davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1934-05-10
The Human Side of the News
Bu EdUin C.. Hill

The crowded East Side of New
York-its street boys and its
patriarchs alike-called him
"Old Ridley" as he moved in
silence through the slumS. A
stranger, seeing him, must have
paused and murmured: Surely,
a character out of Dickens" And
the characterization would have
been oddly accurate. for the old
mans father, the first Edward
Ridley, had fled the England of
Dickens in 1849 to escape the
debtors prison which kindly Mr..
Pickwick and MicaWber had
known so well.
This son, Edward Albert Rid
ley, at 88 years, had his office
in a sub-cellar 35 feet below the
sidewalks of New York. He in
variably wore an overcoat, some
times two, and his great, white
beard struggled almost to his
waist. And yet he was a man OF
$4,000, 900, the last of the Rid
leys, the merchant princes OF
the 70's and the sos.
The first Ridley had pyra-
nided his peddler's pack into a
department store, which in 1887
did a business of $6,000,0o0, EN-.
ployed $500 persons and catered
to the Astors, the VanderbiltS
and the Goulds. Then north
ward the course Of Manhattan
took it's way. But the Ridleys
stayed behind, secure in their
belief. that the mountain would
come to Mahomet.
Mystery Remains
It was not to be. Broadway,
Sixth Avenue and Fifth Avenue
took the place of Grand and
Allen Streets, and the House OF
Ridley went into decline. finally
to pass out in 1901. For
another 33 years, Edward Rid
ley stayed at the old diggings,
managing his real estate affairs
in his subterranean office.
And with him stayed Herman
Moensch. as his secretary. On
the third of January, 1881, Ed
ward Ridley found the body Of
Moensch on the floor of the
sub-cellar, riddled by bullets.
"The murderer meant to get
me. MY turn is next" said old
Ridley, but he went on, as
usual, about his affairs. On
the tenth of May of last year,
the police found the bodies Of
Ridley and of his new Secre-
tary, Louis Weinstein, on the
same stones, murdered as had
been Moensch, and by the same
weapon. Recently, in the sur
rogate's court of New York
county, the surrogate. after
weighing the facts of a strange
story, dismissed the claim of
67-year-old Jens Nelson to the
Ridley estate. The trail Of
this trial has led to Norway
and to the lumber camps of
Michigan. Nelson told this
story:
Edward Ridley, when 21,
married Orline Nelson, a Nor
wegian immigrant girl, against
the wishes of his father and
then gave her up on the threat
of being disinherited. She went
to her brother, who was work
ing in a lumber camp in
northern Michigan and there
he was born, Jens Nelson, the
son of Orline and Edward
Albert Ridley. He offers legal
documents to prove his case.
He has submitted the testi-
mony Of the husband of Rid
ley'S dead sister, that she told
him that Ridley had married a
Norwegian girl and then for
Saken her. The lawyers for
The Washington times., 1934-05-10

Don't Grouse About Conditions
There is too much talk about
money and expenses in most
homes.
The head of the house. in
keeping with most other per
sons, has had a considerable oe-
crease in income "''d talks about
1t most of the time.
If the home. fox are doing all
they can to keep down the ex.
penseS they should not be re-
minded constantly that econ
omy is necessary.
Nor should they be compelled
to listen to facts about money
when they are pretty thoroughly
SAINT with depression
finances.
They may not appear to be
The Washington times., 1934-05-10
WORDS OF WISE MEN

The tongue is the ambassador
Of the heart.-Lyly.
I love virtue very much, but
sensible people know that those
who talk about it too much
never have enough.-Voltaire.
Any peace is better than
civil War.-Cicero.
The Washington times., 1934-05-10

Man wants but little nor
that little long.
Waste is not grandeur.
If there were no fools, there
would be no war.
No man can rob us Of o0p
will.
The Washington times., 1934-05-10

C. ' ~' -O-'
C.
4 F1EparickD
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-03-26
Roosevelt Signs
Independence Bill
For Philippines
Leaves the Wall Street
Grin Tighter Than
Ever Before

WASHINGTON, March 25.-The
McDuf1e-T ydiI.gs Bill giving the
Philippines their formal indepen-
dence in 1945 was signed yesterday
by Roosevelt.
The bill gives the Philippines the
appearance of independence. Ac-
tually, it strengthens the hold of
American imperialism on the sugar
investments of American imperial
ism in the Islands. Philippine sugar
completes duty-free with Cuban
sugar, and is able to undersell
domestic production. The granting
of formal independence will permit
certain domestic sugar interests to
fight for tariff on the importation
of Philippine sugar. Already there
is bill up in the House for a tax
on Philippine cocoanut oil, which
completes with domestic oils.
At the same time, Roosevelt's ac-
ton gives American imperialism a
bargaining point in its present
diplomatic discussions with Japan
ese imperialism, while in no way
lessening the grip of Wall Street on
the island through financial monop-
oily. In addition, the Roosevelt
action is intended to serve as a
damper on the growing struggles
of the Philippine masses for real in
dependence from Wall street DOM
nation.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-03-26
A. FL. Heads
FearF allure
in Strike Stall
Hope for Last-Minute
Face-Saving
ManeuVer
lily Worker Washington Bureau)

DAILY Worker Washington Bureau)
WASHINGTON, March 25.-The
top leadership Of the American
Federation of Labor, having sur
rendered every major demand OF
the auto workers and facing a re-
volt by their own lower leaders now
in Washington, today admitted to
the Daily Worker that their only
hope of preventing a strike tomor-
row was to reach some face-saving
formula for the sell-out by tonight.
Meanwhile the manufacturers, en-
joying poker games in swanky no.
tel quarters, stood pat, promising
nothing, insisting that the A. F. Of
L. identify it's members direct to the
employers in connection even with
any fake collective bargaining
promise.
Asked by your correspondent
whether he would agree to strike
if no agreement we're reached to-
night, President William Green re-
piled:
Something has to be done to-
night. Otherwise something will
break tomorrow"
Assistant Secretary of Labor Ed
ward McGrady, former A. F. Of L..
leader who is ready to rush to De-
troit to repeat the strike breaking
Presidents promise" maneuver by
which he broke the Pennsylvania
coal strike last summer, told news
papermen today: William Collins
and these fellows claim they're
afraid they can't hold the men back
if they don't get a decision to-
night"
Collins, the national A. F. of L..
auto organizer, admitted rday
that the local leaders want to 60
back" and might leave today.
The threatened revolt of the lower
A. F. of L. leaders participating in
the conference with N. R. A. Ad-
ministrator General Johnson be-
came more menacing to Green to-
day as President Roosevelt issued
no summons and General johnson
called the A. F. of L. In without
having made any new proposal. The
revolt was STAYED off yesterday only
on assurances that some agreement
would be forthcoming today, that
probably Roosevelt would act. The
bitterness of the leaders, who must
go back to Detroit to face the men,
increased when johnson declared at
Continued on Page q
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-03-26
F'Red Herring" In
Fascist Sauce Is
Served in House

/ WASHINGTON, March rs. = A
large "red herring" soaked in semi
Fascist sauce was dragged out yes
terday in the House Committee
hearings on the proposed regulation
iof the New York Stock Exchange.
1T was in the form of letter said
to be written by DR.. William w.
Writ, of Gary, Indiana, in which he
quotes one of the members of
RooSevelt's so-called Brain Trust
a saying:
1--WE believe that we can keep
lMr. Roosevelt there until we are
ready to supplant him with
Stain. We all think that Mr..
Roosevelt is only the Kerensky of
this Revolution"
This was read yesterday to the
Committee of the House by James
Henry Rand, Jr., as part of his evil
dence for opposing the Fletcher
Rayburn bill to regulate stock ex-
changes.
On the basis of this letter, Rep.
d. L. Bulwinkle, of North Caro-
LIMA, who represents the textile
manufacturing interests of Meek
Ienberg and CASTOR counties,
(scene of the Gastonia strike of
1929 proposes to introduce a
sweeping resolution calling for an
investigation of the brain trust"
Bulwinkle, 1t will be recalled, led
a mob on Sept. 10, 1929 against
organizers and workers of the Ma
tionaI Textile Workers Union. kid
mapping and fiogging Ben Wells,
an organizer. and two other work
era
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-03-26
10 AL Locals
Support CIV A
March in Chi.
Chica GO W ork ers to
Parade Through
Loop on 3lst

DAILY Worker Midwest Bureau
CHICAGO, ILL.,, March 25.-Ten
local unions of the American
Federation of Labor have already
endorsed the march through the
loop which takes place on March
81, against the firing by Roosevelt
of $4,000 Chicago C.W.A. workers
on that date. The parade will as
semble at Union Park at 10 a. M,
March 81, and at 10:45 will march
down Randolph ST., to Michigan
Blvd, and south on Michigan
Blvd, to the Square at Congress
st.
Local No. "a of the Chicago
Workers Committee on Unemploy-
ment voted Thursday to support
the Jobs March through the Loop,
March 81. Similar action taken
by Local No. IA last Monday,
shows the rising spirit for unity
within this organization despite it's
Socialist-Democratic Party lead
ership.
A mass meeting was called for
Sunday on the South Side to mo-
bilize for the demonstration Sem
timent of the Negro workers is
strong for the march.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-03-26
West Virginia Coal
Miners Respond to
9Th C.P. Convention
Many Will Attend Open
ing Meet in Cleveland
April Second

CLEVELAND. - Delegations of
coal miners from Logan and Mingo
counties, West Virginia and work
ers from the steel controlled Lorain,
Ohio, are among the workers from
all over the country, who have sent
requests to the Cleveland District
Office, for tickets to the opening
mass meeting Of the Eighth Ma
tional Convention where Earl Brow
der and other outstanding national
leaders of the Party will speak.
Factory gate meetings and wide
spread leaflet distributors are two
of the methods used to tell Cleve-
land workers of the Opening Meet
ing on the night of April End, at
the Music Hall of Public Auditorium
in Cleveland. Special leaflets have
been issued to the steel and metal
workers on the convention. Fiji
teen thousand copies of special
convention appeal have been issued
by the Communist fraction of the
Steel and Metal Workers Indus
trial Union. Ten thousand leaflets
are being distributed in the neigh
borhood in which the Negro COM
rades, Rayford and jackson, were
murdered.
The arrangements committee in
Cleveland announces that all ads
for the Journal of the Convention,
which will have important political
documents in it, must be in at the
fastest, Tuesday, March 27.
The Central Committee of the
Communist Party appeals to all Or
CARNATIONS who have not yet do
mated, to do so as quickly as pos
sible, since arrangements for the
feeding, rent for halls, etc., for the
Convention must be made at once.
Local organizations and branches
have responded Fundamentally to
the call for support, sending in
many instances more than the $500
minimum requested. Average dona-
tons from local branches have
amounted to $500. All organiza-
lions and individuals, are urged to
send funds for the Convention to
Earl Browder, Pc. Box 81, Sta. D,
New York City.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-03-26
Cu Y Workers United Front May Day Conference Battle Fasci


NEW YORK. = The urgent need
for a solid proletarian front against
the growing danger of imperialist
war and increasing fascist attacks
on the American workingclass, di-
rected with favage vehemence, par
ticularly agt INST the Negro masses
and the for ign born, is stressed by
the May Day Arrangements Com
mittee in a call issued yesterday for
United Front May Day Confer
ence, looking toward one united
May Day demonstration in this city.
The Conference is called for Sat-
urday, April IA, at l pm. sharp, at
Webster Hall, 119 E. 18th st. The
call is directed to all trade unions,
workers fraternal, cultural and So
cial societies, Negro workers or
CARNATIONS, young workers clubs,
all organizations of working women
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-03-26

surance, the International Broth
erhood Of Carpenters and Joiners,
A. F. of L. Local 2090; Paper Plate
and Bag Makers Union, A. F. of
L., No. 107; Bricklayers Union, A.
F. of L. No. 81; Anti-Racketeer-
ing Committee in A. F. of L.
Unions, Trade Union Unity Coun-
ell, Needle Trades Workers Indus
trial Union, United Show Work
ers Industrial Union, Steel and
Metal Workers Industrial Union,
Marine Workers Industrial Union,
Food Workers Industrial Union,
Amalgamated Rank and File, In
ternational Workers Order, Com
munist Party, Young Communist
League, Workers Ex-Servicemen's
League, National Students League,
League of Struggle for Negro
Rights, Rank and File Painters,
A. F. of L.. etc.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-03-26
Five ScOttsboro BOYS
Condemned to Solitary

BIRMINGHAM, Ala, March %.
Five Of the Scottsboro boys are in
solitary confinement for defending
themselves against prisoners,
egged on by jefferson County prison
guards to attack the boys in con-
tinued campaign by the white
ruling class lynchers to break their
militant spirits.
Roy and Andy Wright were the
first two of the boys to be victim
lied, having been placed in soil
tary since last Friday following a
fight with a Negro stool pigeon,
Sekiel Mitchell. Willie Robertson,
Ozie Powell and Eugene Williams
were thrown into cells in solitary
row. yesterday, after Warden Felix
L. Erwin accused them of taking so
cents from Mitchell and attack
ing" Sam Woods, another Negro
stool-pigeon used by the guards in
their provocation campaign against
the Scottsboro boys.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-03-26
NeU York Communists
In Contention; BrOuUder
And Krun1bein Report
Stress Shop W Ork Gains;
Elect Delegates to the
NATL Convention

NEW YORK.-With 1874 delegates
present, and far more than twice
that number sitting in, the third
and final session here of the Com
munist Party district convention
yesterday brought to peak its dis
cuSsion of the situation and tasks
facing the Communist Party in the
present period as raging world
economic crisis of the past four
and a half years is being trans
formed into a revolutionary crisis.
In addition to electing a District
Committee, the Convention had as
one of its main purposes the cleo
ton Of delegates to the 9Th National
convention Of the Communist
Party, which will open in Cleveland
on April 2. Similar district con-
ventions, at which other delegates
will be chosen, are taking place
throughout the United States.
Gathered in the large auditorium
of the New Harlem Casino, at 116th
st. and Lenox Avenue. in the mid
die of the important Harlem Sec
ton Of New York. these delegates
from all parts of the New York
district, from the shops and fac
tories, the blocks and mass organ
izations, from the trade unions and
unemployed councils, rose, one after
another, to discuss the vital and
outstanding problems of the growth
OF their revolutionary activities.
The spirit that permeated the
district convention and the dele
gates was f1ttingly expressed by one
of the delegates reporting on shop
work in the following words:
"Our Party must become the
heart which stirS the breast of
every American worker"
This statement showed the en-
thusiasm of the delegates, who saw
in it the revolutionary pledge in
the struggle for the masses and the
struggle for Soviet power.
So insistent was the demand of
the delegates for the floor, so vital
were the contributions that each
wanted to make to the convention,
that the recess period was given up
voluntarily in order to allow more
rank and file delegates to speak.
Earl Browder, in an incisive
speech, stated:
Il understand that there is a
crisis in this convention. So many
people who want to speak, and
everyone should speak, and every
one has something to say, and
Continued on Page p
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-03-26
CallNatiOn-WideOne
Hour Protest Strike:
Demand C.W.A. Jobs
"Big Six'' Meeting
Endorses Workers.
Unemployment Bill

NEW YORK, March 25.-The
Typographical Union No. yes
terday endorsed the Workers
Unemployment Insurance Bill
Oh. r. 1899 by a vote of two to
one, at an adjourned meeting at
Stuyvesant High School. Intro
duced some time ago in the form
Of resolutions adopted by the
World Telegram, Journal, Mirror
and the Unemployed Association
Of Big Six, members of the
Amalgamation Party were sue
cessful in bringing it out of the
committee, and it was passed
over the opposition Of the Exec
utive Committee, Socialist and
Tammany adherents.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-03-26

and the workers in the shops and
neighborhoods.
The call cites the heroic struggles
of the workers of Germany, Aus
tria, Italy, Spain, etc., against fas-
cism, and declares that the situa-
ton, nationally and internationally,
demands this May Day the greatest
unity of all workers in support of
the German and Austrian working
class, in the struggle against Fas-
cism, imperialist war and for the
defense of the victorious proletariat
of the Soviet Union and its success
full Socialist construction.
The call urges all workers in the
shops to down tools on May Day
and turn out with the unemployed
masses on May Day, the great fight
ing day of the international work
ing class. 1t states, in part:
This May Day 1884 finds the
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-03-26

the black list, a wave of strike
breaking injunctions and police
terror - growing unemployment.
This Is what the N. r. A. has
brought to the employed workers.
The call points to the growing
wave of fascist terror: police attacks
on the Negro workers of Harlem,
on the taxicab strikers, on tenants
fighting against fire-trap conditions
menacing the lives of themselves
and their children, as demanding
the greatest unity of the working
masses.
Every w0rkingclass organization
is urged to elect delegates to
the United Front May Day Con-
ference.
The Conference call Is sup
ported by 35 workers organiza-
tons, including the A. F. OF L.
Committee for Unemployment In
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-03-26
Auto Workers Union
Puts Demands to
RoOsevelt's Sec'y
FOR UNION, PAY RISE
Hits Roosevelt Actions
for Auto Manufacturers
DAILY Worker Washington Bureau

DAILY Worker Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON March. 25-Phil
RAYMOND, National Secretary Of the
Auto Workers Union, the oldest
auto workers organization fighting
for the demands of the rank and
file, arrived in WASHINGTON veeter-
day to advise President Roosevelt of
the main demands of the workers.
He declared that the present strike
stalling delays were requested by
the President and eagerly acceded
to by American Federation of Labor
leaders subservient to the interests
Of the employers" in a statement
given to Marvin MacIntyre, one of
the Presidential secretaries.
The militant auto workers leader
demanded $35 minimum wage for
30-hour week, abolition of the
"murdercus speed-up system" recog-
milton of the right to organize into
real trade unions of the workers
own choice" and, among other
things, abolition of Negro diScrimi-
nation and the spy systems.
Raymond returned to Detroit last
night.
The text Of Raymond's letter fol-
lows:
The Hon. Franklin D. Roosevelt,
President of the United States,
White House.
Dear Mr.. President:
The current conferences with the
President on the struggle of auto
mobile workers for decent wages
and conditions in the industry and
for union recognition are strike
breaking conferences. They once
again put the seal of Presidential
CONTINUED on Page q
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-03-26
By A. B. MAGHL

DETROIT, Mich, March rs. -
Fight the selloutI"
This is the call ringing through
the united front auto conference
now in session challenging the
embarrassing maneuvres of the
A. F. of L. officialdom working with
the government and the millionaire
auto magnates in Washington.
The conference meeting in Car
pathia Hall, $500 Elmwood, and
called by the Auto Workers Union
brought together delegates from
the Mechanics Educational Society,
and rank and file A. F. of L. mem
bers as well as representatives of
unorganized workers from prac-
tically all important shops. The
conference was filled with the de-
termination to unite the forces Of
all auto workers for immediate ac-
ton to defeat the A. F. of L.
leaders betrayal and force the
manufacturers to grant their de-
mands.
There were present LAG delegates,
representing nearly 10000 auto
workers. Delegates include % A. F.
Of L. members, "a from the Mech
snics Educational Society Of Anne
RIGA, and about IS from the Auto
Workers Union, the rest being from
unorganized groups of shop work
ers.
The keynote of the conference was
sounded by Earl Reno of the Auto
Workers Union who gave the main
report. He said "The time has come
when the workers must take matters
in their own hands. The Auto
Workers Union and the Mechanics
Educational Society rank and file,
and unorganized workers must unite
their forces for an immediate fight
against the sellout, for immediate
action to win the demands of the
automobile workers.
I'VE will have nothing to do with
the A. F. of L. officials who are be-
traying the auto workers. We carry
on the fight against the leaders who
sell out the workers, or refuse to
answer the call for united action.
Reno proposed as concrete steps
for united action: 1. City wide mass
meetings, within the next few days
to be called jointly by the Auto
Workers IJnion and the Mechanics
Educational Society; 2. joint ap-
peal for united action in A. F. of
L. locals and unorganized shops; g.
fight against the sell out, through
CONTINUED on Page q
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-03-26
Speech of Mary Van
Kleeck for Social Insur-
ance Is Broadcast
TAXI MEN CHEERED
Benjamin Exposes War
Budget of Roosevelt;
Il Relief Cuts
By CARL REEVE

n NEW YORK.-Nine thousand C..
~ A. workers, employed and unem-
iloyed, at Madison Square Garden
yesterday, amidst tremendous enthu-
4asm issued a call upon all C.W.A.
ind shop workers to lay down their
bools at 3 PM, one hour before
quitting time next Thursday,
March 20, in the nationwide pro-
TT strike against Roosevelt's
liquidation of G. W. A. jobs. The
workers decided to mass at the
City Hall on Thursday at $3.50 p.
M, to demand extension and con-
tinuation of all c. W. A. jobs. A
motion was also passed in support
of the striking taxicab drivers Of
New York City.
The meeting showed the deep
growing demand of the workers
of New York City for security, the
speakers being constantly inter-
rupted with prolonged applause
and cheers as the call for a nation
wide strike was given. The full
program was to have been broad
SAst over station WNYC, but
1Eayor LaGuardia, at the last min
Me, made ruling that only Mary
Van Kleeck's speech would be al
owed over the air, and after her
peech the city-owned radio sta
ion was turned off.
There were 10 speakers repre-
3enting many unemployed organ
cations, trade unions and C. w. A.
projects, including Mary Van
Kleeck Of the Inter Professional
Assertion for Unemployment In
yurance; Herbert Benjamin, Ma
tJonal Organizer of the Unemploy-
Ealent Councils; Richard Sullivan,
Becretary of the Unemployment
KJouncils Of Greater New York;
Alex Tayler and Jules Korchein
representing the white collar I'M
employed organizations, Emanuel
Levine of the Workers Ex-Service-
mems League, Ben Gold of the
Needle Trades Workers Industrial
Union, Louis Weinstock of the A.
F. of L. Committee for Unemploy-
'tment Insurance, workers on C. w.
] a. jobs, etc.
A Mary Van Kleeck Speaks
sk Mary Van Kleeck in a brilliant
speech broadcast over the radio
declared that the first act of her
organization was the endorsement
of the Workers Unemployment and
Social Insurance Bill. There was
prolonged applause when Mary
Van Kleeck said "the program for
the unemployed is not to be made
N Continued on Page y