HIGH TARIFF FEVER
High Tariff Fever European Labor Finds Woll's Views Inconsistent J^HBTKBDAlt.—When Hoover. the new president of the United States. poBs Ins full weight in the government, his influence will be...
...and I doubt that the class consciousness of the Socialist movement has an important influence upon the success of our appeal...
...thrown overboard the official labor gmaj the CROM, and in fact is standing ana from an factional groups...
...I have a lot more respect for Comrade Cahan's judgment there than for my own...
...Indeed I wonder that Mr...
...The protectionist league (The American WageEarners' Protective Conference) founded by various American trade unions has kept its word and initiated an official propaganda Its statistical material seems to be of somewhat doubtful scientific value, but it will undoubtedly serve Its purpose In winning over an uncritical public...
...The successes of the treacherous generals the first few days of the revolt does not necessarily mean a continuince of their conquests...
...The "Oewerkschafts-Archiv" therefore welcomes the fact that the IFTU does not drop into such methods of reasoning...
...Their candidates are known as the three 'V a—Vasconcelos, VUlareal and Valenzuela...
...Stimson Secretary of State...
...declares Bath, "is the one symbol of friendliness between Latin America and the Urdled States...
...He may say that the controversy over the relationship between that body and the labor movement was stirred up chiefly by Socialist and other radical elements, which he considers a disrupting influence in the trade union movement...
...Buy it from Mellon...
...They may hate the conditions in which they live,—hate them so they do not care to let their thoughts dwell upon them, and yet they do not respond to your appeal...
...carries a second article on the tariff attitude of many American trade unions...
...But wait, the worst is yet to come...
...But we may add that even this does not go far enough for Matthew Woll...
...From the City of Pachuca in the State of Hidalgo also comes the news that the miners' unions and the farmers' leagues met in a common assembly and voted to support the government...
...These generals may line up with the Catholics and make z. last fling for power ~n the loot basis...
...L"Atelier," the Journal of the The Economic Supplement of the International Federation of Trade Unions, issue of February 14...
...Now, isn't Brother Mellon one of the patron saints of the Republican Party...
...But rour ideal of equality does not appeal to -.hem...
...poBs Ins full weight in the government, his influence will be felt moat through hi* seal for the promotion of export...
...In 1928 the profit bag got 31.8c out of every consumer's dollar compared with 26.8c out of each dollar in 1927...
...Insull Gas Company Reports Record Profits Chicago.—(FP)—Record profits are revealed in the 1928 report of the Peoples Gas Light & Coke Co., one branch of the far-flung public utility combine through which Samuel Insull levies tribute on the homes of Chicago...
...Many of the peasant workers will follow and accept reaction, but a sufficient number of the saaases In the revolting states are enlightened and they will prove troublesome to the reactionary generals...
...In proportion as America demands the hospitality of other lands for her goods will she herself refuse all hospitality to the goods of other lands...
...Be is protected by the courts in his right to such high profits while the girls must be satisfied with what they bring in the labor market...
...and for it to advocate the expulsion of all foreign workers and at the same time to urge close cooperation with those workers...
...The Church, of course, is anxious to sweep aside the restrictions which have deprived it of much of its former power, tn a number of towns captured by revolting generals proclamations have been issued restoring former privileges of the Church but the same generals would revoke them at any time if they thought that this course would serve them better...
...It is clearly recognised that there is a tendency towards barren recrimination in small points: America complaining, for instance, of the glass etc...
...However, almost all my intimate relations all my life have been with native Americans, just the kind he is thinking about...
...but for the average man struggling for some share of success, business is hell...
...Woll knows more about the history and technique of the labor movement than does Dr...
...Stimson is a capable administrator and knows how to deal with foreign peoples...
...You in your propaganda ask them to dwell on the sordidness of thenpresent lives and the "present conditions of their fellow men...
...In the last stockholders' list Baker was credited with the owenerahip of 53,323 shares of A. T. & T. stock...
...He declares that the founding of a world organization with a world general staff would be a good thing...
...It gives the stockholders a retrn of $12.11 a share...
...We desire nothing more than to make The New Leader the most influential paper of its kind: and I really think Mr...
...Ambassador Morrow...
...don't faint: It was made in Germany...
...Then there are ugly charges that some of the leaders of the Crom (Mexican Federation of Labor) have become rich and corrupt and that in consequence of this the influence of the Crom in the government has declined...
...A. F. ef I* Newsletter Quoted We may conclude by quoting an .article, very characteristic of the present mentality in the United States, which appeared in large print in the press service of the American Federation of Labor under the title "Money Uber A lies...
...Well, then, why didn't Brother Mellon buy his yacht from an American shipbuilder and thusly patronize one of the most infantile of our infant industries...
...This great owner is George F. Baker, chairman of j. p. Morgan's First National Bank of New York...
...It is better to admit that a world general staff is at the present moment Impossible, and to try to reach an understanding in so far as the present state of things admits of it...
...Sinclair's defence of Socialism...
...In ten years telephone dividends have nearly tripled...
...Delegate E. Peyroux at a meeting of the Central Trades and Labor Body asked' I that the Body send a direct appeal to j Pres...
...Matthew Woll appearing in The New Republic for January 9th...
...This is probably a mistake, sol...
...Already the campaign for protection has been enormously intensified...
...Perhaps he is right about the class struggle...
...There will be rare exceptions like Upton Sinclair, who will persist in giving their devoted service in spite of insults from the very class they aim to help...
...You who are Socialists, zealous, in the cause, may cheer this vain and idle boast...
...In each revolt by reactionary generals in the past ten years the organized workers have been a tremendous force in crushing it...
...However, I enjoy reading the New Republic...
...Instinctively they turn to the bright picture in preference to that which is sordid or dull...
...With this I shall couple the constant attention which is given to the sins of capitalism...
...and the president of this league has written a letter in the name of the organization to all the members of the national congress, urging them to give all possible support to the ram pal rn The press reports of the IFTU have spoken very plainly on the futility of regarding the economic problem as...
...Men are by nature optimists even in the most hopeless circumstances...
...The pauper still dreams that some day he may become a prince, ind there is seldom a child bom of which parents do not hope that he will be the fortunate one to rise out of his class into :he happy felicity which they picture as the lot of the successful men whom they envy...
...President Portes Gil was the unanimous choice of the Chamber of Deputies to succeed Obregon who was assassinated by a Catholic youth...
...You have failed because your promise of a better state has been unconvincing...
...The owner of the Vagabondia is no other than W. L. Mellon, brother of Andy Aluminum Mellon, the greatest Secretary of the Treasury since Alexander Hamilton...
...Seme 'sections of the trade union movement may be dissatisfied with the present federal administration but they certainly fear the reactionary revolt more than anything else...
...I expect it from the editors of the party press...
...Thus you will protect the American standard of living, as enjoyed by the coal miners of Pennsylvania and other employes of the Mellon Interests against the pauper labor of 'Urip...
...Anybody who has studied the history of the democratic revolutions and the part the liberal intellectuals played knows what to expect from that source...
...You have left no room for ambition and achievement: you have blotted out that strong human appeal to manliness and superiority, the desire for distinction and self expression, without which no race can ever advance...
...temal trouble Ambassador MorroWi pru vious role of conciliation will not be st Important as his role of Interpreter aa* his ability to discern the truly popukri forces of the country that our gouts* ment and the American public be proper J ly informed, and not misinformed as fa* the time of Henry Lane Wilson...
...You ask them to rise in their strength and destroy the system which produces these conditions, and you wonder at the Indifference of their response...
...Cash dividends at $9 a share totaled $103,821,440...
...It must be remembered that the revolt came as a surprise and that these generals found it easy to immediately seize important points and to begin their advance toward Mexico City...
...Beals declared that in a time of...
...But he has turned around and appointed Mr...
...The present revolution appears to have had its origin in Sonora, a state which has hatched these plots for years...
...The revolt seems less justified than any other one in the recent history of Mexico...
...One Man's Dividends ' I TELEPHONE profits equivalent to the annual pay of acme 1,500 telephone girls are one man's share of the $143,170,491 which the giant American Telephone 4c Telegraph Company turned over to its stockholders In 1939...
...twenty years after, the truth is coming out...
...Such revolts are generally inspired, so far as these army officers are concerned, by low ambitions, a desire to enrich themselves by seizing public offices...
...As for the workers of the cities in general, there la Utile doubt that they will to a man fight with the Federals against the revolting military cliques...
...Real Test for Morrow Is Seen by Beals .» A BIGGER test of Ambassador Mor" row's talents than even that involved in the petroleum settlement and the bridging of a diplomatic impasse that seemed unbridgeable is likely to •occur with the coming Mexican elections," declared Carleton Beals in a talk delivered at the Rand School of Social Science last Saturday afternoon...
...And so while you harp upon the inequalities of wealth, your listeners go on picturing to themselves the perfect happiness of those whom fortune favors with her riches, and heaven to them is pictured in the lives of those who have wealth, those whom you revile, and they so greatly envy...
...He presents it very effectively in this (From "Social Justice...
...Fot wage comparisons in general, and wage eossparlsons between America and Europe in particular are very relative matters, and the Investment of American capital tn Europe is a two-edged sword A Strange Contradiction The lnescapeable fact that remains Is that under present conditions it is a strange contradiction for any country to pursue a strongly protectionist, policy and at the same time to count on a very large export...
...well, if that don't beat all...
...but it will not satisfy the sober, thoughtful man...
...There are few indeed, could they understand the possibilities if the system of production at cost, who s-ould not gladly swap this world of :hange and chance for the greater cer;ainties of a better mode of living...
...The New Republic was very contemptuous of Socialists, though it has become more respectful since...
...You have failed to appeal to that inextinguishable spark of optimism which is the life and hope of every race of men...
...By paralyzing the railways and by immediately mobilizing their armed battalions the labor organizations crushed Carranza's attempt at dictatorship, De la Huerta's revolt a tew years ago, and other plots...
...Into New York harbor steamed a magnificent yacht labelled 'Vagabondia...
...If our friends the liberals (I mean the last minute voters for Smith) don't like it...
...But holding of 31,391 shares in the name of D. T. Waters and 21,000 shares in the name of F. H. Pierson, both of Baker's bank, were assumed to be part of the Baker interest In the telephone trust...
...r>r to interpret an objective statement of the position in respect of the export of American capital as a "warm defence" of the investment of American capital in Europe...
...The line taken by the 1FTU press reports has given rise to considerable comment on both sides of Che Atlantic, but it is evident that there la a good deal of misunderstanding on the point...
...Yesterday I observed a native American take up The New Leader for January 12th and lay it down with the remark: "That is too depressing to read...
...William Green of the Federation...
...His cash dividends atone were probably equivalent to the wages of at least 1,000 of these operators who make modem communication possible...
...Back of them in these states are workers and peasants whose memory of the old slave regime is still vivid...
...When I want the ruth "unrelieved by light optimism and unqualified by fear' (tact...
...It is true that the action of the 'Conference' in no way binds the A. F. of L." But the existence of such tendencies, viewed in conjunction with the resolutions passed by the last American trade union congress, points, in the opinion ol "L'Atelier," to such exaggerated individualism, that it is not surprised that it...
...There is not an intelligent person in the whole civilized world who does not realize that the present system is far from perfect...
...You tell them of the sins of capitalism and of the chance of fortune which makes one man a prince and another a pauper...
...Russell offers a valid criticism...
...Hoovers voyage means that the Morrow policy £ is to prevail...
...He is eS to the peasants than to the mdusxra workers...
...In the Chamber are representatives of the various parties, including those in the revolting states...
...the Latin Americas world is waiting to see if Mr...
...Also, the peasants are restive sad sat talking about selling more lands, nis the same labor and peasant snttt t occurred tn Russia Portes OB hi...
...But such records are an old story to Insull for this is the 6th consecutive year in which increased profits have been the rule so far as this company is concerned...
...And worse still, it was turned out by Krupp, the ? bosom buddy of ex-kaiser' Wllhelm...
...Unfortunately, the labor movement of Mexico is now divided, the urban and rural sections having drifted apart in the past few years because of disagreement on issues of organization, program and methods...
...In the last analysis the man who earns a living has no one to depend upon but his own kin...
...French J^ade union centre, takes the same view in an article on the protectionist policy of the A. F. of L. and the information given by the IFTU on the principles and aims of the above-named "American Wage-Earners' Protective Conference...
...Chosen for the last Peoj eration convention, it is one of the most i notorious openshop cities in the country...
...Mexico In Arms Again Church and Labor Complicate Problem By James Oneal m/TEZICO is again the scene of an attempted revolution through a military rising which began tost Sunday and which soon spread to eight states...
...And isn't protection for American industry the cardinal dogma of the Republican Party...
...It is much the same thought which is expressed by the writer of the following quotation, though Mr...
...imported from Europe, and Europe of the American tires, tinned goods, etc...
...Calles disciplined the army, with the help of General Amaro, who is still Secretary of War...
...Whenever they succeed they loot as rapidly as possible, knowing that other military mercenaries await the opportunity to do to them what they have done to those they have ousted...
...This leader has ambitious plans...
...It is difficult to ascertain the truth of these charges but it is certain that the agrarian groups of workers and the city organizations of the workers are now in different economic and political camps...
...It is not a correct representation of the facts of the case for the Americans to take the position that the Buropeans try as hard to protect their tow wages as the Americans do to protect then* high ones...
...Unfortunately it appears that instead of a nearer approach to mutual understanding this tariff question is driving the organized workers of the tzco continents farther apart...
...This to also undobtedly the attitude of the trade unions, both those affiliated with the Crom and those that are not The overthrow of the government would also mean the destruction of the political and economic organisations of the working class in the cities...
...American goods will become more and more prominent in the world market, while the United States will do more than ever to keep out foreign goods...
...They know that reaction will bring with it the return of the big land magnates, the destruction Df labor and peasant organizations, political dictatorship, and the loss of the rights won in ten years of the revolu:ion...
...I turn again to Mr...
...To preach Socialism without knowing what Socialism really means and to avoid the problem of reconstruction while devoting endless criticism to the conditions which now exist under capitalism is by no means the best method of winning converts...
...Canada...
...Russell elaborates it and places the emphasis differently...
...If Woll and his 'Conference' have such ideas of the International solidarity of the workers, there need be no surprise in Europe that the United States stands outside the other labor organizations...
...For these reasons the article from the Economic Supplement which follows is of special interest to our readers...
...It goes on to say: "It is really futile to comment on such superprotectionism...
...Because you have failed to show them the brighter side of the picture...
...And he also inherited the political disintegration as a result of the assassination of Obregon...
...The laborer has not had either the intelligence to appreciate or the means to reward the services of the intellectuals...
...why that is just one more reason for including the reference to the class struggle in so many words...
...Perhaps the things the wage worker must be brought to think about are depressing...
...Equality they will not accept and to your argumentsv they have an apt reply...
...Matthew Woll, vice-president of the A. F. of L...
...continued Beals, "he has inherited grave problems—the Church struggle for instance, which involves continued guerilla warfare in the west of the Republic...
...The Mercenary Generals The generals who have raised the flag of revolt are doing what has often been done in Mexico...
...The answer, my brethren, is that while Brother Mellon loves the Republican Party and protection and America, he loves money 'ueber alles.' And so he bought a yacht in Germany where money, being scarce, goes a long ways...
...He may point out that Samuel Gompers, whose spiritual heir he considers himself, never joined the attack on the National Civic Federation, which was founded ostensibly in behalf of industrial peace...
...opinion will require great tact on the part of Mt...
...It shows what comes of treating one of the most serious world economic problems which the workers have to deal with from the standpoint of a single Isolated Instance: "Well...
...For the many perhaps there is need only of leadership, but for that intelligent minority, to whom the many look for leadership, your appeal has failed because it has never been convincing...
...I have said that nothing is more likely to prove a hindrance to the progress of Socialism than the blind acceptance of this impossible ideal of equality...
...News from Mexico already shows where the sympathies of organized workers lie...
...They are treacherous and make allimces with any groups that may be of assistance to them...
...as usual unnoticed...
...Sinclair can have sch Implicit faith in the honor and social pride of some members of the capitalistic class which he so scathingly criticises...
...if it were no more than a question of customs tariffs, and has pointed out the inconsistency of Woll's position in being at one and the same time a very strong advocate of protection and a champion of the formation of a world general labor staff, for the purpose of raising the universal standard of Bring...
...What they do not realize is that a better system is possible...
...Stimson's real role was conciliation: but the handicap of Latin America...
...It presents some opinions of German and French trade union publications on this issue which are important to members of American labor organizations...
...Labor Seen Loyal With the Federals advancing to meet the rebels, the latter face a weakness In their rear the farther they get away from their respective states...
...These revolts always begin in the army, which has been a favorite pastime with politicians who are also generally army officials in Mexico as well as in most of the Latin-American countries...
...The Federal Government required time to mobilize its forces and equip them to take the field...
...Peoples Gas reports a net operating revenue after the deduction of all operating expenses totaling $13,344,992 compared with a net of $10,635.893 in 1927...
...In Europe, at least...
...And his strength lies in f) many divisions existing in the country but trouble is likely to break within ttj next few months, and it will be a testth) of all the forces of the last nlmlisa years...
...In Tampico the workers who are members of the Border Socialist Party have paraded as a manifestation of their solidarity with the government and have j announced their readiness to volunteer for military service against the reaction...
...It am...
...If Baker exercised the right to subscribe to additional stock granted last summer his total holdings at the present time probably amount to 123.577 shares...
...At that time, by the way...
...While tile total receipts of the company increased from $39,658,954 to $41,886,679 the cost of operation was actually reduced from $29,023,061 to $28,521,687...
...While President Portes Gil is one of the most capable and worthy executives in the entire Latin American scene...
...It is to be hoped that in the United States as well as in Europe it is realized that it would not help to ensure wise handling of the protection question if we were to issue a list of all the brothers of European ministers who lower the standard of living of European workers by making tours in American motorcars wearing American mackintoshes and smoking American tobacco in American Pipes...
...ASK ORGANIZER FOB NEW ORLEANS I NEW ORLEANS — ^FPi — Urging the American Federation of Labor to assign an organizer to New Orleans territory...
...Just here is where the Socialist appeal fails...
...You have failed because you have been unable to give them a definite hope in the new order which Socialism is to bring about...
...New Orleans labor has never received any | support, financial or moral, from the A F. of L. he said...
...Therefore the intellectual is apt to become a retainer to the rich...
...The editor comments upon it as follows: "Mr...
...Again you have failed in your appeal because of another instinct which lies deep in the nature of human intelligence, —that innate skepticism of the human mind.—the desire to know and be convinced before accepting any thought which Is new...
...Among the factors which complicate the present movement are the religious issue, the organized workers of the cities, the organized rural laborers, the political parties and the army...
...He dreams of becoming a Rockefeller, or perhaps the father of one, some day...
...Dewey, and he may catch him in minor errors...
...but unfortunately in Latin America be is a symbol of American intervention and considered the man she brought about intervention in Nicaragua...
...Perhaps because it makes one feel like a liberal, gives him that comfortabis after dinner feeling: it is all wrong, but I cannot do anything about it: whereas The New Leader makes one feel like he ought to do something about it.' Comrade Cahan says in the course of his article "In fact, the average American workingman resents being told that on election day he ought to feel like an underdog...
...for who will see in this the implied tribute to the intellectual courage and penetration of the little group of Socialists who were the first to point to the nature and aims of the National Civic Federation., Why does one' turn from a depressing headline in The New Leader like "Plays for Parasites" to read The New Republic...
...Why...
...They also signed petitions requesting that they be enrolled in the Federal army for service against the revolting generals...
...Where do you think the Vagabondia hailed from...
...But what is there in modern life that anyone may envy...
...Stimson if he is to further Hoover's policy of something more than lip-service to the cause of friendship with the countries to the south...
...But next time you buy an aluminum teapot, don't buy it from the Teutons...
...but to do that Calles had to break with the unruly revolutionary generals of the north who tore up the country back in 191317...
...It is not enough for him that the American workers should oppose the investment of American capital in Europe, he is even anxious for European workers to cooperate with the American trade unions towards this end...
...Making Socialism Attractive Thoughts Suggested By Abraham Cahan's Articles By Warren Atkinson T have been reading Abraham Cahan's re-examination of American Socialism in The New Leader for January 19th...
...Doubtless there are some who may enjoy the game of modern business just as there are some who enjoy gambling at cards...
...For these you have had no answer...
...after looking at the picture of the graves marked with a forest of crosses...
...Just so, just so...
...He has Sown the possibility of a change of metbod in dealing with Latin America, and he' has helped to restore confidence in the United States which has been badly shattered in Latin America by so-esllsi 'Dollar Diplomacy' and interevntion n Nicaragua...
...shniilri tAk* so lone to develon relations with the American trade unions...
...This establishes a new record exceeding 1927 by $14,555,581...
...He may not be a wicked er dishonest man at heart...
...The hard and dirty work will be "a matter of honor and social pride...
...Meantime the initial successes of the revolting troops were a matter of course...
...John Dewey has started a little con:roversy with Mr...
...How many are there who would not gladly have thrown in their lot with Socialism had you been able to answer the question concerning the practicability of the new social order...
...The article which follows also complains of the inconsistency of American organizations supporting an exclusive tariff policy gnd at the san\e time asking for international cooperation to carry it out...
...so I will have my say...
...It fails in its effort to present a definite plan of social reconstruction, and it fails because of the fact that its leaders themselves have no clear conception of such a plan, or of the problems which such a plan Involves...
...It seems now to be in order to find fault with the devoted few who, like Abraham Cahan and others, have made possible whatever there is of a socialist organization in this country...
...but to play the game successfully he must win or perish...
...and so he is regarded cxW to the Straits of Magellan...
...The telephone trust reports for 1928 profits totaling $165,268,049 with $143,170,491 for the stockholders after payment of $22,091,558 in bond interest...
...an article by H j A. Russell of Dartmouth, N. S...
Vol. 8 • March 1929 • No. 8
