The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-08-26
INSTALLMENT TWELVE

gang much yet. I heard Barney and
| Shorty talking about It,"
"And what did THEY have to say?
You see, Rogers, I can't talk much
with them The First Assistants al
ways around. He's a 100 per cent
Company Man, and he's Just dying
to get my job"
''Well, Barney and Shorty saw nc
one else put up howl, SO they took
the cut laying down, too"
"Oh, no." assured the Chief
Some of the men quit. The old
fireman, Pitts, Cavanaugh-those are
new men. The others wouldn't stand
for it."
What do you mean, wouldn't stand
for It," retorted Slim. "Quitting is
no way to fight against wage-cuts
unless all the men quit work and
strike. The other way to fight is tc
stick on the job, organize the rest
Of the department, yes, and the rest
Of the ship, and tie up the whole
works until the Company takes the
cut back"
The Chief was enthused. Now
you're talking! God damn it, wish
T had you in my Department.
Makes no difference what depart
ment man is in. If I'd been on
board, then, I'd have gotten the
deckhand to back up the blackgang
because, as sure as night follows day
the deckgang will be next in line for
a cut. That's their usual trick. Or
else they cut the crew first and the
officers next"
Eyes, but here they took us all in
one wallop"
That's because they feel them
selves safe in doing it, Because they
know you men aren't organized into
the M.WIU."
whats that?"
That's the fighting Marine Work
ers' Industrial Union"
els it red?" asked the Chief sud-
denly mot like those brotherhoods
and associations and racketeers out
fits?"
Slim laughed. Jumping faced
Jesus, you're OK. Chief. Yes, this
unions red, alright,-as red as your
blood, and I'm not trying to pay you
a compliment-Now, how about set
ting your department a good example
and lining up with us?"
The Chief looked around the cafe
Now I really would join up if ]
could. But my face is so we'll known
along the waterfront, I'd only have
to show up once in your hall,-and
that would be the end of my job
He laid his hand on Rogers Shout
ders. "And son, you have no idea
how many other Chief Engineers are
just itching to take my job"
Sure" answered Slim, and the
same applies to the seamen and
firemen and stewards and all of u.s.
Slim scratched his cheek minute
know what, Chief? You line ur
with us like some officers off other
vessels have done. They carry
MW.IU. books. but don't exactly
advertise it. They get our literature
addressed to them in plain wrappers
and nobody's any the wiser. And
they do what they can--in a quiet
way"
The Chief considered. "And how
do you keep in touch with them?"
plain envelopes, in care of the
ship,-woman' handwriting. There's
more than one way to kill cat"
THE Chief shook his head mo nc
i mail to the ship. I'll give you my
home address. Whatever you got fol-
me, send to that address, savvy?'
The Chief took out a pencil. "You
understand, this is private. AS well
as everything we've been talking
about"
Slim gave the Chief his hand. The
Chief wrote down the address and
handed it to him. "TeH you what
Chief. I'll shoot this right off tc
the secretary of the union, and he'll
mail your book, stamps, and all to
this address"
"That's using your head, Rogers
BY the way, how much will it cost?'
"a dollar to join, so cents per
month dues, and dollar twice a
year for press stamps"
The Chief counted out an equiva-
lent amount in kroners. "Well, ]
got to run along now. Remember
this is all private"
They shok hands. Slim got some
writing paper from the water and
started writing:
Dear Comrades:
| "CSl1ecS who 1innd TT, fret oy, fhie