The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-04-30
Cogitation In a Cell

TACK FINNEGAN sat in his cell with his two fists
J under his chin looking without realizing what he
was looking at, into the dirty bowl of the cell lava
tory
Jack was arrested that morning as he was get
ting his weekly paper ready for "bed" and he was
taken to this JAIL charged with melting people to
overthrow the government.
There are certain times in peoples lives that they
think deeply and furiously. Just like taking stock
When man gets married, or at least Immediately
afterwards That is one of them When man loses
job. That is another. When a man is recovering
from debauch. That is a third. But it is seldom
that anything changes ones mode of living except
DEATH For just soon as his wife deserts him, he
looks for another And when man gets another
job is offered another drink he forgets all about
the past; in fact he looks back over his life journey
and fools himself into believing that the past
a sweet pilgrimage thru Elysium.
As Jack Finnegan looked at the bowl he put him
self thru a third degree. He heard topers after
hard weeks drinking call it: whipping the cat"
He was not sorry for what happened to him. but he
thot he was justified in asking himself if it was
worth while.
That morning fellow with face like a piece
of steak walked into the editorial room and asked
for Jack Finnegan. When Jack admitted his iden-
hty the beef-faced person announced that he was
Sergeant Thaddeus O'Hara of the Bomb Squad and
that the department of labor under the impress
sion that Finnegan born in Ireland and did not
know enough to get the police force or at least
be ward captain in some reliable democratic or
ganization.
O'Hara was accompanied by a federal dick named
Adamowsky who remained discreetly in the back
ground. Finnegan put on his hat and coat and ac-
companied his chaperons to the Jail. 1t was known
as the filthiest dive this side of Warsaw. On the
way to the JAIL OHara remarked that it was remark
able how Irishman should take to ways that were
risky than remunerative
IF you were back in Ireland" he said cit would
be different But here, wise guy can make liv-
ing. know that Communism is alright in Russia,
but we won't have it here for another hundred
years. | am radical myself but am not sap and
I'll get mine while am here"
Then he whispered in Finnegans ear and said:
Christ you are one of our and l didn't want
to let this kke pinch you. You know. 1t isn't so bad
when one of your own does it."
Finnegan couldn't see lot Of difference between
getting carted to the by Jew or by an Irish
man, but he somewhat intrigued by the con-
versation, so he let O'Hara rambe along.
You know, was Bill Haywood's secretary for
awhile" continued the sergeant. "Say, Bill is
good scout. But HE'LL smoking cigars on ten
bucks week and those wobs couldn't see how 1
did Il. But honest to Christ was no fink. was
working for the department"
Finnegan kept wondering what could fink be
except stool-pigeon. But O'Hara was quite sure
that he was no stool-pgeon. You see, he was get
ting paid by the government for doing his stuff
He was not member of the /. w. w. before he
began his linking.
Il appreciate your point of view" continued
O'Hara, "but am studying for the bar and pretty
soon I'll quit this job. If l in Europe I'd be
Communist but here I damn good democrat.
A. fellow who doesn't look out for himself is nutty.
The workinclass don't care what happens to you.
See how they treated Debs."
Finnegan made some scientific observations on
evolution and he pointed out to O'Hara that Car
Nicholas of Russia quite that things would
continue as they were, when the big splash sent
him under, but O'Hara brushed the observations
aside contemptuousy.
Say, you talk like ten year old. Do you think
anybody in the city federal governments thinks
the wobblies are any than the A. F. of L.
Hell, no. The wobs talk about sabotage-that's all.
The A. F. of L. don't talk about it."
0'Hara curled wicked lip and he turned his eyes
if trying to expose bit of foreign matter that
was irritating him.
Il know that Big Jack Mucahy is linking it and
so is Frank Schneider. I'd like to get those b."
By this time the jail reached.