The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-09-27
CLEARING FOR ACTION

ALL of the following day, there was
n was lively discussion among the
men. The strike demands were made
known to- them by the ships COM
mittee lin. advance, SO that at the
meeting, the question was less about
accepting them, but more of carrying
out the fight. When should the de-
mands be presented to the Captain?
Should they wait until they signed
off first? Wait and see if any help
was coming from the comrades
ashore? What would the Bos'n do?
Eskimo? Lag? ~ s-
Small slips of paper were constant
ly exchanged between the Chief, the
men on watch in the engine room,
and Slim. The Filipino proved to be
a fine courier. 1t was he who brought
message of warning to the men at
the meeting, A second wire had been
sent off. -. The Captain and Mate
were informed as TO everything that
had occurred last night.
The stool pigeon was at work again!
Who the devil could it be? The
meeting was stopped at once. Each
department went into their own fo'-
castles, and made their decisions
separately, under control of the
ships committee members. This way,
the stool could be sifted.
1t was well past midnight before
the ships committee got together.
Each man had his work cut out.
Then they scattered.
Slim lay down in his bunk with
out undressing In his mind he re-
viewed the preparations which had
been made, He was surprised at the
assurance with which he went about
arranging everything. This was his
first fight of this :, kind, and yet it
didn't seem new to-, him. Suddenly
he realized the reason: as Bos'n on
the Memphis he had always to see
after everything, to have everything
cleared for the voyage. And getting
ready for strike was like getting
ready to go to sea, in a certain sense.
What sort of weather they would
run into? Life boats cleared? Life
boatl Slim listened. Everything was
quiet. He swung easily out of his
bunk, took the searchlight, and went
out on deck.
1t was nice warm night In the
distance, passing vessels glided
silently past. The utah cut softly
through the water, like a knife
through, melting butter.
IN his sleep, the. Chief looked like
a big baby. Slim held his fingers
over the lighted searchlight, and
studied the face of this 'midships
comrade. Would he fight with them?
To what point? The Chiefs head
rolled back and forth on the pillow
Slim laughed to himself. You won't
go along with us2 Or is it just the
light bothering your
He woke him.. Chief"
The Chief opened his eyes and was
awake at once.
Hello, Rogers
Chief, when are we due IMP"
According to last report, about
three in the afternoon"
"Chief,1 the men are going to
strike! Your department, the deck
gang, and the Stewards
"The second assistant has told
me. LIQUID hardly fall asleep"
You're going to stick with us,
Chief"
The Chief didn't answer. The whole
night he had been. thinking of the
hard long years he had gone through
before getting into this position +. :.
now he. had a little. house, with mort
cages that had. to be paid off 4.
and three children whom he wanted
to send through college so they
would have it better, than he. -.
Chief, do you remember what you
said in Stockholm about windbags.
Now's the time!"
The Chief didn't answer. Then he
came out with the words which Slim
had instinctively expected:
You are all young and single,
Rogers. The second assistant too.
You've nothing to lose. But for me-
it would mean running everything.
And possibly prison on account Of
the oath In the Naval Reserves. -"
Now Slim remained silent.
Rogers, I'll support you all every
way can, I'll give a hundred dollars
for the, strike funds, and" the
Chief looked toward the door and
lowered his voice. -4-further con-
fidential information but II
couldn't come out openly on strike
with you. I couldn't"
Il expected more courage from
you, Chief?"
If it was only a question of my