The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-09-16
A Mass Movement tor Workers Relief

1t became clear all the weapons of the class
struggle must be forged for the battles to come.
The presence of nearly 400 delegates at from
102 cities and at a short notice can only be
aScribed to the maSS-preSSure for relief which
is so keenly felt all over the country. The
pauperization of the workers brought them to
such a state that day after the walkout they
are forced to turn for relief. Thre are no more
savings for the rainy day" The workers in the
basic industry are very poor. Relief becomes a
necessity at the very beginning Of strike.
Relief may play decisive role in a strike.
The W. l. R. is not pure and simple relief
agency. 1t is an organization of class struggle.
Its aim is to strengthen the struggles of the
workers through permanent relief organization
with a mass base which is capable of modifying
the masses for class solidarity in times Of
strikes, for other struggles, hunger marches, in
ternational action to help workers in foreign
countries, etc.
In Germany the w. I. r. has succeeded in
winning over the broad masses Of workers and
also many intellectuals and even petty bourgeois
elements With the proper activities and
correct line we will be able to achieve the same
results
The resolution of the Comintern on the task
of the w. I. R. in the present period puts for
ward the following pints:
(a) The special task of the WIR in the present
period consists in during big economic struggles
and strikes to start broad actions of solidarity
for the active support of these struggles.
(b) The necessity to help in special cases
makes it imperative to build a solidarity fund
for which reserves must be laid aside regularly.
Co In the face of the vast unemployed the WIR
must devote the greatest attention to the &C
tivity among the unemployed through direct
relief (maSS -feedingS) especially during hunger
marches and on fighting days. as well as during
big strikes In special cases, after investigating
the concrete situation material help can be
extended too; for instance on the forming CT
unemployed councils, demonstrations, the pub
fishing of a special literature, the conducting Of
special agitation and propaganda, to counter
act the corrupting influences and aims Of the
class enemies of the proletariat.
Cd special field of activity OF the WIR is
social politics. The WIR must Independently
and in joint action with other organizations
conferences, committee-movement organize a
mass struggle against the fascist social and
cultural reaction against the reduction of So
cial and welfare relief, against bourgeois re-
formatories for juveniles, against rent usury,
lodgings misery, rule of the priest etc.
The conference worked in that spirit 1t &C
cepted unanimously the program and the or
ganizational structure of the w. l. R. which is
to be based on dues paying membership, local
branches and clubs. The main activities at
present will be the relief for the miners strike,
next comes the textile strike, the work among
the unemployed and a wide cultural program
from workers movies to camps for workers chill
dren, international solidarity and defense of the
Soviet Union
The possibilities for mass organization of
the w. l. r. are splendid. 1t will depend upon
the new executive committee to utilize all the
favorable conditions.
The w. l. R. is an arm of the class struggle.
Let the arm be as mighty as the coming struggles
will demand it to be.