Mass action saves a life. Polish railway worker and the first Communist member of that country’s parliament faced execution on a trumped-up murder charge, only to be acquitted by world-wide protests like those described below. A day of action to Lanzutsky in the U.S. sees protests, consulates invaded, many arrests, and parades through Polish neighborhoods in cities such as Milwaukee, Chicago, New York, Washington D.C., Seattle, Philadelphia and Detroit. The veteran activist was released in August, 1928 to make his way to the Soviet Union where he received a pension and the Order of the Red Banner. While there he worked for the International Organization for Relief to Revolutionaries (MOPR) and wrote his memoirs. A victim of the purges, he was arrested in 1937, charged with “participation in a Polish nationalist terrorist organization” and shot on September 20, 1937.

‘Stanislav Lanzutsky Must Not Die!’ from The Daily Worker. Vol. 2 No. 67 & 68. March 31 & April 1, 1925.

AMERICAN WORKERS JOIN IN GROWING WORLD LABOR CRY, “LANZUTSKY MUST NOT DIE!”

“Stanislav Lanzutsky must not die!”

“Release the victimized workers of Poland’s white guards!”

“Down with Poland’s murderous government of Grabski! Down with the capitalist dictatorship! Hail to the coming Soviet Republic of Poland!”

“Long live the international solidarity of the workers! Long live Soviet Russia!”

These were the challenges hurled into the face of the emissaries, consuls and agents of the white guard Polish government yesterday in demonstrations taking place in all the largest cities of the United States.

They were staged by American workers before the doors of all Polish consulates and in front of the Polish legation in Washington, D.C.

The demonstrations were to protest in the name of the American workers against the sentence of death by Poland’s capitalist dictatorship upon Stanislav Lanzutsky, a railroad worker now a member of the Polish parliament, whose lifeblood is sought by the white guards of Poland because he delivered a speech before the striking Railway Workers’ Union in the city of Przempl on Nov. 11, 1923.

***

Police Attack Washington Demonstration

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 29. With banners and placards bearing denunciations of the Polish government’s attempt to murder Stanislav Lanzutsky, Communist member of the Polish parliament, sentenced to death for a speech, the members of the Workers (Communist) Party of America picketed the legation of Poland here yesterday afternoon and were driven away only by the assaults of the police of the capital of American democracy.

The police were summoned by Dr. Ladislas Wroblewski, the Polish minister, who denied to the newspapers that he knew anything concerning the railroad worker whose life is sought by the Polish bourgeoisie because he made a speech during the general strike of railway workers in 1923.

The Communists promised further picketing of the legation If the Polish government proceeds with its announced design of crushing out the working class movement of Poland.

A mass meeting is being arranged at which protest will be sent to the government of Premier Grabsi through the American state department.

***

Crowds Demonstrate In New York

NEW YORK CITY, March 29. A crowd of 2,000 workers appeared before the Polish consulate here yesterday afternoon, and with banners and in speeches demanded the release by the government of Poland, of Stanislav Lanzutsky, a railroad worker and Communist member of the Polish parliament, from a death sentence imposed for leading the railway workers’ strike of 1923.

The demonstration was led by members of the Workers (Communist) Party, and the Young Workers League, Police were summoned by the frightened consul, for the purpose of guarding the timorous agent of the Polish capitalists and landlords.

***

Six Arrested in Detroit

DETROIT. Mich., March 29. Gordon Owens, district organizer of the Workers (Communist) Party, William Reynolds, president of the carpenters’ district council, and four other members of the Workers Party were arrested yesterday afternoon when they led a demonstration of several hundred workers before the Polish consulate in protest against the imminent execution of Stanislav Lanzutsky, Communist member of the Polish parliament, sentenced to death for making a speech.

***

Chicago Workers Challenge White Guardism

An imposing demonstration against the murder by Poland of Stanislav Lanzutsky, was staged yesterday before the Polish consulate In Chicago, at 1155 North Robey St., by crowds of workers led by the Workers (Communist) Party and the Young Workers League.

A thousand workers cheered the many speakers who, voicing the protests of American workers against the murderous capitalist dictatorship of Poland, demanded the release of Lanzutsky and pointed out the hypocrisy of the “democracies” which pretend to represent all classes, yet which always suppress with violence workers’ organization.

The Fake of “Democracy”

It was shown that even in the “democratic” parliament the right of workers to raise their voices are choked by the hangman, Lanzutsky’s repetition in the house of parliament of Poland on Dec. 18, last year of his speech to the railway workers made at Przompl in the railway strike of 1923, having led directly to the demand for his death by the Polish capitalist dictatorship.

Leaflets were distributed calling all workers to the great mass meeting of protest arranged to take place Sunday afternoon at the Ashland Auditorium.

The Polish counsel, George Barthel Weydenthal, called the police, but these did not interfere with the demonstration to the extent of making arrests.

Demonstrators Gather Early

The demonstrators gathered early in large numbers at the Soviet School, 1902 West Division street. They included not only the members but also the sympathisers of the Workers (Communist) Party and the Young Workers’ League.

Arrayed with huge placards, carrying the slogans of the day’s demonstration, the workers proceeded up West division street and then south on Robey street to the Polish consulate at 1115 N. Robey street. There the demonstrators for Lanzutsky, singing “The Red Flag” and “The International” flaunted their banners in the face of the local representatives of the Polish reaction. These banners declared that, “American workers protest against the murder of Polish workers by the Polish white terror;” “Long live the Communist Party of Poland—Long live the Workers (Communist) Party of America;” “Down with the Polish bourgeoisie and their white terror,” “Long live the Communist International;” “Save the life of Stanislav Lanzutsky, Communist member of the Polish parliament,” and many other similar appeals Then there was one Inviting all workers to Sunday’s demonstration at the Ashland Auditorium, called to demonstrate for the release of the political prisoners of the working class.

Hold Open Air Meeting.

While the paraders carried the banners with these slogans up and down before the Polish consulate, a large open air meeting was started by Martin Abern, local organizer of the Workers (Communist) Party in such close proximity that the Polish consul, Weydenthal and his associates could easily hear the voices of the speaker denouncing the government that they represented. Among the speakers were Jack Johnstone, acting secretary of the Trade Union Educational League, J. Louis Engdahl, editor of the DAILY WORKER, and M. Marck, co-editor of the Polish weekly, Trabuna Robotniza, and member of the bureau of the Polish section of the Workers Party.

Not the First Murder.

“We are here assembled before the Polish consulate,” declared Marck, “not in order to petition the consulate to save the life of Comrade Lanzutsky. We are here to protest against this dastardly outrage of the Polish bourgeoisie.

“This is not the first murder of the Polish capitalists against the workers and peasants of Poland. But never before did the Polish ruling class so openly tear to pieces the so-called immunity of a member of the diet as in the case of Comrade Lanzutsky.

“Comrade Lanzutsky was the first one in the Polish diet to defend the rights of the workers and peasants of Poland. At every opportunity he tore down the mask of hypocrisy from the representatives of the middle class, bourgeoisie, and yellow socialists who combined to keep the workers of Poland in subjection.

“The ruling class of Poland cannot destroy the Communist movement in Poland. The historical words which Lanzutsky uttered in his last speech in the Polish diet are still ringing in the ears of the Polish bourgeoisie, that ‘Communism will defeat you.’”

Into Polish Business District.

When the gathering had swelled to thousands, a parade was started through the Polish working class district. It took the marchers down West Division street, to Milwaukee Ave., where are to be found the local Polish capitalist dallies, the great banks beaded by Polish capitalists, and other business institutions of the district, especially those of John Smulskl, the Polish millionaire, grown rich through the exploitation of the Polish workers.

Thousands of leaflets were given out along the line of march and great interest was manifested everywhere by the Saturday afternoon throngs. The marchers went up Milwaukee avenue and then circled back to Division street and to the Soviet school. There the marchers were addressed by Local Organizer Abern, after which they dispersed.

 DETROIT POLICE SUPPORT THE POLISH HANGMEN OF LANZUTSKY IN ASSAULTS ON COMMUNISTS by Edgar Own

DETROIT, Mich., March 29. A demonstration of Detroit workers before the Polish consulate, 80 E. Garfield, protesting against the proposed hanging of Stanislav Lanzutsky, Communist member of the Polish parliament, was brutally attacked by the police Saturday morning, March 28. But the attack failed of its purpose even though nine of the demonstrators were taken to police headquarters where uniformed plug-uglies made a vain attempt to frighten them.

Several hundred men and women gathered before the Polish consulate at ten o’clock and marched back and forth. Banners were displayed, carrying such slogans as, “Down with the Polish democracy which hangs its worker members of parliament,” “Polish democracy maintains itself with the aid of the hangman, save Lanzutsky,” “Hail to the Communist Party of Poland,” and others of a like nature.

Wants to Tell Him Their Opinion.

A committee of four of the demonstrators went into the consulate and demanded to see the august representative of Poland, but this worthy sent an understudy to be interviewed.

The committee presented the protest of Detroit’s workers against the proposed execution of Comrade Lanzutsky, and demanded that the sentiments of these workers be cabled to the white guard vassal of French imperialism in Poland.

This the lackey promised to do and the committee came out of the consulate with Al Goetz, spokesman, at their head. While Goetz was announcing the results of the conference to the crowd, a bull-dozing cop stepped forward and demanded to know if Goetz belonged to the consulate. Goetz was quick to deny this foul slander and the cop informed him that he was standing on private property and would have to move himself hence. Goetz stepped off the lot on to the sidewalk and continued his announcement. “The inspector wants to see ye,” yelled the bull. “And I want to see him,” replied Goetz. And they wended their way to the hoosegow.

Then the fun began.

Bulls, Beef and Bolsheviks.

A couple of auto loads of bulls reenforced by a gang of plain clothes dicks and department of justice stool-pigeons, arrived by this time and attempted to rush the crowd. But the crowd refused to be rushed. One of them bumped against Phil Raymond and Phil made a most noisy objection.

“Come along,” bellowed the bull. Phil surrendered before a superior weight of beef, and was taken to keep Goetz company. Jack Reynolds, who loves a policeman like a cinder in the eye, likened these official disturbers of the peace to the hangman of Poland which made the gentle guardian of the law so indignant that he insisted that Jack take a walk to the bastile, which was but a block away from the consulate.

Now began the police onslaught to gain possession of the banners. A pretty skirmish ensued in which the entire police department of the Canfield district was required to capture the banners from the women. The crowd continued to walk back and forth and absolutely refused to disperse. A display of sawed-off riot guns failed completely to awe the crowd.

Second add Detroit Police.

An inquiry of Police

Edgar Owens then went to the police station and demanded to know what charge had been preferred against the arrested demonstrators.

This was a sad mistake, as Owen immediately discovered when he found himself cast in the midst of the other culprits. Next came John Rushton on the arm of a cop. “What did you do,” we asked. “I disobeyed the bull,” replied the indignant John wrathfully.

Were Walking Toward Soviet Russia

A few moments passed and Bud Reynolds and Ruth Fern were brought in.

“We were walking east towards Soviet Russia and a cop insisted that we walk west. We refused. We insisted on our constitutional rights to walk east. He informed us that the constitution was suspended. And here we are.”

The party was growing. Arnold Zekit and Arvid Owens came to the jail in quest of information. “Get Morey Sugar on the phone and tell him to come down at once,” said old Owens to Young Owens. Being a dutiful son he made a mad dash for the door, but a cop grabbed him and our party increased by one. Zekit made a sideline drive but another cop tackled him before he could make a getaway There were now nine “enjoying” the hospitality of the police, who make common cause with the hangmen of Poland.

The Inspector Offended.

In the course of an hour the inspector came in and began a browbeating harangue which seems to be universal with police guys. “Get a soap box,” advised Bud Reynolds which threw the inspector off his line of argument and after a bit more blustering he took names and addresses and told the prisoners that they could go. They announced that they wore returning to hold forth before the Polish consulate, which they did.

The demonstration continued until the consulate closed about 1:00 p.m. It was a pronounced success in every way. The attempted disruption by the police merely served to accentuate the fact that Comrade Lanzutsky rests in the shadow of the scaffold.

Another demonstration will take place before the Polish consulate on Saturday, April 4 at 10:30 a.m. This demonstration will be given adequate publicity and will bring out great hosts of Detroit workers.

WORKERS CHEER FIGHT TO SAVE POLISH COMRADE

Thousands Demand the Release of Lanzutsky

NEW YORK. March 29 An enthusiastic meeting took place March 26, at the Central Opera House under the slogan “Hands Off Comrade Lanzutsky.” Each mention of the name of Stanislav Lanzutsky brought forth a storm of applause. The heroism of this comrade, who has defied the entire Polish bourgeoisie, knowing that death might be the penalty, command the admiration of the working class of the world.

Comrade Weinstone, who opened the meeting as chairman, spoke about the importance of the meeting. “This meeting has been called by the Workers Party, the Young Workers League and the International Workers’ Aid to take up three important matters: the threatened execution of Stanislav Lanzutsky, the oppression and persecution of the masses of revolutionary workers throughout the world, and the appearance in the field of relief for political prisoners of a new committee called the “International Committee for Political Prisoners.”

Benny And The Lion

“When Mussolini left his sick bed,” said Comrade Lore, “his first visit was to the zoological garden, where he petted his favorite lion cub. In sweet tones he said to the young lion, ’You and I have won.’ Yes, Mussolini has won—sham capitalist democracy has given way to fascism in many countries of Europe.” Comrade Lore then traced the actions of fascism thru the various countries of Europe, where destruction of the working class movement is its only goal.

“We have our Mussolini also in America,” said Comrade Manley. “The chief Mussloini is John L. Lewis, czar of the miner’s union. And then we have the minor Mussolinis—such as Hutcheson, the tyrant of the carpenters’ union, and ‘Comrade’ Sigman of the needle trades. We have trade union government just as we have capitalist government, and we find that the trade union government is an adjunct of the capitalist government.” Comrade Manley demonstrated what the Communists have to fight in the trade union movement—persecution, expulsion and intimidation. “But the Communists will not rest until they have swept all capitalist government out of the way and have established a government of the workers, as our brothers have done in Soviet Russia.”

Orgy of Blood

“Since the world war, the imperialists have staged an orgy of blood against the workers and poor peasants of the world,” said Comrade Amter. “They have attempted to shift the burdens of the war on to the shoulders of the workers and peasants. Rebellion has resulted—and the imperialists and their vassals have stopped at nothing to crush the organized movement of the workers.”

“Those who are in jail in capitalist countries are there for a specific reason.” said Comrade Bentall. “They have gone there because they have dared to fight for a principle. They could get free, every one of them, if they would desert their principles. But they stand fast —and we must show them that we stand by them.

What horrors do they suffer in the prisons? Straight jackets are the garb in which they are placed when they refuse to accept the harsh prison regime. But they stick—and the workers of this country will support them.”

Comrade Bentall then made an appeal for the International Workers’ Aid.

***

COMMUNISTS IN DEMONSTRATION AT WASHINGTON

Picket Polish Embassy for Lanzutsky

WASHINGTON, D.C. March 28. At 12:45 the ambassadors and their entourages of the various governments of the world were surprised with the appearance of a group of Communists carrying dozens of banners protesting before the headquarters of the Polish legation against the death sentence imposed upon Stanislav Lanzutsky.

The procession was headed by Comrades Jakira and Wicks, carrying a large banner with the inscription, “We protest against the plot of the bloody government of Poland to murder Stanislav Lanzutsky.” They were followed by other comrades walking three abreast, carrying banners reading: “Hail the Communist Party of Poland”; “Stanislav Lanzutsky must not die”; “Down with the Polish bourgeoisie”; “Smash the Polish white terror”; “The Workers Party of America protests against the murder of Lanzutsky”; “The Young Workers League Demands Freedom lor Lanzutsky”; then other banners of a similar nature signed by the Workers Party and others signed by the International Workers’ Aid. The procession concluded with a second large banner alike in size to that at the head of the line reading: “Down with the bloody Warsaw flunkeys of French imperialism.”

Ambassador Leaves by Back Door.

The embassy closes at 1:15 on Saturdays and an auto drew up in front of the place, a luxurious mansion on 16th street, N.W., “Ambassador’s Row.” A door opened slightly, but no one emerged. Then the machine drove around to the back entrance, and as the parade, consisting of about one hundred were just turning the corner when two men were seen to hastily run to the machine and speed away. Servants and office help peered hesitatingly from slightly drawn curtains. Soon the street was full of automobiles and pedestrians watching the picketing demonstration. Reporters and cameramen began to arrive on the scene—but no policemen were in sight. After picketing the place until 3:30, it was decided to leave the place as most of the embassies were closing.

After the banners had been removed in machines waiting for that purpose the commissioner of police of the District of Columbia and a number of policemen arrived and asked to see those who had been in charge of the picketing. Comrade Jakira was referred to and the commissioner asked him, “What is the disturbance here?” Jakira replied: “There was no disturbance; only picketing the Polish embassy.” Then the commissioner asserted that it was not the proper thing to embarrass foreign ambassadors to Washington and that they were supposed to be furnished protection from annoyances of that sort.

Press Carries Scare Heads.

The evening papers of Washington were soon on the streets with screaming headlines, “Polish Legation Is Picketed by Communists” On the front pages were conspicuously displayed the pictures of the picket line with the banner reading: “Down with the bloody Warsaw flunkeys of French imperialism!”

According to inside information received after the demonstration the police were so harassed by numerous telephone calls and personal visits that they decided to make a pretext of action and arrived at the scene of the demonstration just a few minutes after the pickets began to leave the line.

The demonstration is to be followed by a mass meeting in Washington to protest against the proposed murder of Comrade Lanzutsky, with Comrade H.M. Wicks and A. Jakira to address the audience on this burning international question.

***

Milwaukee Has Protest Meet for Lanzutsky

MILWAUKEE. Wis. March 30. A tremendous meeting of protest against the white terror in Poland and condemning to death of Stanislav Lanzutsky with Comrade Thomas O’Flaherty as the principal speaker as held here. The following resolution was adopted by the meeting:

WHEREAS, the bloody capitalist dictatorship of Poland has caused the arrest of the Communist deputy Stanislaus Lanzutsky for delivering a speech in the diet calling attention to the crimes committed against the working class by the Polish bourgegeoisie and under the reign of terror now prevailing in Poland, Comrade Stanislav Lanutsky stands in danger of execution, and

WHEREAS, Comrade Stanislaus Lanzutsky is a loyal soldier in the international army of labor, therefore be It

RESOLVED, that we condemn the Polish government for its murderous attack on Comrade Stanislav Lanzutsky and call on the American workers to make their protest known to the Polish government through the Polish ambassador in the United States, and be it further

RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be send to the labor press.

***

DEMONSTRATION AGAINST MURDER OF LANZUTSKY

Workers Storm Polish Consulate in New York

NEW YORK, March 30.Thousands of workers led by the International Red Aid and the Workers Party stormed the Polish consulate here on Saturday afternoon with dozens of banners, many speeches and a definite demand that the Polish official use his influence to stop the government of Poland from the murder of Stanislav Lanzutsky, Communist member of the diet who has been condemned to death for his fidelity to the working class of Poland.

Alert and wide-awake to every new attack made by the capitalist class upon the workers the Workers Party and the International Red Aid at once called upon the masses of New York to gather where they might be heard by the representative of Poland and the wide street before the consulate was soon crowded, banners and placards in large red letters telling the story of the latest atrocity staged against the workers.

W.W. Weinstone was the chairman of the demonstration and explained why the workers had assembled in such a mass on a bright afternoon. “We are here to protest against the official murder of Stanislav Lanzutsky who has been sentenced to die because he has dared to stand up for the enslaved masses of his country. If he Is allowed to be murdered the killing mania now spreading among the tyrants of the world will soon bring disaster to the workers of this country as well as other countries.

The Daily Worker began in 1924 and was published in New York City by the Communist Party US and its predecessor organizations. Among the most long-lasting and important left publications in US history, it had a circulation of 35,000 at its peak. The Daily Worker came from The Ohio Socialist, published by the Left Wing-dominated Socialist Party of Ohio in Cleveland from 1917 to November 1919, when it became became The Toiler, paper of the Communist Labor Party. In December 1921 the above-ground Workers Party of America merged the Toiler with the paper Workers Council to found The Worker, which became The Daily Worker beginning January 13, 1924.

PDF of full issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/dailyworker/1925/1925-ny/v02b-n067-NYE-mar-31-1925-DW-LOC.pdf

PDF of issue 2: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/dailyworker/1925/1925-ny/v02b-n068-NYE-apr-01-1925-DW-LOC.pdf