The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-06-14
SCAB PLANTS
EMPLOY MENT
SYSTEM Barred
yWOrkerManHired
After Hours of Quizzing
CONTINUED from page ID

old torn cloth cap, torn and muddy
blue coat, and pair Of shoes with the
toes kicked out and the soles worn
thru. l pleaded with the employment
men one after another, asking for any
sort Of a Job. l told them l had no
money and was hungry. Twice 1 got
as far as the line inside the office
where an interview is granted.
How They Buy the Slaves.
A sharp faced man with a long
pointed chin projecting out under a
pair of thin trimmed glasses stood at
one end Of this line. At the desk by
which he was standing was a pile of
applications for jobs, and a large paA
Of paper. In the employment mans
hand was another large pad.
The interview with the ragged army
Of unemployed consisted of sharp
and hurried look at the applicants
face. Nine men out of ten who filed
past this desk were promptly turned
down by persistent negative shak-
ing of the head. Jews were turned
away without explanation or argu-
ment.
Ragged Worker Has no Chance.
Twice passed this line. The first
time / asked for a job at anything
that was open, telling the man that
was broke and hungry, and offering
TO do anything that was wanted. He
was not at all impressed, simply shak-
ing his head and saying, nothing
open today" The second time asked
for a job in the cable forming depart
ment, and got the same reply, moth
ing doing today"
Then thinking that perhaps the
Western Electric subscribed to the
theory that clothes make the man,
borrowed a good overcoat, shined up
my best shoes, dug a felt hat out OF
the closet, pressed up my suit, and
again went out to sell myself to the
Western Electric company.
recalled the advise of another
sember- Of the army of the unem-
Logged, "if you can't do anything else,
you can always get job as inspector
or straw boss. They don't have to do
anything but look wise anyway" So
l applied to the sharp faced, long
jawed individual for job as inspec-
tor.
Best Liar Gets Job.
He looked me over a minute, made
a little mark in on the pad he held in
his hand, gave me an application to
fill out, and let me go thru the gate
to a table. 1t is not probable that the
Western Electric, which is so shrewd
in other matters relating to its inter
est, has the slightest suspicion that
the questions in these applications are
conscientiously answered.
The long tables where the applica'
tions were filled out were occupied by
groups of two, three and four job
hunters who were making out their
applications together, slowly building
up a series of lies which they thot
most probable that the Western Elec-
trio would accept.
Want History of Your Life.
After we filled the applications we
took them to a clerk and then SAT
down in one of the chairs that filled
the large employment room to wait
until the employment manager could
interview us. In the application we
had to give two references, our last
five places of employment with rea.
sons for quitting and date of employ
ment, our nationality, education, date
of birth, whether married or single
and similar questions.
After giving in my application, al
1880 on the afternoon of June 8,
had to wait two hours until my name
was called by Mr.. Noble, at office No
2, where was to be interviewed about
a job.
Sharp Face Looks EN- over.
During these two hours over 300
men and boys filed passed the SHARP
faced man at the railing, and two
thirds of them were turned away. OF
those who were admitted to sign ap
plications, and interview Mr.. Noble
less than % per cent were given jobs
A very careful check was made by
Noble and his sharp faced assistant
as to how many were admitted, and
many more were admitted than there
were jobs. They were forced to wal
two hours, and then turned away.
The labor market is at present
drugged, unemployment being sharply
on the increase. and therefore the
employers can afford to choose theil
help from among a large number
inconveniencing the unemployed with
out any comeback and to pay Less
wages.
Karl Marx Understood Il.
AS / waited, watching the unem
ployed workers stream by, thot Of
the passage in Karl Marks pamphlet
"Wage-Labor and Capital" MARI
says;
"The free Iaborer sells himself
and that by fractions. From day to
day he sells by auction eight, 10,
II and 10 hours Of his life to the