davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-09-08
.TObIess Council Demands
That Strikers Get Relief

NEW YORK.-In a letter to the
Overseers of the Poor of Water
vile, Maine, who, declaring that
anyone who strikes in these times
deserves to starve," denied all forms
of relief to the striking textile
workers, the National Unemploy-
ment Councils has demanded full
relief be given to the strikers.
The Councils, in line with their
fixed policy of supporting every
struggle of the employed workers,
call upon all unemployed organiza-
tons everywhere to rally in support
of the textile strikers
The Councils letter follows:
"As the foremost nationwide or
ganization of the unemployed, with
which hundreds of thousands of
employed and unemployed workers
in forty-one states are affiliated,
we vigorously protest against your
refusal to extend relief to needy
workers of Waterville, because these
exercise their right to strike against
intolerable working conditions.
You seem to forget that the re-
lief funds which you administer
are public funds that have been
raised by general taxation. By
what right do you propose to de-
prive those who have labored and
produced all wealth and those who
have been taxed, of their due share
of relief? Who gives you the au-
thority to pass a sentence of suffer-
ing and death from starvation upon
the men, women and children with
whose conduct you may be dis
pleased? Surely such authority is
not given to you by the majority
of the people of your city and state!
ut is evident that your action is
dictated by the interests and
wishes of the employers who hope
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-09-08

!. resentstives. of the A. c. M. and
one representing from each of the
two A. F. of L. departments
Metal and Building Trades. The
decisions Of this board is to be
final.
In other words, il the mechanics
in Butte, Anaconda and Great
Falls cannot reach an agreement
with their immediate superiors,
they can appeal to the New York
Board composed Of two higher COM
pany officials and-two high union
officials who endorsed this COM
pany union, strikebreaking agree
ment.
AS to the economic features of
this agreement it states that no
methods of work. etc, established
by custom shall be changed. Every
thing is to remain as before the
strike.
Provisions for overtime pay at
the rate of time and one-hslf are
practically wiped out by other pro-
visions in regard to changing shifts.
continuous operation" ETC., for
which no overtime is to be paid
The basic rate of pay is set at
So per shift. There is a sliding
scale based on the price of copper
at nine cents per pound. Copper
has been selling at or below nine
cents for five years so the wage
scael is really SIS.
All that needs to be said about
this wage scale as evidence Of the
heroic defense of the economic
standards Of American worker by
the A. F. of L. leaders, is that in
19O7-27 years ago-the wage scale
Of electrical workers employed by
the Montana Power Company in
and around Butte was IS per
eiRht-hour day.
1t is practically certain that as
a result Of the solid and stubborn
three and one-half months strike
the miners and smelter workers
will get at least an increase of so
to rs cents per day. recognition of
the union and no discrimination
against strikers.
Putting forward this agreement
at this critical time for the craft
unions involved in the strike in an
attempt to split them away from
the International Union of Mine
Mill and Smelter Workers, as well
as the character Of the agreement
itself-the most recent achievement
of the A. F. of L. officialdom in
cooperation with the Roosevelt ad-
ministration - furnishes in most
concrete form the refutation Of
Green's claim that this leadership,
as against the Communist Party
works for the economic interests OF
American workers.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-09-08

he again tried to rally the scattered
forces. It was then that the mob
was organized TO beat him up.
When I saw him he was in bed
suffering from the man-handling
he got at the hands of the mob,
but he was still defiant.
Tells of Onion Workers Slavery
On Saturday night Diess, vice.
president Of the union, an onion
worker and former town marshall
Of McGuffy Ia small village spoke
at meeting at the Mckinley Mon
ument in Toledo. He told of how
worker gets down on his knees and
actually travels five miles wedding
three rows of onions at once for
81 to SIPS per day. He told of how
many families are being evicted and
even deported. They came from
other counties and Kentucky. This
meeting was held under the aus
pices of the Unemployed Council,
Ohio Farmers League and the LID.
The A. F. of L. leaders in Toledo
for the first time in II years are
holding a Labor Day celebration
with onion strikers and Okey OdeI
leading But this will not cover
the A. F. of L. betrayals with glory.
The strikers are looking elsewhere
for new leadership. A committee
representing the Unemployed Coun-
Gil, Marine workers Industrial
Union, LID; Steel and Metal
Workers Industrial Union and some
liberals are to visit the strikers
Tuesday. 1t is expected that a pro-
gram of struggle for relief and de-
tense for the strikers now in Jail
will be developed out of this visit.
All workers and farmers or
CARNATIONS are urged to send pro-
tests TO Sheriff Mitchell. Judge
Hamilton, J. Hage, and Milton
KalOr, County Prosecutor of Ken
ton, Ohio, protesting the further
Incarceration of the IL former
strikers now in Jail at KentOn and
being held in spite of the fact
that the grand jury has met and
failed to act on their cases.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-09-08

the ROADSIDE TO ole. Every
thing was quiet and there
was no evidence of a strike.
Many teams of horses and a
number of men were at work on
the fields Of the Sciota Land Com
pany holdings. The onion crop was
being harvested.
The strike to all intents and pur-
poses had been broken. No picketS
were on the highways. No armed
guards were at the gates.
7 talked to number of former
strikers, including Okey Oden and
Vice-President Wiess. Most Of those
to whom I talked seemed disheart-
ened-wondering what to do next.
From their statements the abso-
Lutte betrayal by the A. F. of L. Or
ganizer Rizer and the terrorist
character Of the county admins
tration was revealed.
LID. Supplies Defense Lawyer
Early in the strike an Injunction
was issued forbidding more than
two pickets to assemble at one
place. Many arrests were made. No
lawyers could be found courageous
enough to defend them. The court
appointed a weakened individual.
formerly prosecuting attorney, to
defend CD the prisoners. But this
was not altogether acceptable to
the men who secured Edward Lamb.
International Labor Defense At
torney of Toledo, who tried to battle
for them and even tried to get some
mass defense. However, Lamb was
threatened in court by he sheriff
and by the judge, President of the
Kenton Bank (Kenton is the county
seat of Hardin County,.
Later, when Lamb went to jail
to see some of the prisoners, he was
kicked out bodily by two deputies
and one of them known as "POpgun
Mile"
The Real Powers
All power in Hardin County is
concentrated IN the handS OF Judge
Hamilton Hoge, president of the
Kenton Bank, and the triumvirste
Of the big onion growers, Allen Ed
wards, President of the Sciota Land
Company and of the Alger Bank;
]. B. Stambaugh and Mr.. McGuffy
These three large growers and theiI
families control about 5000 acres
of the total Of 1900 acres of muck
land in the area.
J. B. Stambaugh, known as the
political boss OF Hardin County, ha.
openly boosted that they have the
political power and would break the
strike. He evidently knows hi.
onions. Seventy-one deputies were
placed at his disposal by the county
Odel was arrested and kept ter
days. When the strikers spoke t.
Rizer A. F. of L. representative
he told them, This is your strike
not mine When Okey got out
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-09-08

: to carry on "the necessary main
tenance."
Let us remember that this is what
/ is called an international agree
ment." This strikebreaking instru-
ment was invented many years ago
by Major George L. Berry of the
Printing Pressmen'S Union and
Frank McNulty, one time head Of
! the International Brotherhood of
I Electrical Workers. The member
ship has nothing to say about its
enforcement. If they quit work the
international Union heads have the
authority to furnish union scabs-
as Berry and AdcNulty did many
times and as the heads of the
Bricklayers Union have done re-
Gently.
There is a clause which provides
that there shall De no lockout by
the company during the life Of the
agreement. This is one of those
fair, give and take" propositions
which reminds one of Anatole
Frances satiric statement that
"bOth rich and poor have the same
rigt to sleep under bridges"
The curtailment Of operations
and the discharge and lay-off OF
workers are to be carried out, &C
cording to the agreement, at "the
sole discretion of the company.
Certainly no further proof is
needed to show that this is a strike
breaking agreement.
Now as to its company union
character:
The agreement states specifically
that on all questions of grievances
Interpretation of the agreement
etc, in wage negotiations and other
matters customarily the routine
work of union committees in Butte
| Anaconda and Great Falls, Mont
only employees of the company shall
represent the men.
This clause wipes out many SEM
blance of a union agreement. In
! localities where the blacklist has
been used so effectively for years
as it has in these three cities BY the
A. c. M, the provisions that
local officers, paid by the union for
the purpose Of representing the
membership and avoiding the
blacklist as much as possible. can
not represent the membership, is
complete surrender to the company
1t is a company union agree
ment.
There Is further provision which
only strengthens this conclusion:
1t is that, in the event the griev-
ances cannot be settled by negotia-
tons locally between the workers
and executive Of the A. c. M, they
shall be considered by a board OF
/ four sitting IN New York-two rep
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-09-08
Bootleg Coal Miners Organize;
Join the Unemployment Councils

SHAMOKIN, Pa.-One of the
most tragic and bitter commentaries
on the capitalist system-be it New
Deal or Old Deals seen here in
the problem of the so-called boot
leg coal miners" These are simply
unemployed miners who individual
ly, in pairs or in small groups, dig
coal out of the nearby hills and sell
it. 1t is, of course, bitterly fought
by the large coal operators, since
the coal bootleggers compete with
the operators.
The "bootleggers, however, are
clear about the whole situation.
They have organized their own In
dependent Coal Association, with
headquarters at TIC N. Shamokin
St. in this town and while fighting
to maintain their own conditions,
see full well that their present sit
uation cannot last forever. The or
ganization is, therefore, fighting for
the passage Of the Workers Unem-
ployment Insurance Bill, introduced
into the last session of Congress
and known as H. R. 1898 at that
session. The Independent Coal OPP
orators Association has affiliated to
the Unemployment Councils. Its
program, which urges unity with
the employed workers in the United
Mine Workers and other organ
izaeons, follows:
Preamble
Realizing that the reason why
we must resort to the present form
of digging coal. is due to the fact
that we, as workers and coal miners,
are hit by this terrific unemploy-
ment and depression, and that the
amount of relief given us by the
State agencies is NOT ENOUGH to
keep our families in decent food,
clothing and shelter,
We must dig the coal out of these
mountains as means of suppl
menting our measly income that
We receive, in the form of relief,
in order to keep the wolf away
from our doorstepS.
Knowing that the coal, which is
in these mountains, was put there
by nature, and that this mineral
wealth was stolen away from us by
the greedy rich class, the coal OPP
orators and the bankers,
We, as the workers and members
of this Association do hereby agree,
that we will uphold our interests
as workers and will use our or
ganized strength, jointly and col
lectively, to fight and maintain the
right for us to dig this coal and
make the lot of our members more
bearable.
We are undertaking an obligation,
that we will protect the rights of
our members, through mass action
and mass pressure against the coal
companies and all their agencies,
and that we will continually fight,
side by side, with the rest of the
unemployed workers, for an in
crease in relief, rent and shelter to
be paid to the unemployed workers,
by the State in the form of cash
relief.
Also, knowing that we will not
be able to continue these opera
tions indefinitely, and that this
source of income is insecure and
only for a period of time, we will
fight for security against starva-
ton. by fighting for the Workers
Unemployment and Social Insur-
ance Bill
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-09-08
By BILL DUNE


BUTTE, Mont, Sept. CBy MaiD
The issue in regard to the split
ting agreement signed over the
heads of the mechanics on strike
with the miners, hosting engineers,
pumpmen and smelter workers at
Butte, Mont, and in Anaconda and
Great Falls is becoming sharper as
the squad of international and ma
tional union officials, headed by
John P. Frey of the A. F. of L,
executive council and the Metal
Trades Department, continue their
maneuvers.
Electrical Workers Local No. IS
and the Blacksmiths Union have
voted down the agreement. The
Machinists Union has taken a secret
ballot. The results has not been
announced but it is reported that it
is also against this agreement. 1t
seems certain that regardless of
which way the votes of the craft
unions go on the agreement proper
that they will not return to work
until the miners and smelter
workers do.
This agreement deserves special
consideration in view of the ire
mendous wave of organization and
strike movements and because of
the Importance of this strike situa-
ton into which the agreement was
thrust as weapon against all the
workers involved.
1t deserves special consideration
also in view of the recent an
nouncement by President Green of
the drive agar the Communists
as the major &c for the labor
movement. In ~ course of his
statement calling for this second
drive (the first one was launched
almost exactly eleven years ago with
the expulsion of the writer from the
Portland A. F. of L. convention in
1929, President Green took occasion
to charge Communists with COM
plete lack of interest in the i'm
provement of the economic condi-
tons of the working class; they, &C
cording to Green, being concerned
only with turning every strike into
a revolution, etc.
This is not the place to cite the
long list of class battles strikes
hunger marches, demonstrations for
relief and against evictions ETC., Or
ganized and led by Communists
since the start of the present crisis
in 1929. Here the writer since the
inference from Green's Wordy
proclamation of war against the
Communists and all militant work
ers is that the A. F. of L. officials
do defend the economic rights of
their union members and those of
the working class as whole, will
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-09-08

to starve the workers into submits
sion. 1t is their sentiments that
you express when you arrogantly
decree that ANY one who strikes
in these times deserves to starVe.
We say to the contrary, only those
deserve to starye who fail to offer
resistance to you and your kind
when you attempt to reduce work
erS to permanent existence on
starvation levels.
Every self-reSpecting textile
worker who is mindful of his duty
to himself and his dependents will
unhesitatingly join the strike
which is now being waged in all
the textile centers of the country.
We of the National Unemployment
Council will lend our every possible
aid to this struggle.
AS one means to that end, we
add ours to the protest of all other
organizations against your infam-
Gus hunger decree. We demand
that the needy of Waterville shall
be provided with relief without dis
elimination because of their acti-
witty as strikers.
1--WE are addressing copy of this
to the Governor of your state and
to our local organizations in the
vicinity. We call upon our affi-
lated organizations everywhere to
form an unbreakable united front
of the unemployed and the strik-
ing textile workers for militant
struggle to smash your arbitrary
strike-breaking policy and to force
you and your masters the mill
owners = to afford to all workers
the opportunity and right to de-
cent existence.
National Unemployment Council
Il, AMTER,
National Secretary"
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-09-08
Program

Program
1. This organization shall be
governed by the following prin-
ciples:
a. A full control by the rank and
file.
b Majority rule, minority submit
and carry out wishes of major
ity.
@ Chairman be elected by the
rank and file each meeting
ID Committees and officials be
elected by majority vote and
not appointed by the chair
man.
e. Officials and committees who
do not carry out the wishes
of the majority, or who do not
attend three consecutive meet
ings, shall be recalled at any
time, when tWo-thirds of the
membership present desire to
do SO and new officials or
committees be elected in their
place.
2. This organization shall hold
its meetings once a week and that
at these meetings provisions be
made to hear the grievances and
complaints of the members and
transact them.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-09-08

3. The standard price shall be
worked out by the Executive Com
mittee according to seasonable mar
keting demands and be offered for
the rank and file for adoption.
a. Any truck coming to the coal
hole for the first time, be
measured for tonnage and
capacity.
b. Sixteen No. tubs, 90 No. 2
tubs, or % bushels shall con-
stitute q ton, in case of waste,
an allowance of one tub be
given extra.
4. The territory be divided into
districts.
a. Each district elect a district
committee, to consist Of one
worker, as a delegate, from
each coal hole.
b. The district committee be en-
powered to enforce the pro-
gram of this organization in
its particular boundary.
G. All the district committees
consist of an Executive Com
mittee Board.
ID That all coal holes show some
sign Of utilization.
e. A seal be bought for this or
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-09-08

ganization and a copy of this
seal be placed on all coal holes,
thereby showing their sffilia-
ton and unity.
5. That anyone wishing to start
a new coal hole, must see the dis
trict committee in which it is to
be started and that he or they be
asked to join this Association.
a. That all coal holes started
after Aug. 10, 1894, be not less
than so feet apart.
6. We insist upon our right, that
in the event Of any Of our members
being injured or accidentally killed
or disabled, that compensation be
given by the State without discrim-
ination.
7. In order to strengthen this
movement we shall get in touch
with the locals of the Unemploy-
ment Councils, United Mine Work
erS, and other workers organiza-
tions in Northumberland and
Schuylkill Counties and fight col
lectiyely for the right to live in a
country of plenty.
a. We draw up a petition with
our demands and back it up
with signature campaign.
b. We send delegates, with petit
tions, to the County Sheriff
and to the State Governor de-
handing that we be not in
terfered with by the Coal and
Iron Police nor the State
Troopers.
c. We be allowed to mine the
coal in order to make condi-
tons more bearable.
8. The Executive Board shall
make provisions to keep roads in
repair by assessing each coal hole
with one worker to repair the roads
not more than one day month.
8. A night Waterman to be hired
through volunteer assessments, pro-
viding two-thirds of the member
ship express their desire through a
referendum vote.
a. The watchman'S responsibility
is to prevent from stealing the
coal and tools while he is on
duty.
every coal hole at least once
week and if it is found that
working conditions are unsafe,
he shall warn the miner who
is in charge of the hole to
timber up properly. In case q
miner refuses to do so, the
Waterman shall report to the
district committee, which will
visit and take action by closing
the hole if it would be neceS-
sary to do so.
g BY having the Waterman and
the roads in shape, the coal
can be sold at the standard
price right at the coal hole
The Independent Coal Miners AS
ISOLATION of Shamokin is affiliated
to the Unemployment Councils OF
the United States, 80 f. 18th St.
New York, N. Y, which provides
a State Charter for so cents. In
itiation fee and the due books fol
21ac, and monthly due stamps fol
1c. Also volunteer buttons for 212C
and SC as wholesale price
COUNTY BOARD OF THE
UNEMPLOYMENT COUN-
CILS OF SCHUYLKILL
COUNTY.
| 500 N. Center ST., Pottsyille, Pa.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-09-08
Five J ale d as Police
Attack Delegation from
Unemployment Councils

NEW YORK.-Five workers were
arrested and two badly beaten by
police yesterday when Katherine
Burke, supervisor of the Eighteenth
Precinct relief bureau at SIG West
45th Street, ordered police to attack
delegation from the Unemploy-
ment Councils who were demanding
relief for a number of jobless.
Burke, the supervisor, who was
formerly with a Harlem relief bu-
reau, is known for her discrimina-
ton against Negro and Jewish
workers. While at the Harlem
bureau, it was reliably reported to
the Daily Worker yesterday, she
was instrumental in firing Negro
and Jewish workers at the relief
station. She has also Disseminated
against the Home Relief Bureau
Employees Association. She is
frankly opposed to the Councils.
When the delegation of three from
the Councils, one of whom is 9
Negro, appeared, she ordered the
police and guards to eject them
AS the workers were going down
stairs, a guard lunged a vicious
kick at one of the workers. AS
other workers sprung to their de-
Tense, the police, now reinforced
by additional patrolmen. attacked
the workers with clubs and black
jacks.
The five arrested workers, al
charged with "disorderly conduct
are: Matte Haresonoff, Vera Tracy
Crawford Morgan, Barney Ostel
and Charles Anderson.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-09-08
jamestown Furniture
Men Win All Demands

JAMESTOWN. N. Y.-Sept. T.
A complete victory including higher
wages, better working conditions
and recognition of the union was
won by the workers Of the Union
Furniture Company after a strike
under the leadership of the Ma
tional Furniture Workers Industrial
Union, Local "a.
Mass picketing under militant
leadership had forced a complete
stoppage Of work in the plant and
had compelled the management to
submit to every demand of the
strikers.