The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-04-07
The Chief and Stain S Picture
By DONALD McKILLoP

of for fixing the freezer, which found in very
bad state that he did unheard of thing by giving me
a refreshment l still higher in his estimation
when he discovered me reading the Bible
But alas! only flattered to deceive in agreeing
with him that the Bible is a good book But his disl-
lusoGment didn't come until homeward bound the sec
ond trip. comrade sent copy of the workers
Monthly" at Sar Francisco, which contained q picture
OF Comrade Stain. thought it would look we'll stuck
ur n my room 50 cut it out and pinned up facing
the door where it struck on entering.
Strange to say what was ambrosia to me turned out
TO be poison for Others and very learned that
ARTS that take at number two don't thrive number
flye Some of the engineers gaped at it, others made
uncompHmentary remarks about Stain in a good-hu-
mored manner but the LIST assistant scowled and said
nothing. His silence far from golden to me for
knew from experience that silence with him a sign
of broodng within
The Chief seemed to be more affected than anybody
else, however, which most unfortunate for me, as
1t does not pay to chief engineer When first
ne gazed upon it. watched him. closely for cold Jock"
has his share of the Scottish trait of hiding the emo
tions. seey look crept into his eyes, but he spoke
ON without comment about the picture. His caution
however, didn't deceive as am "canny Scot" my
SELF and felt instinctvely that he would have some
thing to say later
hadn't long to wait. Two days afterward, the 8rd
assistant an American, and having a friendly
argument politics in his room, when the chief nut
his head in the door, and finish to the controversy
BY way Of conversation, the Bird sad in ocular man.
"What do you think of this man, chief ?-He's Boil
shevik"
This brought forth what was coming to me- Like
damned up water when the gates burst and with +he
hatred OF clansman who has debt to settle with
member OF another elan his flow of vtuperation
against the Boshevks whom he loves the way the cat
loves mustard
Eyes, know that, and he has got one of the
BIS stuck up in his room. Those are the BIS that
have ruined the Clyde, and caused the ships to be built
elsewhere II had my way, everyone of them would
be put against the wall and shot, The quicker he gets
the picture of the Did down. the better for himseflD
With this, he turned on his heel
The third apoogized for broaching the subject AL
though one hundred percent American, and republican
to boot, he liked me too we'll to wish me harm as
sured him he had not damaged in "old jocks" ewes
but had simply enabled him to his feelings Once
the 3rd advised in friendly way "to drop Bolshev-
ism and other cockeyed ideas doesn't pay to have
such beliefs in America"
1t was clear to me that was doomed and damned on
the ship. | could the writing on the wall II NAV
be true that the Scots are clannsh but then had be-
come as a Campbell in the eyes of a Macdonald The
latter clan had great number treacherousv murdered
IN the Massacre OF Glencoe, by the Campbes at the
behest of Williams, Prince of Orange for, ostensibv
not taking the oath of allegiance to the king in time
We were now as the poles apart. This of course was
clear to me from my first day the ship, the
chief didn't know before.
You old Jock" is typical of the old school of en-
gineers from the Clyde, and lives in order to work
while the rising generation only works in order to live
lie has a supreme contempt for the young engineers
coming from Scotland maybe this is because they
don't believe in staying down in the engine room longer
than IS necessary. They, unlike the chief are not
troubled mucn WIN duty TO the company" The heat
Of the engine makes them feel they have duty to
themselves. When engineer is wrestling with a
breakdown, however, at the Mexican coast the
hottest part of the rum they will fly his aid and
work with will until the trouble is remedied all the
while loosng rivers of sweat.
After receiving the chiefs yelled utinatum ponder
ed over the question of whether Stain should stav pu
or disappear Economic interests were involved as well
as the Inconvenience of looking another lob if fired
After while, the heroic spirit came to the rescue With
the thought How die better than facing fear
full odds; and the lion shaking dew from its name
cast my doubts and fears into the discard by saying
To hell with pOvertygive the cat the canary!" had
crossed the Rubcon, and decided to go down. if not
with colors pinned to the mast at least with Stain
pinned to the bukhead.
Every time "old Jock" went up or down the engine
room he got another sight of "the BID" as my door
was always open for air. and his glance to see if he
were still there made chuckle
he certainly gave me long enough "to come to nv |
senses for ne suffered that picture other trips be-
lore realizing was incorrigble Then he enlisted the
services OF the superintendent engineer get rid of me-
as, no doubt, had become a red rag to a bull
The superintendent, after examining around the
freezer, trying to find legitimate for removing
the thorn in the flesh and failing to find one seized
upon my habit of smoking cigars on watch, which nv
oiler Hawaiian, good enough to present me with
He remarked:
"You seem to have plentiful supply of cigars F."
this is a gift"
That night the chief informed me that the super
had fired me for smoking cigars on duty He hoped |
bore him no ill will, and that would leave the lob in
good condition His concluding remark explains WHY
he didn't fire hmsef-he was afraid I might throw
a monkey wrench into the works before the new man
arrived.
If manage to remain undiscovered in my present
job where we have to work the proverbial halter
there is chance of better money and easier work. and
should those advantages my may, will saw with
Shakespeare, Sweet the of adversely" and
regard my discharge from the ship a blessing in