The Omaha guide., 1934-10-13
INTERNATIONAL LABOR
DEFENSE LEADS TRADE
UNION PROEST
international Labor d efense
Leads Trade Union Protest
Delegation to Washington Pro-
testing Discrimination and Ar
rest of Textile Workers Follow
ing Strike Sell-0ut-

around from VI LAW
Frances Perkins to Director OF
Cancellation Kerwin and from him
to newly appointed chairman OF
the new National Textile Labor
Relations Board, Judge Walter I.
Stacey, the International Labor
Defense led a delegation OF rep
resentatives from the Trade Union
Unity League, the Needle Trades
Workers Industrial Union, United
Shoe and Leather Workers Union,
Marine orkers Industrial Union
Taxi Drivers Union, Committee
Of the Protection Of Foreign
Born, the legal staff of the |. u.
d., in protest against the whole
sale discrimination of militant tex
tile workers and continued arrests
in the textile areas, particularly
in Georgia and North Carolina.
The delegation was greeted
with a series Of evasive promises
Of investigation into the matter
md categorical statements from
Judge Walter P. Stacey, a native
son of North Carolina that nobody
WAS arrested in North Carolina
except "for breaking the law
This was in answer to the demand
of the delegation that Sylvia
Crouch and Belle Weaver arrested
last week in Gastopia, N. c., and
the nineteen textile workers In
Shannon, Ca, and Athens, Ga.
arrested last week and held under
military arrest, be Immediately
released.
The statement presented to
Frances Perkins, Director of Con
citation Kerwin and Judge Stacey
follows:
Madame Secretary:
"This labor delegation repre-
senting several hundred thousand
workers organized into trade
Inions, was brought here by the
Iternational Labor Defense, Itself
representing 100000 members and
affiliates, to protest against the
wholesale discrimination and
blacklisting practised against over
$4,000 textile strikers all over the
country and especially in the
South. The strike was called off
on the basis of the Winant Board
Report, which was hailed by your
self and President Roosevelt as a
|tsweeping victory for the textile
workers. This victory in reality
rhas been the most complete be-
trayal and defeat Of the textile
trikers who face starvation, un-
employment after thirteen weeks
Of militant strike struggle against
the most brutal array Of military,
machine guns, armed hugs, force
and violence ever seen in this
Ecountry.
"sixteen murdered, the last vic
tim. 1S-year-Old Leo Roulette, died
in Woonsocket, r. l., last Mon
day. Over a hundred were driven
into a concentration camp in
Georgia. Hundreds were arrested
Nine states had Natl. Guard out
against the textile strikers. Fiji
teen thousand troops were on &C,
tive duty, arrayed in federal U
s. Army equipment, against thu
textile strikers who demanded liv
ing wages, decent hours, an EN-
Ito the brutal stretchout system
and recognition Of their union.
"The international Labor De
|fense, which offered defense Of al
arrested textile strikers to the ma
tional strike committee in Wash
ingon as well as to all local an,
district strike committees, iron
he first day of the strike protest
ed against the use Of arme'
forces, military and mercenary
against strikers who we're exercis
ling their constitutional rights
the right to organize, strike ant
lpicket.
"We propose for your i'm
mediate attention and action tn
following demands which we fee
are in the interests Of the textil,
strikers:
Il. That your department i'm
m~ediately take steps to end thu
blacklisting and discrimination OF
the basis of union membership
againt militant textile workers
who were exercising their lega
fright to organize, strike, and
picke.
50. Complete withdrawal Of al
armed forces, police, special dep
ntles, thugs, used againt textile
workers.
%. Provision made for the IN.
restricted right of textile work.
lerS to organize into unions d