TIMELY TOPICS
THOMAS, NORMAN
TIMELY TOPICS By Norman Thomas THE ARGUMENT FOR CRUISERS « ' i 'HE argument in favor of the Cruiser Bin, passed by the Senate and now in the tower house runs to this effect: If we build...
...Our idee of food humor is the heed of a big...
...Readers will also note that the statement hints at a possible retaliation by European workers...
...Social Democrats now total, 2,634 aldermen in the 406 municipalities mentioned in the reports while the Communists have 587 and the bourgeoise parties combined 4.55S...
...Too many of the union representatives do not In conclusion, I think that we should take stock of our own trade union Socialist leaden and the sooner we do the better for us alL JOSEPH Tl VIM...
...More homes to be desolated by similar tragedies in a state where about seventeen years ago an armored train equipped with machine guns of mine owners moved through a mining area and fired upon men, women and children sleeping in tents on the hillside...
...McDowell Court-, iv where this tragedy occurred i-> in the heart of...
...Vinson comes from Irene Benton of Granada...
...Ht naa send* hi a sab and my* the reaabsi the check for SC is to hehj kse* BJ1 "good work...
...has started an intensive campaign to make itself a powerful Influence in radio broadcasting on the eastern coast...
...Einstein and flba>3 stole effect on the circulation at J NEW LEAD ICR At this Urn* wt ail in a position to draw any hard sacj conclusions...
...The New Leader notice to which both correspondents refer stated that the International Labor Defense ia a Communist organisation, run by the Communist (Workers) party for its own peculiar advantage...
...Two new a—sen sent In by i_ •f MimilmrtU...
...Breeklya ». T. The later nell—I Laser Defense...
...And if tbis to the ease, why do men like Upton Sinclair allow them to us* their names as being on the National Committee...
...Is growing aU th* tj C. S. Grieve* ef Masaaebafetts, ¦ • of the latest...
...The number of party sympathizers and members, capable of performing over the radio, is far greater than the number that actually volunteer...
...1 Tneodore Debs, Terre Haute...
...We cannot share the indignation of the New York World because of this yote...
...Unfortunately, many union leaders, with few exceptions, have little conception of the mission of the American Federation of Labor...
...1 A subscriber to Spain, eay» »¦ 1 mu«t have THE NEW LEADER »¦ to keep in touch with ImportestM lems and topics...
...The meat Interesting experhjeaejjfl consists of turning ideas and fhiiejbj action...
...Suits us but the difficulty is to get the suits...
...That's their job...
...Current confirmation of this view comes in the form of a statement from Communist sources...
...The atmsant goes on to say: "These whs have recently teeeass the toe daw ef the International Leber Defense as a resett ef faetlenal maehtna(tone have aaes made a abaaaefad reesrd tat thai ease...
...What to the result...
...Ramsay Macdonald while less specific, seems to want something of the same sort...
...seven Republicans and four Democrats opposed...
...This is accomplished by baafl lng the subscription lktt of TBJ^J LEADER...
...As a trade unionist I believe tt to not the party's function to Interfere in the factional squabbles of the trade unions...
...Over and over again this heartless proceeding is repeated in these disasters in a state where mine safety laws are ignored and anti-union policy is the law for the miners...
...To the bill was added an amendment declaring that Congress favors a treaty with the chief maritime powers defining the rights of neutrals on the seas in wartime...
...Some day West Virginia will be admitted to the Union, some day when a party of workingmen will control the legislature and statute law instead of the royal will of mine owners will be the law of the state...
...If this to the case, please state the facts deliberately...
...Comrade Tollefson is herself a highly accomplished musician, eager at all times to be of use to comI radea and sympathizers who have a message to send over the waves to make the i "Voice of Debs" grow in volume and ' strength...
...Minn...
...By a majority of one vote the Republican members refused to make it the report of the committee...
...It seems, to us that this can be most readily attained by affiliation with the International Federation of Trade Unions...
...The primary reason why the old party primary m yilniaillj useless for the working dans ia that the capitalist parties are the primary source of political power for those who exploit labor...
...C. T. S toner ef Salt Lake Cttyba, of the regular sweaters...
...Labor Tariff Conflicts QN ANOTHER page in this issue our readers will find a statement from the press"service of the International Federation of Trade Unions regarding the tariff policy of seventeen American trade unions which have organized the American Wage Earners' Protective Conference...
...Should this be realized at a proposed conference next October the numerous customs barriers that obstruct trade abroad will be reduced to some orderly plan and some of the friction between nations will be removed...
...1 A birthday gift of $3 to THJ si LEADER from Karl A Zettner of tm sylvania...
...Mo nm kl the sun-kissed shores of Calif drab I .week...
...New Jersey...
...so much so that I went tp nsnsTS waste The new LEADER for them...
...Of course, the admirals, both British and American, wui play together to stabilise the navies, if stabilise they must, at the highest possible number of ships...
...TIMELY TOPICS By Norman Thomas THE ARGUMENT FOR CRUISERS « ' i 'HE argument in favor of the Cruiser Bin, passed by the Senate and now in the tower house runs to this effect: If we build more ships then we'll have something to bargain with in dealing with England...
...When confronted with the declaration that r sears Si hutikm weald attend the enlist nilitres caned in Us name and ask far the Seer, they called the meal leg est...
...The will of the mine owners is the real law of the state...
...Senator Borah wants a conference on this subject...
...In the meantime the European nations would arrange more satisfactory customs rates for themselves...
...will bring THE NEW is2 for a period of S3 weeks...
...Wheei another war starts aad the neanemarini hastorians are called to the colore they wfll again shew us From the NEW LEADER MAILBAQ The articles en Mr...
...In short the Kellogg Pact creates a new situation with regard to sea law...
...misleading and eolorti m ticles-in the reactionary press fadM sters up the present order or disorder...
...Of course, a condemnation of Work would have been a condemnation of one c\| Coolidge*s Cabinet officers and Republicans could not think of this...
...TBCETT VINSON...
...lZth, (Lincoln s Birthday), atgl r M 1 Lee Pryzbyllnski lands 2 new sail the cool region of Pennsylvania...
...Try to find any progressivlsm in recent conventions...
...Sinclair rushed violently across the continent after Boston banned bis "Oil,' telling Interviewers at every stop en route the dire things he wsa going to do to Miesai tiniHi courts...
...Occasionally the coroner, as in this case, places the blame upon the mine owners for violating the safely laws for miners...
...The announcement of a possible European economic union comes at the moment when Joseph R. Grundy, head of the Pennsylvania manfacturers, is demanding a super-tariff that amounts to practically an embargo on imports...
...The little lady who soared so high in an airplane must know how politicians feel when they say that they "are up in the air...
...1 Oh...
...Grundy does not know the economic world in which his class functions...
...Simper Than Einstein By Our Science Et^j 0°* eoDeague, Albert - 1:T beta breaking Into prtnt Mkafifl out so aracb —.-ftng his asnwTZ ttunrihri1 tar a brand of cJgaasekJ nave ban taterested la ths reha covertes of Mr...
...Increase th| aj by increasing the circulation at ll paper...
...No one can read recent utterances of leaders of all British parties without realizing that we have just about as good a chance to come to an agreement now as we can have after buUding fifteen more ships...
...People were shocked, the report of the investigation gathered dust in the archives at Washington...
...aad tie National Secretary frees Its foundation hi 1815 onto October...
...the non-union field...
...No record of that vote was wanted by the Senators...
...This statement deserves careful consideration as if reveals irritation of the organized workers abroad...
...They aaaeonced a protest auillng on the esse far January 7, bet reresed to sat n—ill MaOda en the spsakers* Bat, and Bkewtoe refused his newest that sesarade Cannon, a member the Katasnal Executive Cecasaittos ef the LLD...
...The bill carries with it the provision to begin within three years at the rate of five ships each year...
...However...
...By an overwhelming vote of the Senators of both parties we are committed to a policy of big naval armaments and there is little doubt that the two-party Congressmen in the House will also cast a similar vote...
...IE at * 30 p.m...
...Another one ef the regnlan...
...Another experiment in physiov»e,Bj8 ful one that we do not adTba, bh>sM mlt your sob to drop...
...Francis J. Harvey of New York remembers that it to easy to send in a new sub with bis renewal, Six Dead Men J^rX dead men in a West Virginia mine explosion and a grand jury ascribes responsibility for the disaster to one of the dead who cannot speak for himself...
...comas a renesai...
...1 cannot agree...
...A Senate investigation followed...
...If an aged worker dies in poverty there ia no old age pension by the federal Government to make his last days comfortable hot if a pig gets the cholera an official will be dispatched to ears for it Hew would you like to be a plggie ? - In the struggle for em viva...
...Socialist Party members have often failed to give the station the support it deserves and which it must have to make tt effective...
...come 3 newcomers, their booms rected by Hugh Brenye...
...corporation who keens an open' shop, whose workers are known by a number on the books and are required to punch a time clock, and who la Opposed to Socialism because it would mean slavery...
...The coroner declared that the evidence show3p/l flagrant violations of the law by this company...
...Wei and has rehv ttons waa the OMc Federation are very bilsrarUnr indeed...
...It seems to me that every time one disagrees with the tactics of seme labor men we arc accused of insidious Communist motives...
...Of six amendments voted upon the vote on four was taken by roll call...
...The custom of sending la a aevfl with a renewal...
...under modern capitalism sir...
...On the other hand the proposal may be regarded in this country by our corporation kings and their politicians at Washington, as aimed against them and their increasing dominion over the trade and commerce of the world...
...Men of his type lead a nation into the ditch and it is to be hoped that they will not have their way at Washington...
...J Prom the rock-bound coast at mm etc...
...I think we should abandon the method of the Jingo who labelled everybody who disagreed with him as "proOennan...
...This is protectionism gone mad...
...This amendment proposed to draft all members of Congress, executives and chief stockholders of big business corporations, and all men worth $5,000,000 or more who are under the age of 55, in the next war...
...There will be difficulties in the way and related questions of policy to bother us whether or not we try for another conference now or after authorialng fifteen ships...
...It is Just as much a party organ ss .the NEW LEADER...
...Powerful searchlights would not show it...
...So leadership in this provocation has passed from the old world to the United States and the future looks dark for the peace of the world...
...Thus on a measure of tremendous significance and which may profoundly affect the fate of millions of people all over the world the Senate vote shows no party division...
...What a contrast m ¦zague...
...Ernest Palmer, Ptmw vania 1 Cooperate with us by rwn<b|J your renewal before your sub «*r*l Samuel Orr and H. Levins of come to with renewals recently gaasa Here are some of the sinfba Burkhardt...
...Whether we like it or not the struggle between labor and capital con: tinues and our mission is to educate workers to that fact...
...For instance, in the arduous work of making up programs, Miss Tollefson has time and time again to contend with a lack of cooperation on the part of members who are, however, extremely ready with destructive criticism...
...Nevertheless Social Democrats are wen satisfied with the results...
...To them our duty to to accept whatever we can get and be satisfied The results an students of the labor movement know...
...If that aggressor is some other European nation fighting Great Britain we shall have no moral or practical right to insist on unlimited trade with the aggressor...
...Six dead men added to the toll taken by the dictatorship of the mine barons...
...Woll is quoted as saying 4hat "We could weB have a world organizing movement under the direction of a world general staff...
...Phone or mail year *J tlons for THE NEW LEADER Better be prompt than sorry...
...Certainly it is true that good will and ultimately peace between Great Britain and the United States depend upon the adjustment of several questions...
...In pursuance of this plan it appears we are to spend millions to build ships vf don't particularly need with a time limit attached, so that whatever a conference may do we must build them...
...The grisly details of the work of the murder train were reported in the newspapers...
...Of course, ship building concerns and armament makers will like contracts...
...This is due to the Communists, who ran separate tickets in communities where they hadn't done so before...
...Certainly we canncst expect them to .support a porky of low or moderate customs dotics while we support customs duties that are exclusive...
...aUanaoBk-a to the following facta, "behave WWW not...
...We certainly acknowledged no right of neutrals with regard to Germany when we entered the World War...
...But American taxpayers who now pay a million dollars a day for a navy and American labor which knows that business is not helped by putting money into non-productive non-usable ships win want to avoid this sort of waste...
...I have heard some debates on the article of January la and I think much good win result...
...Including sea law, and not merely upon a naval agreement On the other band, we don't have to settle absolutely all issues between us is order to avert or postpone a naval race which wfil only increase the difficulty of malting agreements on fundamental matters...
...There are still 180 municipalities in remote country places, mostly in Lapland and some isolated islands, wherefrom no reports are received but as in those places workers hadn't had any political organizations their elections are not taken with any interest...
...Pounded to give Socialists, trade unionists, peace" organizations, civil rights and other movements and ideas a chance to compete with capitalistic propaganda...
...Worker's held majority previously in 147 munidpalitles while the present election lessened the numbers to 144...
...Virtue and Vice ^ jJY A strict party vote the U. S. Senate Public Lands Committee rejected Senator Walsh's report on the Salt Creek oil renewal contract which was cancelled by the government last Fall...
...Mahbam and Pred Zander of Syracaaa, tm carrying on for THE NEW Nor must ww overlook Hick Ohio...
...Some comrades who object my that the articles are 01-advised...
...Hoover's "rugged individualism" too often emerges aa slugged, individuals...
...Bt ¦ keeps after the renewals too...
...Municipal elections in Finland show substantial gains to the labor movement generally and especially to the Social Democratic wing...
...We can compel her to come to some agreement far the limitation of our respective navies...
...With tt...
...The Militant "organ of the opposition group in the Workers (Communist) party" in its issue of January 15th, 1*29, carries a story of the Jailing of Maurice L. Malkln and Leo Franklin, Communists alleged to have been vtotbns of a "frame-up" during the Commiielet fur strike of 1936...
...Editor, The New Leader: In a late Issue of your paper you charge that The International Labor Defense and The Workers International Relief are using funds solicited from workers in order to spread Communist propaganda...
...As a trade unionist end Bocads* and who takes both activities seriously...
...The case was forgotten...
...After making some general observations about the case...
...It would make of Europe something like the United States with its absence of tariff walls between the states...
...When be arrived in Boston his ambition for martyrdom underwent a sudden cooling, even a freezing, process, and 'on advice of counsel' he dodged the issue in the courts and returned to California, making the return trip In ominous quiet...
...I hope the articles win be continued and if other labor men try to play both ends against the middle we should be informed of...
...The station is* of course in no position to pay for performances, but it ought not be expected to...
...I cannot understand some comrades who oppose the discussion at this time...
...This ia all the more essential cotrsktertng the conflict of views that now prevail and the danger of drifting farther apart if the present isolation of American trade unions from world labor organization is continued...
...The division on the cruiser bill itself as shown by the roll call is significant...
...There cannot longer be an absolute right of any one nation to control commerce on the sea such as England has claimed or, on the other hand, of any neutral nation to insist on the absolute right of trade with an aggressor In a war...
...The jingoes who are fighting with their mouths will not carry the fight into the trenches when war comes...
...It will be recalled that former Secretary of the Interior Work was involved in the renewal of a contract which had been made by his predecessor, Albert B. Fall, a contract that forced Fall himself out of the Cabinet...
...Bel HI John W. Cannon, Walter Stephen, fj Pruchter, W. H. Kelson, Ann L. MadeJ H. Kanowitx...
...The founders of our labor movement recognised it...
...OUB DIFFERENCES WITH ENGLAND The idea to growing that we cannot have a successful naval conference with England until we settle the rights of neutral commerce on the high seas in the event of war...
...Bioeiiuuod, Tease, A letter similar to that of Mr...
...Cartel be taken with this experbnesA^H check should be of suttcient abb...
...WEVD Out To Make Itself A Force For Socialist Propaganda Station WEVD, under the direction of Maud Tollefson...
...When srisaH fee laaeeae to Justify sash aa uanM-eeeeented pieuedsia, eeearade Wagenkaeeht said: "The Party has decided yea eanast speak...
...mean at all seriously the Kellogg pad there will not be any more large scale ware...
...And the ships won't be just wasteful o! money...
...Some frauds better* it our duty to be mum regarding some activities of our leaden in the trade unions...
...Tuesday ewatl Feb...
...I wonder how you get a thing like that...
...If you know of any literary steam that was ever spent, or any literary whistle that was ever blown to better purpose, I would be interested to hear about it...
...Finnish Socialists Record Striking Municipal Gains HELSINGFORs...
...Three anal time...
...I regret that the daKuasion did not arhe yearn sen...
...Fred Langeaberg of Ctdeaga, ajatt Z renewals...
...The shortest line between a hen an Ity'rulflUment...
...With so many new American ships projected the British will say: "In order to stabilise we must catch up with the Americans In that type of cruiser in which the new American program will give them an advantage...
...Had it been a Democratic administration the vote in the committee would have been the reverse, the Republicans appearing in the role of virtue and the Democrats in the role of vice...
...Not only Great Britain but also the United States will need to do some new thinking on this problem...
...although oanservatiism was dominant, a spirit of progress!vism was shown...
...The International labor Mens*, we understand, to a national subsidiary of the Workers' International Benef...
...Nothing was done...
...Six homes afflicted with grief and no compensation available for women and children...
...1 A check money order or maj to the amount of S3, if 1ni|ai_j 3 Poet box...
...They argue that tt to Conununist tactics or 8. L. PJam...
...lay astonabn has Just been called to your review of my novel, "Boston,'' published on December 1st, hat...
...Then a grand jury stepped in and placed the blame upon one of the dead men, Members of such juries in West Virginia are too often under intimidation of the coal companies which generally control the educational economic and political life of these mining communities...
...Do not misunderstand me...
...W*J ry, National Secretary...
...The National Association of Merchant Taflora In a recent convention agreed that the wen dressed man must have so suits end 13 hate aa a adnaaam...
...We believe that trade unioadaan is the fundamental basis of labor democracy but we doubt whether labor democracy will ever be realised by trading unionism, for promisee of old party politicians...
...Thomas' articles °"<9% with fine idealism and keen anatjtm thought...
...is to send In your mtmm Uons today...
...Do you mean, then, that these organisations do not use the money which has been contributed to them In defending labor prisoners and in relieving starving strikers...
...In other words, international action by the organized working class of all the nations concerned...
...Practically all European governments had released their political offenders but Debs and others remained in jail...
...We may agree, but the cense for this cannot be thrown upon thorn Socialist* who did their duty In the unions The reasons for the present weakness of the unions are Communist attempts to control, war "prosperity," and the failure of the Socialist to do his duty for the unions There was a time when one could read convention reports of International unions and of the American Federation of Labor and...
...they will stand as the expressior and acceleration of an increasing spirit of imperialist rivalry which bodes no good for our two nations or the world...
...That vote is nothing new...
...Do you Just turn your Imagination loose hsutpeas to scoot to' yea* Don* yen hi sail even to leek bask tn your own columns and see what you yourseff pubnabed atoiiit ass srserlsnt hi ojuaslaaiT If you will da that, yen win find ghat Z did everything which I could do, to bring the ksne of the banning of *OU' to trial tn toe Boston courts...
...The vote shows 35 Republicans and 33 Democrats supporting it...
...An economic union abroad would certainly make it difficult for the United States to ask tariff favors while making no concessions itself...
...Hew York...
...When it comes they will thrust others to the front while they "Keep the homes fires burning...
...Ia this cormection we had ourselves in accord with a statement ascribed to Matthew Woll* and quoted by the I. F. T. U. which, if carried out, offers a mode for meeting of minds and cooperation of American and European labor...
...1 H. T. Auckerman of Kalamaaoo al in a check to cover nine subs...
...Or if there should be such a wai It will be because one nation is an aggressor and deliberately breaks Its promise to seek peaceful means of settlement Now if Great Britain is that aggressor aU agreements will be off...
...They aay that Socialists hare m the past made similar statements about other labor men yet these men are firmly entrenched...
...M •'Congratulations to thoet raaajfl for the Inspiring new leader nj Thomas, Coleman, DeWitt, afraehjM others, are great workers in i J cause...
...THE NEW LEADER Dinner *¦*¦ place at Webster Hall...
...E J. Beutell...
...Bern Baron, New Tort Local Secretary ef the I. L D. said: "Neither MaDda aer Caamea eaa speak snaaas ef their neBtleal views...
...Malkln, tt appears, has become a member of the "opposition...
...It is probable tliat some big European trusts that have been formed in recent years in steel, chemical, sugar and other industries have contributed much to the idea of a European economic union and government action in accord with this economic development would be a logical result...
...As to the questions relating to the use of funds of the International Labor Defense, we have dealt with that subject in ear columns before...
...That is to say, we limit our power to bargain under pretext of providing something with which to bargain...
...k H rii Goodlevege ef Delaware...
...Two proposed amendments were acted upon without a record of the vote cast, one of them being the amendment by McMaster of South Dakota...
...A European Economic Union J^S ECONOMIC union of Europe, including Russia, may be the result of present conversations between statesmen of England, France and Germany...
...IMS, abeam also apeak at the pretest smiting...
...m You will notice that Tim rlvrd with 7 subs secured In raMW...
...Sincerely, TJPTON SINCLAIR...
...What is vice and what is virtue in such matters depends upon how many votes can be mustered by each party...
...1 Now is the time to pave the **¦ the Spring elections...
...Like the river steamboat in Lincoln's story, he spent so much steam hi blowing bis whistle that none was left for other purposes...
...Thfs indicates that there is danger that the tariff •wag- mi American end Earopenn corporations may indorse a sixBpare&r sjrtween European and American wprkeri TA iftlrwirSt ta ttst,press service of the liJP, T. U. shows that this eoofnet ia not desired but thai European workers may have to support an aadhsai ft tariff noicy at Borne if American workers follow it here...
...And Britair knows it But that isn't the main point The main point is that if the nation...
...A parted ef tea days weat by, frees the isiiniasallaii ef the senMsJkta aad Preaena catered Nassau County Jaa.ee Jaanary IS, prior to transfer to Shag Sing, without a protest ¦lilies, by the X. L. B. la their behalf...
...The difficulties that surround our station founded in honor of Eugene Victor Debs, are difficulties that we ourselves must try to eliminate...
...A two cent postage stamp wffl akajal names and ¦nctraaaw of two or aa newals or new subscribers...
...Leon R. Land win apeak on "How America Should Prepare" at the Broadway Tabernacle, Broadway and ftdth street...
...Indications now are that President Coolidge will sign the bill although at first a veto was expected if the time provision was pot eliminated...
...I sew a copy ef the book to Superintendent of Ponce Crowley, hi Boston police headquarters, and was told that I waa under arrest, but next day the police magistrate cancelled the warrant, and refused to hold me in spite of my protest...
...That means either a new race in armament or stabilization on a much more expensive scale than we might get now...
...When you think that it took thirty three ships to run down the little German raider, the Emden, you win recognise that we have enough ships now to challenge Britain's control of commerce or the high seas in the event of war between her and another power...
...Statute law means nothing for the miners...
...Elmer B. Boston...
...The Democrats could no more afford to admit that men and women were jailed for their opinions than the Republicans can now afford to admit, that Secretary of the Interior Work deserves condemnation...
...On the other hand organized labor win not amount to anything unless our members interest Hiiiun lne in the economic and political organisations of the working class...
...As to the steam that I spent in blowing a whistle, I was able thereby to cell thirty or forty thousand i antes of "OH," in America, sixty thousand in Germany, and I know not how many additional thousands in a dozen other countries of the world...
...We recall that when the Democrats met in national convention and nominated Cox for President in 1920 there was considerable agitation throughout the^country against continuance of imprisonment of political prisoners...
...The Naval Race Is On jJY A VOTE of 68 to 12 the Senate passed the fifteen cruiser bill which authorizes the construction of fifteen 10,000-ton cruisers and an airplane carrier at a cost of $274,000,000...
...In the platform of the Democrats that year there was a hot denial that there were any political prisoners held by the government...
...We are asked how would we like the following European slogan: "No more American cars: everything down to the last safety razor must be made at home...
...Tour reviewer narrates ss follows: -"Mr...
...Lnnd To Speak at Broadway Tabernacle Monday...
...Tabulated reports gives net gain of 163 aldermanlc seats to the Social Democrats, while Communists gained 61 seats and bourgeois parties lost 164...
...1 Ohio scores again with 6 Wiai i and 2 renewals from T. H. DcmM I "/ look forward each week WW roming of the paper It is /i/WelJ vital truths...
...Questions and discussion win fo}^aBuntttssT* alteusesfluO Hatflasustj...
Vol. 8 • February 1929 • No. 4
