davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-01-05
S3S A MONTH
The AVERAGE
IN GERMANY
Workers at Edge of Real
Starvation

BERLIN-(FP)-FofKs in one part
Of the world find it hard to think in
terms of the economic struggle that
is taking place elsewhere. There has
been much talk about Germany under
the Dawes Plan, and public men have
found various grounds for discussion
in the figures showing so many mill
ions of marks for this item and so
many tens of millions for that. But
no workers ever see marks by the
million. They spend most Of their time
dealing with pennies.
One worker in Berlin has given me
careful statement of his income.
He works for the street.car company
and as he is a single man, with three
years of service to his credit, he
receives 20 pfennig per hour (about
II cents). Beginners work for go
pfennig.
Workers on the Berlin streetcars
work about 234 hours month-26
days of 8 hours each. That makes a
total monthly income, for a single
man, of 1880 marks. If the man had
a wife, he would get pfennig more
per hour. He would also receive a
like amount for each child.
This man is single, however, so his
income is just about $39 per month,
gross. From it there are several de-
duetions: For a pension marks per
month. health insurance $50, unem-
ployment 80, income tax $40, or total
deductions of 224O marks per month.
There is left a net monthly income
of about $33.
Berlin is an expensive city to live
in. Though rents are much lower
than in the United States, the things
that a worker has to buy cost much
the same in Berlin as in Buffalo,
Cincinnati or Kansas City.
How do the workers in Berlin man
age to live and to maintain families
on such wages? That is a question
that l have asked so times since l
came to the city, and thus far have
not found single American who
knew the answer.
But the German workers know, and
if you visit them in their crowded
rooms, they tell you in very concrete
terms of physical hardship.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-01-05

my name, but show this not to
soul. Honor.
I'll never to my dying day forget
the burning tramcar, the screaming
children, the moaning shamed woman,
the raving, screeching Chinese-and
the terrible retribution that overlook
them suddenly and quietly. And !
feel proud of the fact, in view of
what sights I've seen, that l took
part in IT,
Every so often these filthy devils
need a regular wholesale slaughter
brought home to them, footing
and raping, torturing and murder
Ing like the allied armies brought
home to them at the relief Of the
legations In the Boxer.
Every generation needs to be
taught its respect for the foreigners,
needs TO appreciate the fact that VIC
lence cannot be done the white man
or woman without punishment and
Without that teaching the
foreigner must needs pack up and
leave, or remain and see his wife yio-
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-01-05

on all tongues, heard and speculated
on all hands, was when will the
'Awkins arrive. When will the Huron
and the gobs arrive? When will the
Loyal Irish regiment come from Hong
kong? WIN they arrive in timer"
Sailors Bring Fear Of God.
And, let me tell you. Hank, the
prettiest sight I've seen was the first
landing party Of British sailors, in
full war kit, marching thru the mass
i've iron gate of our Louza Fort, to
take over some Of our work and put
the fear Of God into the heathens
that we hadn't sent west. Yet, they
arrived even too late, and let me tell
you about the worse fight OF the up
rising:
I'll skip over the shooting I had
gotten into in the Chinese quarter
while posting martial law proclama.
tons. had squad OF these fine.
husky Sikhs, OF the British army.
with me, and was posting proclama-
lions OF martial law in the heart Of
the worst district In Shanghai. We
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-01-05

fairly reeking with Chinese, some
armed with knives, some with clubs,
some with scythes, but none with
arms-because due to our raids car.
rled on all the time, summer and win
ter, no arms were to be had by the
Chinese that we hadn't seized al
ready. And, once again we had to
fire into the mob. We first played
fire hoses on them, but to no effect,
which thus demonstrated the temper
Of the Chinese. For ordinarily, the
only thing that is able TO drive a
Chinese off the streets is rain-and,
soaked TO the skin, these devils bomb
arded us with house bricks. | was
cut badly about the head, my uniform
torn off by back by a scythe, just
missing my skin--so killed the devil
and the dirty work began. wasn't
the first one TO fire, for the firemen
were knocked out by bricks and had
to quit, and the first to open up the
ball was the Lewis gun outfit,
The slaughter was pretty, seven
at the first session, with the usual
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-01-05
DAWES PLAN NOW
PROVING FAILURE
TO GERMAN LABOR
Gloom Fills Workers of
Leipsic

LEIPSIC, Germany-(FP)-Leipsic
is one Of the leading industrial CEN
tiers of Germany. 1t is a city with
considerably more than half million
people, many of them highly skilled
in MISUNDERSTANDING and in ma
chine-industry. There are 113,008
Leipsic workers affiliated with the
German Federation of Labor and
about 10000 more organized in other
bodies.
Wages are very low. In the chem
ical and machine industries, men work
for as little as 20 marks $3.50 per
week. This is for unskilled labor.
Skilled men are paid as high as 80
marks per week ($225O) in the ma
chine industry, but this is exceptional
Printers are now getting about IS
marks ($1625) per week. Food is al
most as expensive as it is in a city
of the same size in the United States.
Clothing is little cheaper. Rent is
very much less.
I'VE Americans cannot understand
how families can be maintained on
such wages" l said to the secretary
of the Leipsic Central Labor union
He smiled grimly. "We Germans
cannot understand it either" he said
Matters are made worse by the
rapidly increasing unemployment
Millions of German workers supported
the Dawes plan because they thought
it would give them work, even if
wages were low During the past
few weeks unemployment in Leipsic
has increased greatly.
Leipsic is only one of the many
industrial industrial cities of Ger
many. Like all that 1 have seen,
however, it is oppressed by economic
pessimism. Germany has been re-
habilitated. The proflteers are back in
power, but they have Tess business
than they expected, and the working
masses are living on the ragged edge
of famine.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-01-05

got into a tight mess, had over FIVE
thousand crazy rioters surrounded us,
and throwing stones at us.
Bayonet Work of skhs.
The Sikhs took at the mob with
bayonets, commanded them not to
fire, but to stick the ringleaders. We
beat five up badly, one with a frac-
tured skull. And, to avoid shooting
and therefore more diplomatic COM
plications, we broke into a tea house
and barricaded ourselves. The mob
broke into the rear, and we had to
shoot to defend ourselves. But we
killed none, wounding only a few
never stayed to count them.
Then, far in the distance we heard
firing, many rifles and machine guns
in action. And, in order to be where
we were needed, we beat a retreat
heading to the scene of action. And
as we went up the wide paved street
into which we debauched we were
greeted by storm of bullets, hun
dreds of them, whizzing all about us.
We stuck close to the house walls,
and went on the double. At the most
well-known corner of the Far East, at
an intersection where the finest sill
versmith shops. and finest diamond
merchants shops are; and where the
largest amusement house in the Orient
is located, fierce gun battle was
going on.
Up the street was charging a
company Of Scottish, and two
troops Of American cavalry; and
three armored cars were slowly
driving up the street, bullets splash.
ing all over their thick armour,
their Lewis guns playing on the
nobs and raising havoc.
From the windows of the amuse.
ment house, the New World, came a
heavy rifle fire, while from the win
dows OF one of my buildings under
construction came the fire OF several
automatic rifles. My Silxhs disap-
peared, going into a small house from
which several Chinese were shoot
tng--and the shooting soon stopped.
A Crack Shot.
] went into another house where
Chinese were sniping, and we soon
killed the snipers at their posts, and
took over their myself, an.
other cop and man who later turned
out TO be one of the best shots In
Shanghai. Two hard looking coolies
emerged from the back entrance Of
one of the storm centers and started
to make their getaway, but this crack
shot put a bullet in the eye OF one Of
Continued on page 81
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-01-05
GERMAN BOSSES
CUT WAGES TO
Win MARKETS
And Workers of Mill
Towns Suffer

BERLIN-(FP)--With a group of
students I was able to go through a
German textile mill in Thuringia. The
mill was located in small town and
employed about $50 workers. It was
making up pattern goods of half and
half cotton and wool.
There was no electric machinery
in the mill. All machines were driven
by complicated. system Of overhead
shafting. The weaving room was the
largest single department of the mill.
There was no spinning.
The mill was on a 9-hour day. Most
Of the workers were over 40. Some
Of them were much older. "The young
folks are all radicals" someone ex-
planned. "The older people are
steadier and more reliable"
I The top hourly price paid in the
lweaving-room was 6S prennig (17c).
Most of the weavers were handling
two looms. For 9-hour day, the 68
pfennig rate makes a gross wage of
S1.46. From this there are deductions
for insurance etc.
Women inspectors and fnishers
~ receiving top price of so
s s 121sc). They told us, that
> s. 8 t>Swere able to earn that
ais q - 81 aui
The Q zee in this mill was hard.
The LOOMS were old and required a
great deal of attention. The work was
fine, and much of it was exacting. Yet
a weaver of 20 years experience con-
sidered that he was doing we'll when
he earned $3.50 per day.
Workers in the textile industry are
better paid than in the pottery and
the chemical manufacturing indus
tries. All of them are reaping the
results of the treaty, the Dawes plan
and the Locarno pact. the watchword
OF German industry is LESS wages:
more work; lowered production costs.
we must win back the world market"
Incidentally they must starve the
workers. But that. is the essence of
imperialism.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-01-05

street full of heathens crawling on
all fours, bleeding and screaming,
and the usual street full of gore.
The devils at the far end of the
street had stopped a tram car, pour
ed oil all over it, pulled out the white
people, women and children, and
stripped one English girl naked. And,
some day, when l can speak to you,
Hank, I'll give you the story of what
was done to the Chinese present who
were surrounded in one mob by us,
while they were parading this poor
woman down the street to the laugh
ter of their comrades.
Some day ri tell you things,
things that aren't written in his
tory, nor published in papers, and
are not talked about in police bar
racks. And, put you on your
honor not to let this stuff get out.
Talk IL you want to, mention not
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-01-05
GERMAN VISITOR
TO A. F. OF |.
PEDDLING BUNK
Tells German Labor to
Produce More

GERA, Germany-FP)-Returne
from America the Socialist Kurt
Resented said four things in the
United States impressed him: The
immensely Of American industrial and
structural technique. the helplessness
of the individual worker, the relative
ly high economic standard of the
skilled worker and the weakness Of
the American trade unions.
Rosenfeld is a good speaker; a
phalia; and an active opponent of the
conservative tendencies of the Ger
man Social Democratic party. For
nearly three hours he held his audi
ence while he described the big
buildings, the elevators, the subways,
the hotels, the organization of facto-
ries and the rush and hurry of Amer
lean life. His hearers were almost
all from the working class, and Ro-
senfeld's picture of the comforts and
conveniences enjoyed by skilled Am.
erican workers contrasted sharply
with the low living standards pre-
valent in German industrial regions.
Rosenfeld found the American I'M
ions engaged in banking but overlook
ing the class struggle.
Rosenfeld's. conclusion was typical
of the economic point of view domi-
nant in the German Socialist party.
After describing the terrible economic
Juggernaut the Americans have Gre
ated, he ended his talk by urging the
German workers to increase produc-
ton, with the suggestion that they
might thus enjoy the same things
that the American workers now have.
Germany IS facing an unemploy-
ment crisis, but the speaker had
nothing to say about where to find
market fbthe increased output
which he was urging.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-01-05
Build the, DAILY WORKER.

lated in some anti-foreign uprising
such as this.
Teaching Another Generation.
So, having in mind the awful
slaughter of foreigners here in 1905,
we descended suddenly and with VIC
lence, attempting to nip it in the
bud. But these last two weeks we've
been nipping, and to date, after 16
solid days of fighting and policing
and shooting, the situation is as bad
as ever.
For one week l went without sleep,
without seeing bed, without wash
ing, and what little catnaps | got were
never of more than an hours dura-
ton in eight, and soon broken by
some sudden alarm. And later, even
our catnaps were broken by sniping
into our barracks by snipers posted
in high points, who fled when we
stormed these points. The question
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-01-05
Continued from page u
truncheons of the Royal Irish Con-
stabulary (heavy and unbreakable).
lnaneriaIief Rnna RraaLAre


stabulary (heavy and unbreakable)
lmperlalist Bone Breakers.
1 had already broken two of the
"old ISSUE" and was damn glad to
get a hold of the new ISSUE" held
in reserve for just such as this. We
broke scores of collar bones, frac-
tured a dozen or more skulls, broke
one Chinese back, and ruined faces,
broke noses and arms and legs.
Never In my life have ! been so
brutal, SO utterly given over to the
lust for blood as | was that day,
unless 1t be on the many fights
since then these past two weeks.
Hank, it may seem incredible to
you, eighteen white men fighting a
mob of ten thousand hand to hand,
but ] ask you only to come out here,
to see the Chinese, to live here
awhile and realize that with the for
eigner here 1t is get in the first blow
make 1t final, or perish with wife
and children" Extreme means are
necessary in dealing with a Chinese
mob-shoot first and talk later, or
else you go up the Bubbling Well"
Only that morning we had been car
rying on the works of peace-and this
afternoon we were armed for a long
campaign, had killed ten Chinese,
crippled many for life, and had spilled
blood all over Marking Road--to pro-
tect our interest, the city we had
built, the system and order we had
produced, against the looting, crazy
mob Of Chinese. Well, when we we're
about TO open fire again, and this
time to perhaps kill hundreds, two of
our armored cars arrived, each with
1 inch steel walls, turrets, and ma
chine guns mounted like in tanks
and these cars drove full speed into
the mob.
Christians at Work.
The injured was appalling, two
crushed to death, their CUTS squirting
all over the street, broken legs, ribs,
and battered bodies caused by the
mad rush for safety. And the street
cleared, and the motor cars OF the
foreigner were able to pass, the large
majority Of the occupants rode up un.
aware OF the trouble-and finally driv-
ing off madly TO arm themselves, and
once more grid their loins, forget
their work, don their uniforms and
venture forth TO protect their homes.
In a way It's like the development
Of the west, the Indian warfare.
All night long we patroled, in
groups of four or FIVE. now and then
AIRED upon by hidden Shippers, now and
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-01-05
Want Italian Fascisrn
Here Investigated by
Congress as Seditious

WASHINGTON, Jan. S.-FP)-
Resolutions adopted by the Washing
ton central labor union call upon
C ngress to Investigate the activities
of the propaganda staff sent to this
country by the Italian government
bureau of foreign propaganda of IA
scism. They ask the federal govern
ment to cooperate with the American
Federation Of Labo" in resisting the
efforts of fascist party branches in
the United States to prevent Italian
immigrants from becoming American
lied. They denounce fascism as being
provocative of disorder.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-01-05
CHILE ST|RS
SO. AMERICA
AGAINST Us.
Pershing Arrogance
ROuSeS Continent

WASHINGTON, Jan. 3-Statements
by the White House spokesman that
Gen. Pershlng will not be consulted
with reference to the decision to be
made by President Coolidge as arbi-
traitor on chlIe's appeal In her border
dispute with Peru, add more fog to
the mystery surrounding Pershings
return from his job in Taena-Arlca.
The White House insists that the job
of arbitrator has not been reIinqulsh-
ed by Coolidge, and will be carried on
without interruption.
Wall Street Retreats.
Yet Pershing is coming back to the
United States, having failed to induce
the Chilean government to accept his
rulings as to how the plebiscite in
the disputed area shall be held. Dis
patches from Tacna-Arica say that
the whole American staff and its
equipment is being sent home.
If this is the fact, then Washington
has suffered serious defeat in the
game of prestige which is being play
ed under the name of pan-American
understanding. Chile has appealed
from Washington to Geneva--if not
IN technical fact at least in effect.
consuIs Report Resentment.
Resentment Of the growing imperial
dominance Of the United Statestuover
the internal affairs Of Latin-Apn "a
has eliminated in this revolt OF I'D Spe
American consuls and diplomatne me
the Latin-American republics n cat
kept the state department appto up
of the growth of anti-Washd, IAN
sentiment. Now it has registear cap
self in the Pershing affair in Id I
africa so dramatically that the wkvei
world is witness. n
Nevertheless, Coolidge shows MS
sign of depression; he counts upor
the need Of American loans by these
Latin-American governments and
their capitalists. He agrees with Sec
rotary of the Treasury Mellon that
they must, finally, come to the Amer
lean money market, and accept its
terms.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-01-05
Daily News Gets New Charter.

SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,, Jan. 3-The
Chicago Daily News, Inc, of Chicago,
with 1000 shares of no par value
stock, has been issued a chatter by
Secretary of State Emmerson. The
company, headed by Walter A. Strong,
recently purchased the paper from the
estate of Victor A. Lawson for
$15,OOO,OOO. Incorporators are o. F.
Glenn, J. n. Franks and Laird Bell
Principal stockholders and directors
are Mr.. Strong, Frederick Lundgren
and F. c. McCrum.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-01-05
France Demands
Debtors Pay Up;
Needs Cash Now

BUCHAREST, Roumania, Jan. B.
France is appealing to her debtors to
pay their debts, according to official
notification to the Roumanian govern
ment by the French ambassador here.
The ambassador informed Foreign
Minister Duca that France would send
note to Roumania within the next
few days asking her, in view Of the
difficult position Of France herself, to
regulate the Roumanian war debts.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-01-05

hen the target for well-placed house
bricks thrown by hidden devils. We
Jared not go into the Chinese quar-
ters, for sudden death lay there-at
least we had orders not to venture
into the quarter. During the next
few days | had repeatedly gone there,
with a dozen or so Sikhs each time;
and each time, when deep in the heart
of the Chinese quarter, was attacked
in force and had to shoot it out. Total
darkness, only the flash of the enemy
guns, only the shouts of the Chinese
to fire at. Well, to get back to chron-
illogical order, dawn came, and found
us nervous wrecks with worry and
thinking. What was coming next?
No man knew.
Preparatory Disarming.
And at the first streaks of dawn
the heather devils emerged from their
foul dens, and soon the streets were
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-01-05
Doctor, They'll Have
to Get Rid of FLUTES
to Be Able to Do That

NEW YORK, Jan. BIN the year
1000 everybody will be at least a
hundred years old and living until two
hundred will not be uncommon, DR..
Hornell Hart, professor of sociology
at Bryn Mawr, told the American So
Geological Society.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-01-05
Colleges No Place
for r. 0. T. C. Units,
Declares Minister

GALESBURG, H., Jan. 3.-R. o. T..
G. units have no place in colleges,
Prof. Raymond Brooks of Pomona
college, California, declared at the
convocation of Illinois congregational
ministers.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-01-05
Preparatory Disarmins.
MARX SAW SPARK FROM CHINESE REVOLUTION.


of
prepared general crisis which spreading abroad will be closely
order into the Western World while the Western
lark August
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-01-05

Watch the Saturday MGgGzine
Section for neto features every
meek. This is good issue to gi0e
to gOur fellOa0 lCOrker.
, 1926-10-06
''MY TOWN.

A man or woman should take great pride in the town where
n lives. Ii he cannot because of gross bemishes take pride
there is only one thing that a true man can do, and that is to
thoughtfuhy and industriously work to make the town better.
The thing we have in mind is this, There is something
graVely wrong and out of joint in the life of a person who con-
tInuahy finds fault with the place where he lives" To put it in
us simplest terms, the place feeds him, clothes him and gives
him a home. Now that is so central in ones life that a person
10 loyal here IS falling down in one of his major obligations.
Yet we often hear the man who always knocks everything
local. He sees no good. The people are small fry" The insti-
tutlons are "moss-backs." The spirit is fierce" The whole
place IS nick" 1t is a poor place.
Now the easiest thing to say to a man like that is to sug-
gest that in following out the simple logic of his thoughts he
Just move on. 60 some place else where things are more to
too, a moments thought brings out the truth of the matter to
a person like that. Any place would soon become a place like
the place he thinks his present home to be. 1t is not in the
place. 1t is in the person.
What then? Why this: Work to make your town better.
Believe in it. Root for it. In simple straightforwardness bring
yourself to think it is a great place. And you will be surprised
to find how quickly and truly it becomes a great place. The
people will become to- you fine folks" The institutions will
appear In the true light of simply struggling to be what they
ought to be. The spirit of the place will change and be like
your own improved spirit. 1t isn't your town, it's you. And the
place will be no longer a chick" town. 1t will become to YOU in
a very fine way MY Town"
Every good citizen believes truly in his own town. He takes
pride in it. He works for it. He boosts for it.
What might not a spirit like this do for Cody?