Open forum, vol. 3, no. 31 (July, 1926)

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Vol. 3.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, JULY 31, 1926

A Labor Leader a Little Different

By J. H. RYCKMAN

It was a great treat to hear James H. Maurer,

President, Pennsylvania's Federation of Labor, at

Tait's on Broadway, Wednesday evening of last week.

A banquet was tendered him and his good wife by

the Socialists. He discussed the labor problems con-

fronting us just now with a tolerance and under-

standing rare indeed among labor leaders in this

country but quite common in England. Jim Maurer,

as he is familiarly called in the labor world, came up

from the bottom. .At 6 he was a newsboy. At 10 he

was in a factory. At 16 he was working in a coal-

mine, unable to read or write. Today he is the loved

and trusted leader of 500,000 trade unionists in his

native state-the state of Mat Quay, Penrose and the

Mellons-the state where $3,000,000 was recently dis-

hursed by three contending Republican candidates for

the office of United States Senator (Maurer says it

was nearer $10,000,000); where the employers main-

tain a state police-a cross between the Irish Con-

sabulary and the Russian Cossack-a powerful

stike-breaking institution paid by the state and em-

ployed by the corporations and housed by them. The

power of these American Cossacks is practically un-

limited. They make arrests and search houses with-

out warrants. The spirit of martial law prevails

when they arrive in a community. Their trail of

blood was seen in 1910 in the Bethlehem strike under

the iron rule of Schwab; and in the Great Steel

Strike of 1919, when W. Z. Foster valiantly fought

for the rights of the exploited workers. Such is the

Keystone State, where liberty is said to have been

born in 76, and where Jim Maurer is still battling

for freedom and the right to live as if old Liberty

Bell had never rung out the glad news that all men

are created equal and that we Americans are and of

right ought to be free. Only an indomitable spirit

like Maurer could have withstood these forces of

larkness for a generation without abject capitulation.

Never have the high qualities of leadership shown

better in the struggles of labor than in the case of

Maurer. Never has it been better demonstrated that

to be a great labor leader more is necessary than

loggedness in demanding more wages and ever more,

shorter work days and shorter still, and better work-

ing conditions and better yet. These are the slogans

of organized labor in this country. Maurer wants

these, but he wants more. He wants a fuller, a more

beautiful life not only for the wage workers but for

all mankind-even the capitalists. These slogans of

organized labor beget and intensify class bitterness

`na competitive socity like ours. Employers do not

bay the added expense of operating when wages are

advanced or shorter hours gained. The increased

cost is added to the product and passed on to the

io he pays the bill. The consumer, being

bbe ae raises the cry of selfishness and class

a against the organized wage worker, class

fs ne 1s engendered, class bitterness deepened and

te sh ourselves in the vicious circle out of which

Aone oy hope of escape. Along comes a Maurer

tna a Sora Ramsey MacDonald or a Sidney Webb

ties ts competition must go and in its place must

Bike fon before the deadly ills of society

as et It is not enough that labor strives for

ea, ae a shorter work day and more whole-

are ae conditions, but it must take over the

a of land, industry and the mechanism of ex-

; a and operate them for the good of all and not

; oes only. Then most class antagonisms

zg eee and paupers and parasites will be

ies euro curios of the past. Then there will be no

a ee commercial wars as in the past and no

always ee es war-tax burdens to be imposed, as

a ae he last analysis, upon the back of labor.

a ae will be. no insoluble crime problem nor

ee Pe isians like Gov. Richardson's or Mr.

i ane : as we all know nine-tenths of all crime

biatch poverty and unemployment and when co-

Supersedes competition there will be

neither poverty nor unemployment. The supreme

test of the competency of any ruling class is its

ability to solve the problem of unemployment. The

government that cannot assure a job for every man

or woman able and willing to work is incapable of

solving any problem affecting human welfare. These

suggestions shadow forth the philosophy of Jim

Maurer. For entertaining or preaching such fan-

tastic whimsies he is denounced alike by the Mellons,

the Schwabs and the Garys and is told by the leaders

of organized labor to go away back and sit down.

Maurer believes, too, in the general strike-not to

overthrow the government but as the last drastic

step sometimes to be taken to coerce into deecncy

a heartless employer. If incidentally the general

strike so incommodes the government and:so con-

vinces it of its inefficiency that it abdicates in peace

and yields to a government more humane and more

competent so much the more credit is due to the

general strike. All labor leaders are not so minded.

On the first day of the recent British General Strike,

William Green, President of the A. F. of L., came

out in a statement condemning the general strike.

He was covered with slavers of praise at once from

the Post of New York to the Times of Los Angeles.

But it was soon apparent trade union sentiment was

not with him. Many locals repudiated the senti-

ment. The Central Labor Council of New York, the

Chicago Machinists, the Illinois Miners, the U. M. W.,

the A. C. W., the I. L. G. W. and the Workers' party

were against him so strongly that a few days later

Green said: "American Labor desires to help the

British miners and will give all support possible in

their fight for decent wages."

Maurer's attitude toward Russia gave a shock to

some hard-boiled Socialists. He said Russia is the

hope of the world. Before world peace can come to

stay, we must be able to see a workers' government

in.every country under the sun. When the Soviet

government offered to send $2,000,000 to help the

British miners, the British government said, `"`No, it

cant' be done," but when the Russian trade unionists

said, "All right, we will send it ourselves," the Brit-

ish government backed down and said, "We beg your

pardon; send it along." At Leningrad, the metal

workers decided to work two hours overtime for sey-

eral days. and to send their overtime pay to `the

British miners. Theatres gave special performances

and newspapers opened special funds for the British

strikers.

and so down the line. It was a great delight to hear

Maurer, but a deep regret that a million people

didnt'? hear him instead of a few hundred. When we

have more labor leaders like Jim Maurer and A. J.

Cook and Herbert Smith, a great change will be

manifest in the rank and file of organized labor.

Dinner Pail Epic

By BILL LLOYD, Federated Press

A speaker told some _ student boys about the

academic joys when British youths, so much their

like, went out to break the general strike. He's glad

the teachers mobilize a numerous force of rah-rah

boys, to fit themselves to scab on workers and so

intrench financial shirkers, as though it were real

patriotic to take a stand so idiotic.

When those white collars graduate it's very sure

to be their fate to have to sell their lightweight

brains to bolster up the profit gains. White collars

will not save these knaves from helping swell the

class of slaves.

The lesson to the working class is we must

mobilize in mass to grab control of education and

teach about emancipation. Don't trust. the boss to

teach your youth the fearful brand of bosses' truth.

Don't let him teach your kids in schools that union

men are crooks and fools.

Russian coal-miners gave two days' wages

SR

Tell me how you live and I will tell you how you really think.

Bl

No. #

Railroads Wallow Deeper in

ProfitTrough

By LELAND OLDS, Federated Press

Railroad stockholders are well started toward an-

other most profitable year in the history of the car-

riers, according to May income figures issued by the

railroads' bureau of railway economics. If the pres-

ent rate of increase over a year ago is maintained,

railroad profits for 1926 should top a billion and a

quarter dollars.

May profits totaled $88,120,501, an increase of

15.6% over May, 1925. This brings the total profits

for the first 5 months of 1926 to $387,546,624, a gain

of 11.6% over the same period last year, when the

12-month total was $1,136,000,000. The return so far

this year is at the rate of 54%2% on the enormous

valuation of $21,175,000,000 placed on the railroads

for rate making.

A check of 32 important carriers, tabulated by

the Wall Street Journal, shows that 1926 gains are

well distributed. Out of this group 20 railroads

showed large increases in profits compared with a

year ago, while only 5 show profits below 1925. The

remaining 7 report profits about equaling the same

period in 1925. Three of the 5 showing decreased

profits were affected by the anthracite strike.

The 20 roads reporting material gains in profits,

together with their 5-month net incomes in 1925 and

1926, are:

Net incomes 1st 5 months- 1925 1926 -

Pennsylvaniag ees ee eee: $29,726,954 $34,545,471

Newaviorks, Central 2 oi Roe: 23,405,154 25,519,243

Southern Races weet ee 10,741,680 14,192,042

Baltimore e Ohio. sh 12,379,808 15,542,430

Sa ritacg Hes ck ee Se a aca nae 12,261,833 15,146,206

mtontwPacifice 22.0) are a a 9,029,914 9,906,533

SO UE hernip tien 2oe a ae 12,072,154 - 12,574;577

BiuGHNnShOns hae bn ee es 7,167,436 9,725,241

Sts Paul 2,951,593 4,490,644

Chicago and Northwestern.......... 4,659,979 6,703,171

Louisville and Nashville..........-.-- 9,013,268 10,728,157

Now. haven ick e ea, 8,459,855. 8,836,347

MASSOUP: Paciice, "2214 Sea 5,903,133 7,258,993

Chesapeake 7 Ohio: (ese 10,131,642 12,278,232

Norfolk and Western._........-------- 9,626,652 14,243,013

NorthernmeRacitiCs = =, Se ee 4,059,456 5,760,936

Boston: and (Maines eee 3,474,174 5,002,749

Seaboard: Airs ines e sea: 4,098,552 4,660,040

ARE AS Prs coset es ee es eee Bas 3,485,308 3,913,722

Pere Watquette..2 5. 2,588,529 3,407,906

These 20 railroads show a combined gain of about

$40,000,000, or 22%, over the profits of the first 5

months of 1925. Roads with profits practically un-

changed since 1925 include Illinois Central, Atlantic

Coast Line, Reading, Big Four, Frisco, Texas and Pa-

cific and St. Louis-Southwestern. The Erie, Rock

Island, Lehigh Valley, Katy and Delaware and Hudson

reported considerable decreases.

Many of the roads reporting big gains over a year

ago made very favorable returns to their stockhold-

ers in 1925. For Pennsylvania stockholders the rate

was 12.4%;..New York Central, 12.7%; Southern

Pacific, 10.294; Baltimore and Ohio, 12.1%; Santa Fe,

17.2%; Union Pacific, 15.4%; Southern, 16.2% ;

Louisville and Nashville, 16% ; Norfolk and Western,

18.7%, and Pere Marquette, 11.7%. This year will

undoubtedly see these excessive returns exceeded.

Not only free speech but free listening were up-

held by the appellate court in a double-barreled Chi-

cago case dating from a year ago. _F. G. Biedenkapp,

speaker at an open-air meeting, and one of his hear-

ers were arrested and charged with disorderly con-

duct because the police did not like the radical

flavor of the talk nor the stubborn desire to hear it.

Both the speaker and Marc Marek, one of the audi-

ence, were absolved by `the `appeHate court after the

police judge had fined them. Free speech is safe on

Chicago street corners-until the next lawless police

raid.

American Militarism and Free Speech

The following items concerning a recent Peace

Meeting at Concord, Mass., have an interest for me

that they will not have for everyone, though the

matter is of common importance and ought to be of

common interest. But the ground where these hap-

penings occurred is home ground to me. I was

brought up at Waltham, only a few miles from Con-

cord. Our Sunday School picnics were held at Lake

Walden, or Walden Pond, as we ealled it then,

Thoreau's old camping ground. And when I took

my wife with me to Concord, on our wedding jour-

ney in 1907, we were interested and amused, and

rather disgusted to find the house where the Con-

cord School of Philosophy had met in its famous

days boarded up, the homesite of the Alcotts, where

"Little Women" was written, and lived, in decay,

and Concord itself infested with monuments to mili-

tary nobodies who had been more or less conspicuous

in the mass murder business years ago.

The first article following is from a Boston paper,

and was sent to me by a brother of mine resident

there. The second article is a commentary by Nor-

man Thomas, taken from his excellent press service,

sent out by the League for Industrial Democracy:

R. W.

"EGGS HURLED AT PEACE MEETING

"A gang of 50 or more young men made a concert-

ed but unsuccessful effort to stop Prof. Carl S.

Skinner of Tufts College from giving an address on

`The New Pacifism and the Newer Knowledge' at

the second day session of the New England Fellow-

ship of Youth for Peace conference at the Parish

House Hall of Trinity Episcopal Church in Concord

last night. The crowd was broken up and ordered

away from the premises by the Concord police.

"A dozen or more eggs were hurled by members

of the gang while they were in the hall, but, accord-

ing to the Rev. Smith O. Dexter, rector of the

church, no one was hit.

"Gang Keeps Up Jeers

"They jeered and hooted and kept up almost a

continual clatter of noise, _Many prominent citizens

. of Concord, who were among the attendance of 200

men and women present to hear the speaker, pleaded

with the gang to stop. But their pleas went un-

answered.

"Finally word was sent to Police Chief William

Ryan. He ordered two officers to the church. On

their arrival there they met the vanguard of the gang

marching from the hall singing and yelling.

"Assembling outside the hall the crowd held an

impromptu meeting and listened to a talk by a man

who is said to have made an enviable war record

overseas."

"On threat of arrest for disturbing the peace the

crowd left the grounds, while the police stood at the

parish house door to prevent its members from enter-

ing the building again.

""They were a lot of irresponsible young men,'

said the Rev. Mr. Dexter. `Their chief spokesman

was a veteran, who is a member of the Legion and

who made a fine record overseas. But I desire to be

fair to the Legion. I am certain that the Legion

was not behind the mob nor had anything to do with

the disturbance.

-"*The men, about 50 in number, came to the hall

shortly before 7:30 and sat in the back seats of the

parish hall. As soon as the Rev. Mr. Auer, pastor

of the Unitarian Church, introduced Prof. Skinner

there was heard some noise coming from the direc-

tion of the crowd of young fellows.'

"Prof. Skinner was interrupted time and again,

said the rector but he remained calm and continued

to deliver his address. It was with great difficulty

that the assemblage was able to hear the speaker

above the din of the noise.

"After Prof. Skinner finished his address he asked

if there were any present who wished to ask ques-

tions. Immediately many of the young men jumped

to their feet and Prof. Skinner, smilingly, said that.

he wished to address one at a time.

"All sorts of questions were submitted, some about

Russia, some about war and others about peace.

Prof. Skinner endeavored to answer each question

in a serious tone, but the questioners were not sat-

isfied. Several injected personalities into their

questions.

"Previous Disturbance

"So great became the disturbance during the ques-

tion period that several prominent citizens requested

that the disturbers be sent from the hall.

"Late last night the Rev. Mr. Dexter said he was

sorry that the affair had occurred in the parish hall

or at any place. He said that some of the men had

been present at Saturday night's meeting and raised

a disturbance.

"The rector declared that yesterday noon Elmer

Joslin, commander of the Concord Legion post, came

to him and made the request that the American flag

be displayed at the meeting.

"T gaid to Mr. Joslin that we would be willing to

meet any demand of the Legion,' said the Rev. Mr.

Dexter. `I asked him to get the flag and we would

together place it in the hall.' He said that the flag

was brought to the hall and put in place and was

there during the meeting last night.

"He said that a number of `rotten eggs' were

found in the parish hall and that these had been

thrown by members of the disturbing element.

"He said that he did not expect any further trouble

during the continuance of the conference sessions,

which will end next week. The conference is being

attended by students from Harvard, Boston Univer-

sity, Wellesley, Radcliffe, Simmons and many other

colleges in New England.

"Brent Dow Allinson is general chairman of the

conference.

"There was an outdoor gathering yesterday after-

noon at Thoreau's cove, Lake Walden. A symposium,

`Can Christianity Be Relied on as a Force for Peace?'

led by Robert Raible of the South End House, Bos-

ton, followed with a talk on `What the Churches

Have Done for Peace,' by Thomas Que Harrison.

"The program for today opens at 9 A. M. with a

talk on `Origins of the Great War,' by Prof. Harry

E. Barnes.

"SEMI-OFFICIAL HOOLIGANISM

"When.a man or a group of men set themselves to

inquire how to get better protection than powder and

shells, dynamite and T. N. T. afford, they are likely

to be rated not as public benefactors, but enemies of

their kind! Until the very end of their sessions the

young people at the Concord (Mass.) Peace Confer-

ence were subject to annoyance. Eggs were consid-

ered arguments to use against them. On a recent

speaking trip in New England I went back to Con-

cord and heard more of the story that I have pre-

viously told.

"Responsible and well informed witnesses told me

that the trouble was started by officers and promi-

nent leaders of the American Legion, inspired, there

is reason to believe, not only by some of these al-

leged patriotic or defense societies, but, at least in-

directly, by the War Department itself. These promi-

nent leaders, according to report, actually talked over

with the town hooligans plans for the first night's

egging. Then they themselves discreetly kept away

and later repudiated the violence they had invited.

Still later they helped to organize a "patriotic" meet-

ing with a chaplain, a civilian preacher, a woman

witch hunter, and New York's own Freddy Marvin as

speakers. Marvin's style was a bit cramped by the

presence of a court stenographer. Freddy has a

wholesome fear of libel suits. So he contented him-

self with talking about the Illuminati (of course, you

all know them) and eulogizing his mother. If you

don't see the connection of ideas we haven't time to

explain it. You know that if we love our mothers

we simply must stop talking peace. Anonymous

leaflets were distributed giving more or less incor-

rectly a "Who's Who of speakers at the Peace Con-

ference. A _ still more inaccurate Who's Who ecir-

culated by mail by one of Massachusetts' many So-

Defending Profits Under

Patriotism credits the innocent writer of these lines

with being the founder of the I. W. W.! But all's

fair bait for making rich suckers bite.

cieties for Cover of

"Not the least amusing feature of this Concord

episode is the war record of some of the most valiant

patriots. It appears that several of these heroes

managed to avoid the draft until just before the

Armistice or got a safe berth in the navy on this

side of the water. But how bravely they can curse

pacifists!

- ae rrr

Monthly Report of Financia|

Condition of Federated

Press

Chicago, July LT, 1935.

156 West Washington Street

This report covers June, 1926, in brief sum

with comparisons for May, 1926, and June 1925

June-1926-May June, 1996

Ota le IMeOmerss 2. $ 1,688.89 $ 2,254.02 $ 3,228.99

mary

of which Donations 386.00 832.50 1,830.19

Operating income...... 1,302.39 1,421.52 1,393.87

Current expense........ IOs 1,899.56 1,785.08

Capital expense

(chiefly bonds and

Mahe PECINCG) sides faces none 132.50 -1.431.89

Net cash GAIN........ -_- 221.96 7.29

ING ieCasity OS Senses 284.88 = ---_ __

Accounts receivable.. 1,444.89 1,528.57 1,407.10

Accounts payable (we operate on cash basis, paying

bills as rendered)

Notes payable............ 2,000.00 2,000.00 2,000.00

Bond int'st accrued... 1,790.89 1,763.34 1,808.70

Outstanding bonds.... 26,889.00 26,889.00 36,486.00

LOCALS ASSC UR cmt: (104,92 7,378.92 5,916.7

Total liabilities.......... 30,995.11 30,974.24 40,819.59

ROM AYH DEE N@ hile 23,880.20 23,595.32 34,901.91

Full information on any point of Federated Pregs

finance, policy or organization will be given on te-

quest.

CARL EHAESSLER,

Sec'y-Treas,

Chicago Labor Notes

By CARL HAESSLER, Federated Press

CHICAGO (FP).-Wage negotiations on the Chi-

cago transportation systems are under their annual

way. The 20,000 employes on the elevated lines of

the Chicago Rapid Transit Co. and the Chicago Sur:

face Lines demand a 5-cent hourly raise, while the

employes of the Chicago, North Shore and Milwaukee

Interurban want 6 cents. All demands have been

refused and cuts threatened by the managements.

In 1922 there was an unsuccessful strike. Since

then arbitration and negotiation have kept the peace.

International officers of the Amalgamated Associa-

tion of Street and Electric Railway employes are

assisting local officers of Div. 308 (L lines), 241

(surface) and 900 (North Shore) in the conferences.

Strikes are considered unlikely, particularly as the

surface lines franchises expire in 6 months.

* oe *

Less than a dozen pickets remain behind the bars

of the Cook County jail for their unbounded con-

tempt of Judge Denis Sullivan's injunctions issued

to help the bosses in the 1924 strike of the Inter

national Ladies' Garment Workers' Union, Over 30

of the pickets, mostly girls and young married

women, some of them mothers of infants, have gone

through the jail experience, finding that it has

added to their union loyalty and also to their con

tempt of capitalist law.

"The girls are all right,' says President John

Fitzpatrick, Chicago Federation of Labor.

Meanwhile the new union management has brought

the Percival B. Palmer shop, the biggest cloak manu:

facturer in Chicago, to time with a rigorous agree

ment under which employes not now in the umon

are given the choice of joining or working else

where. Greater shop control has also been won.

The fur workers on strike since July 1 are Pro

gressing in their campaign to sign up the shops

under the new agreement which includes a $5 weekly

wage advance and greater shop control by the union.

* * *

The 4th anniversary of the Amalgamated Trust and

Savings Bank, founded in 1922 by the Amalgamated

Clothing Workers and since then Chicago's only

labor bank, finds the institution with resources 9

almost $3,500,000.

"Some of the members in Chicago may be

a secret disappointment," says Duane Swift of es

bank's publicity staff, "that the labor bank has a

`cornered the money market,' "captured' industty

Chicago through control of credit and oe

achieved a bloodless revolution and set up the Ce

commonwealth, and not a few other such pel te

Nevertheless, Swift declares, the bank "bas |

tempted to render the maximum service at the leas

COSts

nursing

and there are freak

If the chairs are bright green ad of 8

pictures on the wall, it's a tea room inste

restaurant.

i a

An Appeal Worth While

re is something which ought to make appeal to

f all who have any feeling left, and par-

he people of California:

He

the hearts 0

toularly to t

GENERAL DEFENSE COMMITTEE

3333 Belmont Ave., Chicago, Ill.

DAR FRIEND:

No doubt you still remember the San Pedro outrage

June 14th, 1924, when fiends in human form

poured hot grease on small children and forced

others into a boiler of steaming liquid.

The victims are still suffering. An investigating

committee reported that those needing and entitled

{9 support are composed of the Sundsted and Rodin

children. The injuries Mrs. Sundsted received at

the same time were at least a contributory cause of

ner death, thus making the children orphans.

There are four of the Sundsted children, Elmer,

the oldest boy, is at the Sawtelle home, where the

charge is $20.00 a month. The three other children

nave found a refuge with an uncle, Mr. Howarth,

yho, being a workingman and having four children

of his own, can ill afford to care for them perma-

nently. May Sundsted, one of the three, cannot de-

yelop properly, as (her lower body being more scars

than skin) she cannot excrete through her pores,

making a slow and expensive treatment of skin gratt-

ing her only hope.

Mr. Howarth should receive at least $30.00 a month

o help him take care of the three children under

his care.

One of the Rodin boys is in a pathetic condition,

aga result of the beastly burning he suffered at the

time, His burned arm is underdeveloped, his hips

are in an awful condition. Skin grafting would also

relieve him to a large extent.

We are trying to raise some funds for surgical

relief for the Sundsted girl and the Rodin boy, and

also to meet the current expenses.

0n how much can we count from you, either as a

vegular contribution for the next 12 months, towards

the maintenance of these children, or a lump con-

inbution (however large or small) to be used for

of

LOVES PR SAT pound h e i didn aT i

maintenance and aS soon as possible for surgical

relief?

All money contributed for this purpose will be

wed exclusively for the victims of the San Pedro

ditrage, without ANY DEDUCTIONS WHATEVER

for the necessary small expenses of raising or ad-

ministering it.

We feel sure we can count on you to help these

thildren. Please let us know as soon as possible.

Yours for Humanity and Freedom,

PEO MONOLDI, Secretary.

Votes for the "Invisible"

Why should certain people donate $1,046,000 to

ihe purpose of putting George W. Pepper, or any

ither man, into the United States Senate? There's

i salary in the job, comparatively. There's no mil-

in dollars' worth of honor in a senatorship.

Why will people come forward with $1,046,000

`or the purpose of putting a certain man in the

Senate when it would take weeks of hard begging

10 taise that amount for almost any other purpose?

I is because special interests profit from Pepper.

. pease special interests know that Pepper will

! euro lor laws that will yield them $10 or more for

"tty $1 invested in' Candidate Pepper rather than

mn beneficial to the whole country. The people

oe may demand laws relieving themselves

: euro gougery of special interests. So, the lat-

y UY, or would buy, a vote in the Senate against

4 demand. The conflict between government

ie a the people and government by the "In-

ile overnment" threatens to be close and one

r ay be worth a hundred times $1,046,000.

torial from "Seattle Star."

| Upton Sinclair Publishes

euroSpokesman's Secretary'

lary,"

Cal. (FP).-"The Spokesman's Secre-

4 comic takeoff on Cal the Cool, is being pub-

ve me form by the author, Upton Sinclair,

aS been al., at $1.25 (cloth), or 50cent (paper). It

Mited Preee ne as a serial in a number of Fed-

"*SS Member papers.

May Sundsted is growing and eats heartily, but

she does not gain much strength. She goes to school'

daily, when able, but there is a certain lassitude and

her lower limbs do not respond and act as in a

healthy child.

She has a cold most all of the time, and no doubt

this is caused from her condition and on account of

the lower limbs being almost completely covered with

sears, her body can't throw off the poison, because

where there is a scar, there are no pores. Her body

and limbs from the waist down is a horrible sight of

scars, and humps and hollows where flesh fell away

and then healed over it.

Elmer Sundsted, the boy, is at a home in Sawtelle,

for which the uncle (Mr. Howarth) has to pay $20.00

per month for his board and schooling.

Mr. Howarth is a wage worker and Mrs. Howarth

also goes out to work. It is hard on them to have

this addition to their own family of four, and the

extra expense of keeping Elmer in this home and

buying clothes for the three of them.

The smallest of the two Rodin children who were

burned is alright and healthy, but the boy, who is

11 or 12 years old, now is in a pathetic condition.

He doesn't seem to have grown any since his injury.

His parents are both large people, but he is small,

thin and very peaked. He seems to be very nervous

and when you talk to him about his injuries tears

come to his eyes. He doesn't seem to have much

vitality, although he claims his scars do not hurt

him, unless someone strikes them. His hips and

elbow are an awful sight. Great bumps that look

like water blisters and hollows where the flesh `fell

away. They healed in a drawn and twisted shape.

The arm that was burned looks smaller and less de-

veloped than the other arm.

His mother said that the doctor claimed one time

that he should have all that cut out and new skin

grafted over it. The Rodin family consists of the

father and mother and six children, of which this

boy is the oldest.

CLAUDE ERWIN,

EDITH CUTLER,

Committee..,

Financial World Sounds Call

For New Open Shop War

"Wherever possible, managements should take this

opportunity to inaugurate the open shop,' cries the

New York Commercial, mouthpiece of the eastern

financial interests, in an editorial July 10.

The importance to labor of this declaration of war

demands its publication in full:

"NOW IS THE TIME TO OPEN SHOP

"The immediate outlook is for a decided increase

in the number and importance of labor disturbances.

During the coming few months there will be an in-

creasing number of strikes, and the number of de-

mands for higher wages or shorter hours will be

considerably enlarged. Evidence of this increase is

even now visible, but today's visibility will prove, in

our opinion, only the start to greater proportions

that will probably reach their peak in September

or October.

"In some cases or where particular conditions pre-

vail it would not be wisdom for managements to pre-

cipitate open shop acceptance directly out of a clear,

blue union sky. In a great many other cases, how-

ever, a demand for advanced wages or the threat of

a strike would be all the justification needed to throw

overboard the adherence to unionism and inaugurate

the open shop American plan.

"Totally disregarding the merits of the open shop

system and the utter lack of merit of the closed shop,

such action at this time would be backed by the

fact that the status of the employed is better today

than at any time since the slump of 1920; that the

decline in commodity prices since the first of the

year has more than neutralized the slight upward

trend in living costs, and that the average number of.

hours worked and the average weekly earnings have

been higher this year than at any time since 1922.

All of which means that demands for advanced wages

or decreased hours of work are entirely out of place,

at this time. That such demands will be made, how-

ever, abundant evidence indicates.

"That wherever possible, managements should take

this opportunity to inaugurate the open shop is also

unquestioned by everyone having at heart the wel-

fare of American industry."-New York Commercial,

July 10, 1926.

Automobiles Gain;

Locomotives Lose

WASHINGTON-(FP)-To what extent automo-

bile transportation is replacing passenger movement

by steam railway is indicated by two bulletins issued

by the Department of Commerce. The first shows

that 1,816,527 passenger automobiles were produced

in the United States and Canada in the first five

months of the present year, as compared with 1.,-

579,830 in the first five months of the year 1925. The

second shows that the number of steam locomotives

manufactured in this country in 1925 was only 1,191

as compared with 3,251 in 1919, and that the total

value of the work turned out by the locomotive

establishments in 1925 was less than in any census

year (every second year) since 1914.

"When due allowance is made for the reduction

in purchasing power of the dollar," says the bulletin

on locomotive production, "the actual, comparable

value of products reported for 1925 falls below that

reported for any previous census year since 1899,

except 1909."

_ Forty Lives a Day

Fifteen thousand persons died of injuries received

in motor car accidents in the United States in 1923.

That means an average of forty lives `a day for

every day in the year.

It is much too big a price to pay for all the bene-

fits of motor transportation, great as those benefits

are. And the tragic commentary on the whole busi-

ness is that very few accidents are unavoidable.

There are men and women who have driven motor

cars for years without the slightest accident. They

not only have saved themselves, but others, by care-

ful driving. They have saved the reckless from them-

selves. But for their precautions, careless drivers

would have been even more destructive. The care-

ful driver never depends on anyone else to save him

from collision.

There are pedestrians whose business requires

them to be on the streets most of the day in most

congested parts of the city, but who have never been

hit by a motor car. They are the careful walkers.

They do not take chances.

Safety, therefore, depends almost wholly in the

individual. Every reckless driver is a _ potential

killer, and his punishment should take into account

this potentiality, whether he is caught in an acci-

dent or not. If he is caught violating the rules of

safety he should be punished, not merely admon-

ished.-Kansas City Star.

Worship of Antiquity

A people who regard the past with too wistful an

eye will never bestir themselves to help the onward

progress; they will hardly believe that progress is

possible. To them, antiquity is synonymous with

wisdom, and every improvement is a dangerous inno-

vation. In this state Europe lingered for many cen-

turies. -Buckle.

Two Canadians lived in a district where prohibition

ruled. Permits for obtaining alcoholic drinks were

issued by the authorities. The two men were in the

habit of "sharing" their permits. :

One day they were granted permits simultaneously.

They proceeded to spend an hilarious evening. One

of them described it afterwards:

"Old Bill," he said, `She drank too much. I'm sorry

for him. He drank, and drank, until, poor fellow,

I couldn't even see him!"

Looking Forward

It is almost incredible and beyond imagination (c)

that this nation only started along its way 150 years

ago.

The next 150 years will see it either a shattered

wreck, fallen to pieces from its own weight; or the

most powerful imperial power the world has ever

known.

It is on the cards that in 150 years the world will

be divided between three groups:

America, bossing the western hemisphere, with a

nod.and snap of the fingers.

Russia `ruling the decrepit old countries of Eu-

rope-probably with' Germany as an efficient "yes

man" at her elbow. Shot

And an Orient ruled by some great power of an-

other color, probably an awakened China.

BOR ional ~ HARRY CARR; L. A. Times.

THE OPEN FORUM

Published every Saturday at 506 Tajo Building,

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Los Angeles, California, by The Southern California

Branch of The American Civil Liberties Union.

Phone: TUcker 6836.

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Entered as second-class matter Dec. 13, 1924, at

the nost office at Los Angeles, California, under the

Act of March 3, 1879.

SATURDAY, JULY 31, 1926

SORA

etistit cian

Nog 16

This paper, like the Sunday Night Forum, is

carried on by the American Civil Liberties

Union to give a concrete illustration of the

value of free discussion. It offers a means of

expression to unpopular minorities. The or-

ganization assumes no responsibility for ooh

ions appearing in signed articles.

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Social progress takes effect through the replace-

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every institution involves the recognition of the duty

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Bernard Shaw.

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Short Skirts and Peace

There' is` one commonplace little fact pretty gen-

erally overlooked by the alarmists who are _ per-

petually talking about the probability of war between

the United States and Japan. It constitutes one of

the bulwarks of Japanese industry and trade. At

the same time it is the backbone, so to speak, of

American fashion.

It may seem ridiculous to refer to the abbreviated

skirt of today's mode as a potent factor in peace

between two powers, but nevertheless the knee-

length garment has a claim to its credit. Short

skirts demand silk hose. In fact, they demand so

many silk hose that the Japanese silkworms have

been working overtime.

The prosperity of the island kingdom is dependent

upon our hosiery market. To talk about war in the

face of these facts is to talk foolishness.-S. F. News.

Los Angeles

OPEN FORUM

MUSIC ART HALL

233 South Broadway

SUNDAY NIGHTS, 7:45 O'CLOCK

August 1-ARE YOU DEAD AFTER TWENTY"

by Prof. Frederick W. Roman, distinguished educator

He has occupied important chairs in Many schools

and colleges, including Smith College, Syracuse Uni:

versity and New York University. He has algo been

a graduate student in Paris and Berlin. Now he ig

devoting himself to adult education and igs lecturing

to large groups of teachers here in California, We

anticipate a real treat from him. MUSIC by H. L,

Nettler, baritone.

Race and Labor

By KARL S.

We cannot help agreeing with those people who

coming out to California remind us that the most

vital problem before us out here is a racial one.

The problems of California, being a newer coun-

try, are in many ways more acute than elsewhere.

This is due in large measure to adjusting a pioneer

psychology to the psychology of a densely populated

area. The intensity of feeling aroused over labor

problems can be traced largely to this source. Both

factions are at once extremely irritated at finding

themselves in a more hide-bound state of affairs. than

they had experienced even back in their eastern.

home towns where people were not as individualistic,

liberty loving and aggressive as they are in the new

west. Moreover, these problems had already been

solved in part in the east a: generation or two ago.

Here we had to start all over again from the bot-

tom; and much progress -has been made even. though

the extremes on either side are still at loggerheads

resulting in the disgraceful fact that some 60. labor

agitators are today in California prisons for having

violated so idiotically senseless a law as the criminal

syndicalism act.

But to prove that the fault is not all on the side

of capital and that labor in California is as short-

sighted, selfish and narrow minded as any prejudiced

judge who ever sentenced a man to the penitentiary

for the fact that, like St. Joan, he was frank and

honest with his accusers, to prove this accusation

against labor, we cite its intolerant atttiude toward

the race question.

Mention the question of race to the average Cali-

fornia worker who believes in a worker's world, and

he will cool off as quick as a white hot iron when

dropped in a barrel of water. Why all this frigidity?

Has the California laborer a divine right to what he

calls his own-`his" California and "his" country

If so why has not the millionaire profiteer a right to

"his" own? He did not acquire it any more dis-

honestly or ruthlessly than have we acquired the

state of California from the Indians who once lived

here. What kick have we coming even if there is a

surplus of Mexican labor coming. into California?

Haven't they, by all that is fair and just and decent,

as much, if not more, right here than we have?

In fact, if we have any right here at all why should

not the Asaitic have as much right here as we have

ourselves? Do we argue that they. will flood or

crowd us out? But have we not crowded out the

Indians? Do we then argue that the Indian was by

every law of. nature superseded by us because he

would not develop the land? If so then by that very

argument are we wasteful whites judged; for is it

not for the very reason that the Asiatic cannot only

get a living but become fairly well off on land which

we leave idle that we want to keep him out, and not

for any other legitimate reason in the world, as we

are bound to admit?

"Nature abhors a vacuum," as Van Loon recently

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Address

ROBINSON

reminded us; just as men abhor an empty stomach,

The capitalists who ignore this and tell men to eat

grass as the French kings did, or as modern Ones

tell unemployed when there are no jobs or when con-

ditions are intolerable, are flying in the face of the

irresistible laws of nature; and when a nation, made

up almost altogether of workingmen, flies in the face

of the same law they are bound to meet with the

same fate that faces the capitalist system if it does

not make immediate necessary adjustments,

Labor, like individuals, is altogether too supine in

some directions and altogether too rigid in others,

What is needed just now is for capital and labor to

sink some of their more petty grievances for the

time being and face together some of the bigger

issues confronting them. Not to unite and face them

in an antagonistic spirit but to face them as even

wild animals will face them together and sit side by

side in peace on a log floating in a flood.

And it is just flood conditions which the world is

facing today: the flood of over-production by the

machine, and the floods of immigration which the

machine is pouring pell mell over the face of the

earth. To regulate production and immigration and

to distribute justly the necessities and conveniences

of life-particularly land-are the common problems

of both capital and labor. Capital could "put these

issues over;"' just as labor has been trying for s0

long to "put them over." But capital hesitates to

sacrifice any of its concentrated power of wealth.

On the other hand labor plays into capital's hands

by petty bickerings and prejudices, which it will not

give up. If labor ever acquires full control without

having acquired control of its prejudices the change

in power will have been only nominal, and not funda-

mental. And if this program seems too big a one

then we must face the fact that the machine menaces .

our existence: for if we do not face that fact and

also nurse our racial antagonisms, capital and labor

will, by the very combination of power on the on

hand and prejudice on the other, be united in spite

of themselves. But they will be united as they were

united in 1914-1918 in an orgy of horror and hate

based on racial antagonism. And no capitalist or n0

worker, if there is one drop of human plood in their

veins, wants to see such a thing happen either 10

ourselves and our children or to others and their

children.

Senators Expect to Probe

Illinois Primary Corruption

July 26

CHICAGO (FP).-Members of Sen. Jim Reeds

investigating committee are expected to assemble ;

Chicago July 26 to start looking into SE

$3,000,000 de luxe primary in which Frank L. 8m

beat Sen. McKinley for the Republican sen@ nal

nomination. Sen. Caraway says he has hea e

Smith spent $2,000,000 and McKinley $1, be bor

the -tussle. Caraway has also. charged that ti

men, including Pres. John Walker of an a

State Federation and Pres. Frank Farrington 0 `a

Illinois Mine Workers, handled some of the ty

Both Farrington and Walker have denied on `

ruption and the joint labor legislative or sit,

Illinois, on which many union representatives

has denounced Caraway while at the, same

offering all information and other assistance

senate committee. - , Je i

torial .

to the `