It's Labor's Job to Take Care Of Itself Under the New Act
Cohen, Joseph E.
By Joseph E. Cohen It's Labor's Job to Take Care Of Itself Under the New Act L. S. I. To Meet In Paris on Aug. 21 'ZURICH.-A special confel'-i ence of Sociali!>t parties hu been called by...
...Don't you want to get rid of racketeering...
...The viclory of F'flljcl~m In Ger...
...They come and go in armored cars with their own armed union guards...
...If you'll be particular I might understand you," Joe replied...
...Less penal legislation and more economic liberty and justice is whit Socialists strive for...
...No, It's sinning against the working class," Bill replied as they parted...
...Steve has lived dangerously in his struggle gainst them...
...The SoclallQ Part)' In the United Stat...
...In many i Leader is v of the hot* g, the subNew Leader pa—those to prtant events irival of the ps who just [for granted, ips have this they do not i- issue...
...the wa, to working dau unil)', and the ta.k...
...I guess you're right...
...of the In\.t!rnaUonal labor movement durlnr the period of Fa.elllt reaction, .peclflcall)': na...
...Sunday ism "You sa' d it," Bill replied...
...nalional executive committee at ita meeting In Reading...
...Joe Must Be Shown "/CHICAGO has a bad dose of it, yet the Chicago Federa^ tion of Labor has been fighting it for years," Bill replied...
...asked Joe...
...If some large cities have an epidemic of smallpox, will you say that the nation's population is shot full of smallpox...
...Great, what's on your mind now...
...By Joseph E. Cohen It's Labor's Job to Take Care Of Itself Under the New Act L. S. I. To Meet In Paris on Aug...
...You're a Bill Sunday when you make a general statement that is not true...
...particular cities have ' union racketeering...
...tional, to be helel in Paris be· ginning Monda...
...many," lhe call .lates, "has enor· mousl)' Increased the International reaction and hal forced the worker...
...back on 10 the defensive for the time bt'lng...
...Pan., July 2...
...You'll have to show me," said loe...
...AUl{lIst 21, and lasting four or five <.lays...
...Said like an evangelical crusader in an anti-cigaratte campaign,' Bill replied, raising his hands with a pious gesture...
...Prohibition has proved itself a fatuire...
...Crosswaith Wins $500 Verdict for False Arrest CRANK R. CROSSWAITH, noted T Socialist lecturer and organizer, won a settlement of $500 for false ai rest and malicious persecution in New York County Supreme Cjuit, when Reuben Lubarsky, a nonunion baker, was called upon to make good charges he hnd made against Cross waith three years ago...
...Whaddaya mean...
...As a Socialist with no union card I would emphasize and encourage the struggle of the Steve Sumncrs, not emphasize the evil and encourage the capitalist reaction," Bill replied...
...1 - Socialism vs...
...They propose to make the production and distribution of alcoholic beverages a social function, conducted in such a way that no one will have any pecuniary interest in tempting men to drink to excess...
...Socialists propose to eliminate the slum conditions which drive men to drink...
...It is a slice of life to them...
...Be particular...
...Never heard of him," said Joe...
...Anything more...
...Well, how would you fight this racketeering,'" asked Joe...
...The circumstances which have led to the Huccess of FallciRm in Germany mUKt be laid bare, and the international labor movcm(!nt mURt not shrink from poillting out the reU~f)n~ which prevented the lubor movement frum nlllking u~e of ItII pow!'r at declHlve moments...
...The conference declared its unqualified opposition to both of the anti-democratic movements, which tend to disrupt the labor movement and eventually to destroy it, as has been seen on the one hand in Russia and on the other in Italy and more recently in Germany...
...You indict and then inquire...
...they're shot full of racketeering and the Socialist Party will have to help clean them up...
...beeR IIl.ued for a meetlnr to dillcu.i .tralen and tactic...
...Other methods must be found to combat the evil of excessive drinking...
...Ever hear of Steve Sumner...
...I'd tell the organized workers of the dangers of racketeering, that its complete dominion would mean the end of unionism itself," said Bill, "and then I'd encourage every union struggle against it...
...They preach sermons on the sinfulness of sin, while Socialists try to understand origins...
...it's commendable,'' Bill replied, "but the Billy Sundays have one way of meeting problems and Socialists another...
...There are thousands of unions that are clean of this vice and others affected by it are fighting it When you make your sweeping statement you help the capitalist classes that in some cases are allies of the racketeers whom the Steve Sumnert fight...
...A new labor movement is to be made, in numbers and in character...
...To them The New Leader is more than just a Socialist paper...
...just one person do to forward the Socialist movement...
...You don't even give credit to the unions in the cities where it exists who are fighting it and the union men who risk their lives fighting it...
...Nothing...
...sinology won't do," said Bill...
...He was glad to be now on the winning side...
...Joe asked with surprise...
...When you say that the trade unions are shot full of racketeering, that is a general statement...
...When these things are assured, the dangers of intemperance will pass away...
...Ankessmit, De la Bella, Kupers, Matthijsen and Wondenberg were appointed as a committee to supervise the work...
...How far will be gotten will depend upon the extent and strength of labor organization...
...The toiling masses must have healthful and comfortable homos, they must have security of employment i their labor ai enjoy a ehi must have It) able them to Istence, they I ODDortunitv for wholesome recreation and mental culture...
...Above all, I'd be careful not to say what the capitalist enemies say of the unions...
...What's wrong with trying to right things...
...He's head of the Milk Wagon Drivers' Union which had been controlled by racketeers, but when Steve and his supporters came into control they cleaned out the mercenaries," said Bill, "but that isn't all...
...21 'ZURICH.-A special confel'-i ence of Sociali!>t parties hu been called by the Bureau of the Labor and Socialist Intt'rna...
...Our trade unions," Joe replied...
...The union building has been transformed into a fort to protect it against bombs and bullets...
...Debs " 1 AM getting revolutionsry snd I'm going straight ahead * from now on," said Joe grabbing Bill by the coat lapel as they met in the street...
...The) the part a plays in the subscribers...
...He and his aides have inspired workers in other unions to fight the mercenaries...
...You're not a revolutionary...
...of the workera in the c...
...In July, 1930, Crosswaith was arrested in the Bronx while making a speech upon behalf of striking members of the Bakery and Confectionery Workers' International •upon complaint of Lubarsky, and was held in $500 bail...
...In his speech he recalled the fact that fifteen years ago he and other Socialist assemblymen, sitting in this same chamber, had unsuccessfully opposed the adoption of the prohibition amendment, which was being put over in a moment of war hysteria, without the real consent of the people...
...Two Ri OROADLY scriben fall into tf whom one of of the week paper, and I take The Nei Members of 1 in common, I want to nun a copy of the complaints I quickly folloi Possible « the postmu of the spu who likes to his neighbor of the compl office...
...On several occasions attempts have been made to put them 'on the spot.' Steve has said that he will give his life for a clean union and he expects to die with his boots on...
...A Peculiar United Front, I'LL try," said Bill...
...That's a united front that does not appeal to me...
...This new situation necessitates a thorough examlna· tion of lho IItrategy and tacUce of the international luhor movemont...
...Lubarsky admitted his statements against Crosswaith were false, and the out-of-court settlement followed...
...Let • astray and j and mail • post office, eovetiveness use dweller SH to which *e> are aome Mr reach this Rats indicate P t w Leader Fsany of our H The New "Very mmbei I then passed on to others...
...There is racketeering in some unions, but does that mean that the trade unions of the nation are shot full of it...
...This was not the only instance in which those who formerly rejected the Socialists' advice now realized that the Socialists bad been r i g ht We Socialists, Waldman declared, have little faith in the idea that the people can be made virtuous and happy by prohibitory and mandatory laws affecting their, personal conduct...
...Yes, and no one denies it except the racketeers," Bill replied', "but when you say that the union movement is shot full of racketeering you indict the unions that are free, of i t and play the game of the anti-union exploiters...
...But if repeal is not to bring back these evils, something must be done besides the repesl of prohibition...
...We Told You So," i Waldman at Rq I 0 U I S WALDMAN, one of the two Socialist delegates in the repeal convention at Albany, improved the occasion by telling the delegates some plain truths...
...Only as labor measures up to th« responsibility will there be solid advances toward industrial recovery...
...The union officials work behind a steel cage armed with high-powered rifles and machine guns...
...It is only by changing the economic and social conditions under which the people live and by eliminating the influence of the profit motive that this and other such problems can be solved...
...This is the answer of the Jimmy H'ggins, the subscription hustlers, to the question, "What cab...
...To battle for just wages and hours is t h s part of organized labor in the making of industrial codes...
...The job belongs to labor to organize, to educate and to act...
...But that is not all...
...will be entitled to .Ix dele· galell) The method of choo.lnr them will be decided by lhe Party...
...shall be paid just ami reasonabU wages which shall be compensation sufficient to provide, for the hourt of labor as limited, a standard o) living in decency and comfort...
...I get you," said* Joe...
...The capitalist anti-union organisations say it, we know why they say it, and we expect them to say i t When you say it you establish a united front with these enemies of the workers...
...of an outbreak of war...
...asked Joe...
...It represents their hopes, their ideals, their aspirations—the clarion call to the working class to educate and organize its rai.ks...
...Lubarsky also remitted $500 owing him by union bakers, which made his total punishment an even $1,000...
...By all means...
...That is bad company for me," said Joe, "but isn't it the t r u t h ?" "You ask whether it is true after proclaiming it to be true," said Bill...
...said Bill, 'but you talk like a Billy Sunday smiting the Devil in a holy fight to destroy sin...
...Algernon Lee, the other Socialist delegate, served on the Rules Committee...
...The case was dismissed, but Crosswaith sued, asserting that his :u i est had compelled him to cancel a lecture tour and that Lubarsky's complaint had made false and mlicious statements against him...
...Yes...
...The Billy Sundays mis* exaggerate by interpreting the particular as being general...
...He's some guy, I never heard of him," said Joe with admiration...
...it ia sweeping...
...It has bred hypocrisy and disregard for law and its principal effect has been to increase graft and strengthen the organized underworld...
...In this day of surveys It is impossible adequately to picture the political, economic and social life of some neighborhood and small town groups without taking intc consideration the part played by The New Leader...
...1 A plan of action was worked out which includes the establishment by the unions, in conjunction with the Social Democratic Labor Party, of a special bureau to direct an intensive campaign cf education and propaganda against Fascism and Communisn and, where necessary, to organize resistance against the violent attacks which adherents of both kinds of dictatorship from time to time make upon the labor organizations...
...Here is a heroism that is * matched only in the most tragic periods of the revolutionary movement,and Steve does not claim to be a revolutionary, but he would give his life for his class...
...However, the regular and devoted work that keeps The New Leader going comes from the sub hustlers in every part of the coyntry...
...The Socialists have a constructive program...
...The can ha...
...Joe asked...
...Government ownership of railroads is better than railroad ownership of Government.—-Eugene iV...
...That's the difference between your Hilly Sundayism and my Socialism...
...asked Bill...
...In voting for the repeal of prohibition, the Socialists are not voting for the return of the saloon, with all its abuses...
...methods b)' which the workers ar...
...Every hour, day and night, the life of himself and b's aides is at stake in the fight against the racketeers," said Bill...
...Dutch Workers Start Drive for Democracy A T a conference held early in j * * June at Amsterdam, called by the executive committee of the Trade Union Federation of the Netherlands, and attended by the executives of the various affiliated unions, a special order of business was the position of the modern labor movement toward Fascism and Communism...
...Sometimes a stray copy results in a subscription...
...to carr)' on their .trurgle for power undtlr the pre.ent political and economic condition...
...They rightly consider the paper their own...
Vol. 16 • July 1933 • No. 1
