Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1935-01-18
Wash. DC. Delegate
Tells Congress Story

der, general secretary of the AM
erlean Communist Party.
The chairman introduced
him unexpectedly. AS one man
the entire Congress rose and
for five minutes roared their
greetings In a tremendous ova-
tion," Murray said.
This Is significant, I believe,
for not more than one In forty
Of the delegates were Commun-
lists"
Browder's speech ended on
this ringing challenge Of the con
stitutionality" OF the Workers
Unemployment Insurance bill:
I'VE can warn the supreme
Court and the capitalist class
for which. 1t speaks, that on the
day when the Court declares
tat the Constitution forbids to
only measure that promises to
remove the daily menace Of
starvation from over the heads
Of millions-on that day IL has
struck a blow against the Con
stitution far deeper and more
effective than anything revo-
lutionists have ever done"
Miss Van Kleeck, analyzing In
detail objections to real unem-
ployment insurance, answered
the question, how much viii II
cost?
rs Cost Too Hight"
The Workers Bill would cost
exactly what is now paid by the
whole working class under mass
unemployment. The government
has been paying in the relief
program small and uncertain
portion of the bill for income lost
by industrial workers, farmers.
professional workers and all
others"
As to administration Of unem-
ployment insurance funds by the
workers themselves, objected to
by organized capitalist opposi-
ton, Miss Van Kleeck answered:
THE idea of a commission Ia
not a new principle in adminis-
tration. A recent example 10
in the NRA which has delegat-
ed to trade associations :. this
authority vested in the Presid-
emit to enforce the codes drawn
up by these same tradN assoc
Citations under the provisions
of the act.
Exactly analogous would be
the delegation authority to adj
minister social insurance to chos-
EN- representatives of workers.
Miss Van Kleeck declared.
Unemployment insurance cost
would be lowered by the tire
mendously increased buying pow
err of the masses, she stated. An
aggressive taxation policy such
as Great Notwithstanding from
u per cent to 40 per cent higher
than ours on incomes and Inherit
ances from $1,000 to 100000 also
would lower unemployment In
surance costs appreciably.
We Visit Our Servants"
Chief program of action on the
Congress agenda was visiting
government officials and demand
ing their endorsement and sup
port of the Workers Bill.
William Murray was on the
committee of so delegates calling
on Harry Hopkins, Federal Relief
Administrator.
Upon entering the relief adj
ministratiOn building" Murray
stated, I'VE were met by Capitol
police, who told us we couldn't
see Hopkins without an appoint
ment. Israel Amter, the commit
tees chairman and national sec
rotary of the Unemployment
Councils, told them We had one.
"The police told us to wait out
side l suggested that we go In.
In we went, and were met by the
second line of defense, Depart
ment of Justice agents. They felt
uncomfortable in the presence
of so many workers and soon left.
"Abrey Williams, Hopkins yes
man, appeared after 80 minutes
of waiting and told us the chief
was sick Williams listened while
several of us took the floor and
told of gun-thugs employed by re-
lief officials to beat up workers.
williams didn't believe the
reports until we threatened to
snow him under with sworn at
fidavits, Then he promised to
send an investigator to Seattle
Immediately.
Pressure from Bottom!
"An investigator is on the
way now" Murray said, but
the capitalist press says his
trip is the result of pressure
by Congressional bloc
"Bunkl It was the pressure
of delegation of so militant
worker delegates that sent him
here"
The tremendous task of hous-
ing, feeding and organizing such
a congress-all by voluntary
work, was an achievement itself