The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-09-13
A Question of Tactics.

MQllNYL Know what that meanS?'
He looked impressiYely at Slim.
IT think I've heard the word be-
fore" replied Slim cody.
Hey, come back herel" Gunnar
started after the little Finn. Where
YOU going?"
up to see the captain" answered
he, weakly.
Come back here" repeated Gun
mar, starting to grab him. when we
go up to see the captain, We'll all 60
together" Gunnar's arms had more
effect on this runt than his words.
He sat him down on the bench with
a thud, and mounted guard near the
door. Lug was getting into his shoes.
and some of the others were restless.
ST don't see any reason for all 60
ing up there" said Slim. "We elected
q committee: Gunnar, the Professor.
and myself, That's plenty"
''You heard what the mate said.s'
broke in Lag, whats the use of max
ing extra trouble?"
Yeah" agreed the Polack, 1--WE all
got to go up"
What for?" insisted Slim. Didn't
we elect committee? You scared
Just because he said bolshevik?"
1T amt that" insisted Lag, "but
it will look better for u.s."
Sure" agreed the Folack, then
he won't have any comeback"
The little union man spoke up from
the bench: That's what been think
ing in the first place" DIV
Here was a question of tactics. By
attempting to force these three men,
they might split the front which until
now they had maintained. On the
other hand, what would be lost by
going up all in a body? If the COM
mittee set a good example up there,
these men would gain a lesson in
militancy. "All right" said Slim
aloud, well all go UP together this
time since you insist on it. But when
it comes to talking, remember, let the
Committee talk for ALL"
Then they all marched out the fo'-
castle. Gunnar and Slim up front,
with the Professor and Stanley
alongside. AS they marched up the
deck they could see Moonface and
ator-room, and the cooks and scully
watched them silently as they went
past the galley. Their faces showed
that they knew what was up and
that they shared big interest in this
fight. Up midships, standing on Num-
Der Three hatch, the second mate
was waiting. He looked at the men
as though seeing them for the .nfst
time in his life, and pointed tongue
tied to the saloon: I'm there!"
Before going in, GJnnar glanced
back. Fritz was up on the boat-deck,
supposedly arranging some beer bot
ties. Eddie was on the other side of
the wireless shack, watching from
behind the door of the battery room.
Strike Committee at the Wheel.
: CAPTAIN Hortens was sitting be-
v hind green covered table when
the men came in. "
The mate and bos'n were standing
at the far end of the room The
Captain waited minute The sec
ond mate came in, closed the door
after him, and remained standing
there. The mate and boS'n were at
the other door, The only other way
out of the saloon was through the
pantry door, which was locked A
couple of husky shoulder blows could
4, force it.
y The Captain had his dress uni
form on. His gold-braided cap lay on
the table. He glanced at the men,
stretched out in row in front of
him, marking each one individually.
He cleared his throat Importantly
and began
Men, Mr.. Calder the chief mate,
tells. me you have refused to turn
to today, because it is Sunday Now,
some of you men have been with me
long enough to know that / never
turn the deck gang to on Sunday
(, Mess have to. This is a case where
have got to have Number -Four
td Five holds cleaned out by tomor-
wv morning for a load of paper
nieh is waiting for us in Raumo.
( he whole job could have been fin
ishsd by o'clock if you had put
your backs to it. Now what's holding
you back men--or who?" a4tr
At this last word Slim glanced
sharply at the Captain. But he
seemed to be looking elsewhere. Gun
mar broke the silence: itasa
Look here, Captain. This is my
fifth trip on the Utah now and I've
never kicked before. But it looks to
me like conditions are getting worse
all the time" ~ r
cIn which way?" demanded the
Captain.
SIN every way. Every time we get
into port, or leave a port, it's al
ways on our time, or there's some
extra work to do. This trip it was
the same story in New York, Copen-
hagen, Stockholm, and now Lenin-
grad. This morning we had to get
up. at half past four, then hang
around for nothing until six,, with
no breakfast or nothing" ANN
'For Christ's sake" broke in the
mate, I'VE heard all that before. This |
mornings done and over with. For-
get It," III.
eyes," started Gunnar, "and what's
more"
swat minute soothed the Cap |
tain, commandingly. Gunnar hae |
stoo many grievances to suit hin
He spared for another opening.
you're not the whole crew, ye