The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-01-11
Only the Socialist Party
Refuses to Join
United Front
BY BILL MASON

BY BILL MASON
NEW HAVEN, Jan. 1O.-Ruling
class justice in New Haven, char
acteristically serving the Manufac-
turers' Association and attempting
to crush every struggle Of the work
ers for better living conditions,
framed and handed heavy fines to
two workers and two students, ar
rested and convicted in December
for supporting striking molders in
their fight against starvation wages
and miserable conditions. The mold
ers we're led by the Steel and Metal
Workers Industrial Union, which
has recruited $50 workers since
last spring. All four took appeals
from the decisions of the City
Court.
Rae Master, needle trades worker,
Theodore Potenza, member Of the
S.M.WIU. working in another shop,
and Larry Hill, Executive Secretary
Of the Yale Chapter Of the National
Student League, will face trial be-
fore the court of Common Pleas
next Tuesday. They will be de-
Tended by Judge Philip Troup of
New Haven, an attorney for the
American Civil Liberties Union,
which has Joined with the Interna-
tional Labor Defense and the other
organizations participating in the
Defense Committee.
The Defense Committee was
formed on a broad united front
basis as a result of the initiative
supplied by the LID, organizations,
and individuals Of all kinds are
taking part.
Socialist Party Stays Out.
But the Socialist Party is con-
spicuously absent in spite Of the
fact that Potenza is a rank and file
Socialist worker; the S. P. leader
ship has deserted Potenza because
of his militant activities ard be-
cause OF his connection with the
Steel and Metal Workers Industrial
Union. They have refused him any
assistance in the fight for his de-
Tense.
Bill Gordon, another N. S. L.
member, has already won his case, as
the state refuses to prosecute him. He
was arrested as he was securing wit
nesses for the trial of the other three.
Edwin S. Pickett, Common Pleas pro-
Secutor, commented, "Of course we're
willing to prosecute Gordon, but there
is no evidence to convict him" 1t
was only mass protest on the part of
students, workers, and other residents
of New Haven against the terrific
railroading in the City Court which
won this victory and will win like
victory for Hill, Master, and Potenza
when their trials come up Tuesday.
Mass Public Hearing
This protest is reaching its climax
Thursday night, when a mass public
hearing called by the Defense Com
nGttee will be held in the First
Methodist Church. The speakers will
include the defendants, who will
have an opportunity to bring before
the masses the real reasons for the
arrests and convictions and the real
issues involved which were concealed
and ruled "inadmisSable" in the
court.
Robert King, organizer Of the S.
M. w. I. u, who was the workers
candidate for Mayor Of New Haven
on the Communist ticket in the last
elections, will speak on the strike it
self, the conditions against which
the molders fought and the demands
Of the strikers. He will also answer
the vicious attacks Of Mayor John w.
Murphy, against the strike, the union,
and the leadership Of the union
Mayor Murp (hy is vice president of
the Connecticut Federation of Labor,
affiliated with the A. F. Of l.. Rank
and file A. F. of L. members are
disguised with Murphy's strike
breaking activities as well as the
activities Of others of the racketeer
leadership. These are fast becoming
discre66ted and the membership will
soon cast them off and elect their
own leaders. Severa A. F. of F. locals
have been supporting the Defense
Committee and many are expected to
attend the hearing tonight and to
take an active part in the defense
NOAh 1AACJ 1Cul1dC OlldO Oi1C IlSllU
to strike and the right to picket of
every worker is involved.
Other speakers will include Pro-
fessor Halford E. Luccock, liberal, of
the Yale Divinity School; A. Sidney
Lovett, University Chaplain; and
Mrs. Fleming James, member of the
Industrial Relations Club, composed
mainly of the wives OF professors.
Samuel Bloomfield will speak for the
International Labor Defense, and
Joseph Bernstein Of the John Reed
Club will preside.
Scene after scene of the play
Peace on Earth" the Theatre Union
anti-war play, has been enacted in
New Haven during the course of the
strike the arrests, and the trials.
Students left their books and dem
onstrated their solidarity with the
working class and their support of
the militant struggles of the workers
by Joining the picket line. Arrests
on frame-up charges immediately
followed and were supported by con-
victions in the City Court. Large
of workers and stu
dents were conducted in zero weather
before the court house. The attitude