davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-12-21
Fascist Veteran
Head Won't Sign
Initiative 4 Bill

BELLINGHAM, Wash, Dec. 20
When Mr.. James +. Van Zandt,
Commander in Chief of the Vet
Grams of Foreign Wars visited
Bellingham recently TO discuss
Problems affecting veterans as
groups and as individuals, men,
bers of the Workers Ex-Service
mems League who are taking ac-
tive part in the Relief Workers
strike, called upon him to ask
his endorsement of the strike.
The strike, il won, will mean
an addition of so percent to the
budget of the Veterans who are
now being compelled to live on
inadequate relief.
AS soon as their business be-
came known one of the commit
tee was identified as a Commun-
list. Upon entering the room
Van Zandt said, IF he is a Com
munist | refuse to speak to him.
| refuse to have anything to do
with him. AS to the strike, that
is purely local and | am in no
way concerned with it,"
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-12-21
"--=ael@@ # 1T -
Z1seEN|N =vAlA.V&=te
kl{aMlla,

ers in that area rallied immedi-
ately to the standard of the new
union.
The local newspaper organs OF
the coal company began to lay
down a press barrage, asserting
that these miners were radicals
and Communists.
A strong feeling of militancy
was developing and swept entire
families into the growing division
between the majority Western
Miners Union adherents and the
minority UMWA supporters.
Even in the schools and school
yards this spirit was making it.
self felt.
Man Killed
On December "a, Sam Farri-
mond, UMWA miner, walked up
to group of men talking togeth-
er on the streets OF ROslyn and,
without warning or words, cold
bloodedly shot and killed Bob
Ruff, one of the members OF the
WMU.
Later, on February Is, 1884, b.
G. Henry attacked and brutally
slugged Mark Halter, another
WMU member.
Both Henry and Farrimond,
who had been expelled from the
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-12-21
Socialists, Communists
Join Ranks in South

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn, Dec. 20
The Socialist Party organiza-
tions in five Southern states last
week signed a united front pact
with the Communist Party on
six issues which include support
of the International Labor De-
Tense fight to free the Scottsboro
boys, and of the fight against war
and fascism.
Other points on which the UNI
tied front agreement was based
are the struggle for unemploy-
ment insurance and passage OF
the Lundeen bill; against the
New Deal wage differentials and
for relief for Southern labor; I'M
ionization of the South on the
basis of equal rights for Negroes
and unity of white and Negro Ia
Dor; and a campaign against the
AAA and Bankhead Act in the
cotton fields and struggle for the
needs of the exploited farm popu-
latiOn.
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-12-21
$4,000 Suffer In
AuSturiaS Prisons

VIENNA, Austria, Dec. 90
In the prisons and concentration
camps of this unhappy nation
more than $1,000 workers are suf-
fering, dying for lack of medical
attention, or dying suicides be-
cause the constant beatings and
fortunes OF the daily prison life is
too much for humans to with
stand.
Many of the prisoners were
never charged with any crime,
were never tried in any court,
even the sham courts that exist,
and do not know what the vague
misstep they owe their suffering.
Police swagger about Vienna,
some drunk, Others arresting
whomever they like.
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-12-21
Kill Cuban Worker in
ScOttSbOrO Protest

HAVANA, Cuba, Dec. 20-Dom-
lingo Ferrer, young Cuban worker
and a member of the Young Com
L1unist League of Cuba, died here
Nov. 20, as a result of wounds re-
ceived two days before when po-
lice and Vendetta "poristas"
opened fire with machine guns
on a group returning from
Scottsboro demonstration in the
heart of the city.
Three other demonstrators were
seriously wounded, a large num-
Der suffered minor wounds, and
30 were arrested, of whom eight
are still imprisoned.
Popular sentiment places re-
sponsibility for the massacre on
Jefferson Gallery, American am
bassador to Cuba, who is believ-
ed to have instigated the attack.
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-12-21
Story Behind Trial of The Roslyn Mine Defendants

Sdue to gas explosions caused by
sparks in the machines, in the
preceding four year period.
The coal companies sought to
enjoin the operation of the bill
by proceedings in the Federal
court at Spokane and sought to
prove that the machinery was not
dangerous by the affidavits OF
six miners-B. G.. Henry, Sam
Farrimond, Steve Milich Whose
father and uncle had been sedi-
ously injured in one of such ex-
plosions), A. Zimba, g. Miller
and j. johnson.
On Sept. Is the Federal court
declared the machinery bill I'M
constitutional. The prosecuting
attorney of Kittitas County de-
clared, when he was criticised for
his failure to support the bill by
legal defense, that the county
commissioners of his county and
the State Board had refused to
appropriate money for legal con-
test either by himself or to the
Director of Labor, Kelly.
As result of their affidavits
against the unions contention all
and declared q strike.
They also conferred with Mich
oils, the district president, and,
upon his assurances of support
for their demands, sent him back
to Washington, d. c., to meet
with the executive board of the
UMWA.
However, no sooner did Mr..
Nichols arrive in Washington
and confer with John l.. Lewis
than he sent a telegram back to
the local unions advising them to
go back to work and accept the
present scale.
Aroused by Betrayal
Thoroughly aroused by this OPP
en- betrayal of their interests by
their district president, the Ros-
lyn-C Gle Elum local unions early
in September, 1888, inaugurated a
recall directed against Nichols,
which was met with enthusiastic
response by the locals of the 9th
er mining areas in the district.
The recall was overwhelmingly
successful. The strike continued
and the mines were closed 100 per
cent. On September 20 Smethurst
of the National Board of the UNI
WA arrived in Roslyn and called
a meeting of union members who
were on strike.
At the meeting the resentment
of the miners against the entire
leadership was directed against
Mr.. Smethurst by heckling, boo
ing, kissing and other signs of
displeasure. Smethurst made the
significant statement to the as
sembled men that the executive
board of the union would not fur
nish strike relief to the men, nor
would it tolerate further contin-
nance of the strike.
Threatens to Revoke Charter
He also advised them that I'M
less they returned to work i'm
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-12-21
Demand Raise in
Relief Allotment

We print below, In part, let
ter from a group OF jobless near
Seattle:
Dear Slrs: We, the undersigned
committee OF Coalfleld, WASH,
are sending you this letter to
publish in your paper II you will
and ask other communities to
make up a similar letter of their
grievances and send to the fol-
lowing officials; Harry Hopkins,
Harold L. Ickes, Gov. c. Martin,
.Chas. Ernst, William Il. Borah,
Wesley Lloyd, Marion Zioncheck,
Homer II. Bone, L. b. Schwellen-
bach, Michael b. Smith, Lloyd
Lingren, and desire to call TO
your attention and others who
may be interested In a more
efficient administration of the
VERA so that the discrimina-
ton, incompetence and waiteful-
ness may be eliminated and II
relief is to be had that II be Oh
a constructive nature for the
benefit of the public and not a
pork barrel for the favored few
and their friends. We recon-
mend a reasonable and adequate
work program so that we may ut
least live through this emergen-
cy and not merely exist by the
munifieent earning capacity of
S7.45 per person per month as
under the present work program
of the VERA. -
May we ask in the interest
of all that you give this your
attention as soon as possible?
Respectfully submitted by the
Unemployed of Coalfleld, Wash.
j. L. Davidson, President.
Mrs. A. c. Hoffman, Secretary
Route 2, Renton, Wash.
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-12-21

mediately their charter would be
revoked
The men answered this threat
by electing completely new offic-
ers from among their rank and
file and by also effecting the ell
ection of a new district president.
Machinery Dangerous
In the preceding session of the
legislature in 1888 the men had
sponsored a bill which passed the
legislature and which barred the
use of electric drilling and cut
ting machinery in the mines.
The coal miners had been able
to show that this machinery was
extremely dangerous to the safe
ty of the miners and had been
responsible for over 900 serious
accidents and q number OF deaths
these men we're expelled from the
union.
See Alignment
When they were advised of the
outcome of this proceeding in the
Federal Court the striking min
ers were fully convinced of the
alignment of the coal companies
with the county and state gov.
ernments. In further substantial
ton of their conviction they we're
advised by the County Commits.
sioners of Kittitas County that
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-12-21

code was to be drafted. The min
ers specifically declared that this
action was under protest but at
the express direction of the NRA
BituminOus Coal Labor Board.
They voted, in addition, not to
sign the cheek-off, and refused to
pay their per capita tax to the
national union until Lewis agreed
to restore their charter and rein
state their officers.
Angered by the combination of
the government, the coal COM
panies and the corrupt leader
ship of the UMWA, which had
forced them into temporary cap
itulation, the unions of Gle Elum
and Roslyn issued a call for a
rank and file conference of all the
unions in District 10, in Seattle.
Swept away by their resent
ment the delegates at this con-
ference on November II voted to
break away from the UMWA and
to form new union. The West
ern Miners Union started with To-
Gals in Roslyn, Gle Elum and Ro-
maid.
Situation Becomes Tense
From that time onward the sit
uation in Roslyn and Gle Elum in
particular, was tense and hostile.
About 20 per cent of the coal min
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-12-21

In the history of labor sell
outs" the story of the United
Mine Workers of America-Coal
Company coalition against the in
terests of the mine workers in the
Roslyn-Cle Elum mining area is
the arch type for all labor 'betray-
ais.
The UMWA may have been a
legitimate labor union at one
time but, at least since John L..
Lewsi became international pres
ident, the history of that organ
ization has been the history of
collaboration by the leadership
with the powerful coal barons.
Samuel Nichols, president of
District 10 of the UMWA in
which Roslyn and Gle Elum are
situated, has consistently carried
out the policies of the national
bureaucracy headed by Lewis.
In 1882, in response to the de-
sires of the coal companies, he
has been able, by trickery with
the ballot, to put over 20 per
cent wage cut upon the coal min
ers of Roslyn and Gle Elum.
This act was but the culmina-
ton of a series of such actions
which soon convinced the miners
that they could place small con-
fidence in their leaders, and that
they must return control to the
rank and file if they desired to
portect their economic interests.
Mines Shut Down
In June, 1888, Immediately af-
ter the adoption of the NRA, the
coal mines of the ROslyn-Cle Ell
um area shut down, pending ne
gotiations for a coal mining code.
The major mines in this area are
under the control of the North
western Improvement Company,
Northern Pacific Railroad SUBJ
sidiary.
When later, on August IA, 1888,
the N. w. Improvement Co. de-
cided to reopen its mines it was
met with an organized and milit-
ant rank and file, who took the
misleading promises of the NRA
seriously and were prepared to
demand all their rights" under
it's terms.
The members of the several To-
Gals in this area refused to go
back to work unless the company
granted a wage scale Of $40 for a
six-hour day and a five-day
week. When the company heard
of this it apparently advised
John L. Lewis, who, in addition
to being international president
of the UMWA, had also been APP
pointed by the President upon
the National Labor Board of the
NRA.
Lewis Orders Submission
Mr.. Lewis Immediately wired
instructions to the Roslyn and
Gle Elum local unions to return
to work at the old scale of $40
for an eight hour day and a six
day week. The men refused to
accede to the Lewis instructions
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-12-21
$1.2O Weekly for
JObleSS Adequate,
Says Relief Head

SEATTLE, Dec. 20-After the
Crown Hill local of the Unem-
ployed Citizens League had pass
ed a resolution stating that the
food voucher was inadequate,
that unless Unemployment In
suranee was granted, great mis-
cry and suffering would prevail,
for Christmas relief in cash, and
that steady work be provided,
they presented the resolution to
the local voucher station.
Mrs. Gardner, head supervisor
of Station l, located at l05th and
Greenwood, alleged wife of an
army officer at TT. Lawton, an
swering the questions of com,
mittee from the local, answered
the following questions:
o. Do you think that s1.26
per week adequate to live on?
A. I don't think IL enough,
but I think it adequate. The
Department of Domestic Sci
ence at the University of WASH
ington lived on IL and announc-
ed that it is adequate and the
budget is made up by the De-
'partment.
o. Don't you think that un-
less there is an increase in food,
steady work provided and On
employment Insurance enacted
great misery and suffering will
prevail?
A. I don't think IL is true. I
don't think it can be done be-
done because there is no mo-
ney.
Q. What is your personal
opinion?
A. I have been told by Pres
ident Roosevelt that I can't ex-
press my own opinion. I don't
know what my orders are from
day to day. I am guided by my
daily bulletins. I don't allow
my people to express their per-
sonal views.
A member of the committee
stated, This is a startling expos
ure of the methods being used
by the government in a policy Of
double dealing in the miseries OF
the unemployed, using the slogan
that no one will starve."
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-12-21

there would be no further unem-
ployment relief after October 20,
if they refused to sign the con-
tract which the company was Of
fering them.
Negotiations had been pending
between a committee elected by
the miners and the company, but
had, as yet, failed to reach sat
isfactory conclusion. Lewis, with
out notice and while negotiations
were pending, revoked the char.
tiers of the striking unions, dis
charged the elected representa-
tives of the men and established
a provisional governing body, re-
Installing the recalled Mr.. Mich
oils as provisional president of
District 10.
Without consulting the other
four members of the district Scale
committee, Stanton, one of the
committee, quickly entered into
a contract with the coal company
under the old scale, and this was
hailed as a contract binding the
striking unions.
Call Mass Meeting
A special mass meeting was call
ed on October %, and the miners
voted to go back to work until
! January 5, 1894, when q new coal
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-12-21

due to the government orders for
lumber. This increase In produc-
tiOn is not caused by return of
prosperity, but just the oppo-
site.
Many new concentration camps
are being established not only for
the transient workers, but the
single workers throughout the
state.
Workers Being Segregated
Last week a re-registration was
made at "a Union street, Seattle,
where the single workers living
in the neighborhoods are being
segregated from the family men.
This fresh attack by the bosses
on the relief standards Is laying
the basis to split the ranks of the
workers so they can put over the
campaign for longer hours and
attempt to stifle any strike ac-
tion when the camps reopen af-
ter the first of the year.
The constant agitation of the
NLWU for unity is beginning to
bear fruit. The newly organized
United Boomworkers Union of
Everett has notified the NLWU
of its intention of organizing the
entire region of boom workers
into its independet union. This
action Ia not only endorsed by
the NLWU, but we will give them
all assistance possible In making
this campaign a success.
The NLWU calls upon all lum-
Der workers who are inorganic
ed to Join Immediately a union
of their own choosing and the
workers that are members of the
Sawmill and Timber Workers I'm
ion to take rank and file control
of their union. The workers fore
ed into the Company Al to take
rank and file action in establish
ing job committees for their own
interests.
Lumber Bosses United
The operators are unified
against the lumber workers in or
der to put over their BedauX sys-
tens, streteh-Out, etc We know
who our enemies are.
Let us form this weapon of
struggle and go down the line
fighting every attack of the op-
orators, resisting every encroach-
ment against our relief and liv-
ing standards. The unorganized
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-12-21
Mine Strike Victims
Family Is Destitute

NEW YORK, Dec. POI have
just arrived home from the hos
pital. Just had an operation. Also
my baby girl, four years old, Is
also improving from just having
diphtheria while l was in thu
hospital, so you see l am having
terrible struggle. The Christmas
holidays are coming on and / am
not able to do much for my three
Riddles when Santa Claus comes
writes Mrs. VIM. Hightower,
whose husband is serving a life
sentence in the Frankfort Peni-
Tertiary for his activity during
the Kentucky miners strike.
with Christmas only a few
days away and letters like the
one quoted above pouring in con-
stantly," Rose Baron, Secretary
of the Prisoners Relief Depart
mept of the international Labor
Defense, stated today, I'VE urge
our friends to redouble their eff
forts in making this Christmas
Drive a success.
10 Lifers
There are 10 political prisoners
serving life sentences and about
20 serving from 10 to rs years in
the jails and penitentiaries of the
United States. These are only q
very few of the hundreds of cases
in which the Prisoners Relief De-
partment of the LID is called up
on to help with material and
moral support.
Funds for the Christmas for
political Prisoners Fund should
be sent to Room 610, so East 18th
Street, New York City, or to 300
Lyon Building, Seattle.
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-12-21

.pulpwood cutters must take cog
nizance of the position they are
in and start builling branches of
the NLWU.
The pulpwood haulers are not
exempted from the lash of the
operator. The January Confer
ence of representatives of the
workers in the lumber industry
and its by-products, will lay the
foundation which will raise the
past tradition of the lumber
workers, and crystalline it in
struggle.
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-12-21

children of the scabs. On April 6
the Western Miners Union held
a special registration at its hall,
and signed up nearly 700 miners.
The UMWA at that time was
claiming 275 members in the ROs-
lyn-Cle Elum field.
Despite the fact that the strike
was 100 per cent effective, and,
despite the fact that WMU was
able to show that it had men,
bership of more than 20 per cent
of the miners in the area, the
NRA Labor Board ignored this,
and declared on April 20 that the
members of the Western Miners
Union were bound by the UMWA
contract of March %, and further
declared that the strike was IL
legal.
Within two or three days the
state police swarmed into the
towns of Roslyn and Gle Elum
and launched an attack upon the
picket lines. Sixty-six state po-
lice assisted by an equal number
OF company thugs and gunner,
all armed to the teeth, poured
gas bombs and bullets into the
ranks of the unarmed workers
and wounded and gassed scores Of
them.
Declaring what was in effect
martial law, the state police in
augurated a virtual reign of ter
ror. Militant workers were at
tackled in their own yards and
homes. Gas bombs were fired into
houses. A two day old baby was
gassed.
Orders were issued requiring
the homes OF miners located near
the mines to shut off all lights
at 8 o'clock at night and no one
was allowed in the streets after
that hour. Scores of miners were
arrested on all sorts of minor
charges and herded into Jail
where stiff sentences were meted
out in typical court-martial style.
High school boys, sons of strik-
ing miners, were herded into jails
from out of the class rooms and
off school buses. When a group
of their class mates assembled at
the city hall to demand their re-
lease, they were also met with gas
bombs.
Riot Charges Raised
Early in May, after the picket
lines had been completely broken
and the mines had resumed al
most militant of the striking min
of riot were lodged against the
most militant IL the striking min
ers and their wives and sisters.
1t Is these charges that the
State is prepared to try the re-
naming defendants upon on De-
cember "a, in Judge Arthur Ma
CURES Court at Ellensburg, Wn.
1t is interesting to notice that
the prosecutors will be s. d.
Short and Special Prosecutor E,
X. Brown, attorney for the North
western Improvement Co, the UNI
WA-and now the State.
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-12-21
JOIN al OR QUIT"

BEND, Ore, Dec. 20-AlthOugh
worker in the Brooks-Seanlon
outfit here had worked faithfully
and satisfactorily for several
years, he was approached by the
foreman and notified that he
would have to quit or join the Al
union.
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-12-21

UMWA before the split, for pro-
company activity had been quick
ly reinstated into the union after
the vast majority had left to join
the WMU.
Farrimond and Henry were
both defended by f. X. Brown,
attorney for the coal company
and also attorney for the UMWA,
and were prosecuted by S. ID.
Short. Both were promptly re-
leased.
WMU Gets Assurance
On January 3, 1894, d. r. Sven,
general manager of tie N. w. I'm
provement company lad assured
representatives of the WMU that
he would recognize that union
for the purpose of collective bar
gaining. However, when on JAN
uary 5, they called upon him he
stalled them for time.
On March 5, two leaders of the
WMU were discharged for union
activities, though the company
offered the usual claim that it
was merely lay-off by reason of
lack of work. This was very quick
ly refuted when the men in their
mine offered to share work with
them.
In February the miners called
upon the NRA Coal Board to
hold a special secret election to
determine which union repre-
sented the majority of men. This
was refused. The Labor Board
also ignored protests lodged
against the discharge of the two
leaders of the WMU.
Contract With UMWA
On March %, Sven, in behalf
of his company, entered into a
contract with representatives of
the UMWA purpOrting to bind
all the miners in the Roslyn Gle
Elum district. He told the WMU
representatives on March "a that
he would not recognize their I'M
ion since he had chosen to enter
contract with the UMWA.
On March Is, the Western Min
ers issued a strike call to COM
menee at the expiration of the
old contract on April l, demand
ing recognition for their union
under Section IA of the NRA. The
NRA Labor Board sought to in
duee the miners not to strike and
to remain on the job pending set
Element"
The miners however, already
Thoroughly experienced with
the Labor Boards settlements"
refused to postpone their action.
April saw each pit surrounded
by scores of pickets and the
mines tied up tight as a drum.
The Western Miners Union had
elected a rank and file strike COM
mittee of 60. The women had
formed a union auxiliary and join
ed the men on the picket line.
wMU Signs 700
Miners children refused to ride
in the same school buses or sit
in the same classrooms with the
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-12-21

fights.
Pick one of the ten neediest
cases." put his name and a dol
lar bin in an envelope and send II
to the Voice of Action.
Donations will be turned o,E
to the International Labor De-
Tense. the Committee TO Aid Vic
tins of German Fascism. or the
Mooney Moulders Defense Com
mittee, as the case may be.