The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-08-28
CONTINUED FROM PAGE oNEI

SNOW GTldG Jfl6ro was a COIul6CIlOu De-
tween the NMU and the Communist
International, but improper for
Thompson to explain what the Com
munist movement was. The judge
carefully explained that it was proper
for the prosecution TO show that the
NNIU was violent and illegal in its
activities, but improper for Thomp-
son or any other defense witness to
compare the relative merits of the
NAfU and the UNIWA."
In spite OF such handicaps. and
occasional reversal of himself by
Judge Cunmins. Thompson and
other defense witnesses managed to
show that any miner who wants to
struggle to better his conditions can
belong to the National Miners Union
whether he is a Republican, Demo-
crat or Communist, but that the best
fighters for the workers were the
Communists.
The testimony of Thompson pro-
ceeded like this:
@: Did you, as prosecution witness
es have testified, make a speech at
Beck'sY field ordering the miners there
assembled to march to Curry field
and break up the meeting of the
United Mine Workers?
A: No, told them that the Pagan
machine was holding a meeting
there, that this gang was strike
breaking agency, that we should go
there and show by our numbers that
the miners are for the National Min
ers Union and that the UMWA lies
when it claims to represent the min
erS >.
Prosecutor: That's enough Of that!
Judge: Mr.. Thompson, we can't
listen to speeches on the relative
merits Of the organizations. The
Commonwealth is interested only in
proof that there was breach of the
peace committed, etc.
@: Did Stella Rasefske call Pagan
vile names as prosecution witnesses
testify?
A: Well she called him a scab,
which he is!
Prosecutor: Objectionl
Thompson stated that he was a
Communist. The prosecutor tried
hard but failed, to make him admit
that his only interest in the strike
was to build the Communist move
ment.
Thompson testified that as a Com
munist it was his duty to be in tho
front ranks of any fight by the work
ers to improve their conditions, but
that the National Miners Union was
an economic organization, union,
struggling to win better wages and
conditions for the miners and to fight
wage cuts and starvation such as the
UMWA brought upon them, and that
the Communist Party was political
party whose ideals and aims he
would gladly explain if allowed, but
not connected organizationally with
the NMU, etc. All this to the accom-
paninent of much objection and ar
gument by prosecutor and Interna-
tiona1 Labor Defense Attorney Ma
rino.
Three little girls, miners daugh-
tiers: Edna Macanga, aged IA; Cora
Pinnonella, aged IS; and one otehr,
testified to marching at the head Of
the procession from the National
Miners Union meeting in Beck's field,
Canonsburg, July 10, to Curry field,
where Fagan's meeting was going on.
They testified that the miners in the
crowd around Pagan cheered the
NMU as they came up. They testi-
fled that the fight was started by
James Malone, Jr., throwing rocks
and chair from Fagan's platform
at NMU members in the crowd. They
stated that they belonged to the Min
ers' Children's Club. The district at
torney tried in vain by every art of
cajolery and by bulldozing and
threatening to make them admit that
this Miners Children's Club was the
same as the Young Pioneers of
America.
What is the object of the Miners
Childrens Club?" yelled the prose-
cutor.
ITO help our mothers and fathers
win the strike" said Cora.
Don't you publish little maya
zine called The Pioneer?" wheedled
District Attorney Burchinall.
mo" said the children.
"As matter of fact, your organ
ization gets paper called the Daily
Worker!" yelled Burchinall, belliger-
emily.
mo. we read that at home" said
the children.
Who comes down to lecture to the
Miners Childrens CLUB" pleaded
Burchinall.
II lecture to them" said 14-year-
old Edna.
Anna Rasefske, Mary Rasefske,
Thompson, Stanley Barko, Mike
Skwarlo, Mike Sholtz, Edgar Jones
defendant, Thomas Boich (defend-
anti, Bessie Kowlenski, and others,
testified that they were at Curry
field, and saw the fight started by
James Malone, Jr., throwing rock1
or bricks and furniture at the NMU