The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-01-11
Tetra Ethyl
Kills
By NATHAN HONG.
from Last Issue.)

grinding is the delegate system.
The workers in each department are
allowed each April to elect from
among themselves a delegate, for the
purpose of presenting their griev-
ances to the company superintendent.
The delegate is paid &c an hour extra.
One worker and one official are sup
posed to count the woes. The laborer
picked is bribed Che is fired other
wise), while the actual counting goes
on behind closed doors, done by Off
Gals. In this way the workers have
never had an honest delegate.
If the men grumbIe about condi-
lions or wages, the delegate goes to
the superintendent, and returning, ex-
plains to the men the many advan-
tages of working for Standard Oil,
and the huge operating expenses, and
the matter is dropped. The delegate
is usually stool-pigeon to boot. Other
stool-pigeons are employed to wa.ch
the rlen outside the plant. If the
delegate makes himself valuable to
Standard Oil, rapid promotion fol-
lows. This has occurred in many
cases. After each election the dele
gates elected are given a dinner in
Newark. Even these company stool
pigeons have their kick; they used to
get chicken dinner; now they get
only fish.
A Substitute Boss
One delegate, Socialist, is an in
teresting specimen. He boasts how
strong he is for the working-class, but
when the foreman is away he acts as
foreman. This is a peculiar thing for
a man whom the men have Chosen
their representative to do. Incident
ally there are quite a few Socialist
delegates at the works, and the COM
pany knows it. Are they fired for be-
ing Socialists? No, the company
trusts them.
The inhuman speed-up is the cause
of many accidents due to the danger
GUS work. The laborers handle pipes
thru which acids flow, which in the
speedup spill on the workers, causing
severe burns. Rubber gloves and
glasses as protection are thus multi
fled. Thick, poisonous smoke fumes
often have the men coughing and
gasping.
ethyl Is Back
The most dreaded hazard is the
deadly tetra-ethyl lead used in the
Standards new, gasoline product
headers will remember the Juror ere.
ated about two years ago when about
10 workmen died in horrible agonies
1T New Jersey plant where expert
nents were being made on ethyl gas
line. Noted scientists stated that il
his motor fuel were allowed to be
| iold, the lives of Americans would ba
shortened, by slowly inhaling it in the
streets.
Other scientists, notable among
them industrial chemists employed by
corporations, denied this, and their
opinions prevailed. Ethyl gasoline is
now in extensive use, and years must
elapse before the truth of it's effects
on the public health can be establish
ed. Four months ago a man was
killed outright by the gas in the Bay
onne Standard Oil Works; another
was critically i'll for three months.
All the workers are dizzy from it,
even at home. at hur.s my BRAIN"
worker told the DAILY WORKER re-
porter. Since the worker was killed
four months ago, gas masks have been
introduced in the ethyl works.
He Can Always Work.
The company's physician is DR.. Fer
enczi. When man is hurt, he must
report to the safety man who usually
bawls him ouG for "carelessness.
, When the company doctor sees him,
he sends the injured worker right back
| to work, unless the injury is so seri-
Gus that the worker cannot stand up.
or member has been amputated In
many cases the injured man is given
a hasty examination, and then turned
over 20 an orderly, in whose care he
| is thereafter.
When a worker is SO badly hurt
that he must lie at home, Standard
Oil chases him back as soon as pos
| sible. A nurse is sent around to the
workers house, and urges the man to
return, promising that light work only
will be given him. After few days
| of lying a. home, the worker is pes
tered constantly by a representative
of the company calling on him.
The Stock Graft.
A leader in the technique of keep
ing the men cowed and satisfied,
Standard Oil was one of the first to
adopt the scheme of selling Company
stock to It's employees. Small indeed
is the amount allotted to each BUYER.
but it has in the past been enough to
keep the men from dangerous wage
and strike talk. "You men are now
partners in the Standard Oils an in
crease in wages will make your sock
worth less" is the old story told the
men.
1t is losing its charm, as the men
begin to see they have been fooled
The dividends from their few shares
l. l. II