davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Imperial Valley press., 1931-06-26
TEN YEARS AGO
June rs, 1921

The heaviest watermelon ship
ments of the season are now leaving
The valley. the peak load so far
being 78 cars, which went out yes
terday. The average shipments the
last few days has been so cars a
day. Cantaloupe shipments yester-
day reached a total of 327 cars.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-06-26
PUPIL TRAVELLED 81 MILES A
nav

BEN HILL. Ga. UP)-Marcia
Campbell. l8-year-old Ben Hill girl.
wanted to go to Fulton High school,
Atlanta. and for four long years she
did so. living here but corimuting
total Of 81 miles every day Not
once during those four years was
she absent or tardy. and when she
was graduated this spring her
friends figured up she had Travelled
total Of 56,160 miles
Imperial Valley press., 1931-06-26
GETS FEDERAL OFFICE

TUCSON. Ariz., June 26. UP
Dan R. Williamson of Globe, former
state historian, has been appointed
by Federal Judge Albert NJ. Sames
as United States commissioner at
Globe, effective July l.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-06-26
Court Dismisses
Traffic Charge

A charge Of driving while under
the influence Of intoxicating liquor
against Joe Horat, Swiss, was dis
missed by Judge l. Mayfield yes
terday afternoon so that state tref-
Imperial Valley press., 1931-06-26
Issued Daily, Except
Sundays. Entered at the
Post Office, El Centre,
Calf, as Second-Clas
Matter.
MILWAUKEE DOES 1T

A Los Angeles paper has been running
series of articles on Milwaukee, the city
without gangsters and racketeering. and
suggests that the same methods used so
successfully in the city that a forbidden
beverage made famous, might be used in
coast metropolis
Milwaukee citizens declare that the
low crime statistics in their city are due
to an honest police force, and that the
honest police force is due to the fact that
the police department is kept out of poll
tics. The department has had two chiefs
in very near half a century. Heaven
only knows how many Los Angeles has
had in the last 20 years.
This business of having the chief of
police changed with every change of the
city administration, is unique to east
erners. In nearly all cities back on the
Atlantic coast, with the exception of New
York, Philadelphia and one or two others,
the chief of police is fixture, so long
as he does his duty. We have in mind our
own city where the same chief has been
on the job over 25 years, and we could
mention many others where similar con-
ditions exist.
There is no gain for the citizen in hav-
ing the police subject to political changes.
Without any doubt the nations crime
wave could be made extremely low if
politics could be removed from police de-
partments.
If each city would put in an honest
and efficient man as chief of police give
him absolute authority, and make him
be responsible for conditions in his city,
we venture the opinion that he would
make good. One central head, unmolest-
ed, can produce results. A department
subject to the whim of any number of
politicians is more liability than an as
set, more a detriment than a protection,
to any community.
Perhaps Milwaukee's accomplishments
will wake US up some day and when we
use the pronoun us we do not limit it to
the larger cities, but include the smaller
ones as we'll.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-06-26

July 3 and will be notable days
for Brawley and for the thousands
who will witness the greatest melon
fiesta ever held in the valley. A
program and parade will take place
during the celebration. A late train
will take all valley people home.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-06-26

Persons leaving or entering the
valley are requested to register at
the Mountain Springs store in order
that information concerning COM
ings and goings of valley residents
may be reported in the columns Of
the Press.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-06-26

Progressive times are with US. First
we had stratosphere to juggle with, now
we have moratorium, and if you want to
win money from your friends bet them
that transpire means to sweat.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-06-26

There is a fortune for the cigarette
manufactures who will produce one that
will remedy corns. Most folks Adams
apples and throats are in fairly good
condition ANYHOW.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-06-26

Days like yesterday make one believe
that possibly Sir Hubert Wilkins is not
so rash after all The polar regions
would seem fairly comfortable at that.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-06-26

The age of miracles is past, therefore
it is not to be expected that the senior
senator from California should agree
with the President of the United States.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-06-26

with drunk driving. The others
were released.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-06-26

quiet long enough so the egg beater
can tic a pink ribbon around it.
Imperial Valley press., 1931-06-26

These must be terrible days for the
peace loving sea gulls along the Allan
tic.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-04-04
American Seaman in
A Soviet Hospital

1t is hard to tell who's who unit
one sees the different tasks of reI
sponsibility fulfilled as against that
of the caste system of capitalistil
hospitals.
Patients 90 not lay Awe-sLr.ps,<.
before the big professors, as in Amer
lea but thoroughly discuss their OWE
cases with all the doctors who have
the time, since all doctors and nurses
are paid by the state, having no pri-
vate practices. Doctors. hospitals
medicine are all free for the workers
There is not bit of overcrowdins
here and patient remains until fiji
and if necessary, proceeds to rest
home to build up before going to
work.
The building of hospitals, maternity
homes and clinics is a feature of the
Five Year Plan. The food is Of such
quality and quantity that you don't
have to get it from the outside In
order to exist as in America. The
entire staff works on the fiye-day
a week plan-work four days and are
off for vacations, and all of the
rest of the privileges that the Rus
sian worker enjoys. The greatest
feature of all is the cultural actiy-
tiles that is conducted in "Lenin'a
Corner" 1t is separate room in
every ward whert radio, chess, check
ers, and all of the daily papers can
be read. The patients run wall
paper where sometimes hard boiled
guy that makes a breach of pro-
letarian discipline is taught his les
son; that is, by being given the pub
licity if the offense is repeated. Meet
ings are held where the staff and
patients discuss suggestions and COM
plants and bureaucratism is fought
where it appears. Professors lecture
regularly to the patients and acquaint
them with the working of the human
body. The hospital museum and
student auditorium is used to dem
onStrate with movies. This is one Of
the training centers for young doctors
for the Red Army and can assure
YOU that they turn out real doctor.
1t is a most inspiring sight to see the
bright intelligent worker-student doc
tors go trooping through the ward
every day as against the snobbish
intelligentia and shopkeepers' sons in
the ca9italistic countries. Fellow
workers, there is but one achievement
of the many SO strikingly evidenced
here everywhere in the building Of
"oo.e ism.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-04-04

IT has come my way to be able to
! study conditions in Socialist hos
pital and compare differences with
that Of a capitalist. Having been
for the past month in the Red Army
Military Academy Hospital, Port of
Leningrad." OF course, comparisons
do not suffice since the workers are
enthusiastically engaged in the build
ing of Socialism here and have just
successfully completed the second
year of the Five Year Plan. Where
on the other hand the workers in
capitalist countries are facing more
poverty, wage cuts and speed-up and
unemployment which actively con-
tributes to the great mass of sick,
mangled and ve-shattered work
erS. And l ask
How can a sick worker expect at
this moment to get treatment from
a system of capitalism that thinks
only of him as profit-making ma
chine, while millions of his calss
roam the streets ready (by hunger)
to duplicate him at his nerve-shat-
tering unhealthy occupation? How
can he be fit when he is faced with
the thoughts that he has to pay
doctors, for the medicines, hospitals,
etc? Much of the time he is not
able to break down the barrier Of
red tape erected to keep him out of
the hospital; the excuse being over
crowded or having to wait for ap-
preparations for new construction
from some body of capitalistic po-
litical grafters.
Poor patients are turned out be-
fore they are fit, on the story of
Eve have to make room for others"
The workers who toll at these graft
infested institutions are terribly ex
plotted; janitors, porters, orderlieS,
receiving between thirty-five and
forty dollars a month, twelve hours
per day, six days week plus some
sloppy food that's fed to the patients.
Nurses conditions are not much
better, especially those of the juniors.
who are being exploited at the cost
of the privileged few, and at the
privilege of being a head nurse after
years of slavery. The foregoing is
not my Imagination, having expert
enced Bellevue, the modern model
American hospital, as an inmate
along with many others and at many
of those marine hospitals (the So
called best).
What is the picture of the Soci3lis
one? In the first place in this hos
pital, proletarian demcc~ G2y re;gns.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-04-04
Reforming A Red Builder

buildings-a clean, pleasant room
one that hides the vileness and bru-
tally further back. At a signal, they
rush into the reception room,
which is suddenly filled with loud,
urbroken buzzing. Before double
meshed screen sit the fathers, sis
tiers, sweethearts, motheres and
friends, leaning over close to the
screen, peering through to see the
blurred faces of the jailed. Their
voices are high and hurried; no
time to be lost during the precious
half-hour.
How is Stokes?" was Turner's
first question. Stokes, who had been
arrested with him, is on Welfare
Island. Recently he had to be taken
to the hospital, i'll. Turner, only 10
years old, is young and strong. ready
to take his place beside his working
class brothers in the class struggle
His low voice. with its English ac-
cent, is full of animation as he asks
about the Red Builders, about the
movement, the Hunger March. Say
that's a good idea, printing the pic
lures of the Red Builders in the
paper"
Yes" he said later on, 81 get the
Daily Worker every day. Sure helps
out around here. A few of the fell
lows read it every night. And the
keepers-they're interested in the
Mooney articles, but they don't let
on, of course"
Turner shovels coal a whole day
long. Outdoor work-yes-but with
the cutting wind whipping at your
face and hands. And what food do
you get for this strenuous labor?
"They give us 18-karat soup-car-
rots about the size of a pea" he said
a little grinly "Once a week, on
Sunday, they serve something extra.
No green's"
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-04-04

only knew that if she had had mon
ey, her baby would have lived.
I could go on for pages, relating
the sordidness, the ugliness of such
institutions. This is but a tiny frag-
ment of it all. Comrades, compare
this with the lot of the worker in
the Soviet Union, where the best
medical care and attention is given,
where a hospital is not unit of rob-
bling experimenting on the poor.
Work and fight for the day when a
doctor will be a doctor because he
wants it for his life work, because
he loves it, because he is fitted for
such work, and not, as under this
capitalist system, because he can sell
his scientific knowledge at extor-
tionate prices, and make a good liv-
ing from the worlds humps.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-04-04
BY BENICE MICHAELsoN.

1NE-HALF hour every two weeks.
v That's how often you're allowed
to see a comrade who's in Jail for
six months for selling the Daily
Worker.
He's Clarence Turner, a young
unemployed seaman who, through
the Unemployed Council, had joined
the N. Y. Red Builders Club. Then,
together with Lorenzo Stokes, a Ne
gro member who had drawn him in,
they were arrested in a Bronx sub
way train, charged with disorderly
conduct for going through the train
with a bundle of Daily Workers I'M
der his arm, and railroaded for six
months.
In the little, overheated waiting
room at the ferry opposite Harris
leland come snatches of talk from
the day. 3.,ors.
"See them marching together on
the other side? That keeps them
from being lonesome" A brave at
tempt to be cheerful.
Sad-eyed, baffled mothers come to
see their sons caught in the trap of
boss justice for petty violations of
the law Every time come here,
my heart cracks. The probation Of
ficer said that maybe. :" An old
Jewish mother turns to her neigh
Dor seeking solace.
"D'ye mean I can't see him?" A
young Irish girl, who had allowed
her pass to expire. confronts with
despair the policeman listing the
visitors.
Fathers there we're, old and silent
with look of defeat.
IN Harris Island the wind lasheS
" from all sides, sharp and cutting.
The visitors are led into one of the
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-04-04
In An American Hospital

cannot help being disguised and out
ragged by such conditions. The knoWl-
edge of their existence should serve
to make every worker realize that
only under workers government
can such uglinesS be wiped out, can
the benefits of science be at last ap-
piled to the toiling poor.
An italian peasant woman was
brought in with a diagnosis of high
blood pressure. She was immediately
helped to the most expensive room in
the hospital while gleeful and hur-
ried conference took place in the Of
fee, over this new gold mine. (There
rubbing Of palms, at the appearance
of each new patiently was in
structed to collect from her frantic
and bewildered family $40. per week
for the room, $50. per week for the
doctor who had sent her there, and
$35. per week for another doctor, just
to keep him happy, I guess. 1t was
cruel to see the helplessness and mis-
cry of the old husband, the desperate
young laborer-son, the worried
daughter, pawning, begging and bor-
rowing to meet this outrageous
charge each week. They trusted in
finitely. with that blind faith OF the
ignorant and oppressed, to whom
doctor is deity, who can do no
wrong, who must be paid to use his
magic, even unto the last breath.
Doctors. used to send patients into
the hospital (often without cause)
and then come and confab with the
superintendent, as to just how much
the patient possessed, and how they
could get 1t. I sat In on many of
these conferences. Being employed
in the Office, I was supposed already
to have grown that well-known CAL
lous all hospital employees are sup
posed to grow.
Children especially were at the
mercy of these f1ends. Their all
ments were exaggerated as much as
possible, to better extract dollars
from the half-crazy parents. One
mother was told that unless she paid
her overdue bill, the child would be
deliberately neglected. The mother
could not pay, although she tried
hard to pay some Of it. OF course
the child died. The wretched parent
poured bitter abuse on the heads OF
those responsible. But she knew
nothing OF such things as criminal
neglect slie had no redress. Sac
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-04-04

sailor fell back. He gasped his last
and died.
Captain Jock left in hurry, much
excited and badly frightened.
THE next watch came. A sailor,
1 who had the next wheel was
considerably delayed in relieving his
mate. The man had no sweater
which had so mysteriously disappear
ed and for which he looked and hunt
ed high and low He did not like to
lose the article as the sweater was
new, he had bought it from Captain
Jock and paid good money, which at
the paltry wages, he was loath to
spend in buying another article.
Three weeks went by and the
weather took a sudden turn for cold.
The sailor who had missed the
sweater felt cold, he shiyercd and
shiyered. At last, as he could not
stand it any longer, he went aft to
buy new sweater, Broadly grinning
Captain Jock received the sailor with
open arms, and sold him a sweater.
How we all laughed when the man
came forward after having bought the
very same sweater that he had so
missed! The man cursed tw'cc he
had paid for the same article!
Against a soldier who had been
Shanghaied aboard of us, the Holy
Old Man bore a particular dislike.
The soldier was grey-haired; he had
done his bit; and for thirty years
he had so faithfully served his coun-
try with all its bugs that are of vari-
Gus sizes: some-so frightfully skinny
and old that even Death sheds an
envious tear; some-so fat and full,
ready to burst; and the rest-Simply
bugs of the common garden variety,
He jeered at him, cursed him up and
down. And just because the soldier
was not sailor.
The worm turned at last. The SOL
der stood his ground. He refused to
be bullied any longer. The captain
went blue in his face and Just man
aged to blurt out: You dirty SOL
der" he got off the poop anC went
below. Whilst going down he added
a threat, which the halmsman heard
very plainly as the captain Missed:
I'll get you, you b."
We wondered, waited, watched
anXiously.
The soldier, grey-haired and seri-
Gus looking, soon got all the work
that was dirtiest and most dangerous.
On dark and stormy night when
the ship was laboring heavily and
big seas swept the decks continually,
the captain sent the soldier to do
job which was dangerous and for
which the soldier had no experience,
for he was no sailor.
AS the man disappeared into the
black night precariously hanging onto
the life line which was stretched
along the deck and the seas were
crashing aboard roaring and. thun-
dering-the captain stood on the poop
and he grinned. watched, waited.
Just at the time when the soldier
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-04-04

talists. and 70 ISL themselves to a
dry chir for a waee that is merely
a p.ttanre.
BY loon the nitrate valleys are
heated to such t&tent that the air
becomes sitting and swelter'lg
waves rises, streams through the
mountain passes, comes oft tow9ri
the coast and blows out into the bag
Iuuiqui. a busting town OF 10000
men and largely controlled by int1r-
ests of Lockett Bros, is very much
alive with shipping which consists of
some 100 deep water sailing ships
loading nitrate for London or Dun
uuerque or Hamburg, Poor Europe,
Already in 1909 she is feverishly pre-
pairing for the great slaughter which
drowned her working class in tears
and blood.
1t is hot l re rays are scorChing.
Down the hid sailors, stripped to the
waist, bend fast. shoveling coal into
baskets that are whipped into the air
b. a heavy pl fling, rattlii @ donkey
ergine. On Geek the off'cels ayt
catching, yelling and curS-ng the
men whose sweaty faces are covered
with coal dust. They can hardly see
'or the clouds of dust angrily rolling
along the hold The dust rises, swells
and fills the hold and envelopes
everything in dark brown fog in
which the mer move like sha5oHs
ard move fast And yet the hot rays
Of sun stab down the hatch and into
darkness, and like cruel whip, lash
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-04-04
the sailors backs red and raw!

the sailors backs red and raw
Hurry up, you D.! Coal must
come out, nitrate must be loaded
explosives must be manufactured sc
men can go u war, be killed, stink
and rot on the attlefields-to make
INC wo,Ic safe 10. plutocracy!
Captain JOCK is very nsrpy, he has
just closed good business. The old
Margaret, his ship, ore Ct the 10
that are anchored in the bay, will
load 1000 tons of nitrate which is
going to Europe and on being deliv-
cred within specified time entities
him to special bonus-a handsome
sum of money in gold sovereigns.
Sweltering day. But-under a
double awning on the poop all is so
cool, so nice and SO spotlessly clean
Captain Jock is laying back in his
deck chair; "lolling about" and lies
urely slipping whiskey and soda. He
is thinking of the next voyage and
of the profits that fill his already
bullying pockets.
He must get the bonus . by all
means 1. he must make the pas
sage in ninety days h.. by all means.
He will drive the old ship-he will
drive her-"rails under" Oh, how
she will roll and go with fair
breeze behind her But-the sailors
may growl, kick, try to mutiny . 1.
Wait-Tll show the bastards. I'll
breach her to. let her ship a sea,
batter them about, wash overheard
and drown some of the rlutinous
scoundrcls. That will teach the bas-
tards lesson. :. :"
He is drinking more whiskey and
soda. On his white flannel trousers
there rests the omnipresent bible, the
same battle-scarred book, which his
hands are now clasping SO tenderly-
as if it we're some precious being. His
mind is blank. But in his hrs the
jingle of gold is still playing sweet
harmony. His face gets lighter, be-
con'cc BRIGHT, then shines and takes
CT rcptlrous smile.
(To Be Continued Ncxt Sa.ardey)
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-04-04
BY Sonia.

I worked for a time ir-Hospital,
Brooklyn, and saw at first hand, the
unprincipled, unethical, completely
corrupt way that a hospital, an in.
stitution supposedly for healing and
comfort, can be run.
Although this hopsital purported to
be part charity Getty cases., can
assure you that a patient was ac-
ceptcd as a city charge, only after
threats, insults, and humiliations had
not availed in extracting the prov
erbial blood from the turnip. When
a poor family could be inundated
into paying, they were heartlessly
overcharged on everything, from X
rays to medicine. The rates for the
wards and rooms were not fixed, nor
were the prices of treatments, medi-
cines, etc. All these were subject to
the mood and whim of the superin-
tendent, an ignorant and depraved
woman, who held regal sway, by vir-
tue of an investment she had in the
hospital. have seen her myself make
a charge of $3.50 for insulin in one
case, and $500 in another. All prices
were crafty marked. At one time
$500 for an x-ray, at another time
$500 (for the same kind of x-ray).
Charges were made for X-rays that
we're never taken, and treatments
that were never administered.
The nurses were Woodworking and
conscientious but they received no
cooperation from the administration,
and in fact, were always at war with
them, concerning lack of sanitation,
shortage of supplies, and implements.
The other employees were pitifully
underpaid and overworked.
To witness the greed, stupidity, and
indifference of most of the doctors
connected with that institution was
an eye-opener, even to class-con-
scious worker like myself. I do not
here include the irternes: they were
for the most part group of stupid
and laundering young asses. They
writhed under the tyranny of the
superintendent. and looked forward
to the day when they N turn could
open offices, and adopt the bedside
manner.
The venality and cupidity Of the
majority of the "healers" there was
appalling. We who live for the day
when physician will exist to save,
70 heal, end to tighten the burden OF
The stricken. instead of to mulct
tacm and pICSrer frc.n tilcir sores,
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-04-04
BY CURT.

Just then the dormitory door
opened, as one of the prisoners
walked out with mop and broom. In
that instant, one saw rows of cots
with blankets neatly folded back.
Sheets, too, for the visitors to be-
hold. I express surprise. You'll find
nc mattresses there or anywhere else
on the island for the prisoners, Tur-
ner told me. Mustn't "pamper" the
prisoners with too many comforts D
A GONG rings. Times up. We are
Il hustled out of the room. In the
hall a girl pleads with a tall, burly
policeman.
Hes not strong boy. He can't
do that work-shoveling coal. Can't
you. :"
Hes lucky he didn't get si;:
months!" The reply is gruff, vim
dictive. Hes gotta redeem himself
first, madam That's what he de-
serves, trying to break down institu-
tons. -
We march out of the hail. In q
conspicuous spot on the wall is a
gfass-framed notice, part of the
services" rendered by the Depart
ment of Correction.
ITO the Public: You are entitled
to COURTESY. -. If you do not
receive courteous treatment it will
BE- appreciated if same is reported
to the undersigned"