Labor's Challenge
THOMAS, NORMAN
Labor's Challenge By Norman Thomas LABOR DAY 1933 brings to the workers of America the greatest challenge both by way of opportunity and danger that they have ever had. Organization and the...
...Those who desire the aid of the Labor Committee can write to the above address or call Algonquin 4-2620...
...An organization drive among the Sheet Metal Workers, Bronze Workers, Automobile Workers, Radio Workers, and several other trades is being planned...
...The committee has filed several complaints with the NRA in New York because of violations of wages and hours...
...A Great Comrade and A Great Party By Morris Hillquit The following letter by the National Chairman of the Socialist Party was read at the meeting of New York Socialist party member* addressed by Dr...
...That organization cannot lose sight of our comrades abroad, millions of whom are victims of despotism...
...Aid has also been given to Neckwear Workers' Union, Grocery Clerks' Union and there is constant cooperation with the United Hebrew Trades...
...TO DEMONSTRATE AGAINST RELIEF CUTS Due to the continued policy of New York in cutting down unemployment relief and refusing to pay rents, the unemployed are facing the most desperate condition they have encountered in the depression...
...1st will throw some additional thousands on the street The city administration has asked the legislature for taxation power to stave off the "emergency" of unemployment relief...
...who grow great with the growth of the party and never seek to rise above it It is these rare qualities that have made Comrade Soukup one of the most trusted and beloved leaders of the Socialist and labor movement in Czechoslovakia, which he so well typifies in his own person...
...Speakers and organization committees have been sent to the various towns and cities for the Shirt Workers, affiliated with the Amalgamated Clothing workers...
...The chairman is Samuel E. Beardsley and the Secretary, Joseph Tuvim...
...Dubinsky of the International, who urged the workers to rally about the union...
...for aid in an organization drive...
...With cheer and good wishes...
...8, at 8 p. m., in Irving Plaza Hall, 15th St...
...Fraternally yours, Morris Hillquit...
...May I now be permitted to take these means to join you in the expression of a hearty and affectionate welcome to my good old friend Frantisek Soukup and of fraternal greetings and sincere good wishes to our Czechoslovakia...
...who give all their abilities and accomplishments, their time and thought to the service of Socialism without ostentation or personal ambition in utter oblivion of themselves...
...We, Socialists of New York, are particularly fortunate in greeting Comrade Soukup in our midst and to learn from him the inspiring lessons of his party at this time, when we are about to launch a vigorous campaign in the approaching city election under the splendid leadership of our eloquent, enthusiastic and devoted banner bearer .Charles Solomon...
...For the international movement of Socialism has every reason to be proud of our party in the new republic of Czechoslovakia...
...The local has been conducting an intensive organization campaign as a prelude to the general strike...
...L. Patterson, Vanni Montana and Herbert Mahler...
...Colden has issued a statement in which he says that the discovery of new evidence may require a "superseding indictment" A mass meeting to welcome Terzani will be held Friday, Sept...
...The assemblage was addressed by Pres...
...I first met Comrade Soukup in the International Socialist Congress at Amsterdam in 1904, and In the period of almost thirty years that has since elapsed I have rarely lost sight of him...
...As a science it fnrnishea the mental weapons for the political movement, and the political movement is the moans of attaining the ideal, the cooperative Commonwealth.— Ernest Untermann...
...Aid .as been given to the organization drive of the Chandelier Workers and the Upholstery Workers' Union by preparing a kitchen for the strikers...
...The Queens County Committee of the Socialist Party at its last meeting voted a contribution of five dollars to the defense...
...Many had to be turned away...
...The Committee's office is at the Rand School, 7 East 15 Street...
...As to myself, I am determined to help in the good work to the full extent my improving health will permit...
...A solid labor front- was the only hope under the NRA...
...I had the good fortune of working with him and observing him in practically all international Socialist Congresses that have been held during that time and in numerous meetings of the International Executive Committee, on which he invariably represented his party...
...and Irving Place...
...Taylor in efforts to settle a definite code...
...Embroiderers Vote For Genera] Strike Four thousand enthusiastic embroiderers, stitchers, pleaters and tuckers called* unanimously for a general strike of the industry at a mass meeting at Town Hall held by Local Union 66 of the I.L.G.W...
...It is the worker* of the world who must unite for freedom...
...In addition the closing down of the Emergency Work Bureau on Sept...
...U. Thousands of workers answered the call of Manager Leon Hattab...
...All branches of the Socialist Party and individual members should lend telegrams to the district attorney embodying these demands...
...To date they have done nothing with this power, and they are now studying methods of putting over a "painless" form of taxation upon the city's poor...
...sister party, which he so ably and fully represents...
...Instructive speakers were sent to the Waiters' Union at membership installation meetings -and advice has been giver, to many unions on codes and in drawing up some codes...
...At least five speakers are sent out nightly to address open air meetings for the Bakers' Union in their strike...
...comrades in no small degree that Czechoslovakia is today one of the most impregnable European forts against the disastrous spread of Fascist dictatorship...
...More power to them on this American Labor Day I New Trial Demanded For At hoe Terzani The Terzani Defense Committee, of which Norman Thomas is chairman, has called upon all organizations represented on the Committee to demand of District Attorney Colden of Queens that Terzani be freed of all charges against him in the murder of Anthony Fierro, who was shot and killed at a meeting of the Khaki Shirts of America, a fascist organization, in Astoria on July 14, and that the real murderer be arrested and brought to justice...
...Frantisek Soukup is one of the true leaders of international Socialism who take their single-minded and unflagging devotion to our great cause as a simple matter of course...
...The particularly vicious practice adopted of classifying the unemployed into two divisions, those that are to receive continuous relief and those that are "to be skipped every other week or so, has resulted in putting at least half of the already starving unemployed in the second classification...
...Through all the agitated years since the war, in all the triumph and reverses of the revolutionary struggles, the party has stood firmly and unswervingly on the foundation of working-class democratic Socialism, It has dona a monumental work of solid Socialist education among the workers of the country, has built up powerful institutions of education, defense and struggle and has largely influenced the shaping of the young and progressive state...
...From Jersey comes a request as to how to organize the Textile workers...
...The weight of the executive work has fallen upon Joseph Tuvim who was nearly brought to a sickbed because of his incessant activities...
...As my acquaintance with him grew closer and ripened into a warm personal friendship, I conceived' an ever growing affection and admiration for him as a man and a Socialist...
...As this is written a request comes from the workers of the B.M.T...
...The Committee with the aid of the Industrial Committee of the Y.P.S.L...
...Plans are also being laid for organizing telephone workers and workers in other utilities corporations...
...On the other hand, efficient organization such as the NRA encourages may enable the workers to tell a very different story...
...Labor's Challenge By Norman Thomas LABOR DAY 1933 brings to the workers of America the greatest challenge both by way of opportunity and danger that they have ever had...
...Frantisek Soukup just before he sailed for home: IF I had been well enough to at-* tend this meeting, I would, I flatter myself, have been privileged to introduce our distinguished fires t to my New York comrades, just as he recently did me the honor to present me to our comrades In his home city of Prague...
...Somebody else will take the milk and especially the cream...
...It is due to the enlightened and tireless activities of our...
...Handbills and circulars for the Bronze and Iron Workers' Union have been drawn up and speakers sent to their meetings...
...In the Dressmakers' strike over 125 Party members and Yipsels have engaged in strike duty, in organization work, and are now aiding in signing up now members of Unions by the thousands...
...Unless widespread 'protest is forthcoming they will do so...
...Let us resolve to make the best of our unem-ampled opportunities, comrsdes, and let us make this a historic campaign of party building and Socialist education...
...A delegation from the Terzani Defense Committee, headed by Thomas and including Arthur Gar-Meld Hays, Vito Marcantonio and Raymond L. Wise, the latter two former United States Assistant District Attorneys, called upon Mr...
...Other speakers were Leon Hattab, just returned from Washington, who reported on the meeting with Dr...
...The committee has supplied many speakers for organization and strike meetings and helped in providing pickets...
...The Labor Committee On the Firing Line THE Labor Committee of the 1 Socialist Party of New York City has for many weeks been receiving requests from workers in the city and from other states for information and advice regarding organization, codes and complaints under the NRA...
...For weeks the rooms, lobby, auditorium and even the halts of the Sand School have been packed with workers, men and women, joining unions or Socialism is s science, a political movement, and an ideal...
...The union could come to no agreement with any of these organizations, over trade conditions...
...The Wood Heel Workers' Union which has voted to affiliate with the Boot and Shoe Workers' Union has over 350 members, Within a week or two the membership is expected to grow to 1,000...
...Z. L. Freed-man, president and Nathan Riesel, business agent, who submitted reports on the meetings with the Pleaters' and Stitchers' Associations and the Bonnaz Embroiderers' Manufacturers...
...Speakers have been sent to the Associated Silk Workers in their organization drive in Pater-son and plans are being made now to continue such aid during the coming strike...
...The Doll Workers have been aided through speakers, preparing leaflets, and other work . They are now on strike and the committee is cooperating with them...
...considering demands...
...Members of the Committee are engaged in organizing several new Unions...
...Organization and the right sort of organization alone can save labor in America from a Fascist society...
...Speakers are Norman Thomas, Roger Baldwin, Arturo Giovanitti, Carlo Tresca, Wm...
...The school is also generously giving rooms free for organisation work despite its own acute financial problems...
...The hall, the platform and even the lobby were overcrowded...
...Colden last Monday to protest the framed-up charges against Terzani and demand the arrest of the real murderer...
...Because of this ths Joint Committee of the Workers' Unemployed League, the Workers' Committee of Unemployment, and the Association of the Unemployed will demonstrate Sept 22nd at City Hall On Sept 8th at 11 a. m. all unemployed are urged to be at the hearing of the Board of Estimate at City Hall, where a delegation of the Joint Committee will appear to demand that the city take advantage of the new tax powers to levy taxes on the rich sufficient for adequate relief...
...That is a ^society in which the role of labor will at best be scarcely better than the contented cows in the advertisement...
...from Connecticut information about the Jewelry Workers' Union, All inquiries received the proper attention...
...Over forty shops, employing five hundred needle workers, have been added to the union roster...
...is called upon daily to render services to many organizations...
...Requests have come either direct to the committee or to The New Leader, which has reported organization activities...
...He scored the Employers' Association as being grasping and unreasonable in their demands...
...from Delaware complaints of violation of the NRA...
Vol. 16 • September 1933 • No. 10
