Evening star., 1938-12-11


liberals" but whom he will not identify.
He denies that any of his support came
from Communists, as his critics have
charged.
He does not deny that some members
of the alliance are Communists, but he
asserts the Communist membership is,
at most, Il per cent" Reports that
Communists control the organization he
describes as plain bosh."
I'VE hear the cry of Communism
raised against us less and less today" he
declares. THAT is hangover from the
early days of the depression, when every
demand for relief was called Com
munistic."
Those early days were tough days for
the alliance, which began its develop
ment in New York City. The Workers
Committee to which Mr.. LASER be-
longed joined two other groups-the As
sociation of the Unemployed and the
Workers Unemployed League-in new
organization, the Workers Unemployed
Union.
So far, it was solely a New York
proposition. But contacts were estab-
lished with small groups of jobless else
where and in 1884 the Eastern Fedora
ton of Unemployed came into being.
From there it was only step to the
formation of the alliance as national
organization in Washington in March
of 1885.
Growth progressed in leaps and
bounds
100000 on Rolls in 1896.
In 1885, the national Office was one
room in West State street Office build
ing in Milwaukee. Dues were half cent
per member per month, and no one was
sure how many members there were.
The staff consisted of Mr.. LASER, as
president, still being maintained by the
New York liberals; Paul Rasmussen
of Chicago, at $40 a week, and stenog-
rapher at part-time pay.
In 1886 the membership was 100000.
Dues were up to l cent month. The
headquarters shifted to Washington,
with two rooms instead of one in the
Burchell Building on Fourteenth street.
Mr.. LASER was put on the pay roll at
$40 week. Mr.. Rasmussen was shifted
to national organizer, with an increase
in pay to SIS. An organization secretary,
Herbert Benjamin of New York, and a
national secretary, Ray Cook of Tren-
ton, N. j., were added, at $40 a week
each.
In 1887 the membership was up to
5000 in IS States. Dues were up to 2
cents month. Mr.. Lasser's salary was
up to $25 week, as was that of Mr..
Benjamin, who now was general secre-
tary. Mr.. Cook went back to head the
New Jersey organization, and Mr. Ras-
mussen became an organizer for the c.
I. o. With only two officers to pay, the
alliance moved to a two-story building
in street, Washington.
Today the headquarters fill three
stories at $50 M street in the National
Capital. From it Mr.. LASER, now at
$50 week, dashes here and there across
the country. Where he does not pene-
trate, the Alliance bi-weekly newspaper,
Work, 12-page sheet replete with pic
lures and cartoons, does.
Strongest in New York.
Maine and Nevada are the only two
States in which the union does not
claim followers. In all, there are 1900
locals in the other 46 States and Hawaii,
Alaska and Puerto Rico. There are State
organizations in New York, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, Ohio. Indiana, Michigan,
Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Montana,
California, Oregon, Washington, Colo
RADIO, Kansas and Iowa. In all these
units, Mr.. LASER says 80 per cent Of the
officers serve without pay.
The alliance Is strongest in the city
where It began, New York, With 5000