The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-04-26

cell and had lived for over twenty
years in the alley. He had only re-
manned silent about Hermann's sug-
gestion because he did not like to
offend an old coB1rade. But he knew
already that it had been a mistake.
The situation was likely to become
very serious, and in a case like this
all personal considerations had to be
dropped. He decided not to leave
Paul for one moment during the day
and to help him as best he could.
In the Red Nightingale" you could
have walked on the heads. The
rooms were overcrowded with work
erS with caps and jackets decorated
with red carnations or badges. Ten
minutes ago somebody had discovered
a stool pigeon" in one of the rooms;
he was soon thrown out into the
street, after a sound beating up. One
could syInpathize with the workers
outside for repeating the dose a Sec
ond time. Only in the Reinicken-
dorfer-Strasse was he liberated, by a
police patrol.
Whenever a stool pigeon was dis
covered, the police were not long in
coming to his rescue. Kurt saw that
it was great mistake to have made
the Red Nightingale" of all places,
which was known to the police as a
party centre, the meeting place!
Now, when the situation was still
undeveloped it would have been very
easy for the police to surround the
house, arrest all those inside and
thus to separate the political and or
ganizational leadership from the
masses.
No Arms
In the small hall at the rear, Kurt
and Paul met the other comrades of
the street cell. Old Father Hubner
had also kept his word. He sat at
the table in his black and shiny Sun
day suit with a red carnation in his
buttonhole ready for the signal to
start. Kurt could see that much
was passing through the old mans
mind. For the first time in forty
years he was to participate in a May
Day demonstration which had been
banned by social democratic Police
President.
"Thomasw Paul shouted through
the passage. His voice was COM
pletely drowned in the noise. He
pushed his way through the workers
and approached an understood COM
rade, wedged in a group in heated
discussion. 1t was Thomas, the Or
ganizer of the marchers.
Thomas, how are things with your
people? You are certain that none
of them has anything hidden on him
We march unarmed.''
Paul did not say this, because he
was afraid. 1t was the strict in
Struction of the Party, and Hermann
had especially warned him only the
night before. to insist that on no
account should anyone carry arms in
the demonstration.
We'll, you know, Paul" Thomas
answered as he frightened his belt,
II can't look into everybody's pockets.
I have warned them about it not
once, but ten times, at least, and 1
don't think that there's one who has
anything on him.
Keep your men firmly in hand,
Thomas-we1l have a good deal to
face outside" The faces of the two
workers were grave, a tremendous
responsibility rested on their Shout
ders.
Paul looked at his watch. Ten |
O'Clock, Thomas, give orders to form
the ranks. Time to start"
There was movement in the |
masses outside when the door of the !
Red Nightingale" opened and the
workers streamed out. A woman
shouted something out of a window.
Everybody pushed his way to the pub. |
A penetrating whistle cut the air |
twice in quick succession. They
knew this signal. That was Thomas |
Close the ranks. Forward march," |.
At once disorder ceased. The
sound of the whistle gripped the |
masses like steady, controlling
hand, called them together, formed /
them into marching columns. put
each in his place, and turned the |
feeling of nervous apprehension into |
that Of ordered security. A three
cornered red flag which appeared in .
the front between the third and
fourth rank was greeted with loud
cheers.
May Day Begins
The commanding voice of Thomas
suddenly pulled all together. For a
moment there was almost uncanny
silence. Like the resounding blow of |
a hammer the short command rang
out clearly and sharply over the |
heads Of the ranks standing eight |
abreast. !
Attention. Quick marchl"
The first step was the signal for an
outbreak Of wild enthusiasm. The
windows were thrown open when the
rhythm Of the march beat against
the walls Of the houses. A resound- ,
ing young voice shouted: Down
with INSTRUMENTATION ban"
There were some who shuddered as
the whole street shouted in unison:
Down " down down :"
A thunderous roar Of protest.
The black mass of the workers
taking up the full width of the street
surged forward. At the head the
flag glowed like a
dangerous red-hot spark in the sea
OF grey, pale faces. Two or three
began. then the whole street was
singing the song of the prisoners of
want The International 3. o."
In the Reinickendorf Strasse the
blinds ratified down before the win
dows Of the large shops. Iron bars
clattered as they we're drawn in haste
across the entrances. The bloody
May Day Of 1929 had begun.
10 BE Continued
The Chicago Mooney Congress.
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