The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1930-12-27
Guns and Marching Men
BY l.. A. DE SANTEs..

0s
trikes, will redeem his record by
landing by the miners this time.
ohm, one of the young miners
saderS, and a rival of Harry's for
irets affection, has told her aboht
ne plans of the National Miners
bill and Smelters' Union. Grets
Dung brother, Joey. comes home
rom the mine with the news that
oops are being brought in. The
Id grandmother begins to recall
ne earlier strikes and the horrors
Ludlow. There is sound of an
xplosion and hurried knocking on
he door. Now go on with the story.
AH, it is Harry"
Like me better now, Gret?
on my way to the mines and
re only got minute to say
clio. ,5~ ......--.
But that uniforn-and the rifle!"
Yes, we go on duty at once and
haven't got time to explain-I've
p. 1t to be going now ....-..-------.
Harry attempted toshug Gfeta, but
withdrew. John snaps. -
what duty?" .s'- ,-. .s-.
"why, strike duty, John. We got
ord that the miners join the gen.
al strike at / o'clock tonight
Yes, that's true, but you office
orkers are not against the miners.
That uniform means the muir
ring of coal diggers-take it off,
au're good booking enough to get
>ur women without it,"
But I'll get court-martialed and
ut to Fort -
mo greater honor could be yours
eppard scabbed the last strike-his
ther was killed doing the same.
hos his friend? None but COM
ny dicks, rot-gut and whores. The
mpany office workers got to be on
e picket line with the miners and
leir wives. It's time we did some
ghting, together, against the bosses
I'D their slave system-for the
lings they enjoy that should belong
+, us-to all workers and farmers
no feed clothe and shelter the
orld. Take it off, I tell you. If
1u don't you'll be called upon to
loot your own flesh and blood or
e killed. We mean to fight-to
in!" .,....
you wouldn't shoot your own
lends, Harry?" ..--.-
why, Gret, I wasn't told thered
any shooting, just sort of keep the
eace."
Gums were made to kill, and where
here's guns there can't be peace
OF for long. They've fooled you as
hey've fooled every other young gem
4rationIand when youFesz dead
heyGl cover you with glory-yes-
tx feet of it-more than you'll ever
own while alive. YOU 49,
Outside machine guns barled 80
There's some OF your peace and
II bet there wasn't a boss on the
ceceiving end either-not yet"
VEPPARD came in, slammed the
u door shut and threw the BOLT
Hello Earry."
Then, turning to John, he asked:
"Didia hcar the shooting? Ireckon
they got a few O. them red necks.
-. ] came in cause I heard the bull
let's wllizzin over me head
and Q crowd e. roaria' down the ra-
vine this way
TIE cabin v.brated to pounding
feet. Voices Numbered closer. The
cabin door ratified as fists pounded
its rlanks and fought for the latch.
Mrs. Keppard, aroused shuddered at
the sounds, and BEGAN to recall once
more the past. "Open the door ="
"They raped her first.
1.-THE guards shot him..
"John, where is John?" ..
"The miners are on the rise"
sup miners, make way, make way"
"Open the door.
tits little Nancy and joey.
John threw the bolt and knocked
the latch rp with hard fist. Coal
diggers entered silently, with the soft
tread of tigers. Hard muscles gently
bore Joey and Nancy in. Blood was
running over Joey's coal-smeared
face. John lifted the dying boy to
his lap.
who, Joey, who?'
1.-THE guards. :. were layin' on 'er. .
and t.. was, - r..e4
The masses crowded the cabin. The
children outside pressed their noses
flat to the window. Watching Joey
die. they stood silent. yolcanic.-~@--@..
.-aIt~v-as the guards The gunnaen,
The finks. The bosses. The slave
drivers -. = = no
Was the new union prepared? John
called out, ITO your posts. Sound
the alarm. Picket the roads, The
masses, a solid rock of strength
pushed further into the cabin, while
those delegated by John went to give
the alarm. geS
Something las happel-ed to old Mrs.
leopard Her. up-turned face was
now full of wonder; hope, love and
awe. She has pulled her bent body
up and stands with hands out
stretched, trembling. gasping. The
miners listen to her, wordless, still.
"Ndother n1nther2 YES l rernem-