The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-07-16
LETTERS FROM OUR READERS
A steel Workers Letter.
Gary, Ind, July 2, 1926.

Gary, Ind, July z, 1875.
Editor DAILY WORKER,
1113 West Washington Blvd,
Chicago, ILL.,,
Dear Sir:
Please allow space for this letter in
your paper.
To the Steel Workers of America and
Especially to the Workers of the
Calumet District
Greetings
You know that for the past eighteen
years of the steel mills we have had
to undergo many things not fitting
into the well-being of the employee.
There have been long hours, bad
and dangerous working conditions,
poor pay-men injured and killed,
without the proper sympathy and con-
sideration to either the victim or his
family. The men, fearful of losing
their Jobs, are afraid to speak the
truth of their own convictions or at
tempt to defend their own cause, and
because Of this very fear there has
arisen unrest and discomfort amongst
them and the cry has gone out that
they are not getting their just deserts
Something must be done, Still they
do not stand up as men and attempt
to reason out the thing first amongst
themselves, with justice to both them
selves and dependents, and then take
their demands up with the steel COM
pany. 4u t a~e ee
1T is very true that labor must take
Its place in the world of affairs, for
labor creates everything that capital
demands. Therefore labor must help
rule the world, because the laborer
better knows the needs, dangers and
responsibilities connected with it's part
of carrying on the. great accomplish
ments OF. civilization now and in the
future. This can best be done by or
ganization and standing for the rights
of all men concerned.
Therefore, let the employer put him
self mentally in the workers shoes
and see with his minds eye how the
same fare-working hours, conditions,
dangers, disinterested concern for his
safety, dependents, protection-would
strike him, should he have been the
worker instead of the pampered en-
ployer, and / am sure, in all fairness
to the thoughtless, rich, soft-handed
employer, there will be "a human thrill
of sympathy for humanity, even tho
less fortunate than themselves, which
will enable even the steel company to
lift the standard of treatment for the
mill workers and their dependents.
For the past eighteen years Of my
life l have lived in Gary and having
worked in the mills, given it close OBJ
servation, both while there and since
leaving its employ, and find that the
thing that has greatly hindered the
Negro mill workers progress has been
that of poor, leadership. He has had
no desire to follow anyone that Of
fered, stood for, or lived Clearly NOR
ally and financially, but always pre-
ferred the preacher or politician or
any other person who did not fight
low morals, dives, greed, graft or his
many other weaknesses. He has al
ways been ready to listen to the fell
low whose. highest ambition was self
and his own desire, to prey upon the
vices and weaknesses of his race with
the lowest morality. They have po-
luted and desecrated the sanctity of
their churches, homes, clubs and fra
ternal activities to the same demon.
Within the black race there is an
abundance of intelligence, decency,
pride, bravery in the right and un-
selfish co-laborers willing to go side
by side with men or women or both
in helping to- lead the race gently
back to thea right path. There are
many white men and women, rich and
poor, who are willing to help the black
race hold and regain its rightful place
amongst, the nations workers and
doors of the world.
say the black man in the steel
mills should 5organize with the white
workers and do his share as man in
helping the steel employer and the
steel worker to better, purer, truer
understanding of the painful condi-
lions under which they labor today in
the mills, and the employer will re-
joice in the good done by, to and for
all concerned.
Looking forward to that more un-
derstanding day Of cooperation and
sympathy between all concerned, am,
Respectfully and sincerely years,
''" ITO" ta tf- Manuel Lark