davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-09-07
Commission Demands NelUs of
IhaeLman in Cable to Nazis

NEW YORK-No answer has
been obtained by the American
Inquiry Commission, to its cable,
sent last week, addressed to the
German government, demanding
news of the condition of Thael-
mann. The Commission is COM
posed of Clarence Darrow, chair
man; u. S. Senator Edward p.
Costigan; Arthur Garfield Hayes
attorney; George Y. Medalie, at
torney; Dudley Field Malone, at
torney; Roger Baldwin, Director
of the Civil Liberties Union;
John l.. Elliott, of the Ethical
Culture Society; and Stanley
High, prominent in Methodist
work.
The text of the cable sent by
the Commission follows:
American press has publish
ed disquieting news releases on
alleged mistreatments and assas-
sinations of political prisoners
in concentration camps and pris-
Ons in Germany on June 80 and
after.
"The latest Sunday edition OF
the Washington Star reports the
death of Torgler. Rumors are
current concerning the assassin
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-09-07

cry that their man had been shot
by members of the lila.
That night the Mayor of Port
land went on the radio in a fren-
zied effort to arouse a lynch spir-
it amongst the Portland public.
The press, the pulpit, the Cham
Der of Commerce and the water
front employers formed a broad
united front and began to lay
down a barrage of villification
against the LILA. A private law
firm, formerly employed by the
waterfront employers, attached
itself to the District Attorneys
office ito aid the prosecution"
and 28 LILA men were arrested on
charges of murder and incite-
ment to riot"
Fate, however, can sometimes
be cruel-even to the waterfront
employers. A few days ago de-
velOpments disclosed the fact
that the slain man had been
shot from the inside" the com
pany union hall, rather than
from the outside" as had been
formerly claimed by the company
union employees.
Close on the heels of this dis
closure and with the forced and
unwilling cooperation of the po-
lice, came the arrest of a COM
pany union gang boss, who con.
fessed to having fired a shot in
the direction of the slain man"
He didn't "think" however, that
he fired the fatal shot. Time and
again. since his arrest. this com
pany hireling who was an active
strike breaker during the strike,
has changed his story. And, am
usingly enough, shortly after his
arrest, the private law firm
which had Offered its support
to the District Attorneys office"
withdrew from the case.
The % liza men, however, are
still in Jail, charged with "mur-
der" and Indictment to riot" Be
tween these men and the MWIU
prisoners, strong feeling of I'M
ity has developed and many of
them are demanding a joint de.
Tense committee.
The tactics of the authorities
and the waterfront employers
have increased rather than de-
creased the militancy of the men.
Despite the terror and despite
the descriptive attempts of the
AFL attorneys, Green and Lord,
strong feeling of solidarity is
growing along the Portland
docks and, in this symbol of
awakening labor, the bosses are
beginning to see hectic days
ahead
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-09-07
Sincldirs Book Contains
Maze Of Contradictions
Continued from Page -

not be doubted once Sinclair's
pamphlet, 81. Governor of Calf
Ornia," is carefully studied and
its parts compared.
Such a comparison will ines
capably reveal glazing cOntradic-
tions. 1t will show that the whole
program is illogical and incon-
sistent and that it cannot pos
sibly stand as real working
plan in solving the economic and
social problems of bankrupt
capitalist society.
But regardless of how unwork-
able the plan" is, it is wonder
fully adapted to confuse and
mislead, and to leave the mass of
the people bound more securely
than ever by the chains of cap
italist exploitation. Deluded and
betrayed, with morale shatter-
ed and solidarity destroyed, and
with the failure of EPIC pointed
to as an example of the failure
of Socialism" the workers of
California and America, these
mis-leaders hope, will become
the easy and unresisting victims
of open fascism.
Let us now continue our ex-
animation of EPIC, this capital
list bear trap that is so carefully
covered up with the leaves and
grass of radical phrases and
false promises.
Contradictions Barred
First, consider the contradic-
ton concerning what EPIC pro-
poses to do. Ever since the Civ
! il War" Sinclair writes, I'VE
have been governed by a bust
ness autocracy, and there has
been a continuous struggle be-
tween that autocracy and our
political democracy. So far, Big
Business has won every Skin
mish, and now we have come to
the final battle" Up ~.
But what does Sinclair say on
page %? "Of course the EPIC
plan will help the rich.' and
what does he say on page 80? "If
our propertied classes were wise
they would take EPI Cas- the al
tentative to Communism. II EP-
&c fails, the Communists will do
the job"
And so he calls on the rich, the
prOpertied classes to support
EPIC, to protect themselves
against the revolt of the masses.
But these rich and propertied
classes, Sinclair describes as
having the mentality of birds of
prey. They are exploiters to
whom men and women are COM
modities," men who so long as
the masses submit, despise them,
and when they revolt send
the police with machine guns
and poison gas" Up. 81.
Shifty Upton
J In one breath this California
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-09-07
John Reed Club Plans
Monthly Supplement
To" VOice OF Action

SEATTLE, Sept. 6-The John
Reed Club OF Seattle is working
toward a one-page literary sup
plement for the Voice OF Action.
The readers of the Voice now
have to go elsewhere for fiction
and for the longer critical mater
ial, because lack of space makes
it impossible for such material
to be inserted.
The proposed John Reed Club
supplement would fill this need,
and would furnish a medium for
local artists and writer's. The pro-
ject is tremendous one, but
with the help of those who are
interested in the establishment
of such a supplement and a great
addition it would be to the paper
this plan can be carried out.
Write to the Voice of Action.
Send in suggestions, contribu-
tions, and subscriptions to the
Voice of Action. The John Reed
Club asks all writer's and artists
interested to com m un C a I Q
through the Voice OF Action, and
asks the support OF every reader
of the Voice of Action.
Answer the following questions
and send your answers to the
Voice of Action, 1902 Maritime
Bldg, Seattle.
Do you want a monthly sup
plement for the Voice of Action?
tSuch a supplement could build
the Voice of Action. 1t would
contain short stories, poems, pO-
litical articles and cartoons. Crit
ical articles too long to run now
as news stories could go into the
supplement Are you in favor of
this supplement? VIII you sup
port it by getting subscriptions?
Will you contribute material to
be published in such a supple
ment?
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-09-07
OF Action Sales
Staff Discusses Tasks

SEATTLE, Sept. 6-Meeting to
improve the sales of the Voice
of Action in Seattle, members of
the papers circulation staff had
some definite editorial sugges-
tiOns to make.
run a notice in the paper
asking for criticism of inaccura-
cies," said the North End Agent
"A correspondent reported to
the paper discrimination against
Negroes on a. CWA job in my
neighbOrhOOd. Men from that
job complain that the report was
untrue. and some won't buy the
paper for that reason. Ask them
to write in such criticisms, so
the paper can be accurate at all
times, and correct what few mis-
takes inevitably creep in"
'The printing OF comparative
relief figures, showing what the
unemployed in Los Angeles, or
In Tacoma, or in Chicago, would
be a good idea,' the same agent
continued. Some workers still
want to know why the paper has
to sell for 5 eents-that should
be explained"
The meeting illustrated the
fact that statesmen and agents
for the paper are close to the
readers and can do much to i'm
prove the paper editorially by
reporting workers opinions to
the editorial staff.
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-09-07
Carmen In Solid Ranks

Continued from Page One)
Thomas Aston became more men,
acing. Suddenly he started the
force and violence by throwing
the first gas bomb. 1t hit a wo-
man in the face and injured
policeman.
After this prOvocatiOn the
crowd retaliated by throwing
rocks. breaking windows in the
car barns. Aston was removed to
the office of the company. 1t was
reported that the police commits
siOner had previously requested
the WWP Co. to remove Col. AS
ton, but the request had gone
unhceded.
Courtesy Cars" Run
After the strike was well under
way the striking employees es-
tablished service for the pub
lie. About 800 Courtesy Cars"
were organized to furnish trans
pOIlullDll lOI lllt ptOplC VI ppo-
kane. No fares were charged, but
donations were accepted. The
capitalist press has come out
with a lot of ballyhoO about the
poor public being Inconvenience
ed, but never mention is made
of the demands of the striking
employees.
All the capitalist papers in
town have tried to belittle the
strike. Statements were given
of certain scabs who were just
brimming with loyalty The
number of strikers were mini
mixed. The number of good loyal
men were greatly magnified. Pres
ident Post OF the Washington
Water Power Company gave an
interview in which he stressed
the TEST of Loyalty
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-09-07

rank and file who are not taking
part in the organization at the
present. Due to the administra-
tiOn of the opium of the CWA,
PWA, and the VERA work re-
lief projects, a great many unem-
ployed who still have faith in the
New Deal and its alphabetical
soup are rapidly becoming awak-
ened to the truth; namely, that
the printing of the pump-bOr-
rowing from Peter to pay Paul
and such other ridiculous meth
DDS will soon come to an end.
Resentment High
Particularly do they resent the
STIMULATING of the spending of
their hard earned money by the
VERA authorities, and the fact
that on these work programs
they get very little more, if any
thing at all, than they would on
direct relief.
As our ranks increase with
these dissatisfied workers and
as our program is better under
stood by them as a result of our
activity, the ultimate perspect-
i've, the elimination of the corrupt
relief system and in its place the
Workers Social and UnemplOy-
ment Insurance, will be seen as
the goal towards which to strug-
gle.
So fellow unemployed, join
the u n m p 10 y e d Citizens
League at your nearest local
or ma, or get in touch with the
Central Federation at Room
ID, Howard Bldg, Seattle, for
further information.
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-09-07
UCL Today
(This is the concluding article OF
three on the Seattle UCL)
BY W. H. MURRAY

Preceding articles have treat
ed with the old form of organiza-
tion in the UCL, the Self-Help
(?) Program with its accompany
ing bourgeois political maneuv-
ering and disqualification, all
of which palliative measures in
which the unemployed were con-
stantly led up and down blind al
leys. The result was demoraliza-
ton and disintegration.
Today under the militant,
fighting program of the National
Unemployment Council, the Or
ganizatiOn is recognized as one
truly leading the unemployed in
a constant struggle for a better
ment of their particular prob
lens. The Central Federation, I'M
der the new plan is no longer a
bowling out place for a lot of
demagogues and. parlor pink
philosophers; but a real planning
body where delegates from the
various District Councils and
other affiliated groups meet.
Subdivision Works Well
The plans of work and other
activities, laid out by the men,
bership of the various locals and
neighborhoOd groups are treat
ed with in the district councils
which are set up to correspond
with the political subdivision of
the city and county and there,
because of the peculiar identity
Of the problems of these districts,
goodly portion of the work of
discussion and planning ways
and means to treat with these
problems is carried on.
The same rule holds true in re-
spect to the locals and Ma. each
of course having to treat with
outstanding problems arising i'm
their respective territories. A
sense of reliance and the build
ing of initiative is thereby ac-
complished by this autonomous
form of action.
Larger problems, however, are
passed on to the Central Body,
whenever it becomes necessary
to rally large numbers or enough
mass pressure to bring about the
desired result.
Misleaders Exit
1t might be well to point out
here that the Swivel Chair Gen.
erals of the past are conspicuous
by their absence. The new pro-
gram calls for the real protest in
the form of committees to the
various voucher stations in suf-
ficient numbers to get results:
in the form of picket lines, DEM
OnstratiOns and other kinds of
action, which entails physical
manifestation and not lip service
As a consequence a sitting of
the wheat from the chaff has
taken place. and in large num-
bers the intelligensia and those
who would follow Upton Sinclair,
the line of the least resistance,
partnership with the Chamber
OF Commerce, have disappeared.
Now just word or two on the
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-09-07
Worker Candidates
To Enter Campaign
In Skagit County.

ANACORTES, Wash, Aug. 80
Pledged to fight without quail
ification for the lettering OF
workers conditions, six work
ing class candidates are entered
here in the present election
campaign under the banner OF
the Communist Party.
Every one of these candidates
steps from the ranks of work
ers' organizations; Relief Work
ers' Protective Association, Unit
ed Farmers League, Veterans
organization. They have the
knowledge of working class
needs gained from bitter per-
sonal experience, gained from
service as front rank leaders
OF workers struggles.
Claude Speer, candidate for
state senator fro m Skagit
County, is an organizer of the
RWPA. Bob Hamilton, militant
worker running for sheriff, is also
a leader of that organization, as
is John Swisher, one Of the two
slated for county commissioner.
The other, Frank Dodd, is a
member of the Veterans political
club.
The two candidates for repre-
sentative on the Communist tick
ct, Ralph Nelson and Vim Carl,
UFL organizers, were both men,
toned in this weeks issue of the
Farmers National Weekly" or
gan OF the UFL, as being among
the leading BOOSTERS in that pa
per's present national drive for
Increased circulation.
Carl, a farm school student,
has pledged himself and his UFL
Day Creek Local to get 100 subs
before the drive has ended.
Workers of Skagit County!
Support your working class can
didates in the coming elections!
Vote Communist Mark the bal
lots for Speer, Hamilton, Dodd,
Nelson, Swisher and Carl.
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-09-07
Friday Harbor Man Bares Vicious
Frame Up That Came After Strike

the men went back to jail and
were still there at this writing.
Boscowitz Case
The case of Boseowitz shows
most clearly that it was a petty,
spiteful frame-up to deliberately
hinder the militant fishermen at
the very height of the fishing
season.
Boseowitz. according to the
charge, hadn't been i'm the state
long enough to fish. Yet he had
his naturalization papers, hisreg-
istration card and three witness
es to testify that he had legal res
idence in Tacoma. His urgent re-
quest that he be tried before the
Justice OF the Peace SO that he
might get back to his boat, was
fatty refused. Yet after he had
lost several valuable days in jail,
his case was Immediately dismiss
ed In Superior Court.
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-09-07

complain; they must be salts
fled; above all they must not
organize.
Nor was this all. Gambling
was popularized among the crew.
The crew didn't have money, so
gambling tickets were issued,
and gambling went full speed.
Mr.. Garcia was satisfied" until
two militant workers put a
brake to it when they were
about to enter the port of Sc
attic.
These two workers organized all
the losers and made Garcia I'M
derstand they were not going to
pay him a cent. But Garcia with
his soft demagogy talked them
into contributing $500 per loser,
SIS in all, for "eard expenses" and
promised them a chop suey din
ner besides.
Workers Duped
These workers, not knowing
how to defend themselves organ
Nationally, fell for his line, and
Garcia is many dollars richer
than he was before the season
with money in his pockets
squeezed from the sweat and
blood of his fellow workers.
Under the NRA these cannery
workers were promised shorter
hours, better quarters. whole
some food, and above all, more
pay. The NRA failed to live up
to any of these promises. 1t was
not created for the cannery work
ers, but for the cannery bosses.
Cannery workers of today and
tomorrow The NRA has not
done anything for you and the
likes of you'll We must look at il
straight in the face. These prom.
Uses are not forthcoming The
only way you can better YOU
conditions is to join a militant
Organization that will go dowr
the line fighting for you.
In the fishing industry this
organization is the Fishermen
and Cannery Workers Indust-
rial Union-National Offices To-
Gated at 201 Collins Bldg, End
and James Street, Seattle.
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-09-07
UCL Speaker Banned
CONTINUED from Page Onel

Continued from Page Onel
numbers which will have to be
provided for as this peculiar cap
italist society continues to disin-
tegrate.
An elimination of the political
patronage and other corrupt pol
icies in the administration OF re-
lief must take place very soon
throughout the nation.
A system of Unemployment
and Social Insurance must take
its place. 1t is needless to dwell
upon the palliative measures adj
opted under the guise of this
kind of insurance in some states
already. | deal in main with that
bill known as HR 1898, the Work
ers Bill introduced in the 73rd
Congress on Feb. 2, 1894.
tThe bill was quoted followed
by a list of endorsements by I'M
ions and city councils, including
the following:
Four international unions of
the American Federation of La
Dor. the Amalgamated AssOcia-
tion of Iron, Steel and Tin Work
ers, the international Mine, Mill
and Smelter Workers Union. the
Textile Workers Union, and the
American Federation of Full
Fashioned Hosiery Workers.
30 Central Trades and Labor
Bodies have acted on behalf of
the bill, 3 State declarations of
Labor, As City Councils.
Murray closed his speech with
a call for supporting the UCL in
its campaign for the state bill.
This is the speech that the bu-
reaucrats thought unsuited to a
Labor Day program.
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-09-07

Moses offers the capitalist birds
of prey help and protection,
and in the next breath, which he
blows in the direction of the
poor, he denounces the rich
whom he has just promised to
protect against the poor.
Yes EPIC will help the rich
and protect property on pages
% and 80, and on page 80 they
are told that if the EPIC plan
were defeated, the only outcome
would be violent revolution, in
which the prOpertied classes
would lose far more than they
stood to lose under EPIC and
"fOr that reason, Sinclair had re-
solved to take his stand on this
platform and mot modify it I'M
der any circumstances This for
the capitalists.
Now, what does he say to dope
the workers? There is opium for
them. He draws a picture. of the
victory of EPIC. See how he pro-
tects property and capitalism
now with the triumph of EPIC:
Private industry began to
crumble, and as quickly as any
productive enterprise failed, it
was made over into public in
stitution. The Big Business
men began to realize that it was
no longer an advantage to gain
enormous incomes. Land spec
ulators found that the gradual
ed tax on idle real estate spelled
ruin. it was better to sell out
for what you could get" (p. So
COZ.
Security for Rich
So we see that EPIC for the
rich means safety, security and
the preservation of property,
while to the poor EPIC is guar
anteed to bankrupt the rich and
to acquire their holdings for the
poor
Thus We see Upton Sinclair
like a magician, showing trick
coin. The rich are shown one side
of profit and prosperity, the
poor are shown the picture of
EPIC taking not only profits
from the rich, but their prosper
ity as well.
And Sinclair, after jumping
from the Socialists to the Demo
Gratis, stands on both banks of a
river at the same time, or like
that remarkable horseman who
mounted his horse and galloped
rapidly away in all directions. he
guarantees to bring socialism by
securely entrenching the capital
list system. Like Roosevelt. he
turns Left by going steadily to
the Right.
What faith or trust can
workers place in such. a man
or movement? They can have
faith In this fact: Sinclair and
EPIC will betray them.
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-09-07
Front Line

Continued from Page One)
that sent an army in 1917 to
overthrow the BOlsheviks. lend
millions of dollars to the state
government to start overthrow
ing the bankers?
OF course. answer the Com
III wealth Builders. isn't
Roosevelt trying to do the
same thing we are?
Endorse Roosevelt
This is the crime of Sinclair
and the Commonwealth Build
ers: endorsement of ROosevelt's
program of Hunger, War and
Fascism.
They pretend that Roosevelt
Is doing his best for the masses
that he is going in the right
directiOn-but hasn't gone far
enough.
They dare say this of the gov
eminent that has poured bill
lions into the laps of the bank
ers, raised the profits of the
largest corporations by four
and five hundred per cent, APP
prOpriated billions for war
and meanwhile smashed work.
ers' rights, fOstered company
unions, raised the cost of living,
ruined millions of small farm
ers and refused to give unem-
plOyment insurance.
Capitalist Tool
Roosevelt is going in the
right direction - FOR THE
CAPITALISTS.
His program of Hunger, War
and Fascism is deliberate and
carefully planned.
This is the program that Sim
clair and the Commonwealth
Builders help Roosevelt put
across. They weaken the fight
aaginst fascism and war by hid
ing the fact that Roosevelt is
heading for fascism and war.
They weaken the fight against
hunger by proposing a scheme
which If put into operation.
would be an extension of
ROOsevelt's forced labor
schemes. This is done to divert
the masses from the struggle
for the Workers Unemploy-
ment Insurance Bill.
Only the Communist Party
organizes the masses for strug-
gle against the hunger pro-
gram of Roosevelt.
VOTE COMMUNIST!
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-09-07

assure public opinion as to the
well-being of the above mention
ed prisoners.
"WOrld opinion views with
great alarm and protest any mis-
treatment or murder committed
against defenseless prisoners.
(SignedD American Inquiry
Commission"
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-09-07
CIVIL RIGHTS RALLY

PORTLAND, Sept. Con Tues
day night at the Italian Fedora
ton hall the international Labor
Defense held Civil Rights Rally.
Speakers included Criminal
Syndicalism defendants. repre-
of the lila and the IL
ID and resolutions were intrOduc-
ed to Lotus Langley cOndemning
charges framed against
lila members.
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-09-07
PLAN ANTI.MILITARY BALL

PORTLAND, Sept. GA huge
anti-miiitary ball is being plan
ned here by the Portland section
of the American League Against
War and Fascism to finance the
sending of league delegates to the
national convention in Chicago
this month. The ball, scheduled
for September Is, is to be held
in the Neighbors of WOodcraft
hall and will be a novel idea in
the furtherance of the leagues
fight aaginst fascism and war.
1t is expected that approx
mately 1000 tickets to the affair
will be sold.
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-09-07
SUPPORT THE lid

Our organization carries tremend-
Gus burdens. We need the help of
every worker, every farmer, and ev-
cry sympathizer with the cause of
working class struggle. We need
funds. We need members.
SUPPORT, JOIN AND BUILD THE
LID, DEFENSE ARM OF THE WORK
ING GLASS;