The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-08-07
SideHghts on Fight
against Coal Barons
In Southern Illinois

! attaining mass leadership; forging
what one can only describe, but WITH
understanding, as iron battalhons
Of revolution.
I MET with five men of the coun-
ell. The towns income they told
me is 81 900 a year. Aside from the
school budget, this amount must
run the town. They have cut of
the towns seventeen street lights.
The company demanded higher
rates for renewed contract. Only
pays $3.50 taxes and has $50 meters
/ in town homes. Council members
are seeking to increase tax rate.
Some years ago the smelter and
mine, both shut down. moved out
Of town"
Shaeffer speaks, Il know they
moved the mine for $500 and
key Of beer. The poor fools that
moved the Smelter got a pat on the
back" He is a fine old fighter,
respected by the Communist coun>
oilmen. He proposes that they see
If they can revert the steal effected
by a corrupt council years ago. The
money is needed.
The c. w. A. appropriated eleven
thousand dollars for a swimming
pool. Three thousand was spent
and work stopped The councilmen
want that pool for their children.
If that eight thousand strayed,
they and the town will make it run
home sEain
It WIS the men on the council
that caught Joe Ozera, only hostile
storekeeper Of the three stores,
getting tombstone relief" His
political friends gave him relief
orders on headstones in the ceme-
terry. His business days are num-
bered. The day Of the demonstra-
ton the other storekeepers closed
up and Joined the workers.
Since the election, they tell me,
many who voted under the influence
Of the class enemy have joined the
Unemployment Council.
What about other things than
your legal fight? How are you
going to work outside of your legal
powers? What benefits can you
give right now?," I asked.
Schaeffer answered first. well,
we got police powers. The sheriff
must wait for our call to come In.
We aim to make Taylor Springs a
regular meeting place for working
folks with plenty of free speech and
assembly" This is no minor point
in the domain Of the coal barons.
1t is one close to the miners. -
Prickett spoke on the form of
struggle. What we can't get just
though our position, we aim to
acquaint the folks with and get i,
them backing us just the same as
If 1t we're unemployed organization
or union activity. Well rely on
that mass pressure Just as we do
now. Wen flood Springfield, Hills
boro and Washington with council
resolutions backing every action Of
the workers We will protest every
attack anywhere in the world"
So badly are the improvements on
the school needed that c. W. A.
workers contributed $3.50 and others
$40 to get them started. This is one
reason they want to increase the
taxes on the mine, smelter and light
company. They also are investi-
eating property ownership. 1t is
suspected that few large holdings
are getting away with it,"
1t was late and the councilmen
- L. l.
morning to lead the second day of
the demonstration. Miners trucks
bearing entire families would be
rolling in early. We finished our
discussion. The next day they
won 35 per cent increase in relief
and abolition of dietary list.
IT is almost impossible to write.
adequately on the actions Of
these men and the workers that
follow them. But they are the
basic workers combining American
efficiency with revolutionary en-
thusiasm and winning over not
tens and groups but thousands.
They are typical of the first few
American communities to elect
Communist officials. With Soviet
directness they conduct the struggle
on all fronts.
The quality Of the work Is what
frightens the local bourgeoise. They
see the spectre Of Red governments
preaching their walls and assaulting
! their profits. But these men can
finish what they have started. To
observe their actions In the COM
ing year will be to see what Com
munism means to the mass of
workers.
| The BLACK Diamond" is cutting
a Red cash in the coal barony.