The daily worker., 1935-01-07

rural Si1du JOWH WOThGTS LIE
in Washington, d. c., January
Pointing to the heroic struggles;
of the agricultural workers through
out the county, in Ohio, New Jer-
sey, California, Florida and to the
developments of hundreds of local
organizations among the rural work
ers, the Conference Call appeals to
all agricultural workers in the fields,
canneries and packinghouses, to the
small town lumber and woodwork
ers, and to all workers in the rural
communities and regions OF the
United States to join together to
plan for national, regional and crop
programs OF action and struggle.
In statement issued today, the
Organizing Committee for the Ma
tional Conference of Agricultural,
Lumber and Rural Workers an
nounced the opening of the Con-
ference with a public meeting to
be held at the Masonic Temple,
Tenth and u Sts, NV.
Okey ODeII, president and ma
tionally known Ohio onion strike
leader Of the A. F. OF L. Agricultural
Workers Union and Tom Crawford.
president and strike leader of the
Seabrook Farm Union in New Jer-
sey. with other strikers will de-
scribe the conditions n their fields.
H. 8. Mitchell, president Of the
Arkansas Cotton Tenant Farmers
Union and leader Of the Alabama
SharecroppeTS Union will also
speak Jack walker, Florida citrus
worker; Joseph Payne, president of
the Nebraska -C0lorado Beet Labor
ers' Association; Benito Sanchez,
president of the Rio Grande Fruit
Workers Union will be among the
other speakers.
A. F. Of L., independent and T.
u. u. L. unions and workers organ
izations in over 20 States have al
ready endorsed This Conference and
are planning to send delegates.
Among these organizations are the
Nebraska Beet Lsborers Association,
the Agricultural Workers Union,
Local 1924, A. r. Of L., the Gulf
Coast See. Food Workers Union,
Local 1853 of the International Hod
Carriers Union, the Arkansas
Southern Tenant Farmers Union
and the Alabama Sharecroppers
Union, the Broom and Wi1isk
Makers Union of Nebraska, the In
dependent Fishermen's Union of
Gloucester, the Cannery and Ag-
ricultural Workers Industrial Union,
the Rio Grande Valley Fruit Work
ers Union of Texas, and the Timber
and Saw1nill Workers Union, Local
19021, A. F. Of L., Kimball, West
Virginia.
All delegates and organizations
should get in touch with the Con-
ference Committee at the Atlas
Building, Room 500, SGT Ninth ST.,
NV, Washington, D. G.
Pointing out that the Roosevelt
New Deal has spread ruin and pow
erty among the agrarian toiling
population, and that all attempts to
wrest improved conditions for rural
workers has been met with terror
ism and suppression, the call lays
down the following program for dis
cussion at the convention:
This Conference must discuss
ways and means of combating
these conditions, of enabling us to
unite our strength, of discovering
how we can work together to
strengthen our organizations, and
Of taking steps to secure the sup
port OF our allies, the city workers
and the small farmers.
-Four immediate problems face
rs at the start:
81. The problem of unemploy
ment, adequate relief and insurance.
q. The New Deal policies of the
N r. A. and the A. A. A. and the
planning and development of pro-
grams of action so as to secure de-
cent wage levels and living condi-
tions.
"2. The problem of establishing
cooperation on local and ma
tional scale to secure united action
Of all existing groups and organiza-
lions in the countryside and small
towns TO aid each other in our
struggles, in our defense work, and
In mobilizing mass support during
strikes.
4. Preparations for the holding
OF regional and crop conferences to
strengthen our existing organiza-
tions and to build new ones
throughout the countryside and in
the small towns.
Il. Elect delegates TO the National
Conference. Read this Call to your
members at the first possible meet
ing of your organization; if possible,
have copies made locally and spread
them to all rural workers in your
region.
g. Inform us Immediately of
other organizations or individuals in
your locality to whom we should
send copies of this Call or with
whom we should communicate in
toa future so ns to develon this