davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-03-21
Scandinavian Groups
With 1000 Members
DemandU.S. Insurance

CHICAGO, Ill, March 2o.-Oyer
100 delegates from fifty Scandinavian
organizations with a membership OF
1000 met in conference last week
at Belmont Hall and determined to
ToTm a permanent organization to
struggle for unemployment relief and
social insurance. Pledging their sup
port to the Workers Unemployment
Insurance Bill, the conference adopt
ed resolutions demanding that relief
be extended to all persons in need,
condemning the cut in relief to the
unemployed in Chicago, and protest.
ing against the terror against foreign
born workers and the deportation of
Oscar Larsen of Salt Lake City, I'M
employed leader. The conference
represented a united front Of Scan
dinayian sick benefit societies, work
ers' clubs, fraternal organizations,
sports clubs and other workers or
CARNATIONS.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-03-21

stopped paying premiums that
have become due, with the re-
suit that tens Of thousands
who have twenty-year endowment
policies due are unable to collect
them. Their twenty years savings
and sacrifice while practicing the
capitalist virtue Of thrift" are tied
up and many Of them will be swept
away along with the billions Of
dollars of small depositors. Death
benefits arc being held up.
So bad is the insurance situation
that the heads Of these concerns are
busy explaining that they are still
sound-just like the bankers told de-
positors their banks were still sound
on the very day all closed their doors.
Frederick M Ecker, president of
the Metropolitan Life Insurance Com
pany, is trying to make the policy
holders believe that the state insur-
ance departments will protect them.
AS a matter Of fact there is in eff
feet in this country the enormous
amount of 103 billion dollars in in
surance; some SO per cent Of inSur-
ance company investments is in real
estate that has sunk to fraction Of
what it was few years ago. Billions
are in railroad, public utilities, fed
eral, state and municipal bonds-none
Of which can ever meet their obliga-
tons. The Inevitable outcome will be
wholesale reputation Of these poll
cies. Thus many who thought they
were providing a future filled with
security" for their widows and or
p1ans will discover that all their
sacrifices made through long years Of
paying for insurance policies were in
vain and that their dependents will
be in the same fix as those who never
had any policies.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-03-21

Council went on record endors-
ing unemployment insurance
and condemning the bosses for
their attempts to prevent the
organization of the workers.
In presenting the demands
Of the Council to the County
Supervisor, the delegates testi-
fled that men had signed pay
roll lists without getting paid,
The delegates are demanding
that they be fed and housed by
the county, until the County
Supervisors take some action
on their demands.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-03-21
United Front Refused
By Union Misleader

Last Thursday a meeting was call
ed by the United Hebrew Trades OF
all chandelier, fixture and silver
smith workers for the purpose Of or
ganigine these workers into a union
under the leadership of Abramson,
the well-known betrayer Of the very
workers whom he wants to organize.
At the meeting which was held in
Irving Plaza, about two dozen work
ers showed up, amongst whom were
members of the Metal Workers In
dustrial Unicn. These members Of
the MWIU. came forward with a
proposal that a joint rank-snd file
committee should be elected by the
two organizations in order to carry
on a campaign Of organization
among the workers in the shops.
The proposal Of the M.w.I.U. mem
bers for a united front, met with the
approval of the great majority Of the
workers and only Abramson and q
few OF the workers mislead by him,
took a stand against the proposal.
1t is very characteristic Of the
Abrsnlson method Of Organization"
to appeal to the workers to give u
weeks wages for "organizational
purposes"
The Metal Workers Industrial
Union, in spite Of Abramson, is fol-
lowing policy OF uniting the work
ers in their effort to resist the wage
cutting policy Of the bosses.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-03-21
i. S. TREASURY
ORDERS BANKS
TO DENY WAGES
Gag Rule in House to
Rush Glass Bill for
Centralized Banks

WASHINGTON, March 20
The treasury department to.
day repealed regulations per-
hitting Withdrawals from
closed banks for meeting pay
rolls and necessaries Of life, as it is
now evident that even these demands
cannot be met by thousands of banks.
At the same time the Glass SteaRal
bill, designed to place state banks on
parity with national banks under
the emergency financial legislation is
being rushed. It was today taken
up by the House, under drastic gag
rules, which insure a vote before ad-
journment. This will further CEN
tralize the power of the administra-
tive department Of the government
to embrace state banks end to die
tate which banks open, which banks
will be liquidated on a percentage
basis Of paying depositors part Of
their money, and which banks will
be closed altogether.
Meanwhile the administration
seems to be sailing for stormy waters
Over the weekend there were many
conferences between groups of con-
gressmen and senators, mostly pro-
voked by the avalanche of kilograms
and mail that is pouring into their
offices from their states and dis
tricts, demanding immediate relief
steps be taken to save them from &C
tual starvation.
The Roosevelt ballyhoo that the
crisis is passing under the new
deal" is becoming tiresome to millions
who have deposits in banks that re-
main closed and show no signs of
opening.
Congressman watch carefully the
increasing number of mass demon
strstions and the numerous fights
against hunger carried ON by workers
and farmers and it is certain that a
continuation Of these state and local
struggles, such as hunger marches.
farmers marches, ETC. will compel
the administration to come through
with relief.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-03-21
TOLLERS GREET
IMPERIALIST AT
BOAT THURSDAY
Matsuoka Comes Here
to Prepare World
Slaughter

Japanese agents in the United
States continue their business Of pur-
chasing arms and ammunition ma
teTials for their war upon the Chi
nese masses. Another Japanese I'M
perialist agent arrives on official
bucine5s. He is the ilnperialist, Yosu-
he Matsuoka, who comes this Thurs
day aboard the Leviathan OH his way
home to Japan. His mission is TIE
mission he carried out in France-to
place additional heavy orders for war
materials in the United States for
the japanese imperialist murder
campaign in China, and plans of an
attack against the Soviet Union.
The Levisthan docks at 9 am.
Thursday ~ Pier SO North River
w. 18th ST..
The American Committee for
Struggle Against War, at 1o4 Fifth
Ave. through its chairman, Malcolm
Cowley, has issued a call to all peace
organizations. workers, and workers
organizations to mass in demonstra-
ton against Imperialism at the hour
and place where the Leviathan docks
Thursday. Among the speakers will
be J. B. Matthews. executive secre-
tary of the Fellowship Of Reconoilia-
ton. William Simons of the Anti
Imperialist League of the United
States, Donald Henderson, instructor
Of economics at Columbia University
and member of the American Com
mittee, and others.
The Anti-Imperialist League has
issued a statement supporting the
demonstration.
Rally to the pier Thursday at 8 am.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-03-21
Arrest Driver But
Strike Stands Solid
at Pretty Laundry

NEW YORK.-Fearing that the
drivers of the Pretty Laundry who
remained scabbing will be won over
to join the strike, the Pretty Laundry
bosses are keeping them constantly
under guard as though they were
prisoners.
One driver of the Pretty Laundry
has finally realized that it was i'm
portant to support the workers strug-
gle against the wage cut and has
gone out with the inside workers. In
order to scare the other drivers and
keep them from coming out, Mr..
Hartmann, the boss is trying to frame
up this worker and two others. He
has had them arrested and charged
with disorderly conduct. They are
being held under $4,000 bail each
The trial will come up Thursday, at
the Magistrates Court, 16lst st. and
Brook Ave. All workers should come
to the court to show their solidarity
with the strikers.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-03-21
Celebrate 1886 May Day in
ThunderOus Demonstration
Against 1888 Fascist Terror

May Day, 1888, calls not only for
solidarity, but must witness the
greatest unity Of ali workers in
struggle. Never before in the history
Of the American working class was
the need for unity so urgent. The
united struggle Of the workers to-
day becomes an important factor IN
the fight Of the masses for the very
right to live. Unity in struggle today
becomes a matter of life and death
for the working class.
Why does this need for unity pre-
sent itself with such force? An an
swer to this question can easily be
found in the frightful conditions fac
ing the toilers of this country. The
economic crisis is now in its fourth
year, and all the factors point not
toward an improvement, but on the
contrary a further worsening. The re-
cent collapse of the banking struc-
ture, the increase in unemployment
and wage cuts, the initiation program
Of the government and big bankers,
With the New Deal" president,
Roosevelt, resulting in the loss Of
savings to hundreds of thousands Of
workers anG small depcsitors, are
problens which cannot be taken
lightly by the toiling masses as a
passing phenomenon. These are
events of great import. They herald
q new downward plunge Of the econ
omy of American capitalism. They
mean further starvation and poverty
for the masses.
In Germany the fascist terror has
uuleashed its murderers against the
working class. Militant workers and
their leaders are being virtually
drawn and quartered. The workers of
the world must rally to their defense.
The glorious traditions Of labor's
struggles in 1886, the heroic sacri-
fees of the Newmarket martyrs, can
best be kept alive if on May First,
1888, the proletariat join in one unit
ed action. In this connection the ap-
peal of the Communist Party to all
organizations Of workers. the Socialist
Party, the American Federation OF
Labor, and all other organizations of
workers, for one united May Day
demonstration is of great import.
To effect this unity Of action on
May First, United Labor May Day
Conference of all workers organ
izations is called for Sunday,
March 26, l p.m., at Manhattan Ly-
ceun, sc e. 4th ST., New York City.
All organizations of labor should
elect and send delegates to this
conference. BY participating in this
conference and its deliberations.
we will be taking one step forward
in effecting the unity OF our forces
which on May First must huri
united defiant challenge TO the sys-
tenn of unemployment, misery, pow
erty and war.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-03-21
EARLY VOTE IS
DUE ON FARM
RELIEF BILL
BorahStatement Shows
Fear of Farm Revolt

WASHINGTON, March 20.-The
Agricultural Committee In the House
OF Representatives today reported IA
vorably on President Roosevelt's farm
relief" program recently submitted
TO Congress in the form OF a mes
sage.
Whlle minor changes in the bill
are looked for, there is little doubt
that the bill will be passed by Con-
greSs With most of its features in
tact when it comes up tomorrow or
Wednesday. And this despite the
fact that a number of representa-
yves and senators-inost OF them
from the farm belt-haYe expressed
mild and guarded criticism of the
proposals, the obvic-s purpose being
to evade responsibility before the
farmers VINO are. doomed to dissillu-
sionment when the law goes into op-
Grafton.
A potpourri of several proposals
previously brought forward in Con-
gress, the present farm bill aims to
stem growing revolt of the farmers
as revealed in militant action gainst
foreclosures and increasing organiza-
tions-by raising the prices of basic
farm products to the pre-war level.
This Is to be accomplished, its spon-
sors say, by reducing acreage and by
tax on the professors, that 1t, the
first and direct wholesale purchaser
OF farm commodities before they are
placed in the hands Of the various
ilniddlemen and marketing agencies.
What Borah Wants
That the effect OF the bill will be
TO raise the cost of living to the
millions Of workers and
farmers-is admitted even by leading
capitalist politicians in the souse and
Senate,
The conception for the farm BILL
Borah OF Idaho, admitted comes
chiefly from farm organization lead
ers and does not meet with the needs
OF the farmers" Advocating a ire
financing PLAN" Borah admitted that
the farmers owe $12y000,000 900 upon
which they pay an average rate of
interest Of and 8 per cent"
What Borah means by "refinanc-
ing" is scheme whereby the federal
government through the Reconstruc-
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-03-21
By CHARLES ALEXANDER

NEW YORK,-Within the next
few weeks the proletariat of the
world will celebrate May First. On
this DAY in 1886 the American work
ing class raised aloft the banner OF
the eight-hour DAY for labor. Valiant
and determined, they proclaimed on
high their revolutionary purpose
the undying struggle for the eight
hour day. Since then, May Day has
become a symbol of solidarity and
struggle of the working class the
world over. On this day in every
country of the world the workers
demonstrate their power. In those
countries where capitalism still eX-
lists they marshal their forces for its
final overthrow. In the land where
labor rules, the Soviet Union, they
celebrate their victory and grid
themselves for the building Of the
new classics soc-ely-the Commu-
mist society.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-03-21

ton Finance Corporation and other
agencies would turn millions to the
banks and other mortgage holders.
This would aid. not the farmers who
are starving, but their creditors, who
fear That the farmers will complete
ly repudiate their debts.
Living Cocts Soar for Farmers
What Borah and the other capital
LIST politicians failed to mention
among other things was the fact that
nowhere in the Roosevelt program is
there any held for the millions of
ruined farmers on the countryside.
What is more wit hthe growing in
flation the prices Of products which
the farmers have to pay-machinery,
clothing, shoes, etc.-are soaring and
are making the pauperization of the
toilers nthe land deeper than ever.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-03-21
Bankers Take Workers Cash in Return Tor Worthless Paper
Out Small Depoao

are as sound as the whole capitalist
system. AS proof of the soundness
of the banks, we are told that there
is more gold and more currency for
less DEPOSITS than there was during
the boom Of 1929. They claim that
while in 1929 there was about $3.50
for every $40 on deposit in the banks,
today there is $3.50 in currency for
every $40 in deposits. That may be
true. And if the issuance Of new
money is spseded up there may soon
be as much and even more currency
than deposits. And precisely thru
this imitation the deposits Of the
workers and small man will be prsc-
tically wiped out.
The amount Of currency in rela-
ton to deposits is not the measure
OF the soundness Of the banks and
the value Of the dollar. In fact as
can be seen from the above. the
reverse is more true. The question
involved here is what are the as
sets Of the banks today that make
UP the difference between the amount
of currency and the total deposits.
These assets are marked in the banks,
books on the basis Of values which
no longer exist. And this is the real
condition Of the banks What was
the original value OF the assets of
the banks based Upon? They we're
based on profits, which the capital
lists hoped to realize in the produc-
tive process, on the basis OF the ex-
ploitation OF the workers. The Specu-
lation in Wall Street and the other
exchanges is merely speculation as
to the size of the profits. to be ex-
tracted from this exploitation.
The breakdown Of industry, the
growth of the crisis, the increasing
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-03-21

MOSCOW, U.S.S.R.--Our life here
is very interesting and I'm certainly
glad we had the opportunity to come
over and work here for while. We
work 5 days and every sixth day is
free. We have plenty Of organized
recreation on our rest days, both
sports and entertainment. We have
the opportunity Of going to the best
theatres and concerts and we have
the best concert music at our own
club. We've heard the Red Army
symphony orchestra, one OF the best
in the U.S.SR., a number Of times.
This month we were to the famous
Bolshoi Opera House where we saw
the ballet "Esneralda."
All in all, 1t is quite different
from being unemployed back home
with no chance to have any kind Of
cultural life at all, not to speak Of
the danger of starving to death.
STORIES were RAISE
I think now o. the stories which
I heard just before we left. 1t Is true
that there are difficulties; major
difficulties in fact. Yet, consider
what causes them. There is short
age Of most things, not because the
workers cannot afford to buy them
as at home, but because the demand
Of the workers is greater than they
are able TO produce as yet. Consider
that before the revolution the peas
ant never dreanlt of wearing pair
Of factory made boots and today he
demands them. This is one example
but shows the whole Of the diff
culties and their nature.
You've probably heard the saying
that "the cultural level of people
can be determined by the amount
OF soap they consume" Well, con-
slider that before 1917 there were
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-03-21
WoOdin Firm Issues
Song to Aid Bankers

A new popular" song is about
to be launched. The reason it will
be popular" is that it will have
backing of Wall Street as perhaps
no song since the war has had.
Whether they like it or not, mil
lions of workers, farmers, small
business people, etc, will be sub
iected TO this song over the radio,
in the movies and in other public
places. 1t is called, I'm Putting
Money in the Bank Again"
This Wall Street-inspired song
will shortly be published by the
Miller Music Co., Inc. by a curious
Coincidence" this happens to be
one Of the numerous companies
in which Secretary of the Treas
ury WoOdin is interested. In fact.
he is interested to the extent of
500, 900.
The publication of this song
shows how the bosses use every
instrument at their command, in
Guiding their cultural apparatus,
in carrying through their attacks
on the masses.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-03-21
Considered a Favor to
Let High School Subs
WorkW eek fOrNOthing
(By a Worker Correspondent

NEW YORK CITY-This is how
the City Of New York exploits labor
The Newtown High School has a
waiting list of substitutes who 90
clerical work free Of charge. In some
cases they work a whole week in
order to get one day to work at $3.50.
They only allow certain picked
few do this, so that those favorites
of the principal can get in three
days. This formerly was open to any
substitute that was called on by the
school. This system is a terrible
thing, as it brings down the STAN
dard Of labor to nothing, when these
people DO this work for no compen-
sation except promise that they
will receive the days when teacher
does not &low up to work. This
saves the city the expense Of clerks
who would be doing this work
This is what is going ON in So
called intelligent Department Of
Education.
H. L. l..
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-03-21
Index Shows Business
Less Than Ever Before

WASHINGTON, D. c., March 20.
The weekly business index moved
to a new low record. Automobile pro-
duction declined more than Is per
cent from the previous week. Freight
car loadings sank from sos for the
week ending March 4 to March IL;
steel mill activity from l6.5 to Is.
The Studebaker automobile corpo-
ration went bankrupt on Saturday
and is now in the hands of a re-
ceiver; the plant is closed with all
the South Bend part-time workers
now out of a job.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-03-21

millions here who never even heard
Of soap, much less used it, and TO-
day there is such big demand that
the production Of thousands Of tons
of it yearly cannot adequately fill
the demand.
Death Rate Falls
One more positive indication,
which cannot be overlooked, is that
the death rate is falling and the
birth rate rising. That could happen
only where the real living conditions
of the population are constantly
improving. The guarantee, in my
opinion, that thc difficulties they
have now will be overcome, is in the
fact that every worker in every fac
tory discusses them, makes sugges-
tons, criticizes and becomes q real
factor in solving them.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-03-21
Dry Dock Workers
Given Wage-Cut

The bosses of the Robbins Dry
Dock have put through another 10
per cent cut on the wages Of the
workers working in Robbins and ATM
lated dry docks last week. The con-
ditions Of these workers, blacksmiths,
riggers, machinists, painters, ETC.,
even before the wage cut was deplor-
able. They were working one or two
days week and their wages were
less than the meager relief many
workers are receiving. Now, after
this wage cut their conditions will be
still worse.
The Metal Workers Industrial
Union called upor the workers Of the
dry docks through leaf1et, to Or
eaniSe themselves and force the bos-
ses to Withdraw the wage cut.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-03-21

unemployment, etc, resulted in the
drop in the values Of the securities,
bonds, stocks. that form the major
part of the banks assets. The bank
holiday, the present bank crisis is
a result of further growth of the
economic crisis. 1t has In turn fur
ther aggravated the crisis, rought in
it's train more layoffs, more shutting
down Of factories, more unemploy-
ment.
The capitalists ana the government
tell us, that the banks are sound,
that the difficulty arose from the
fact that all people wanted their
money at the same time, and this
would mean to convert the banks as
sets into cash below the market price.
This is not true. What the bank
ers feared was to convert the assets
into cash at prevailing market prices
which would have exposed the real
banking situation.
BANKERS TOOK THE
PEOPLES MONEY
What happened TO the deposits of
the workers, the farmers, the small
man2" They were pocketed by the
big bankers over period OF time
in the form OF profits, and replaced
by assets in the form Of paper that
is worth very little at the present
time.
The exposure Of Mitchell and his
associates. the exposure of Hartman
is but a drop in the bucket. Its very
intention is to cover no the real sltua-
ton. The bankers, the big fellows
generally, realized the actual situa-
ton 1t is they, who grew psnic'ly
ana withdrew gold from the banks.
snd not the small depositors who
have been left holding the bag fun
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-03-21

are working with limited Stats OF
Librarians without the usual amount
of part-tirne workers they used to
have.
These conditions have overtaxed
the strength of the librarians and
lowered their efficiency and service
given to the public, especially to the
school children.
An excellent example Of the utter
filth and corruption existing in this
borough is revealed in the history
of the Central Library Building,
which was begun 20 years ago. Com
pare this with the record Of the
Soviet Union. Well, this one build
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-03-21
Local y Left Wing
Asks United Front
for General Strike

NEW YORK.-The left wing group
Of the International Ladies Garment
Workers Union passed resolution
calling on all dressmakers to sup
port the proposal Of united front
conference between representatives OF
the Needle Trades Workers Indus
trial Union and the International in
preparation for a general strike. The
decision was passed at the groups
meeting Saturday.