The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-06-20


worker when he ran for State As
eembly on the Communist ticket in
1882. The victorious candidate re
ceived only 10000
Lightfoot. who is running for the
same position in the election this
fall told the Daily Worker repre-
sentative of his experiences. his &C
tivity as a revolutionary worker and
leader. 1t is a short story, but it is
q history of the most concentrated
and devoted activity in the inter
ests of our class.
Il was first involved in the revo-
lutionary movement in 1881. The
big unemployed struggles for relief
and against evictions were going
on. Yes" he answered to the re-
porter's question, II suppose that it
was the fact that lot of workers
got to know me through the unem-
ployed activity that accounts for
the large vote I received last cleo
ton"
Workers Know Him
The workers of the South Side
certainly did get to know" Claude
in those days. They got to know
him as the kind of leader that is
In the forefront of every struggle,
that cannot be bought off or intimi-
dated. They got to know him in the
days when the most vicious terror
ism ives directed against the IN
employed Councils, when clubbings,
tailings and even shootings were
common. They got to know him,
too, as one who could put their
thoughts into words. who could win
masses Of unconvinced workers to
the side Of their class. who could.
with his speeches. rouse groups into
action. not as spell binding punk.
but with an eloquent, logical appeal
Then I went into the League of
Struggle for Negro Rights. We or
ganized the parade that backed up
the Address Of tho Negro People
to the City Council in 1898. I've
been secretary of fine L.S.N.R. in
Chicago ever since"
During his time in the LaS.N.R.
Lightfoot has participated in many
struggles. One of the last was the
fight for JOBS for Negro workers
on the Wendell Phillips High School
job. Battling side by side with
workers OF the American Consoli-
dated Trades Council. the LS.N.R.
picketed the construction Job for
two weeks. Finally, mass demon
stration was held in front of the
school. Police attacked, scattering
the workers. Claude climbed to the
roof Of a small building near the
school. and made a speech expos
ing the federal and local govern
ments' cooperation to prevent Ne
groes from getting skilled jobs.
Awaiting Trial
For this crime" he was arrested.
In spite of fine defense made by
his fellow workers who fought the
police, trying to get him free. He
is to come to trial on July q.
Meantime. he Is out on bail raised
by the International Labor De-
Tense.
The reporter asked Lightfoot
what he intended to do when he
was elected to the legislature.
Gightfoot has fine chance to be
elected)
TN going to use the state as
semhly as a forum, from which to
expose the rotten capitalist gov
eminent. I'm going to fight right
there for every demand of the
workers. I'm going to put these pol
iticians on the spot, and force them
to support the workers demands or
stand openly as the flunkeyS of the
bankers and bosses of the state.
I don't want to fool the workers
inao thinking that by electing me
they can Go away with Jim Crow
ism, terror. and get a square DEAL
We aren't going TO take over the
State government by electing wohl-
ers to Office. But we will take over
that state government some dav by
revolutionary means. end spoky--
man n the legislature can do much
tn rally the masses into struggle for
that end.
VIII Force Concessions
Also, We can and will force GER
tain concessions in the workers in
te-est from the bosses by backing
up cur Communist legislators by
mass action. Constant hammering
from within and without the Capt.
tol can win cur partial demands,
for higher wages, unemployment in
surance, and the like.
IF I go to the legislature, I
pledge to the workers of the Fifth
Senatorial District that there will
be at least one voice that will be
raised in their interests. not in the
interests of the capitalists. And, be-
lieve me. I'll see to it tha5 1 get
time between sessions to continue
Tire tight on the streets of Chicago
AGAINST the whole rotten system
that is driving us deeper into pow
erty.'