The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-08-17
PART III.
By REBECCA GRECHT.


THERE were several red letter days
for the women fur pickets in the
workhouse, and some incidents will
long remain in our memory. With
the help of its committee, our little
community of prisoners tried to turn
its period of confinement into pc
Rod of mobilization for future ac-
tivity. During the day, we'd chat,
read the few magazines which we
managed to get from the special ward,
take showers, talk to the matrons, or
just rest on our cots.
The best part Of our day usually
began after supper, served at 4 p. m.
Then we came together and held coun-
Gil, airing grievances and discussing
proposals for spending our time. AS
far as possible we acted on everything
in common. We wanted to create a
spirit of unity to bring US closer to
one another, and drew US nearer to
the movement.
Sang Solidarity"
Then we had our chorus - and
mighty proud we were of it. True,
it did not have the organization, the
talent, the direction, of the New York
Freiheit Singing Society. There was
no harmonious blending of trained
voices, no emphasis on artistic inter-
probation. But what we lacked in
tone, we made up in spirit. And if
there was little discord now and
then-well, our ears were not so sen
sitive.
I had with me song book issued by
the Industrial Workers of the World.
1t proved to be a real treasure-house
It's songs of battle reused and stimu-
lated u.s.
We sang other songs, as we'll =
Russian, Jewish. Moving songs of
the struggles and sufferings of the
working class; thrilling, invigorating
songs of revolution, such as must
have inspired the masses of Russian
workers and peasants in their victori-
GUS march towards freedom.
And as we sang, depression van
ished like thin clouds in air We ex-
perienced as perhaps never before the
strengthening power of mass singing.
1t cheered us. We forgot, the miser-
able spaghetti and beans, the lack of
fresh air, all the restrictions and re-
rressions of the workhouse. We got
new courage and enthusiasm. We
longed to be out again, on the picket
line, in the ranks of our militant COM
rades, fighting for our class, sure of
ultimate victory.
One song we especially enjoyed was
Solidarity" Everybody joined in the
refrain. 1t rang through our room,
through the wards upstairs, outside in
the corridor. 1t seemed to symbolic
the spirit of the struggle. 1t was our
answer to the police, to the judge,
to the McGradys and VOLS who seek
to wipe out every bit of progressivism
and militancy in the needle trades, in
the entire American labor movement.
Singing Prohibited.
We wondered at first why we were
allowed to sing. That privilege was
taken from us, however, after July
4th. A celebration had been planned
for that day by the prison authorities,
including a show arranged by the in
mates, and while rehearsals were go
ing on we were not bothered. But
after the holiday, no more mass sing
ing was permitted.
We shall remember that July 4th
celebration. When the judge SEN
fenced us to 10 days, that was his way
Of concentrating the signing of the
Declaration of independence. No
doubt he thought the workhouse
would teach us good lessons in Amer
icanism; that to be deprived of our
freedom, for picketing in a strike,
during the week of July 4th, would
impress us with the great privileges
enjoyed by the American working
class since America won it's independ-
ence We owe him thanks, then, for
having given us this enlightening
lesson in capitalist democracy. 1t is
lesson we shall not so soon forget.
The day began with the glad news
that we would be permitted out-of-
doors in the afternoon. At 1.30 p. m.
we were led out into the prison yard.
For two and one half hours we en-
joyeG the sunshine and fresh air, for
the first time in five days, then in
doors again.
The Show.
In the evening the big show took
place. We filed into the corridor to-