The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-05-09


80 good-naturedly" and pour cold
water on our faces to revive us. But
like all exploiters whenever the size
of onions was in our favor he'd cut
us cent to cents per bushel which
seemed TO have no bottoms in the
long afternoons. After working with
all my power I'd earn from So to 40
cents for an eleven hour day. At the
end of the day I'd come home drag
ging my something like my
father from the old Western Steel
Car g. Foundry Co.; three blocks
away from the rows of dillapidated
wooden cottages.
Some of the tougher kids would
razz me for being slow poke. Yes,
was large for 10 years. But altho
my frame grew, there was not enough
vitality in it, for not much could have
been built on chief diet of black
coffee and bread with little butter
once or twice week.
One beastly hot day, when the oni-
ons were unusually large, Hank, the
far10eR. cut us to 4 cents. This was
too Eiuch. We began to talk strike -
just like our fathers in the car shops.
We stopped pulling onions. Someone
yelled Strike, strikel" Strike, we
yelled as in fist fight.
Hank came up: who's the ring
leader?" "Silence-we want more
money, said Frank, who was more
courageous. you Hunkey S. o. b., if
you don't like it get the hell out
quick or I'll break you in two, he
said, as he kicked him vicious blow
in the spine sprawling him over the
ground, We jumped to our feet ready
to spring at Hank, who sensed that
hall of our numbers could tear him
up. He paid us off and chased us
from the farm with q double barrel
shot gun.
A carnival came to town the week
was fired, the old town of Hege-
wisch, in the steel car shop district.
My friend, Barney, ragged me the
whole day long to get some money.
was at loss where to get 1t, for
my earnings we're sternly taken
away by my mother, sfrewd in this
respect. Barney limited Jake, the
saloon-keeper, where my father had
bigger credit account than with
Bsrney's father, the butcher and
grocery owner, as source. The
plan was carried out.
Next morning I was violently
poked in the ribs with a broom
handle while still in my sleep. l
jumped up and stood on my feet,
looking at my mother with horror.
$50 you told Jake Ginalsh wanted
a quarter till pay day Ell? and spent
it on the merry go-round. If you
don't go before the shop gate and
get job you lazy bugger you have
nothing to do in this house" !
donned a pair Of overalls with q
sinking heart 1t was like hearing q
life sentence. Once in that mill. no
more school for me, knew.
| I landed Job threading bolts
Men refused this line of work. II
was piece rate and the scale was cut
to minimum. 1t awed me at first
Yes, now am g man, J will be able
to wear long pants and perhaps get
some money from my mother out OF
my pay; these dreams entered my
head as left the employment Of
flee on uiy way TO the forge shop
I would probably meet my brother
in the steel car construction depart
ment.
We slapped each other on the
backs as I sighted him at his two
river furnaces. He was IT years old
very good looking in spite of his jot
OF singing 1000 rivets day. &c
ahead, Joe, get started" he yellec
into my ear. 1t was Like whisper
the rafting noise of air hammer,
drowning any sound Of speech.
was threading bolts. 1t seemed
great the first day. I only made q
dollar. You'll get used to it, the
family encouraging me and make
more" kept up somewhat as Ions
as the bolts were small, but later
was put threading big truck bolts
21-2" 49," With all my strength
I kept lifting, Tightening and push