Hillquit Tells Of Withdrawal From oil Suits

HILLQUIT, MORRIS

Hillquit Tells of Withdrawal From Oil Suits Criticism Published in The New Leader v . By Morris Hillquit (The following ststrmawl written in Pari* on the 11th day of July aad waa sent to...

...At Frederickstown one active miser and his wife have both bees os the picket line every morning since the strike has been effective at their mine and have actually totally worn out the poor excuse for shoes that they originally possessed...
...The total membership of the Building Workers' International at the end of 1980 was 969,248 (25 organizations in 19 countries...
...There was a general ap praisal of the seriousness of th< present economic and political difficulties but underneath it a spiril of confidence in the ultimate victory of Socialism 'lanes Bomb ' Cuba as Revolt Sweeps Nation iachado Forced to Release 40 Car Strikers17 Others Jailed apHE strike of tbs street ear L workers in Ha vans and the a-hoor sympathetic strike in Cuba ppssr to have developed into a sneral revolt against the dictatorUp of President Mschado...
...The Socialist Deputy repeated his warning, however, deciar ig that if the present policy were pursued further the government "would have to bear the consequences...
...Day in aad day out the cry for relief comes in, for bread, for clothes—anything that will help a human being to live, anything that will stave off the cold, anything that will appease the pangs of empty stomachs...
...It Is not a matter of life or death to the party, and It Is In so much better taste to start a controversy in the presence of the person criticized than in his absence • V Seat Canada rment Issue Alderman to House of it * —-— , Labor Party captured aa I ooBeenrative seat in the 0 parliament at the by1 to East Hamilton last . and ha* contributed much pgtrr—* In favor of indetpeliticai action throughout L Alderman Humphrey S. ? prominent is the Trades ibor Congress, is the sue(tabor candidate...
...Practically everywhere," reads the report, "the voices which predicted an early change for the better have been silenced...
...This appeal must be passed on throughout the nation, to individuals aad organisations...
...Comrade Thomas, however, chose to sit in judgment over me...
...The reate Monday night were not tj vat Mitchell had such a j 116 out of 152 divisions U flection Is conceded...
...Robinson, mil11 4,890...
...a Paris, July 11, 1931...
...Canvassers got excellent results when asking voters for help, while storekeepers and individuals cooperated with vim...
...G. S. Rennie, Conserv• er since 1926...
...Personally I am decidedly of the opinion that the whole discussion could well have been delayed until then...
...The I of Mitchell gives the Lairty four members of the of Commons...
...The rebels laugh - d at the amnesty offer, and Machkdo seized aad held seventeen proninent Cubans, incomunicado...
...He believed th* I proved Premier Bennelt'i Nto keep his election prom' (•at that it showed the unem problem to be far frorc aent is worse now , Mr...
...Other considerable declines in membership are: Austria (8,724—154 per cent...
...In comparison with 1929, there has been a loss of 42,000 members, which is chiefly due to the dissolution by the Finnish government of the two bunding workem' unions in that country...
...Aaron Levenstein aad Morris Cohn* spoke...
...The organization of the Congresi was marvelous and its spirit excellent...
...The New Leader Board bad asked me by cable to delay publication until my return aad I have deferred to its wishes against my own judgment...
...Germany <34,284—5.6 per cent), Hungary 11,817—19.7 per cent), and Roumania (436—32.7 Every Socialist Must Answer This Appeal GOVERNOR Pinchot of Penna, reputed liberal, has told the annua] gathering of National Guard officers that he will not hesitate to summon the militia in the coming months to suppress such revolts of the Hunger stricken as that of the present miners strike -Bourbon coal operators plead for a subsidy and federal control of the coal industry to save them and their profits...
...The Congress met under more critical conditions than at any time before and the seriousness of the situation dominated all its proceedings...
...It was formulated with the view of Infli—i ins, the actions of the nissi nisi—it Commission of the League est Nations which meets in February...
...The Socialist attitude in most of the leading countries of Europe is sure to influence and likely to determine the policies of their countries and to have a concrete bearing upon international problems and relations...
...Treleav, 8,142...
...In the _ elections over a year I vote was as follows: Renvative, 12,893...
...At a distance of 3,000 miles I am decidedly handicapped in the discussion which Comrade Thomas has initiated, yet I feel that in Justice to myself and to the party I cannot delay my final statemen on the subject until my return to New York...
...sly decision to withdraw from the cases rests on the practical consideration that no case in my office and not my legal practice as a whole are worth enough to compensate me for any criticism of my conduct as a Socialist, no matter bow ill founded in substance and disingenuous in purpose such criticism may be...
...back amongst them...
...This was a trick to catch the other parties unprepared but the Labor Party m Montreal will put up a fight J. K. Mergler is the Labor candidate on the Island of Montreal...
...The l a b o r candiSBjserted by Messrs...
...It contains a searching and keen analysis of the causes of the world crisis," he said, "and of Its special character and conclusively polnU out the impossibility of restoring prosperity under the capitalist system...
...While I never claimed infallibility of Judgment or perfect righteousness of conduct I want to make it clear that my decision to withdraw from the prosecution of the suits is not to be regarded as a direct or indirect confession of error in this particular case...
...I have been a member of the party for almost forty-five years and have been actively engaged in the practice of law well nigh forty years...
...Mitchell's victory means that labor In the industrial centers is waking up...
...This is a serious and genuine strike need...
...fact Hamilton seat has been I stoce the death last Octo[CW...
...E. Paulin and Tammany Hail's gang are angels compared to him...
...For the last two weeks the members of the 23rd A. D., under the able leadership of Minnie Weinberg, have been collecting food, slothing and money from the people of the district The sum of 325 has been sent to the Pittsburgh Socialist Relief Committee...
...The Finnish Cooperative Bakery in addition to giving food has loaned a truck and driver to go to Allentown...
...The reaction is sounding the attack and Intends to do everything possible to provoke a revolution," says the newspaper...
...Let them try it...
...The former owners of the oil lands demand from the latter some compensation, which other oil companies, similarly situated, are voluntarily paying...
...The resolution on disarmament c*4 n o t seem to bm to be mum m audi determined and uncompromising language aa I should have liked, but that was also determined by the concrete aad practical circumstance* of the ease...
...Some attempt may be made on August 18, the birthday of the late Emperor Francis Joseph, to make a drive against the Socialists...
...I d like to pay tribute, too, to aaa and women 'of the Labor maritj sod to the progressive on of the Bennett Addition is expressed in Leant invasion of the industrial according to J. S. Woodst, leader of the Labor group M House of Commons, combs...
...The smaller nations with capitalist industry not far advanced do not suffer much but the large industrial countries are facing general distress...
...The Abend, a Left organ, declares that the movement seeks to link up with the Hungarian monarchists...
...This indicates a weakrang of MachadcVs regime A few ears ago union leaders "disapeared" and were never again seen y their friends...
...The extreme Right Clerical wing of the Christian Social (Catholic) party, declares the Abend, Is not willing to wait longer for the realization of its aims...
...But if we are human, if we have the basic sympathies of man for man, If we are workers or the friends of Labor, we W I L L help, we MUST help...
...Monarchists Active Again In Austria Socialist Newspaper Warns Reactionaires Masses Will Be Ready for Them rLLOWING the adjournment of the International Socialist Congress in Vienna comes the news that reactionary organizations In Austria are again active In support of some move for a monarchist restoration...
...Theier asked government officials whether they were minded to withhold help until "Hungary's masses storm the butcher shops...
...He had been m a triumphant parade Hamilton...
...He procured a copy of the formal complaint from my office in my absence and proceeded to interpret and quote certain conventional law phrases, which are there because of the technical requirements of the rules of pleading and which he cannot be expected to understand any more than I would understand ecclesiastical terms...
...Bernhard, the presi dent called attention to the very satisfactory development of the building workers' movement in Czechoslovakia: the unions of Prague and Reichenberg and also a union which formerly had leanings towards Moscow have now completely amalgamated...
...Food, clothingaad money Is asked...
...The people, Theier said, would not put up with the situation much jsashss The statement caused eonw u partly restored...
...Ex?resident Menocal is a fugitive but le left behind him a manifesto vhich appeals to soldiers and civilans to rise against the dictatorihip...
...The political "criminals" onsist of those who oppose the rimlnal rule of Machado but the wo gestures of conciliation came 00 late and an insurrection is preading throughout the island...
...Prance and Great Britain...
...The Congress was distinguished by the sobriety of its expressions and actions," said Hillquit...
...merely a reflection of their •t...
...YET the pleas of many go unansweredThe truckloads of representatives up till now have been from the west, Mr...
...Conservative headsi conceded Mitchell's eleo mkf in the evening...
...A week ago the Liberal Government announced that elections will be held in the Province of Quebec on August 24...
...To clear the atmosphere and to remove from the discussion any question of material interest I will state at the outset that Z have decided to withdraw from the esses...
...bread, the bundles of clothes, the barrels of vegetables are hardly sufficient to reach the hundreds of needs from desperate communities...
...In the discussion of the economic and financial crisis of Germany aad the menace to democracy, the resolution adopted did not so much seek to lay down general Socialist principles as to formulate a line of action for the Socialist representatives in the principal countries affected, such as Germany...
...In that event American power win take care of capitalist interests in the Island as it has on a number of occasions...
...In tads instance it was the Joint product of the Socialist International man the International Federation of Trade Unions...
...Socialist Congress Grappled with Immediate Problems • JL and daughter, and Julius Gerber...
...I merely mention it in view of the thinly veiled insinuations that I am ready to sacrifice Socialist principles for profit With this phase of the question out of the way I must frankly confess that I am at a loss to understand the purpose of the letter which Norman Thomas saw fit to called upon to to them, according- to from two itatde the party.* Aa to those inside the party they Knew, of course, that the party as such is equipped with ample machinsry to investigate and pass upon the conduct of its members, and as to the significant category of those "outside the party," what concern do these good people have with the parity of my Socialist morals and under what obligation towards them was Comrade Thomas to justify or condemn my conduct...
...The set of legal principles which arise from the nonrecognition of Soviet Russia are an integral part of the body of American law...
...Pay Cut On TJ...
...The resolution also provides for a program of action which urges the Soicalist and Labor organizations of the world, especially in Europe, to exert pressure upon the Disarmament Commission...
...Comrade Thomas, as I understand him, was lenient enough to suspend final Judgment until my return...
...Connor, Indet, tO...
...delegate* to the rnnij — of the labor and Socialist International in Vienna, returned on the steamer France Wednesday morning and were met by a delegation of Socialists aad friends...
...If you respond to the pleas of these heroic beings who desire only a living wage, decent conditions, sead in yoor checks payable to the "MIXER'S BELIEF F U N D OF THE SOCIALIST P A R T Y " Jane Talt, Tress., aad forward food aad supplies to Boom 613, Lyceum Bldg., 611 Perm Avenue, Pittsburgh, Penna...
...The existing law, for which I am not responsible, is not Socialist but capitalist law and the bulk of litigation under It arises from conflicts of capitalist Interests...
...It has drawn the Clerical wing of the Heimwehr Fascists into its councils...
...This was a trick to catch the other parties unprepared but the Labor Party m Montreal will put up a fight J. K. Mergler is the Labor candidate on the Island of Montreal...
...This division is one of the toughest in Canada and the present member is Dr...
...In the present case the Soviet oil trust has sold oil at very low prices to a group of large American capitalists...
...while the Brownsville Cooperative Bakery has donated bread and a truck for the evening to take those cases of food and clothes destined for the Pittsburgh- miners to the American Express Company...
...It is curt 'although the east Is th< 1 centre of Canada all ou been from the west, Mr...
...on the Hamilton by-elecL Woods woi th was highly elatt the result and declared it encouraging.'' The repfor Winnipeg North that in Hamilton weeks ago he had remarkets address that a victorj would mean "Hamiltion for the Bennetl —on...
...He then proceeded to render "provisional" judgment against me finding that my actions have political significance and are contrary to the Socialist position...
...It is this action," said Hillquit, "rather than the wording of the resolution which is of the utmost practical importance...
...To combat this method of fighting airplanes lave been called into service to tomb the insurgents...
...8. Work WASHINGTON,—The first major complaint under a law passed by the last Congress providing that workers on government contracts be paid "prevailing wages" was filed here by painters' union leaders, who charged that paintera employed on the new Department of Interior building wen paid considerably less than the union rate of Sll per day...
...Clothing, but especially shoes, are badly needed for Women,, Men and Children...
...Asked bis impressions of the Congress and Us work by a New Leader representative Hillquit replied that it impressed him as the most representative of the new series in point of numbers and the parties represented...
...August Claessens, A [. Shiplacoff, Jack Altaian, Sam Friedman...
...Hillquit Tells of Withdrawal From Oil Suits Criticism Published in The New Leader v . By Morris Hillquit (The following ststrmawl written in Pari* on the 11th day of July aad waa sent to The Now Leader by the first fast boat with a request for Immediate publication...
...I F you axe not hungry, if you are not ragged, if you are not homeless, then listen to this: In Western Pennsylvania, over twenty thousand coal miners in addition to their wives and children are at this moment tasting the bitterness of hunger, nakedness and homelesaness...
...It seems to me if I were asked questions concerning Comrade Thomas' conduct in any private undertaking of his, I would as a matter of common comradely courtesy refer to him for the answer...
...Mitchell's victory means that labor In the industrial centers is waking up...
...Ai i of the Conservative can 1 defeat he named increas i of unemployed and th< T h e victory,' "will pat great bean 1 Labor forces...
...We who have not yet endured these miseries may not understand what striking coal miners mean when they stretch out their arms and call, "Give us food, we are starving...
...Cuban troubles may eventually bring the United States into tinrevolt under the Piatt amendment which makes Cuba a practical American protectorate...
...Cohen, CommuBsemployrnent Stressed at former election the Coatn received more votes than •Least for all candidates in sedan last Monday...
...The report adds that a general improvement of conditions is not expected this year, the only hope being that ocsadittons will Hungarian Socialists Warn Gov't of Hunger Revolt Parliament Adjourns After Stormy Session On Unemployment THE arbitrary regime of Admiral Horthy In Hungary makes It difficult for Socialists to carry on in Parliament and yet unemployment figured in a stormy seatrinti of that body last week at the close of a session following the elections...
...It i s they who hear these penetrating cries and who now send them out to you...
...The MINER'S BELIEF F U N D of the SOCIALIST PARTY will receive your contributions aad distribute them to the destitute miners...
...The principal subjects discussed were treated and disposed of in that spirit," said Hillquit...
...Building Trades Unions Show Gains The General Council of the Building Workers International held a meeting at Prague on July 15 and IS...
...On all such questions the resolution takes the moat far-reaching and radical stand but it does not go outside of the concrete problems before the Congress...
...Hemps, p u t t sad Mclnnes, Labor BSS of the House of Comi Macphaii, United of the Dominion a, attacked the record of the erMBSe Government and •ei Mi sieged failure to cope tar Bssjnpioyment problem, i wm perhaps the main Issue In this industrial cecal k a great victory for the m people," declared Mitchell...
...E. Paulin and Tammany Hail's gang are angels compared to him...
...rspHE N E W LEADER of July 4. X contstnlng the statement of Norman Thomas on the suits which I have brought against the Standard Oil Company and the Vacuum OH Company, has Just reached me here...
...Late tat Week forty striking motormen ad conductors, including the ex rutive committee of the Street ar Workers* Union, were relased rem Jan...
...Because the MINER'S RELIEF F U N D Is limited to YOUR kindness, YOUR help, YOUR humanity...
...Why...
...The members of the Socialist Party who are working on the MINER'S RELIEF FUND, laboring faithfully, distributing relief from party headquarters where rent need not come from the fund, receive nothing for their labors but the Joy that comes from fighting starvation...
...I had practically reached that conclusion before I sailed for Europe and as soon as I realised from certain published and unpublished expressions that my part in the litigation may lend Itself to honest misconstruction or to deliberate misrepresentation...
...Exhausted though the Austrian people are, they possess yet strength enough to settle accounts with these gentry...
...Austrian Socialists and trade unionists have remained armed against these reactionaries since the end of the World War and a number of times they have beaten off the Heimwehr Fascists...
...The trucks will have huge signs reading as follows "Socialist Relief for Strikers," while the use of flares, songs and cheers are expected to make the send-off of these trucks at midnight a huge success...
...A few days before the release f the forty strikers it was enounced that a general amnesty rould be extended to all "political rimes...
...A week ago the Liberal Government announced that elections will be held in the Province of Quebec on August 24...
...the membership of the centralized building workers' union has been raised during the last six months from 20,000 to 26,000, which speaks well for the results of unity...
...The tumult broke forth again, with Theier shouting in a stentorian voice, "Some hunger riots already have occurred in the provinces...
...THEY WILL, BE HEARD — A N D A N SWERED...
...For the Socialist and Labor organisations that are well organized and disciplined, this program should be carried out to the limit" The most satisfactory resolution in the opinion of Hillquit was the one adopted on the world depression and unemployment...
...Bennett took of Woodsworth stated...
...His regime depends ipon the loyalty of the army and •ven that may not save him bemuse Cuban hills and jungles proride an excellent setting for guer11a war by the rebels...
...I am not claiming any merit or recognition from anybody...
...I can see nothing wrong about these actions unless It be wrong In principle tor a Socialist to practice law in a capitalist system or to engage in any other capitalist business activities...
...T he delegates felt throughout that it was not only an assembly of Socialist propagandists but also of representatives of political parties vested with great power and charged with heavy responsibilities...
...Count Bethlen, Premier, began pounding his desk with both fists and other members of the government party followed his example...
...I have never hesitated between the party and my private Interests as my intimate party friends, particularly those who were closely associated with me in the war years, well know...
...This division is one of the toughest in Canada and the present member is Dr...
...Karl...
...Woodsworth Elected will try to make every contion I can to the well-being (dally of the women and chil. of the DBeanion," he- added, isk the people of the conatiey to suspend judgment on my as is Parliament for a time I have had the opportunity antes...
...On the sand the total vote cast on tj was nearly 9,000 less than da east at the previous elecA smaller vote is generally Ik by-elections than in geni essapaign produced some St battles...
...I Brownsville Socialists Set a Good Example In Raising Strike Relief A large open air meeting and demonstration was held Friday light, at the corner of Pitkin ave iue and Bristol street, Brooklyn, tor the benefit of the Allen town textile and the Pennsylvania minsrs strikers...
...tote late Monday night in (niions was as follows: ft, Labor, 7.246...
...Theier, Socialist Deputy, attacked the government for its policies during the ftnsnrisl crisis, asserting that the policy had led manufacturers daily to close their doors on hundreds of workmen...
...He declared he was d—after a strenuous cam_ the results of the voting j announced...
...Back of the revolt are more than 1 year of economic distress, losses iue to the low price of sugar, unsmployment of thousands of workers and the brutal rule of Macbadc md his agents...
...The House adopted a motion...
...On Monday, when the genera, evolt was evident, Machado's rub per stamp Congress granted him he power to extend martial law hroughout Cuba...
...These include public - meetings, demonstrations, publicity and collection of monster petitions...
...J flatter myself with possessing an adequate sense of professional and political proprieties I have honestly and earnestly searched my conscience and am fully convinced that my oil suits were perfectly legitimate from a legal point of view and had no bearing on my position as a Socialist A lawyer can only apply the law as it is and secure to his clients such rights and remedies as It affords him...
...F. T. U. Sees No Signs of Improvement In World Idle Crisis The International Federation of Trade Unions with headquarters in Berlin reports a survey it has made of unemployment in 23 countries and concludes that there "are no signs of any permanent improvement in the economic situation...
...In the meantime two new unions have been founded in Finland, which are exempt from Communist influence: since they take the "free'' trade union standpoint the government will have no excuse for dissolving them...
...Ptanore Castle, where former Empress Zita Ja living, recently has been visited by an endless string of reactionary statesmen and politicians, one of the latest being the Hungarian Premier, Count BethSen...
...The Abend declares that the Austrian former Chancellor Monslgnor Seipel, who is known to be a secret adherent to the Hapsburg cause, has just been at Inssbruck with Italian Minister to Vienna Auriti for a long secret interview with the Italian Crown Princess in the Tirolerhof Hotel...

Vol. 13 • August 1931 • No. 7


 
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