The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-05-16


waerts"----- Like bear, raving with
fever, Kurt stumbled through town.
When he saw a policeman he trem-
bled with hatred.
He did not understand all this.
Why did the people walk about calm
ly and as if nothing had happened?
The trans ran as usual The trains
rolled over the bridges under which
Kurt was standing, and the thunder
ing noise of the iron girders was mu-
sic to him in the unbearable silence
Of the morning.
1t ought to crash, everything ought
to crash, TO break. Why don't the
workers smash the printing machines
that spit out these lies, why do they
just talk and swear and then go on
to their factories as usual?
There was the branch office of
newspaper. People were standing in
front of the windows reading the
morning editions which were hung
out. Workers, a tram driver in uni
form with his bag under his arm,
prostitutes who had found no clients
that night, night club visitors with
tightly buttoned-up overcoats, smell
ing Of cigarettes and beer. Kurt
pushed his way to the window He
did not hear someone swearing be-
hind him. He started to read, any,
where, in the middle of the page:
Even if due allowance is made for
the strained nerves of the everwork-
ed police and officers, the ruthless
handling of the baton is open to
grave criticism. The punishment of
whipping was abolished from our
penal code largely because it bru-
talized the officials. The police have
re-introduced it and the result is
that they apparently enjoy beating
what comes under their hands. Pc
oestrians who had nothing whatever
to do with the demonstration and
whose presence was sheer acct
dent, were roughly handled by the
police. Anyone who protested to q
police officer would be told (this ac-
tuslly happened at the corner of the
Turn and Stromstrasse in Moabit)
We are not Jews, we don't negoti-
ate The baton is used readily. If
the questioner did not retire in great
haste, he received blow on the
head"
Kurt looked at the head Of the pa
per, q bourgeois journal The first
voice raising tifrlid protest against
+bA Y1olion Nh Enur et4,Y1J3Ixr -4,,.tA4rs.
he thought, roughly handled" that
idiot should have been with us in
Wedding. :
Man, we didn't notice anything of
that sort in the White Mouse ." a
fat, oily voice croaked behind him.
He turned and stood in cloud OF
aicohol-infested breath, stale smoke
and disgusting penetrating scent.
We'll, what's the matter, my
mann" The speaker was corpulent,
rubicund, bowler hat was tipped
on one side of his head and white
Withered flower stuck in his button
hole. The old roue and the tired
worker stood face to face. A glare of
hatred shining from blood shot eyes
disturbed the night bird. His drink
sodden brain did not grasp what he
saw, but this stare made him feel I'M
easy, spoiled his feeling OF saturated
content.
Whats the natter?" His growl
was unpleasant and touched with a
suspicious aloofness. He put his hand
in his pocket and took out a hand
full Of loose money.
Here you are, fellow, go get your
self beer!" He held out a piece of
money to him. Kurt saw the silver
coin lying on the flabby palm. Next
moment he rushed 1t away like YER
min. With a hard clink the money
fell on the pavement. A woman bent
down and picked it up.
Speeches, head down, he pushed
his way through the people and went
on. "Sctm!" he Inurmered and took
a deep breath of the fresh morning
air to rid himself of the drunkard's
disgusting smell.
ITO Be Continued.)