Women Unionists from 42 Lands Hold Conference in Budapest (Indonesian delegate on equal pay)

=== [PDF page 1] === Page 4 Daily Vorİcr, New York, Tufitwy, July 24. Ί954 SPEAK YOUR PIECE Role of the Daily Worker NEWARK, N. J. Editor, Daily Worker: First, 1 wish to compliment the staff of the “D. W.” for their initiative in response to the “20th Congr ess.” The “Speak Your Piece” coin mn should remain a of the paper. permanent feat I believe, also, for really the first Urn e, there must be a hard look at the role of the Daily & Sunday Worker. For as long as I personally have had any experience with the “Worker” the generaliI У agreed upon rea sons for Ľthe decline in circulation of our paper has been roughly two-fold: 1. The intensive attack of the reactionaries against all progress and any paper supporting progressive causes. 2. That the supporters of the paper have been (with notable exceptions) too hesitant about selling our paper. While J would certainly en dorse the first reason, and par tially the second reason; 1 be lieve there is a third major rea son for the decline in circulation. Г think the Daily in pa rticular has an appeal only to a v•ery narrow Left anti that man any of the articles, and even m uch of the pre sent good discussion, might b etter be published in Political Affairs. In general the D. W. gives too much attention to left-wing po litical matters and not enough to the trade union struggles. Labor news is either depart mentalized or deals only with high level trade union leaders or lop policy. The day to day problems of the rank and file are rather re inóte from any conili ci between Meany and Reulher over Nehru’s India as interesting as that conflirt n liglit he (ana certainly de serving coverage by the Daily). We do have a wealth of work er correspondents who could fill the gap, if we could but unfreeze the relationship between the trade unionist and his paper. Previously with a letter perfect attitude our leadership has stifled such correspondents. On this one further thought— if only the top leadership acted in a less bureaucratic manner our problems would not he as near ly as serious as they are. Bureau cratic thinking has had its effect the lower levels of leadership anil even upon in any of us who saw ourselves in sharp conflict willi bureaucratic leadership. If we are to make preogress nur main course of strength. must be found iu with me moor movement a¡nd definitely our single daily newspaper (east of me Rockies) must not look inward, but must actively seek to widen an opening to the trade union movement on all levels. — Electrical Worker. Strongly Objects Editor, Daily Worker: I strongly oppose f1. K.’s letter attacking William L. Patter son as an “irresponsible buck ler.” (Daily Worker, July 19). One can agree that comrade Patterson’s article heralding the social security victory exaggerat ed and contused reaction and fascism. Rut for H. K. to accuse Wil liam 1«. Patterson of capitalist class “salesmanship” methods in ling his story of the vietory lellii ells more like white chauvin ism than it does of a scientiife (to use U.K.’s word) method of criticism, We are used to hearing such things from enemies. But don’t expect them from friends. H. K. associates Herbert Aptheker and George Morris with the proper kind of writing. But I am sure that these two writers com pletely disassociate themselves From H. K.’s characterization of William L. Patterson as a “huck ster” writer. JAMES W. FORD lit Two Main Paths Editor, Daily Worker: I think it’s time for much of the discussion to find an or ganizational outlet. It’s all well and good to sound off in the Daily Worker, and we should continue to do so. But let’s be gin to put some of this democ racy to work in the Communist Pari«У. Twoi muin developments are essen tii.al lor the continued existence and renewed vitality of the Communist Party in our country. 1. A firm and fundamental establishment of the compì ete independence of the Ameri:lean Party from every other Commu nist Party in the world. Pravda to the contrary, we need not worry about breaking the bonds of. international workingelass solidarity. Such solidarity is only possible truly establish our roots as an independent American Women Unionists from 42 Lands Hold Conference in Budapest »У BEATRICE SISKIND rties when parties wtien we feel teet the they me BUDAPEST.—lite conference of women workers called But, »listakén. But, hindamentally, by tlie World Federation of Trade Unions ended on a nole ΖΓίΙ ¿.“ϊηηΏ Г“Е »! accomplishment. It was attended by svotnen from Л needs of ll.e American people, -----------»nd, in tire Brst place, the S™¡e de'egates were members of solution, she said, is to fight for American workingelass. WFTU unton«; others belong to tire the right of i men to work, to International federation or Free organize women and to bring them, rWc,"1"?1 n‘a,ke clfar, once Trade Unions, and still others to into activity yi, and leadership in thè and lor all, that the Communist Catholic and Christian unions. unions. Jt the business of thé Party is second to none as a Among the delegates were a num unions, she went on, to take a defender of the liberties of the ber of unorganized women asking leading part in the fight for belief people. We must he pledged to help in forming or joining unions. housing, more and cheaper com the Bill of Rights and the whole The filtrai theme of the confer mereiai services to lighten the tradition of political liberty ence, expressed in the resolut ÎtıllS burden of housework, and paid which has grown up on these an d decisions adopted, was to fight maternity leaves without the loss shores. We must be pledged to for equal wages with men doing of the job. the full implementatie of the the same work; for equal opportu A PLEA for solidarity with tli« laws which guarantee freedom nities for training and advance African women was made by á and equality for all, and for ment; and for such special needs as young woman from the Cameroons. the enactm or new laws paid maternity leaves, “There are few opportunities for which will constantly expand the | "LOWER WAGES for wo men V. о men to work in my part of liberties of the American people. are a (] on the wages of rnen, 11 rid,’* she told the conference, We must say without doubt or and a }, ance to the tradee union “We want the right to work and we equivocation that American so- I movement,” said the delegates. want equal pay and equal chances cialism is both economic and (They cited figures to prove that at promotion. Our illiteracy rate political liberty for all. wage discrimination is a source among women is very high, ant and -I. S. I of extra profit for employers. this raises the problem ofi proviavid “We have heard much from this ing special schools for girls and Shocking platform about automatization,” women so we can learn to read.” Treatment 'said the delegate from Denmark. Her appeal so moved the delegateli Editor, Daily Worker: j “h» ‘>»r country this has had the that at its end they crowded to the On June 21. J956 my husband! effect of creating unemployment. platform to greet her and express Paid Paschalides was arrested I The speed-up which accompanies their solidarity. and taken to Idlewild Airport t automation has resulted in an in 'The Congress decided unan for immediate deportation to creasing rate of suicide- amon# imously to send a memorandum to Greece. Alter a writ of habeas! both men and women, and Den- the International Labor Office of corpus was introduced, he was ' niark now has the highest suicide the United Nations aisking that it returned to the Washington St. j rate in the \vorld-39.7 out of call a meeting of the three inter house of detention. | «'"У l"·0«0 yearly. national labor federations to pro mote the application of the so-call On July 3, Ids rase was argued Among these are many women, in court for a stay of deporta- I ^ delegate trom Indonesia ed "Convention 100”—the clause timi. The decision on his appeal! voiced a complaint common to calling for equal pay for equal is expected within one or two! 'vomen tliioughoi.t the capitalist work. Some countries have refused weeks world. Women workers are made to sign this pledge, and some of In a letter T received from r«er''« "orkers,” she stated, “and those that have signed it do not him, written July 8th, he wrote therefore cheap workers. I he carry it out in practice, among other things.... smaller than that of other pristhe treatment that lie is getting “... Thursday afternoon I 'oners. I do not get any reading is endangering his health. was sent to work in the kitchen. material, and no paper to write. My husband should he treated 1 went there. During the night “This afternoon, l was visited as any other alien and not as a I suffered with a severe headby my lawyer and he was prom convicted criminal. He should be ache and become dizzy. ised by the parole officer that I returned to the Washington “Friday at 6 a.m. I was will be removed from here, hut I House of Detention. awakened to go to work. I didn’t am still confined. In view of the fact that my go. Later on I saw the doctor “Saturday I requested husband was under medical care and told him I was sick that I times to see the captain, until his arrest, lie should he re had a headache and had been refused to see me. Tomorrow leased on hail so that he may ré vomitir mg and the headache did they don’t let me out I will start sume and continue his treatment. not sudiside. a hunger strike.” BARBARA PASCH A LIDES “He then gave me some puis. I wish to state here that in “A short time later they again November, 1954 my husband called me for work and when I had an accident and he suf refused because of illness, miess, they fered a skull fractur? and lírain dally •««•I Kaliirday and Sua*·« sent three guards and trans concussion. He was hospitalized bvPMbllıhMİ I ·.. 85 (It· Publixhar* my ceil ferred me from mv cell (which and since then he has been suf I2IH BI.. Nt« York к. N. Y. Talapban· AL«an««ln 7*54. many prisoners shared)• into a fering from continuous severe Raantartd a* iccani mallar Orl. t», Ιβ«7. cell of 5x6 feet. headaches and heart trouble and »t İha past afilia al Naw Yark, N. Y., undar tha Aal at March I. 187*. “Theey renio ved my cigarettes, has been unable to work. mat. Я shoes and belt. I am now here Because of his health he was Dally Warhar aaly................ S14.(Ih I “· IVS SUBSCRIPTION RATES for three days confined to the under workmen’s comipenisation (Excapl Faralpn) of cigaand was told only toI (1(1 liul.t Dally Warkar i Warkar.... 4.78 cell. Thney deprive ÎÏÏ 'IS rettes; 111(1 the ration of food is federal jail is unjustilicd and Tha Warkar.. ь,7К Daily Worker THAT "ROPE“ AGAIN! THIS IS THE SEASON when labor and liberal spokesmen once again find themselves.1'4 against COP accusations t Iil supDemocratic candidates ported by Communists. “Labor’s Daily” of Wednes day, July II, carries an article by staff writer George B. Holcomb in which he cha rges that the COP statethe ments subject “not H ο n I у demonstrated extreme H naivete about Я| Leninist Marx- R ism hut also a basic lack of HÊ information.” On the latter H point — a basic ™ lack of information — Holcomb answers the Republicans quite effectively. By way of évidéitice, he quotes a column of mine1 in May in which 1 wrote: “A fetter on this page recently from Alfred Knutson of Minot, North Dakota, complained that I am ‘by inference supporting the Democratic ticket’ and that I have done so ‘for some months.’ I do not supp ort the Democratic ticket, whichi has yet to be chosen. What I support is the movement to get the kind of Democratic ticket (and principal ly program) which could win Holcoinh proceeds to quote from the report of (.'laude 1.ightfc Hit to the 4-day meeting of the National Committee of the Communist Party, where Lightfoot called on the labor and prodemocratic forces for “an inde pendent course which influences the direction of the Democratic Party” and which in tum "will force the Republicans to dis mss the issues in a different way. YOU MIGHT THINK Hol comb would consider the matter effectively disposed of w ith these accurate quotations. But what I wrote seems to worry him a bit. Perhaps 1 know what it is. I wrote that I stipp ort "the movemeut to get the к ind of Demo cratic liekit (and principally program) which could win support....” But suppose that move ment is successful in getting a Ily Λ1.Λ> MAX any possible support by Com ticket and pro gram which would reflect labor’s needs. Isn’t it posmunists for any labor-hacked sihle that I would then feel com Democratic candidates. "Wneth'er the Communists support Presipelled to support that ticket? dent Eisenhower or the Demo It is to meet this possible con cratic candidate,” he says “it will tingency that Holcomb proceeds be ‘in the same wa y as a rope to tackle the subject oi what he supports one who is hanged.” calls the COP’s “extreme naivete about Leninist Marxism.” UNFORTUNATELY, t h e lie does this by quoting at matter is not so simple as Hol comb pictures it. The fact is, if length from Lenin’s “ ‘Lellthe Daily Worker were to join VVing Communism’: an Inlantile with labor in supporting any Disorder,” written in 1920. In it Democratic candidate for ConLenin discussed Communist elec gress, tlie Senate or the Presi tion tactics in various countries. dency, would not be for the Marxists in Creat Advisin purpose of hanging him political support the Labor Britain would hang hi s op Party, Lenin suggested a course ponent politically. It would also which would pul British Marxbe lend support to the move its in a position to say: “I will ment of labor and liberals focus be able to explain that I want to support Henderson with my vote ed around a particular candidacy. Actually, the manner in which in the same way as a rope sup ports one who is hanged—that Lenin couched his advice to the establishment of a Hender British Communists back in son government will prove that 1920 was not of his happier 1 am right, will bring the masses flashes. Beginning with 1935 and over to my side, and will aecelthe People’s Front movement, lerate the political death of the the “rope” approach was discard Hendersons and Snowdens...." ed. When French Communists With this, Holcomb tries to joined French Socialists in a Peo explain away in advance ple’s Front government, for example, it was not to "hang” Leon Blum, hut to hang rising French fascism. I WISH THAT “Labou Daily” would answei the McCarthyites in the GOP with a coun ter-offensive instead of by quoting Lenin in a context w Inch doesn’t apply. Even if someone were to come up with a quotation from Lenin specifically about the elections next November, this still would not he binding on me although it would he well worth reading, since Lenin was one of the great est thinkers who ever thought and one of the greatest do-ers who ever did. I would like Holcomb to ac cept what I write on its lace va lue—just as I accept what he writes. I don’t try to “explain” him by quoting, say, from Aris totle’s Politics. The fact is, if I supported la bor’s drive to secure a good ticket and platform and if I were then to attack that ticket, Holcomb would be the first to attack ME and charge me with giving aid and comfort to the reacţionai lee.