The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-07-20
By ALBERT MOREAU

by
MORE than half year passed since Olaya Her
in rera the adopted child" of Yankee i'm
perialism assumed the presidency of the Colon
ban Republic. The promises made by him to
the people of Colombia and the workers in par
ticular still fresh in our mind. Olaya Her
rera, candidate of the Liberal Party, had en-,
barked from the United States to occupy the
presidential chair of Colombia a promised
plan for the reorganization of the country,
rying with him the experiences of Yankee cap
italist prosperity"
The Liberal party with its army Of corrupt
local and national politicians, its press and
wing Of the Conservative party, were all chant
ing to the oppressed masses the Halleluya of
the oncoming prosperity, ordsr and good and
clean government
The truth of the matter is that the fraudulent
presidential elections of last year took place in
an atmosphere of civil war, in local armed Skin
mishes amongst the factions of the dominant
classes, and of rising revolts of ruined peasants
and starving agricultural workers.
To what extent this Wall Street President full
filled his promises can be seen by the UMPIRE
cedented strike wave now taking place through
out the country. The economic crisis which was
already acute previous to Herrera's ascendency
to power has been further deepened More
over, LIE dtUeIIpU Ol SOVGTIIIl6' 10 put lDCO
execution Mr.. Kemmerers recon nendations
made in the early part of this year and &C
cepted by the Colombian Congress is finding
strong opponent: the working class and the poor
peasantry.
The economic struggles of the Colombian pro-
letariat are Of great significance, not only for
the working class of that country, but also for
the wage workers of Latin America. This is
why we must make a serious analysis of the
class battles now being waged the outstanding
facts of which are pregnant with rich expert
ences and lessons for the furthering of the in
dependent struggles of the workers against cap
italist- imperialst exploitation in the city and
countryside.
The strikes of the suburban bus workers in
Bogota, the miners of San Vincente and the
sugar workers of the Manuelita in Vale del
Cauca, occurred in March of this year. were
merely the prelude for bigger struggles in May
affecting the sore spot of the lackey govern
ment. These are the strikes of the railroad
workers of Girardot Tolima and the coffee
plantation workers in Viota.
In order 10 understand the Importance of
these strikes, we must closely follow the events
leading to them and derive the, lessons which
we know our comrades will use in the future
strike actions. We must first remember that
one of the Important recommendations made by
Mr.. Ken1merer and finally endorsed by Olaya S
Congress was the proper control and autonom-
GUS handling of the national railroads" This
provision of the plan opened the way for Amer
lean investments in the railroads of the coun-
try. 1t is based upon the provision that the
government cut the wages of the workers, in
crease their working day and in general adopt
the naturalization system of speed up and lay
offs.
The railroad workers have already suffered a
wage cut of from $120 to 1910 per day. They
work 10 and more hours a day. There has been
a constant lay off, particularly of those work.
ers who protested against the further wage re-
duction. Early in May the Central Offices an
nounced further wage cut of IL to 20%. The
Reorganization" of the national railways meant
to the workers the notification Of the free COM
mutation to which they are entitled, the denial
of medical assistance in case of accidents. A
serious grievance of the workers has always been
the inadequate medicinal supply against the
tropical fevers
Before this situation, the Girardot railroad
workers of whom small number are organ
lied and are affiliated to the National Trade
Union Committee COMMITTEE for the organiza-
ton of National Revolutionary Trade Union