davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-05-22
By VIM. sCHNEmERMAN

IN THE Minnesota district
l we are confronted with a
problem of struggle against
social fascism, which has also
become an increasing prob
lem for a number az states in
the Middle West. We are
dealing with the Farmer-Labor
Party of Minnesota, which in the
last elections polled half million
votes. At the present time we find
this movement, the illusions in
Gov. Olsen and the Farmer-Labor
Party, spreading into other states
Of the Middle West, particularly in
Wisconsin where a Farmer-Labor
Party movement is already estab-
liShed; in the state of Michigan,
where a FarIner-Labor Party is be-
ing formed, and in South Dakota,
Iowa and a number Of other states.
Just a little while ago the Milwau-
kee comrades informed me that
Norman Thomas sent a letter to
Wisconsin proposing that the S. P.
shall support the establishment Of
a Farmer-Labor Party in Wiscon-
sin, and help to establish the third
party movement.
Now, comrades. the struggle
against the illusions in the radical
phrases Of the Farmer-Labor PARTY
is very difficult one. and think
it is necessary for the Party to draw
some lessons from the achieve
ments, and especially the short
comings in our struggle in Mime
sofa against the Farmer-Labor Par
ty. They have recently held a.
state convention where, as re-
suit of the growing upsurge, it was
necessary to formulate a radical
program to satisfy the leftward
trend of the masses. In this pro-
gram the Farmer-Labor Party de-
clares that capitalism is a failure.
that it must be abolished immedi-
ately, and proposes to take over the
industries and to run them in the
interests Of the unemployed, to feed
the unemployed. This program
sows many illusions in the minds of
the masses. The Farmer-Labor
Party is very skillful in its left
maneuvers, in order to hide its real
program.
What is its real program? AS far
as the Roosevelt New Deal is con-
cerned, it has given it full endorse
ment. The FLIP. leaders are state
enforcement officers of the MIRA.
When strikes break out they rush
to establish strike breaking ma
chinery of the MIRA. boards. At
the same time they cover up their
support of the New Deal and in
dulge in left demagogy. For in
stance, at the same time as they
are helping to carry through the
Roosevelt program, some of the left
leaders of the Party, including the
head OF the Farmers Holiday ASso-
citation, make tour of the state
and denounce the MIRA. as fas-
c1sm, and denounce the whole
Roosevelt program among the
workers and farmers.
What has been our role In the
struggle against the FLIP? We
can relate few achievements. not
many. Where we have been able to
develop a real struggle for unem-
ployment insurance-we have only
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-05-22
80 Doctor
,LGGI1GAaO6
QG1G,3Aea:
BY PAUL LUTTINGER, MD.

tect the body from the loss of heat,
as well as from the absorption of
heat, and at the same time they
allow sufficient ventilation of the
layer of air next to the skin. This
layer of air will not become satu-
rated with water vapor. This is
why sweat-shirts are made of wool
and the natives of Egypt and in
Arabia protect themselves against
the heat by wearing wooden bour-
nos Ca kind of wide, sleeveless coat,
in which they wrap themselves, as
a protection against the rays of the
sun.
1t is too much to expect young
people to wear even thin wooden un-
derWear in the summer time, all
though these are really the ideal
undergarments from the scientific
point of view. Fortunately, this is
not necessary, because the methods
of manufacturing certain fabrics, as
we have said above, also influences
the rate of sweat evaporation and
1OOO VI llCdGs VIC INDY Q1NlQC OllC
manufacture of materials in two
main classes: woven material in
which there is warp and wool,
and knitted fabrics in which the
thread or yarn is looped or knotted.
When a material is Topped or knott
ted, it is more porous, which means
that the amount of air entrapped
in the meshes of the fabric is larger
and, therefore, such material be-
comes a non-conductor of heat, like
wool. In the winter time, we ought
to favor materials which are woven;
while in the summer the knitted
cotton goods are looser, more porous
and more permeable, which per-
mits the easier evaporation of sweat
and a freer circulation between the
shirt-skin layer of air and the out
side. Smooth woven cotton or silk
becomes too easily saturated with
perspiration and thus forms prac-
tically a sheet of water which pre-
vents evaporation from the skin
and increases the danger from sud-
den local chilling from drafts. The
rue, therefore, for underclothing, as
well as for outer garments, should
be: closely woven materials for the
winter and knitted fabrics for the
summer.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-05-22

the company, but all that he got
was the run-around from official to
official.
He took the check to both of the
daily papers, explaining to them
that the N. R. A. code in the Fab
ricated Metal Industry wasn't be-
ing done right by; but the editors
weren't even mildly interested.
He then wrote to the Regional
Board of the N. R. A.
He received q letter from the N.
R. A. gents to the effect that they
had recorded his complaint and
that he need not write to them
again about it; this on Feb 26. On
April II, he received a letter from
the Grand Rapids Brass Co., ask
ing him to come to their office. He
was received graciously and was
handed $1.81 and asked to sign a
paper stating that he had now re-
ceived his full pay for Jan 81. They
explained it was bookkeeping mis-
take.
The worker knows that it was not
an error, for that same day many
of the others received checks even
smaller than his; and though they
grllmbled about it they took it lying
down.
And he has also learned which
side the N. R. A. is on. He was
shown that the N. r. A., instead of
going down the line" on the cheat
ing bosses, called chiselers, sent in
the workers name to the masters
thus exposing him to the blacklist
of all the shops in the city.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-05-22

per cent for wages above $25, and of
81 to Sc for wages from $14 to $40. In
our place we also have needle
workers, and for them we demanded
10 per cent increase plus res
toration Of 5 per cent cut which
the boss made several weeks ago.
Our organizer Lustig presented
our demands in clear and class
conscious manner. The boss, how
ever, tried to argue that he is a
good boss, he wants the workers to
make a living land be believes they
are even making living under the
old wages but he must meet COM
petition.
Comrade Lustig put him fright on
the spot" by telling him competition
is your worry, while our worry is
recognition and getting our de-
mands." The boss did not even
want to discuss the terms and the
recognition question, So Comrade
Lustig said to the committee, Come
on! We're on strike!"
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-05-22
By a Worker Correspondent

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Because I
was a member of the 105th
Branch, National Unemployment
Councils, and very active in COM
mitees, the relief offices here Of
fered me a job in the relief bu-
reau basement at $12, which after
a few weeks changed to 10, then
$1150. My duties were to write
medical histories for the Federal
Transient Bureau. This examina-
ton of the men is graft for in
fluential doctors who are working
for fifty cents head. (This is a
fact, as my duties were also to
make out the doctors report)
These examinations are a joke be-
cause when a mans teeth need at
tention, or he needs glasses, or has
special deformities of the feet re-
quiring special shoes, or immediate
operations for tonsils, etc, he is told
gently but firmly that the govern
ment has made no appropriations
for these things.
They never let me forget I was
working for relief (Federal Work
Relief and when I told them I had
to wear as many clean shirts week
as their trained social workers, and
look as presentable and neat, that
it wasn't right to ask me to work
10 extra hours a week in addition to
my regular hours, unless they were
willing to make it up with extra
food or clothing orders or cash,
was told if I did not want to work
for starvation wages, they could get
someone who would. So now I am
back on relief-that is back where
started, but I am not as firmly
gagged or handcuffed as before.
Conditions in this Wayfarers'
Lodge are disgraceful and as your
printed letter states as of May a.
1t is all true, only he does not state
the half of it. For instance; the
three dining-rooms there. One is
known as the Big Shots Room
where flunkies dressed in white
pants and coats serve the superin-
tendents and the other dozen chosen
few. White tablecloths, padded
silverware that is silverware ano
everything in the way of ketchups
sauces, pickles, etc., The word is
spread around they eat what the
homeless eat, but know different
Then comes the employed mems
room. Men chosen from the ranks
of the hungry who do get what the
homeless get in the way of food
with the exception that they at least
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-05-22
Why Fisher Body
Closed Its Plant
in Flint, Mich
By an Auto Worker Correspondent

BY an Auto Worker Correspondent
FLINT, Mich.-After inquiring
among the workers, I found that
there is a strike at Fisher Body
plant No. /.
On the morning of May 3 the oil
and wet sanders went on strike as
protest against the speed-up and
the discharge of workers because
they dared to protest against speed
up.
The oil-sanders are allowed to
make $110 an hour, and the order
was to speed them at whatever cost,
that through such Speed-up they
want those workers to bring out
twice as much work per day. Six
workers protested against the speed
up by refusing to work, for it was
impossible. When the bosses tried
to fire these six workers, the others,
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-05-22
Board Charge Takes
One Third of Pay From
Restaurant Workers
BY a Worker Correspondent


SPOKANE, Wash.-I am writing
to express my opinion of the So
called New Deal. AS a non service
employee in a restaurant here, re-
ceive weekly wage of $3.50 for a
48-hour week, after SO had been
deducted for board. Who ever
heard of them charging restaurant
employees for board before the N. R.
A.? On a weekly wage of $3.50, after
you pay room rent, laundry, for
your meals on your day off and a
few other incidentals, what have
you left?
If the employers we're SO much in
sympathy with the workers, then
why do the restaurant owners
charge their employees for board
How can there be anything in COM
mon between the exploiting class
and the exploited class? So, from
my experience with the N. R. A. l
would term it so much bunk. 1t has
cut the hours down, but where is
the so-called increased purchasing
power?
I sure like Mike Gold. I GER
tainly enjoy his column
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-05-22
The Struggle Against Social
FGsciSn in the Middle Vest
Minneapolis Unemployed Struggles LiquidGted
One Fmmer-LGbOr Local; Workers Join C. p

| developed the sentiment Of the
rank and file and the A. F. of L,
unions-the mass pressure forced
the state convention of the FLIP.
to take up the question of enc
dorsing the Workers Unemployment
Insurance Bill. OF course, they do
go in with the idea of supporting
the bill, but whatever prestige the
HR. 1898 has, they are trying to
develop in support of the FLIP.
and in the state of Minnesota, when
they speak Of it, they speak of it
as Lundeen's bill. Of course, we
do our best to show the workers
that it isn't the Lundeen bill and
if it will ever be adopted, it will
be brought forth as the Workers
Unemployment Insurance Bill.
In the city of Minneapolis, by
carrying on struggle on the I'M
employed field, it was possible to
Equidate local of the FLIP. and
its leading best elements have come
into the Communist Party. We also
find that the recent struggles de-
veloped among the C.W.A. and UNI
employed workers, the struggles
which only this week have taken on
a very serious form in the demon
STATIONS of last Tuesday and to-
day, are made up to a large extent
Of followers of the FLIP.
At the same time, we made seri-
GUS shortcomings in the fight
against social fascism. First, our
theological struggles are usually
confined only to the election period.
We do not carry on an ideological
campaign and exposure of the F. L.
P. Secondly, the F. l.. P. is not
built of mass membership as is
the Socialist Party; as a matter of
fact, they have less than 1000 dues
paying members, but their main
base is in the A. F. of L. unions and
Farmers Holiday Association. And
1t is because of our weakness in the
A. F. of L. unions and our slowness
to develop opposition in the A. F. of
L. that we have been weak in our
struggle against the F. l.. P. There
fore, when We talk about our trade
union work, we have the task OF
linking it up with social fascism.
Although we have concentrated on
building the united front, we have
been very slow in penetrating the
Farmers Holiday Association rank
and file, where there is great fer
ment and disintegration among the
leaders.
The third party movement is a
problem which is spreading and, I
believe, it is necessary to call atten-
ton to this important question.
Such outstanding leaders as Con-
gresham Lundeen, Mayor Mahoney
and even Governor Olsen are lead
ing this third party movement.
Only recently, statement was is
sued proposing to form a National
F. L. P. in 1886 and to run Gov
ernor Olsen as President. There is
no question that there is a definite
danger that with the disillusion-
ment of the masses in the New
Deal there will be a development
for the building of such move
ment, and it is necessary for the
other districts to organize an
theological campaign against the
spreading of the F. L. P. into these
cities. I would propose that the
Central Committee pay more atten-
ton in the press to the program
and activities of the Farmers Labor
Party.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-05-22
LETTERS FROM
OUR READERS
ATTENTION 1.-TWO WORKERS"
New York City

New York City
Dear Comrades:
AS class conscious workers, my
wife and 1 always take pleasure in
supporting the revolutionary move
ment. There are many ways in
which this can be accomplished.
So, having seen that a bazaar is
being planned for the end of this
month, we decided to go there, espe-
cially as We need a lot of things
But with the few dollars the CAPT.
talist class allows us, we must be
careful. We must figure out how
much we can spend after paying
rent, gas, light, Two. dues, union
dues, etc., etc. Now we haven't got
much to spend, but if we do go to
the bazaar we must immediately
pay out one dollar (unless we buy
tickets in advance, which we can't
do) This dollar is more than we
can spare. Why can't the price be
brought down to 10 or Is cents? We
will spend the dollar and probably
more, but we must have something
to show for it.
We believe too, that if the price
is reduced to 10 or Is cents, many
more workers will come and, once
inside, they will spend more, but al
SOC a piece, they will stay out. We
do want to go to this bazaar, but
at one dollar admission, it just
cant be DONE"
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-05-22
DISCRIMINATION
By a Worker Correspondent

TOLEDO, Ohio.-My husband is
on charity and he went to look for
work. They said the people on
charity would get work first. So !
wonder why my husband did not
get work.
I went down to the State En-
ployment Office in Toledo. They
told me he could not get the work
because he didn't have second citi-
zenship papers in America. He is
married to an American girl.
My father was American, came
from the State of New York and
my mother came from County
Kerry, Ireland. I am an Irish
American and my husband is Syrian
We are real American, more than
President Roosevelt is, and 1 be-
long to the Unemployed Council.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-05-22

hearing about it, protested, which
developed into a strike of oil sand
ers and wet sanders. There are
about 80 of them, maybe more. One
can imagine what beastly driving
was going on if those workers were
earning $110 per hour and yet they
were dissatisfied.
The papers here are quiet about
it; not a word is mentioned in the
Flint Journal. Just what happens
is this: Fisher Body officials, in
order to prevent a sprad of this
oil sanders strike ordered the clos
ing of the entire plant. 1t is said
that they plan to fire everyone of
those oil and wet sanders, put them
on the blacklist, hire new men at
lower wages, and further, they are
telling that the A. F. of L. must
do something about those workers
or else the Fisher Body will not re-
open, and those less broad minded
are afraid that the Fisher Body will
close, but the majority of the work
ers say: LET them close the plant
for all we care. Well see how long
they can stand not making their
profits"
There is no picketing. The gen
eral talk that the company is short
of stock on account of the Cleveland
strike is true, but the main reason
for the shutdown of the plant Is
on account of the oil and wet sand
erS' strike.
1t is all that 7 know so far. I
must add that some of the finishers
on the small Buick bodies are earn
ing only 46 cents per hour, and set
up is just as bad. 1t is said that
the company is doing its best to
make that small Buick for one-third
the price of the large.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-05-22
MAY DAY IN HELPER
" Mine Worker Correspondent


HELPER, Utah. - The city of
Helper has never seen bigger excite
ment since the state of Utah has
existed than on May Day. Just be-
cause the workers were going to
parade and celebrate the Workers
Day.
When I first stepped on the side
walk on May Day, when I came to
town, I met four ignorant fellows
with clubs in their hands. They
we're active on the bosses side dur
ing the coal mine strike last year,
and we all know that yellowiackets
from last year will sting you just
the same.
Before the May Day parade, a
committee from each organization
went over to the DR.. Mayor E. F.
Cianottis with resolutions, and he
didn't expect it. He tried to be as
nice as hell to the workers, but he
already uses the fascist salute.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-05-22
First, Second and Third Class
Relief at WaWarers' Lodge
Superintendent and His Chosen Few Get Best
Conditions, While Homeless Workers Can't
Even Get Knife and Fork

have knife and fork to eat with,
and room apart from the others
to eat in.
Then comes the barn where the
workers seat. They are only allowed
spoon to eat with, with the ex-
PLANTATION they may fight and hurt
each other if given knife and fork
They are herded in and herded out
in lines.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-05-22
Get Nothing for
Overtime Making
U.S.Navy Supplies
By a Metal Worker Correspondent

BY Metal Worker Correspondent
BROOKLYN, N. Y-The Bell
Telephone Laboratories, subsidiary
Of Western Electric, on West
Bethune St., is busy working over
time, go hours week, manufac-
turing radio apparatus and supplies
for the United States Navy. At the
same time the workers are not being
paid for overtime. The silly pretext
is that not all workers are putting
in overtime and the company (kind-
hearted souls) doesn't want to pay
one group more than another, be-
cause, they say, that wouldn't be
fair, This is a sample of the Bell
Company's fairness while they
speed up war preparations.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-05-22
Sequel to Tale of
the S1.39 Check
By a Metal Worker Correspondent

BY Metal Worker Correspondent
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.-The
Daily Worker of Feb. q shows a
photo of check for $1.39 paid to a
worker in Grand Rapids by the
Grand Rapids Brass Co. for eight
hours work-and thereby hangs a
tale; a nasty, unclean, capitalist
tale.
The worker received this check
on Feb. for work performed on
Jan. 81. He was paid at the rate
of II cents per hour for doing work,
and more Of it, than he did in the
same plant five years ago for so
cents an hour. For three days he
tried to get some satisfaction from
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-05-22
Can You Make EN-
Yourself?

A slip that wraps around the
figure, crossing in the back, with
one end of the belt slipping thru
a slash in the side seam, is excel
lent to go under summer frocks. 1t
is adjustable, so there is good hem
for lengthening.
Pattern 1897 is available in sizes
"a, SO, 38, 40, AZ, A and 46. Size
SO takes 31a yards 80 inch fabric
Illustrated step-by-step sewing in
structions included.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-05-22

"At the recent Party con-
vention the youth problem
was stressed. The Party in
tends to increase the mem
bership of the Y. C. L. far
ahead of the Party. How
does the Y. c. L. carry out
its task? In the vein Of self-critic-
ism, I would like to criticize the
League.
II have been in the revolution
airy youth movement for the past
four years. 7 recently decided to
join the Y. c. L., since I felt that
was the place for all revolutionary
youth. I made out an application
for membership. I waited one
week and then received a letter
asking me to come to Section l
from where I would be assigned to
a unit. I came there at the ap-
pointed night and waited around
for more than two hours. Nobody
showed up! I let the matter rest
for two weeks and then decided to
try again. This time, however, I
met one of the comrades there and
explained my case. She told me
that the organizatiOnsl committee
would meet the following night and
that she would take up my case
there and then notify me the day
before the unit meets Up to the
present time, five weeks after I
had made out my application, I
have not received an answer.
Such lsxity has no place in a
revolutionary movement. If we in
tend to win over the majority of
the working class youth, We must
make very strong effort to at
tract and hold them to our organi-
sation.
"Comradely.
B. S..
"A Y. G. L. CONRADE."
The writer of this letter raised
the problem of the Journalism and
red tape that still continues to
discourage and drive away many
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-05-22
Government Buys from
Firm That Cuts Staff
and Reduces Wages
By a Worker Correspondent

BY Worker Correspondent
NEW YORK-Recently, listening
to General Johnson over the radio
endeavoring to boost the tagging
interest in the MIRA, I heard him
remark that the government does
not patronize concerns that do not
fly the Blue Eagle. This may be
true, but what does the government
say about patronizing firms that
fly the Blue Eagle but violate the
alleged rules of the N.R.A.?
The Baker & Taylor Co., a book
selling establishment of long stand
ing, in the year before the MIRA.
reduced wages approximately 20 per
cent. When the MIRA. ballyhoo
was at its height it returned slight
fraction of the wages that had been
cut, However, Baker & Taylor had
no intention of paying this out Of
their own pocket. With the Blue
Eagle squatting securely on the
wall, the firm made its first mass
lay-of since the depression. Since
February some so or more employees
were discharged, some of whom
could boast of long years of faith
full service. Even with this lay-off
some of the remaining employees had
to take another wage-cut in the
form of a week off without pay.
At the same time that the firm
thus violates the MIRA. by mass
lay-offs it sells merchandise tc
numerous governmental institu-
tons, and the Blue Eagle hasn't
let out SO much as a squeak.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-05-22
Soviet Laboratories
1000 Better Than in
U.s., Says Specialist
BY a Metal WO ker Core
spODdent


MOSCOW, U. S. S. RI am at
present working as a foreign
specialist in metallurgy at a
large plant manufacturing cleo
trio motors and locomotives. I
am highly pleased with the work,
and am highly satisfied, for I
feel that I am being of real help
to the factory. The thing that
pleases me most in my observa-
ton of Soviet industry is their
laboratories - the completeness
with which they are equipped.
They have marvellous possible
ties for research in industrial
problems. The laboratory in
which I work is equipped 100 per
cent better than any I had the
privilege to work in in the U. S.