Their First May Day Celebration
Klein, Gertrude Weil
Their First May Day Celebration Newly Enlisted in the Labor Movement, Thousands of Young Garment Workers in Many cITIES Eager to March in Parades By Gertrude weil Klein rlOL'SANDS of workers...
...A potential paradise has been transformed into a prison bousing paupers...
...This is the meaning of Mas l>ay...
...Circles and several women's groups...
...Others pick up the standard and march on . Some day, some time, the victory will be nnivsrssfl March on...
...Even Christmas, celebrated in many nations, lacks this international scope...
...Each such" observance was a "holy day.** Exemption from work was granted by masters in order that the holy day might be generally observed...
...It was no easy matter to make progress against such ¦ combination of opponents...
...organizing Y.P...
...In the alleys and byways, in the shadows and haunts of misfits, here slink the Ishmaels of society, warped men and women who could be reclaimed in a decent human world...
...Only a year ago, or perhaps in jirr~ cases two years ago, these workers knew nothing of union...
...By May 1st, they will probably foe marching with a union settlement...
...It was a day of festival and recrear tion, of rest and devout homage paid to some tribal or national deity or dieties...
...Having gained it another advance beckons us to further action.* There a whole section of the Labor army lies bleeding under the boots of despotism...
...The word "holiday" has a history which has not yet bee* studied...
...extensive educational program...
...They cling to this slendet ledge, hoping to climb to an upper layer, frantically fearing that they will be thrust into the pit below, the pit where our class vegetates in anxiety and fights against utter degradation and loss of hope...
...FULLERTON.—Fullerton branch ^reorganizing...
...Jessup Italian Branch, Lackawanna County...
...They had been fed the vicious conception of the union a? a racket and the union leader as a grafter, assiduously spread by union-hating employers and by Communists, at tines that anion policies did not . plssse them...
...A sad present bat a glad future...
...here human beings turn to demagogs to end their misery...
...Not until April 15, did AcHer receive the proposal of the executive of the Comintern, dated Moscow, April 10...
...Another branch of the men's clothing industry which has put over a good job of organizing this last year is the shipping clerks who are practically completely organized...
...Banners and flags stimulate "patriotic" memories and flowery orations commend the traditions of the ruling classes...
...It will again mobilise, nay it is being mobilized, within range of spies, of terror, and the ever present threat of death...
...The conference concerned itself chiefly with the problems of organization, education and a membership campaign...
...And the ticket sew, ers who work alongside of the cutters in the cutting rooms and who only recently...
...May Day cuts across all forms of nationalism, of racial and eefiB prejudices and veneration of men identified with national and racial myths...
...The worker is locked out of his accustomed work-place...
...On a precarious layer just above the yeoman and the wage laborer gather frightened men and women...
...Here is the "social scum" of Marx's phrase, the scum that rises to the top is Fascist countries to become the pillars of a despotic regime—until S blood purge removes them from the earthly scene...
...We shall bring science t$ our task and labor for human weal...
...Adler replied to Moscow and to Cachin...
...It ever mind...
...They will have a full ticket...
...His fists batter in vain at the gates of employment, atta children suffer and in place of opportunity they face a Sahara Oeseet of broken hopes...
...This telegram to Cachin was included in Adler's letter to Moscow, Comrade Adler adding that joint May Day demonstrations are left to "the decision of the Socialist parties in each country...
...0»%r the centuries through many forms of human slavery this ethic of solidarity has slowly emerged until in the minds and hearts of tens of millions of workers it breaks down frontiers, shatters the ancient prsj...
...Its root origin may be located in early religious festivals,'a day set apart for their observance...
...Many of them never lived and never had a chance to live...
...To the extern that the sentiment of international fraternity is realized we rejoice, but we also know the hideous miseries that have come to oar class throughout the world...
...S.L...
...They toy with soldiers, with guns, with dynamite, with poison gaa...
...while the machines of industry rust and acres of food go ungathered...
...They report an active Women's Committee and Y.P...
...circle...
...In the course of social evolution these holy days became special observances of the various religions of the world...
...Bethlehem will have a full ticket in the forthcoming election...
...Black and white, Jew and GentiK foreign and native bora, fraternize in proletarian solidarity...
...educational activities...
...Slave and bondman, serf and peon, were thrilled by the solemn services, the mysterious rites, the promise of release from backbending toil in some mystic future promised by tribal priests...
...Here on this ledge the Hitlers and Mussolini* obtain recruits...
...His brothers of the cities starve for want of the fruit of his acres...
...UNITED FRONT BID TO L.S.I...
...Throughout New York State 'there will be a whole string of towns holding May Day meetings...
...For example, the American Constitution has been venerated as though it were a holy scroll written If pious saints inspired by heavenly motives instead of by politician^ slave owners, wealthy merchants and their lawyers...
...Their First May Day Celebration Newly Enlisted in the Labor Movement, Thousands of Young Garment Workers in Many cITIES Eager to March in Parades By Gertrude weil Klein rlOL'SANDS of workers in scores of smaH towns throughout the country will this year, for the first time, celebrate May 1st as labor's holiday...
...To question 8s pious origin is today regarded by many reactionaries ss a sin...
...became union...
...Moscow'.-i late decision, the telegram to Cachin five days before AcMer received Moscow's Ietfcr, the impossibility of Adler even reaching the affiliated Labor and Socialist parties with the proposal in time for them to act, again demonstrates the insincerity of the approach of Moscow to the organized workers of the world...
...The wise men know not...
...The "criminals,'' forsvoth...
...Elsewhere in this issue we tell the story of the origin of Msy Ds# and its symbolism...
...There we have been compelled to retreat...
...EASTON.—Easton is taking in new members...
...The ^conference represented 12 branches, 1 Y.P.S.L...
...In fact, he had always insisted that the workers were just like his own children and about a year and a half ago he tried to organize a company union for them, which fell flat...
...Wherever there are workers .laboring under any form of servitude, there will b* found many who respond to this ideal of world fraternity...
...the working mssses in sll countries of tm world...
...They win be in the line of march, too...
...Reassemble our forces and plan to retake what ws havelost...
...Booming Activities Everywhere BETHELEHEM...
...Let Us March On...
...Its pro* dactive powers are sufficient for our work...
...expect full ticket...
...Neither gallows nor concentration camp can conquer our will to win...
...It is Labor's International Holiday...
...Five New Branches PITTSBURGH, Pa.—Ahe State Erecutive Secretary announces the folk/wing new branches in Pennsylvania: Scran ton Branch, Lackawanna County...
...Kg cities like Albany and Troy, where the shirtmakers recently waged a victorious campaign, will have big meetings...
...It S* international in ideals and in its observation...
...The wage laborer in turn is deprived of the opportunity to serve the yeoman...
...CAME TOO LATE - PRIEDRICH ADLER, secretary * of the Labor and Socialist International, has made public copies of correspondence with the executive of the Communist International regarding joint May Day celebrations...
...It is THEIR day, the day of...
...Not to pay homage to national "heroes" or to think in tem4 of release from servitude after their bodies have been sapped of surplus values and they have passed into oblivion, but to think of struts gles here and now for emancipation from servitude...
...All through Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massaesssetts and New Jersey where the Amalgamated Clothing Worken, the International Ladies' Garsssat Workers and the other needle trees* have pushed their frontiers, . mf 1st will be celebrated by reseatly organized workers...
...May Degrm different It is not restricted to any nation, it does not divide mankind into groups devoted to national traditions, Mens or prejudices...
...Measureless sacrifices have been made to uniMlf the disaster...
...The New Leader was endorsed and arrangements made for the next conference, to be held at Menlo Park, Perkasie, Pa., during the middle of July...
...or <ff they did, it was nothing good...
...S.L...
...reports increase in membership...
...In general, these holidays served the ruling classes by fixing the attention of the masses on "national glory...
...May Day is a day .of rest, of recreation, of festivals, of marchini hosts of workingmen and women...
...Life is uncertain and the future is bleak for the laborers who are outcasts in the very temple which their genius has created...
...It saast give way to the BorlaHet ideal ei a warless and peaceful world, a world where unmerited poverty sad unearned wealth will no longer exist...
...PHE countryside where once the yea man cultivated his acres in com* parative comfort is a scene of desolation...
...Du Bois Branch...
...But May Day is not a day of joy, of exaltation...
...Marcel Cachin telegraphed Adler from Paris on April 11, asking for his reply to a Comintern proposal for such joint action...
...Plans for further organization in Montgomery" and Northampton Counties, were drawn up...
...LANGHORNE — L a n g h orne branch has an active membership...
...IT is May Day...
...it is .something to be glad about that >]fat Success has been so great...
...We march and celebrate...
...Last year the babies of the parade were the Ladies' Neckwear Worker.-* Union...
...We will make the work-place as pleasant as the art studio...
...The Holiday of Working: Masses IN the modern capitalistic countries, especially since the end of the * World War, the national "holy days" have been transformed tats something almost akin to state, piety...
...What of the Morrow...
...Glen Hope-Irvona Branch, Clearfield County...
...Right now one of the very smart shops, Finchley's, is tied up 100% by a strike of its alteration hands or bushelmen...
...The yeoman will transform his fields and his wort to yield flowers, not thistles...
...tocsin of devotion to the greatest cause in the history of the race, tee organization of the masses of the world for power, power to take over this capitalistic civilization and reshape it for human end...
...Civilisation in the hands of the wise men of the world has turned awry...
...Into the faces of millions of workers are thrust the degrading alms of the rich...
...The Pennsylvania Front Five-County-Conference QUAKERTOWN, Pa.—The FiveCounty Socialist Conference, wth representation from Lehigh, Northampton, Bucks, Montgomery and Chester Counties, met recently at Quakertown...
...Charles W. Young of Allentown, member of the State Executive Committee, presided...
...We shall tear down the useless and preserve the useful...
...Evidently, Cachin was reached by Moscow by telegraph and Adler by slow mail...
...If his harvest yield is great, it only piles up to mock him in his misery...
...In response to the call of the State Executive Committee, the conference decided to launch a campaign in behalf of the AntiCompany Union, Anti-Eviction, Socialist Insurance, Sedition Bill Repealer and the JKMHour Week bills...
...The days set apart to commemorate great generals and statesmen became national holidays...
...It is sad in London and Paris, in Melbourne and Tokio, in Brussels and New York...
...We take stock of oar vife* * tories and defeats.' Here we have made an advance and we must hold the conquered sector...
...It differs from all others in Utf *" fact that while other holidays are restricted in their appeal to cartain national ideas, traditions, prejudice** or noted men...
...In Elizabeth, N, J., She workers of one of the largest firms in the wash-suit industry, the Atlantic Romper will go right from the picketline to the parade...
...It is a sad May Day...
...These workers are celebrating their anniversary as union members with a 100% walkout, which was as great S shock to their employer as though his own .children had walked out op him...
...Meantime, the advance couriers of the Labor army sound IBS...
...It appeals to the awakened working masses of all nationsHtlsa, races, colors and countries, binding them into a solidarity of ideals all over the world...
...The mills are silent and the market place is empty of customers...
...good prospects...
...appeal...
...Everywhere we have built and the builders know not what of the morrow...
...Clearfield County...
...Editor's Corner Review of and Comment on Events Here and Abroad, Critical and Otherwise 1 >y Jsmros O—Sjl ¦ j The Significance of Maw Daw EJAY DAY is unique as a holiday...
...Sellersvllle , branch reports active membership...
...The Labor army may be beaten* but it never surrenders...
...SELLERSVILLE...
...Unlike the early religious "holy days" in the childhood of the human race, til workers observe it not by order of masters but by their own decision...
...ALLENOWN.— Allentown comrades are planning an annual picnic the first Sunday in August at Central Park...
...udices cultivated by the intellectual police of capitalism and forecasts the world that is yet to be...
...As these religions had adherents in a number of nations they became inter-nation holy days...
...Coalport Brnch, Clearfield County...
...Some fall in the struggle...
...This year they have an addition, the flower and feather workers, some of whom are still striking and some of whom won settlements within the last week or two...
...These holidays give prestige to myths and ideas which indue* the masses to accept the existing order of exploitation...
...Along in HavSMUaw, Peekskill, N'yack, largely dee to the good work of Comrade Th"o«»s W. Davis and other memben of the Rockland County Socialist local, festivities of one kind or soother will be held...
...Again, never mind...
...Even in this mystic form emancipation from the hard lot of the laborer had had it...
...circle...
...For the first time thousands of recently organised workers will be called upon by their unions to come to meetings, parades and picnics, where tbey will express their solidarity, tad head the story of the struggle 4? labor throughout the world...
...Let as march and celebrate and fraternize, strengthening the ethic of international solidarity, inspired by the knowledge that capitalism itself cannot always endure...
...And a great deal of quiet consistent work has been going on right in New Yurk City which will 'show up in New York's monster parade...
...The bushelmen's section of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers will foe three times as large as last year, with bushelmen from the swell Fifth Avenue stores in the ranks...
...holds propaganda meetings...
...saying to the latter, "You know our point of view through decision of our executive, November, 1934...
...Only a few niches of the old order, to be sure, but they must he recalled to understand the vast human task that laces the erSny of Labor throughout the world...
Vol. 18 • April 1935 • No. 17
