The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-12-29
By l. Amter

# W prevent uIllb6Q dCUlOu DeIllllu
Re Workers Unemployment and
I'D Social Insurance Bill at the
Washington Congress on Jan. ST.,
lie Socialist and Music leaders of
lie opponent unemployed organiza-
ons are raising new" issues,
hese people know that the masses
the United States want unem-
loymenG and social insurance.
hey also know that the Workers
i'll is not only the only genuine
Unemployment and social insurance
Il, but is the only bill that will
rovide insurance for the 5000, 900
Unemployed Not a single other
I, whether drawn up by Fed
or State commissions, or by
vate institutions, such as the
.Aerican Association for Social
ecurity CA. Epstein), or the Amer
IAN Association for Labor Legisla-
ion John Andrews, will afford
ne single penny of protection for
he unemployed. All the other bills
re unemployment reserves" bills,
llegedly intended to provide insur-
nee for a short time for workers
low employed who in the future
nay lose their jobs. But all these
ills are so constructed that even
hese workers may be deprived of
insurance. In addition, they all act
IS strikebreaking bills.
The MIA tional Unemployment
Council has proposed the united
,ront to the Socialist and Music
ontrolled unemployed organizations
mot once but many times. On oc-
,asion and in certain localities
Pittsburgh, Youngstown, New York,
Philadelphia, Illinois, etc. the
United front on certain issues has
'een achieved. This has been ef-
ted not through the good will
the leadership and recognition
their part that the united front
and unity are essential for most
effective struggle on the part of
all the unemployed. 1t has been
achieved through the mass pres
sure of the rank and file. When
directly approached, the leadership
Of these organizations refused the
united front; when the rank and
file spoke and acted, these leaders
had to change their position, as,
for instance, in New York, Chi
cago, Pittsburgh.
Reject Cooperation
In preparation for the Nov. "a
demonstrations, the Socialist and
Music national leadership of the
opponent unemployed organizations
united-but they rejected the CO.
operation of the National Unem-
ployment Council. In spite of this
the locals of the National
Unemployment Council participated
in varioT5 localities. In Chicago,
where real united front was
achieved, the demonstrators was a
most effective one. In other locali-
ties the demonstrations were pitt
iy small. This shows not only
weakness of the Socialist and
ste controlled unemployed or
but also the irresponsi-
bility of their leaders towards the
unemployed masses. Is not the aim
of demonstrations to increase the
power of the masses and
aid them in getting their demands?
Surely that can be the only pur-
pose of demonstrations, and the
only reason that the masses partici-
pate.
What were the demands of the
Nov. "a demonstrations? One Of
the central demands was for the
Workers Bill-thebiIl formulated by
the National Unemployment Coun-
Gil and for which the N. U. C. has
secured the support of four to five
people in the United States.
Should not, therefore, the N. u. c.
have been an integral part of the
demonstrations, and would not its
participation in all localities have
made Nov. "a a ringing day of
struggle and protest?
Vcdk DetHOuSITauOnS
But what was the result of the
refusal of the Music and Socialist
leaders? The best demonstration
was in Chicago-25, 600, of whom
10000 were brought into the streets
# the N. U. c., 5000 by the Work
{ Committee. In New York, 5000
1000, of whom no more than
/ 100 were brought out by the
Workers Unemployed Union and
were kept away by strict lines from
the remainder brought into the
streets by the N. U. C. In Pitts
burgh, about 500; Columbus, 100 to
$50; Gulfport, Miss, 1000; Milwau-
kee, 1900; Charleston, w. Va. 100
etc. In Newark, Ohio, despite the
bluff of a demonstration of 10000
(out OF a total population of 100000
there were only 20 in the demon
stration. other demonstrations
militancy, but very weak
participation.
Why is this brought forward
sharply? Because the Socialist and
Music leaders continue their ire
spOnsibility toward the unefnpIoyed
in refusing the united front, in keep
ing the workers divided, not on is
sues that the unemployed raise. but
that they themselves bring forward
in order that they, the leaders, NAV
continue in control of their rank
and file, This division only helms
the government and the bosses and
the division that the
employed want ended.
Muste-Socislist Split
s1r1 spite of these facts both the
Socialist and Music organs speak
about the gigantic" dernonstra-
Sons on Nov. oath, the greatest
-sltpouring of unemployed since the
depression began Gasser, Dec.
l4th). This is the sheerest humbug.
and only harms the unemployed
In response to the letter which