davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-04-25
By ALBERT MORALES.


blouse, he was sitting in the doorway
Of the blue, plastered, one-room house
looking from the ground to the hand
made ladder leading to the railway
emhanknlent, up to the sky Of stars
multiplying in number and brightness
as the hot day faded.
From the ernbanklnent came pro-
cession Of greetings: Goodnight,
handsome youth You're alright down
there, aren't you? Till tomorrow,
little brotherl
He answered all of them, exchang-
ing quick jokes with those who were
not so tired.
The long line Of people-consist-
| ing mostly of brown-skinned women
wearing colorful blouses and skirts
reaching to their bare feet, and carry
ing empty baskets on their heads
was like multicolored serpent grace
fully gliding llomeward.
From the opposite direction, where
the railroad bridge crosses the river
that divides this tropical Mexican
village into almost two equal parts,
appeared group Of young peasants,
dressed in clean white muslin shirts
and trousers, and dragging long pieces
of sugar cane with them. Amid spicy
remarks almost sung at them by the
younger women. they managed to get
to the left side Of the embankment
and walk along single file.
"Romulo--." -Four of them sprang
lightly down the ladder to talk to
him. I'VE have to see you, about plans
for the May First demonstration You
know-strong language, like the work.
ers in the oil fields use ike you
we're telling us. Now first of all, we
are going to protest against the gov
ernnent's attempts TO disarm us,
against their refusal to give lis more
land"
Come back here tonight. It will
be better. no7 Wen go over the ques-
ton we'll"
That's fine, comrade. Here's some
sugar cane for you and AURA. SO
your love will never be anything but
sweet"
They left, going along the foot of
the embanknent past little blue, pink
and yellow houses with red-tiled
roofs, to the corner where the street
is on level with the railway tracks
and where the other peasants were
waiting for them.
Romulo pretended not to see her
coming from the river nearby
Slowly he rose and carried the chair
inside. He was standing close to the
deep yellow hammock suspended be-
tween two walls when suddenly he
felt her head Of damp laid against
the back Of his neck. From over one
shoulder. he watched her large black
| eyes, brilliant as the stars outside. She
gave his raised shoulder hard push;
he lost his balance and fell into two
strong arms. Laughter like tropical
rain dispelling the vapor rising from
the hot soil.
II have to get UP at dawn, Romulo,
md go out with the Jiinenez' to pick
flowers for the church festival"
ITS about time you left all that
to the poor old won1en--well, you
Better stay at the Jimenez tonight
because have meeting here tonight
with some peasant comrades. We
may be UP pretty late"
"No I'll stay, It's too late to go
over there now. Well put the table
gsinst the wall there so the ham
ock went be In your wsy That's
I'd Well let ms prepare svone-
inoiy youth. Don't you want to
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-04-25

light a candle while I fan the char
coal ashes?"
"Just give the ashes one OF those
tender glances, AURA, to make them
flare up like the midday sun"
As she began to awake, tobacco
smoke and the light from dying
candle irritated her half-opened eyes.
The tobacco smoke was everywhere.
With the hammock strands pressing
against her nose. she watched it
hazily, gliding in thin waves over the
dark brick floor, spiralling leisurely
up the white walls. Through one eye
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-04-25
Fish Scales May LIST!

| the belly, Rip out the CUTS, ecrape ct
the bones until the fish has been
stripped Of all its matter. The eyes
stare at one duly, stupidity, but It is
fish made to be eaten, one makes
a living at 1t, and so to the next ana
the next until the arm Is weary and
the fingers swollen with salt and the
hands full of cuts and bruises. But
the customers keep coming in, and
the fish grow into an endless jungle
Of sliding bellies and flying scales
and the receptacle under my table
is foul with an awful stencil, until
1t seems that all the fish in the
ocean have come to me for the finish.
Equality of Opportunity.
This was my life in Free America.
I wanted education in her tree"
schools, but she gave me no time for
it. She took my energy, my life blood
to the last drop while was dream
ing of wealth and a better hfe.. Shs
doped my mind with her cheap jim
goism through her press, her cinema.
Before die must confess to the one
crime Of which I am guilty. MY
crime Is I believed her.
Jacob rose suddenly from his chair
and stood upon 1t to gain the proper
height from the floor. He placed
the moose about his neck and gave
the rope an experimental jerk before
leaping into nothingness. But before
he could do this there was great
uproar from the streets below. A
tremendous wave of sound that grew
stronger and stronger like the noise
of a great multitude In an arena,
cheering the combatants. What was
1t? People were cheering, singing. for
what? One more look at humans
that could be happy in such wor1di
Jcob threw off the moose walked
SLOWLY to the window. He opened 1t
and staggere dback from the binding
glow of the brilliant May Day sun,
from the sudden rush OF life that
leaped up at him from the giant
spectacle on the street below. est
Vanguard Of Working Class
I saw a great army Of toilers
marching together. They waved red
banners, carried huge placards that
contained a challenge to organized
capital. Down with CapitaNssrl"
Down with exploitationl" That's
right! That's goodi Down with the
masters who drive us like slaves,
Wait, wait for me. I'll be right
down"
Solidarity Forever.
On the street fifty thousand work
ers marched to the tune of '@Soli-
darity Forever" Every branch OF in
dustry under its trade union banner,
Food Workers Union, Needle Work
ers Union, Office Workers. Marine
Workers, Metal Workers, Shoe Work
ers. Machinists Unions. The union
makes us strong" Jacob took his
place with the food workers.
Solidarity forever" That's good.
No more alone. There is place for
me. He called me con,rade. Com
rade, sure we're all comrades. Where
are the fish cleaners2"
Jacob didn't find the fish cleaners.
but you will see him next year on
May Day holding a banner in his
hands. The fish workers branch Of
the food workers union. For he is
spending all his time organizing all
the fish cleaners in every fish store
in the city. And you will hear q new
voice, a strong voice, leading his
comrades In Solidarity Forever
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-04-25

Fight -. against this crisis caused
by capitalism :. May First demon
stration . +. must be militant
fight ;. against unemployment :.
Protest against government :. fas-
cist labor code b. j.. trying to sell work
ing masses into slavery to foreign
imperialistS and national bor-
geois agents workers, peasants,
and soldiers :. (. must unite Peas
ants must not surrender their arms
-. Protest against government white
terror against the massacre OF
revolutionary :. workers and peas
ants"
She could feel the perspiration
gathering on her forehead and up
per lip. The room was boiler. Steam
in the form of tobacco smoke was
coming from the little table from
the young worker and peasants
standing around him :. with one bare
leg she was instinctively pushing
against the floor to sway the ham
mock, q" at Jirnenez' :. by dawn
=. flowers for festival. -" With her
foot touching the dark brick floor,
she fell asleep again.
81 hope he brings some coffee with
the buns" Voices that seemed to be
laughing. 'Watch--he's been gone
only few minutes, but he'll come
back with a whole history" Warm
air was coming through the slightly
open door, and the room was even
hotter than before. She heard Romulo
speaking in low voice.
Remember, comrades, these resolu-
tons must be gotter. to the district
headquarters at once; to be mimeo-
graphed and copies sent out inrmed-
lately to all locals. Remember. In
case the original you have is taken,
there is q copy up there
Up there? Auria opened her eyes.
Romulo's profile was smiling at the
framed photograph OF herself dressed
in the classic native peasant dress.
It happened very quickly. The
laughing young peasant entered hold
ing an arnful of sweet buns. There
was fellow near the river with
bouncing, squeezing pig on his back;
he saw me and started running, like
a buzzard over the sand Z. like this
:. well, everyone has his own strug-
gle for a living" The door was
pushed open violently; sweet buns
went scattering over the floor. STAR
ing through the hammock, dazed
from sleep, her wide-opened eyes saw
the room as a whirlpool Of tropical
helmets, Silent armed soldiers. A
young captains rapid commands.
Still half asleep, she was rushing
after them as If in a dream. The
night soaked in perspiration
and tears. Peasant feet over the
ground. Dogs barking around the
shoes of silent marching soldiers. A
peasant girls skirt ruffling the soft
\ UPS VI Sleepy nttlG OH uUc. lllc WdIIIl
droning Of distant water pump. The
beating of frightened heart.
Seated on a rock near the military
barracks where they had been taken,
she felt a thought struggling against
her memory. Something she must
do. Sleep drummed at her senses.
The gray dawn was spreading thru
| the foliage. Flowers for the festival.
No Something Romulo would indi-
cate. Sleep pressed against her eyes.
A smiling profile. Up there There
the photograph, OF course, be-
tween 1t and the frame. 8. must
be gotten to the district headquarters
at once :. copies to be sent out i'm
mediatelv to all locals Sleep
fighting cold tears protest
| against the massacre OF revo-
lutionary workers and peasants"
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-04-25

she saw the wooden door, shut fast;
from the left side of the room came
the sound of whispering voices grad
ually getting clearer. Her clothes
and body were damp with perspira-
ton. Sleepily she shifted to her right
side. Through the hammock, the back
OF Romulo's head was visible. He
was sitting at the table surrounded
by the four young peasants. Sheets
OF paper Uttered the small low table.
Words and phrases broke against her
sleepy senses like clean white surf on
a deserted shore at night.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-04-25
BY DAVE HoRowITz

4 ~ 0AA - AAOAAONN
May Day, 1880. The workers oi
the world on the march. Metal work
ers, textile workers, marine workers
office workers, and food workers
hailing the spring Of Freedom with
red songs, red banners, placards Of
defiance of militant labor against the
ruling classes. Workers Of Europe, in
Germany, England. France - all
against the terrorisms OF old world
capitalism. Workers Of Asia, In
China, Japan, India-against impe-
rialism and its horrors of super-ex-
ploitation. Workers in the Latin
Americas-against the blood sucking
tyrants Of Wall Street.
Lands Of Boss Luxury.
May Day in America, land OF capt.
tlist prosperity and mass poverty ana
misery. to the far north and south,
labor breathing the distant air OF
Freedom from the land of the So
viets.
May Day In a little room on Ave-
nue. G in New York. Jacob Berdan-
sky, fish worker, sitting on broken
chair. thinking of what society would
call, his life. From the ceiling a rope
is hanging, limp nd waiting for the
victim Of capitalist equality. Through
the dirty pane of the single window
the bright May day sun struggles to
light up the squalid shabby room,
But the sun alone cannot awaken
the spirit of the worker broken on
the rack of twenty years Of stupid
driving toll.
The Toiler Tells His Tale.
I am that worker, Jacob Bordan-
sky, fish worker, forty-five and ready
to die. I will speak to my fellow
workers OF the thoughts that hound
ed me in my last moments. LisJenI
My parents were killed in a po-
grom in Kiev. and I came to America
to escape the Yoke of the car ard to
make money in the land Of oppor-
tunity. My heart was full of hope
that here I would find better life
and happiness.
A retail fish market owner In
Washington Heights gave me my
chance ito become rich" In return
for honesty. diligence, and veryhard
work, he made me manager" at the
end of five years.
My salary was $25 week for
which I opened the store at s am.
and swept the floor and covered it
with sawdust. I chopped two full
cakes OF ice and filled the empty
fish bins with it. When the truck
came from the market helped I'M
load the barrel and boxes OF fish.
Then. I filled the bins and assorted
the fish to look good to the CUSTOM
er. At noon / felt tired but man
ager" must work hard and besides
my boss would bring me lunch, two
rolls, canned salmon and coffee.
Then the rush came and my real
work starts. The boss would take the
order from the customer. He weighed
the fish, and talks nice to her. Then
he shoves the basin Of fish to me.
The fish are slippery corpses. They
must be nailed upon the cleaning ia
BILE and I scraped way at the sides
until the scales are removed.
Scales Are Like Pests.
The scales are like mosquitoes in
summer. They fly all around. They
settle in ones hair, in the ears, they
dart at ones eyes, down the neck,
into ones clothes-but one gets used
to them. Then. for the insides. slit
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-04-25
t-ts-'
For Next Week

The Saturday Feature Page w1ll
have next week the story Of s.work-
ers' childhood in blacksmith shop.
"Mush and Mix NO Incentive For
Work poems, and several drawings.
Have you sent in your contributions
for the Saturday page. II not sst busy
nd write right now,
The Washington times., 1931-10-21
HOWARD PREPS
FOR IVA, UNION

With the prospects brighter
than they have been within the
last four years. the Howard Uni
versity Bisons, fresh from a vie
tory over the West Virginia State
College, the first in as many
years, is ironing out weak points
before meeting the fast Virginia
Union eleven on Saturday at Rich
mond, Va.
Howard turned the Mountain.
eerS back IS to 0 last Saturday
and Immediately jumped into the
front ranks as q contender for the
championship Of the Colored In
tercollegiate Athletic Association
title. In stopping West Virginia
the local won their first contest
over a strong team within the last
four years. Not since watson, at
that time coach, has the BiSonS
had q stellar eleven.
This season, with Perkins, q
freshman, and former all-Western
halfback Of the Mcdonald, Pa,
high school team, displaying un-
usual form for o newcomer, the
locals have taken on O new spirit
and it is keenly felt that all op-
ponents win be defeated. It was
the playing Of this lad that sent
west Virginia down to defeat. He
registered both touchdowns. Cap
tain Marshall and Hall, both half
backs, complete the faSt-moving
trio Of bali carriers on the team
this year.
The Washington times., 1931-10-21

Pitt walked through Western
Reserve, 80 to 0, and had little
better than a practice warm!up
for the effort 70 avenge that 35-
to-19 trimming it suffered at the
hands Of Notre Dame last fall.
BY beating Drake, Notre Dame
achieved a modern football rec
ord, as it has gone % straight
games without a defeat, and with
only one tie. The old mark was
set by the Irish Of 1911, 1912 and
1913-the team on which Knute
Rockne played left end. That
won 20 and tied two-with Pitts
burgh and Marquette.
The 1S2O-1921 teams piled up
20 straight before losing, and
now comes the first NOtre
Dame team to show n victories.
That score piled up on Coach
OSSie Solem'S Drake outfit is one
Of the biggest in Notre Dame his
tory. Particularly in the Rockne
coaching regime, it was not the
policy Of the Irish to compel top
heavy scores. Only when "Rock"
had q personal reason did he let
his team run up totals like the
one with which he ruined Penn
SylVania last season,
All Looked Alike
However, Hunk" Anderson, on
Saturday, could not hold the Irish
in check. He used nearly so men,
and the reserves did about as
well as the regulars.
The Drake affair left Ander-
SON still in the air as to his
first choice at quarterback.
While Murphy has the call
right now, Indications point to
the development Of Vejar, (prO-
nOunced Vay-har), for the big
games Of November.
Vejar. lacks something in the
blocking departments more i'm
portant factor than ever in Notre
Dame quarterbacks-but it looks
as If he might be the best field
general. Jaskwich, who was Sec
ond to Carideo last season, has
dropped to number three quar-
terback.
Timing is the main factor
in our baakfieId, and want
to concentrate ON everything
that will improve it," Anderson
said.
All the work done last week
was directed toward the game
with Pittsburgh. Anderson de-
viSed a new forward pass, in
which Schwartz and Melinkovich,
the new fullback, were the chief
actors.
Plan Passing Attack
All through the Sutherland
regime at Pitt, the Panthers have
had powerful line play, but a
poor defense against the for
ward pass.
If Pitt is able to stop Notre
Danes running attack it is 60
ing to see plenty Of throws, and
q Notre Dame team returned to
the sort Of football that first
made 1t famous.
The Washington times., 1931-10-21
De ME[[O ACTS
AS CAPTAIN

Carl t'Porky'') DeMello, Cath.
ole University's midget right
halfback. likely will be the busi-
est man on his eleven Friday
night when North Carolina State
is engaged at Raleigh. He will
be acting captain.
A senior, DeMello has wealth
cred three years Of varsity SER
vice. Starting the current sea-
son as a substitute, the 140-
pound flash uncovered sensa-
tional form in the Boston College
game to supplant John Jankow-
ski. ... ...
Following a session at Griffith
Stadium tonight. 80 gridironerS,
Coaches Dutch Bergman, Forrest
Cotton and George Vlk and
trainer Louis Brunelle entrain to-
morrow morning at 9:05 o'clock.
There a final workout is sche6-
Olled for tomorrow night.
The Washington times., 1931-10-21
T|ETS
FOR {. v. FIVE

Eighteen contests have been ar.
ranged for the Gearge Washing.
ton University haS&eters for the
1882 season. The season opens
with Shenandoah College on De.
cember Is and closes with Rider
College, in Trenton, N. j., on
February 70.
Strong teams to be faced are
DePaul University, of Chicago;
Creighton, Rider and st. Johns,
Of Brooklyn. The schedule:
December 1s-shenandcah at home.
January S-Quantico Marines at
home; II, Quanl.co Marines at Guam
tico; is, st JosephS College at home !;
16, Villanova College at home; 21, Du-
quesne University at home; 2S, De Paul
University at home; 80, Lynchburg Col
February Ellen College at home; 4,
william and Mary College at Williams
Richmond: lS. Baltimore University at
home; Is, Duqussne University at
home; 20, Virginia Medical College at
home; 90. Creighton University at
home; rs, St. Joseph's College at Phil
adelphia; 26, St. Johns College at
Brooklyn, N. 2; "a, Rider College at
Newark, N, j.
The Washington times., 1931-10-21
Pickups and
Putouts
By GEORGE A. SIMPSON

BY GEORGE A. SIMPSON
MyrOa mike" Stevens, for
mer Maryland athlete, is as
Sisting Jack Faber with the
Old Line freshman gridders. E.
Roy Mackert and Earle Zulick,
who secuted v. p. /. Saturday
in its game with william and
Mary, asserts that the GObblers
will be hard as granite for the
College PaFkers in their con-
test at Richmond. Brooke
GrUbb was an observer as the
Old Liners resumed active
training yesterday. Lieut..
Tony HOugh, u. s. M. C. wears
black cheaterS. HOugh is q for
mer Maryland lineman, quit
ting in his senior year when
captain to join the Marines. =.
Mrs. J. O. Rhyme, Of the Con.
gre/ iOnaI Country Club, says
her two greatest thrills in golf
were winning the Evening Star
Cup and qualifying for the
championship flight in the cur.
rent Middle Atlantic champion
ship ut Indian Spring. Fred
Meyers campaigns in wrestling
arenas nowadays with = s''Dr."
tackled onto his name. he was
quite popular when Joe Turner
promoted bis shows at the old
Arcadia and Strand Theater.
The Washington times., 1931-10-21
Wen Make the Grade

With the assistance Of tke
public, the press and Owner
Clark Griffith, washington will
yet stage a benefit football
matinee, Maryland or no Mary.
land. There go still enough
100 per cent washington col.
leges and 100 per cent Wash
ingtonians to get together the
kind Of an attre - 4 Of which
the city will be proud.
The local unemployment COM
mittee will not nd a closed
door everyw' -~e it turns, as
1t found at College Park, but
viii keep hunting for q combi.
nation Of attractions which viii
accomplish the thing that
Maryland could have helped
accomplish by getting out Of
the groove which would not
permit poSt4SeaSon games.
For instance, one open door
to q game here which the local
committee has found is the
gracious offer Of the Washing
ton District Football Officials
Association, who have prom
iSed four efficient officials will
be provided for any 100 per
cent welfare football card
staged here December II.
Maryland's statement, nicely
worded as it is, does not dis.
guiSe the fact that it's declina-
ton Is q cold turn down Of a
Georgetown game. While George
town is not mentioned in name,
the statement is an answer to
an. invitation to play George.
town and can be construed in
but one 1ight-Maryland wants
no part Of Georgetown, now or
ever. Maryland, My Mary.
1and!"
The Washington times., 1931-10-21
Football Will Honor
Knute ROckne on
November II

NEW YORK, Oct. 21-A
memorial service between halves
at every college football game
will be held November IA in
tribute to Knute Rockne, Coach
"Chick" Meehan, of New York
University, announced today.
Meehan is chairman Of the
coaches committee for observ.
ance of Rockne Day.
Spectators at the games will
be given q chance to contribute
to the fund for the Rockne
memorial field house at Notre
Dame.
The Washington times., 1931-10-21
Not Without Sympathy

In Maryland's behalf, it must
be said that it is not entirely
unsympathethic with the pres
ent economic unrest for which
the whole nation is being asked
to stage football games. It will
consider more carefully a prop
osition which it has had before
1t to convert one Of its regu-
larly scheduled games into q
welfare game provided the op-
posing team will consent,
Maryland certainly can't be
proud OF such. a smoke screen.
That is meeting the situation
only partially, and this is no
time to do things by halves.
Certain guarantees and GER
tain expenses must come out
Of any such conversion, leaving
welfare work what is left after
already contradiction cuts are
deducted.
OF course, half a slice is
better than none, but these con.
verted games won't meet the
unemployment disaster. It's
going to take bolder strokes
than that to alleviate suffering
this winter, and writing pieces
for the paper isn't going to do
1t either. Boy, hand me that
telephone, I want to call up a
couple Of universities!
The Washington times., 1931-10-21
Wrestling Results

At New York-Ray Steele, Of
California, defeated Benny Gins
berg, Of Chicago. Herb Freeman,
Of New York, tossed Steve Emo
sky, Of Poland. Sam Stein, Of
Newark, won from Floyd Mar
shall, Of Chicago. C'Doc) viii
son threw Andy Zaharoff, Russia.
Renato Gardini, Italy, pinioned
Bob Middlekoff, Florida.
At Jersey City-Dick Shikat, Of
Philadelphia, defeated Fred Her
man Of Switzerland.
At San Francisco -" Casey"
Kazanjian, former Stanford ath-
lete, defeated Andrex's Cestanoe,
Mexican grappler, in two out of
three falls. Ira Dern, Of Salt Lake
City, and Everett Marshall, OF
Colorado, drew in a one-hour
match.