davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-01
A. F. of L. Racketeer Resigns
after Grating Millions
international President of the Electrical Union
Systematized Graft Campaign


NEW YORK. - Pork barrel
graft on a tremendous scale
marked the period when In
ternational President Howell
H. Breach controlled the
Brotherhood o f Electrical
Workers, Local 8, up to the
middle of 1888.
Seven and q half millions of dol
lars, collected from the workers in
dues, harsh fines, special assessments
and taxes, all passed through the
hands OF an Organizing committee"
appointed by Breach. The money
was never accounted for; the vouch-
ers for sl,500,0OO were DESTROYED.
twenty million dollars were paid into
q group insurance plan fostered by
Breach for his favorite big contrac-
tors and the money lent to union
officials. The money was lost to the
workers as final outcome.
Racketeer Howell Fl Breach. who
organized this systematic business of
graft, entered into the electrical
union picture back in 1926. He spent
two years in New York fighting the
O'Hara machine, then in charge of
Local 3, and finally succeeded in
ousting him on charges of graft and
corruption.
Breach must have held his tongue
in his cheek when he preferred
such charges, because after he sue
ceeded ]. r. Noonan as Interna-
tional President in 1929, corruption
and graft In Local 3 started in real
earnest.
One Of the first things he did was
to organize the organizing committee
under appointments from the Inter
national. Then he transferred $4,000
from the general fund to the organ
izing fund. That chicken feed soon
gave out, so that Breach drummed
up a lockout scare and assessed the
5000 members of the local $50 and
SIS to flight" the bosses. The money,
some $283000, was put into fund
for strike that never came Off
And the money was never returned.
But Breach was just starting to
rub his hands.
In the same year, 1929, Breach and
his pals put across q group insur-
ance proposition on Local 8. They
formed the Union Cooperative In
surance Corporation, Of which Breach
was one of the officials, and put the
stock of the company into the hands
of administration officers. (Iatthew
Vol, Vice-President Of the A. F. of
L., heads the Union Labor Life In
surance Company Of Washington,
D. c.
Three thousand dollar policies were
issued. The boss contributed 20
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-01

proposes to the workers not to have
any trouble but accept the ultimatum
of the bosses, so the shops can re-
main union" shops. 1t is important
to mention that this local has a shop
on strike. the Becker shop, since
June, 1888, without being able TO
settle, because of the ode luxe" man
ner in which Mr. Hoffman intends
TO gain condition for the workers.
The workers in this local are extra
taxed since the strike started.
In Local Sc, Wilkes Barre, Pa, the
situation is not better. When the
local was organized in August, 1888,
the first move OF Mr.. Graves is to
collect $420 from the strikers, before
moving his little fingers for them.
The strike then was settled at
back door on 10 per cent increase.
1t is important to know that before
the workers went out on strike, the
bosses offered Is per cent increases.
Now, with the wonderful A. F. of l..
organization, all the men are put
on piece work. High dues of 81
and Sl.50 quickly have been initiated
in this local. The revolt has already
been started in this local, The men
cut down the high salary of the
business agent, and the local refused
to send its per capita to the inter-
national. The workers organizing a
militant lef wing group in the local,
putting militant program of action
forward in contrast to the soft lem
made talk Of the ALL. officials.
In Baltimore. Nd, at Local rs, the
members even don't attend any meet
ing after the postponement OF the
elections st which meeting the left
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-01
Furniture Union
COnveneS Feb. 9

NEW YORK. - The first national
convention of Furniture Workers will
take place in New York City on Feb
ruary 9-12 at N. Y. headquarters, 812
Broadway.
The convention will open with a
mass meeting and concert on Friday
evening at irving Plaza Hall with
speakers from the Trade Union Unity
League and other labor organizations
greeting the convention.
From a small group two years ago,
the Industrial Union comes 20 its first
national convention with a member
ship of more than 1900 in 16 locals in
all the furniture centers Of the coun-
try.
On Saturday night, February TO-
the New York local OF the Industrial
Union will greet the delegates with q
banquet and dance.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-01
Furniture orkers Convention Establish Strong Industrial Union

vention, the body voted unanimously
to send delegates and affiliate with
the Furniture Workers Industrial
Union.
1t has also decided to order 1000
copies of the next issue of our Of
ficial organ, the Furniture Worker"
Thus we see that the many indie
pendent unions now scattere d
throughout the country can be
brought into affiliation when they
are properly approached, and when
the TU.U.L. policies and tactics are
explained to them, the question of
utilization is no longer an obstacle
for them.
The National Committee at the
present is also approaching another
large independent furniture union in
the State of Massachusetts for SIM
liar action and we feel confident that
the workers there also will take the
correct road establishing unity in the
trade.
The Jamestown local of the F. w.
I. U. has also carried on some good
united front activity in that large
furniture center, bringing about unity
in the trade and building up it's ex-
listing local to be the third largest
local of our national organization.
In Chicago the local F.WI.U. is
going forward, entrenching itself
mainly among the piano workers, but
slow progress among other
trade workers as well.
In Philadelphia we have small
fighting local, which only recently
has won its second major victory,
settling a strike with q 100 per cent
victory In Baltimore the local Just
organized its first union shop and
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-01
Madam Perkins, Sec'y.
OF Labor, Aids Lewis
In Convention Stunts
Election of Officers Set
for December
by Mail

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Jan. 81
Frances Perkins, Secretary Of Labor,
called on workers to contribute con-
structiyely towards the N. r. A."
when she spoke today before the
seventh session of the 33rd United
Mine Workers of American Conven-
ton. This afternoon also saw the
last of the resolutions being brushed
aside, and the constitution remained
a Lewis weapon.
Asserting that business conditions
generally appeared to be greatly im-
proved under the codes Of the Ma
tional Industrial Recovery Act, Miss
Perkins then admitted that:
with decrease In the coal miners
employed and drop in payrolls,
many of your members have suffered
a haunting fear of disaster and pow
erty in the last few years"
Miss Perkins and John L. Lewis
eulogized each other and literally
took formal bows on mutual compli-
ments. A Negro quartet Of Logan
County, West Virginia, Lewis strong
hold, sang do You Love Your Union
and Do You Love John l.. Lewis"
while Negro delegates were Jim
Crowed to the Negro section Of this
city.
Fraught With Modesty
The head of the American Depart
ment of Labor spologized for not
knowing working conditions as well
as Lewis and said she was "fraught
with modesty."
"You know the problem of the
worker and miner" she said, ad-
dressing Lewis, better than I shall
ever know. There is very little I can
tell you. but you through some form
Of expression can tell me a lot"
Speaking of the cause of the crisis
OF capitalism, she said: "It is not q
chaos OF what some of our revolu-
tionaries would have 1t, but 1t Is a
chaos Of individuals
At the conclusion OF her speech,
Lewis thanked her with his Stereo-
typed: Highly educational and illu-
nninsting speech"
Miss Perkins address today eli
NAKED the array Of able misleaders
and violent reactioneries from the
speech by @. 3. Huntress, representa-
tive of the coal operators, to those OF
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-01
w orkers From ALI Over
u. S. To Gather in
New York Feb. 9

wingerS We're ready to take the mat
ters into the proper hands. Nobody
pays any dues for the past four
months, and there is widespread
rumor among the upholsterers in
Baltimore, that if Deamer, the sell
out field organizer Of the interna-
tional ever puts his foot in Balti-
more, he will be carried out by an
MIRA. Ambulance" The biggest A.
F. of L. union shops slowly are turned
into yellow company union.
Rank and File Leadership
All affiliated T.U.UL. unions stand
for real democracy in the unions, for
the control of the union by the rank
and file. This historical convention
Of furniture workers will elect its
rank and file leadership from its
own ranks, will decide on the final
constitution. The convention I'M
doubleday will register its full ap-
proval to any united front action with
A. F. of l.. workers and independent
unions, and will put forth as its main
aim the organization of the under
paid, morganized furniture workers.
BY adopting such fighting policies
of the T.U.UL, working constantly
toward unity, exposing the fake mis-
leaders of labor, will the National
Furniture Workers Industrial Union
become a factor in the furniture in
dustry, and in the American labor
as a whole.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-01
Boss Within Rights
To Call Cops, Says
" Socialist " Mayor
Millinery Workers Picket
Struck Shop in
Bridgeport

BRIDGEPORT, Conn, Jan. 81. -
The strike of 40 millinery workers OF
Klein Bros. on Wells ST. continued
yesterday with mass picketing in spite
of the bitter cold weather and the
police intimidation. The workers
struck on Monday under the leader
ship OF the Needle Trades Workers
Industrial Union.
When the boss called in the Shop
Committee for conference yester-
day, the committee was confronted by
a sergeant and two policemen who
helped the boss in trying to brow-beat
the committee into calling OF the
strike.
The strikers sent delegation TO the
Socialist Mayor, Jasper McLevy and
demanded that ne withdraw the police
from the shop.
The Mayor answered that the
boss was within his rights to call
upon the police to guard his prop.
erty but that the police would not
, protect the scabS. However, since
the boss has not been able to get
scabs to work so far, the presence
of the police in large numbers is
meant to intimidate the p.ckets.
The police are acting as scab herd
crs for the boss by trying to induce
some of the pickets to go back 10
work under their protection"
The strikers are demanding recog-
milton of the union and re-instate-
ment of two discharged workers. The
boss had agreed before the strike was
called to raise wages but then pro-
ceeded to fire two of the workers most
active in organizing the union.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-01
Energetic Struggle Was
Carried on Against
Company Unions
nv roE KISS
BY JOE KISS
National Secretary of the Furniture
Workers Industrial Union)

National Secretary Of the Furniture
Workers Industrial Union)
Only short time Is left to Feb.
9, when the furniture workers will
convene in New York City, holding
their rank and file convention. At
this convention, new national or
ganization will be born. The Trade
Union Unity League, which, true to
its traditional policy helped the fur
niture workers in every locality to
consolidate their forces into local Or
CARNATIONS, was mainly instrumental
in calling and founding the National
Committee, aiding in every city and
nationally to prepare and call the
convention, which will consolidate our
scattered locals and action commits
tees into one militant National Furni-
ture Workers Industrial Union.
Tour In Preparation
The National Committee of the
F.WI.U. has organized four national
tours, covering the States of Penn
sylyania, Maryland, New England,
Massachusetts, New Jersey, Connecti-
cut, and the far middle west states.
It's field organizers have made con-
tact with groups OF furniture workers,
who in many instances never heard
OF any organization in the furniture
industry
In many instances the bosses or
ganized their company unions under
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-01

Frances Perkins, ROOseyeIt'S
Secretary of Labor, who heaped
praise ON John L. Lewis at u. nj.
w. a. Convention.
William Green, head Of the A. F. of
L.. Governor McNutt of Indiana, the
local Mayor and various other dig
nitaries of the A. F. of l..
The report of the constitutional
committee was pushed through with
few dissenting noes.
The convention fixed the date Of
the next biennial convention for the
fourth Tuesday in January, 1886.
The convention city was rDt speci-
fled, but it is understood that the
national headquarters are to be
moved to Washington and that the
convention will also be held there.
The next election of international
officers was set for the second Tues
day in December of this year. The
election is to be conducted by mail.
The present convention will no
doubt adjourn Wednesday, thus fin
ishing in seven days what in former
years took up to three weeks.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-01

Ouok2OSS dSChk u LuCdA 5s G1cC-
trical Workers Union, who was
convicted Monday of shooting two
members Of the opposition group.
cents an hour for every hour put in
by an electrician and the workers
made weekly contributions.
Breach rubbed his hands some
more. The insurance scheme, ne
said, was a sign Of the harmonious
relationships that he had established
between the boss and the electrical
worker. Then he clapped his hands,
and in April, 1882, the membership
was notified that the money paid
into the insurance fund was lost to
them. OF course he blamed union
wreckers," tabor spies" and militant
Communists for attacks on the in
surance graft as the cause of its
breakdown. But the real reason was
that the trick had served its purpose
and could no longer be used.
When the membership OF Local
started clamoring for an account
ing of these tremendous expendi-
lures by officials of one OF the
richest locals in the country,
Breach and the other corrupt gang
zter officials moved swiftly, murder
ing and smuggling the members.
From 1926 to the middle Of 1888,
SEQ members have either been ex-
PEELED, barred from attending union
meetings or suspended. But in 1888
the rank and file made it too hot
for Breach and he resigned from
the International Presidency.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-01

the cause Of "chop committees"
We contacted the Independent
Linoleum Workers Industrial Union
of Lancaster, Pa, with membership
Of 1000. The workers are employed
by the powerful Armstrong Linoleum
Co., which, in line with the Presi-
dents recovery program" is operat-
ing on two-day week, strictly pay
ing the minimum wage scale of 40
cents per hour as a maximum pay.
During the high peak of the N.R.A.,
the bosses set up company union,
which is called by Mr.. George B.
Blaisdell, the plant superintendent,
the Armstrong Shop Committee. "
And as d matter Of routine this So
called shop committee" meeting is
usually called to order by the chair
man, who is nobody else but Mr..
Blaisdell.
Vote to Send Delegates
This numerically strong indie
pendent union has found itself in
capable Of liquidating the company
union by winning the confidence and
support OF all the 1000 workers en-
ployed by the company. Its honest
and sincere leadership did not realize
that behind the Armstrong Co. is
the powerful Linoleum and Felt Base
Association, and that
therefore for them also it requires
a stronger national organization
which guides and leads them In their
battle against the powerful trust in
their industry. SO when the repre-
sentative OF the National Committee
Of the F.WI.U. addressed their meet
Ing, inviting them not only to par
ticipate but to affiliate to our ma
sional body at our forthcoming con-
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-01
Jewelry Strike in Jersey
Broken; N.R.A. Orders
Strikers To Return

NEWARK, N. J., Jan. Silt was
announced today that the three
months strike of the 900 iewelry
workers is ended. The National Labor
Board, under the Craftsmanship Of
Senator Wagner, has hoodwinked The
strikers back to work without a set
tIement, promising them an agree
ment in the near future.
The so-called agreement, signed by
the N. r. A. Labor Board, states only
that the workers are to report back
to work as quickly as possible and
that worker representation for the
purpose Of collective bargaining" will
be taken up at an early date.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-01
486, 926 ExSerUicenten
RensOued from Pension
Rolls BY Economy Act

WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. 81.
The names OF 43G,926 veterans
have been taken off compensa-
ton rolls under the Economy Act.
General Frank T. Hines, admin
istrator Of veterans affairs, told
a Senate appropriations commit
tee Tuesday.
Hines praised the "soundneSs"
OF this procedure, which is deprlv-
ing jobless ex-seryicemen of their
only means of existence during the
fifth winter OF the crisis, and
urged that even greater numbers
OF ex-soldiers be deprived of their
miserly monthly allowances.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-01
1orH
| ANNIvERSARY
| Daily Worker
| eEkE RR ATHoNS
PhitadeLphia:

On Feb at Gmard Manor Hall,
Oil w. Girard Ave. Good program
arranged.
Pittsburgh, Pa.
On Feb. 3 at Russian Hall, 1903
sera st. SIS. Interesting program.
Boston, Mass.
On Feb. 10 at Dudley St. Opera
House, lis Dudley St., Roxbury.
Clarence Hathaway, Editor Daily
Worker, main speaker. Varied
program, including Russian Work
ers Chorus. Presenting of Daily
Worker Banner to Boston District.
Adm. 25c.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-01

Do you want to hear how the Ger
man Party is able to effectively lead
the German working class in spite OF
iIiegality? Hear Earl Browder speak
at the Bronx Coliseum, Feb, Ii.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-01

to hear the report of the return
ing delegates.
4. To call united front confer
ence involving all labor OrganiZa-
tiOns for wide financial and moral
support of the strikers.
As soon as the news OF this plan
reached the press, the Steel and
Metal Workers Industrial Union in
Baltimore announced their intentions
Of welcoming the associations COM
nittee enroute.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-01
SIS A WEEK ON C. W. A.
By a Worker Correspondent

DETROIT, Mich. 49, The Direct
Credit Society la new organization
for the purpose Of cementing closer
relations between labor and capital
-Editor.l is strong around here in
Ecorse.
The c. W. A. is cutting of the
workers here in Ecorse. One or two
get % a week, and the rest get only
SIS a week.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-01

accommodate sea planes as well as
land planes. Similarly, cities through
out the country are being urged to
build airports for war purposes with
@. w. A. and P. W. A. funds.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-01

Bni,d Airport With c. ". 4.
OCEAN CITY, Calf, Jan. 81
Under the pretense of giving employ
ment to 400 men, c. W. A. funds
are being used TO build an airport
here. The airport is being built to
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-01
OSHKOSH g. w. A. Workers Form
Union

OSHKOSH. Wisc.--A Relief Work
ers Union has been formed Egle
under the leadership Of the Unem-
ployed Councils, for a struggle
against the Roosevelt abandonment
Of the @. w, A, against wage cuts
and lay-offs. Membership meetings
are held on Thursday at 928l2
Oregon st.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-01
Force Ell PasO c. w. A. Workers To
Honor" Roosevelt

Ell PASO, Texas.-C. w. A. work
ers here were forced to buy tickets
to the ball to honor" Roosevelt on
his SIND birthday. Ten thousand
tickets have been distributed here.
Foremen on C. w. a gangs are given
tickets to sell TO the underpaid G.
w. A. workers at SO cents each. The
ball is to be held in Liberty Hall
which holds 5000 persons. C. w. a.
workers here receive from Sc to $12
q week.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-01

A. W. Mills, Dist. Org. Of the Philadelphia
Sect. C. P, will speak on what Is Com
munism" at the Lancaster Workers Forum,
Friday, pm.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-01
C.. W. A. Workers Form
Unions, Fight Agaiils.
Pay Cuts

workers. in the HYDE Park neighbor-
hood have organized a local Of the
Civil and Public Works Labor Union
The union meets on Mondays, at
1904 e. 55th st.
Among the demands Of the union
are: minimum wages OF SO cents an
hour, skilled workers 10 receive the
union rates of pay; free transporta-
ton to and from the Job, and recog-
milton Of the job committee.
Form Linden, N. j., Union
LINDEN, N. J.-C. W. A. workers
here have formed the Linden Relief
Workers Protective Association to
fight pay cuts, layoffs and the
Roosevelt abandonment of the entire
c. w. A. program. The Linden In
employed Council and the Commu-
mist Party have played a leading
role in organizing the G. W, A.
workers.
Under the leadership of the IN
employed Council, the workers here
are to hold a mass demonstration
on Feb. 3, demanding that the city
endorse the Workers Unemployment
Insurance Bill.
Two delegates have been elected to
the Washington National Conven-
ton Against Unemployment, to be
held on Feb. 3, and 5. One dele
gate is from the Relief Workers
Union, and the other is from the
Linden United Front Organizations.
Lynn C. w. A. Workers To Meet
LYNN, Mass.-Workers' represen-
tatives from every G. w. A. project
here will hold an organizational
meeting for the purpose of forming
a G. w. A. workers union. The meet
ing will be held at the Cutters and
Lasters Hall Of the United Shoe and
Leather Workers Union. Monroe
St., Friday, Feb. 2, at 8 p. m.
The workers are demanding the
return Of the Roosevelt wage cut on
c. w. A., against the abandonment
of the G. w. A. and the extension
and enlargement Of the G. w. A.
and to plan for a wide campaign
'or the endorsement and passage Of
the Workers Unemployment anc
Social Insurance Bill.
Force Reinstatement OF Fired
Workers
CLEVELAND, Ohio, Feb. 1.-TWO
G. w. A. workers, George Chase, ant
Dave Martin, we're fired from q c
w. A. job here on Jan. IS, on the
excuse of INSTRUMENTATION, but II
reality for attempting to organize
the men on the job.
These workers Immediately cir,
culated a petition among the work.
ers, stating that they were free
without cause, and after obtaining
az signatures from the 30 men or
the Job demanding that they be re.
instated, forced the superintendent
to re-instate them.
AS g result OF this struggle, steps
are being taken TO organize a griev-
ance committee on the job to take
up all the workers complaints Of
discrimination and favoritism.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-01
DAILY woRkER cELEnRAr1oN N rnrI.A

PHILADELPHIA - The tenth anniversary
Of the Daily will be celebrated Friday, 9
p. m at the Girard Manor Hall, gil W
Girard Ave. c. A. Hathaway, editor Of the
Daily, will be the main speaker