AN ADDRESS TO THE ORGANIZED WORKERS
AN ADDRESS TO THE ORGANIZED WORKERS Adopted By The Socialist Party National Convention In New York City. April 17th, 1928 t An Appeal to Consider Grave Problems Confronting the Workers TT...
...In the itrike of the Michigan miners In 1912 Socialist Party members contributed nearly $15,000 to the miners and thenfamilies...
...raise a warning signal when we observe, danger...
...In the nations abroad "company unionism" and ft* hypocritical "welfan plans" have no opportunity to flourish The Labor and Socialist parties see U it that social reforms are enacted tr the law-making bodies...
...The legislative bodies of every modem country but our own have them...
...The time- ,is ripe for recasting old policies, methods, and ideas and awakening the crusading spirit without which the labor movement cannot thrive...
...Because ii New York the trade unions have beer for many yean a tall to tha Tammany Democratic kite...
...It was the Socialists who swarmed into the industry wlm organised the men and women, inspired them with the ideal of human solidarity, brought them out on strike after strike, and who finally established powerful unions in the industry...
...The old idea that government and legislation have never Interfered In behall of economic groups and classes has its refutation in thousands of facts and those who build a movement on that idea subscribe to an illusion...
...The Tbompson-Crowe-amsfi-8mlth administration of Chicago has been notorious for its criminal allies of the underworld...
...Bvery great labor movement In the world today supports the slaw that the "state regulatory powers" must be used ss one means of "reform and deliverance from evil...
...On the other hand, the "friends" in office and who bear the anion endorsement did not raise a finger to support the union men in their fearful struggle...
...Every officer and every member of a union owe a solemn duty to the labor movement to find out what Is wrong and to correct it...
...the Fur Workers, 830,000...
...The great automobile industry is an "open shop" stronghold...
...Socialist views the Ia> tssnational UswJdV Garment Worker* contributed 860,000...
...Corporation tyranny be comes more arrogant and the ideal o industrial democracy gives way to in dustrtal autocracy...
...But instead of leading the nations, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Australia, Germany, Sweden, and Great Britain are from three to four times better organized than we are...
...This conference is held m response to a demand voiced at the Youth Conference held" at Brookwood last winter for a similar meeting...
...We would have it grow, expand, Increase till it includes all industries in the United States...
...They owe first allegiance to their parties and their party leaders not to the trade unions...
...Sponsors Labor Yonth Conference Katonah,' N. Y.—Realising the necessity for young men and women in industry to ally themselves wtth the...
...Louis L Bmmerson cardidats for Governor, Otis F. Olenn, for TJ...
...The "friendly" Mayor Walker enjoyed two trips out of the city while the union was engaged In a life and death struggle...
...This corporation device Is a distinct American product and the number of corporations introducing It increased from 145 in 1910 to 430 in 1926...
...A few weeks before the electioc ttie,uA...
...Its fundamental idea is to rescue Industry "from chaos, profiteering and purely individual whim...
...The reforms that should be achievements o: Labor's political dower are perverted into corporation paternalism and are used to destroy trade unionism itself...
...This simply is not true yet it has misled millions of people...
...A Humiliating Comparison It is impossible to consider this alarming situation In all its aspects, but a comparison with trade union organization in other countries tells the story...
...Many ot the Socialists were active in the councils of A. F. of L. bodies and conventions...
...Only a few unions had gained a foothold...
...The old ways are practically' exhausted...
...These unions will be slowly undermined, then destroyed...
...Finance, commerce, shipping, slave-holding, land speculation, manufactures and railroads are all Important interests that have used the state and national legislative powers...
...We oppose dictatorship .and favor democracy...
...We appeal^ta you to do so through your local, city, (tats and national organisations...
...It will loyally cooperate, not Interfere, with a party of labor when you decide to abandon the parties of organized capital.' Meantime, we1 shall hold aloft the banner of Independent party action by the workers of the/ nation...
...Some Examples m the year 1924 the American Federation of Labor for the first time withheld its approval of a Democratic candidate for President abd supported LaFoUette...
...Tha man were called out on strike fat 1827 and defeated...
...Smith was ousted from the U. 8. Senate as a crook and a tool of the powerful utility tataresta...
...Governor Smith, leader of Tammany and Tammany's Governor, remained silent...
...Some of the great basic Industries are not organised at all...
...Above all, unless we can unionise our voting power, organize it for genuine labor representation In legislative bodies, the future is dark...
...Where in the city councils, the state legislatures, and In Congress are the distinct labor groups with a fighting labor policy...
...Pin ally, we urge the organised workers of the nation to come forward into the political arena as an Independent power with chums, issues and interests of Its own to advance through its own political organization...
...F. of L, representatives is New York issued a statement In support of Davis, the Democratic and Wal Street candidate...
...the membership has declined In the past six or seven years...
...At the first session on Saturday, May 5, at 2:30 P. M., A. J. Musts, dean of Brookwood, will summarize the findings of the earlier conference...
...Thi renunciation literally follows out the vies of the Portland Declaration...
...Perhaps we have contributed to the prejudice and the misunderstanding and perhaps you share some of the blame...
...We repeat, there must be something wrong...
...more than twenty years of this activity...
...The great oil and hanking interests today have enormous influence at Washington and generally get the legislation they want...
...Small had a shady record as a former State Treasurer...
...No powerful labor movement has been built in any country ap this basis...
...In this country the men who are endorsed and elected by labor act as Republicans and Democrats...
...Fruits of Renunciation What are the fruits of abandoning governing agencies ss a means of social and industrial reforms The great corporations have taken up these reform* ! and have made them a feature of "company unionism...
...Autocracy IS to .the saddle...
...a Labor Youth Conference on May 6-8 in Now York City at., Irving...
...The total contributions, lass sans $8,000 retui del to the contrSootors, was 84J*4el.l4...
...The other Republican faction included Mayor Thompson, Attorney Robert Crowe, Lem Small, and Frank Smith...
...Growth of Company Unionism Just as alarming is ttuv growth of "company unions' in the last #lght or nine years...
...They cooperate with each other and why should they not...
...Welfare plans, accident insurance, old age Insurance, playgrounds, sick benefits, stock ownership and so on are favors from the bosses not rights won by workers...
...These demands as formulated make an Inadequate yardstick, it is time to consider the practical results of...
...Garment Workers, the Poeketbook Makers, the Neckwear Makers, the Fur Workers, the Cloth, Hat and Millinery Workers, the United Hebrew Trades, and the Amatg-r*"^ Clothing Workers...
...It is hardly necessary to add that ws have no connections with the Communist movement which has nearly wrecked the few trade unions where It obtained a foothold...
...From 1902 to 1912 Socialist Party members contributed a total of nearly 880,000 to various labor strogHes...
...It is pure myth...
...The vast electric power industry is almost completely non-union...
...trades, printing, etc., will be discussed by C. Miller of the Plumbers' Helpers and' others...
...Not a single, votee was raised in the Board of Aldermen against the Intimidating and brutal policy of the Interborough Rapid Transit Company...
...Later conventions have added little to the Portland Declaration and it Is probable that few union members have read it critically...
...workers in miscellaneous trades such aa laundry workers, candy workers, paper box makers, etc., will be outlined by Rose Schneiderman of the Women's Trade Union League...
...Its own honor is smirched, its prestige Is discredited...
...In all gpher countries the leading spirits In the two movements are the same...
...They arouse no enthusiasm and they fulfill no hopes...
...But what have these "friends'* in office done for the workers trying to emancipate themselves from the despotic yoke of the "company union...
...in New Tork which would be more easily accessible to the unions there...
...It were better to have supported its own party and have lost than to be compelled to choose ss It did...
...In a later period Socialists organized the splendid unions in the needle tagdes...
...In the evening at 7:40 o'clock, the unionisation of young...
...v,,.s A Final Word We merUrnj, these facts because soon ancient grudges and misunderstandings still survive.-' By our long record of service to the organised wage workers wo...
...The unions cannot take over these plana...
...The Brotherhood of Railway Clerks was suspended in 1926 and we must deduct their membership (90,000) which leaves a total normal low for the A. P. of L from 1920 to and including 1926 of 985,000 members, or an average loss for each year of 123,000 members...
...Some of you are prejudiced and some of you misunderstand us...
...Socialists in this country have contributed much to the building of the trade unions...
...In response to the appeal of the American Federation Of Labor fog financial aid Social* nearly ooe-Tsaar^eFthe total tma^nSl sd...
...Their future, as well as the welfare of all wage workers, is bound up in a change of policies and methods that wiH release the slumbering Idealism of the masses...
...Instead of torn than 3.000,000 workers organised In the American Federation of Labor there should be no less than 15,000,000, and this should be the minimum Germany with a much smaller population has more than twice ss many workers organised and Great Britain about twice ss many...
...Mayor Walker and the overwhelming majority of the Tammany Democrats in the Board of Aldermen bear the official endorsement of the Central Trades and Labor Council...
...The Philosophy of the Unions The majority of our trade unions have accepted a philosophy that was clearly worked out by the American Federation of Labor st the Portland convention In 1923...
...Can we point to any and say: They bold our mandate, are subject to our Instructions, report to us on their work, and carry out our will...
...To insure that these puweis shall be so used the labpr .movement in other nations mstntajas its own party and obtains direct labor representation In all law-making .posses Kite* and Tails But In addition to this renunciation, which leaves the governing powers in the hands of the poasssslng classes, the ballot is regarded as a negative force...
...The manufacturing interests alone, ! from the rise of the factory system, have been nursed by tariffs, bounties, special taxation and even subsidies given by local state and national bodies...
...The alarming invasion of industry by "company unionism" will eventually affect the skilled trades which are fairly organised...
...Here bihe policy of endorsing old party men should prove fruitful to the trade unions...
...Socialist Aid to Trade Unions While Democratic and Republican Judges, 'governors, sheriffs and mayors have often employed then* power against organised workmen in strikes, Socialists and Socialist unions have been liberal in support of tabor struggles...
...The latest figures we have are for 1924...
...0. Senator, and Frank O. Lowdsn, presidential osndidate...
...They not only do not Increase In membership...
...Lewdec maintains a "company union" for Pulhnan porters who are fighting to establish their own union...
...Through our own Labor members we must have the city, state and governments take over the social reforms now usurped by corporation "unionism...
...workers in industry, and A. Lefkowltx of the Teachers' Union, will discuss legislation affecting conditions and status of young workers...
...the Amalgamated Clothing Workers, troo.OTO...
...Another attempt was mads in 1828 with the same result...
...It is spiritual death...
...Then are fruits of trade union renunclatloi of its claims upon government for lb members as citizens and workers...
...The non-union system has spread Into almost two-thirds of the bituminous field...
...Here are the figures: Percentage of Salaried and Wage Workers Organised in Trade Unions Austria ............................52 Chechoslovakia .....................44 Australia ..........................43 Germany.........................35 Sweden ............................35 Oreat Britain ......................34 Belgium ...........................32 Hollaed ............................27 Estonia ............................23 Switzerland ........................23 Latvia.............................21 Norway............................16 Hungary...........................15 Poland............................13 Spain .............................13 United States...
...The masters of American life who follow another view and policy have every reason tc teach the illusion, but organised workers should not permit It to shape theii agencies...
...Finnish branches at the Socialist Party contributed $3,000 and the Individual Socialist contributions am unknown bar TOT shove Items slone shop total contributions for the steel strikers of $183,000...
...Labor representatives In any legislative body abroad would have been on their feet time after time to help the union men...
...The nonpartisan political party of organised labor compelled it to choose "friends...
...Of the hundreds of thousands of workers in the iron and steel industry only a few thousand are organized...
...April 17th, 1928 t An Appeal to Consider Grave Problems Confronting the Workers TT cannot be unknown to you that our trade unions face grave problems...
...This is not only spiritual degradation for the trade unions...
...Something is wrong...
...This big struggle was planned by the A P. of L to organise the workers in the iron and steel industry...
...We agree that they should not, but we must admit that in practice they have become such a tsJtt.' Our trade unions In local and state elections have become a thousand tails to two party kites...
...The railroads, coal, steel and copper corporations have often obtained direct representation In state legislatures and Congress...
...The slave-holding interest had so Intrenched itself In all departments of the government that it required a great war to drive it out...
...Finally, a group of discharged union men sent a letter to the Mayor declaring that they had suffered "gross i>»fflgw»ti— We have been compelled to wash dishes and do menial services for strikebreakers .. . when we protested we were discharged...
...Usually a promise is sufficient to get a union endorsement...
...has earnestly tried to orgsmas the men into a genuine union...
...represented one Republican faction, shnmerson has favored a state constabulary...
...A noble aim, of course, but it goes on to my that the "threat of state Invasion of industrial life Is real" and it opposes "estate regulatory powers under the guise of reform and deliverance from evil.' Such reform* through government action are declared to be "based upon Utopian- thought" and we are told that Industry atone "will find easy of solution those problems to which politicians now turn their attention In futility...
...The union decline in membership from 1920 to and including 1926 is . 1,075,000...
...Government agencies can, but an" independent party of the working people is essential to ac-iiHiipli1'*'' it...
...Union men were discharged day after day...
...It is a remarkable fact that this increase maintains a ratio almost identical with the decline of membership in the trade unions...
...The writ of In junction becomes more menacing an j trade union funds are raided by orde I of the courts...
...others have a few unions without sufflcier.t power to affect general labor standards...
...It required something like a religious devotion to inspire the sweated workers to organise...
...Moreover, we trail behind even such distinctly agricultural nation as Latvia, Norway, Poland, and ' even Spain...
...me Uansjer Ahead We raise a voice of warning...
...i ' •' Brookw'otM...
...We do not want to see that weakened which ws helped to build...
...12 Of these 16 nations the United States Is at the bottom of the list The United States is the most advanced industrial country in the world and we should, therefore, lead the world in trade union organization...
...Instead of this, thugs and strikebreakers were imported...
...trade union movement, Brookwood Labor CoUegjs .!/»_, sponsoring...
...The primaries' to many states have proven debauched and useless—like the old parties which- they serve...
...After a struggle of one year in which men, women, and children have suffered terrible hardships, their union appears to be going to pieces...
...Plaxa, Irving Place and 16th street...
...Our Appeal to the Trade Unions We are Socialists who appeal to you...
...It Is added that the trade'unions should "not become a tall to-any party kite...
...The Orisdn of the Portland Declaration 'Tab Portland Declaration is based on the old idea that government baa never been used by groups and chimes for their purposes, without any warrant in our history, it is declared that our successful men have always relied on "individual initiative** unaided by government support...
...Unionization in mass Industries such as textile, steel sad automobile, and in skilled industries such as building...
...It was a sweated industry, divided into thousands of shops that almost defied control...
...It sided with the second faction chiefly, in spite of its shameful deeds, it was a choice between notorious crooks and crooks a little less notorious...
...Note the comparison...
...The flelc abandoned by the trade unions is accepted by the corporations...
...It is wKbin your power to think and act...
...Nothing...
...a party which we organise, control and finance to represent us and to serve us...
...Or when a man seeks reelection bis record of votes is measured by the test of labor's demands...
...Both organise to realise fundamental democracy in industry and society...
...The German Socialist exiles in the 'sixties to the 'nineties took the leadership In organising the carpenters, the dgarmakers, the butchers, the brewery workers, the bakers and the German printers...
...These unions include the International Ladies...
...They were provided with police protection...
...But note this: In every other modern country the Socialist movement and the trade union movement have grown up together...
...The Socialist Party has no sectarian aims of its own to advance above that of the whole working class...
...We are opposed to any organized movement abroad or at home attempting to dictate to the organised working class...
...We are urged to defeat "enemies" and to reward "friends...
...Company unionism" has gained in eight years at the rate of 125,000 per year and trade unionism has lost at the rate of 123,000 each yearI It Is folly to Ignore these facts...
...They show the percentage of the total number of salaried and wage workers organised in each country...
...Wages are reduced and the bituminous miners face a return to the Inhuman conditions of forty years ago...
...Tom Toppett, also of the Brookwood staff, will discuss the number, distribution and conditions of young...
...Others, including W"Q/»«h Socialises bekped to organise workers In the glass Industry, the iron and steel Industry, the printers, the carriage and wagon workers and the miners...
...Still more Important is the record of Socialists in the steel strike of 1819...
...The trade unions cannot afford to drift...
...Such humiliating facts should compel every honest member to ask whether unionism can survive at all when its honor is bartered away to old party politicians and union men arc compelled "to wash dishes and do menial service for stBtkessaoassav" ..,.„ „: i. Honor Staked and Loat [ In Illinois, organised labor follower: : the nonpartisan policy in the primaI lies of April, 1928...
...feel that we are entitled to offer friendly advice and to...
...For yearn there has been a "company union" In the traasportatsse sutrlns of New Tork City and the A, P. of I...
...The' oM parties are servile to the same interests...
...The latter is outside the A. F. of L. but is friendly and helpful to all unions in need of help...
...The hurling of bombs by thaw factions In their war for control of thee ity and state Is an old story...
...In the- bituminous coal fields the once inspiring organization of miners lies prostrate before the attack of the mine barons...
...Important transportation systems like that in New York Crty are unorganized and the workers are the victims of "company" unions...
...These reform give Labor a consciousness of its power In America the corporations take ove these reforms, pervert them, use then as chains to bind the workers to com' pany unions...
...In the former year the number of wage workers under this yoke was 400,000 and the number had Increased to 1,400,000 in 1926, an increase of one million This increase of "company union" members is at the rate of 125,000 per year for eight years...
...The old policy has not produced any such fighting labor groups...
...The unions have become so firmly attached as a "tall" to the Tammany Democrats that a "company union" has become more firmly rooted in the transportation service., Moreover, it will be more difficult than ever to get the men to join another union and make another attempt to wthe lines...
...This tendency means the death of trade unionism if It is not checked...
...x the unions misnisug and Inspired, ay...
...For decades the garment industry 'had been a disgrace and an abomination...
...The latest arrival is the powerful superpower interests who are seeking through government action to gather in the remaining natural riches of the nation...
...We appeal to the trade unionists to note what has happened...
...Labor won nothing...
...It is a fundamental renunciation of government as an agency for human welfare and democracy and a partial renunciation of cftlssnahsp...
...Do the members of the trade unions understand the fun significance of this...
...Since the year 1908 the unions have formally subscribed to the policy of working in the old party primaries and endorsing individual candidates for office...
Vol. 7 • April 1928 • No. 19
