The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-07-19
Government Helps
Frisco Gang Raids
Continued from Page y
Bv MARGUERITE YOUNG

DN MANI u LAaL1
while the bayonets, which the
President didn't mention, flash
along the strike front and vigilantes
and imported paid, professional
strike-breakers head an almost I'M
pa-alleled massing Of troops and
terror against the strike.
2. Secretary Perkins, ask d
whether the importation of the
Be-goff thugs was not illegal, re-
piled rather that it was provo
cative and unfortunate"
3. The fascist attack by union
Dustin NR.A. Administrator john
son upon use Of the general strike
was allowed to stand as the official
attitude of the Roosevelt govern
ment. as President Roosevelt and
all other officials declined to modify
it.
4. Lloyd Garrison, chairman of
the Roosevelt National Labor Rela-
tions Board, asked whether he
would consider raids upon the
Communist Party and other legal
groups when passing upon labor
disputes, replied that he couldn't
see how that could come before
us"
5. Definite indication that the
Roosevelt forces in San Francisco
are pressing piecemeal settlement
by arbitration of all issues involved
in the general strike-after the
ranks have been broken-appeared
in a long argument by Miss Per-
kins. declaring that the "Snag" in
settlement" of the strike is the
refusal of the longshoremen to set
tie separately.
The information that the Labor
Department is Handling" the raids
on the Pacific Coast came from
confidential government sour c e.
This bureau was informed that the
Department of Justice, possibly, is
cooperating, but that the chief re-
sponsibility is with the Department
of Labor.
Fear Mass Resentment
These and other action and re-
marks around washington indicated
the panicky attitude of the govern
ment, despite its resolution to meet
the mighty strike movement by out
right strongarning. There was
visible evidence that those left at
home while johnson and the troops
do the dirty work are aware that
this policy to meet the crisis will
cost a lot in the coming elections.
Verbally everyone carefully ignored
the fascist aspects of the anti-labor
drive. No one, not event the press,
would give any hint of aWareness
that the Roosevelt technique of
strikebreaking is something new
that in the past authorities usually
at least went to the trouble of
framing strikers as an excuse for
suppresSing them, but not as in this
case.
Perkins also gave out the Roose-
welt message. 1t was addressed to
her and read:
"You may say that have ex-
pressed to you and to the public
my confidence that common sense
and good order will prevail on all
sides of the controversy and that
1 have full confidence in the board
and its agencies to arrive at a
reasonable solution"
The reference to confidence" in
the National LongShoremen's La
Dor Board-the blandest, most
striking expression of the Roose-
welt policy of evading issues most
vital to those he addresses yet to
come out-was swallowed whole
by most Of the capitalist CORE
spondents massed around M S
Perkins.
Secretary Perkins was reminded
that the raids were made on the
Communist Party, a legal group,
and on the Marine Workers IN
dustrial Union, one of the unions
supporting the demand for recog-
milton of the International Long
shoremen's Union. She was asked
what was her opinion of these raids.
IT of course don't know the rea-
son for or the cause of these raids,
she said. But she added this semi
defense: THE police in any State
have the responsibility of the pre-
servation of law. If a felony has
been committed, the police have the
right to raid without a warrant"
Aren't you interested in finding
out what's behind these stories?"
IT am-certainly am"
Asked for her opinion on the use
of the general strike, in view OF
Johnson's declaration that it cons
stitutes civil war" and "a threat
to the community, Miss Perkins
merely replied, Il don't think my
opinion would be useful. We are
faced with a condition, not q
theory" The same inquiry to chair
man Garrison brought the follow
ing reply: 81 don't want to COM
ment on the general strike" Miss
Perkins, pressed for a straight
answer on whether Johnson's at
tack stands as official, declared:
He has great responsibility. He
is interested in the Marine Code
I haven't been in communication
with him." Harrison, asked again
for an expression on the use OF
troops bayonets and gas against
strikers, repeated, Il express nc
opinion on that"
Madame Secretary was asked
whether the immigration laws coulo
be invoked in the strike. She sale
that no case in which a striker was
accused of advocating violent over
throw of the government had beer
turned over to the Labor Depart
rnent under the immigration Laws
But, asked whether she had investi-