The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-11-12
THE STRUGGLE OF THE JOB
LESS WORKERS IN NEW
KENSINGTON, PA.

has been especially significant for the whole OF
Western Pennsylvania, where the growing In
fluence of the Communist Party and the revo-
lutionary unions = the National Miners Union
and the Metal Workers Industrial League, as well
as the developing movement of the unemployed
has led to sharpening terror against the en-
tire revolutionary movement, expressing itself in
raids on local Communist headquarters, the i'm
prisonment of active leaders Of the National
Miners Union, the breaking up Of meetings OF
the unemployed and the Communist Party The
method Of struggle against capitalist terror In
New Kexington and Arnold has demonstrated
that only mass actions mass protests, mass mob
ization Of the workers for immediate counter
attack can check this attempt Of the steel and
coal trusts to prevent struggle against wage-cuts
and for unemployment relief by crushing the
leadership of the workers-the Communist Par
ty and the revolutionary unions
A number of weaknesses, however, have ap-
peared in the activities in New Kensington. Or
ganizatonal consolidation of the unemployed
movement proceeded too slowly-it is only dur
ing the recent week that functioning block COM
mittees have been established. There was not
a quick enough foIlow-up in the unemployment
struggle, for example through demands and de-
monstrations of women and children for free
food and clothing for the children OF unemployed
gle against the shutting off of gas and water OF
individual families. There was delay in follow
ing up and exposing the relief gestures of the
local governments and insufficient activity car
ried on to unite unemployed with employed and
part-tine. workers through special agitation
among the aluminium workers the miners, the
worker in the glass factory. Furthermore, the
Party membership in New Kensington and Arm
old were nsufficiently involved in the struggle
thus narrowing the base Of the leadership OF
the movement.
These weaknesses are in large part due to the
difficulties of growth faced by the movement in
the Allegheny Valley-the shortage of cadre and
trained forces; the inexperience of the Party
members, most of whom have but recently joined
" is necessary, however, to take decisive n1ea-
sures to overcome these weaknesses, to check any
further tagging behind the militant mood of the
masses.
Preparations are now on the way for the West
moreand County Hunger March to Greensburg
on November II, to present the demands of the
unemployed workers to the County Commits
sioners. This hunger march must be the occa-
sion for wider and more intensive mobilization
of the workers in and around New Kensington
as well as other sections of the County on the
basis of the struggle for immediate unemploy-
ment relief to be paid by the government and
JIlt DOoSSS anu duluuSUeTeu ny tne WOTRerS
through the Unemployed Councils The aim CT
the government to further lower living standards
by forcing the employed and part-time workers
to bear the burden OF unemployment relief while
the profits of the capitalist class remain intact,
must be exposed, and the demand for unemploy-
ment insurance brought more sharply to the
front.
The National Miners Union, the Metal Work
ers Industrial League must rally the miners,
steel and metal workers behind the county hun
ger march, developing mass actions in mining
and steel localities in the county.
We must strengthen and consolidate the Party
organization in New Kensington and carry on an
active recruiting campaign to build the Party in
Westmoreland County as basic partsof the
Hunger March activities. The county Hunger
March must become rousing call to the work.
ers of the entire county for support and par
ticipation in the National Hunger March to
Washington on December 7.
And II Is the task OF the Party, throughout all
further struggles Of the unemployed in Western
Pennsylvania. to develop among the workers, un-