PLANS FOR STRIKERS
The enclosure, or “aide mémoire,” written in Hungarian, outlines the scheme which the diplomat recommended.
“I must divide the matter into two parts, Bethlehem and the Middle West business” (says this paper), “but the point of the departure is common in both, viz., press agitation, which is of the greatest importance as regards our Hungarian-American workmen. It means a press through which we can reach both in Bethlehem and in the West. In my opinion we must start a very strong agitation on this question in Freedom (Szabadsag), the leading organ, in respect to the Bethlehem works and the conditions there. This can be done in two ways and both must be utilized.
“In the first place, the regular daily section must be devoted to the conditions obtaining there, and a campaign must be regularly conducted against these indescribably degrading conditions. Freedom already has done something similar in the recent past, when the strike movement began at Bridgeport. It must necessarily take the form of strong, deliberate, decided and courageous action.
“Secondly, the writer of these lines would begin a labour novel in that newspaper much on the lines of Sinclair’s celebrated story. This might be published in other local Hungarian, Slovak and German newspapers. The Nepszava (‘Word of the People’) will undoubtedly be compelled willingly or unwillingly to follow the movement initiated by Freedom, for it is pleasing the entire Hungarian element in America, and is an absolutely patriotic act to which that open journal, the Nepszava, could not adopt a hostile attitude. Of course, it would be another question to what extent and with what energy and devotion that newspaper would adhere to this course of action without regard to other influences, just as it is questionable to what extent other local patriotic papers would go. There is a great reason why, in spite of their patriotism, American-Hungarian papers hitherto have shrunk from initiating such action.
“In these circumstances the first necessity is money.
“Bethlehem must be sent as many reliable Hungarian and German workmen as we can lay our hands on, who will join the factories and begin their work in secret among their fellow workmen. For this purpose I have my men, roll-turners and steel workers. We must send an organizer who in the interests of the union will begin the business in his own way. We must also send so-called ‘soap-box’ orators who will know how to start a useful agitation. We shall want money for popular meetings, possibly for organizing picnics. In general, the same applies to the Middle West. I am thinking of Pittsburg and Cleveland in the first instance, as to which I could give details only if I were to return and spend at least a few days there. I already have shown that much can be done with the newspapers. We must stir up the men’s feelings in Bethlehem. A sensation was caused by the articles which appeared at the time of the strike at Bridgeport. They brought Bethlehem into the affair.
“It is evident that the start of a movement from which serious results are to be expected requires a sufficiency of money at the very start. The extent of subsequent expenditure for the most part depends on the work effected. For example, the newspapers must not receive the whole sum intended for them all at once, but only half. To union agitators only a certain amount should be given at first, and a larger sum in case of success or of a serious strike on the formation of the union. It is my opinion that for the special object of starting the Bethlehem business and the Bethlehem and Western newspapers campaign $15,000 to $20,000 must be at our disposal, but it is not possible to reckon how much ultimately will be required.
“When a beginning has been made, it will be possible to see how things develop and where and how much it will be worth while to spend. The above-mentioned preliminary sum would suffice partially to satisfy the demands of the necessary newspapers and to a considerable extent those of the Bethlehem campaign. If circumstances are lucky and leadership is good, we can arrive at positive results in the West comparatively cheaply, whereas Bethlehem is one of the most difficult jobs.
“I will telephone at 8 a.m., and request you then to let me know where and when I can learn your opinion of my proposal, which requires a considerable amount of verbal exposition. Finally, I make bold to point out the fact that hitherto I have said nothing on the subject to any one connected with the newspapers, and am in the fortunate position that in the case of giving effect to the plan I can make use of names in case of necessity, for I have already in other matters made payments through other individuals. In any event, in the case of the newspapers the greatest circumspection is necessary. No one but the proprietor must know that money is coming to the undertaking from any source.”