The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1935-01-01


ly progressive members of the Ways
and Means Committee, Chris Hart
and Luckok, stated from the floor
that they were resigning from the
organization because they consid-
cred the unemployed could accom-
plish nothing under the reactionary
Berry leadership Both pointed out
that previous attempts on the part
OF the rank and file to amend the
constitution and bylaws so as to
permit demonstrations and mass
marches to the relief stations we're
throttled by Berry and his. hench~
men. as was the resolution provid-
ing for the election of an executive
committee. They also pointed to the
fact that. due to the machine" tao
tics of Berry, the membership had
declined from 1000 dues-paying
members to less than 300 at the
present time.
Attacks Socialists and Communists
The open statements made by
Hart and Luckok caused Berry to
drop his usual role of circus clown
and to become a raving maniac. He
threw his gavel at Vice President
Walter Johns, militant Negro work
er, and STROBE out onto the floor to
launch a vicious attack against
members of the rank and file. char
acterizing them as Communists and
Socialists, interested only in gaining
recruits from among the unem-
ployed for their political parties. In
the midst OF his TRADE, Berry
shouted his expulsion motion. 1t
was seconded BIZ Ward, one of his
f1ag-waVing fiunkies.
That Berry had stirred up "hor-
nets nest" was evidenced by the
number of workers who clamored
for the floor as he finished his Bit
ter harangue. One unemployed
woman worker challenged Berry by
stating that the Communist Party
has been In the forefront of every
struggle for relief in the United
States since the beginning of the
crisis. She declared the workers
would pass severe judgment upon
snv so-called leader who dares to
follow in the footsteps of such red
baiters as Hearst and Matthew
VOL. Another worker openly stated
his af1liation with the Communist
Party and called upon the rank and
file to defeat the motion made by
Berry. Even Bill Brannigan. secre-
tary, boon companion of Berry in
the past. opposed til motion by
saying that since he has recently
become a convert to the Socialist
Labor Party, he. too. would be
barred from membership. Rank and
f1lerS who had never before taken
the floor stood up to fight this Vi
cious proposal.
ReactiOnaries Routed
Berry, took his defeat SO much to
heart that for time he refused to
resume the chair to adjourn the
nesting. Finally. he mounted the
rostrum and shouted. From now on
my house is closed-the meeting
stands adjourned" When members
demanded an explanation, he modi-
fled the statement by saying that
while he would receive reports. as
usual. from the strike pickets that
come to his home. his house would
be closed to other members.
Thus far the strike in Hudson
County against the work for re-
lief" scheme has been conducted
from Berry's home, much in the
same fashion as a capitalist army
general directs troop movements,
although in Berry's case the general
seldom. If ever. visits the front line
trenches-the picket lines. Instead
of urging mass picketing of the re-
lief projects. Berry counsels his
followers, Stay home, you suckers,
stay home" When workers are
pushed around" by the police at
the projects Berry contents himself
with going to see Chief Casey. whr
Invariably assures him that it W
not happen again.
Back National Congress
Last week the Jersey CITY chap
ter endorsed the call Of the National
Congress for Unemployment and
Social insurance and elected three
delegates to the convention to hs
held at Washington. D. c., JAN 5.
s and 7. The delegates elected were:
Vice-Prssident Walter Johns. Dick
Stanton. .Ir.. and Leslie Hurt. Hurt
received rs votes. Johns, 70, aud
Stanton. 90. Berry WIS an "aleo
ran with but IS votes to his cr,dit.
The Daily Worker correspondent
overheard Berry remark TO one OF
his f1unkies Il may even decide nov
to recall the delegates who were
elected to the National CONGRESS- for
UNEMPLOYMENT Insurance. last
week" His grievance was that "the
thing he's Daily Worker written al
over it,"
In private conversations. Berry
reveals hlmself as IN out-end-out
white chauvinist, referring to Negro
members of his orsa nization as sig
gaboos," "jigs" and "niggers." He is
said to have remarked recently t.
one OF his close allies that the onl,
reason he toleratas a Negro as vice.
president of ths JERSEY Citv charter
| IS because of thA cllnoort he ran get
from the Negro workers.
The events of the past few weeks
in the locsl unemployed movement
indicates thst Berry's days as an al.
legged leader are. certainly numbered