“The Phil. Workers will send relief and support until your strike is won.”

We find these pledges and sentiment in nearly all the trade unions and other workers organizations that our committees visit. For example:

The Bakers and Confectionery Union local No. 201 told our committee to tell the strikers that they are not only sending them wishes for their victory but will support them as long as they stay out and until they Win a Union. Here is $100 to

begin with. Then in the meeting of the Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Union Local 98 after hearing our committee tell the story of Passaic, a motion was unanimously passed to donate $50. One member got up and said to the committee: Mr. Chairman, I want to tell the delegates that I am a member of organized labor 12 years and I have seen and helped many strikers in those 12 years and I feel that I know a real strike when I see one, or hear of one and in my opinion I think the Textile Strike in Passaic is a real genuine strike for an union and the strikers are out for demands that all trade unionists should support.”

Then we visited the American Federation of Musicians and they donated $150 for the children’s kitchen. The Carpenters Local 1061 donated $25 in May and $60 in June and told the committee to come again if the strike continues.

These are just a few incidents. The warm reception our committees get at union meetings is so encouraging to our relief workers in Phil. that we have a hard time getting delegates to do anything else but visit unions.

Besides visiting unions we go to take collections in shops and many textile mills and hosiery mills in Kensington. And here is another example of the solidarity of our textile workers in the Philadelphia Mills with the Textile strikers in Passaic and vicinity. In Chas. P. Cochrane’s carpet mill many workers asked our committee why it did not come last week for a collection. “Be sure to send someone next week,” they said. In another mill, this time a hosiery mill, a girl said, “Here’s my weekly 50’, that’s little, I know, I wish I could help them on the Picket line but I have a mother to support.”

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Also Send Apologies for Passaic Brutalities against Visiting Furriers

The Executive Committee of the Associated Slavic Societies and Parishes issued the following statement today, renewing its advice to strikers to join the union.

“At a regular weekly meeting of the Slavic Executive Committee held Tuesday the third of August, at the office of Chairman William R. Vanecek, 172 Passaic street, the Committee unanimously adopted a motion to call upon all working people of this vicinity, men, women and children, to join the union without any further delay.

“It is evident that there can be no peace and that this strike can never end unless the right of organization of the working

is granted and the union duly established. It is evident that we have reached this point, that the STRIKE IS WON AND THE UNION, now duly organized, will be affiliated with the United Textile Workers of America, which is a branch of the great American Federation of Labor.

“It is evident that only then will we have a reign of peace and better conditions for our people, when all of them will be members of the Union and so constitute a real united and not a divided people. It is evident that, while we do not as yet

have the assurance of the mills that they will accept the American Federation of Labor, nevertheless there is no room for doubt that the mills, will soon fall in line and agree to the wishes of Senator Borah and all the working people of this vicinity and their friends. We therefore, earnestly call upon the working people to join the Union while it is not too late, and so establish a unity and peace amongst themselves and all other people of Passaic and vicinity.”

The meeting sent the following letter to the furriers of New York City.

Mr. Ben Gold, Chairman, Furriers Union,

22 East 22^nd street,

New York City.

Dear Sir:

The Slavic Executive Committee of Passaic and vicinity desires to express its sympathy with you and your comrades who were unjustly and brutally attacked and beaten in Passaic last Sunday, the 26^th of July, when it was the duty of everyone in this city to respect you as our welcome guests.

We trust that you were made acquainted with the protest of our committee, which appeared in the Passaic papers the day after the infamous clubbing.

May we ask you to be good enough to extend our expression of sympathy to your members, especially to those little girls who were victims of brutality and whom we saw at the Police Headquarters, also at strike headquarters, at Passaic. I assure you that we will see to it that Passaic shall be liberated from the hands of the oppressors of labor in the near future, and that labor men and women will have no reason to fear to come to visit their brothers and sisters in Passaic. With kindest regards and best wishes, sincerely yours,

Associated Societies and Parishes of Passaic and Vicinity,

William R. Vanecek,

Chairman.

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Members of Community Church Give $247.36

Dear Sirs:

The enclosed check for $247.36 represents donations made in response to a special appeal to members of the Community Church in behalf of the children of the textile strikers, and also money made by a benefit dance given at the church house.

These contributions were made for the children of the strikers, and more specifically for the milk fund. Will you therefore please have them used for this purpose?

Sincerely yours,

Marion S. Severn,

Chairman, Community Church,

Committee for Passaic Strike Relief.

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What a Stranger from Ohio Saw among the Strikers

Now that there are so many rumors in the air regarding the successful termination of the long drawn out struggle of the 16,000 textile workers of Passaic N. J. and vicinity, what I am about to say about this great event may not have the same effect it would have had a month ago.

Of course, like many others of the working class away from the actual conflict, I had read a great deal about the strike; the courage and solidarity of the strikers, the police brutalities, the splendid work of the relief committees, etc. Still I did not fully realize how big a thing it was and is until I actually got on to the ground.

It was on the Fourth of July, “Independence Day” (certainly a fitting day for such a struggle). They were having a picnic, these 16,000 striking textile workers and their families and when I saw them I thought, “surely they must all be there.”

I drove all the way from Brooklyn, N. Y. through lines of traffic congestion and finally over a long stretch of dusty road out of Passaic to see this picnic. You can believe I was anxious to get a glimpse of these workers in revolt, about whom I had heard so much.

Now when most folks think of a picnic there are visions of swimming, rowing, games, dancing and plenty of good eats. This picnic was conspicuous by the absence of all of the things most folks consider necessary for a picnic. But it had something about it that made all the “necessary” things seem unnecessary and insignificant. There were pretzels and pop on sale. I bought two pretzels when I came into the grounds and though I was hungry, I ate a half of one pretzel and never thought of food for several hours.

Scattered on all sides of a great near circle of marchers five or six abreast, were thousands of human beings; the bent bodies of men and women prematurely old, girls and boys in their teens, pale-faced and hollow chested children. The marchers were mainly young folks singing as they trudged along keeping half time to the music of an Italian Band which was nothing if not lively. There were whispers of “mass picketing tomorrow". This seemed to give everyone a thrill for mass picketing had been forbidden by the constituted authorities, “doncher know.”

The real thrill came when Weisbord, their leader, mounted the platform and started to speak. A great cheer arose and a clapping of hands. Then we all crowded in uncomfortably close and listened for an hour or more to a talk on “Americanism"—not the kind advocated by the Ku Klux Klan, the Chambers of Commerce and the American Legion. No, Weisbord told them that Americanism means to fight against tyranny, against oppression, against the cutting of wages, against long hours of labor, etc. And he told them the way to fight against these things and for better conditions is through organization—Unity. By presenting a United Front to the enemy.

He closed amidst cheers. Then there was singing by the young folks. “Solidarity,” “Hold the Fort,” etc.

Before I left I entered into the spirit of the thing. I had felt the power of the mass in action. I had seen men and women of many nationalities who a few months before had been willing slaves at the machines working, eating, sleeping, knowing only a few neighbors at most, probably hating all other nationalities but their own; now singing songs of revolt, fraternizing with their fellow workers of many nationalities, white and black, now speaking the same language as all of their fellows, the language of “Industrial Solidarity.”

I saw girls in their teens probably ordinary girls a few months ago, chewing gum, flirting with the boys, singing likely “Yes, We Have No Bananas,” now taking actual leadership and giving fire and steel to their fighting comrades in the great struggle. I saw young men who before the strike had been principally likely interested in baseball and pretty girls, now directing and marshalling the forces of this great struggle. I know as never before why Weisbord is hated by the mill barons and their hirelings. He is the personification of the things for which these 16,000 workers fight and fight effectively.

I attended several meetings after that at Belmont Park and Lodi and always there was the same spirit which is best expressed in the words “fight on!” It was just not the spirit of youthful folly, but spirit of bull dog tenacity manifested by down-trodden slaves who had learned how to fight, had become conscious of their own power and had determined to use it to gain the things they want.

I was there when the “Citizens Committee” was organized. I spoke at some of their meetings and my denunciations of this pack of wolves in sheep’s clothing were greeted with great cheers. I pointed out to them that we of the working class all over the country were helping Passaic workers because the working class everywhere is in the same boat and that we must sink or swim together. They certainly appreciated this, too.

I said to myself and of course to everyone whom I met “Here is a strike which is being well conducted. Here is a strike where in the first place the workers have suffered together—that has suffered en masse so much that the logical thing was to fight en masse. However, this fight has been so led and conducted that that mass spirit has been educated and not led blindly into the slaughter of the bosses.

However, most folks with logical minds would ask, “How is it possible to maintain this fighting spirit for weeks and months, even for more than a half a year with no immediate prospects of an end. Surely workers who were already underpaid even with the greatest enthusiasm would get discouraged and quit after the first few weeks.” The only answer is THE RELIEF COMMITTEE.

The relief office is a most efficient unit employing only a few skilled workers, the main part of the work being done by strikers (the same boys and girls who lead the picket lines and sing songs at the mass meetings). I should like to mention names in my praise of the tireless workers who work all day until midnight and even sometimes until the wee small hours of the morning, writing letters, sending out appeals, etc. However, these workers get joy from their work, for like the militant youth who are leading the strike, they realize that this strike is only a part of the great world struggle of the workers against bosses; of the employed against the employer; of the worlds dispossessed against the possessors of the worlds wealth. These workers realize that nothing else matters but the successful issue of that struggle.

So the relief office is well managed. The money that is being sent in from organized labor all over the country is being so well spent in the four relief stores, the three soup kitchens and the one clothing store that the strikers reply to the ravings of the Citizens Committee about Communist propaganda, “If it is a Communist propaganda to tell the rest of the workers about our conditions and to ask them to help us, let’s have more Communist propaganda! If Communists are the folks who can lead us to victory over the mill barons, were for the Communists every time! If it is Communism to help us win our strike by giving us food and clothing and milk and vacations for our children, let’s have more Communism!”

John W. Marshall of [Chicago] visited the strike area several weeks ago.

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Figures Tell Story of Woolen Mills

The American Woolen Company issues reports every year and these reports are not always kept a secret. So we felt that it would be interesting to the workers in Lawrence as well as in other textile centers to look at the actual condition in this particular company and remember that other mills are no less prosperous.

According to reports, the total assets for the following years ending December 31 of each year were:

1919—$133,174,043

1920—$126,945,332

1921—$131,886,844

1922—$135,876,733

1923—$152,622,956

1924—$142,602,825

The working capital was as follows:

1919—$59,103,261

1920—$63,602,009

1921—$62,780,623

1922—$70,160,613

1923—$81,364,960

1924—$62,959,723

Final income on surplus for following years ending December 31:

1919—$2,470,196

1920—$2,723,531

1921—$6,406,648

1922—$10,654,601

1923—$14,739,379

1924—$11,969,836

Note: The Sawsheen mill with assets on December 31, 1924 of $14,300,931 and the Webster Mills with assets on the same date of $6,027,378 are controlled by the American Woolen Company, but are not included in the above records.

Any plea of poverty by these mills will fall like water on a duck’s back if used as an argument to intelligent workers. Others will sit down and get soaked.

It is quite clear that this tremendous wealth has not been created by the mill owners. It is equally clear that it has been created by the workers.

But the workers have none of this wealth that they have created. It is in the hands of the millionaire bosses who still want more at the expense of the workers.

The bosses are organized and are in control of all the powers of oppression, the police and the courts and all other instruments of force.

We workers must organize for our own protection or we will become virtual slaves and die in utter poverty.

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Bad Conditions

Andover, Mass.

I was a worker in the Smith and Dove Mills until recently and never worked under such bad conditions outside of that mill. The bosses there have the workers completely under their thumbs. They are afraid to call their souls their own. The workers are speed-up like real machines on one day and told to take a vacation on the next one.

Many of the workers there make about $11 for three days of work a week. On this big sum they have families to support. The cost of living is very high. The workers are dissatisfied but do not complain for fear of being fired. The bosses are so eager to make money for the Co. that many times they do the work which should be done by the workers. The poor Co. is more in need than the workers.

A Smith and Dove Worker.

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Sample Weavers Get Raw Deal

At the mill where I am employed, the Ayer Mill, a plant of the American Woolen Co., the weavers on samples used to be paid by the hour on their sample looms and piece work on their regular work. This is the rule nearly all over the country on piece dye goods. This is the rule because in weaving samples there is a great loss of time on the part of the weaver and much more time is required in sample weaving than in regular weaving. To make up for the loss, the weaver is paid by the hour rather than by the piece of work as is done on regular work.

Lately however, the overseer of the weaving room, taking advantage of the unemployment which is the result of the speeding-up introduced by the greedy mill owners, decided to have us weave samples on two looms and at the same rate paid for doing regular work. Which means that one weaving a 10 yard sample is paid at the same rate per yard as one weaving an 800 yard warp. A worker then who gets samples on his two looms works very hard and makes far below twenty a week for a full week’s pay. The weavers are very much discontented but because they are not organized they do not dare to kick.

An Ayer Mill Weaver.

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Help Wanted

Extra! Extra! Help Wanted, Male or Female! Wanted in Pacific mills a few efficiency experts who can devise some more ways of speeding-up the workers. We have had experts who have speeded up our workers 100 per cent within the last few years but much more speeding up is still needed.

For instance, the work that a few years ago took two or three men is taken care of by one man now. Of course this has forced many a worker into the street, but this is where he belongs for being a loafer. However, the workers still have some energy left at the end of the day, much energy is still used up in talking and walking to and from work, and in reading during lunch hours that terrible Bulletin that tells about those 16,000 strikers of Passaic who dared to refuse a wage cut. All this wasted eating, walking, reading and sleeping, energy must be turned into some more profits of which the company is badly in need.

For instance, in 1919 the poor company was worth only $40,000,000. In the year of 1925 its value amounted to 80,000,000. This excludes the ten millions of dollars paid out in dividends and the other expenses taxes, interest, etc. As even a blind man can see, the company is losing heavily. Only a few good efficiency men can get it out of its present state of bankruptcy.

Men of science! Lovers of Humanity! You must come to the rescue. Ample rewards await those who are qualified! Please apply to our Employment Bureau. Don’t be scared to see many people at the office who come every day asking for work, they are only loafers. Push through the crowd and announce yourself as the Savior.

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A Sweet Surprise

Lowell, Mass.

After returning to work after a two weeks vacation, our dear agent, Mr. Gallant sprung a sweet surprise upon us weavers of the Silk Mill of Lowell.

During his vacation, Mr. Gallant, who is very much interested in the welfare of his workers, spent all his time thinking and planning how best he can greet and welcome us when we return from the seashores.

And finally he hit upon a fine idea. As soon as we entered the most sanitary mill in Lowell where the windows are always shut (where the toilet windows are nailed down) and the average temperature is 90 degrees, he sprung this pleasant surprise upon us: The Company’s Readjustment plan.’ You still don’t seem to know what it is. It is nothing but 6 looms and a 30 per cent wage cut.

And why this magnanimity?

Here are the reasons:

1. The company is losing money. Last year it lost it’s head. (We later found out that the company made $800,000.00 net profit last year.)

2. Our wages are too high—$15-$18 a week on an average for experienced weaver (many of them have families to support) and $8-$15 a week on the average for the rest.

And now you must be anxious to know how we accepted this Readjustment? We took our coats, all the weavers, about 180 strong, followed by our faithful loomfixers—and out we went.

We got ourselves a hall, elected a strike committee—and by golly it is a good one—organized our pickets—and you can see them on the line in rain or shine—determined to stick out until Mr. Gallant changes his mind.

A Determined Striker.

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Still Speeding Up

Andover, Mass.

I am a weaver in the Marland mills and I would like to try and explain the conditions and the speeding-up systems that are in this plant. Where we used to run one loom with 19 picks and one kind of filling, we run now two looms with 36 picks for the same money. The average wage being from $17 to $21 a week for experienced weavers.

The wool which we get to weave is very bad, it is almost impossible to work with. There are weeks in which we make very little money. The mill owners seem to be making plenty of money despite their cry that they are losing. Within the last two years they built up two new weave rooms, one extra out building and one doing repairs all over the plant. In those new rooms they have placed 48 automatic looms which are taken care of by twelve men. When the men complained that it was too hard for them to run that number of looms, they were told that if they did not like it they could get the hell out of there.

The workers in the card room are also very poorly paid, the wage being $17 a week for mending 3 and four cards. The workers are afraid to complain because there is not much work.

The speeding-up brought about the unemployment. If a weaver makes bad cloth which is a result of the bad wool that we get, he is fined one cent a yard.

Marland Weaver.

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Wise Miss Wise

(Editorial from Oklahoma City Oklahoman)

Miss Justine Waterman Wise, daughter of Rabbi Stephen S. Wise of New York, comes of a family whose outstanding characteristic is to hunt earnestly and honestly for the facts and to speak them out boldly when they have been established. Her father has shown this quality conspicuously several times at considerable cost to himself and he has a daughter after his own heart.

Miss Justine had read and heard contradictory reports as to the situation in the textile mills at Passaic and came to the conclusion that the only way to find how the matter really stood was to go over and study conditions on the spot, if possible from the inside. So she secured a position in one of the mills, and worked several months beside the poor exploited foreign girls, till her employers discovered that she had a college education and discharged her. The reason why having attended a university disqualified her for employment is pretty certainly a reason which does not reflect credit on the mill owners.

But the young woman had been a mill operative long enough to learn for herself, beyond any possibility of doubt, who was principally to blame for the disagreement, which resulted in the strike. Of 100 applicants for strike relief whose credentials were studied by another investigator, only two had been paid as much as $35 a week, and the average for the 100 was nearer $15. Miss Wise claims to have discovered that various laws concerning conditions of factory labor, such as the one prohibiting night work for women, and the one demanding a lunch period at intervals of a few hours, were constantly ignored, and that the laborers dared not protest. An extensive spy system was in such successful operation that every new employee was long under suspicion with his fellow workers and she reports that she never heard such phrases as “trade unions” and “labor movement” even whispered inside a mill. The policy of the Passaic textile manufacturers is to encourage racial and national antagonism among the workers and it was not till the strike brought leisure and fraternization that many of these poor foreigners began to learn English or came to know each other sufficiently well to realize that they all had kind hearts and honest intentions. It is a sad commentary on human nature that it often takes a common enemy to make men friends.

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"Read ‘Em and Weep”

On July 2 some Lawrence newspapers carried an interesting news item giving the report of the business done by the Pacific Mills for the first six months of this year. The report stared off with this sad refrain:

“Profits of Pacific Mills show Decline.” The subheading further laments that for the same period last year profits were twice as much. The report comes from the Boston office of the company.

Here is the bad news. “The net operating PROFITS are $1,552,621.”

“READ ‘EM AND WEEP” Textile Workers of Lawrence.

This means that in the six months operation of the Pacific Mills, the entire expense of operation including the big fat Salaries of the officials and hangers on and who knows what other non-inherent expense? There is left a PROFIT of $1,552,621.

Remember, workers of the Pacific Mills, times “are bad’ so don’t you dare go to your boss and ask for a living wage, the first thing you know he will put you down as a Bolshevik.

By the way, this same report says that last year for the first six months profits were twice as much. WERE YOUR WAGES DOUBLE LAST YEAR WHAT THEY ARE NOW?

And furthermore this report says that it is the opinion of leaders in the industry that business is going to be better for the balance of this year. WHAT IS AWAITING YOU?

Get on to yourself and ORGANIZE INTO A REAL WORKERS UNION. Join the UNITED FRONT COMMITTEE of TEXTILE WORKERS.

OFFICE—81 Common St.

A Lamuglia.

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Silk Workers Strike For Union

Bangor, Pa.—Silk Workers of Korn Bros. at Bangor, Pa. are striking for improvements of their conditions and reinstatement of discharged weavers. The firm says that it will not take back any strike leaders.

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Ten Questions

For Mr. Forstmann, Mr. Rheinhold and associates. (Replies, if received, will be printed in the Textile Bulletin!)

1. Why did you introduce your “phony” Company union?

2. Did you really think you could fool all the workers all the time with your suckers association, with its 4 meetings a year?

3. Who advised you to install the company union—or was it your own bright idea? Perhaps you picked the idea up from John D.

4. Since you live in America why try to make it worse than it is?

5. What has this “representative assembly” ever done for the workers?

6. Did it ever raise our wages?

7. Did it ever shorten hours?

8. Did it ever improve working conditions?

9. Did it ever try to stop the horror of night work for our women folks?

10. Did it ever oppose the speed-up system?

(Lets have your replies to these questions. If you don’t answer them we’ll answer them ourselves. For we know the answers. Do you?)

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Onward, All You Workers!

(Tune: “Onward, Christian Soldiers")

Written During the British General Strike

(By Herbert Tulin, X-175453)

Onward, now you workers—for our cause is right!

End the rule of shirkers—let us show our might;

Teach the greedy master—surely he must go.

Forward against the grafter—worker’s common foe.

CHORUS:

Onward now you toilers,

Hands across the sea,

Showing all the spoilers,

Sol---i---darity.

Like the workers banding ---now on that little isle,

All as one are standing ---fear can not beguile.

They are not divided ---all for one they stand,

As one for all united ---workers hand in hand.

Crowns and thrones are tottering—Kingdoms now may fall,

Despots now are trembling—fear excites them all;

Prison gates can never ‘gainst our cause prevail,

In one grand endeavor WE can never fail.

Onward, all who labor—use your mighty power

Curry not for favor—speed the fateful hour ---

Raise the one Red emblem o’er the Workers Band ---

When as one we’ve shown them that workers rule the land.

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Citizens Committee Uses Stolen Letter

The citizens committee issues a letter that it has either planted or stolen, through which it attempts to throw dust in the eyes of the workers.

At best it did a clumsy piece of work. For as far as the letter is concerned it is not even addressed to anybody in Passaic. It is addressed “To the Pioneer Department of District Two.”

Not a single word is found in the letter to indicate the allegations of the citizens committee. The letter plainly states that the pioneers should be on the job and do all they can to support the strike and help win it. No one would be ashamed to help win the strike, except the citizens committee, the bosses and their supporters.

The Slavic Committee, hosts of people who are not strikers and multitudes of workers belonging to the American Federation of Labor have been and are supporting the strike as heartily as the Pioneers.

Only those who are fighting the strikers and making it hard for them to win the strike need to be ashamed. The citizens committee should feel very much ashamed.

For it is exceedingly foolish, insincere, hypocritical, raw, nasty, ugly, and everything else that is abhorrent. But the citizens committee hasn’t brains enough to be ashamed.

So what’s the use?

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I’ve Been Working For The Bosses

I’ve been working for the bosses

All the live long day,

I’ve been working for the bosses,

Never got no pay, no pay,

Now I’ve gone and joined the union,

Ain’t going work no more

Till I got the bosses howling,

Down upon the floor.

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Nobody’s Business

The bosses think that how we live,

Is nobody’s business,

The bosses think the pay they give,

Is nobody’s business,

But this is what we tell to you,

The things that we are going to do,

To the bosses when the strike is through,

Is nobody’s business.

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Dedicated to Chief of Police Zober

By BILL LLOYD

As if the workers and their wives don’t shed enuf tears in their lives, the chiefs police have sed in meetin’ that tear-gas is a form of greetin’ that bosses otta throw around, wherever strikers can be found.

The poison gas concerns sent in exhibits of the stuff in tin, in hand grenades, in billie clubs, in everything that points at dubs what has the awful nerve to ask for pay without gas masks.

A lotta other gas they brew to show the workers something new. Gasses they say will give you pain, without your really being slain. After the poor deluded worm has groaned and twisted, crawled and squirmed, you will recover from the shock in time to punch the blasted clock. To meet the boss’s profit need, they still will let you live and breed. Your life and plasm is secure, while profit taking shall endure.

So buy bandanas by the yard; for tear-gas tears are on the card. Perhaps this gas will wash your eyes, so you will see thru bosses’ lies.

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Scottish Paper Tells of Strike

Nelson Stewart of Wallington, received a clipping from newspaper published in Scotland, picturing the scrimmage between strikers and police at the Eighth Street Bridge. The Scottish paper told how the police knocked down women and children with their clubs.

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Gone And Forgotten

By Dickie Trask

On Friday, July 30^th, the Sissizens Committee formally buried at Victory Playground. The children decided that the committee had long since ceased to exist, and though its ghost still stalks about with its scare-cry, the noble Sissizens themselves are no longer a live issue. So in mock sorrow, we held a funeral.

Never before has Victory Playground heard such speeches as were made. Before a large gathering of children that wept and wailed, who flourished large handkerchiefs and uttered sobs that sounded suspiciously like laughter, the speakers paid tribute to the dear departed. The virtuous of the Sissizens were extolled, and the full calamity which had befallen the fair city of Passaic was described as fully as the emotion of the orators would permit.

Now that the Sissizens were no longer able to give the strikers the noble support and encouragement which they had so courageously offered, there was absolutely nothing left, said one speaker, to prevent the city from going to the dogs. The death of the Sissizens committee was not only felt to be an irreparable personal loss, but all sorts of disasters would come as a result of this—the strikers would win their strike, the Union would be recognized, and, worst of all, the strikers would get decent pay so that their children would be able to have milk and good food.

At this thought, the gathering was almost overtime with sorrow. Loud sobs rent the air, and several of those present threw themselves upon the ground, wailing with grief. When order had been restored the gathering was asked to join in three sobs for the departed heroes, and then the funeral procession was formed and mournfully advanced to the sand-house, where the burial was to take place.

At the open grave, Clarence Miller spoke a few broken words and gave to the mourners a message of sympathy and hope. Although the Sissizens Committee was dead, he felt that we must not despair. Perhaps other heroes would form themselves together into a similar band for the preservation of Passaic’s fair name. After all, we still have the Mayor and the bosses, who will strive earnestly to prevent the winning of the strike, and so carry on the good work begun by the committee.

With this message, Miller sadly gave the signal for the coffin to be lowered into the grave. A few flowers were dropped upon it and the honorary pall-bearers threw in the first handfuls of sand.

And what happened then? Surely, a most unexpected thing! From the crowd of mourners there suddenly arose a shout not of sorrow but of merriment, and there was a rush toward the grave. Many feet trampled the floral tributes, as the children pushed and shoved in an effort to be among those who added a little more sand to the mound.

A whistle blew, a voice cried—"The funeral song.” And 800 children began to sing the dirge for the dead Sissizens Committee. That song was “Solidarity!”

The newspapers still carry headlines about the Committee—but we of the Playground read them with a smile—for we know that the Sissizens Committee, together with its lies and its hypocrisy, is dead as a door nail—dead and buried by the children of the undefeatable strikers.

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Hurrah For The Playground

Oh my, oh me

Our hearts are full of glee

If anyone here likes Victory Playground

Its me-me-me-me.

Well I sure do like Victory Playground. I like it for many reasons. First we are safe there and the streets of Passaic are not so safe for the children when there are Cossacks around. And then there’s the food. It’s awfully good and we get milk. I love milk. We play games at the playgrounds. There are see-saws and swings and showers and a sand-house. Yesterday one comrade made a workers hut in the sand and I made a house like Forstmann lives in and it was some difference.

And the leaders at the playground aren’t like our teachers. They are just older comrades. And we learn a lot of things at the playground. We learn about Workers Solidarity and what a union means to the workers and how to fight for a union. We’ll never forget these things. When we grow up there will be no scabs among us. We are all going to be union men.

M. C., age 12.

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Dear Mr. Weisbord:

July 27, 1926

Dear Comrade:

I am at the International Workers Aid camp. I like it here very much. I have gained 8 pounds.

We have good food here and plenty of milk and I feel fine. We have lots of fun here and we learn a lot about the workers here too. Please tell all the comrades at the playground that I am having a good time and give them my regards.

Your comrade,

John B. Age 11.

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The Union Is Right

Let us join in a song

To cheer the union along,

For the firmer it stands,

It will win our demands.

Fellow workers unite,

We for union will fight,

And will use all our might,

For the union is right.

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From a Lodi Woman Worker

Twenty years ago the United Piece Dye Works was a small place holding no more than 175 or 200 workers. Look at this place today. It holds thousands. It owns half the town and controls the whole town.

What do these bosses care so long as we are satisfied and keep on slaving for them? But today the people woke up and intend to stay awake. We will not enter the mills as slaves any more but we will enter them as union men and women.

Our strike is on now for six months. The bosses could not believe that we would hold out so long. They thought they could starve us back but this time they got fooled. That is because we have all other labor unions in back of us. We are going to break this chain of slavery in Lodi and all other mills where the workers are exploited as we have been.

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Picnic Postponed Until Sunday, August 8.

A cloudy, drizzling, day made our picnic impossible last Sunday. It will therefore, be held this coming Sunday, August 8, at the same place, Van Houton avenue, in Athenia. All arrangements will hold good for this Sunday.

To reach the picnic grounds from Main Ave., take a bus at the corner of Howe Ave. and Prospect Street labeled “Van Houton Ave. ride to the end of the line and walk a few blocks along Van Houton Ave. to the picnic grounds. Don’t worry about getting lost on the way, for plenty of signs will be posted to direct you.

If however, it is a hot day (and we want a hot day, so as to sell a lot of soda and ice-cream) you can avoid the walk by taking the Athenia bus at the corner of Lexington and Central Avenues. Get off at Penobscot Street and Van Houton Avenue. This is a longer ride, but it lands you right at the picnic grounds.

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Educational Meeting for the Women on August 12

The Workingwomen’s Councils are holding another joint educational meeting on Thursday evening, August 12. To this they invite all women who are interested in learning about the class struggle and becoming better fighters for the working class.

The meeting will be held at 7:30 at 25 Dayton Avenue. The subject of the talk will be: “What the Unions Do for the Workers.” The speaker will be Rose Wortis, one of the active members of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union in New York City. Her talk will be based on actual experience in the struggles of her own union and the benefits it has brought the garment workers. She will give a very interesting talk and all women are urged to attend.

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Last Thursday’s Educational Talk

“The Working-class Mother and her Children” was the subject of last weeks educational talk, the second one of a series given by the Workingwomen’s Councils. A rainy evening kept away some of the members, but those who attended felt well repaid. The talk and the discussion that followed were on a subject vital to every woman and were most stimulating.

Stanislava Piotrowska, the speaker, first showed some of the pamphlets on motherhood and the care of infants which are published by the National Child Welfare Association and other organizations. These booklets, illustrated with ideally beautiful pictures, describe in glowing terms the beauty of bearing children. They give full directions for what every prospective mother should do to maintain her health and insure the birth of a healthy child.

The speaker then showed that these directions are followed carefully by wealthy and middle-class mothers—those who have the means to care for and protect themselves. But what about the poor, working class mother? Where does she come in, in this matter of maternity hygiene? How about the woman who must slave in the textile mills up to the time her baby is born, because her husband cannot make enough to provide for the new life? How about the poor mother already burdened with five or six children, who cannot make ends meet already, and yet must bring a new unwanted life into the world?

Can she take this exquisite care of herself which the booklets recommend? Can she drink a quart of milk a day, herself, when she cannot afford even to buy milk for her children? Can she eat plenty of fresh vegetables when she can hardly buy enough bread? Can she lie down and rest for two hours every afternoon, when she must be slaving at her loom in the mill, earning the pennies that are necessary to provide for baby’s coming? Can she, perchance, lie down whenever she is tired, as those books recommend,—when all the housework falls upon her to do in addition to her job in the mill?—No, she must eat poor food as always, she must slave no matter what pains she endures, she must work even at night in the mills, no matter how much endangering her own life and that of her coming child. The beautiful directions given in the booklets becomes a bitter mockery for the working class mother. She can look forward only to ill health for herself and her children in the present system of society.

The discussion which followed brought out the remedies which must be used if women wish to protect themselves against such abuses. In the first place, those who are textile workers or workers in other industries must organize themselves in unions in order to raise wages and improve factory conditions.

Then women, organized as women in such organizations as the Workingwomen’s Councils, can agitate to enforce laws which will forbid night work for women, and will ensure their protection in factories and other work places. Just as we, using our organized strength, have raised money for relief and have conducted the children’s kitchens for the support of the strike, so we can turn our attention when the strike is over to these matters which are the concern of women chiefly. When we are organized we are strong and can carry out these things.

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Strike Playground Visited by Group of Slavic Leaders

A delegation of members of the Slavic Executive Committee, consisting of William Vanecek, chairman; the Rev. Christopher L. Orbach, the Rev. Emery Jecusko and Marcel Sherman, president of the United Slavic Societies of Passaic and Vicinity, visited the Victory Playground at Saddle River yesterday.

The Rev. Dr. Orbach said they heard “wonderful cheering and singing,” an immaculate clean camp and competent young directors. The only feeling of depression which he brought away, he said, was that outsiders had to provide these comforts for Passaic Children.

He said he had heard of the N. Y. Herald Tribune story about the playground, but had not yet read it.

“The time has come,” said the Rev. Mr. Orbach, who edits the Slovak America, a Slovak-language newspaper, “to stop calling the strike leaders Bolshevists and Communists, or the strikers will begin to believe that it is only the Bolshevists and Communists who have the cause of labor at heart.”

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Cossacks Arrest Philadelphia Visitors

We arrived in Passaic 4 A. M. Tired and hungry, yet we first made a search for the picket line. No signs of life around 743 Main Ave. We then undertook the next best suggestion, to find a restaurant in which to satisfy our hunger. The waiter, a friend of the strikers, warned us not to go out of the restaurant while it was still dark. We waited. Presently, the first faint rays of dawn began to show themselves and soon we felt safe enough to go on another search of the picket lines.

We reached 743 Main Ave. about 5.30 A. M. and after two minutes of vain attempts to find any of the strikers we saw a beautiful limousine with four police approaching us. We could not believe that this reception was for us until the cops addressed us in the following manner:

“How did you fellas get up here?”

“How is it yer here so early in the morning?”

“Who is de guy wid you?”

Before we could do much in the way of protesting we were being hustled into the machine and informed that they knew all about us. How we had started late in the evening to hitch hike to Passaic, how it had cost us only one nickel fare to get from Philadelphia to Passaic and how we had been on the road all night.

The four huskies triumphantly marched us up to the bar in the court house and presented their “catch.” We were invited into the lieutenants office, where he proceeded to question us, and where we answered as ….. as conditions permitted.

At first the questionnaire and the surroundings (unfamiliar) were novel, but eventually the strangeness wore off and we listened quietly to the pretty stories of the lieutenant. It is interesting to remember some of the conversation.

“Don’t believe anything you read in the newspapers about the Passaic police. They are not Cossacks. They merely try to make Passaic the peaceful and quiet town it should be. It is those outside people who come here and spoil it all. We must protect private property. The people have no respect. They spit in the policeman’s faces.”

I complained of being tired and offered references thinking that in this way we might get out sooner. “You ought to be glad I am letting you sit in my office. I should have put you in the iron box. You wait here until Chief Zober comes and no more complaints.”

Chief Zober came. A man with small weasel eyes that moved constantly. A big fat pouch and the gait of a mill baron. He looked us over. Dull, yet with the desire to appear quick witted, he maneuvered his questions. Occasionally he would pat the bald spot on the janitor’s head to show his superiority and his “keen” sense of humor.

In the meantime, a “hang-around” reporter from a Passaic daily became anxious to have our story but the lieutenant forbade us to have anything to do with him. “You see these fellows are always trying to get stories. They don’t tell the truth about the strike,” he said.

After some discussion they decided that they could not get very much from us so they let us go, telling us to keep our arrest on the quiet and leave Passaic immediately. A prolonged stay in Passaic would be dangerous for us.

Fellow Workers, Passaic is the hell in N. J. all right. It is impossible to fully understand the significance of this phrase unless one is immediately involved in the struggle. That the workers have stuck out so long against the Hellishness is sheer proof that their metal will last until they win the strike and a Strong Powerful Union.

Isabelle Kleinmann,

Philadelphia, Pa.

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Governor Moore Talks Lawlessness

We have read what you said, Mr. Governor, in your Sea Girt speech to your Rotarians. You were pretty raw and you thought you might get away with it easily. But we are not going to let you out before we ask you a few questions at least.

You were complimenting Mayor Hague of Jersey City were you now? You said that if Albert Weisbord had attempted in Jersey City what he tried in Passaic, “Mayor Frank Hague would throw him over to New York in 15 minutes.”

That is very nice of a governor to say. If Weisbord or any other worker had said anything as threatening and as lawless as that you would have him incarcerated in a dungeon within 15 minutes.

It may be that the workers in Jersey City will decide to have any organizer they may wish to come there and have him remain as long as they please Hague or no Hague.

You, Governor Moore, are not to decide that. You cannot tell the workers to remain servile and obedient to such kingly and czaristic commands as you may give either from Sea Girt or Trenton.

It sounds like hell to hear a governor talk that way. But it spurs us on to organize and get strong enough to rid ourselves of such potentates.

So, thank you, just the same.

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Attack on Negro Picket at Lodi

A brutal police attack on Sam Elam, a Negro picket line leader, at Lodi yesterday afternoon, was followed by a near riot as other strikers, resenting the brutal tactics by the police, rushed to Elam’s aid.

The attack on Elam occurred in front of the mill of the United Piece Dye Works, and was participated in by the mill’s hired gunmen.

Paul Iannie, a striker, received a gash on the head as the result of being slugged with a black-jack by one of the mill’s gunman. Iannie was locked up along with Elam and Mario Jsapelli, another striker. Three hundred strikers stormed the

jail demanding their release, and would not retreat until the relatives of the prisoners were admitted to see them.

This steady recurrence of police brutality in the strike zone coincides with the appearance on the scene of the bosses latest strike-breaking instrument, the infamous Citizens Committee of pot boiled bankers, real estate sharks and others, and the effort of the Citizens Committee to cut off strike relief in order to starve the strikers back to the mills.

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Emergency Committee Attacks Strike Breakers

Mrs. Clarina Michelson, Secretary of the Emergency Committee for Strikers Relief, which has greatly helped Passaic strike relief, declared here today she had learned that the Citizens Committee of would-be strike breakers is soon to publish a pamphlet “prepared by a New York press agent and sponsored by Col. Charles M. Johnson of the Botany Mills, where the strike started last January.”

At least 5,000 children in the strike area need milk daily, Mrs. Michelson declared, pointing out that the 1925 report of the State Department of Health (of New Jersey) showed a 45 per cent higher death rate for children under one year in Passaic than in the rest of New Jersey.

Examination of 110 strikers children last week by Dr. Samuel Tellman of Passaic, Mrs. Michelson said, showed sixty were underweight, and forty-eight diseased.

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Brilliant Program Arranged For Stadium Concert, Aug. 28 For Passaic Strike Relief

Work on the Coney Island Stadium Concert, to be held August 28^th for Passaic strike relief is progressing nicely. Ludwig Landy, in charge of the work, reported to the New York Conference for Passaic Strike Relief.

“The program for this concert will be one of the finest ever arranged for an affair of this kind,” Landy said. “We have secured the services of David Mendoza conductor of the Capitol Theatre orchestra. He will select 100 musicians from the various symphony orchestras in New York who will make up the orchestra, which play at Coney Island. We have also secured a chorus of 200 voices and the Metropolitan ballet of 50 dancers under the direction of Alexis Kosloff.

Tickets for the concert will sell for one dollar, and two dollars for reserved seats. To date 10,000 tickets have been circulated with every assurance of their being sold.

The program for the concert will be of an unusual character. It will contain the history of the strike and the names of contributors. “Honor Rolls” are being circulated among the various labor and sympathetic organizations. Each organization securing fifty signatures and the same number of dollars will get a page on the program on which the names of contributors will be printed.

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United Mine Workers Send Fifty Dollars

Terre Haute, Indiana,

July 24, 1926.

Mr. Deak, Sir and Brother:

Our Local has gone on record to help you workers win! And by donating what we can financially, also prayers for justice of Labor and Godly Dominion.

Now we have given all at present possible as we are helping the English miners and non-employed of our own ranks, at home. But in the near future write and let us know what is going on, whereas we will do our part.

My prayers is WIN at any cost.

Sincerely,

D. V. Dunn, Financial Secretary

Local 23, U. M. W. of A.

P. S.—Enclosed find $50.00 check.

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New Haven Youth Organize for Relief

A number of Youth Organizations here have recently formed a committee for the organization of a Youth Section of the Passaic Strike Relief Conference. Every youth organization has been invited to send delegates to the first conference Saturday, Aug. 7, at 7:15 p. m., in Machinists Hall, 99 Temple St., New Haven Conn.

Many youth social, cultural, sports and economic organizations have indicated their willingness to take part in this conference to work out plans for raising relief for the thousands of young textile strikers and the undernourished children of strikers families.

All young workers in New Haven shops are urged to send delegates from their shops.

Information may be obtained from the temporary secretary, S. Hubelbank, 162 West Street, New Haven, Conn.

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Sends $10 For Milk Coupons

Dear Comrades:

Enclosed you will find a check for $10.00 for the milk coupon or the two books which I have received. I am sending you the money in advance, although I am in need of cash myself, but I would like to see [the] Textile Strike won.

Yours for a Powerful Textile Union,

Harry Capell.

New York City.

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From Gary Workers Cooperative Restaurant

Dear Brothers:

Greetings to the Valiant Strikers of Passaic! The Gary Workers Cooperative Restaurant at its last membership meeting decided unanimously to send twenty-five dollars for the relief of the struggling textile strikers of Passaic.

We send you our best wishes for the victorious consummation of your heroic struggle.

We are with you till the end.

With brotherly greetings.

Gary Workers Cooperative Restaurant.

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Carpenters and Joiners Send Fifty Dollars

Enclosed find check for $50 from Local Union 275 of Carpenters of Newton, Mass.

I remain yours with best wishes,

Angus MacLean, Treas.

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Toledo Swings Into Line

An enthusiastic Passaic Relief Conference was held in this city last Wednesday at Labor Temple. Field Organizer, Ella Reeves Bloor outlined the nature of the gathering and was heartily applauded.

Louis Dunn, delegate from Electrical Workers Local No. 8 was elected temporary chairman.

Theresa Burke, youthful striker from the Passaic front gave an excellent talk on the terrible conditions in the mills, and the experiences of strikers on the picket lines.

John Di Santo Picket Captain from Lodi district was then introduced, and gave a detailed report of conditions which led up to the strike, and the terrible hardships of the strikers in combating police clubs, gas bombs, and other brutal tactics of the police.

“Mother” Bloor then reported in detail on Relief work and made a fine appeal for local cooperation. The delegates present then engaged in a discussion of the question of permanent organization. The following were then elected to the Executive Committee:

President, John Dunn, Elec. Workers Loc. 8; Sec’y, Mrs. D. Amadon, I. W. A.; Treasurer, Mrs. M. Young, Carpenters Auxiliary; Louis Goldbloom, John Dinsmore, A. S. Beno, Charles Stephenson, J. H. Harris, N. Beck, Moses Bea, Louis Goldbloom, Int. Ladies Garment Workers, Loc. 67; John Dinsmore, Metal Polishers Loc. 2; A. S. Beno, Elec. Workers loc.8; Chas. Stephenson, Int. Workers Aid; J. H. Harris, Steam Fitters Loc. 50; N. Beck, M. Bea, Building Laborers Loc. 500; Cora Gorham, Carpenters Auxiliary; Gus Vossberg, Patternmakers Assn.; I. Katlen, Workmen’s Circle, Br. 155; Chas. Stallman, Sheet Metal Workers Loc. 6.

The following is a partial list of delegates present other than above listed: Francis J. Mauzur, Grover Amadu, Workers Club, James Murray, Plumbers & Steamfitters Loc. 50; J. H. Harris, sec’y Plumbers and Steamfitters Loc. 50; N. F. B. Gorham, Carpenters Local; William Patterson, Workers Party; Fred Davey, Int. Labor Defense; Thomas Pasheff, Bulgarian Workers Club; Vinnie Harriman, United Garment Workers of America, No. 186.

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Milwaukee Holds Rousing Conference

A rousing conference for relief of Passaic textile workers was held here on Thursday, July 29^th, at Labor Lyceum, 759 Garfield Street. This conference did not include the labor unions represented in the Central Trades and Labor Assembly, which is carrying on its own relief campaign among affiliated organizations.

The conference was addressed by Rebecca Grecht, relief field organizer, who described the strike situation, and pointed out the urgent need for an intensified drive in Milwaukee. A number of delegates took the floor, all enthusiastically pledging themselves to make an energetic campaign for funds.

Tells of Plight of Children

Leo Krzyski, general organizer of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America, who had just returned from a visit to Passaic, told of the heroism of the striking textile workers, confronted by daily brutal police onslaughts. He emphasized the plight of the children of the strikers, and praised the splendid work carried on by the General Relief Committee in its gathering and distribution of funds.

Many books of milk and meal seals, as well as contribution lists and the pictorial, “Hell in New Jersey,” were distributed. It was decided to call a second relief conference on August 19^th, and to invite all labor unions of the city to send delegates, in order to unify relief activities in Milwaukee. An executive committee of thirteen was elected, with A. J. Piepenhagen, Manager of the Milwaukee Joint Board of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers, as Chairman, and M. Mankoff, also of the Joint Board, as Secretary-treasurer. The committee was instructed to make immediate arrangements for a picnic.

Elects Executive Committee

Others on the Executive Committee are: Goldie Berg, of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America; Ben Rubin, Ward 6 Branch Socialist Party; H. Speizman, United Relief Conference of Milwaukee; G. Piccoli, Workers Party; Mrs. S. A. McIntosh and Anita K. Koenen, of the Women’s Trade Union League; Clara Knappe, Bluebird Lodge 106 Ladies Auxiliary to International Association of Machinists; Metz Berger, wife of Victor Berger; Cora Meyer, International Labor Defense; John Mileager, Amalgamated Clothing Workers.

Other delegates present were: Mrs. H. Kent and Mrs. M. R. Almon; Commonwealth League; Louis Majtan, Slovak Workers Society Br. 31; Mrs. W. Kleing and Mrs. A. M. Jaeger, of Blue Bird Lodge No. 116; Hattie Kluchesky, 13^th Ward Branch Socialist Party; Alex C. Ruffing, 7th Ward Branch, Socialist Party; Wm. Rohring, German Branch Socialist Party; Mrs. M. Sigulnik, Mrs. Kulker, David Pinsker Club; Postyp Ukrainian Fraternal Organization, Mike Andrysaik; M. Zalisko and Joe Kovach, International Labor Defense; J. Kuiz, Br. 5 Jewish National Workers Alliance of America; Frank Garber, Freiheit Dramatic Club; H. Speizman, United Conference of Milwaukee for Passaic Relief; representing Capmakers Union, Workmen’s Circle Branches 425 and 166, and Rialto Club; John Piccoli, of Young Workers League.

The Conference has established local headquarters at the office of the Joint Board of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers Union, 321 Third Street.

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Buffalo Holds Rousing Relief Conference

Organized labor in this city held a rousing Passaic Strike Relief Conference last Tuesday at Engineers Union Hall. The spirit of the conference was that the big textile strike must be won.

The Conference was called to order by Relief Field Organizer Ella Reeve Bloor, who then gave an outline of relief work carried on by many local conferences throughout the country, and explained the details of the efficient and economical distribution of the Relief funds through the General Relief Committee of Textile Strikers, at 743 Main Avenue, Passaic, N. J.

Committee to Visit Unions

Ray Leffe, of the Electrical Workers Union, was elected temporary chairman.

Ellen Dawson, secretary of the Strikers Committee, made a report on the strike, the cause of the strike, and the brave fight carried on by the strikers against the fierce and brutal opposition of the mill bosses.

It was decided after a very interesting discussion, to enter into preparatory work for a house-to-house drive for milk for the strikers kiddies. A committee was appointed to continue visiting unions and other organizations, and to get donations.

To Show Strike Movie

It was also decided to get the Passaic Strike Moving Picture here at an early date, and a committee was appointed to see about a suitable hall. It was also decided to arrange a mass meeting and picnic, to be addressed by Albert Weisbord if possible.

The Field Organizer was instructed to order 1000 of the strike pictorials “Hell in New Jersey” for the members of the conference.

A permanent organization was effected, with the election of the following Executive Committee:

Chairman, Ray Leffe, Electrical Workers Union No. 41; Secretary, James Campbell, Moulders Union; Treasurer, William Jamison, Carpenters Local No. 374; W. L. Sears, Stationary Engineers No. 907; Mat Hamilton, Int’l. Dredge Workers No. 6; A. M. Green, Workers Party, Dist. 4; Frank E. Ziegelmaier, Photo Engravers Union; Sam Dardick, Indep’t. Workmen’s Circle No. 90; Elizabeth Rabinoff, Ind’t. Workmen’s Circle No. 52; Max Herndle, Proletarian Party; William Murdock, from Passaic, member of Machinists Union Relief Committee, now working in Buffalo.

List of Delegates

A partial list of delegates present: Frank F. Ziegelmaier, Photo Engravers Union No. 105; Matthew Price, Painters Union No. 112; O. Rabinoff, Br. 378, Workmen’s Circle; A. M. Green, Workers Party, Dist. 4; Franklin Brill, Workers Party, Dist. 4; .Mat Hamilton, Int’l. Dredge Workers No. 6; Thos. Bradley, Paperhangers Loc. 161; Elizabeth Rabinoff, Women’s Br. No. 52, Workmen’s Circle; I. Greenberg, Women’s Br. No. 52; Max Herndle, Proletarian Party; W. L. Sears, Stationary Engineers No. 907; Sam Dordick, Indep. Workmen’s Circle, Br. No. 90; Kaaris Kalke, Finnish Workers Club; Carl Berger, Int. Labor Defense; William Murdock, Int. Workers Aid; Ray Leffe, Electrical Workers Union No. 41; James Campbell, Iron Moulders Union; Wm. Jamison, Carpenters Loc. 372.

Individual delegates were present from the I. W. W. and other unions.

The conference was adjourned to meet Wednesday, July 21.

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Amalgamated Food Workers Donate $200 Again

Amalgamated Food Workers, Bakers Loc. No. 164, Bronx,

Dear Brothers:

This will notify you that at our general meeting held July 4^th, we considered it a good way to celebrate by donating $200 to our fighting brothers and comrades of the Textile Industry. You will also find list which was collected by our secretary and carrying $5.00.

Fraternally,

Eugene Schneider.

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Local 9, U. M. W. A. Sends $250.00

United Mine Workers of America

Associated with A. F. of L.

Shamokin, Pa.

Dear Sirs and Brothers:

In answer to your appeal for relief, I am enclosing a check for $250.00 for the relief of your strikers. We regret that we cannot make this more but it is impossible just at this time. Please receipt for this payment as donation from district No. 9, U. M. W. of A.

Sincerely hope you will win.

We are,

Yours fraternally,

James J. M. Andrew,

Sec-Treas.

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Sends Second Check on Membership Tax

We have Voted to Join the American Federation of Labor

We voted with 12,000 union cards last Saturday to join the American Federation of Labor. We have always been ready to do so. Always ready to become a part of organized labor so that we may fight side by side in our struggle for higher wages and better working conditions.

Many times during the strike have we been told by our leaders that it would be unwise to remain outside the main body of organized workers in this country, and that by no means should we form a union apart from the larger mass of workers already organized.

And many times have we been reminded how the bosses of all industries are organized into their local clubs and associations, but how all these are tied together in the one central body of the International Chamber of Commerce.

With the bosses thus united under one banner for the purpose of squeezing as much out of the workers as possible, it is necessary for us to unite into one powerful body and not into many small groups that can easily be destroyed by the owning class.

In addition to that, we were told by the press and the representatives of the bosses that they would never deal with us and our leadership as a United Front Committee, but that they would deal with us if we were a part of the American Federation of Labor.

Very good! This has not been and is not now opposed to our policy. There is nothing to quibble about as far as that is concerned.

So now we are looking forward to the time when we shall have a charter from the United Textile Workers of America, which is a part of the American Federation of Labor, and be on the way to build up a solid union in the textile mills, so that every worker may have the protection and power and guidance of the union and enjoy a larger portion of the product of his labor.

We voted enthusiastically for affiliation with the American Federation of Labor, confident that in this unity we will gain greater power and be further able to inspire all other textile workers as well as the unorganized throughout the entire country to follow our example.

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The Mayor With A One Track Mind

We have him right here in Passaic. He is that usual kind that no one envies.

Mayor McGuire advises the strikers to go back to work first and then settle the strike.

That is the same advice he gave us February 15.

Our mayor appears to have a shortage of ideas. He has had this one now for nearly six months and has not had a new one since, or he is hiding it.

We are a bit curious about out Mayor. Could we venture to ask if he is capable of more than one idea a year? Or does one idea last him several years?

And he makes the headlines with it. The papers think it is the grandest notion on deck. To them it is as fresh as if it had been begotten early last week.

He also makes the editorial page. “Coming from an elective official, even in the sixth month of the strike it is courageous ,” says the Passaic Daily Herald.

Whow!

Now we know how to say something that makes us look “courageous.” All you have to do is to say something so utterly silly that it falls through the bottom of a wheelbarrow and you are at once “courageous.”

“It is not easy to give the advice to the strikers, ‘go back to work,’ unless one is convinced that the best interests of the persons affected lie that way,” continues our unworthy contemporary.

For silliness we cannot see whether the Herald or the mayor is entitled to the cake. It would seem that both of them should have a slice.

Will the strikers go back without a union? Ask them. They have answered that question many times. They answered the mayor six months ago. They answered the Herald also. They have backed their answer well.

But what do you say of a mayor who tells a mass of workers to go back under the old conditions? Who wants men and women to slave for wages that no decent living soul would have “courage” to call reasonable? A mayor who wants women to work nights for $5 a week?

That’s the kind of mayor we have in Passaic. And that’s the kind of mayor the Herald says is “courageous.”

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Less Poor in Passaic This Year

The so-called Citizens Committee, a combination of the most vicious and stupid elements in the East, now backing the unspeakable textile barons in their brutality and their attempt to degrade the workers still further by forcing them back into the mills without a union, is now harping on a new string.

The noise, however, is not as bad as the silliness committee wants it to be. It is a question of relief. The committee is mad at the strike relief committee because it gets food for the strikers and their children.

Naturally it wanted the strikers and especially their children to starve to death. That was the stated wish of the mill owners at the beginning of the strike. It was a ghoulish wish, and now the lickspittles of the bosses who call themselves the Citizens Committee are having a spell of horse colic because the workers of this country took care of the strikers while they were fighting for a union.

And the relief committee has been so successful that the Citizens Committee exclaims with great pain: