The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-08-18
PARTY LIFE
Conducted by the Org. Dept. Central Com.
mittee, Communist Party, U. S. A.
Organizing a House Committee
and a Rent Strike

OUR unit has as its major activity the work in
the territory where our comrades live. This
territory covers several blocks of slums. Here
the streets are dirty, sanitary conditions in the
houses are extremely bad and rent is quite high
The tenants are either poor workers who still
make several dollars and hardly "get by" or
are unemployed and cannot "get by"
When the section committee outlined the
work for the building of tenants leagues, our
unit, following the instructions, selected sew
eral houses upon which to concentrate. These
houses were selected only for a start; we knew
that we will have to broaden the activities as
we go along.
The method we used in organizing House
Committee was as follows: 1. A number Of
comrades were assigned for canvassng every
apartment in the house every night for two
weeks We had with us contact cards, also the
working Woman" When our knock was an
swered we introduced ourselves as representing
the Tenants League, an organization of tenants,
and that we had come to investigate conditions
and not to solicit money. We usually succeeded
in getting the tenant to listen to us. After the
introduction we proceeded to outline the pro-
gram of the Tenants League at the same time
taking care to mention the unsanitary condi-
lions of the dark halls toilets, dark rooms, ETC..
in the apartment under inspection. We also
spoke about the harm being done to children
playing on dirty streets instead of being in the
country during the summer, and they invariably
listened keenly. Then we asked about the hus-
band. In most cases they were unemployed. we
spoke about the high rents and the high cost OF
living, always mentioning the children (this
seemed to have an effect. By this time we had
gained the confidence of the tenant to the point
where the tenant began to relate her tales OF
woe, asking us what she should do? Our answer
to this was that organization and a rent striks
would win better housing conditions for them.
We asked one of the tenants to give us per-
mission to hold meeting in her apartment.
With her consent, we outlined what steps should
be taken to draw tenants to the meeting and
impressed upon her the Importance of talking
to her neighbors in the building, about condi-
tons, etc. We also informed each tenant that
we would help to do this, but it was up to the
tenants to stand firm
Several meetings were held and most OF the
tenants were very enthusiastic about the de-
mands which were undersigned by % out of a.
the demands were Reduction in rent! Re-
pair of roofs! Toilets to be fixed! Hall to be
fixed Letter boxes to be fixed! Painting Of
apartments! Hot and cold water when needed!
The landlady threatened the tenants with
eviction When the tenants were served with
dispossess notices. Immediately we arranged
street meeting, in which some 500 workers par
ticipated. we distributed leaflets
After three weeks of struggle, the strike was
settled with reduction of rent, repairing and
painting of apartments. At first Mrs. Bloch, tbs
landlady, insisted upon dealing with the tenants
individually, but the tenants knew that II they
did not stand together she would succeed in
breaking their strike and told her that she could
not break their strike by threats and trickery.
She finally dealt with the house committee.
The tenants have learned than only through Or
ganization can they hope to win their demands.
We now have base to work upon. We can
now point out this house as an example to the
rest of the tenants of the street We have not
only gained economically but organizationally as
we'll The House Committee Representative has
also told us that he will start to organize the
house next door.
Our chief shortcomng in the above work was
the fact that we were unable to spread the
strike to other houses on account of so few
comrades being active in the work We also
failed to actvize the tenants of the struck house
in this work, who seem to think all they had to
do was to refuse to pay rent and that the Ten
ants League would do the rest. We failed to
enlghten the striking tenants of the Importance
of strengthening the Tenants League, through
daily activity in the neighborhood by drawing
in all the women and children. These weak
nesses reflected on the strike activities. Two
tenants moved out and three paid rent The
sentiment of the tenants, however, is strong for
organization. One of those who paid rent has
come to the house committee and pledged that
he will not scab again.
This rent strike was the first in our territory,
but we are certain many others will follow, bet
ter organized and with greater success We can
organize the tenants and lead them in fight
for concrete demands!