The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-24
Full Text of the Letter
Sent by Clarenes
Senior

Ter sent 70 All the Aapu[ PICS ~
Clarence Senior, National Exeeu-
tive Secretary Of the Socialist Party,
commenting on the recent events at
Madison So Garden.
To the Editors Of socisllsg aR6 Ksbo
Papers:
National headquarters II tAs 50
cialist Party, In the midst Of organ
izing and guiding demonstration
protest and solidarity Of American
workers against the murderors sup
preston Of the Austrian worktn
class, deeply regrets the necessit
which has been forced upon rs
denounce as open allies of faSctH
those who, under the banner of "a
Communist Party, q. g. A. Csectto
Of the Communist internationally, b
vaded and broke up the mass mees
ing Of the Socialists and trade union
lists gathered last Friday in Madiso
Square Garden, New YORK City, I
protest against DoHfuss terrorism.
The first news OF the ferocioua 81
tack Of the Fascist HeimwehF on II
Austrian Socialists, and OF the mag
nff1cent defense Of the Socialists I
protect their homes and their Nbert
was the signal for immediate actlc
by Socialist locals throughout q
United States to hold meetings
protest, to send delegations to q
Austrian consulates where such e
listed, and to raise funds for tran
mission to the Austrian conrad
who were dead, wounded and deein
Meanwhile, the Communist Daj
Worker greeted the display OF her
ism by the Austrian workers with
daily stream Of the most filthy e
umny and lies.
In New York, Socialists, Soined
thousands Of trade unionists, Q
ranged a huge demonstration viii
was held in Madison Square 0arde
Since there is no significant Cor
munist group in Austria, but more
pecislly because Of the attitude wf1i
had been taken by the official Coz
munist organ in this country, Coz
munists we're not invited. In
same breath with which the Da
Worker blasted any foundation
which working-ciass unity In supp
Of the Austrian workers could
built, the paper called for q de-
onstration Of ''unity" which met
that Communists were TO march
the Madison Square Garden me
ing as unlimited guests. Once the
they defied seating arrangeme
which had been made and forcf
seized seats on the main floor as n
as possible to the platform.
Nearly five thousand Of them
der Communist banners, 6enling
red flag which Austrian Social
had colored with their blood, invaS
the auditorium. when Sofia
speakers mounted the platform
Communists booed and jeered. II
Clarence Hathaway, editor Of
Daily Worker sneaked on the ri
form and attempted to sie5e
microphone to make q speech.
was being firmly but quietly ushe
from the platform when large nj
bers Of Communists jumped UP
help him take the meeting a.
from the Socialist and trade UT
speakers.
1t was at this point that one
the unimportant but ironic incidt
OF such civil war occurred. A C.
munist from the audience came
Hathaway's aid by hurting char
one Of his escorts. a member Of
Young Peoples Socialist League.
Yipsel ducked. and Hathaway
felled by the chair. BY this time,
other Communists through the
we're hurting chairs and engHginf
fist fights with enraged workers I
!; Socialist and trade union ranks.
City police, under strict reques
Socialist leaders, stood aside and
not interfere until the disc
reached such proportions that
officers, without clubs, surrounded
platform and helped dissolve
meeting which Communist insa
had thoroughly broken up The c
! munist Party columns then mar
away In triumph at their sue
carrying their party secretary on
shoulders and farcical slogans
Workers Unitel"
Martin Plettl, president Of the
ternational Federation Of Clot
Workers and president Of the
, man Federation Of Clothing Wol
! before Hitler came to power, sun
up the Madison Square Garden
gedy by stating:
f 1T was precisely such spectacl
= that staged here today that led b
} triumph Of Hitlerism in German
This new attack by Commu
r in the midst Of working-class
!, for their fallen Austrian conn
: points to the need Of isoIatins
e dread disease OF struggle "
working class ranks, OF which
g official Communist Party has
: the carrier. The Communist
! ment must be made a par4a
: workers movements.
e Meanwhile. renewed efforts +
e ganize workers in the United
1 to realide the meaning Of the {
+, gle of the Austrian workers 20
Ii and to make sure that these
t have not died in vain, will
n from Socialist headquarters.
S York, Baltimore, Chicago. 4
s City, st. Louis, Cleveland and
e burgh have already rallied thou
i in protest meetings, and other
IS ings viii be held. Funds are
y raised for the Austrian conrad
From a gathering Of 1900
e lists at the great party baza
e Milwaukee last Sunday night
u Krzych and Norman Thomas.
s half OF the Socialist Party,
Roosevelt:
'We understand that Au
trade commissioners ara eyr,arf