The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1932-04-04
MAYOR MURPHY OF DETROIT
CHAMPION DEMAGOG AND
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES


the unemployed meetings. His police arrested
several workers. including John Schmies Com
munist candidate for Mayor In the last cleo
tons; Schmies was sentenced to so days in Jail
by Murphys police courts Tor speaking at these
meetings. When tens Of thousands Of workers
began demonstrating before Murphy's offices
against these attacks. Murphy again had to back
down.
Murphy poses as friend Of the Negroes; this
pose is based upon his record in the Sweet case
of some years ago, and his membership in the
N. A. A. C. P. His friendship" is good meas
ure OF the N. A. A. C. p policy, which bases
itself upon support to Just such demagogs as
Murphy, which means support of Jimcrowism
and the worst forms Of oppression of the Ne
groes. Under Murphy, Detroit Negroes are sub
iect to police terror probably worse than in
any other Northern industrial CITY, Hardly q
month passes by without a Negro being shot to
death on the streets by Detroit police Detroit
jails contain population about half Negro, al
though the city population is Overwhelmingly
white. The Negroes are Jimcrowed in the De-
troit relief work. being forced to apply for their
charity at separate times and places than the
whites, which not only emphasizes the jim
practices, but also facilitates the discrinn-
nation against the Negroes in quality and
amount of relief.
Negroes was shown last summer, when his police
broke up with exceptional brutality, a demon
stration of white workers against restaurant
which, in violation Of the law, refused to serve
a Negro. Murphy, instead Of enforcing the law
which guarantees Negroes equal treatment in
public places In Michigan sent his police to
beat up the demonstrators Two white workers
Cujeran and Misheff were seriously wounded by
police clubs and then sent to Jail for 90 days for
fighting for equality Of Negroes.
These are only few examples from the rec
ord Of this malodorous denlagog Murphy, who
postures before the world as 'Iiberal" This
demagogy is not without effect and requires to
be exposed. 1t is supported especially by the
socialist party; Norman Thomas in particular
goes out of his way on every occasion to declares
his solidarity with Murphy. They are truly
affinities, and belong together. But large num-
bers Of workers are fooled by Murphy's hypo-
critical phrases and are not aware of the reali-
ties OF his policy behind this mask. 1t is the
task of the revolutionary workers to tear off
Murphy's mask and expose him before the work
ers as he really is. F,@.-
Some of the more honest irtellsctuals, who
have been travelling generally in the camp of lib
eralism, are becoming disguised and disillu-
stoned with the demagogy of them urphy's and
the Norman Thomases. They are beginning to
speak up against it and even to begin to partici-
pate in actions on behalf Of the struggling work
ers, such as the various delegations Of writer's,
artists and students to the mine strike areas of
Pennsylvania and Kentucky. Such develop
ments must be welcomed as sign of the coming
OF allies to the working class from the camp OF
the dernoralized bourgeoisie.
Also it must be said that the middle class
elements who come over to the workers almost
always bring a considerable part of their former
prejudices with them. They are rarely clear
sighted in dealing with the 'libera" demagogs,
and in their intense desire to ''be fair to all
sides" they continue to perpetuate the worst
illusions about the Murphy type Of demagogs
This is not to speak of such liberals" as Roger
Baldwin, who openly defended Murphy against
the attacks Of the workers. But even Oakley
johnson, who wrote some very good things
about the Dearborn massacre and after, in the
current issue Of New Republic, and who even
exposed some OF the most fragrant examples of
Murphys demagogy also contributed somewhat
to the perpetuation Of the legend of Murphys
liberalism" 1t was necessary that the Daily
Worker, in reprinting that article, should have
pointed out these weaknesses and shortcomings,
which were of aid TO the enemies Of the workers
in spite OF the generally correct character Of the
article in dealing with the Ford Massacre
Demagogy of the Murphy sort Is multiplying
and spreading over the country like mushrooms
after spring rain. The deepening misery and
starvation Of the masses, and the rising spirit
of struggle for relief and insurance is causing
the capitalist politicians to resort to the most
reckless demagogy. 1t is the special duty Of the
revolutionary workers to learn tow to expose
before the workers, in the most concrete man
ner, each and every one Of the takers like Muir
ply OF Detroit