Waldman in Demand for Election Investigation
Waldman in Demand for Election Investigation THE hacks of Tanjroany Halt ateal even when they don't have to. They make a habit of election thievery apparently just to keep their hands in, even...
...Now this being the case, his statement is false...
...After the group has been organized permanent headquarters should be secured...
...2, 21...
...But as much as possible the rank and file workers are to bo-drawn into the work...
...Action, however, seems to be at last in sight because of the brazenness in election thievery uncovered by Federal Attorney Medalie in a number of Manhattan election districts...
...The eviction committee, with the aid of friendly lawyers, is to fight all evictions...
...This is the beginning of political , education, because the committee will report back to the organization indicating that capitalist politicians will do nothing...
...In fifteen out of , 21 judicial districts the Socialists bested the Communists...
...The stifngs thus far discovered cloud every single election return in the city...
...Headquarters in the community centers can be used...
...The Socialist vote Increased, while, j that of all the other parties fell off,, the vote cast being but 40 per cent of tho electorate...
...What the vote would have been if every man and woman had been permitted to vote without Tammany's "aid" it is impossible even to guess...
...Unless the meetings are interesting the organization will not retain its membership At the beginning straight Socialist speeches are to be avoided...
...Holmes to Speak At Party Meeting Dr...
...The known cases of stolen elections, especially in the days of tho paper ballots that Tammany fought so savagely to preserve, have not been forgotten...
...The New York Committee on Unemployment has made a study of methods used in Chicago and has undertaken to carry on a vigorous campaign in every section of the city...
...I state emphatically that never during the four years that I represented my local in the central body have I taken a stand contrary to that taken by my local union...
...The results at first may appear small, but by continual plugging it will grow to great proportions...
...The Socialists polled 4,435 votes in the capital and 1,079 in the in - j terior, as against 3,595 and 1448 respectively for the Communists, taking the lead for the first time , from the latter...
...My local union did not go on record in favor of any candidate for public office or oppose any candidate, either in 1929 or since that year...
...But action to safeguard the sanctity of the ballot has been impossible in the past because the District Attorney's office is in the hands of the same political organization that employs the election day thieves...
...It hi suggested that the committee visit local centers and attempt to obtain their assistance and balls for meetings...
...I should be most happy for my part to Bee such persons take leadership in a new political coalition...
...The prime purpose of the Unemployed Leagues is to reach the great mass of workers, not merely those who are radical...
...2, 18...
...In Chicago the cooperation of Community Centers, Churches, Y.M.C.A.'s, etc., was obtained by explaining the nonpolitical nature of the work...
...The time and place of the next meeting should be announced...
...In answer to a mental gem by Mr...
...In addition to . the chairman and secretary, com- , mittees on grievances, evictions, , 1 medical aid, political action, and education should be formed...
...I don't believe that tha readers of The New Leader are much concerned with the personal differences between him and »r.y« slf and therefore I will not comment further...
...It is a curious fact that many more Socialist votes were stolen than Communist...
...Domination is to be avoided...
...Socialist* long complained that It is impossible to get an honest count at the hands of Tammany Braves...
...TO COMRADE WOSKOW By Emeries Steinberger Iq response to the letter of Comrade Woskow may I state that in my original article I purposely avoided the mention of any names, as I was not interested in personalities but in describing the poltical tactics of the Central Trades and Labor Council...
...3, 20...
...TO COMRADE STEINBERGER By Herman Woskow It is not my intention to continue a debate with Comrade K. Steinberger, but as he reflects on my integrity as a trade union representative, I feel that I should be given an opportunity to answer him...
...It is often possible to . prevent evictions, or at least to , dramatize them by arranging mass . demonstrations in front of the , houses of the persons evicted...
...NEW LEADER FORUM FOB THK L.I.K.A...
...He accused me of acting in the Central Trades and Labor Council contrary to the decision of my local union...
...A committee should try to locate an empty store or building from some friendly landlord...
...Get to work at once, and if it is pressed with vigor and intelligence it ean surely succeed...
...It has long been inspected that the Great Men at 17th Street and Fourth Avenue punish their henchmen if they are ever caught in the crime Dt an honest day's work on election day...
...The first job is to call a meeting of unemployed in your neighborhood...
...possibly because the Socialist Party is "the third party of capitalism," as the Communists have so cleverly discovered...
...Local publicity should be sought After the general purpose of the meeting is explained a prepared list of demands upon the city, state and nation should be distributed with a request that all sign these demands...
...It is important to know that the discrepancies are between the vote recorded on the machive— after intimidation, repeating, and in other ways preventing the true vote being cast—and the figures entered on the tally-sheets...
...They make a habit of election thievery apparently just to keep their hands in, even in years when an honest couni would give them the election by a large margin...
...In the near future a meeting will be called to form a city-wide organization...
...I have never had nor expressed a desire that leadership should belong tu the middle class...
...Political education will come later...
...Organizing the Unemployed By AMICUS MOST IN Chicago, South Bend, Indian* apolis, Minneapolis and other large cities large and successful organizations of the unemployed have been formed...
...The membership will discuss the proposed change to a county form 1 of organisation...
...As candidate for United States Senator in the last election Medalie had instituted the Investigation, and after overcoming legal obstacles—including employment by Cohen of the city's Corporation Counsel—he finally was permitted to inspect some of the machines...
...The heavy abstention from the polls was brought about by powerful political and social agencies which exploited ths serious economic situation to the fullest extant to paralyze ths elec' torate...
...It took three years of hard work In Chicago, but the results havs mors than justified that work...
...Unless it is absolutely impossible to obtain other places, meetings in Socialist headquarters are to be avoided...
...With the publication of those letters the controversy is closed so far as discussion in The New Leader is concerned.—Editor...
...Unemployed workers cannot be organized on what appears to them as a dream of a future society...
...1, 21...
...I hope more and more leaders in this cause will emerge from those at work in mine, farm, factory and office...
...What I have protested against is the attempt to make light of members of the middle class and to assume that they can be neglected in formation of a movement toward the left, and especially at the assumption that their interests are so hostile to those of persons who work with their hands that no durable union can be formed...
...I agree thoroughly with what is said in the same editorial regarding the necessity of appeal to the working classes to organize politically and economically for their own welfare...
...The examination is still going on, but enough has been uncovered to justify the Socialist charges made immediately after election that the vote reported by the canvassing boards bears only the vaguest resemblance to the votes as registered on the machines...
...i Socialists Make Gain In Uruguay Poll * MONTEVIDEO.—At the recent national election the Socialist party, captured third place on the ballot in a field of ten...
...As to the question of veracity, I shall leave that to be decided by the comrades in the movement who have known me for some twenty years...
...9, 37...
...The importance of this work cannot too strongly be stressed...
...In New York a city-wide organisation is being formed...
...Not only is there little or no cooperation, but I have to contend with vilification...
...This winter will see increased sutfering among the unemployed...
...18, 48...
...This is the sentence stating that at The New Leader dinner last year I said that it was my "aim to found a coalition that would be led by the middle class...
...The latter will not get far without active help from these sources...
...Plans for city-wide activities, including demonstrations and conferences, are included...
...Every move by my enemies to unseat me has failed, and now after four years I refuse to be a candidate to succeed myself, .because without the necessary cooperation which should come from labor officials who are members of our party, my time In the central body is wasted...
...All those present with grievances should leave their names with the grievance committee...
...They can be organized on the basis of their Immediate needs as Unemployed workers^ Even the demands for unemployment Insurance, the short hour week, and other of the immediate demands of the Socialist program are too far in the future...
...The meeting is called to begin at 2.30...
...10, 17...
...Only if no other places are available should Socialist headquarters be used, snd then only ss ths result of an Invitation by the branch and upon a vote of acceptance by the unemployed themselves...
...moved to unseat me, but hvvain...
...There are certain dangers, from the Socialist point of view, in this work, but It can be very useful as an education in cooperative enterprises...
...Two Socialist deputies from I Argentina came to Uruguay to as* list In the campaign...
...And while these should be included, the basis of organization must be on grievances against relief distribution agencies, against evictions, shutting off of gas and electricity, etc...
...11, 47...
...The Board of Election had put up its fight against permitting the figures registered in the machines to be re-examined...
...Others who will speak are Louis Waldman, state chairman and candidate for Governor at the last election, and Charles Solomon...
...It Is I also a good idea to have regular membership cards printed, with monthly dues...
...Steady research through good times and bad is a powerful means toward attaining these important objectives, he said...
...Sloan, of General Motors, Roger Babson at his retreat at Wellesley Hills, Mass., went into the silences, and after much prayer delivered himself of the fallowing: "Salesocracy— creative selling, improved products, increased per dollar value, more scientific distribution—is the quickest and surest way to get men back to work, build up widespread purchasing power, re-invigorate busi ness...
...The political committee will visit the , local aldermen, state legislators, , and congressmen, to press for action on the demands of the unemployed...
...These may be as low as one cent per month...
...The education committee will see to it that < entertainment, plays, speakers, etc., are supplied to each meeting...
...Tammany Arithmetic Some of the "errors* of Tammany canvassers, showing the discrepancy between Socialist votes cast and those counted, follow: 12, 39...
...Medalie was able to examine a few voting machines of two districts only after S. Howard Cohen, Tammany President of the Board of Elections, faced a thirtyday contempt jail term for refusing to permit inspection...
...But these plans will be successful only in proportion to the strength of local organizations built up...
...It will also help in actual organization work as much as it possibly can...
...Recently a federation of Unemployed Organizations of the Mid-West, representing over 100,000 members, was formed with Karl Borders as Chairman...
...John Haynes Holmes, pastor of the Community Church and one of the leaders of the liberal forces in New York, will make his first public appearance as a member of the Socialist party when he speaks at a general meeting of the membership of Kings County, Sunday, January 15th, at 2239 Church Ave...
...But dues are important as a method of checking up and keeping intact the membership...
...In the organization of the unemployed groups the problem of selfhelp work and barter will arise...
...The grievance committee is to take up all cases and go to the relief authorities to demand action...
...Waldman Demands Probe Louis Waldman, State Chairman of the Socialist Party, immediately made a demand upon Governor Lehman for a special District Attorney to supersede District Attorney Crain, a Tammany henchman, and Attorney General John J. Bennett, a McCoocy puppet, to proceed vigorously and to prosecute all guilty of violations of the election laws...
...The unemployed of the district will learn that they can obtain aid by joining and the word will spread...
...Comrade Woskow himself was the one to inject his own personality into the discussion...
...THE BRAY of THE WEEK Now It's Salesocracy That Is to Save Us Good old Roger Babson has leaped into the fray With his contribution to save a sick and feverish world...
...Another method is to carry on a systematic distribution of leaflets at local relief stations inviting all unemployed to attend a meeting...
...Locals outside of New York State Should communicate with state or national' offices for Information and assistance...
...The meeting is to be held in the new and commodious quarters of the 21st A. I)., and a large attendance of party members is expect1 ed...
...Still another method is by house-to-house canvassing...
...They tried-to force me to ofsign...
...In connection with all ; this work it must be pointed out that the functions of the individual Socialist are to obtain the confidence of the unemployed by their hard work...
...The first meeting should be well planned...
...The success of these organizations and the work they have accomplished in forcing better conditions for the unemployed, and In building the Socialist Party, indicates their great possibilities...
...In all cases the unemployed should be offered the services of a grievance committee, legal aid, etc...
...The party local cr branch should elect a committee to carry on the work...
...Although the group at first may be small, it will grow if the grievance committee is effective...
...That type of work can only be undertaken when a fairly Urge group has been formed...
...Current problems should be the themes at the first meetings...
...for all ten parties in Montevideo...
...I have not only been elected but re-elected...
...11, 41...
...The total vote oast...
...He states that in 1929 my local union went on record against LaGuardia for mayor...
...Dr...
...Not once in those four years have I been instructed on any single question, acting at all times in the light of my conscience, anxious to do what I deem to be right Certain officials of my local union, my superior officers, did not like my position on almost anything...
...The organisation must be democratic and of the unemployed themselves...
...All party branches are requested immediately to send the name of the secretary of the committee elected to Amicus Most, executive secretary, Emergency Committee on Unemployment, 7 East 15th Street The central office will supply a list of demands, membership eards, speakers, legal aid, a list of the local relief stations and information regarding relief...
...The importance of this work cannot too strongly be stressed...
...I will not, however, continue as a delegate after my term expires in February...
...was 52,715...
...Bearing this in mind, it Is important that they be formed on a non-partisan basis...
...This is to be encouraged, provided it is not the prime purpose of the organization...
...By Jean Dewey In the Interest of a common understanding I ask leave to correct one statement made in the editorial columns of last week's issue...
...At the next meeting, possibly to be held in the community or church center, permanent organization should be set up...
Vol. 15 • January 1933 • No. 2
