The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-11-24
.JObIess Mass
At Relief Units
In ttsburgh

PITTSBURGH, Pa, Nov. %
Mass demonstrations were staged
here Wednesday before units of the
Allegheny County Emergency Re-
lief Board by the united front of
Unemployment Councils. Unem-
ployed Citizens League, the indie
pen emit Unemployed Citizens
League, the Pennsylvania Unem-
ployed League, and the Veterans
Rank and File Committee. Large
crowds of workers gathered before
each welfare unit to protest against
the Public Relations Office and to
force authorities to deal with
emergency cases Of unemployed
families.
Police assembled in an attempt
to break up the demonstrations,
and arrested eighteen men and wo-
men, but were forced to release all
prisoners at hearings in police
court on the following day.
At the North Side relief station
1000 assembled. and committee
of seven was elected to present, de-
mands to the officials inside. While
they were meeting with the super
visor swarm of police reserves
arrived on the scene, attempted to
provoke disturbance, and arrested
thirteen men and four women.
In Hardwood, at about the same
time, 500 workers gathered before
the local unit to protest. and Jack
Thomas, Unemployed Council lead
er, mounted chair to address the
crowd.
A detail of police stationed there
tried to prevent Thomas from
speaking, twice pulling him off his
perch.
The workers, displaying excellent
discipline, Immediately crowded the
speaker and prevented police from
interfering while he concluded his
talk. He called for abolition Of
the p. R. o. and recognition Of
the committees Of unemployed Or
CARNATIONS.
A committee was elected to enter
the Office and present the resolu-
tons Of the united front to Mrs.
Alvord, welfare supervisor. She
was forced to meet with the COM
mittee and take up ten emergency
cases which had been neglected for
from three to four weeks.
Nxrn,. 400 ef, aI ~
Braam ST., and another crowd
gathered at the Penn Ave. relief
station to stage similar protest
meeting. Fred Griff was arrested
at the Van Braam st. meeting
when police attempted to disperse
the crowd.
Immediately following the ar
rests, large delegations of workers
formed and marched on the City
Hall, where they demanded that
the Mayor release all the prison
ers. Griff was released on his own
recognizance exactly one hour after
his arrest.
The same delegation then entered
Safety Director Bells Office, where
they protested the action of police
in ripping signs off the backs Of
workers picketing the central re-
lief Office in the City County
Building.
A visit was next made to City
Relief Director Southland Hay and
to County Director George Mills
to force some action in eviction
cases taking pl-.ce.
All workers arrested we're charged
with disorderly conduct but theil
cases were dismissed in police court
by Magistrate Charles Papale.
Demands presented by commit
tees at each welfare unit were: u
For abolition of the Public Relations
Office. ~ For the recognition OF
all committees of the unemployed
organizations at local and county
units. 80 For immediate action
in emergency cases. "a For in
creased relief, in cash. 90 For the
immediate release of Phil Frank
field. 90 For the delivery of shoes
and clothes allotments to the
homes of workers receiving them
Unemployed workers organiza-
tons are presenting a solid united
front to fight for the abolition Of
the P. r. o., barrier which tbs
Board has invented to escape meet
ings with the workers committees
UETrD Tn MEET MONT U