The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-10-03

as leader or many 1ODleSS Demon
strations, as a militant labor organ
izer and as an all-around champion
of the workers rights.
In 1891, when the Communist
Party entered its first mayoralty
campaign in Cleveland previously
there was a City Manager, Ford was
the party'S standard bearer. HE
made surprising campaign" ac-
cording to capitalist press comment.
1t was surprising to them, since they
had not realized that the Communist
Party had sunk Its roots so deep
among the workers OF Cleveland But
now all of sudden, it seemed, Com
munist spokesman was here, there
and everywhere that workers gath
cred together-and was. even invad-
ing the hallowed precincts of col
leges and clubs.
F'ords 1881 vote of about $3.50 came
as shock to the capitalists of
Cleveland, representing a great in
crease over any previous Communist
vote. 1t served warning on the poll
tical bosses that Communism was
serious factor with which they would
have to reckon in the future. Where
the Red vote was highest, it was
Go slow" sign to them in their
attacks on the workers.
F'ord's ready Irish wit and infec-
tious humor give the lie at nearly
every meeting to the stale gag that
Communists don't know how to
laugh" A worker himself, born and
~, al 81
he is at his best with an audience
of workers, and they respond quickly
to his class message.
Organized Strikes
Born in Bloomington, ILL.,, Ford has
followed a number of trades Be-
tween 1907 and 1921 he worked as
river pilot, until the U. s. Steel
Corp. blacklisted him for union ac-
tivity. He had organized the workers
and led in winning three strikes, the
first being at Paducah, KY, when a
L so per cent increase in wages was
gained. Ford Joined the Socialist
Party in 1907, but denounced it's
leadership during the world war, be-
ing arrested for sedition after one
such speech.
In 1927, Ford joined the Commun-
list Party. He has been its candidate
for Governor and U. 8. Senator, as
well as for Mayor. He has also led
in many struggls and demonstrations.
Only few days ago Ford was lead
ing the single jobless in their de-
mands for doubled relief at the
Charities Bureau, 21st and Payne
demonstration which forced a.
number of increases. He also led a
recent demonstration at the Doan
Charities office, 106th and Superior,
protesting the brutal attack on job
bless delegation in which Antonace
was nearly dubbed to death. And he
was one of the organizers and leaders
of the city-wide demonstrations on
Sept against the Charities decision
to cut off rent payments.
2 to / Lead Over Socialists
No wonder the early straw votes
show the Communist candidate with
more than two-to-one lead over
o. K. Wheelock, Socialis Party, and
two other minor candidates. Wheel
ock is little businessman, with no
record in workers struggles. Further,
the s. P. leadership stinks in the
nostrils of many Cleveland workers
since the scandalous attack on Tom
Mooney made by National Secretary
Clarence Senior at the party's state |
convention here.
Senior may have been able to cover |
up this incident elsewhere by mis-
leading denials, bht not in Cleveland. |
where rank and file Socialists heard |
him with their own ears. In fact, |
one S. P. local here went on record |
demanding Seniors expulsion for
this attack on Mooney.
Mayor Miller boasts of his "econ-
ony" record--one result of which has |
been the elevator smash at the Sloan |
building, due to the laying off Of in
spectors. He has slashed viciously
into workers wages to save the
pocketbooks of the rich. His layoffs |
have increased unemployment, while
he has introduced forced labor and |
refused real relief to the jobless.
Under his administration, Wayfarers'
Lodge has been used as scab-herd-
ing joint, and his latest exploits have |
been in aiding the NRA to defeat
the street car men and the striking
Swift teamsters. His cops have
batoned gassed and shot the unem-
ployed and small homeowners time
after time.
Congressman Martin L. Sweeney,
leading candidate for the bosses and
d mixers and loudest-mouthed dema-
q in the hot-air contest, has done as
II tie for the workers in Congress as
Miller has done in the City Hall. He
vies with Miller as supporter of |
NRA strikebreaking and price-rais-
ing and dodger of unemployment |
insurance.
The Sweeney forces have organized
gangsters and thugs to break up
workers meetings in the present
campaign, both at 105th and Lorain
and at Teinplet and Lakeview. Bold
as he is in his platform demagogy,
Sweeney is afraid to meet Ford in
debate before an audience of workers.
He failed to show UP at recent
Unemployed Council picnic at which
he, as well as Ford, was supposed to
speak.
Harry L. Davis, Republican, suffers
from the same handicap as Miller,
in that he has been Mayor once be-
fore. He was Mayor in 1919 when the
bloody attack was made on the big
May Day parade. Davis is trying to
drown in demagogy the memories of
his anti-working class record and
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