The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-04-28

League.
An unearned crown OF n1ilitancy,
during this period was placed upon
the uneasy heads of Fitzpatrick and
Nockels, dut to their office Of presi-
dent and secretary, but, at no time,
did they formulate the policy, the
program or the tactics. This was the
work of Foster and the left wing.
Many. times Fitzpatrick and Nockels
acquiesed in policy what they did not
agree with, due to the weight and
strength Of the left wing, and the
growing movement that supported it.
Under these circumstances it was
quite natural that the rank and file
of the Chicago labor movement was
rallied quickly to the defense Of Tom
Mooney.
RANK AND FILE INFLUENCE
Many other instances could be
mentioned where the Chicago Fed
Grafton of Labor and its two main
leaders did not always follow the re-
dictionary part Of the A. r. OF L. In
fact the Chicago Federation was for
years the militant center of the A. r.
of L., continuously in trouble with
Gompers and company and their pol
icy on many questions, including Tom
Mooney defense. Now, we see the
! Chicago Federation Of Labor still un-
der the leadership of Fitzpatrick and
I Nockels, who took part in the first
free Mooney Conference also held in
Chicago, not only refusing to par
ticipate in the present free Tom
Mooney Congress, but, on the con-
trary, 'aligning themselves with those
forces who are now more anxious
than ever to keep Mooney in prison.
What has happened between 1920-21
and 1888 that has brought about this
open betrayal by those who were
among the first to come to MONEYS
defense in q period OF war hysteria2
There are two phases to the
Mooney case: The first, to prove
that Ne was framed up and that he
was convicted because he was loyal
fighter for his class; and second, to
free q class war prisoner. In both
phases, the same general tactics had
to be pursued-maSs pressure Of the
working class.
1t can be said right here that ali
through the long years Of Mooney
defense, there were always two
groups, two ideas of defense: the
purely legal method, and the other
the necessary legal methods fortified
by mass pressure. At all times, Fitz-
patrick, Nockels and company
frowned upon and tried to defeat all
efforts at mass pressure, in spite OF
the fact (and it was conceded ever
by them that the demonstration Of
the Russian workers before the
American Embassy in st. Petersburg
was the outstanding act Of class soil
darity that compelled President Will
. son TO demand d Communication Of
MONEYS death sentence.
19I6-I933
Many things have happened since
, Mooney was convicted; and thu
, changing in the forces in the struggl,
for the freedom of Tom Mooney, re-
. fleet the changes In the character o.
the working class struggles for which
Tom Mooney went to prison. In thi!
respect, the miniature rebellion lee
by Fitzpatrick and Nockels agains
, the Gompers reactionary breaucrac.
! has long been squelcl1ed. Gomper
saw to this and put 1t very b1urtl.
. to Fitzpatrick and NockeIs: eithe
they quit playing around with tn
| reds" or else someone would tax
, their places as president and secre
tsry OF the Chicago Federation o
Labor. So they quit.
1t was not difficult for them h
quit. Their struggle against the re
, dictionary and crooked Skinny Mad
! den machine that ruled Chi
: cago with an iron hand pushed then
up as progressives. They tried t.
| continue In this role until q stron
! left wing under the leadership of tn
: Trade Union Educational League wa
; formed in the Federation that de
: manded action and not merely IL
service.
: Today, the conditions of the work
ing class that Mooney fought agsirs
r are 8 thousand times worse. A neY
! alignment In class forces has take
place and is still rapidly changin
. today. The Soviet Union has beel
I created out Of capitalist chaos an
/, anarchy since the prison doors close
: ON Mooney. Fascist terror and mill
tary relationships are established l.
T q number of countries. The coward
: betrayal OF the Socialist Interna
I tional In 1914, continued even NOR
! bruta1ly and more frankly after tn
war in u whole series OF betraysls 1
i the nnass strikes and revolutionar
struggle. that followed the ending q
the isapsgiAsss* wss. spat uss saal