The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1932-02-27

'leallng ana ScruDDlng the diet
and work room.
1870. Some of us then went to
lys to the patients. We were
allowed thirty minutes for meals.
Back on duty to carry trays, back to
the diet kitchen. This all being done,
then sterilise bed pans, urinal bottles.
instruments until pm. Then we were
to attend class and study the rest Of
the afternoon until pm. Then our
dinner, then study until pm. and
we were to be in bed and lights ou-
at 8 pm.
The matron would come around
three or four times during the night
with a flash light to see if all were in
bed. And, of course, as tine went on
our studies we're harder, we were so
tired and our feet hurt so we could
not rest when we had a chance. And
If we failed to answer questions cor
rectly in class, we did not get our
half day off, had to study.
After the third month we were
taken off the dirty work of scrubbing,
but were kept busy on our feet all the
time, Three years Of this prison life.
then there comes in another class.
So they get the work done for you
might say nothing And for two or
three years I had all the work I
wanted
Works for IS a Week.
But now for the last two years a
nurse is lucky to get a case of any
kind and in private homes they expect
a nurse to help with the house work
and cooking and have been asked to
do all this for the big salary Of So per
week. have now been out of work
for three months, can't get work at
any price. And there are hundreds
here in the same condition The
Nurses Registry charge one dollar to
register, then ten per cent of your
salary If they send you out on a case.
And of course, we stand a better
chance of getting work through them
than advertising in the daily paper.
So nurse is nothing more than
slave. At last even after they have
gone through three years Of hard
work, know Of some doing house
work for their room and board, some
have children to support, are back
with their rent and nothing to eat.
Never before have I had to ask for
help Of anyone, but was forced to
apply to our city charity for help.
They give me few groceries, twice
paid my rent, twice then told me they
could not help that way any more,
but would send me out to the Jeffer-
son Home.
1 told them was not an old woman
and did not want to go. I was able
to work and had my father 81 years
old, I had to help and all I wanted
them to do was to help me until
I could get work to help myself. I
failed there. Then decided, as my
husband was 32nd degree mason
and in good standing when he died,
would go to the masons. I am an
eastern star, too. So I went to the
secretary Of the blue lodge here He
asked me as many questions as did
the city grafters and showed him
my receipts. Am paid up until May
81, 1882. Well, he said, think I can
get you place out at the Jefferson
Home. Nov the city had already Of
fered me that. I was so hurt I told
him Of their obligation and he gave
me SIS to pay my rent and said that
was all he could do II 1 did not want
to go to the home.
wrote my lodge too They said all
they could do was TO send me to the
masonic home. My husband and
mother died in 1921 and all I have
gone through and now destitute. If
all this would not make person red,
what would. And not until we make
up our minds to organize and fight
for our rights will we get anywhere.
but will starve in land Of plenty.
My religion has always been the
golden rule. but say now we uuem-
ployed must make every effort and
and put up a real fight to
get the demands of the working class.
These rotten grafters are never going
to do any thing to relieve the working
class until forced to do so and nothing
short Of revolution will change this
depression and rotten laws that have
kept the working class under bondage,
slavery and starvation. And the
sooner we start the ball rolling, the
sooner we will get our demands.
While am not member Of the
Communist Party, my mind and heart
are for them and will do all I can to
help in the struggle for the demands
Of the working class.