The Daily Worker

An Open Letter from a Framed Laundry Worker
"Only the Voice of the Workers Can Save Me from Prison", Writes
Leon Blum, Secretary of Laundry Union

NEW YORK.-The following letter
from Leon Blum, framed secretary
of the Laundry Workers Industrial
Union was received by the Daily
Worker yesterday:

"Will you allow me through your
paper to expose one of the rankest
frame-ups put over by the laundry
bosses and the New York State Parole
Commission.

"Twelve years ago, when I was
still in my teens, I was sent to state
prison. I am not here going to complain
of the methods used by the
police and prosecution. That is a
thing of the past. I served my time
and was released on parole since 1927
and which extends to 1936. There
was never any question as to my conduct
until I became active in the
labor movement.

"In 1931, a movement to organize
a union began among laundry workers
in the Bronx. As a laundry
worker I fell in with other workers.
In the beginning this movement was
headed by racketeers under the
notorious Larry Fay. When we
found out that the racketeers were
selling us out to the bosses, we kicked
them out and reorganized into a
rank and file union. The Laundry
Workers Industrial Union is now affiliated
with the Trade Union Unity
League. It is in the struggle against
the racketeers and the Bosses' Association,
that I became active and was
finally elected as Secretary of the L.
W. I. U.

"The laundry workers had confidence
in me in spite of my past
record and no one can say that I
ever did anything that was not in
agreement with the policy of the
union and the interest of the workers.
Because of this, because of the
strikes and struggles conducted by
the union and because I would not
accept the dirty money offered on
various occasions by the association,
I became a man marked and hated
by the bosses. In 1932 they tried to
frame me up on a charge of felonious
assault of which I knew nothing.
They also informed the Parole Commission
when they found out about
my record. The charge failed and
the vigorous protests from the laundry
workers and the T.U.U.L. Council
saved me from being sent back to
prison then, although I was kept 7
weeks in jail.

"At present there is a strike in the
Pretty Laundry, Bronx, and again
the bosses got busy with their frame
up methods. Many strikers were arrested
and held on framed up charges.
But the Parole Commission obliged
the Association and locked me (Gen.
Secretary of the Union) up for Parole
violation without any proof
against me. The others will at least
have the advantage of being tried
although in a prejudiced court. But
I do not even get the benefit of a
trial. The mere complaint of the
bosses is sufficient.

"When I was called to the office of
the Parole Commission I was questioned
about the affiliation of the
union and my connection with the
Communist Party.

"A second time I was confronted
with 4 affidavits from strike breakers,
that I threatened them. Under
cross-examination, 2 admitted that
the statements made in the affidavits
were false. The other 2 were too
clever to be caught.

"In spite of the fact that the New
York officials of the Parole Board
know that the same lawyer and the
same Association tried to frame me
up last summer, they allow and help
them to frame me up now. Does the
Parole Board ask them to prove the
charges against me? No! Does the
Parole Board take action against the
2 who confessed that they perjured
themselves to frame me up? Again
no! The officials act as prosecutors
against me and cover up the frame
up.

"According to the Parole Commission
it is a crime to be active in a
union. According to the Parole Commission
the word of strike breakers
without proof whatsoever, is sufficient
to send a union member to prison.

"Only the voice of the workers
and working class organizations can
save me from prison. Give your
answer to the Pretty Laundry. Send
your protest to the New York Parole
Commission, 80 Center St., New York
City. Attention Mr. Falkoff."