The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-01-17
BY KARL REEVE.

THE events GIl6 bWO udSS VI GClA-
stration at the Minnesota state capitol of
thousands of unemployed workers, marks turn
ing point for the struggle of the unemployed
workers of Minnesota and the northwest and is
rich in lessons for the entire party March 9Th
brought thousands of workers in the northwest
under the political influence of the TUUL. and
Party January 7th and 9th marked the begin
ming of action by the thousands of unemployed
for their immediate demands; the organized
action of workers who have found their organl-
cation On the morning of Jan. g. 1929 workers
came into the T.U.UL. hall at 202 Hennipin St,
Minneapolis and stated they wanted to join the
organization which had presented the demands
at the state capitol in st. Paul Fourteen more
came in the afternoon, making a total OF 43
workers who joined the unemployed councils
in Minneapolis, in addition to about 200 who
have joined in st. Paul
AS a result of the presentation of the immedi-
ate demands at the capitol the thousands of I'M
employed workers of St. Paul and the rest of
the state now realize that the T.U.UL, is their
organization, and have gotten down to the bust
ness of organization to fight for their demands.
The hunger march of Jan. z, which goes into
the history of the class struggle side by side with
March 6, is conclusive proof of the correctness
of the Central Committees decisions regarding
the necessity of concrete, immediate demands.
The demands presented by the united front COM
mittee for Immediate Unemployment Relief, and
endorsed by thousands of workers, not only de-
mand the immediate appropriation OF fund
of % million dollars, but also analysed the COM
ing budget and showed where the fund is to
come from, for example, from the huge prison
fund which is to build more prisons to lodge
UNEMPLOYED workers under the damnable Min
nesota vagrancy laws; reduction in salaries OF
officials; reduction of game and fish COMMISSION
fund money for unemployed instead of animal
conservation, etc. The demands included hot
lunches for school children, equal treatment and
nav for Negro jobless, abolition of vagrancy
laws. no discrimination against foreign-born,
youth or women, opening of buildings for free
lodging free street car and train fare, etc.
These demands express the critical needs of the
workers and they are willing to fight to the limit
for them.
Ten thousand workers on Jan. 7, the day
Olson the Farmer-Labor Party governor, was
inaugurated gathered at the state capitol to back
up these demands, the demonstrators including
one hundred who had marched fifteen miles from
Minneapolis Hundreds paraded the streets OF
st. Paul with banners before the demonstration
at the capitol and also took part in the hall
meeting held in the business section OF town.
The workers showed plainly that they were in
no mood to be put off. They insstently de-
manded action, and at once.
The fighting mood of ten thousand workers
completely shattered the bourgeois dignity" OF
the capitol. The first test of strength came at
the door of the capitol, at the top of the long
state capitol steps which were black with the
thousands Of workers. The police had their lines
stretched before the doors, which at first ap-
peared to be locked. The police captain told the
committee of twelve, which had been elected by
the workers. representing many workers organi-
cations, mo one but the committee is going to
pass through the doors into the capitol But
the unemployed workers willed otherwise. They
voted unanimously at the meeting on the steps
to go through the police lines. Headed by the
committee of twelve, the workers, with mighty
surge. brushed through the police lines and into
the narrow center door, which was opened up
from the inside by friendly hands. In few
moments the big rotunda and galleries were
black with workers The second test of strength
came when the workers demanded that their
committee be admitted to the state legislature
and o see the Farmer-Labor governor Olson
The thousands of workers were about to march
into the state legislature hall, after the commit
tee had waited few moments, having been prom
ised admission, when the legislature hastily ad-
journed The last speech was made by Starkey,
Farmer Labor leader, to the accompaniment OF
the shouts of the workers 1--WE want bread;
food, not talk" etc. Olson was trapped in his
Office and was forced by the demands of the
workers to see the committee.
The fact that the mass action of the workers
forced aside the police lines, and forced an in
terview with the steel trust governor was not
lost on the workers This was shown next day
when over one thousand again damned into the
state capitol with the committee (this time the
police did not try to stop him) to secure final
answer from Olson as to his opinion, and his
action on the demands for immediate unemploy-
ment relief
The workers will not much longer be put off
with talk The news of the Arkansas farmers
action had spread like wildfre among the work.
ers Under the slogan You can't keep empty
bellies quiet; we're hungry the workers have
made it plain that if they do not secure action
from the government soon they will take a
lesson from Arkansas and will act
The demonstration was representative of all
sections of the working-class One member of
the committee, fellow worker Wilson, a
Negro worker, representing the League of
Struggle for Negro Rights of st. Paul. MY wife
ana 1 are hungry. We can't live on air. They
tell me there are no jobs for Negroes. What are
you going to give us besides hot air?" Wilson
as..ot Olson. The steel trust governor remained
silent and made no reply. There were many
Mexican workers, Italian, Scandnavans, etc.
and women, and youth workers in the crowd. At
meeting of young unemployed workers later in
the day, fifty young workers joined the unem-
ployed councils. On Jan. 8, over one thousand