The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1932-04-01
Bv VERA STONE

By VERA STONE
THE month of April marks the first anniver-
Sary Of the crisis in the Chicago Public
Schools. 1t is now one year that the $4,000
fourteen thouSand) teachers Of our colossal,
wealthy city have received almost nothing for
their loyal services and diligent work. A year
has elapsed, and yet the politicians Of the Re-
publican trenches are at war with the present
political Democratic machine, q struggle be-
tween two capitalistic forces for the possession
Of tax graft And the teachers remain the VIC
tins of political adventurers.
Only few months ago the State Legislature
assembled In Springfield, Ill. to find ways and
means Of extingrishing the present critical stu
alton in the Public schools. The teachers sent
carloads of petitions, pleading with their repre-
sentatives to come to their aid, to pass such
legislative measures that would yield immediate
relief
For days our honorable" Republican and De-
mocratic representatives fought among them
selves, and when the day Of adjournment ar
rived, nothing was accomplished. Once more
trains fun with teacher petitions sped to Spring
field, demanding that the law-makng body does
not adjourn until relief is offered These extra
sessions cost the poor taxpayer thousands of
dollars; yet, representatives at Springfield
smoked fat cigars ate juicy steaks, and made
whoopee in the cabarets
Their final decision was to increase the taxes
Of the poor citizen,
And what about the teachers? Nothing Have
not the Public School teachers always been the
most loyal advocators OF capitalistic robbery and
graft? Have they not always been the most
devoted slaves of American Democracy" and her
laws? 1t is sufficient, therefore, to appeal to
the teachers patriotism, to their idealistic mis-
sion, and they will not rebel they will not strike
but continue their sacred" educative work of
molding a generation for the interests of Amer
lean Capitalism and her Imperialstic appetites.
The radio brings to us daily the after-dinner
speeches of the wealthy State Street magnates
(the Kellys, the Cayanaugh's. Mayor Cermak)
and of the Board of Education grafters VINO
assemble at banquet tables lin the Sherman
Hotel. These men praise the martyr the brave
and courageous teacher with words sweetened by
high-baIlS and fruit salads, and-it is a year
now that thousands Of teachers and their fam
lilies have had to live on the two weeks salary
a mere bone that the city throws to the teachers
every few months TO hush the beginning of
bark.
The obvious question arises: where is the
fighting spirit Of the teachers organization
whose duty 1t is to protect the interests of its
membership? Why Is the Chicago Federation
Of Teachers silent in these days when voice and
acCion are SO necessary? The answer is simple
Faulty leadership. The leaders, nodded Of the
same clay as the Schlesingers the VOLS, the
Greens OF the American Federation Of Labor
cofine their activity to legislative lobbying and
to fascist tactics.
For years the notorius Margaret Haley has
been at the head OF the Chicago Teachers Fed
GRAFTON; her word equalled Gods word. And
when on that morning OF voting for Mayor,
1900 teachers received Margaret HaIey's teYe-
gram, demanding that in the name OF the
teachers financial interests, they vote for Ger
max, thousands listened to her command; Ger
max become Mayor. So it is that the teachers
union leader walks hand in hand with the DO
htical Democratic clique, and her compensatons
are many.
Thus far she has been successful in suppress
ing any Initiative on the part of teacher groups
to cali demonstration meetings claiming that
such were not only discord to professional
ethics, but that any sort of strike would effect
their tenure Of office.
She knows her teachers we'll She is certain
that the slaves Of the Public Schools will not
betray their patriotic mission. Devilish is her
smile as all protests, demonstrations and strikers
are shattered by her warning. Yet often fear
creeps into her. Perhaps?... Perhaps the voice
OF poverty ana hunger win endlessly tear off
the masks OF false leaders, ana illuminate their
faces in the proper nght7 Then Margaret Haley
ayslZ SsEE q ths %asnosshler Magcg qsss