The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1932-03-21
Deportations and Wage Cuts The
Case of Edith Berk1nan

textile workers, have taken the place of Edith
Berk1nan- organizational activities are being
carried on in all the great Lawrence mills
The unemployed are being modified in the
struggle $500 workers demonstrated onl the
Lawrence Common on National Unemployment
Insurance Day, February l.
In spite Of shortcomings in the work Of the
Union, the situation this time is quite different
from what it was after the February strike of
last year; the National Textile Workers Union
has consolidated its position even after the loss
OF the general strike. New struggles are COM
ing fast against the American Wooden Company
in Lawrence and elsewhere in New EngInad.
An essential preparation for these struggles
must be an effective present fight against the
deportation drive.
The textile barons in the Northern mill CEN
ters have especially adopted the agents of the
immigration department as shock troop" in
their attempts to terrorize the large numbers of
foreign-born workers in their mills.
Agents OF the immigration department are
active In Lawrence, New Bedford, Pawtucket
Central Falls, Paterson, and other places, but
these cities particularly because it is there that
the N.T.W.U. Is most active. Arrests of militant
textile workers for deportation as "Reds" and
Communists" have occurred in all Of these cities
Everywhere this line Of attack has been sup
"A F. w,
officials who have openly called for deportation
OF the revolutionary workers and the creation of
jobs for American citizens"
On March twenty-five foreign-born dive
workers in Paterson were taken right out of the
mills and arrested for deportation in a whole
sale attack upon the workers In these large
strategic plants for the stated purpose of max
ing Jobs for loyal American citizens" In this
case, the attack Is also part Of war preparations
The dye plants of Paterson and Passaic are to
be used for manufacture of war chemicals in
wartime; they must therefore be manned with
loyal American citizens"
AL workers should note that in spite OF the
numerous arrests for deportation of militant tex
tile workers and their leaders, actually only
two deportationS have taken place: the deport-
atons OF William Murdoch and Pat Devine
leaders Of the National Textile Workers Union,
to Scotland. And despite the anti Communist
propaganda made by the government and boss
press In connection with these two deportations
Devtne and Murdoch were In reality deported
on purely technical grounds L.. So-called "ill.
legal entry" into the country.
Edith Berkman cannot be deported She came
TO the United States legally and her father
was naturalzed while she was still Ia minor
Though born in Poland, she is not Polish
citizen and cannot be deported to that country
She Is being kept in Jail only because the Amer
lean Wooden Company is still in the midst of a
special drive TO starve and speed-up the Law
renee workers
Textile workers will remember that the Amer
icsn-born Assistant National Secretary Of the
National Textile Workers Union, Ann Burlak,
was arrested and held for deportation last sum-
msr. during the strike In Central Falls and Paw