The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-11-13
FIRST PRIZE WINNER.
], & |. STEEL co,
KEEPS WORKERS
in SUBMISSION
Uses All Tricks to En-
slave Them
BY HENRY X. Won ARAT
(Worker Correspondent

worker Corresponding
WOODLAND, Pa, Nov. 11.--Wood-
lawn is steel town. Jones and Laugh
lin Steel corporation owns the town
and the people in it, as well as the
three miles of mills along the Ohio
River.
One central employment bureau
hires the men for all the mills. If you
ever go there to get a Job try not to
look intelligent. No one suspected OF
having brains is ever hired. When
you enter the employment bureau you
generally find the place crowded with
lob seekers" of all nationalities. One
look. at their faces tells you they are
wage slaves, waiting at the mouth of
Moloch to be devoured. An inner door
opens and out comes the employing
agent. The men crowd around him
like lot of hungry children, while he
looks them over to see which ones of
them look the least intelligent,
Submit to Inquisltion.
The ones picked by him are given
"A slip of paper and are sent into the
inner Office, or inquisition booth, as
1t should properly be called. Here the
prospective employee is questioned at
length. Special inquiries are made
about the applicants church afilia.
ton Now, do not ever make any mis-
takes about this question, 1t is neces-
Bary that you believe in some form
of superstition or another If you want
to get your Job, This is one Of the
great secrets of getting a Job in the
J. & L. If you are a member Of
certain church, you are given what is
called rating. They know just what
your mental capacity amounts to and
how much exploitation you will stand
for and how you will vote.
If you are a member Of some flock
they know you will stay put Few
have any idea about the influence the
local mass houses exercise over the
people of Woodlawn. When you work
2n the mills and have seen the intol-
cradle conditions under which the
steel men slave you really wonder
why 1t is that they do not revolt. A
look at the masses on Sunday answers
your question They swarm to the
churches like bees around a honey
comb, to listen to that ancient lullaby
"Pie in the sky by and by" 1t is said
that the best way to get a good" job
at the ]. & L. is to get letter Of
introduction from father Carney or
that orthodox priest, the one with the
billie goat whiskers., Any of the pro-
testant clergys' o. X. win do Just the
same, however. They are all John and
Laughlin's lackeys and one can direct
your attention to the pie in the sky
5ust as well as the other. Yes, this is
a goose step ttwn. Unless your feet
are guided that way, don't come here.
Medical Examination.
From the inquisition room you are
sent to the doctors Office. Here you
generally have to wait for some time
for your turn as a number of men with
bandages on their arms, legs, eyes,
smashed fingers are usually waiting to
receive their medical attention. My,
what a lot there arel If the sight of
nil these human wrecks doesn't weak
On your stomach, you proceed TO wait
for your turn Here you are asked
more questions and II you pass your
medical examination you are given a
card and directed to some foreman
In one OF the mills.
Armed Guards.
To enter the mill you must first pass
thru the gates where you are stopped
by guard in uniform and a gun slung
on his hip and blackjack somewhere
IN evidence. He represents the law,
the law Of John and Laughlin. From
the guard you proceed TO the foreman.
He gives you a pencil, shows you the
dotted line on the card and says Sign
here" You obey, you sign acknowledge
ing that the foreman had explained all
the details TO you concerning the dan
gers IN the mills and that you there
fore absolve the company from all
blame in case you are hurt or killed.
Thus, like Daniel I'm the lions den,
you proceed TO whatever task you are
assigned. TO grind more profits for the
steel corporation.