The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-07-16
BY JOSEPH NORTH

Editors note:
This article describes the visit of Theodore
Dresser, the famous novelist to the Pittsburgh
strike area The writer of this article was
present when these incidents occurred. This
article will appear in the forthcoming issue of
the Labor Defender, the official organ of the
International Labor Defense, now struggling
to raise mass protest throughout the country
against the reign of murder and official ter
rorisn used by the coal barons against the
striking niners)
Theodore Dresser, Americas foremost novelist
went into the Pittsburgh strike field saw
what was going on-and returned scarcely cap
able of believing his eyes.
He came within four or five words of being
arrested by moronc hulk of constable. He
saw the miners, their starved children and wo-
men face machine-guns and gas bombs on the
picket-line. State police on their bury horses
special deputies armed to the teeth-Coal and
Iron police, uniformed gangsters all eyed the
novelist with no great pleasure while he made
his tour of investigation.
Dresser watched Pinchots Impartial" State
policemen on horseback accompany scabs into
the mines Watched them take them back
home One mounted horsenen for one scab
Full protection for strike breakers. He spoke
with miners in his hotel ROOM who poured out
stories of starvation and slavery that will make
the novelist think twice and more before writing
another American Tragedy.
His imagnation-which brought into exist
ence Sister Carrie The Financier The Titan
The Genius" An American Tragedy-had never
visualized this scene. Chiefly concerned in the
past with the personal woes and joys of in
dividuals, it was evident that his minds eye
had never looked into the boiling cauldron of
mass nlisery-of mass starvaton-of mass revolt
And Theodore Dresser left the hilly battle
fields of Western Pennsylvania with an indict-
ment of damnation against the United Mine
Workers OF America-of the American Fedora
ton of Labor-that joins fat and itching palms
with the corporations to continue this welter
of hunger and death
CHANGED to be on the scene when Dresser
Horning concerning the arrest of Tom Phil
lips. popular rank and file strike leader OF
the National Miners Union
The constable, six feet two inches tall weigh
ing more than ESQ pounds, carried foot lone
revolver strapped about his chest. He eyed
Dresser, looked away, and spat on the road
I'm not going to tell you anything" he said
who the hell are your
THE arrogance of these FOOLS" Dresser an
swered, Paid by the residents here and assun1-
ing powers Of a dictator"
The novelist overlooked the fact that "these
fools" are paid more in brides by the coal COM
panies than by the "residents"-the miners. who
we're now striking for bread-for life.
The constable did not quite understand Dresser
but the tone of voice of the novelist was I'M
mistakeable.
IF you don't shut UP, I'll run you in, too $
the constable said His coat came apart and
the huge revolver cleaned in the sun.
ARREST me?" Dresser said, Arrest mep For
what, talking to your"
The constable scanned the novelist again. 1t
began to break into his realization that here
was ordinary "citizen"--no "hunky miner"
But somebody who may have authority. Who