davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-03-07
By JOHN c. ROGERS.

YOU get on the bus, and you sit
down. Not too far back, and not
too far front. Just back far enough
TO be nearer the Negro section than
the white, The white section is al
ways filled with a lot of DRINKS,
nniddle-class clerks, R. o. T. c. he
Aoes ana potential Mussollnis with
their Shrine fobs resting easily on
Eat paunches.
The rear of a bus is always full
OF life and color. Negro workers and
students. Always talking, singing.
Full Of little gin sometimes, with a
brown head resting on their strong
shoulders and calloused fingers
stunning the strings of an old
banjo. "St. Louis woman and
her diamond ring drag that man
round on her apron string +. pink,
pink, pink" Color, life and laugh
ter.
Don't let the laughter fool you.
The Negro is always conscious of his
Cor herr servile position in the CAPT
talist system Only the contemplate,
wealthy Negro, who apes the white
race in all of its garish, cheap dissi-
patiors, is without interest in the
class struggle. Don't be fooled by
the songs and the laughter. Thine
Southern egro realizes more clearly
than the Southern white proletariat
the significance of the class struggle
and the Importance of solidarity.
Only few white workers going to
the night shift at the railroad yards,
and two Negroes talking. One of
them has red and black button on
his coat. I have button on my
coat to match it. Fight Imperialist
Wars. Defend the Soviet Union"
The Negro has booklet from the
Workers Library, and he is showing
it to his comrade, who obviously has
never heard of Unemployment In
surance or the Communist Party. I
fold up the Moscow News and de-
eide to break into the conversation.
To hell with the Jim Grow system,
if the white fellows in the bus don't
like my talking to Negro worker
they can ride another bust
"You have been to the meeting,
ccmrade?" "Sure, I been to the
meeting. Delegates from all over the
country came in. Ridin' the rails,
hitch hikin' walkin' and some in
cars. We-all is goin' up to the cap
btol tomorrow. I jest tole this COM
rade he wants to join up with a
fightin' Party. This here unemploy-
ment hits all of us. We can't do no
good, all scattered over the country.
Veal gotta organize. We gotta
fight, an fight dam hard to git outa
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-03-07
LIFE IN A SOVIET
STUDENT COMMUNE

The 'Lenihgrad technical students
who sent this letter translated by
the American Esperanto group, ask
for letters from American workers
and students. Address all CORES
pondence to M. Moskalev, Leningrad-
%, U.S.S.R., VI Krasnij zori, 81,
Komriuna E.SI.
They also request copy of book
.sThe Radio Manual" published in
this country. If any reader has a
copy which he can pass on or can
afford to purchase one, 1T will be
timely and much appreciated gift.
Either send direct or mail to the
Daily and we will forward.-Editor.
IN 1924, a group of us, electrical stu
dents of Leningrad, organized q
Commune in order 10 carry Gu our
work and daily life on a completely
cooperative ba IL. We began with
thirty members but we have now
grown to three l:uhdl ed
When you er.er the commune vol
find yourself in a small corridor, the
walls are dec ora;@1 with annoan e.
nlents and infor sion, also the reg
istration of commune. Further
down you see man sitting at a
table-he is on GUY. He taxes you
through the commune, it is divided
into twelve apartments, each one
having z or eight rooms. Each
apartment is divided into bedrooms,
studyroonns, and recreation rooms
Cfor cultural nfe). The rules are
strict, In bedrooms you can only
sleep, in studyrooms you can only
study.
Now take look at our "Red Cor
ner." It it large room with soft
furniture. On the table there are
numerous magazines and newspapers.
Our meetings and lectures also take
place In this room. Yes, meeting
OF the commune Is an extraordinary
occasion. Each member wants to
give his or her idea. Young blood
flows In their hearts, and the meet
ings are full of noise, merriment and
laughter.
In the same room you find our
department store which is--a cup
board divided into several parts con-
tanning different objects. On the
door you find list Of the articles
and the price. Every member takes
whatever he or she needs and marks
1t down in a note book underneath
his or her name. Thus the "holy
act Of buying and selling occurs
without a salesman, with just the
buyer. Going further you find a
room Of noise" Just because it is
not allowed to talk loud in our rooms
In order not to disturb those who are
studyingg there is a special room
where you can sing. play an instru-
rnent, and dance. In the same room
numerous meetings Of our commit
tees and different circles are held.
The Study Room
An study takes place in the study
rooms Of the commune. When you
enter the room you see numerous
tables and books without end. ...
Every member has table Of his
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-03-07
Comrades in
Dixie

this here low-wageS what these white
folks is givin' us. We niggers has got
to fight for everything we git. We
gotta fight all the harder for free
dom from this here capitalism, what
don't give us nothin' but lynchins
and poverty"
The Negro who has been listening
to an incomplete, but sincere, lesson
in Marxism, rings the bell for his
stop. We say, "So-long. comrade,'
and he goes down the aisle, out of
the bus and is swallowed up in the
night.
A lot of concerns in Virginia and
the South have made boast that
they have been helping unemploy-
ment by hiring more men. The
press makes the most of it, by tell
ing its readers PROSPERITY is just
around the corner. AS usual, this is
only another capitalist lie. In some
instances men have been hired but
at wage that allows them only the
barest necessities of life; they have
no money left over from one day to
another, from one pay day to an
other. In the Soviet Union, workers
do not have to worry about tomor-
row. THE Negro and white work
ers must UNITE for the overthrow
of capitalism and the establishment
of the Dictatorship of the Prole-
tariat. Under capitalism we have
exploitation and misery. Under
Communism, freedom and happi-
ness" I tell my new-found comrade.
You is sure right" says the Negro
comrade, II gotta get off here, but
we-all will sure meet again {. we
sure will"
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-03-07
So Mickey
Learr1sHOW
BY VALENTINE V. KONIN

by VALENTINE V. hONlN.
MICKEY'S real name was Veronica
IVA Genevieve MacLahanna, but no
one had ever called her by that name.
Practically since the day of her birth
when her father, caressing her soft
red curlS, called her affectionate1y
Mickey, that name had become an
inseparable part of her boisterous
fighting personality. When she was
four years old, she licked her cousin
Tommy SO hard that he ran home
bawling all the way down the block
BY the time she was ready to enter
school, she was known far and wide
as the greatest tomboy and fighter
among :hs female sex, as far as the
youngest generation of Cranberry
Street could remember.
Edith GoIdberger was the daughter
of the candy store man. Up to the
time of school age, she lived in iso-
lation from the Cranberry Street So
ciety. On Saturday her mother
would put on a black fur coat, and
diamond ring, dress up Edith in
white shoes and stockings, and 70
away with her for the day. Mickeys
gang would run after them, shout
ing "Sheeny," and Christ killers
Edith neither answered them nor
fought with them, but there was fear
and hatred in her large brown eyes.
Mickey and Edith became friends
the first day of school, when she pro-
tected Edith from the attacks of Reta
keenan,. 1t was not so much SYM
pathy for Edith, as the desire to show
Reta that she was nobody, that made
her kick Reta with her heel After
that Edith remained a steadfast
friend of Mickey's for years, treat
ing her to best caramels from her
fathers shop.
BY the time both girls were ten
years old, Mickey had to leave school,
Mrs. McLahanna presented the world
with another heir to it's poverty.
Mickey had to stay home to take
care of the baby, while her mother
went back to the factory. Mickey
kicked at this arrangement first be-
cause 1t was not in her nature to
accept things without active protest,
and second, because by giving up
school she was losing contact with
her society in which she figured as
a prominent member.
She became attacked to the baby
with a precociously passionate af-
lection. But when he ~-s fifteen
months old, he was scr to death
when a pot of boiling .do, which
Mickey was cooking for supper, over
turned on top of him.
At thirteen she found herself a
job in the laundry, and the very first
summer was overcome by heat ex-
haustion. Two men carried her home
unconscious. But the next week, she
was back at the laundry demanding
her job back. They gave it back
to her readily enough, since she
worked with more energy and speed
than any of the boys employed there.
At the beginning of her fourth year
there, an announcement was made
that everybody's wages will be cut.
'What do you mean you are going
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-03-07
Forty Years Ago

BY CHI. Mel.
"a Worker who lost his savings In a
small town bank crash)
The kettle on the stove was froze
Just forty years ago;
And for fuel each morning, - the
woods,
would have to 60;
My clothes were not just the thing,
And how the winds did blow,
I can feel the sting now in my bones,
From forty years ago;
I struggled on with bravery,
An existence have sought,
But found the road to slavery
For freedom has been bought.
You try to save penny
For collateral II does 60.
As for safety there amt any
Like forty years ago.
My savings had watchdog,
The interest has been small;
And when you try to make a draw,
There's nothing there at all.
Politicians will investigate,
That we all do know,
And here I'm back where / started
Just. forty years ago.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-03-07
Book Reviews

ministers salaries and all other ex-
penses, be antagonized.
The collection Of resolutions ION
industrial relations" published here
show that even when talking for
public consumption the churches are
hostile to labor. When the clergy
men are not bIabbing about ap-
preaching the class struggle in 'the
spirit Of Christ" and "in the light Of
the Incarnation" they are urging
Cancellation, compromise and arbit-
ration. In the strike situations de-
scribed here such as in the West
Frankfort miners strike, they are
either passive or they dispense meagre
relief to the strikers or make pre-
tense at arbitration" They raise
false hopes Of settlement In the work
ers, put damper on their militancy
on the grounds that q peaceful spirit
Of "brotherly love" will help nego-
tiations-and then. the powerful coal
companies tell them to mind their
own business. In the meantime, by
deceiving the workers, they have sue
ceeded In ciirbing militant strike tao
tics and have helped the bosses by
giving them time to get strike break
ers. In the authors attempt to de-
fend the churches, they fail to IL
lustrate the typical strike situation
when the clergymen actively serve as
strike breakers themselves by bring
ing pressure on the workers to 60
back to work. But even in the strikes
described, the churches serve the
bosses interests, although more
subtlely.
Lenin described the true function
OF the churches when he said "All
expressing classes OF every descrip-
ton need two social functions to
safeguard their domination, the
function Of the hangmen and the
function Of the priests" In fact
the churches have always boosted of
being accomplices Of the police in
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-03-07

attempting to keep the masses right
eous, orderly, meek and loyal to their
employers and to their employers
government. j. p. Morgan gratefully
paid the expenses in publishing the
revised Book of Common Prayer
which contains innumerable prayers
In which the church-goer asks god
to make him content with his lot in
life and to enable him to be loyal
and obedient workman. But capi-
talist churches also attempt to con-
ceal their true purpose by hypocriti-
cally posing as the workers advocate
as is done in this book.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-03-07
Reviewed BY
BENNETT STEVENS
THE CHURCH AND INDUSTRY
BY Miller and Fletcher, Longman
Green and Company, 1880.

THE CHURCH AND INDUSTRY"
BY Miller and Fletcher, Longman
Green and Company, 1880.
YARL MARKS famous declaration
II that Religion Is the Opium Of
the people" received striking support
from this book which was written
in defense of the churches. Spencer
Miller, Jr., one Of the authors, as
secretary Of the Workers CD Educa-
tional Bureau of the A. F. OF L., a few
years ago accepted $4,000 from the
Carnegie Foundation to be used in
educating" workers with capitalist
propaganda. 1t is to be expected that
he would justify the churches ex-
penditure Of billion dollars yearly
to educate" the workers in the ideas
and ideals that keep the masses
bound to capitalism, blind to It's evils
and SO dulled by religious dope
that they will not rebel against their
poverty and exploitation.
The book is an historical summary
of the utterance of the Episcopal
church and its affiliated organiza-
tions on matters affecting the "rela-
tons between capital and labor" and
study of the churches acts In q
a few selected strike situations.
1t is clear that 1t Is published a.
a part Of q vast propaganda cam
paign that aims to counteract the
defiant challenge of the Soviet Union
where the workers government Is
exposing the role Of the churches
as counter -revolutionary agents and
as capitalist lackeys.
A frantic attempt is made to play
up the churches as guardian angels
Of the workers in the class struggle
but at the same time not to draw too
exaggerated picture lest capitalists
who build the churches and pay the
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-03-07
CHARGE IT TO THE
MAYOR
By IRVING S. KREITsBERG.
BY prevail.

BY IRVING S. KREITSBERG.
I'm hungry. Goddamit I'm hungry,
My CUTS feel as if they'd been carved,
need food not foul mission garbage,
I'm tired, I'm famished I'm starved
Does famine rage throughout the land,
Have the crops been scorched on the stalk,
Have fish in the cans and fish in the sea-
Just suddenly turned into chalk?
And have the chickens stopped laying eggs,
Or the cows stopped giving their milk.
And have all the warm beds just disappeared
Save those for the rich and their ilk?
The markets are deluded with clothing,
Warehouses flooded with food
But these were created for profits,
Not for the multitude.
Ten millions are hungry and starving,
Ten million are looking for jobs
They stand in long queus at factory gates
They swarm through the slave markets in mobs.
Whenever we demand work or wages
We are blackjacked and thrown into Jail,
But you can't fill stomach on gasbombs
Or by clubbing the jobless wholesale.
Hunger marches are just beginning
The jobless just starting to fight,
I need strength to continue the battle.
I need food that is wholesome and right
I'm not going to die of starvation,
When there's plenty to eat for all,
I'm going into the first restaurant 1 see,
And my feet meath the table install.
I'll order a steak and bowl Of soup,
I'll run through the whole bill of fare
Fill up the hole twixt my hips and ribs,
And charge the darn bill to the mayor.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-03-07
NEXT WEEK

"John Sargent" the story of a
young American worker, by AL
Dasch; drawings by Bill Seigel on
the Paris Commune; 1.-THE Kali
ser's Coolies" reviewed by Harri-
son George; story from Red
China, translated by Seymour
Goldberg; Mother Goose Rhymes
in Red. by HAP (Potamkin), il
Illustrated by Chopper, and Mary"
story by Myra Page.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-03-07

own and above each the wall is dec
GRATED with pictures and photo
graphs. Beneath the books and pic
lures you see plenty of life. The
large movement of socialist conlpeti-
ton is certainly popular over here.
we have organized brigades whose
purpose is to learn the sciences more
effectively, and these complete with
one another. Thus the commune does
not recognize individual work but
sponsors collective training for the
new engineers. Some comrades fail
to understand many mental prob
lens, then the collective helps them
out, and pulls them out of Difficult
ties. For better results comrades tax
ing the same course of study in the
same. room. They can meet in one
Of them to discuss certain problems.
On the wall are charts and pictures.
In the commune you also will find
a library with technical books.
Cultural Life and Work
However, we do not prepare just
good engineers, we also see to 1t that
they are good loyal comrades, mem
bers of the working class. Socialist
construction needs engineers who can
lead the masses of workers to the
victory of socialist construction. We
therefore work collectively and rest
together also. A great deal of in
terest Is attacked to the evening OF
combining our commune and that of
the Medical Institute. You can un-
derstand 1t yourself--because our
group consists mostly Of boys and
theirs of girls. Preparations begin
early, comrades are assigned for diff
.ferent. tasks. There is plenty of
laughter and fun, discussions of
work, play and comparison of
achieve ments. In summer we or
ganize hikes, and other outdoor
sports.
als- Sex Problem Still Unsolved
One problem has been left un-
solved as yet, namely the sexual
problem. We still do not accept
married couples. because we have no
rooms for couples and those who get
married while living In the commune
are forced to leave. we don't even
have place in the commune where
one. could make love without being
disturbed. Therefore the members
decided that the sexual problem is
outside the commune. Not long ago
we received more rooms and the
problem was relieved.
Our Future
We have been promised an entire
six floor house for the commune.
Now we are faced with the problem
Of organizing on a larger scale. This
takes up a lot Of strength and en-
ergy but the youth has a lot to
spare. We are also faced with the
problem Of socializing other phases
o. our life. One thing is certain
we are on the way to complete So
cialization. On this collective basis,
the commune has given and will
give our country socially and tech
nically capable engineers for the
electric industry.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-10-04
ASK COMPANY
CORRECT ADV.

The Lower Rio Grande Valley has
a milder winter climate than either
Florida or California, and shold DC
given justice in advertisements in
national magazines depicting
weather conditions OF the entire
country, the Brownsville Chamber
Of Commerce contends IN a letter to
a Philadelphia company comment
ing on a recent advertisement ap-
pearing in Golfers Weekly.
The advertisement showed a map
of the United State, and gave the
date OF first frost. On Florida was
written, frost only at rare inter
vals," while on Texas was merely
the date. Nov. 5 to Dec. /, as the
time Of first frost.
A similar request for mention Of
the Valleys mild climate has been
forwarded by L. L. Shropshire Of
the Texas Tire Company. local agent
OF the company.
Our entire success Is based upon
the fact that we have a semi-tropi-
cal climate and only very slight frost
occurs at are intervals" the Cham
Der Of Commerce letter states. we
do not believe that your publicity de-
partment had in mind TO intention
ally hurt the Lower Rio Grande Val
ley when they put us in the same
temperature class with the Pan
handle Of Texas, hut we would ap-
preciate it If these items are run
again that you give us the same
courtesy you so kindly allowed
Southern California and Florida"
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-10-04
FREIGHT HIKE
FIGHT LOOMS,
MONEY RAISED
(Ry Staff Correspondentl

HARLINGEN, Oct. 3.-Growers
and shippers in the Corpus Christi
Robstown ares r intensely in
terested in fighting any increases
In freight rates. according to @. d.
Wallace. secretary OF the Valley
Shippers Assn, w..o attended a
meeting at Corpus Chri5ti this
week.
Those present subscribed $500
towards d~efraying expenses Of u.
s Pawkett. traffic manager who
has offered his serv s free On
behalf OF the South Texas Cham
Der Of Commerce and the San An
tonic Freight Bureau. A similar
subscription would be expected
from the Winter Garden area and
about s 1000 from the Valley.
Change in the association By
laws to give the Robstown-C Corpus
r representation on the advisory
board probably viii be asked at the
membership MEETING to be held
Oct. IL.
The association office has re-
ceived a letter from the Interstate
commerce commission acknowl-
edgfng receipt OF its formal request
for suspension OF a new ruling
raising classification Of fruits and
vegetables and advising that final
action probably would be taken
soon. The association Is asking q
suspension pending public hearing.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-10-04
Valley Exhibit
Goes To Dallas
CBy Staff Correspondent

McALLEN, Oct. 3-P. Z. tMonty)
Montgomery Is leaving Monday for
Dallas where he will prepare the
Valley exhibits at the state fair
which will be held Oct. 10 to rs.
The Valleys finest fruit and
other products, hand picked, viii
represent this section not only In
a commercial exhibit but in compe-
tition with the fruits and vegetables
Of other sections, Mr.. Montgomery
said.
He is taking 40 boxes OF grape
fruit and oranges, ten baskets Of
smaller fruit. ten baskets OF farm
products and a large number OF
other items. These will be built
into a "merry-go-round" which will
rotate slowly depicting various Val
ley attractions such as farm pro-
ducts. resorts. etc. Wild life or the
Valley will be shown by means Of
mounted specimens
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-10-04

Plans for a meeting at Alice the
first week IN November TO organize
the San Antonio-Brownsvillc division
OF Highway No. So are announced In
n communication 10 the Brownsville
Chamber or Commerce from ID. ".
Colp. chairman Of the executive
committee or the No. 66 Highway as
ISOLATION.
Colp says the San Antonio TO
wichita Falls section OF the road
has been organized and designated
by the state highway department.
This organization ls part OF the
formation OF A Brownsville % Cam
ada highway association. he says.
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-10-04
FRUIT EMBARGO
RUMOR DENIED

The Lower Rio Grande varsy is
taking steps to counterfeit the dam
age threatened this section by false
rumors In san Antonio and other
Texas cities to the effect that a
reinfestation Of the Morelos fruit
fly has caused an embargo on VAL
ley fruit.
There has been no re~infestation.
There Is no embargo. and will be
none.
Word or the rumors was received
at the Brownsville Chamber Of
Commerce from p. "a. Ho.dale. in
spector In charge OF the federal
force in the Valley. Mr.. Hoidale
said a large San Antonio shipping
concern telephoned him. asking
about It. and that several Valley
Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-10-04
Massey Goes To
Manautou Store

Appointment OF p. Z. Massey.
formerly OF Bollack's, as general
manager OF the z. Manautou De-
partment store in Brownsville was
announced Saturday " MI. Man
autou. the appointment being eff
fective from October /.
For a long time we have felt the
neeI Of having associated with us
a man trained in department store
merchandising, and we feel that in
securing Mr.. Massey as our gen.
eral manager we have obtained Just
the man for the place." Mt. Manau-
tou stated.
Mr.. Massey viii have complete
charge Of the selling end Of the
business. according to Mr.. Man.
autou. and several changes In store
management r contemplated for
the near future.