WORKERS OF THE Socialist Appeal FOR THE FOURTH WORLD UNITE!
INTERNATIONAL!
OFFICIAL WEEKLY ORGAN OF THE SOCIALIST WORKERS PARTY Vol. II. No. 23.
401 Five Cents per Copy Saturday, June 4, 1938 BILL BROWN Organizer Kills Brown In Insane Fit Quick Action Striking Goodyear Checkmates Workers Fight Police Terror, Score Gains Gen. Cedillo 100 ARE HURT of Minneapolis Labor Pays Harlan Miners Final Tribute To Brown Accuse Bosses Of Thug Rules Detroit Cops Gas and Club Pickets un But Fascist Danger In Mexico Continues To Be Acute Compromise Settlement President Of Minneapolis Drivers Union Shot Vigorous action by President Akron Militant Tells Of Accepted; Showdown By Demented Union Employee; Great troops into action in the state Is Postponed Crowd Honors Him at Funeral of San Luis Postosi, has broken Big Picket Line Battle the back of the revolt staged by the reactionary Mexican warlord, General Saturnino Cedillo, Police Brutally Attack Goodyear Pickets With MIDWEST LABOR MOURNS LOSS who, hoping and possibly receiving the backing of the for Gas Bombs; Workers Make Heroic Defense eign oil interests whose properAKRON, Ohio The turbuties were recently expropriated, Against Law and Order Thugs lent Goodyear strike ended Tragedy and grief descended upon the Minneapolis had raised the banner of the faslast Tuesday when the workcist coup etat south of the Rio By FERGUSON few yards along the sidewalkers accepted a company comlabor movement when the terrible news was made public Grande.
than hell seemed to have broken promise proposal which AKRON. At 10 minutes be loose. raving cop shouted, that Bill Brown, president of General Drivers Union, With his supporters surrender ing on first encounter with Fed fore midnight May 26 the work. They asked for its goddamit, granted some of the de.
Local 544, and one of the most popular figures of the Northwest working class, had been shot and killed on been forced into flight to the huge crowd of unionists gathered ed into the unarmed line, flailing fought in the face of brutal eral troops, Cedillo himself has ers in the front ranks of the now let em have it, and charg mands for which the strikers deserts and mountains of north before the main gate of Good his night stick and followed by violence by police and comMay 28 while driving around in his car with a fellowern Mexico and his capture sems year Plant No. began to cir dozens of savage blue coated pany guards.
unionist who was a friend of long standing.
inevitable unless he succeeds in culate about, forming a thin beasts.
The agreement left the reaching the United States. picket line. The line grew rapid.
door open for negotiation of Battle Is On The man who fired the fatal shots was, according to his Imperialist Pressure Continues before the midnight change of ly to hundreds of men, and just a signed contract, although own statement to other union officers and to the police, Thus the counter refolutionary shift moved across the street and The line faltered, men raised the company immediately Arnold Johnson, an organizer of the union.
danger in Mexico, so far as the towards the gate, bent on firmly their arms to ward off murder hedged on this point.
near future is concerned, has establishing itself peacefully and finally, feeling the full sives were dissatisfied with the Although many union progresStatement by Union been removed. But the most under the noses of scores of cops weight of the brutal assault, fell accord because of its inferiority formidable enemies of Mexico No sooner had we advanced a back. The line broke, terror to the Firestone and Goodrich The tragedy is enhanced by efforts toward liberation are far the fact that the man who killed from being crushed, although the wounded and the curses of signed contracts, it was endorshim was his friend, reads a Cedillo defeat has given them thousands unionists and led because it offered the union statement of the union Exla setback. The British and Ameecutive Board. They were both rican imperialists continue to sympathizers still gathered across a breathing spell in which to the street.
build up its strength.
transfer truckmen, had been exert tremendous pressure on Running down the street, we The real showdown was postacquainted for years, and in the Mexico economy Thousands Gather at Headquarters of Drivers last eighteen months since heard a steady klop klop klopponed and the workers have a Even the New Republic admits nightsticks raining on the heads chance to put themselves in a Johnson went to work full time Local 544 for Last Rites Honoring that the United States has helpof men, women and children. better position to prevent any for the urlon, had worked toed to cripple the Mexican govern.
gether closely. Outside of workMurdered Union Leader ment financially. This casual company dicks dashed out of the repetition of the police brutality ing hours, they were often in each other company. As Johnson Court Hears Stories of comment embodies the core of plant pumping tear and nausea which sent more than 100 worktold Police Chief Forestal, had By CARLOS HUDSON gas into the retreating throngers to the hospital and tearhorses, at six dollars a week.
Terror From Union method of bold offensive adopt Workers Build Barricade Ga shells plunged against ribs, sassed hundreds of others.
no reason to kill him. He was From then on, Bill Brown knew MINNEAPOLIS. Bill Brown Witnesses ed during the early days of the my best friend. During the past sizzling and ricocheting off the To Halt Movement The Akron labor movement oil conflict, has failed, the New no rest.
streets and buildings.
emerged more solidified than be.
week, several of our organizers, dead! Still stunned by the dreadBill was not a saint. He was Deals government has resorted to The men that work the rich the mild but far more effective of Scabs working daily with Johnson, had ful news, ten thousand union We dragged along our wound fore thanks to the remarkable ed, or made hurried forays into achievement of and of noticed that he was morose, de men and women silently wound a very human and a very kindly coal mines of Harlan County tactie of silent economic strangutheir way to the Teamsters Head person. His virtues outweighed leveled accusing fingers at the pressed, uncommunicative, DETROIT Tear gas and clubs the street to pull them out of the unity whereby Akron worklation like his usual self. He had been their last respects to the fallen knew him, you saw in him the their hired thugs last week, a powerful. was not the sole parti ing in the injury of over 50 head and clothing covered with quarters on Saturday to day whatever faults he had. Once you mine owners and operators and Cedillo, although the most Detroit pickets last week, result. ried an unconscious worker, his er took a long stride forward.
were used by police against clouds of settling gas. We car. doctor care. conscientious or president of the General Drivers real man Events of Strike ganizer, he had been driving Union, as brave a man as ever Bosses Hated Him planned brutality and intimidation towards foreign capital, to unions came to the aid doctor. The cops had won the himself beyond his power. His wore a union button and led his AKRON, Ohio. The Goodtion used by the Harlan County be pursued over the corpses of of their striking brothers of the first engagement.
associates attributed his attitude men in battle. In this life there are people Coal Operators Association. the Mexican masses. Moreover, Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers year strike developed because to overwork, and advised him to All day Saturday working men who walk through it and see the gainst union men.
of the failure of the company as examples of other countries Union.
Workers Unprepared get more rest. Then came this and women climbed the three hard life of the workers.
Some Beatings, bribery, kidnapping, have shown, it to settle major grievances. Sitis possible with flights of stairs to the big third there are who see the truth and the blacklist and even murder money and arms to transform any the American Brass Company, year Boulevard the workers stop lines at the main gates grew On strike since April 19 against terrible deed.
Around the corner in Good downs in the plants and picket After the fatal shooting, John floor auditorium where the body are resentful; but they take out were the weapons of the mine clown into a fascist robot hero.
banked by 300 was unable stop ped their flight, pondering what Thursday night when union a officials, told them in an obvious tions of Local 548, and individ. those who see have courage and the exploited workers to organize, robots. The New Republic letsers were evicted from the power between clenched teeth was, Oh, Goodyear refused to negoly unbalanced state of having uals. Squads of union stewards a divine spark and principles. according to witnesses appearing Fate the remarkable confession plant by police May The strik if we only been prepared for tiate satisfactorily.
Since the Goodrich strike had belief, several officials finally ushers, directing the flow of deem it their task to go out in porate defendants, together with ceivably itself take the function mobile Workers and other the scores injured and cassed, been won and it had been entireproceeded to the car, and found mourning men and women.
the slumped over body of the When the last rites got under the wrongs they see about them. plotting to nullify the Wagner support to the Mexican rebels. about the plant to stop the move one agreed that the next time attempts to prevent the union union president. Johnson, still in way at three all the halls There is a tiny minority of men Aet by force and violence.
a dazed condition, was finally on the three floors of the build like this, and Bill Brown was Sheriff Heads Thugs of liberal hypocrisy propose to Two blocks from the plant 600 would be met with their own trouble at Goodyear was not taken into custody by the police ing were filled, and thousands such a man. He saw the terrible fight a barricade to weapons. But for the rest of the expected. The labor movement and lodged in a cell.
stood bareheaded in the streets inequalities of life and felt it Under orders and on the pay their own testimony is so demo halt cars carrying the scabs night, the workers ammunition caught off guard.
outside.
Sinister Possibility carried the proceedings to the change things.
Police Attack Suddenly was the entire force of formerly assume the function of were stalled by the obstruction and anything throwable.
While the shooting seems halls and the streets. The bosses hated Bill Brown. Sheriff Theodore Middleton. fascist hangman of the Latin pickets jumped the strike break Seeing that our position in Over 4, 000 Goodyear strikers have been committed by Johnson Dunnes Speak The workers loved him. Bi Chief thug and actual diector of American masses? By imploring ers and pummelled them thor Goodyear Boulevard would Brown fought the best kind of the campaign against union of the government to flee from this oughly in a moment of dementia, and immediately advanced upon by and sympathizers were cheerfully to have no further significance Carrying out Bill oft ex a fight he knew how. The General ganizers and members was Ben satanic temptation with a timePolice opened fire with tear the Cossacks and that it could picketing and razzing the cops beyond that, the possibility of pressed wish, Miles and Vincent Drivers Union and the whole Unthank, deputy sheriff who y proclamation of an embargo gas guns and, as the choking not be successfully defended for when the deady to police captain racter having played a part in meeting Bill was ever to attend. strides forward because of Bills of the guvernment witnesses. all! About ceasing the economicvanced upon them with clubs around into Market Street totality and terror, es described other hands of political cha Dunne spoke at the last union trade union movement took great figures largely in the testimony against the rebels. And that is cumes blinded the workers, ad any length of time, edged it. The all night reign of brue the tragedy is not entirely ex Silence envelopes the union work. He did the things he want Eb Lewis, witness for the strangulation not a word.
cluded. It is known, for example, headquarters and the streets as ed to do. brought a measure government, revealed the methods The appraisal of Roosevelt escape unscathed, as four re by a bounding tear gas projectile by another eye witness in this that the most sinister efforts Miles Dunne, secretary treasurer of comfort and security to thous employed by Unthank in recruit democratie consistency by his quired hospital treatment. The hall stairs were jammed issue of the Socialist Appeal, have been made in the past by of the Teamsters Joint Council, ands of workers. If there were ing his force of deputies, when voluntary advisors of the New As union members were at. with workers coming and going followed.
The situation in the labor moveinterested elements to strike at began: a Valhalla where the great fallen he testified that Unthank cross Republie must be a lesson for tempting to remove their bleed and room was cleared to take the ment on Friday morning was and discredit the militant leader want to say that of all the champions of the working class examined him on his critical. The Thursday night deship of the Drivers Union, and difficult assignments have re gather, there Bill Brown would manship and then offered him a Mexican people can be defended the street, a detachment of ing ambulances The cops proceeded down the feat had to be turned into a vicsimilar forces are involved in the this is the most difficult of all among those who have fought County Coal Operators Associa open and irreconcilable opposi ness nearby, charged through the the street towards the hall, torious counter offensive. Early tion.
a present case is being probed. Continued on page 2)
tion to the imperialist govern street in true Cossack style.
secretary of the indusThe funeral of Bill Brown, the sense of personal loss. Men Timothy Huff, a Negro mine ment and its liberal attorneys.
Vincent Dunne Tribute trial council, spoke over the radio, attended by thousands of work of the calibre of Bill Brown worker, blacklisted and unable to Smash Economic Blockade Coast SWPers and Stalinists analyzing the Thursday night ers, and representatives of the come but seldom.
Vincent Dunne then spoke as obtain work, was offered 150 events, excoriating the police, whole Minneapolis labor move Bill was born in the direst follows: a month to act as a labor spy The organized workers of the In Anti Nazi Demonstration this used realan to do union leadment, was a solemnly impressive poverty. As a child, he knew no Brothers and sisters of the for the association.
Huff had United States must throw all ceremony, attesting the esteem thing but want and hard knocks. trade union movement, friends of ers, both o. and militant fighter for labor was out in the world and took the want to speak about what know lations Board hearings because Mexico by the oil magnates and terical Communist charge that country Tis of Thee and the militante higher courses boy and at the age of thirteen he went Bill Brown and his family of during the National Labor Reshish forem cotomise blocknce SAN FRANCISCO. The hys. to get the crowd to sing My Labor, to meet that noon.
held by the class to which he burden of supporting his family, Bill would want me to deal with authorities. He had already been Unity In Defense devoted his entire life.
were He started driving a team of at a time like this. Bill is at put in jail on an old debt charge tions!
Down with the economic sane Gestapo was rather spectacularly completely squashed when the Trotskyists are agents of the Star Spangled Banner Over 75 of and Firemen Back Progressives; union meeting with his brothers be released later without the iste demand for compensation! Socialist Workers Party marched Solidarity Forever and other 14 seven from each section of Down with the foreign capital given the lie in action here on pickets and the crowd joined the union leaders responded. UnitVote Merger With Sailors his grand life was spent in the lived for and fought for. All of formality of a trial. Note: We must apologize for in a united front demonstration working class songs.
the labor movement was estabBlacklist At Work an unfortunate typographical against the holding of a conven Taken completely unawares by lished.
struggle of the workers moveerror in last week comment on tion of the Pacific coast German the rapid development of the This truly remarkable exhibiThe effectiveness of the black the Mexican situation. Speaking American Bund.
SAN FRANCISCO ment, and for the men and women tally on the membership refer by corresponding figures.
Final or the of were passed exploited by a cruel, unjust and list was revealed by Lee Ellis, about the tasks of the Fourth Side by side, in a picket line out of the crystallized anti Nazi the common enemy Akron bos.
united front movement arising tion of labor solidarity against endum conducted by the Marine The propositions on the ballot always spoke, thought and acted children. Ellis was one of the article calls for all national members of the Socialist Work entered the united front after into an offensive.
horrible economic system. Bilt married and the father of the Internationalists in Mexico, our two thousand strong marched sentiment, the Communist Party changed a critical defense Firemen Union on the West represented policies advocated by for the movement as he under five workers of the Creech Coal support to Cardenas military ers Party, the Communist Party, the and was forced to Coast showed overwhelming sup the West Coast Fireman, organ stood it. sharp protest against the Company who walked out Sept. struggle, instead of all practical the German American League accept the fact of the latter police brutality was made by the port by seagoing firemen for the of the progressives within the He said many times his 22, 1985, in response to a nation support. proposal to amalgamate the union, and the results of voting main object in life was the move wide strike call of the United for Culture and other German presence or withdraw itself Defense Committee the unlicensed person were a severe blow to the Sta ment, and he wanted to serve it since then he had been unable workers organizations, the work from the action.
The of truck drivers nel into one industrial union of linists.
Internal Meeting ers Alliance, and members of The Stalinists even participat union. 2, 300 strong, and the seamen.
as best he could. Long ago he to obtain work in Harlan County and unions. The ed in the unanimous vote which bus drivers and transportation An internal The vote was carried out des indicated how he viewed that and had been forced to leave the meeting to discuss the situaThe vote on amalgamation was pite the active opposition of the service. Years ago Bill Brown territory in order to earn a livmembership action was endorsed by both placed Glen Trimble, state secret workers union, threatened an imlabor councils.
1, 015 for and 117 opposed: Stalinists, and the almost unani pledged me that on every occa ing.
ary of the on the steer mediate strike unless the police tion in the Fourth InternationOther propositions, calling for mous vote for the propositionssion when spoke was to emA crowd of nearly 5, 000 gathering committee of five and this were removed from the scene at al will take place on Monday, control of union officials by the ed in the streets around Cali while the Communist Party, con Goodyear by nightfall and picket When the United Mine Work June 6, at Beethoven Hall, fornia Hall, where the Nazi convention was rubber stamping lines permitted to function.
branches as well as the head revealed the extent to which the phasize the broader aims of the ers held a meeting to celebrate quarters in San Francisco, and rank and file are rejecting the movement. He asked me to arti the validation of the Wagner 210 East 5th Street, at 8:30 vention was taking place. They Earl Browder new constitution demand that Goodyear shut down Comrade James Canmaintenance of the union in splitting policies of the Com culate these broader aims. Labor Act by the Supreme Court cheered the picket line and join forbidding members of his flock completely also was made.
non will report. Admission dependence of either the o. munie Party.
Since the city administration (Continued on page Continued on page 3)
ed in the songs. Three or four from consorting, even socially, will be by red card only. attempts by the Stalinist leaders with the Trotskyists. Continued on puge 2) dozen loudspeakers was his task to help correct and roll of the operators association cratie that it might conceivab. from the plant. When the cars consisted only of stones, bolts.