The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1935-01-18

ployees in the performance of their
duty" is the charge. Unless the
mighty arm of the working class
breaks down the attempts of the
local officials to railroad these
eighteen prisoners, the repercus-
sions Of the trial will be felt in every
unemployed organization.
Arrested Last May
Most of the arrested workers were
seized after mass demonstration
that took place here last May In
many cases days and even weeks
passed before the arrests were. made
without warrants Of any kind. The
demonstration grew out of mass
meeting Of over 800 Negro and white
workers in Civic Park, which was
called by the Unemployment Coun-
Gil, the Communist Party and the
international Labor Defense to
draw up demands for food relief
and to elect a committee represent
ing the different organizations that
would present these demands to
Carl Giles, relief administrator.
The committee was elected and
went to the relief headquarters, fol-
lowed by about two hundred of the
workers, where they were told that
Giles was not there. Not satisfied
with this answer the committee de-
manded proof and were allowed to
search the building but were not
able to find the supervisor. When
they reported their failure to the
workers outside, stoolpigeons and
disrupters in the crowd, who had
been sent there by the police, be-
gan to shout, We've been double
crossed" in an attempt to create
disorder.
The committee was able to expose
this attempt and lead the workers
back to the park, but the stools be-
gan to raise the cry to storm the
Federal Food Commissary and to
call the leaders yellow" for not
leading the march.
AS the workers began to move to-
wards the commissary some of the
leaders turned aside, but others
stuck even though they realized
that they were being led into some
kind of an ambush.
Police Rushed Them
The proof Of their suspicious was
given when they neared the COM
misSary. The doors were flung open
and police rushed out firing tear
gas guns into the crowd and club
bing every one they could reach,
Then followed a series of arbi-
trary arrests aimed at the Comnlu-
mist Party for the most part.
The significance of this frame-up
was brought out by the Interna-
tional Labor Defense in a statement
issued yesterday which follows; IF
these workers are convicted it will
be under federal statute, that Of
interfering with federal employees
in the performance of their duties
which can be used in every section
of the United States where struggles
for relief are going on. No demon
stration can be held, nor any COM
mittees sent up to see Relief Au-
thorities to demand better condi-
tionS for workers, which cannot be
placed under this vicious law"
With the statement the l.. L. D.
issued an appeal to workers
throughout the United States to
come to the aid of their class
brothers by protesting through mass
meetings, demonstrations, resolu-
lions, letters and kilograms and de-
handing the unconditional release
of these workers; to give concrete
support by raising the funds with
which to fight the case. The pro-
tests should be sent to: Governor
Marland Ed. j. Vaught, district
Judge Of the Federal Circuit Court:
Harry L. Hopkins, and to w. G.
Lewis, United States District Attore
ney, at Oklahoma City.