davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1935-02-22
Business Advances

Legal suppression of freedom of speech,
press, assembly, and the right to organize, is now
under consideration by the Congressional COM
mittee investigating un-American activities
The prohibition of general and sympathetic
strikes a law which closely resembles the fascist
DEGREES of Hitler and MussOlini, will be brought
before Congress this winter.
These proposals have been submitted by
representatives of the American Legion, Veter-
ans of Foreign Wars Daughters of the American
Revolution, Chamber of Commerce of the Unit
ed States as well as the U. S. Army and Navy
departments. The law to prohibit general strikes
is being vigorously pushed by the National AS
ISOLATION of Manufacturers
Proposed Laws
Specifically the proposed laws are: An act
(unlder the pretext of national defense) which
would prevent a worker or farmer from asking
a national guardsman or soldier not to shoot
his brother or sister while they are out on
strike; the creation of special agency in the
Department of Justice to investigate "subvers-
i've" activities, giving Federal officers the right
to search private homes and unions without
warrant; an amendment of the treaties between
the United States and foreign countries to pro-
vide that any alien depOrted from the United
States would be taken back at any time-only
foreign born militant workers and strikers
would be subjected to this never seabs!
Federal sedition laws which would punish
anyone who belongs to an organization whcih
believes in different system of government,
an outright workers and farmers government;
and an act which would exclude from the mails
any newspaper magazine or book which doesn't
meet with the approval OF the Federal govern
ment.
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1935-02-22
The Public Works Bubble

The proposed federal outlay of more than
four billion dollars for public works, beginning
in July, will not lift business much, according
to Washington information agencies after ALL"
says one of them, public works are drop in
the bucket" and will not bring any appreciate
increase in business In spite of all the current
administration ballyhoo to the contrary it
should always be kept in mind that expendi-
lures for public works next year will not be
much larger than this year Besides, the Roose-
welt public works scheme is offered merely as
substitute for direct relief payments to some
of the unemployed who will be forced to work
at sub-scab wages for doing jobs assigned by the
federal bureaucracy.
Even II all of the four billion dollars were
laid out in one year for 100000 of the unem-
ployed which Roosevelt says will be put to
work. and allowing not more than 40 per cent
a conservative figure-for expenses and other
than labor costs, the amount received per per-
son could not be more than an average of about
$l3 a week! The great" public works program,
in short is just one more attack on workers
standard of living
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1935-02-22
Voice Of Action and the
Todd Jim Crow Bill

They rose to their feet and cheered the
Voice of Action, applauded the message it
brOught-Negro and white workers who packed
the downstairs hall of the A. NJ. f. Church at
call of Citizens Committee formed to fight
the Todd jim-erOw anti-intermarriage bill rep
resentatives of the Negro churches Women's
Improvement clubs. Veterans of Foreign Wars,
National Association for the Advancement OF
Colored People, Unemployed Citizens League,
international Labor Defense Communist Party,
League of Struggle for Negro Rights.
The papers editor finished speaking. mo-
tion carried unanimously to accord Lowell
Wakefield, the Voice of Action and the white
organizations aiding the battle for the rights of
the Negro people rising vote Of thanks
The meeting took place Friday. Friday ev-
ening Rex Strickland, Representative from the
35th District and member of the House Public
Morals Committee, wired
PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT JIM CROW
TODD BILL WILL BE KILLED IN COMMIT
TEE STOP PLEASE COMMUNICATE THIS IN
FORMATION TO CHURCH MEETING To
NIGHT"
TO whom was this telegram addressed as
leader of the campaign for peoples rights? TO
THE VOICE OF ACTIONl
Small wonder the papers editor was follow
ed by Presbyterian minister who said:
stop reading the three prostitute Seattle
dailies. Read papers that print the truth fear
essly. Read the Voice of Action"
Small wonder men and women from as widely
separated groups as church. WV and Commun-
list Party rose to a man in acknowledgment of
the papers service.
The Voice of Action is beginning to win its
rightful place as the champion of labor, the
defender of the Negro people, the spokesman
for civil rights. The description, "Northwest's
Only Working Glass Paper" takes on fuller
meaning.
All power to the Voice of Action $1,000 drive
for an improved, strengthened, six-page labor
weekly
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1935-02-22

I asked. Tooth paste, razor
blades"
'NOthing-except that Iwould
like to have some reading mat
ter. Maybe you could send me
the Daily Worker? And the
Young Worker" l promised.
The guard came in. Our five
minutes were up.
The International Labor De-
Tense, and the Committee for the
Protection of the Foreign Born,
are fighting the deportation of
Richter. A stay Of 80 days has
been obtained. Deportation to
fascist Germany means certain
torment and death. If Richter is
deported-the first political re-
fugee to be sent back to Hitler
a precedent will be established
that will mean death for hund.
reds of German-born workers act
i've In the American labor move
ment. The right of asylum for
political refugees is at stake.
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1935-02-22
Hudi, Brockway, Stephens
Are Your Representatives

Hudl Brockway Stephens--these three can
didates deserve labor's support in the Seattle
primaries next Tuesday.
We print in this issue their platform You
will find, as we have. that it is based upon the
people.
The Voice of Action has Examined through
mail and by interview every candidate for the
City Council. Only these three workers candid
ates have both the program and the record of
active loyal participation in the militant labor
movement which entities candidate to sup
port.
Vote for f. NJ Hudi delegate to the Central
Labor Council from the Roofers' Union; Harold
Brockway Seattle section organizer of the Com
munist Party, and Robert Stephens, active
member of the Machinsts' Union, when you go
to the polls Tuesday
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1935-02-22

for this act but like Governor
Martin, did not tell the people
about it. Even while he was DEM
agogically threatening to veto
the sales tax bill, contracts for
printing the sales tax stamps
were placed with four companies
in Chicago, Cleveland, Cincinnati
and Columbus.
Only six million OF the expected
60 millions so derived will be used
for relief, yet relief is one of the
lies which helped pass the bill,
the great bulk of it will be used
as in New York, to pay the bank
ers. 1t is very, significant that
Ohio expects to raise 60 millions
from this tax and only one and a
half millions from the income
tax. 49, go,
VIII the state of Washington
escape this abominable tax? Can
we expect better treatment from
our governor and legislature than
New York City received from La
Guardia or the states of Ohio,
California, West Virginia, Okla
homa and Others from their re-
speetiye governors? The same
weaknesses are inherent here as
elsewhere in our diseased society
and the only escape is in mass
pressure. We should benefit by
the sad experience of those less
fortunate states.
Do not be fooled by the "crisis
of the schools!" They do face a
crisis, but sales tax will not
remedy it. Even now, under our
oeeuDatiOnal tax. two million dol
lars is appropriated out of the
state school fund for the purpose
Of paying any and all judgments
ordering the repayment, and re-
funding of any taxes paid under
the provisions of this (Oecupa-
tionaD act" And $4,000 from the
same fund ito pay interest on
repayments or refunds of such
taxes" and $45O,0OO to carry out
the provisions of the act. At pres
ent the school fund finances the
tax Be careful lest the State be
saddled with a sales tax to eli
nance the schools"
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1935-02-22

ing the strike I assisted in the
office of the International Labor
Defense, but most of my time
went helping the Workers Inter-
national Relief to organize soup
kitchens for the strikers.
Il was in the office of the LID
when the vigilantes came in to
smash it up, They seized me and
had me placed under arrest. i
was sent to Angel Island, the
West Coast deportation head
quarters. L was out on bail for
ten days during December, but
the judge sent me back when
said l was member of the
Young Communist League. But
the work l did during the strike
was worth to me any price / may
have to pay,
Where are you stationed?" l
asked. a
In a big room with lao other
people. The Germans are all kept
in one corner, where they have a
big black Hitler flag on the wall.
Put there for my benefit, /
think"
i took the occasion to warn
him about Inspector Dwyre, a
White Guard .provOeateur, who
had threatened to. shoot one of
our comrades, and Mrs. Sehneid-
er, a Nazi, whom the Lutheran
maintains at Ellis Island
as a welfare worker" but whose
real function is to spy on the
workers and try to get recruits
for the German army.
is there anything you need?"
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1935-02-22
President Lincoln and
Karl Marx Were Friends

Today marks the end of National Defense
Week, as the bankers and their filth-lipped
propaganda Hearst have labelled the period
from Lincoln's to Washington's birthday.
1t has been characterized by an unprece-
denied wave of jingosm, of big navy war talk, of
red scare, of fascist poison in dose of Amer
icanism"
National Defense Week sponsors SANDER
the traditions of Lincoln and Washington. For
what do we remember George Washington? He
led our REVOLUTION against the rule of
Britain
Abraham Lincoln is the GREAT ENAMEL
PATOR. He solved by REVOLUTIONARY
METHODS the problem of chattel slavery.
In the name of Lincoln the 100 per cent
Americans attack Marxism. Why do they not
say that the founder of Communism helped
Lincoln win the Civil War?
Karl Marx wrote to Lincoln, I'VE congratu-
late the American people on your reelection
by a large majority. II resistance to the Slave
Power was the watchword OF your first election,
the triumphal war cry of your reelection is
Death OF Slavery"
England almost entered the Civil War on
the side of the South. Karl Marx led the mass
movement against British participation and or
ganzed the mighty labor demonstration in St.
James Hall, London, which kept the hands OF
England off Lineoln's fight to free the slaves
The Hearsts. Morgans, Rockeiellers. Du-
Points, Fords, Belgranos, are the enemies, not
the defenders, of American ideals and tradi-.
lions.
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1935-02-22

The people of the state Of
Washington should not let them
selves be fooled by the absence
of sales tax discussion in the
mud-flats at Olympia. Nor should
they rest content that no such
legislation will be passed merely
because politicians of the legis-
lature voiced opposition to such
a tax before the session convened.
My prophecy is that in the
fading hours of the session, or
possibly in an extra session, Gov
ernor Martin will attempt to
push the sales tax through to
save the schools" much as the
United States Chamber of Com
merce and the United Manufac-
turers' Association attempted to
achieved sales tax in 1922 by link
ing it to the soldiers bonus bill.
1t is absurd to imagine that
there will not be an attempt
made to saddle the people of the
state with such a tax. Thirty ma
tions of the world have adopted
this regressixe tax since 1919
(mOst since 1930), and no less than
rs states in the United States
have it in one form or another.
The Emergency" Argument
Sales tax laws are almost in
yariably enacted to meet pres
ent fiscal emergencies" but this
should fool no one. Carl Shoup,
after careful research into the tax
in France, concluded in the Col
umbia University Studies on the
Sales Tax, that the most discour-
aging thing about the French tax
is that a war legacy has thus
become solidified into the French
fiscal system" Obviously such
taxation of the masses having no
relation to ability to pay, is not
merely a war legacy, but like the
war, is a natural result of cap
italism in decay, but the con-
clusion still holds good, the sales
tax once enacted "for emergency"
purposes, becomes solicited into
the fiscal system.
Perhaps there is no contradic-
tion here, the emergency" will
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1935-02-22
War Trends

Roosevelt has called in A Nit
chel Palmer, famous chief OF the
red hunting forces under Presid-
ent Wilson, to draft legislation
that will give the U. s. a merchant
marine second to none in the
world-in preparation for war.
The U. s. Senate foreign rela~
tions committee has approved
bill to cooperate with Canada
in constructing a highway from
Washington state to Alaska-for
military purposes.
a
Last week Roosevelt appofr1
ed group OF business leaders,
to advise with him in spending
the four and a half billion dollar
appropriation bill which he aims
to keep free from dictation by
Congress so that it can be large
ly spent for war preparations.
=
Five new air bases are being
planned along the Pacific Coast
and Alaska, also large expendi-
lures for Hawaii and the Panama
Canal Zone. Fifty thousand re-
cruits for the army are being
sought, as well as 400 new officers
and training for 1000 reserve offic-
ers. Almost daily announcements
show the raising in rank and in
creasing in number of army and
navy officers.
as
As predicted several days ago
by the Daily Worker, the Con-
gressiOnal committee in making
public its supposed report on the
growth of fascism in America,
soft-peda1s the subject and turns
its big guns on the militant work
ers, demanding that laws be pass
ed to drive them underground.
In an earlier issue we have shown
how this committee aided in COW
ering up and suppressing facts
about Wall Streets fascist con-
spiracy. The announcement in
the daily press appeared on the
front page of the first editions
after that hidden away on the
back page so that fascist machin-
ations of big business could be
kept entirely mum.
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1935-02-22
BY Spreading

NEW YORK, Feb. IS = Il
would like to see some comrade
right away. With proletarian
grip and Rot Front | remain,
Otto Richter"
This message, received by the
International La Dor Defense
from a youth travelling east on
a deportation train, sent me hur-
rying to Ellis Island. / already
knew something of Otto Richter
enough so that the Rot Front"
with which he closed his letter,
after all these months in prison,
and the terrible prospect of de-
portation to fascist Germany,
seemed altogether in character
When the workers Of Berlin
threw up barbados, Otto Rich
ter, a boy of II, member of the
Young Communist League of
Germany, did his part in the
struggle. Then Hitler came to
power-but Otto Richter can
best tell the story himself.
Ellis Island, In the shadow of the
Statue of Liberty, was cold and
foggy. In the office of the head
of the legal department ar
gued for my right to see Otto
Richter. Five minutes with my
comrade was all ] was allowed.
wandered down long corri-
doris until l came into an enor-
nous white tiled room. 1t look
ed like an empty swimming tank
with rows Of green park benches.
/ saw advancing towards me a
very small figure. His slightness
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1935-02-22
Ellis Island Prisoner Faces Nazi Death
As lid Fights To PreUent Deportation

startled me. This was nothing
more than a boy! A little more
than five feet, blond hair, blue
eyes, hands small and restless.
He looks even younger than his
20 years. But when he talks, it is
with the seriousness of one who
is fully mature, who has played
his part in the most desperate
struggles, who has never really
known any childhood.
| told him we had only five
minutes. and he began to talk,
very fast. During the course of
our conversation, he signed a re-
tainer authorizing the Interna-
tional Labor Defense to fight his
deportation.
Are there other comrades
here?" he wanted to know.
Yes" told him, but they are
segregated. Ray Carlson is here,
and John Ujich, Oscar Mannisto,
Paul Kettunen and Crist Popoff.
The federal government is trying
to deport them also. Now tell me
about yourself"
We'll, | was a member of the
Young Communist League in
Germany, up to a year and a
half ago, when had to get out
of the country quick. The COM
rades helped ME get a boat for
Seattle. have been in San Fran
cisco for about year and a half.
Eyes. of course, was active in
Frisco. / worked for the Com
Party, and in the restaur-
ant at the Workers School. Dur
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1935-02-22
Around = the
world inC minutes

GREECE-This little country
last week announced strengthen
ing of its frontier forts in de
tense" preparations against Bull
garia. The entire Balkan penin-
sula in Southern Europe is
boiling and seething cauldron
that may bubble over at any
moment. .r
SOUTH AMERICA-A series OF
strikes has been sweeping South
America, without mention in the
daily press. Recently 10000 coffee
pickers in Colombia struck. AL
so on strike-for the second time
in six mOnths-are the banana
pickers. Throughout December it
was 100 per cent solid. OF the
thousands of coffee pickers on
strike, large portion are women.
Six years ago it was "cOnserva.
tive" government that murdered
1000 militant banana workers:
today it is liberal" government
that declares strikes illegal and
jails the leaders.
On the border between Stand
ard Offs puppet country, Colon
bia, and England's Shell Oil Com
pany, a war threatens-to deter
mine who shall exploit certain
rich lands. The Colombian gov
eminent spends thirteen and a
half million of a As million budget
for ornaments. japanese inter-
ests are also becoming strong
here, having climbed from a no.
900 peso export in 1923 to over
four millions in 1894.
FRANCE - During the first
week in February, the militant
French workers celebrated the
first anniversary of their last
years struggle which prevented
the esta blishment of afscist
government in France.
AUSTRIA - Despite intense
terrorism, the first anniversary of
the heroic struggle of the So
cialists last year was celebrated
last week by mass demOnstra-
lions. Over at least one barracks
the red flag was raised.
GERMANY-Latest reports on
Nazi Germany's economic condi-
tions show that the skids are be-
ing put under the the Hitler gov
eminent. The lower Rhine region
shows a considerable decline in
industry. Hamburg area reports
great decline in the import trade.
one of the basic industries Of
Germany. Bremen reports the
great difficulties in the food sup
ply and the increasing hardships
on the peasants. "The transport
trade is heading for complete de-
struction." Baden reports the
difficulties of the textile situa-
ton beyond solution, due to the
lack of raw materials.
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1935-02-22
Sales Tax Prospects for Washington
BY Howard Griffiths
last as long as capitalism exists,
LaGuardia's Betrayal

last as long as capitalism exists.
LaGuardia's Betrayal
To those who still have faith
in our liberal" government in
preventing class legislation of
this sort, no better answer can be
given than a glimpse at New
York City's enactment of the
sales tax under the workers
friend" LaGuardia, ito save the
honor of the city"
The honor of the city was saved
and today rests serenely in the
Morgan Rockefeller banks.
LaGuardia had often rallied
against the sales tax as a tax on
the poor. In 1882, while speaking
against the proposed sales tax, in
the House of Representatives,
he said, "A sales tax ;. is odious
4. To say that the tax is equit-
able is ridiculous. A famely ex-
pending 81 900 for subsistence, ex-
empting the mercy of bread
which is so generously bestowed,
means that family will pay $3.50
tax" Yet on December 5 last, he
affixed his signature to the bill
which levies 2 per cent tax on
all retail sales except food and
medicine.
ohio's Misery Tax
Ohio also chose the period be-
tween Thanksgiving and Christ
mas to burden her poor with this
misery tax. The bill which went
into effect January l, provides a
tax levy in the following brack-
cts: One cent if the price OF the
article is 40 cents or less. Two
cents between 40 and 20 cents
and three cents on articles be-
tween 20 cents and 81. Where the
amount of the purchase is more
than 81, the tax is three cents on
each full dollar, with the one-two-
three scale applying on all addi-
tional fractions. Thus an article
costing $2.39 would have seven
cents tax. The tax is collected by
the vendor as he makes the sale,
cancelling a coupon as he does
so.
Not for Relief
Governor White worked hard
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1935-02-22
FAMINE MEAT FOR THE HUNGRY

One hundred and fifty people on relief in
San Antonio. Texas, were stricken suddenly and
violentely i'll two hours after they ate meal
of diseased government meat. This is only one
of many such cases that are happening through
out the country due to determination of the
government to can the meat of starving and
diseased relief cattle without adequate inspec-
ton service.
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1935-02-22
IT'S A JOKE

When vigilantes, under police protection,
raided the Workers Bookshop, and police re-
fused to take finger prints and search for the
thieves, the Seattle Times reported the event
ONLY by printing the raid as joke alongside
a silly cartoon especially drawn to fool the
masses and throw suspicion off the criminal
action of the police.
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1935-02-22

Throughout the South another general tex
tile strike is threatening. The militancy of the
rank and file is rising to fever heat due to the
treacherous sel-out of their leaders of last fall
and the consequent refusal of government and
employers to live up to their agreements
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1935-02-22
OUR FIVE YEAR PLAN"

The February 16 meeting of the Seattle
Chamber of Commerce is revealing In one
breath their speakers urge National Offense
Week" against radicals" in the next breath
they urge support for the Chamber of Com
merce imitation of radieals-the Soviet Five
Year Plan.
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1935-02-22

HUNGARY-A life prison SEN
tence has been given to Rakosi.
heroic leader Of the defeated
Hungarian Soviet government Of
1919. by the present fascist rulers
of Hungary.
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1935-02-22
Did You Know >>>!
sCIENTIsTs JoIN WORKERS

The National Research League has just an
nounced the names of two new honorary men,
beers, Henri WALTON, the famous French psy-
biologist, professor at the SOrbonne, and teach
er at the Paris Workers School, and Professor
H. Levy, noted mathematician and professor at
the London Imperial College of Science and
Technology. These are only two of the most
recent among the worlds leading scientstes to
ally themselves with the workers cause.
All the ALL leaders and Secretary of Labor
Perkins have refused to appear at the Congress
sional Committee hearings now being held on
the Workers Unemployment Insurance Bill.
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1935-02-22
BACK PAGES AS USUAL

Weeks after the Daily Work. made known
the fact that the Congressional committee on
Nazi activities had suppressed vital evidence,
the daily press has been forced to admit the
faction back page
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1935-02-22
SPOTLIGHT.
ON THE
World Crisis
BY DONALD GLEASON

Fascist Death and Decay
German Masses Starving
USSR Credit Soundest
War-Two Billions
The Farmer-No Relief
Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1935-02-22
Not for Relief

Governor White worked hard