davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1934-11-27

are written in the hieroglyphics Of
Egypt. The rulers Of some ancient
states found it necessary to have a
tally Of the population Of their king
doms and records of the amount Of
grain stored in order to provide
against famine.
1t is a far CRY from the crude rec
ords Of early times to the very COM
prehensive statistics which are nee
essary to supply the needs of our
complex civilization. I shall not 60
into the developments of statistics,
nor into the history Of taking
from ancient times TO the present
but I will outline briefly the history
Of the United States census OF agri-
culture
AS early as l840 this country found
it necessary to provide for census
Of agriculture. In that year Congress
Evening star., 1934-11-27

States has apparently risen to high
er point than ever before"
The text of Mr.. Austin's address
follows:
MY fellow citizens, I welcome this
opportunity so generously afforded by
Mr.. Oliver Owen Kuhn, managing
editor OF The Washington Star, and
the broadcasting stations presenting
this National Radio Forum, TO inform
you of the significance of the forth
coming census of agriculture to be
taken by the Bureau Of the Census of
the Department Of Commerce Janu-
ary l. 1885
Since the beginning Of history, ag-
riculture has been the basis OF civili-
Zation. Herodotus told the story OF
the advancement Of the human race
in the valley of the Euphrates. SINH
lar records for the valley Of the Nile
Evening star., 1934-11-27

never stopped to consider why census
is taken, and what need there may be
for an agricultural census.
The first and most important reason
Is that the Government must have
accurate basic statistics In order to
Evening star., 1934-11-27

determine its policy intelligently. How
closely governmental needs and sta
tistics are related may be indicated by
the fact that the words statesman"
and Statistics" come from the same
CONTINUED on Thirteenth Page.)
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-01-25
U.M.W.A. Officials Acted
AS Deputies, Sold
Out Miners

but is primarily interested in the
dues, check-off and eorralling the
miners for the highest bidder.
This explains the present activities
of the UM.W.A leaders in Utah.
With the masses of miners in the
National Miners Union, the U.M.WA-
officials in league with the COM
panies, have launched a vicious CAM
paign amongst the miners to force
them TO join the U.M.W.A. and drop
the NM.U. Miners are being forced
to Join the UM.W.A. or lose their
Jobs. The language of the MIRA,
right to belong to union of your
own choosing" is, as far as Utah is
concerned, hollow and a sham, and
shows clearly the close association OF
the employers with this company
union and the lengths they will go
to prevent militant organization
from becoming established.
But, despite the league of the
bosses and reactionary UM.WA.
burocrats, the Utah miners are
strengthening their forces as the re-
suit of the retreat during the strike.
are Tightening up their organization
and recruiting new members-pre-
pairing for bitter struggle against
the forces of reaction, for the right
to establish union of their own
choosing, and for better wages, hours
and working conditions in the Utah
mining fields. A large struggle is in
the making in Utah. All workers
must stand ready to aid the fighting
NM.U. in the Utah fields.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-01-25
Arrest Norfolk, Va.
Unemployed Leader
Seized Giving Leaflets
to C.W.A. Workers

NORFOLK, Va, Jan 24.-H. Car
rington, a member of the Unemployed
Council, was arrested for distributing
leaflets to C.W.A. workers, held three
days incommunado, and fined S.. He
was sentenced in the Norfolk police
court on an old city ordinance that
prohibits the distribution Of hand
bills without permit from the chief
Of police.
The leaflet, issued by the C.WA.
Labor Union, called upon the CW.A
workers to organize and struggle
against the abandonment of the
C.W.A. program; for free transporta-
ton to and from the C.W-A. jobs;
and for job or immediate cash
relief for all unemployed workers.
The Unemployed Council of Nor
folk is fighting for relief for the I'M
employed. Unemployed workers lead
ing the struggles at the City Relief
agencies are daily threatened with
arrest
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-01-25

tive" mines of the steel companies,
company unions have been formed in
the wake of the strike betrayals. Ac-
cording to figures published by the
Pen and Hammer, from around
100000 workers who were forced
into company unions before the N.
r. A., recently there were around
100000 in company unions.
In the Basic Industries
These workers are mainly in the
basic industry, where the slave codes
have lowered living standards most.
In fighting against the N. r. A. and
all its fascist moves, in preparing for
strikes, the greatest energy certainly
must be centered among these work.
ers. There are dozens of methods OF
fighting within the company union
and in the factory. Every act of
the company union must be exposed
Department and factory committees
should be organized SO that when an
issue is raised, independent action of
the workers can be aroused to break
through the company union oppres-
sion. No deed of the company union
should be left unanswered. One OF
the most potent weapons in fighting
the company union is a regu-
larry appearing shop paper
that deals with conditions of
the workers, exposes the company
unions, calls for action on the part
Of the worker, helps to lead partial
struggles which break down the
authority and grip Of the company
union over the men.
Now that every worker in some
manner or other is learning how the
N. r. A. lowers wages (the higher
paid through the lowering Of their
wages to the minimum; those receiy-
ing the minimum, through the low
ering of their real wages, etc, etc.,
the National Labor Board VIII find
it more difficult through its dema-
gogy to stop strikes Its promises
are wearing thin, as the general
transportation strike in Philadelphia
showed. They will resort to more
open fascist attacks on strikers.
Why Green Howls
The howl Of Green against Glow
wages" now is actual preparation to
break strikes. The result of his
Criticism is to call on Congress and
on the National Labor Board to re-
wise the law Strengthening" Section
Ia. The probabilities are that these
sections will be OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
strikes and against the workers.
AT the same time, the National La
Dor Board will step out more openly
and boldly into each strike as a
Strikebreaker.
without participation of the whole
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-01-25

believing the phrases about the fright
to organize flocked into the A. F.
Of L., and Immediately began strike
struggles against the slave codes and
for union recognition. They wanted
to join the A. F. Of L. and use them
as instruments for improving their
wages and working conditions. The
A. F. of L. leaders wanted them in
the A. F. of L. so that they could
better betray the workers in an or
ganized way, as we'll as increase their
graft funds through greater dues
payments
Where the workers, even within the
A. F. of L., actually went on strike,
breaking through the bounds of the
A. F. Of L. top leadership Gas in Wier-
ton SteeD, Green and Lewis actu-
ally helped to destroy the union.
Independent Unions
Many workers, who through long
experience knew of the strikebreaking
and flunkey role of the A. F. of L.
bureaucracy, formed independent
unions, in order to be in better
position to struggle. 1t is imperative
to work within these independent
unions.
The revolutionary trade union on
all fronts increased its activity. 1t
built new unions, strengthening those
already built, and the militant mem
bers of the A. F. Of L. began to work
more energetically in rank and file
opposition groups.
But now, with the new members
in the A. F. of L. acting as ferment
for struggle; with the old members,
especially those who have been
mulcted and betrayed time and again
showing signs of resistance, the i'm
portance of immediate strengthening
Of the rank and file oppositions in
preparation for the new strike strug-
giles cannot be overstresSed. Where
rank and file oppositions do not exist
they certainly can be organized in
every local of the A. F. of L. The
recent racketeering exposes and the
immediate angry response Of the rank
and file against their betrayerS shows
the readiness of the rank and file
for struggle. But they must have
leadership and organization.
Work In Company Unions
Company unions received a ire
mendous stimulus through the ac-
ton of the National Labor Board
and the A. F. of L. officials. For
instance, in the automobile indus
try the "merit clause" signed by
NIessrs. Green, Lewis and Hillman,
was the charter for the organiza-
ton of the fascist type of company
union.
In Weirton Steel and in the cap
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-01-25
Skebreakng by the UNIV A. Leadership the Strike

were arrested and held in buu-pens.
Miners were kidnapped and beaten.
The union was outlawed and driven
underground. All leaders of the N.
M. U. were held for "rioting" and
criminal syndiealism."
What part did the UM.WA. take
in this strike?
The U.M.W.A. officials were an
integral part of the forces of reac-
ton attacking the miners. Not only
did the Fontecchio's attack the strike
in the press, but they look an active
and leading part in the smashing Of
the strike itself. Among the gunner
at all mines United Mine Workers of
America leaders could be found.
Among those active in smashing
picket lines U.M.W.A. leaders were al
ways present.
The Salt Lake capitalist papers
observed this in the following way:
Members of two unions were in OPP
pCsite camps. Members of the U. NJ.
w. A. were seen at the mines guard
ing them from the piekets of the
National Miners Union"
q. NJ. w. A. Gunner
These guards at the mines were
gunner, whose job it was to smash
picket lines and help the employ
ers break the strike. Not content
with instructing their members to
continue working in the mines, the
U.MWA. leadership also sought to
have them act as gunner and fascist
bands to attack the picket lines. The
rank and file of the United Mine
Workers of America refused to do
this, however. An instance was re-
ported from the Standardville local
of the U.M.W.A. during the height
Of the strike. A motion was pro-
posed by a U.M.WA. official at this
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-01-25

meeting that the entire Standard
vile U.M.W.A. go to the Spring Can
yon mine the next morning to smash
the picket line. The motion was de
feated by a great majority, and the
smashing was left to the U.MW.A.
leadership of the locals and sub dis
trict.
In the Utah mines, where the
U.M.W.A. has established an organi-
cation with the direct assistance of
the superintendent and bosses, it
functions as a company union and
provides no protection to the miners.
Needless to say it is not interested in
lettering the conditions of the min
ers and does not even attempt TO do
this, nor does it even talk about IT,.
The concern of the U.MW.A. leader
ship is to enroll the miners and
hornswoggle theai into the U.M.W.A.
and soak $40 initiation and high
dues for the privilege. The fact that
the N.MU. has the opposite program,
and that these two platforms are IN
derstood by the miners is the ex-
PLANTATION Of why the Utah miners
reject the UM.W.A. and support the
N.M.U.
Company Union Character
The company union character Of
the U.M,WA. is well understood and
appreciated by the coal operators in
Utah. That explains the activities
of the companies in assisting the
U.M.W.A. to become established, and
explains the terrorism and violence
against the National Miners Union.
The employers well understand that
the leadership of the U.NT.W.A. is not
concerned with the wages, hours and
working conditions Of the miners and
will do little to have them changed,
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-01-25
Lewis Pack S
Convention
Against Miners
P ayrOlIers Represent
Locals They Do Not
Belong To
By TOM MYERSCOUGH

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Jan. PA
glance is all that is necessary at the
partial report Of the Credentials Com
mittee for the 33rd Constitutional
Convention of the U.M.W.A., which
opened here this morning, to con-
vince the knowing ones that Lewis is
stacking the cards against the work
ing miners.
Every old and known payroller, and
every new ones, can be found ere
presenting" locals to which they do
not belong. In some instances, locals
to which no one belongs are on the
list and represented by payrollers.
These are the Blue Sky" local unions,
which have gone out Of existence
years ago
Tax Due" Locals
The report shows very few of the
officials representing their own
locals. Outstanding in the partial
report is the fact that Panama, Ill,
is not even listed. This was the home
Of Lewis, the International President
OF great Importance too, is the fact
that 465 local unions are marked tax
due" in this partial report. This
means lot. In the anthracite, where
the recent split took place, for in
stance, a large number Of locals are
so marked. In Van Bittner's West
Virgins" 100 locals are tagged Tax
Due" From Washington State, Dis
trict 10, only two delegates are seated
in this convention, according to this
preliminary report, and it is question
able whether there will be any more
that is, seated legally
The same is true of the two Cana
dian districts from where only two
delegates came and are listed, one
from each of the districts 49, Alberta
and Nova Scotia. Another noticeable
thing is that many of the officials
have themselves listed as delegates
from so many locals that in some
parts of the report they are checked
as having required amount"
The usual speechmaking ceremonies
are the order for the first day. Even
a brass band is hired out of the dol
lars collected as dues from the hungry
miners and, according to statements
given out by the officials, what will
probably be the shortest U. M. w. A.
convention ever, is scheduled. This
means they are prepared to rail-
road everything and check any OPP
position from being heard. Besides,
Lewis wants to get back to Washing
ton to mingle with his political
friends of the bosses parties and not
suffer the environment of so many
miners any longer than is necessary
for his payrollers to give him the
mandate to continue selling out the
miners who work in the pits.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-01-25

Kirkpatrick is best known for being
a gunman in the strike Of 1922.
Kirkpatrick then commenced to
blackjack the miners at Standard
vile to join the U.M.W.A. on threats
of losing their jobs. Other supers and
company bosses did the same.
Nick needed more help and sent in
call for forces. Lambert, Morgan
and Radilji from Wyoming came in
to help out. But even this array of
high-priced takers could not bulge
the miners. They still maintained
allegiance to the National Miners
Union and would have nothing to do
with the u M. w. A.
BY means of threats of discharge,
pressure from the company, etc, some
miners were forced into the U. M.
w. A. But the vast majority be-
longed to the NM.U.
General Strike
On August 10th a general strike
took place in Carbon County. The
strike was under the leadership of
the National Miners Union. 1t was
called in order to win certain neces-
sary local demands, recognition of the
union, acknowledgment and against
the discharging and intimidating Of
the miners by the companies.
In this strike the most violent ter
rorism against the miners was used.
On the basis Of civilian martial
law hundreds of deputies, gunner
and SluggerS roamed the county
raiding, attacking and fighting the
miners. The County issued bonds for
S45 900 which was used to pay the
deputies and buy ammunition. U. S.
army officers from Fort Douglas as
sisted in the drive. Picket lines were
smashed. Hundreds of houses raided
and searched. -Four hundred miners
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-01-25
Minneapolis Workers
to Call State Vide
C.W.A. Contention

MINNEAPOLIS, MINI, Jan. "a,
The United Relief Workers ASso-
cation here, at its last regular
meeting voted to call a statewide
conference of all C.WA. workers
organizations on or about Feb. Is,
when mass lay-offs begin on ma
tional scale.
The state conference will take
steps for a mass struggle against
the present lay-offs, wage cuts,
and the discontinuance Of the en-
tire C.W.A. program.
Relief workers organizations
have already been established in
Minneapolis, st. Paul and Duluth,
and similar organizations are be-
ing established In smaller towns.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-01-25

easy task in coralling the Utah min
ers into the UM.W.A. where each
would pay $40 imitation and high dues
for the privilege of belonging to a
Union with leaders which had sold
them out years before.
But Nick made mistake and ran
into hot water from the outset. On
arriving in Utah he found the ma
jority of the Utah miners already
members or more sympathetic to the
National Miners Union. Moreover,
the sentiments toward Nick and his
boss, Lewis, was decidedly hostile, so
much SO in fact that Nick quickly
moved from Helper, which is the
heart of the coal district, down to
Price, the county seat, which wasn't
SO hot, where he became very
chummy with the notorious Rollo
West, Mayor of Price, and various
county officials.
Nick could not stay in Helper be-
cause one morning a delegation Of
women heard he was in town and
formed committee to go see Nick.
In their hands they carried various
weapons of warfare, a reason perhaps
which convinced Nick that he could
not see this delegation.
Refuse To Follow U.M.W.A.
The miners of Carbon County
refused to follow Fontecchio or the
UM.W.A. Like the New Mexico
miners, their choice of a union was
the fighting National Miners Union.
But Nick did not give up He i'm
mediately enlisted the aid of various
mine managers and company Off
Gals. Nick obtained the support of
M. kirkpatrick, super at the Stand
ardville mine. Kirkpatrick gave Nick
every assistance in forming his locals
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-01-25
Hartford JObIeSs
Demand Cash Relief
Fight for City to Okay
Unemployed Insurance

HARTFORD, Conn, Jan. 24.-After
Mayor Beach had refused cash relief
to the city's unemployed on the
grounds that no manner could be
found for raising the money, the
Unemployed Council of Hartford pre-
Sented to the Board of Aldermen a
detailed plan for rciSing money. This
plan calls for tax upon all firms,
factories and insurance companies
earning more than $4,000 a year,
and cut in salaries Of city officials.
The unemployed workers of the
single mems group of the Unem-
ployed Council are demanding jobs
or cash relief for all workers without
discrimination; guaranteed minimum
wages Of $18 a week to all relief
workers, union wage rates to apply
for skilled workers; free lodging and
new clothing to the jobless; and that
the city government endorse the
Workers Unemployment and Social
Insurance Bill.
Netty soon became involved in
strike struggles, particularly in the
metal trades, where she found work.
AS a result of the strenuous work in
metal shops and the unsanitary con-
ditions her health broke down. Netty
is a militant, courageous worker and
as soon as her health improves, she
will be in the forefront of the work
erS' struggles as before.
"As soon as I learned what my
father was doing, rushed to the I.
L. D., who is now handling the case.
1 shall take the witness stand against
my father in defense of the innocent
Negro worker, Oscar Day, when the
trial comes up on Thursday"
Netty will tell the story on the wit
ness stand much the same as it is
given here
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-01-25
Ala.DemandS Death
for Three Negroes
LID Exposed Frame-Up;
Calls for Mass Protest

MONTGOMERY, Ala, Jan. "a. go
Attorney General Thomas E. Knight,
Jr., is convinced beyond doubt that
the extreme penalty should be ex-
acted from three of the nine Ne
groeS framed and sentenced to die
Feb. 9, in lynchers' holiday set by
the State Supreme Court.
Among these three is Bonnie Fos-
ter, whose frame-up and torture has
been thoroughly exposed by the In
ternational Labor Defense.
The other two, whose legal murder
the Scottsboro prosecutor recon-
mends, are Ernest Walker and Solo
mon Roper,
Knights recommendation is made
as a member of the pardon board
to whom Governor Miller, granting
pardon hearings" to the nine, be-
cause OF the protest against this holo-
caust raised by the International La
Dor Defense, has turned over the
cases.
The LID. has called for intensified
mass protest from all over the coun-
try to force Governor Miller to free
these nine, and Willie Peterson, tuber-
cular Negro war veteran, also framed
and sentenced to die, as well as the
Scottsboro boys.
The convictions Of Haywood Pat
terson and Clarence Norris will come
up on motions for a reversal of the
verdict, before lynch judge w. w
Callahan at Decatur, Jan. o.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-01-25
BY PAT TOOHEY
(ArticIe 81

A typical example Of how the leader
ship of the United Mine Workers of
America functions is the activities of
one Nick Fontecchio in the state of
Utah. Nick is an old messenger boy
of John L. Lewis and one of Lewis
most INSCRIPTIONS henchmen. At
divers times Nick has been run out
of Pennsylvania, West Virginia and
Illinois by the miners, where his
reputation is well known because it
stinks to high heaven.
About June, 1888, Nick boarded a
train for Carbon County, Utah. He
came with credentials from John L..
Lewis himself, which designated Nick
as international Representative" Of
the United Mine Workers of America.
Lewis sent Nick Fontecchio to Utah
to bring the Utah miners into the
fold.
Miners Hostile to Lewis
1t was the first time in eleven years
that Lewis dared send anyone into
Utah, because the Utah miners also
well remember the treacherous be-
trayal of 1922 But after II years
maybe the mirers would forget, Nick
reasoned, and yisioned himself an