The daily worker., 1933-12-23
McLevy Must Act on.
Workers Demands
SaySP. Rank andFile
Interview Shows Socialist Mayor Opposes
Revolutionary Policy, Upholds
Present System

Daily Worker, II will appoint social
lists wherever I have the power to do
otherwise.
He appointed Joseph wierer,
a Democrat, town clerk. He is about
to appoint city attorney, a major
appointment, and he has already pre-
pared the ground in the capitalist
press for the appointment of nom
socialist. Where socialists were ap-
pointed, they followed his line Of in
action and support OF the manufac-
turers' interests.
The opposition of the rank and file
socialists to McLevy's appointment Of
agents Of the manufacturers came to
a head over appointment of head OF
the Park Board. On this question the
socialist rank and file expected a
fight. The city charter states, ''The
membership Of said board, with the
exception of the mayor, shall at all
times be equally divided between the
two political parties having the larger
number of aldermen on the common
council. This clause means that the
Park Board shall now consist of four
democrats and four socialists with
the mayor.
McLeyy Allows Edmes Appointment
The charter has contradictory
clause which states, leach of the
eight commissioners shall be ap-
pointed by majority vote OF the
board by and with the consent and
advice Of the board of aldermen, to
serve for term Of eight years from
Jan. T.. The term Of George Eames,
republican, leader in the Bridgeport
Manufacturers Association and in a
high position in the Singer Sewing
Machine Co., had expired this month.
The park commissioners insisted on
re- appointing him. A meeting was
held together with the mayor. The
results OF this meeting are described
in the Bridgeport Times Star Of De-
| cember is (the facts I have substan-
tiated). Although Mayor Jasper Nc
Levy allowed unprotected the re-
| election of G. M Eanes. president
OF the Park Board, for another eight
year term on the board, when the
Park board held it's annual meeting
yesterday afternoon, he declared that
ne expected the socialists to be con-
suited about the next election to the
board"
However.
the appointment of Eames, when
brought to the city council for ap-
proval, did not go through, the dem
ocrats in the city council put UP
fight against it on the ground it is
a violation of the city charter. The
whole question was finally referred
to the city attorney for an interpreta-
ton of the contradictory clauses in
the charter, on the initiative not of
McLevy, but of the democrats. One
Bridgeport paper, which supports Nc
Levy, said OF this incident, 1.-THE
mayor was not after Eames because
he knows about the good work he
has done for the city," bridgeport
Sunday Herald.
This month, when the socialist A.
Il. Auth was elected president of the
board of aldermen (city counciD his
nomination was seconded by James
A. Turner, a republican, and was
supported by three other republicans.
In his seconding speech, Turner stated
that he supports the socialist ad-
ministration because he is for the
economy program, for getting the
budget balanced without having
burdensome tax placed upon business
and upon the manufacturers as well
IS the people in general.
Because Of McLeYy's failure to put
forward a program for the workers,
and because of his dealings with the
republicans and democrats, the rank
and file socialists began to criticize
McLeyy. A membership meeting of
the socialist party was called for We'd
nesday night. Dec. 20. Reports from
the meeting indicate that it was
marked by sharp clash between
McLeyy and the rank and file. The
mayor, 1t is reported, was especially |
criticized for upholding the appoint |
ment OF Eames to the park board. |
McLevy was also criticized for his at
titude toward the demands of the |
for his failure, specifi-
cally, to appear at the meeting held
by Amter in Bridgeport under the
auspices Of the Unemployed Council.
In this meeting, according to reports,
the socialist city clerk Schwartzkopf,
chief aide Of McLevy ran for the Of
ice of recording secretary of the party.
He was defeated by the vote Of the
rank and file Of the socialist party.
Socialists Profess
Before the meeting, the Daily
Worker interviewed several rank and
file socialist party members. 'McLevy
says that he can't find capable men
In the socialist party to appoint" one
Of these workers said, "But how are
we ever going to learn If we are not
given a chance. There are some
honest workers In the socialist party,
and that's the main qualification. IN
stead he allowed the re-appointment
Eames."
Another socialist said, "Eames Is
probably fine fellow personally, but
you can't get around his connection
With the Singer Co., and the Manu-
'acturers Association" These socialist
party members, are willing to make
many allowances for McLevy. They
Joint out he is new, that he is ham
,ered by the fact that the legislative (
,oards OF the state control Bridge /
,ort's finances to large extent, and :
ne limitations Of the city charter. At