1932 communist broadside: To the Rank & File of the American Legion and the Fayette Workers

(Uniontown): "Printed by Union Labor" (1932). Wraps. 9 x 6 inches, broadside on single sheet, very good, some tanning. Calling for a counter-demonstration against the Uniontown Post of the American Legion which had called for a May 1 demonstration "against Communism and for Americanism. "The leaders of the American Legion, and all the agents of the Frick and other capitalists, through the provocative counter demonstration, attempt to turn this day into a riot and use this pretense to spill the workers' blood as Frick gun thugs did on April 2." Calls for unity against fascist rule and against capitalist policies that sound like they're taken straight from the current GOP "big beautiful bill" -- "Processing tax on everything, government tax exempt bonds to the rich, hundreds of millions of dollars as subsidies to the rich bankers; foreclosures upon the masses, whose money is lost in small banks, subsidies to the railroads, 10% pay cut to the workers, cut in wages for the government employees, 400, millions cut in disabilities and veteran disabilities, expenditures of over $1 billion for the Navy, army, and Air Force, to oppress the workers and farmers at home, and enslave the Cuban, Filipinos, and South American people!" The broadside describes the treatment of workers in Fayette County, where "the masses of the American people are fired, blacklisted, forced into Company, brotherhood, evicted, club and jailed! Union men and ex service men were killed. Unemployed starve on ration relief; children are dying of hunger, while grafting politicians draw fat salaries. Bankers are removing doors and windows from the shacks, to make the people move into the coke ovens, because they can't pay rent! Deputies, that are guarding Frick tipples, so that miners would not steal them, draw $10 a day! Able school teachers are removed, to make room for the sons of politicians! Company stores and company patches, eight cents wage differential that favors Frick, all these and more conditions exist in Fayette county but this is Americanism for the Legion leaders. Everything else is un-American and they come out like their brothers in fascist Germany and Italy, are ready to smash the workers struggles, by bloody terror!" Asks the workers to stay away from the Legion demonstration, mentions "Bonus" march on Washington on May 10 -- in 1932 the "Bonus Army" of more than 20,000 veterans marched on Washington demanding Hoover give advance payment on bonuses long promised. A passionately written document, very rare, with no recorded copies located by Worldcat or OCLC. Very good. Item #h42571

Price: $125.00