The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-12-31
,ooNr1NuEn yRom FACE cxEl


the unemployed for relief.
Benjamin declared that the unem-
oloyed, following the enthusiastic
National Hunger March, were pre-
pairing for nationwide demonstra-
lions on February 4th, National On
employment Insurance Day, TO rally
Z, still greater fight for unemploy-
nent insurance; that they we're de.
ter1ilined TO organize and carry on q
struggle OF millions until rnemploy-
ment insurance Is won for the II
raillion victims of the capitalist
hunger system.
He denounced the capitalist ef-
forts to smash the hunger march
He said the reason they failed tc
smash the march was because they
knew of the mass support behind it
James Watson, q Negro member oi
the committee, took the floor de-
usnding that the committee bs
heard.
The Senate Committee II con-
aidering an appropriation of $780,
100000 for so-caIled ~unempIoy-
ntent relief" AS against this BEN
sarnin put forward the demand for
immediate cash winter relief of
$3.50 for every unemployed worker;
the adoption of the Workers IN
employment Insurance Bill. the
funds for which should come out
Of the war budget and through
taxation Of the rich exploiterS, and
70 be administered by representa-
tiyes Of the unemployed and the
workers
The American Federation of Labor
officials were called in, through tbs
person of Edward G. McGrady in an
effort TO stave off the growing fight
for unemployment insurance. The
A. r.. Of L. at its last national con-
Yention came out definitely against
any form OF unemployment insur-
ance. They urged the workers TO de-
pend on charity McCsrady admitted
that there was growing mass hunger
trying however to cover this by say
ing there we're only 100000 unern,
ployed when the fact is over 12,0o0,'
900 are without work,
McGrady said that "if states anc
communities are unable to provide
relief" then there should be fed
eral appropriation in order that, hui
man lives might be saved and hun
ger, misery and want alleviated." II
this Shiny way he wants it to appear
that the A. F. of L. is for some form
of Federal relief, although McGrady
didn't commit himself OF the A. r
Of l.. to anything more definite thar
these few empty phrases. This new
mask of the A. F. Of L. was put or
in order to counter act the growing
struggle led by the Unemployed
Councils for unemployment irlsur-
snce, equal to full wages, to come
out of the government treasury, from
the war funds, and from the swollen
fortunes Of the big bosses.
The capitalist press here and
throughout the United States, help
ing the A. r. Of l.. out of its tight
hole In the fight against unenlploy-
rnent insurance, charactertzeS Nc
Grady's statement as 8 plea for
federal aid
The new twist of the A. r. Of l.
leadership Is Just another phase OF
its fight TO protect the fortunes OF
the big bosses and TO Ensure starva-
ton. It is an attempt to keep the
unemployed from taking up g real
fight for unemployment Insurance.
under the militant leadership Of the
National Unemployed Councils. Nc
Grady made no concrete proposals OF
immediate relief or Unemployment
Insurance, He merely advised the
bosses to go ahead with their fake
charity schemes, and II these broke
down, and thousands starved TO
death, maybe a few charity crumbs
could be thrown the unemployed by
The federal government.
McGrady admitted, however, that
The American workers during 1881
through wage cuts and unemploy-
nient lost between $4,000. 100000 and
e20,Oo0,00o,0 But McGrady care
fully hide the fact that the wage
cuts were put over with the deliber-
ate cooperation and In many i'm
stances through the direct initiative
Of the =, r. of l.. leadership.
1hx action Of the Senate Commit