davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-01-12
NRA Seeks to Break
Radio Mems Strike

NEW YORK. -Striking radio op-
orators called to a conference at the
MIRA. Regional Board last Tuesday
were informed that, while their
grievances are Just, the NR.A. is
powerless to compel the restoration
Of the 25 per cent wage cut against
which they struck. The MIRA.
Board decided that the matter will
have to go to the Deputy Admins
traitor Of the Marine Industry Code,
William II. Davis, raising false
hopes that Davis might intervene in
behalf of the operators.
Prior to the calling of the strike,
the wireless radio operators COM
planned Of the cut to Deputy Ad-
ministrator Davis, who informed them
that he was powerleSs to act, al
though admitting that the cut given
by the heavily subsidized American
Merchant Shipping Lines should be
restored. The operators also ap-
pealed to the Department of Labor
and to the Presidents secretary.
When they realized that they could
not force the company to yield ex-
cept through their own organized
action, they decided to strike.
At the MIRA. conference A j.
Mccarthy, general manager of the
American Merchant Line, declared
the company's refusal of the de-
mands of the strikers and openly
showed how the MIRA. is their own
tool to break the strike
He said: I'VE are here only as a
matter of courtesy in response to
your call and we do not recognize
your authority, nor do we consider
that you have any power to inter-
vene in this strike"
The wireless operators will refuse
TO be deceived by the pretensions Of
support by the MIRA. The MIRA.
policy is to wear out the strikers by
promises and hoDes that it will be
able to mediate, but in reality, with
the intention of breaking the strike
by demoralizing the strikers.
The wireless operators must in
tensify their struggle, by drawing
more operators into the strike on
these lines and spreading the strike
to other lines with the support of
the Marine Workers Industrial
Union.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-01-12

One Of Hearsts chief killers was none
other than the tall and vicious Big
Tim" Murphy. After gaining his
experiences working for Hearst, Big
Tim" Murphy began to prey on the
workers. Where he couldn't muscle
into a union, because other bench
men were there first, he organized
his own unions-among street clean
ers, bootblacks, window cleaners, and
dozens of others--in order to provide
a lucrative field for his marauding
and robbery. Dozens of labor rack
eteers, high up in the A. F. of L. are
the spawn of William r. Hearst's
gunman's war with the Chicago
! Tribune.
Now Hearst becomes the self
appointed crusader" against rack
eteering in New York City. But the
real facts of the whole hook-up on
Facketeering will never appear in the
capitalist press.
There are many workers now walk
ing the streets hungry without work,
without hopes of a job, with their
union cards taken away because they
could not pay dues, who were forced
to part with hundreds of dollars for
the 'kick-back" racket on the Rock
efeller Center job.
II am now without work" read
dozens Of affidavits Of these workers.
ST am forced to apply for city relief
as the result Of unemployment"
Rockefeller is resting and recup-
Grating"
One Of these victims. a Negro
worker by the name of Ryland Bruno,
plasterers helper, tells how he was
brutally mulcted by the kick-baek
racket at Radio City.
The Evening journal completely
distorts this story in order to shield
the union officials greatly responsible.
To give an example Of the distor-
tion-how the Journal uses it's So
called racketeering expose for its own
ends, for anti-working class and anti
trade union purposes, for the object
of speeding the passage of fascist
labor laws-we quote its treatment
of the Bruno instance. Writes the
| Journal:
you'll have to pay me $3.50 for
each day you work here" (The fore
man for The Architectural Plastering
Co. told Bruno)
Brun had signed on for $3.50 a
day. He protested Kicking back"
with $3.50 of this.
Suppose you get caught at this?'
he said to the foreman.
Why, everyone knows about the
kick-back'," he says Jams (the
forman) replied.
What Really Happened
Here is actually what happened as
told by Bruno in a letter to the chair
man, officers and members of PlaS-
terer Helpers Local No. 80:
Thursday at 1 p. m, after was
hired, he (WiIliams) told me that
the full wages would be paid. But
| would have to return S2.50 for
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-01-12
Progressive Miners
Elect Rank, File to
Office in 13LOcalS
9 Women's Branch $
Also Elect Officers
from Opposition

SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,, Jan. lin
complete information as to the re-
suits of the elections in the locals of
the Progressive Miners of America,
not yet reported in the Daily Worker,
indicates that rank and file opposi-
ton candidates have been elected to
official positions in IS local unions.
Among these elected officials are a
number who are members of the
Communist Party and the Young
Communist League. In no locals, how
ever were all officials elected from
the rank and file slate.
Nine locals of the women's aux
iliaries Of the P. M. A. elected off
GERS from among the rank and file
candidates. Most Of these candidates
are members Of the Communist Party.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-01-12

each day that WORKED. con.
sidered the assertion and asked
him:
"'Suppose you were caught do
ing that, what would the delegates
do about it?'
HE responded: That the dele
gates knew all about it, and every
one on the Job is working under
those conditions"
The union representative knew that
grating was going on, that the
workers wages were being slashed in
this manner, end that everyone was
working under those conditions.
Why didn't he do anything about
it? There evidently were good rea-
sons why the union officials permitted
the bosses to continue slashing wages.
Pay Big Sums
Some workers paid huge sums over
q short perid of time. We list few
of these. T. w. from Nov, 1892 to
June 8, 1888, paid $225 Of his wages
back to the contractor. T. D, from
Nov. 5, 1892, to April ., 1888, % weeks
paid $3.50. Another worker M. D., in
four months, paid SITS.
About the lowest that the kick
back" racketeers stopped was to take
SIPS out Of the wages Of one plaster
ers' helper who worked for only one
half day, receiving $425 for his labor.
He had been jobless for some time.
Debts had piled up. He would have
to live ON this sum for many days
before he could flnu another job.
The grafters still insisted he kick
back
H. S. another worker was en-
ployed on the same job.
''I received S34 for four days work -
he said "On the following day E. er
I was paid, Jess Williams, the fore
man, called me over.
81 Was Hard-Up"
You have to give me $40 Of that,
he told me.
he took me to small room where
he insisted that I give " the
money. was not working much up
to them. 1 was very hard-up
I'm a poor man. I told him. T
have a family to support and times
are hard with me- I can't afford to
give you this money
HE threatened me. He said if 7
did not give him $40 for each day
I worked I would be fired and earn
no money at all I paid him the
$40"
Who are the racketeers? What
relation do they have to the gov
ornment? What is the purpose of
the recent hectic activity of Hearst
and the Copeland Senate Commit
tee in its so-caIled investigation Of
racketeering? What role is Roose-
welt playing in this whole struggle?
These questions as well as a de-
tailed and throughout exposure of
graft and racketeering in many
unions and the history of the strug-
gle against them will be printed in
future articles in the Daily Worker.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-01-12
Continued from Page u


ened, to turn over a big share OF
their wages to the racketeers. The
"kick- back was In full swing. But
the 'ill' Mr.. Rockefeller was far
away recuperating, and couldn't say
a word about racketeering.
The letter to John D. Rockefeller
Jr., written by Attorney Adolph DIX
who has been active in exposing rack
eteering for the Anti Racketeerina
Committee, told the oil Millionaire the
following:
Letter to Rockefeller
mfr. John d. Rockefeller, Jr.,
"26 Broadway,
New York City,
Dear Sir:
"a very serious matter affecting
the hundreds of workers employed
in the erection of Radio City has
been brought TO my attention, in
which they were forced to pay
weekly tribute of considerable size
for the privilege Of being employed.
For the past month there has
been streaming into my office
committee after committee repre-
senting these workers relating a
system of extorti0n in which these
workers we're involved, and which,
] am informed, has turned into a
profitable but unfortunate racket,
and that with this condition en-
anating from Radio City, IL has
found its way into the building
trade generally throughout the
city.
1.-THE pIasterers hired by tbs
Architectural Piastering COMPANY
in constructing the now completes
Roxy Theatre, at SixtI Ave. and
50th St., were each forced to pay
back sum of money ranging frora
S12.50 up to $40 per week for the
time they were employed. Many
Of these people have sworn to affi-
davits now in my possession, de-
failing the time, place, and the
persons to whom these weekly
monies were given. j may state
that some of these latter gentlemen
we're connected with the aforemen-
Toned Architectural Plasterin,.
20. I have been given a list Of thc
names of the workers involved il
his extOrtion scheme and / have
been assured that there were many
mere whose names would be fur
nished to me upon request.
"AS the principal sponsor of the
Radio City project which has been
proclaimed to be instrumental in
alternating the eyer-increasing I'M
employment, am calling this mat
ter to your attention for your i'm
mediate consideration. Many of
these workers are in dire distress
and have been evicted from their
homes. A large number are recipi-
ents of charity from various relief
bureaus, and many of them, if not
d vast majority, are reduced to
utter penury.
"These workers have erected the
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-01-12
Foreiggn-Born Pay Dues
In United Mine Workers
But Can't Hold Offices
Unions Aid IN Raising
Funds for National
JObLesS Convention

NEW YORK.-The United Shoe
and Leather Workers Union and
the Needle Trades Workers IN
dustriaI Union have taken steps
to aid in the financing of the Ma
tional Convention Against Unem-
ployment, to be held in Washing
ton, on Feb. 3, 4 and 5.
Both unions have taken a large
number OF convention stamps to
be sold for i've cents each in ad-
dition to boxes for the tag day col
iections.
A number Of workers clubs and
organizations have arranged house
parties and affairs for the benefit
of the convention. Organizations
and individuals in New York City
arranging affairs for the benefit
Of the convention should eommu-
nicate with the Special Conven-
ton Fund Committee, 20 E. 10th
ST., telephone Algonquin 4-7846.
The committee has features such
as films and speakers to aid at
such affairs.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-01-12
Lewis Machine + ars
Militancy of Foreign
Born Coal Miners
BY TOM MYERscoUGH

Although it boldly declares in the
cry first section of Article that
is purpose is to unite in one or
Plantation, regardless Of creed, color
Jr nationality, all men working in
and around the mines on the Ameri-
IAN continent" the constitution OF
he United Mine Workers of America
llso very definitely declares that
foreign born non-citizens cannot hold
office in the union.
This bar to leadership for foreign
3orn members of the union, regard
ess of what abilities they may pos
sess, can be found in the first section
Of Article of the U. M. w. A. con-
stitution in the following words: "Any
member in good standing in the or
ganization who is a citizen of the
United States or Canada, or who has
legally declared his intention of be-
coming citizen shall be eligible
to hold office in the International
Union"
It can be readily seen, therefore,
hat any foreign-born miner who is
militant fighter of the type any
union needs for real leadership, can
not become eligible to hold office.
And this because both the United
States and Canada have vicious anti
'oreign-born laws and policies which
aot only bar them from citizenship,
cut hasten the day when they cam
not even be residents Of the coun-
ry.
Struggle Against Restrictions
At the approaching convention OF
he U. M. w. A. the delegates should
axe the necessary steps to eliminate
heSe hateful clauses and the many
5ther barriers to progress from the
constitution and replace them with
avs and rules that will serve the
rest interests of the miners. Such
interests are working class interests
View rules must be enacted to re-
place the document which now serves
he interests of Lewis, his payroll
'atelites and the coal operators.
The membership of the U.M.W.A
S preponderantly foreign born. but
hey pay their dues in hard-earned
american dollars, and this fact
'hould help to sway the delegates tc
lcsion at the convention. John L
Lewis is willing to take his $4,000
'slary out Of the dues paid by these
'oreign-born members. How about
lights for these miners who pay
'ues? When a foreign-horn miner
With ability to lead is desired fol
leadership. there should be no clause
n the constitution to conflict Will
he one which reads: "The purpose
If this organization is to unite, Re.
sardless Of creed, color or national.
ity, al men working in and around
he mines"
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-01-12
BY MILTON HOWARD

In the first two articles we opened
up the elaborate machinery of the
Roosevelt $1o,ooo,oOOoo recovery
budget" and we found that it is the
government financial instrument of
the Roosevelt N.R.A.-New Deal pro-
gram, with which the capitalist State
power at Washington is now doing
the following three things:
I. Guaranteeing the profits and in
vestments Of the Wall Street bond
holders, mortgage holders, stockhold-
ers, through the pumping of huge
subsidies to the banks. RIG. "loans, ;"
etc.
2, Organizing the entire economy of
the country, SO that the grip of mono
poly capital on production will be
strengthened and made more efficient
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-01-12
Roosevelt Plans To Lay Huge Taxes On Masses TO Garry Budget Loae
FIGHT MUST BE FOR HEAVY TAXES ON RICH

This Is the third and last OF
series Of articles on the Roosevelt
budget. The first two articles ex-
amined the character Of budgets
in the capitalist state, the details.
of the present recovery budget"
and their effect on the masses
EDITORS NOTE.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-01-12

AZ sesz- sgsszssllsrA
c1g.
4 ysry sffsostas sae nu0drsds Il
eosstSsrsols privilege being employed.
oo1ntttse
that this condition snaating
constructing the coapled
to pay
ranging $3.50 5000
employed. Rsn these people ATLANTIS
Of
latter gentlemen eouneted with aforementioned
chat there would
0 yprojec
Increasing
then If majority reduced
md
forced 50 give for the privilege OF working.
prepared 9 pass all he Do you 81
A via offices th
sourtIF'ry truly,
"~ At>N 1Hc
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-01-12

uefReproducton Rockefeller
Attorney Adolph acting the Anti Raekeng
mttee telling wholesale acketeering
eier Center.
AboveRepIyng Attorney exposing raekeeerng
at Rockefeller Center bonaes secretary replies that
is resting recuperating."
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-01-12
Strong Opposition Need
in lntern'l LongshOre
Assoc. Is Stressed
BY ROY HUDSON

A conference called by the Central
Committee Of the Party was held in
New York City on Jan. 6 for the pur-
pose Of Strengthening the work Of the
Party IN the marine industry in the
North Atlantic ports in the spirit Of
the Open Letter. The conference was
attended by all the leading forces en-
gagged in 1Ongshore work, as well as
leading members Of the District Blu
reaus and Section Committees Of the
Communist Party in the ports Of Bos-
ton, New York, Philadelphia, Balti-
more and Norfolk, by members Of
the Central Committee Of the Party
and the fraction Of the National Ex-
ecutive Board of the Trade Union
Unity League.
The composition Of the conference.
seven longshoremen, 10 seamen and
% non-marine workers active in the
work, strongly emphasized the ex-
IRENE weakness of the Party in the
longshore section Of the marine in
dustry, and the fact that the Party
had failed to improve its situation
there despite the favorable possible
ties that exist. This was especially Sc
rious in view of the relative progress
that the Party has been able to make
amongst the seamen where more Sc
rious and systematic work has been
carried through and where number
OF favorable achievements are to be
recorded.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-01-12
CLARIFYING TASKS

The main discussions and reports
conferred around the question Of clari-
flying our tasks, particularly amongst
the longshoremen, Of carrying
through mobilization of the Party
in the districts for Immediately taking
steps to improve the situation, and of
establishing the definite responsible
ties Of the Party committees for the
work in the marine industry, with a
special concentration upon our major
weakness, the longshoremen.
The conference set itself the task
OF clarifying the Party's major poll
Evening star., 1934-11-04

RUT I didn't believe it. He was decidedly
= nice to her Since our arrival he had been
with her every day somewhere.
had to hold the place down. Not that he
really practiced here on his vacations but each
day brought a patient or two. I was office
nurse at home. I was family here.
I'm very worried Marian. If anything hap
pened-any scandal-Paul would be ruined for
ever. 1t isn't like him."
Don't worry, Aunt Fan. All doctors have
these experiences, especially nerve specialists
like DR.. Paul.
II know, know" she nodded "When look
at a fine wholesome girl like you, my dear I
wonder how women can be so different. You
were always fine. When I took you, at IL,
remember almost your first words were, I'm
going to work and help you some day when
I'm big. I'm going to be a nurse And you
were in the hospital a week after you left
school,"
I hadn't much to say. was getting madder
by the minute. Where was this son of hers
now? The first day that she came to the
Office thought that Sheba had risen. She had
not only looked as healthy as q badger but never
have I seen such clothes No sick woman
dresses like that.
That night I went home and looked at my
self. you're as plain as q loaf Of bread"
said, looking in the mirror. I'm those furs and
Thinker in the Seven Veils' Brace up, my
child Starch and linen for you. Even q hair
wave suits you about as wel a tiara would
. mine mule. You're only jealous"
But wasn't jealous. merely resented her,
everything about her, and now I resented her
more than ever. The little nit-wit was trying
her best to ruin the two finest people in the
world-her husband and the great DR.. Paul van
CiSe.
Suddenly the door opened and two wet
figures came in, the tall black one carrying the
small violet one. Oh, yes, violet raincoats
keep the rain on the same as any other color.
But 1t would be violet, of course!
He set her down and she shook the water
out of her hair.
Aunt Fanny got up. She said something
polite, but not too much. Then I led her of
to bed. I gave her . bromide and q hot pad
and she was 30 tired she was asleep almost be-
fore I had the light out / went down the back
stairs to get her q bottle of ice water for the
night.
Evening star., 1934-11-04

- HE telephone rang and DR.. Paul, coffee
cup in hand, went to answer it.
Aunt Fanny and had had feel
ing it was going to happen and as a
result we had talked little at dinner.
DIR. Paul was very tired. He had been
out all day helping with sandbags on the
dunes where row of cottages stood below the
hotel We feared he would have to 60 out
again and it was now past O'Clock
Hello! Hello!"
There was trouble with the line No wonder
The wires were whipping our cottage like gun
locked, we could hear the wind and rain and
the sea two blocks of laundering like dyna-
mite under a mountain
Hello! Yes?"
Another terrific blast and Hannah in the
kitchen could be heard muttering her prayers.
Tonight she kept at it between her pilgrimages
to serve US in the living dining room.
"All right, I'll 60 over. Yes! Are you"
DR.. Paul shook the receiver. No use. The
line was dead
He put down his cup. got his slicker and
boots and was out in the road without another
word
'She would get him out" said his mother
Indignantly I called her Aunt Fanny although
I wasn't her niece. Its wonder she waited
this long"
Hell be all right" I assured her, but I
felt like shaking that silly little goose over at
the hotel. Leah Parkes had trailed him down
here to Inlet Bar just when I thought all
three Of us were escaping.
Paul is very tired, and he seems to be
worried about something. Oh, I do wish she
would let him alone. What will her husband
be thinking? And Clinton Parkes Is such q
fine man." Aunt Fanny said sadly.
HE used to be. but in spite Of the fact
that she insists he came for the fishing, the
only fish he seems interested in are the ones
he hooks out of jackpot to the tune of some
thing long and red to drink. He lives over at
the Bay Club most of the time. guess she gets
lonely"
But why did she come here? They had
the whole coast to choose from and we are old
fixtures at Inlet" insisted Aunt Fanny shes
after Paul and can't understand him.
Hell shake her off,"
But he isn't"
"Give him time. He has something up his
sleeve"