to distribute literature. No detail is over
looked and every one listens attentvely to
instructions. There is some discussion about
the duties of the Defense Corps.
what shall we do if the cops attack us?"
eve are supposed to defend the speaker,
aren't we? Then we will fight as long as we
have chance"
The work is finished and now the time is
ready for action A few minutes of discussion
and they leave. Several of them are whistling
Solidarity Forever"
Delaware Avenue. . Hundreds of long
shoremen, with hooks in their belts, are wait
ing for work ITO shape up" But there is no
work. The first speaker mounts the soap
box The defense corps crowd in close around
him. Hundreds of workers are attracted
around the stand.
"Why are workers unemployed starving
because they are slaves and powerless under
the present system"
These are words that have meaning to the
workers. Their attention is riveted They
come closer to hear the Communist Party
10 f;cI>4
against the bosses.
A speaker from the Marine Workers Indus
trial Union mounts the stand. Words fall fast
and sharp from his lips Words that are a
call to action.
"You have been betrayed by the I. L. A.
You now in bosses union You must
organize into real union and prepare to
fight. :"
The crowd increases. They nod agreement
to the speakers statements A superintendent
of a stevedore contracting firm appears on the
outskirts of the crowd. The speaker recog-
nizes him and denounces him. The crowd
reviles him with Kisses. A great rolling
BOO" is hurled at him. The lash Of their
scorn drives him away. He starts to walk and
then in panic, runs The crowds hooking
laughter follows him.
A speaker from the T.U.U.L. mounts the
soap box The crowd is now thousand. A
thousand pair of eyes are on the speaker. A
thousand pair Of ears strain to hear his words.
"Cops!"
At the hated word the crowd grows tense.
The speaker goes on with his speech. Two
cops with drawn clubs force their way through
the crowd They come to the defense corps.
The defense corps will not bulge. The cops
raise their clubs menacingly.
Break it up"
mo"
"Have you got permit"
mo"
"Wel, you will have to get one before you
can speak"
"Weve got the only permit we need-the
workers ears"
The cops attempt to break through the ring
but are repulsed. leave them speak. We
want to hear Them" the crowd shouts. The
cops feel the hostility of the crowd. They do
not know what to do A strange situation
confronts them: workers who do not meekly
obey orders. And the militant, organized re-
sistance Of the Communist Party and the