The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1932-02-06
Fiifty-three Years in Jail

International Union and the American Fedora
ton Of Labor, and after an attempt in 1880 to
organize a local movement OF tobacco workers,
independent of the revolutionary unions through
out the country. In spite Of the wholesale ter
ror by the authorities the Tobacco Workers
Industrial Union is alive and giving out books
to the new members. In 1881, the union had
10000 members on its books, those working being
paid up. The Tobacco Workers Industrial Union
in Tampa deserves the support OF every mill
tant trade unionist in its struggle for existence
What the Y hour strike? It was planned
to protest against the falling Of the IS workers
on November 7th, and was precipitated by the
bosses elimination of the READERS" from the
tobacco factories The system of readers be-
gan among tic tobacco workers in Cuba forty
years ago, whereby the workers pay "reader"
to read to them from newspapers, pamphlets
and books while the workers are at work in the
factory. The readers read for hours day.
in six periods Of one-half hour each. Just after
the November 7th arrests, the tobacco workers
called for the reading Of more items from the
Daily Worker, not only connected with the
Tampa case but with the revolutionary move
n1ent throughout the world It was to stop this
growing interest of the tobacco workers in the
revolutionary movement that the manufacturers
decided to abolish this 10 year old custom Of
readers" Thereupon, the workers Immediately
and spontaneously left the shops in their 70
hour strike. The manufacturers secured their
temporary injunction, After the u hour strike,
the manufacturers declared lock out, and
later opened their factories, but blacklisted a
large number of workers.
School Children Show Solidarity.
The school children of the Tampa tobacco
workers showed a splendid spirit of solidarity.
About 700 school children from West Tampa the
Latin-American section went on strike, and
marched to the Labor Temple, where they held
a meeting. In one of the school classes at
tended by an American Legion representative,
he called on all who were 100 per cent Amer
leans to rise. Instead one boy shouted: viva
Ell Comunismo!" Thereupon the entire class
arose and sang the International. The boy who
started it was later arrested.
The Tampa Tobacco Workers are a vital part
Of the revolutionary trade union movement of
the United States; they are conscious of their
duty toward the revolutionary struggles in the
rest Of the United States and in Cuba. For
many years. they have collected money regular
ly and Systematically for strikes; for every week
for six mnoths, they collected $3.50 a week for
the miners strike. Surely, they deserve the
support Of every class conscious worker In the
United States. When the November 7th case
took place, they Immediately took collections in
the factories, raising money for the case, with
out any financial support from the outside But
they are forbidden to collect! They need sup
port Collectors we're fired from their jobs, and
strikes took place. They need support!
November 7th! And as yet, not single sue
cessful mass meetings held in the United States
In Harlem, the meeting held six weeks ago did
not receive the support of the International