The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-08-30
VII.

VIZ
CLIFF wondered how Lentz was
getting on; whether the work in
the rolling department was as hard
as in his. Maybe he ought to go
k there, he thought. But he
MT seen Lentz since he got
ted to the new Job.
ming home one night he saw
in the window of his room.
could be there? He went in
; and found his buddy waiting
him.
Gee, Lentz, where you been all
us time? Couldn't see you at
6nch time"
) " you couldn't see me around the
shop. got sacked" Lentz said.
You don't say?"
yep, since you got shifted, they
didn't put another guy in your
place. An Id break my back to
keep the platform clear. One day
Fred tells me to give a guy a hand
cratin' boxes. Well, says. how do
you expect me to do all that stuff
myself? Fred got up in the air"
Lentz raised his voice. If you
don't wanna do it Jest le me know
That got me sore" Leptz grinned,
IAN I says, you know where you
can stick the job, says.
Gee, he came runnin' like he
was gonna go nuts. Get outa here
he yelled. I didn't bulge. I thought
he was gonna start fight. I wish
he did, was gonna break his head.
He beat it, but when it was about
quittin' time, the Office guy comes
an tells me to go to see Burk. When
I got there. Burk gave me a mean
look, but said nothin'. Then he
showed the envelope under my nose
an says, You're fired says: I'm
through with you, an walked out"
Damn. it sure is gettin' tough.
My foreman is jumpin' out of his
skin, too, Lentz. Did you try to
pick up anything else?"
NO. There amt nothin' a Teller
can get hold of. An besides that,
I wanna go with you on the road,
you know what we was talkin
about?'
Cliff looked at Lentz, without say
Ing anything.
What you lookin' like that for?"
II amt goin', Lentz. There amt
nowheres to 60"
Didn't you say we was gonna go
as soon as it gets warm? I been
thinkin' about it since got to know
you. hearin' all the things you was
tellin' me-"
There amt nowhere to go, Lentz.
There's nothin' in it, I tell you
You just run around and roll in all
kind of dumps an get lousy an
haAe to beg your way. That's all
there is to it, YOU Sec"
"Xou don't talk the same as you
used to, Cliff"
We'll, I got to see things differ
ent. now"
"oh. hell. it amt Edna that
makes you talk like that?"
What's the diff? I just am tellin'
you the truth. If ! was your age
when I had to go on the road, I
may be would never have started
out.
"Oh, can that stuff. I got to go.
I got to leave this town. I told
my folks already I'm leavin'. An
I'm goin'."
CLIFF tried to convince his friend
y not to go. but Lentz stuck to his
own. Cliff felt blue when Lentz left.
He felt sorry that he was going. He
liked Lentz, he was the only pal he
had. But if Lentz hadn't got fired
be sure would have stuck here,
Cliff reasoned. It's the damn fore
man.
Cliff told Weber about Lentz get
ting fired. Eyes, it's gettin' rotten,
an if we don't do somethin' about
It we'll all go to the dogs"
What can you do? Maybe break
the bones of some foreman. then
they wouldn't be SO snotty," Cliff
said
That wouldn't get you nowheres.
There's something else to be done.
we are going 10 organize" he WhiS-
pered. "a fellow is in town who
came to show us how to make things
easier in the shop. We're havin' a
meetin' tonight You ought to come
down to my house"
Organize? What do you mean,
tryin' to get all the men together?
Well that wouldn't be a bad idea.
I'd like to come down an see what
you fellows are going to do, but I
got to see my girl tonight"
you deserve to be driven like
slaves" Weber ragged. IAN you do is
kick. You better come Gown il you
know what's good for you, or we're
all gonna get canned soon"
Weber talked lot. He tried to