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

Captain do something first. He felt
the blood binding his eyes, but did
not move.
Good damn REED" repeated
the Captain, hoping to provoke Slim.
Then he burst out: 'And the rest
of you! Do you know what / can
do to you for this? Put you all in
irons, and then have you sent 10
jail in the States for mutiny!"
He paused a minute, waiting for
signs of weakening, and inwardly
gloating in this show of power he
held over these men. His eye fell on
Lag and the little Finn, who were
standing together: And you tMol
You haven't even got your citizenship
papers! You know what you'll get
for this, don't your"
The men looked as though they
knew very well what blackbal and
deportation meant. There was a
moments silence. Deadlock.
Look here, Captainl" A new
voice was speaking-the deekboy
Prof. To the surprise of the men,
the Captain let him speak. This
thing can be settled. All we want is
dollar an hour overtime and free
day in port tomorrow, besides free
day in port for every Sunday spent
at sea. If you agree TO this, We'll
turn too at oncel"
The Captain looked at him, and
then at the mate. But the mate
looked dumb and in turn looked at
the Bos'n, who looked just as dumb.
"A dollar an hour, and day off ="
echoed the Captain, not believing
his ears. who's asking this?"
"All of us! If you agree to that,
we turn to at once!" exclaimed the
Professor hopefully.
Upon which the Captain stiffened.
This Company does not pay the
ships crew any overtime, and never
has paid any, on no ship"
well, this is a good time to start
new practice" muttered Slim.
The Captain pretended not to have
heard, and continued addressing the
Professor. Besides, such a thing as
paying overtime is not up to me, it's
up to the Company"
well, don't know why the Com
pany shouldn't pay overtime" insist
ed the Professor Il know for a fact
that they make plenty of money on
their freight and mail contracts, let
alone their passenger business"
''You know more than I do them"
returned the Captain coldly. He con-
sidered a moment, tapping nervously
on the table. $50 that's what you
all want, dollar an hour and
free day. hey?"
The men nodded
WELL, I will tell you what I'll do.
" AS you know, I am only Master
of this vessel, owned by the Frantic
Lines. have no right to pay any
wages other than specified in the
articles. In the first analysis, am
only paid worker myself, but /
will do whatever I can for you il
you men will be reasonable. 1 will
let you have the free day in port
tomorrow. The future free days you
will also get--in New York"
The Captain could not restrain his
hate sufficiently to entirely hide the
threat which lay behind these words.
las to the matter of overtime
wages, promise to take this UP with
the company as soon as we get to
New York, and to do what I cam
The Captain cleared his throat.
That's fair enough, isn't it?"
He turned to the Bos'n. "Bos'n.
you mark down the exact time each
man puts in, and give me the record
when the job is done"
Eyes SIR answered the bos'n. There
was a movement among the men to
go. Stanley, Gunnar and Slim ex-
changed quick glances. Gunnar
broke out:
Captain, we don't want to wait
until we get to New York to find
out. New York is too far away, and
we don't know what might happen
there"
The Captain glared: Don't YOU
take my word for it?'
Yes, we take your word for It.
out you said yourself it will be up
. the Company, and they might de-
ide to fire the whole gang of us.
ut if we're going to work today, we