The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1930-11-29
Neither Bread Nor Cake
BY GROVER J. sHoHoLM.

DEOPLE stop and talk to me, when they see
me selling Daily Workers along Sixth Ave-
voices that describe varied aspects of the unem-
ployment crisis. Then they pass, to scan the
boards in front of the agencies, turning away
with sigh or a shrug and strained express
sion that means no breakfast that morning.
woman with the hint of tears In her eyes
says to me:
What will doP They want four dollars for
the job, and I haven't got it. I'll be put OUT
Il know how it is" is all can say. "Ive
stayed three nights myself at the Municipal
Lodging House. If you go to the Unemployed
Council you won't be put out"
A very we'll dressed elderly man stops to talk
to someone who perhaps understands. He is
steward. He is just living on hope, he says.
from day to day. He has little room, and each
day he buys loaf of whole wheat raisin bread
for ten cents and that's all he eats for the day.
Another stops and buys paper. Tell me in
a word what it's all about"
"It means, in word" answer, "that the
workers are going to take over the whole works
for themselves"
well, I'd like to zee it," he remarks, as he
walks away reading the paper. 'but :"
A colored man, of the sport type, waves the
pocket, not very fat roll at that, and says:
This is the only thing I'm interested in
money. Or a job. don't care about conven-
TONS or the labor movement, or things like
that"
Listen brother" tell him. mo matter how
much money you may have you are not treated
like human being" thought seems to strike
him.
young fellow who buys the paper almost
snarls at me-.
But what good Is that doing? People are
walking along here starving, and you pass
ing out pieces Of paper"
wait minute" have to tell him. There
are thirty thousand cafeterias and coffee pots
in New York City. And they are all running
on twelve hour day. If the hours are cut to
eight, there will be thousands of jobs. There is
only one way to do it, and that is through or
ganization-a union. Cut the hours raise or
keep wages up and increase the number of
jobs. Be down there tonight with the cafeteria
workers on Thirty-fourth Street"
sturdy, middle aged man comes along, and
as he buys the paper remarks that he, was an
old time Wobbly
cit was Local 317 That was before your time,
though. Tom Flynn was the boss of that
bunch"
He leaves donation" for free copies. Better
as he walks on.
In selling the Daily Worker you never know
where the spark may strike For this reason
I have weakness for passing out free copy
when someone is interested, and broke. Read
ing the worker" may represent the first ap-
proach to the Communist movement. Who can
tell where an influence may extend9
I notice that the cop on the beat always turns
the other day when he passes. 1t is not that
he is good cop 1t means that am being
looked over.
A man, obviously famished, takes a paper and
Kisses at me:
"If had machine gum I'd fight for the red
flag right now!" He is panicky. He is serious
For the present an armful of Daily Workers
is as good as a machine gun"
Voices that pass tell of actual conditions bet
ter than statistics.
II have a wife. 1t is impossible to live with
her"
1.-THE tickets on the boards don't mean thing
They haven't any jobs. They hold your de-
post and send you around to four or five places
looking for job Or they tell you to come in
next Monday to see the party"
Thousands pass, intent on their immediate
concerns, unaware of their collective power
Occasionally someone will say:
alta boy!"
Groups eddy out of the crowd to tell me things
I already know:
There is enough wasted in the big hotels to
feed all these people. little piece is cut off
a good steak The rest is thrown away"
''Why don't the reds do something's"
would you be there?"
Something practical!"
ITO fight evctions, isn't that practical? To
fight the twelve hour day in restaurants isn't
that practical? Unemployment Insurance is prac-