The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-05-29
Our Dele cation
Pays a Call on
theCommiSSiOner
BY ESTHER FREMONT

Of Public Welfare Hodson to see our
committee. The line of C.W.A.
workers and applicants, profession
ais and laborers, surrounded the
building and the block, waving their
banners and umbrellas. Two hours
passed. We walked up and down
and around the block, waiting for
Hodson to see our delegates. Hod-
son didn't like the crowd because
he didn't like the numbers there
were thousand Of u.s., so he didn't
see us. Teachers, architects, engi-
neers, clerical workers, ditch diggers,
park renovators, street cleaners,
marched in line crying their slo-
gans, holding their banners high
eve don't want to starve!" we
want work." I'VE Demand Relief"
Continue our projects" stop dis
missalS!" Summer work." I'VE are
hungry" Unemployment Insur-
ance!" We want hearing"
Hodson wouldn't see us.
Hodson was busy. Hodson was
tired. Hodson was deaf. Hodson was
amused. Hodson was anything. But
we also knew, because he was look
ing out of the window, that he was
afraid. We we're impatient, wet,
hoarse, and determined. A worker
got out of the ranks, stood on a
pump and addressed us. The
mounted police waited.
And what We are we TO do?" the
worker asked the lines.
We demand hearing now the
answers came.
The committee is going in"
Break down the doors!"
There was rush for the doors,
men and women. Banners and
placards were thrown away. We
crowded and pressed against the
door, the mounted police swinging
their clubs right and left, after us.
Some Of us were thrown down, some
beaten, some escaped the clubs.
most of us dispersed, only to form
new picket lines half way down the
side streets, around the corners. We
had no weapons; hundreds of us
we're pushed back and the hundreds
came forward again, Some of us
picked the sticks and torn banners
and hurled them back at the police
men who were beating workers who
had fallen under the first clubbings.
We saw policemen break into the
crowds swinging at heads, arms,
backs, legs.
A WORKER on crutches rallied
n great crowds around him. stick
together, don't run back" he
shouted. He was dragged from the
scene into a patrol car. Whistles,
riot squads, detectives, all armed,
sailed into us. We were pushed
back always to reappear, forming
our ranks on another corner facing
so Lafayette Street, We heard shots
fired
Someone was shot!"
1.-TWO were shot! One in the
stomach. One in the leg, Eleven
were arrested"
March to the court! Demand
their released"
We marched in lines up the blocks
to the court at 10l Center st. We
filed ir.5o the court room in a great
body and waited
THE prisoners are at the court
on Elizabeth and Worth Streets,
someone announced.
We marched through the streets,
wet, tired, stubborn, to the court.
We couldn't get near it, The whole
City Hall district was full Of mounted
policemen, breaking our ranks every
few steps.
Where are the arrested workers 2"
Night Court Ten thirty tonight.
Fifty-fourth Street"
THE policemen dotted the streets
with their clubs and horses,
laughing, joking, waiting, new squads
coming every minute. Did they
break us up? After several hours of
fighting, they beat some, arrested
some, wounded some. Maybe they
killed some. The streets were finally
cleared. One wounded policeman
waved to another hopping his head
Was at so Lafayette" he boosted
to q policeman who had come in
only at the last Of the fun"
Good stuff"
Did they break us? Well see. The
headlines of the papers say about
us, 300 Reds Riot at City Hall.
Are we the Red Menace, workers
falling under the clubs of police
men? Was the worker who shouted.
I'VE wanna die once, not ten times
a ruffian from the Red Gang? What
is the Red Menace7 What color is
hunger?