The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-07-15

reached a decision, at last. He
would never go home. They
wouldn't see him ever again.
Maybe they would sind a way with
out him. Maybe the landlord would
feel sorry for a woman with two
sick children and no husband more
than if she had husband. Peo-
pie always figured that way They
figured on the man getting job,
doing anything and bringing home
a few dollars, and they didn't
bother. But if they knew Martha
was alone with two sick children
they would feel sorry for her and
help her. Yes, that was the de-
cision he had made. lie would
never go home. And maybe. i. A
new thought struck him. 1t had
been there uppermost in his mind
all the time. He had not wanted
TO take it, to look it over carefully,
turning it over ON all sides. Now
he left it drift out and around
him. The shock Of it was like
deep, cold water, unending depth.
He thought Of the East River and
how simple it seemed, floating
down on it and calmly knowing
nothing afterwards. Free! The
burdens seemed to lift from him
as if he were already floating there
in the river. After that Martha
and the children would find help.
Perhaps the Relief Bureau might
do something for them, if he were
no longer there. And then a new
thought assailed him. If no help
was given, them, then suppose
Martha did the same thing to her
self and the children. Suppose
she got Just enough money to open
the gas and did it that way He
had heard stories of late and they
began to parade before him
slow-moving, sinister, gray-figured
procession. His head grew light
and a cold sweat broke out over his
body. He could feel the damp
beads on his forehead and above his
mouth.
A CALL TO FIGHT
Somebody passing, handed him
q newspaper. He glanced at it and
began to read mechanically. Slowly
words and groups of phrases be-
came clear. He could not grasp it
all, but he felt they were calling
to him. When it said Workers."
he knew they meant him. And
when it said Don't Starve, Fight"
it puzzled him. Fight? He had
fought and where was he? Then it
ended with Join the Unemployed
Councils and fight against starva-
ton and eviction" His mind
cleared and he jumped to his feet
That was call to him and it
sounded as If it was for him.
THE Council heard his story. They
Immediately appointed a COM
mittee to go to the Relief Bureau.
When they came to the Bureau
they made their demands. They
demanded that Jim DAILY and his
family should not be put out on
the street. They demanded that
the Bureau pay his rent. They de-
manded food ticket for him i'm
mediately. They demanded a dec
tor to be sent to attend his sick
children.
The committee was told that the
Bureau had already assigned an
investigator. They were asked to
leave quietly.
"Jim DAILY is war veteran and
now he is starving. He is being
thrown out on the street." the COM
mittee told the Bureau. A police
man came and told them to get
out. In the street crowd had
collected. Unemployed waiting
their turn.
The committee began to hold a
meeting. They addressed the crowd
and Jim DAILY got up to speak. He
told them everything directly and
simply. He took out letter with
a government seal and red, white
and blue ribbons attached. He
read them letter in which they
thanked him for his deeds of
valor" and commended him with
high rraise on his Service. An
oths- L e.aployed worker got up
and spoke, ending with, "This is
what we get. When We remind
them, they tell us to get out"
The following day Jim DAILY
stayed home and waited for the
maj hal He did not know ex-
act.y what would happen. The
Council had told him to go home,
they would take care of the rest.
He was wondering what to tell the
marshal, when he heard a noise in
the street.
THERE WILL BE
NO EVICTION"
Outside the sun shone down
pooeefully. The Unemployed Coun-
III 49,. i - = ~