The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-02-06
Norman Thomas Mission to
the Democrat Governor of Ill,


ana eJected and Homer ordered
machine-gun troops of the 106th
Cavalry TO be ready for emergency,
as well as Company c of the 130th
Infantry, holding them in readi-
ness to receive orders from Horner
to shoot down the workers who
came to Springfield representing
10000 workers, employed and I'M
employed, of the state of Illinois,
and indirectly representing mil
lion and a half unemployed work
erS OF the state. This is the same
Henry Homer who, before the cleo
tons, paraded before the masses
as the great humanitarian" and
friend of the people"-the same
man who promised relief for the
unemployed and who stated he was
in favor Of unemployment insur-
ance-and the same Henry Homer
who was elected governor on the
Democratic ticket, and who, speak
ing in Springfield on Jan. "a, de-
clared:
The establishment of the dole
or any system of relief that ap-
proximates a dole is out of the
question. 1t is contrary 10 the
spirit of the American Ideals"
This is the Gov. Homer whom
Norman Thomas praises in his
speeches in the coal fields, not only
in Springfield, but in Taylorville as
well. In Franklin County, meetings
even OF the P. NJ. A. and Ladies
AlxiliarieS of the p. NJ. A. are for
hidden. Recently q meeting Of the
Ladies Auxiliary was broken I'D by
the gangsters Of the U.M.W.A., led
by Ray Edmundson and Democratic
Sheriff Robinson. But Norman
Thomas was welcomed in Franklin
County and spoke not only with
out any interference of the police,
but with police protection in West
Frankfort.
THE coal operators and Governor
L Homer needed Norman Thomas
very badly in the coal fields for
the purpose of putting over further
wage-cuts and worsening of condi-
tons. There are secret negotis-
lions still going on between the
leaders of the PIMA. and U.MWA.
under the direction of Governor
Homer, TO unite the traitors of
both unions to continue a wage
cut which took place in 1882. for
the next two years. Norman
Thomas plays his role in the SER
vice Of the coal operators. No
wonder then that the capitalist
press in the state of Illinois, in
Guiding the Chicago Tribune, praise
Norman Thomas for his activity in
the Illinois coal fields. The Bloom
ington Daily Paragraph Of Jan. 25.
in a leading editorial, declares:
"Of very recent date MIR.
Thomas has been with charac-
teristic patience investigating the
disturbed economic life of the
Illinois coal mining regions and
seeing If he can point to some
measure of betterment. He has
been acting thus with the full ac-
cord OF Governor Homer, who
Is himself known for his sympa-
thetic attitude toward the indus
trial workers.
Compare the above praise Of
Norman Thomas by the capitalist
press with the following report in
the Springfield Register Of Jan. IS
as to how the humanitarian Gov
ernor Horner treated the delega-
ton OF 10000 workers who pre-
sented their demands for unem-
ployment and social insurance:
In the meantime city and
state pol &c had been summoned
and the crowd was ordered to
move into the corridors. This
command was answered by boos
and jeers and physical resistance
as well when the police started
to bodily eject the rioters. Police
drove the delegation back with
clubs after several blows had been
struck with fists. Several were
knocked down and nine, includ-
ing five women, were forced into
patrol wagons
The police especially brutally at
tackled the Negro women who were
in the delegation.
THE conference and events in
Springfield in these few days
are important lessons for the work
ers In the entire country. The So
cial-fascist leaders-Nor1nan Thorn
as, Hillquit, the M,isteites and the
others in the sharpening class
struggle and in the growing unity