The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-10-02
BIG SPENCER

by the police And gatherings were not allowed
Whether in halls or grounds, Not even on the
street
But that did not improve the su1ry, ominous air
Wages became meager still The children cried
from hunger, Things couldn't go thus, Then the
miners called strike.
The strike set In Immediately even tho the police
sought to prevent II. The mines shut down The lifts
empty. The emergency workers alone were al
lowed to continue The mine grounds full of
military
It was therefore necessary to attempt attack on
capital in other way. The most important thing
was to cali upon the metal workers to strike, They,
too suffering from hunger as if it stood over
Ike eternal godfather and they waiting a
opportunity to jump at his throat
They notified them. And they even promised. But
they wanted joint meeting to be held before the de-
cisi0n to strike was made
Il To be today The boys had already been loiter
ing around the factories from earliest morning They
whispered into the OF everyone they when to
come Trustworthy people Old comrades. They
counted five hundred
Meanwhile the leaders conferred as to the speaker
Most Of the votes we're IN favor of Big Spencer.
And Big Spencer was an able fellow He was pick.
back in the cid pit Lean as strong as an OK;
and he had voice which could be heard for three
streets
When they tDad him about it, he scratched his neck
tAoughhuny- He knew it might cost his head But he
promised anyway
AT home he sat down In his and reflected his
thoughts crowded densely IN toosman head arched
themselves threateningy behind his forehead But he
remained calm
Was he afraid? Mol He drummed his tists on the
table few times Stood up Looked at his lcngish
face In small mirror Laughed at himself and his
to throw open his hesitation Ho, already he burned
mouth
In the afternoon, he still worked In the garden;
towards evening, fed the cattle changed clothes and
to the city
The cafe in which the meeting was to take place lay
IN the suburb He had to 60 right thru the maze of
streets in the lower part of the city Up small hin
Beyond he dipped into the hustle Of the suburban
streets When he came to the small cafe he a fsv
clusters of people They had gathered the edges Of
the side sreea In front Of the cafe itself truck
full of military
So had been betrayed He wh1stled softly thru his
teeth turned around and up to of the groups
They recognized him Immediately. fat locksmith
grOwled In his I'VE might as we'll go home again
here"
must settle things today. Tomorrow may be too
latep
Where shall gors asked one Of the buddins who
pressed up to him
ITO the raVine IN back az our mines he wfispArrd
but walk separately the military can't follow us
They scattered Immediately like a flock of pigeons
few courageous across the street past
the military to the other side ten the comrades there
of the decision.
The secret march thru the city already dark gave
Big Spencer joy. The houses ducked beneath his out
striking steps, They shrank together as If they were
the anxious souls of the citizens who live behind those
high walls.
He had vailed too fast. When he came to the small
ravine, only few Of the younger ones were there.
He looked around. The ravine was not a good meet
ing place To the right cut on by walls Of the
mine. To the left was a strong wire fence
However it was too late to look for a better place
The others came from below in ever-thicker masses
Some who had come by roundabout ways also came
from above
The first had sat down against the wall so they were
entirely in the shadow The others did the same
Thus only few. who not covered by the shadow
Big Spencer stepped forward He said that he had
been chosen to speak to the comrades He then re-
quested that the individual comrades of the factory
present themselves. comrade from among the metal
workers stepped forward and called the roll
They were all there. The march thru the city did
not seem to have weakened them That nlaasea bic