The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1932-01-01
Demand Real Z
Call for Mass Fig.
for Jobless Insuranc,
WASHINGTON.

C.-Scoring the ''re.
lief" proposals of Sen;
ators La Toilette and
Costigan as political
gestures merely designed to
create Illusions among the
masses of workers and keep
them fro mtaking up a strug-
gle, Herbert Benjamin, secre-
tary of the National Committee OF
Unemployed Councils, presented IN
an hour and a halt speech. before. d
subcommittee of the Senate ,Com-
mittee on Msnufactufes WEDNESDAYS,
the demands of 1900 900 unemployed
workers for immediate cash relief
and unemployment insurance.
The representatives Of the unern-
ployed defeated all the nanouverssez
the tricky senators to deny them 4
hearing. Under their insistei1t pres
sure, LaFollette was finally forced to
abandon his attempts 10 excluds
them from the hearing LaFoIlctre
first tried to shunt the unemployed
delegates off by directing them to
another Senate COMMITTEES which Il
scheduled TO meet next month.
When the workers delegation In
sisted on being heard, LaFoliette tried
to trick them by stating that IF time
allows after other witnesses appear.
the unemployed would be heard
Watson the Negro delegate. demand
ed to know whether the cornrnittee
would be heard or not LaFolIette
replied that maybe they would be
heard. Benjamin hen demanded a
yes or no ansy--. He accused La
Toilette of political trickery. exposing
the plan to silence the committee by
an evasive reply and then adjourn
the hearing before the unemployed
could be heard. To this LaFollette
brazenly replied that the committee
can put any construction upon his
tactics that they wish.
Finally Benjamin was called to tess
tify at 3:45. With the senator's
sqtir1ning in their chairs obviously
uneasy spoke for an hour and a half
reading the same document that was
to be presented to Congress by the
Hunger Marchers on Dec. Z.
Comenting on, the graphs which
were presented to the Senate Com
mittee by Ralph G. Hurlin Of the.
Russell Sage Foundation during the
morning session. which showed an
increase in relief since November.
1881, Benjamin pointed TO the mass
pressure organized by the Commun-
ist Party and Unemployed Councils.
This small amount OF relief that
was given" said BENJAMIN, which,
is indeed crirninaIly inadequate, can
be directly attributed 10 this mass
pressure" .t
Scores La Toilette peusgogy
LA Toilette" declared BENJAMIN,
proposes $50 million for relief. Gag
tigan says he wants $50 million, $50
million which will be. used in 1899
and $50 million in 1888. The facts
point that this Ia oemagogic poll.
teal move. ESQ million would not
meet the needs of the IL million un-.
employed and their families. The
relief" given now, according to the
Welfare organization, is $50 million
dollars short each week Of tbs
amount needed. =
Fist, we accuse the senator's OF
making a political gesture; second,
you are attempting to create illu-
sions among the masses who By
their r,ilitarcy are forcing you L..
take. steps, and, third, we denounce
your proposals as an. attempt to dis
rupt the mass movement Of the I'M
employed, which alone can force
the government TO provide adequate
relief and insurance. On this basis
We denounce you. ~1.-.
"The statement Of Edward F. Nc
Grady, legal representative Of the