davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-06-05

legate and the Port Organizing Com
mittee. Revolutionary literature and
propaganda was used very effectively
on this ship, although the Delegate
was criticized for being overzealous
and throwing the capitalist papers
and magazines overheard as means
of forcing the crew to read red IL
terature.
Importance of Union Propaganda
The Importance of the Unions pro-
paganda was brought out by many
delegates. One delegate from Bal
timore had not met success with the
crew of a certain ship until he dis
tributed copies Of the Scratch House
News, and on the basis of one ar
ticle in this Bulletin he succeeded
in lining up four members.
Articles in the "Voice" have been
instrumental in developing struggles
on several occasions according to
several of the reporters who also
emphasized the Importance of guard
ing against exaggerating in the press.
The propaganda work of the Union
is becoming well organized, and in
addition to the Voice" which APP
pears regularly, fourteen Bulletins
are published by the Branches in the
various ports.
Slogans Must Meet Concrete Con-
ditions
The Importance of having clear
demands was illustrated by one de-
legate, who reported that the crew
did not respond to the slogan for 3
watches and were willing to accept
the watch system C12 hour day.
Discussion brought out that when
the men we're on watches they had
to work at night, which they did
not like to do, and our demand
should have been watches with no
night work.
Necessity Of Unemployed Work
That the army of unemployed can
be used as a great stimulus to the
work on the ship was brought out by
one delegate, who reported most Of
the members lined up on his ship
had been on the basis Of the unem-
ployed struggles and activities lead
by the union and Unemployed Coun-
Gil in New York.
The experience of many delegates
pointed out that there must be the
closest cooperation between the Ship
Delegates and the forces working
ashore. The tendency to quit the
ship because conditions were rotten
instead Of staying on the ship and
changing conditions through organ
lied action was especially combatted
Must Belong to Union to Strike"
A number Of wrong examples and
methods Of work were cited. On one
ship where the crew wanted to take
action Ship Delegate had told
them they couldn't strike because
they didn't belong to the Union. Re-
Gently there was wage-cut on
ship with 16 members aboard, but
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-06-05

,lared, the government is also OPP
POSED to using money this way. AS
! matter of fact the roads are max
ing every effort to reduce their pre-
sent pension obligations and will sue
coed unless the Brotherhoods fight
for the rights Of the pensioned en-
ployes in place Of profits for the
coupon clippers.
'The right to live comes before
any other claim" asserted H. Shaw,
Editor of Unity News. speaking
against the coordinator bill on be-
half of the Railroad Brotherhoods
Unity Committee. THE only way the
rights Of a million railroad workers
will be placed above proflteering is
for railroad labor to refuse to ac-
cept the provisions of this bill just
as they must refuse to accept further
wage cuts" continued Shaw in a
statement published in the June issue
Of Unity News.
THE proposed BILL" explained
Shaw, means the Strengthening and
legalization by the Federal govern
ment of the attacks of the roads
against the men. AS a matter of
record, the very purposes of the bill
have been carried out before its pas
sage, and will continue to be car
ried out whether the bill passes or
not. That is, UNLESS rail labor takes
independent, organized action to pro-
tect itself from unemployment, wage
cuts and violation of working rules.
I'VE must refuse to accept layoffs
unless the men are adequately COM
pensated through regular weekly or
monthly payments until unemploy-
ment insurance is won. 1t is our
contention that BEFORE the govern
ment puts itself back of any measure
depriving workers Of their livelihood,
these workers must be assured an
adequate means of existence"
In conclusion, Shaw showed that
s99 millions in dividends had been
paid by the roads last year; that
they paid 500 million in interest on
watered stock and hundreds of mill
lions in large salaries to executives
This money should and can go at
once to pay adequate yearly incomes
for quarter Of a million unem-
poyed railroad workers.
Scrapping of present obsolete rail-
road equipment and purchase of only
such modern equipment as will cut
down parts, make repairs easier and
reduce maintenance, is proposed by
L. r. Loree of the Delaware g. Hud-
son Railroad. He has been able to
build gondola car of 2,400 pieces
instead of the former $500 pieces.
A saving of 1891 pieces in a $4,000
piece locomotive is also possible.
Such equipment" he said, would
cut the heart out of maintenance
costs" Cutting cut the heart, to
Loree, means, Of course, cutting out
jobs.
To maintain even the present shop
forces hours will be staggered and
the railroad chiefs are right on the
Job getting ready for the Lorees.
They are seeing President Roosevelt
about a six-hour day for railroad
workers, but they say nothing about
maintaining weekly and monthly
earnings on an 8-hour basis. The
Senate investigation Of the 6-hour
day said unless wages we're reduced
accordingly the change would cost
the roads too much. Only organiza-
ton of the railroad workers for a six
hour day with hours pay will force
this relief measure through Congress.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-06-05
BY /. AMTER
National Secretary of the Unemployed
Councils


Councils
The conference last Saturday call
ed by the Provisional United Front
Committee to mobilize against the
recent attacks of the city administra-
ton on the workers had some interest
ing and important sidelights.
3 United as
Representatives of three opponent
unemployed organizations were there.
They were: the Workers Committee
on Unemployment ded by Thomas
and the so-called militants) Work
ers Unemployed League (the official
Socialist Party and the Association
of the Unemployed Qed by Loves
toni5es-renegade of the Communist
Party. They proposed a united front
under Socialist leadership and con-
troll.
They proposed that there be a de-
finite separation of the struggle of
the unemployed and employed work
ers, that unions and fraternal organi-
cations be not allowed to carry their
own banners, and that political par
ties be banned.
These three gentlemen spoke one
language-in this they were united.
They forgot one thing though they
pretend they are against workers
political parties participating, the
main spokesman of their delegation
to go to City Hall, is not one who is
connected with the unemployed move
ment, but one whom all three groups
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-06-05
MANSIONS AND
MARSHALS
Mhat,s the connectIon9

What's the connection?
John Pierpont Morgan, who
maintains mansions at 231 Madi-
son Ave; MatinicOck Point, Glen
Cove, Long Island; sat before
Senate Investigating Committee
and absently announced that he
doesn't remember paying any in
come tax for the past three years.
Mrs. Max Dim, 1905 Longfellow
Ave, Brenx, stood before an Off
cial of the Home Relief Bureau
and repeated: "The marshal is
putting my furniture out on the
street. They're throwing me out"
John Pierpont Morgan pays no
income tax and the Home Relief
Bureaus pay no rent.
Read the connection in:
NEW YORK-METROPOLIS
or HUNGER"
Starting Wednesday, June
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-06-05
Rail COOrdin
Bill Goes to House
Senate Passes Measure With No Provision
Made for Men It Will Throw Out of Jobs
Richberg, Brotherhood's Counsel, Is Co-author
of Legislation Attacking Rail Workers

Donald Hichberg, counsel Of the
Railroad Brotherhoods, has been
chosen general counsel for the In
dustrial Control Agency to be set up
under Roosevelts proposed National
Industrial Recovery Bill. At the same
time 1t was announced that Rich
berg was co-author Of this bill and
also of the rail car act. This ex-
plains his statement before the House
Interstate Commerce hearings that
there was no use opposing bills if
the administration was behind them
Although Richbefg was co-author
of the coordinator bill, labor clauses
we're omitted in the original draft
Amendments since proposed by the
Brotherhoods have been accepted by
the administration. But these am
endments make no provision what
ever for helping the $4,000 men and
their families, the compromise num-
Der to be laid off yearly Under the
rail car. Richberg, however, will be
rewarded with steady job and sub
stantial salary as counsel for the
government.
According to Representative Ray
BURN, the coordinator bill, which
passed the Senate last week, will be
reported by the House Committee
without changing the labor amend
rnents.
The forgotten" Men
It seems that the men on the small
shaky roads, which are slated to &c
out Of existence in the coming re-
organization, have been forgotten by
both the Brotherhoods and the adj
ministfation. Can the proposed rail
dictator insist that these roads con-
tinue to operate? And If they cease
to exist, what will happen to the
employees? These are some of the
questions being asked by railroad
men. The bill makes no provision
for the prosperous roads to take over
employees of another defunct road
Seniority is not recognized on q road
belonging to another system. 1t is
safe bet to figure that another
25, 900 men will be laid off through
liquidation of the small shaky roads
The small bankrupt roads which are
to be squeezed out are usually leased
by the larger roads. These roads
will simply cancel these leases in the
interest Of economy" The bill en-
courages such acts
Insist on Pensions and Relief
At the Washington hearings the
Railroad Employees National Pension
Association proposed that layoffS be
provided for by pensioning the Older
men. Such remedy, Of course
would not solve the problem. Fol
even if every man SIS years of age OF
over were retired from service, thi;
would involve only $4,000 men the
first year ard a few thousand year
thereafter.
But the roads are opposed to ever
this, and, as Joseph Eastman Of the
Interstate Commerce Commission de-
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-06-05
Stage and Screen
REVIEW OF THE SOVIET FILM
THE RETURN OF NATHAN
BY PETER BOLM

Nathan Becker, q bricklayer, after
spending % years in America. decides
to return to White Russia, his native
land. He goes back with the idea
of bringing his strength, technical
skill and experience to help in the
work Of Socialist reconstruction.
Twenty eight years of intense,
economic struggle in America
have left their mark on Nathan
Becker. He has become machine,
an automatic robot; and cannot UNI
derstand any methods of work other
than those to which he is accuston-
ed. The American Understanding
high speed method of work is the
one that he knows. The new type
Of Soviet worker whom he now meets,
q new man with new outlook on
life, is incomprehensible to him.
Learns Difference
On the construction job where he
is working, he sees for the first time
in operation the new scientific meth
dds Of labor and of training workers
used by the Central Institute OF
Labor. He laughs at what appears
to him comical, theatrical stunts, but
his worship of industrial American
ISM receives a shock when he is
beaten in a bricklaying competition
by one Of the Russian workers who
makes use of the carefully thought
out modern methods that Nathan
Becker despises. After short period
OF discoura gernent, Nathan Becker
finds his feet in the Soviet world
and comes to realize that in the
Soviet Union the machine Is regard
ed as the servant Of labor, and all
that Is symbolized by the slavery OF
the American worker to the moving
belt has been done away with in the
workers country, the Soviet Union.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-06-05
Fight for Wage Increases and Shorter Hours Without Pay Cuts
Protest for GOnshak
Urgent; Decision on
Case This Wednesday

NEW YORK.-An urgent call was
issued Saturday by the International
Labor Defense and the Unemployed
Councils to all workers and workers
organizations to Immediately send
kilograms, letters and resolutions to
Judge Bernard L. Shientag, New
York County Supreme Court, Center
and Pearl SITS, demanding the i'm
mediate release of Sam Gonshak.
Gonshak was sentenced to the out
rageous term of six months to two
years in the workhouse by Judge Au-
relic after he was arrested in q dem
onstration at the Home Relief Bu-
reau, Spring and Elizabeth SITS.
Judge Shientag is to give his deci-
sion this Wednesday on a habeus
writ sued by the LID. on the
grounds that the sentence was illegal.
The legal battle in court will be
futile without mass pressure backing
it. the lid. stated, calling workers
to demonstrate at the court Wednes-
daV.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-06-05

no struggle occurred. This was due
primarily to the fact that the Ship
Delegate had not previously conduc-
ted any partial struggles against the
many grievances on the ship which
would have given the crew greater
confidence, established stronger or
ganization instead of just union
members and prepared them to react
to larger issues.
Progress and Weakness Of Recent
Work
The Conference discussed the sig
nificance of the recent struggles in
the industry, which indicate matur-
ing mass struggles, and the progress
of the membership drive, and espe-
cially the favorable results obtained
in one company 1t was pointed out
that while over $50 members have re-
Gently been lined up in this company
and a number of struggles developed,
nevertheless we did not have a firm
base of committees on the ship cap
able Of reacting to the various is
sues.
At the Conference, and meeting
of the National Buro which follow
ed, the question of consolidating Ship
Committees on this company and
developing United Front Movement
in support of Company demands and
preparations for a company strike
through the development of num-
Der Of job action and popularization
Of company demands was dealt with.
A number of Ship delegates were as
signed by a unanimous vote of the
Conference to carry out these tasks
as the most important steps to be
taken in preparation for the Ma
tional Convention of the Union that
will be held in New York on July
Is, II and 18.
The Conference must result in an
energetic drive to complete the men,
bership drive. The decisions regard
ing concentration must be carried out
and carefully checked up on and the
work of the Baltimore, Philadelphia,
New York and New Orleans Branches
closely coordinated. The results of
the coming month will largely be de-
termined by the work Of the ship de-
Icgates who participated in the Con-
ference, especially those who accept
ed specific assignments.
Particular stress must be laid up
on consolidating our membership,
many Of whom have Joined in recent
months, into definite groups on ships
and docks, thus insuring that the
major representation at the Con-
vention will be elected from ship and
dock groups. In preparation for the
Convention considerable Importance
must be attached to the Anti-War
Festival which should receive sup
port Of all workers that is to be
held in the Starlight Stadium OK.
June rs as a means Of raising addi-
tiohal finances for the support OF the
Convention
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-06-05

SGrlkeS, WHICH pEOIllSe lie mas htpbs
so far as he was concerned.
But railroad workers we're laid of
everywhere possible. The fall Of
1881 saw the first general cut in the
road workers pay The ten and
twenty thousand dollar year heads
Of the railroad workers unions
agreed to a 10 per cent cut, without
consulting the members, TO stabilize
employment"
And was employment stabilized?
Hardly had the ink dried on that
infamous agreement when they
started slashing again. Where we
thought they had cut deep, they cut
deeper. Men were sent home right
and left Trains were taken of.
Signal towers closed. Signal main
tanners laid off. Trainmen laid of.
Clerks, operators, station agents
trackmen, in fact everywhere, even
in the officials offices, jobs were con-
solidated and workers laid off, and
those still left on the job speeded up
to do the work. Taking several bill
lion dollars from the railroad work.
ers' wages had not helped to stabil-
ize falling capitalism one bit.
Speed-Up
The speed-up on some jobs became
terrific. Get the work out. Get 1t
out in the allotted time If you can.
But don't put in any overtime, If
you can't, because it won't be
allowed Some departments, as the
signal department, went on four
day week, but still they have many
men unemployed. Trainmen went
on a maximum mileage month, but
still many trainmen roam the streets
| Signal towers and stations continued
to close. Older men in service dis
placed younger ones. And finally
had no place to go. So 1 went home
to join the unemployed army and
starve for the sacred profits of the
capitalists.
The question uppermost in the
minds of the capitalists, ever since
the depression started, is, how many
can we lay off and still keep firmly in
power? How little can we give the
working class without their becoming
so resentful that they will organize
! and unseat us and set up govern
mef1t Of their own, and run industry
| for their own benefit, How can We
prevent the working class from taking
| their historic role in the destiny OF
mankind? Can we, when the time
comes, establish a fascist dictatorship
and maintain power by force? The
answer to the capitalists nightmare is
found in the growing Communist
Party, the Unemployed Councils, the
| radical trade unions, the unity OF
workers of all races and colors, and
the growing revolt of the farmers. A
great many times during the past
year they have had to call on the
militia to put down uprisings. How
long can they depend on the militia?
(By Labor Research ASSN
The New York Central Railroad Is
linked, through the First National
Bank of New York, to the Morgan
group. This road has been paying its
president at the rate of $4,000
year. If. for example, we took a sec
ton hand who was earning $1,000 a
year the salary paid the New YORK
Central president would cover the
pay Of 80 such workers a yearl
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-06-05

to be very revolutionary"
The conference was unanimous for
the resolution of support to the work
ers in the shops in the struggle for
the shorter work week with no re-
duction in weekly or monthly pay;
support to gain wage increases.
United Front Below
Impossible!
And finally in good Leon Trotzky
style, the Trotzkyites declared that
"the united front locally cannot be
built. We must explore the whole
national field and find out where we
can build it nationally"
The resolution committee recon-
mended that "the Unemployed Coun-
ellis, together with representatives of
the other unemployed organizations,
should take energetic steps, on the
basis of the decisions of the conven-
ton that formed the National Fed
Grafton of Unemployed Organizations,
to build local declarations on the basis
of representatives from the basic
units of all unemployed organize
tons in proportion to their organiza-
tional strength"
This is impossible, in the mind of
the Trotzkyites- you must get per-
mission from above-you must form
the united front first at the top!
Confidence Only t
In Themselves
In the elections that took place,
the Trotzkyites and Weisbordites-
eight strong-voted for nobody but
themselves. AS usual, they were ready
with nominations of their group. why
not? If they have no organization
at least they can make noise. When
members of the A. F. of L. were
nominated, all their hands remained
down. When Weisbord was to be vot-
ed on-the united caucus voted-yes,
sir, eight strong.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-06-05

workers. And preparations were be-
ing made under the cover of paci-
flsn and the slogan, HE kept us out
of war" for our capitalists to force
four million of our workers to enter
the bloody work of mass murder to
protect their loans to the allies and
make the world safe for democ-
racy.' Workers can now see that
democracy" in action, for which
their comrades died, and for which
they were forced to kill other
workers.
Drafted
1 had not been with the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad long before my name
was called in the "selective draft"
This is the one place where workers
belong to the select" 1 spent thir-
teen months in the army, nearly ten
of these thirteen in foreign service.
Then, having made the loans Of the
bankers safe $50 they thought, I re-
turned to my job of making further
profits for them in the railroad bust
ness.
The greed of the widows and
orphans who are supposed to own
the road according to the bankers,
knew no bounds. Bigger engines,
longer trains, fewer block stations,
fewer stations, fewer clerks, longer
sections with fewer men. The 'ln-
creased efficiency went on at q
rapid pace So rapid, in fact, that III
1923, when most of us still believed
that prosperity was Our natura
state" and I'VE could never have
another depression" I found myself
without steady job in spite Of the
ten years seniority rights which 1
had accumulated, and the ability
which I had Of handling most any
job.
Staggering
So I cut loose from the PennsJ
and went to work for the New YorE
Central. The operators and signal
men on this road had just gone on
a six-day week, with loss of pay,
of course. I very shortly landed
a steady job, on relief schedule
filling in for the extra day which
the regular men were of. Every
man in the telegraph department
was supposed to have day Of. pei
week. But the relief men got their in
three pieces. The first two days hi
would work from am. until pm.
The next two, from pm. until II
PM And the last two from II pm.
until 7 am. So on his relief day
he got through at Z am, after
having worked most of the night,
and had to go to work at am. the
next day.
Everything went along pretty
smooth until 1929, when the pros
perity ballyhoo was the loudest, ant
the so-called best-minds and fore
most individuals of the nation as
sured us that there was no reasons
why the stock market should MOI
go higher and there was no depres-
sion in sight. Suddenly the stoci
market crashed and capitalism wen
into a tailspin. Even then they con-
tinued to assure us that prosperity
was Just around the corner. During
the short intervening time, "ther'
would be no wage cuts" Presiden
Green, presuming to speak for or
ganized labor, faithfully assured hi
bosses that there would be NJ