The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-07-17
A.F.On. Group
Asks Backing
For Strikers
"Issue of Frisco Strike
Affects All
Labor

NEW YORK.-In a statement to
all local unions Of the American
Federation of Labor, the A. F. OF
L. Rank and File Committee called
for energetic support of the San
Francisco General Strike.
The statement follows:
To all Locals of the A. r. of l..
To all A. F. of L. members:
Brothers:
The San Francisco General Strike
is the answer of the workers to the
brutal attacks of the employers and
their company union drive.
For months the resentment of the
workers throughout the country
against the open shop drive of the
bosses has been mounting. 1t was
expressed in the fight of the Toledo
workers in support of the Auto-Lite
strikers-there IS A. F. of L. locals
voted for a general strike. 1t was
expressed in the readiness of the
A. F. of L. organizations in Mime
apolis and milwaukee, to join IN gen.
eral strike in support of the striking
truck drivers and carmen Of these
respective cities.
1t has now found its highest ex-
preston in the actual organization
of the General Strike in San Fran
cisco of all the A. F. of l.. and
other unions in support Of the
striking lOngshOremen and sea-
men.
The A. F. of L. organizations in
San Francisco, thanks to the mill
fancy and determination of the rank
and file of the locals, did not fol-
low the advise of our President VIM.
Green who sent a special telegram
to the Seattle A. F. of L. Central
Body urging them to stop all talk
of general strike. The San Fran
cisco workers enraged by the brazen
and cynical stand of the shipown-
ers, by the murder of the strikers
and the bringing in of troops acted
according to the only correct policy
to answer the mobilization of the
forces of the bosses to break the
strike, by mobilizing the forces OF
labor in support of the strike.
Now the bosses know throughout
the country that labor can and will
fight back. Labor will not accept
company unions. Labor will not ac-
cept starvation wages. Labor will
not be chained with anti-strike and
compulsory arbitration measures
that are being promted by the new
deal" government. Labor will not
allow itself to be beaten back group
by group. Labor will not follow the
advise Of the Greens and Ryans
which leads to defeat just as sure
as the policies of their twin brothers
in Germany led to the smashing Of
the most powerful unions in the
world.
Labor Will Fight Back
The issues of the marine workers
strike, the issues of the San Fran
cisco general strike are issues that
face all labor in this country. 1t
involves the very existence OF or
ganized labor as a fighting force
against the employers. 1t involves
the most elementary needs and
RIGHTS of labor. Let us not be
triclled by the bosses and their press
that is trying to confuse these
burning elementary issues.
These issues were involved in the
auto situation. Green and Com
pany retreated before the auto mag
mates and compromised with the
company unions. These same is
sues were involved in the steel stu
alton. Green Tighe and Co. be-
trayed the interests of the workers.
These issues could not be side
tracked in the marine strike be-
cause the rank and file are playing
a more and more important role in
shaping the policies of the strike
and are overcoming the strike
breaking activities of the Greens
and their allies. They have time
and again repudiated the attempt
of Ryan to trick them and betray