The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1932-08-31
INDIANA WORKERS.
TAKE UP FIGHT.
AGAINST HUNGER
Show Readiness to
Struggle Against
Forced Labor
BY LYDIA OXEN

ers and farmers, proved that the de-
mands of our Hunger March an
swer the need of the poor farmers
and jobless workers.
Over 400 delegates form 30 cities
of Indiana, marched on indianapolis
to the Special Session Of the state
legislature, to demand: An appro-
priation Of $25, 900 for immediate re-
lief; abolition of forced labor and
cash payment at unto nrates on all
public workers; state bonus to all
ex-servicemen; no foreclosures, and
exemption of tax payments for all
impoverished farmers; no discrimi-
nation in the distribution of relief
against young and Negro workers;
unemployment insurance at the ex-
pense of the bosses and the state. G
Tremendous Response
In every city where our scouts had
arranged for meetings, the response
of the workers was tremendous. In
those towns where our voices were
heard for the first time, the workers
proved that they we're ready for
struggle. In Warsaw, Indiana, over
600 workers attended our meeting.
Because OF the workers response, the
mayor went to meet the Hunger
Marchers and escort them into town.
Workers passed their names in, and
literally begged the marchers to re-
turn and organize in Unemployed
Councils.
The same favorable situation, with
O parade through the streets and a
turnout Of $50, was duplicated in
Huntington. Peru, Columbus City, etc.
The conditions of the 100000 job
less of Indiana parallel the condi-
lions of the unemployed through the
country. Relief, where given is total
" inadequate. A large percentage of
workers are refused organizations of
STRUGGLE, hut are herded into organ
izations of begging on a mass scale
Liberty" Party
A dangerous and demagogic outfit
is the so-called Liberty party. The
"jobless" Liberty party, isn't interested
in Unemployment Insurance! 1t adj
vocates a sort of fused old-age in
surance and unemployment insurance
no one under Is years Of age being
in line for the benefits of this in
surance.
Relief averages only SIS month in
the majority cases in Terre Haute,
and any refusal to work in return
for long hours in the Community
Garden automatically cuts off this
miserable charity. The $4,000 job
less Of Indianapolis are receiving the
most limited aid, in many cases as low
as food equal to $1.19 week for a
family of 6. And this meager relief
which is being steadily lowered, fore
es workers onto the famous Chain
Gang of Indianapolis to work an
hour day, often several days week,
with wages of cabbage and bacon.
Forced Labor
Forced labor is being used on all
types of employment, replacing en-
ployed workers. Workers are build
ing roads, bridges, driving trucks,
street car lines repair work, COM
missary and red cross gardens, clean
ing streets, ETC., all in return for
baskets, not CASH.
All kinds of fake organizations are
trying to make Roadway among the
masses of Indiana. In various cities
Unemployed Councils have been or
ganized under the takers leadership
The American Federation of Labor
heads council in South Bend and
Elkhart, which deny relief for any
enc of a number of reasons: owner
ship of car, or home eaten by
mortgages, or a bit OF land, or not
not long enough residence in the city
or county, or activity in workers
struggles, etc. In the steel region
of Northern Indiana workers are, in
many cases. receiving relief averag-
ing but 81 a week in groceries The
Gleason welfare OF Gary staggers the
workers to but one days work a
pay 1881 for weeks a'7S 81 re-
fusing relief on the grounds the
worker is employed! Those r2ceiv-
inq relief have recently been cut to
$2S7 for weeks.
Cuts in Relief
Various Other relief AGENCIES in
Gary american Sheet and Tin Mill
Welfare, City Conr1issary) have shut
down completely. The jobless Of In
diana Harbor never receive more than
S14 a month, regardless of the num-
Der of children and dependents. and
only a limited number get this aid
from the township trustees Workers
of Elkhart receive relief averaging Is
cent? a day per person, and this
meager relief is being cut to 10 cents
In South Bend. relief has been
slashed in half, just recently, workers
getting as low as So week for a
family Of 8 or more.
Throughout the state, workers are
forced to work without pay save that
neager basket of groceries given
them by the charities. East of Gary
on the famous Dunes highway. work.
ers are working for Is cents an hour
to be applied on their relief. In
Elkhart. manv workers are forced
10 work on the Street Car Section
gangs (private corporation) in re-
turn for food. Everywhere are the
gardens. where workers are given
sore sandy ground, a few seeds. and
J are shifted off the responsibility OF
he city completely, forced to live on
.1fx