The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1934-06-12
FATHER Of NINE
SCORES STEEL
STRIKE TALK
By JAMES L. KILGALLEN
International News Service Staff
Correspondent


Copyright. 1884, by International
News Service)
WEIRTON, w. Va, June IL
G.N.SO In picturesque language,
]. A. Cline, veteran steel worker
father of nine children-today
vigorously asserted that if a
3trike is called June l6 he
amt going to quit working"
He declared:
"They may put a gun in
my teeth and tell me 1 can't
70 into that steel mill, but
that's about the only way
they'll stop me from going in.
I've got to keep on working SO
that my family can live"
ONE OF 10000
Mr.. Cline is one of the 10000
Employees of the Weirton Steel
company, a subsidiary of the
Tational Steel Corporation. Well.
on Steel is the company which
rot long ago staged bitter
,attle with the National Labor
Board over policies and practices.
Mr.. Cline's face and hairy arms
yere covered with sweat and
rhine. He wore cheap blue
hirt and dirty suspenderS and
'he number 1923 was pinned to
lis cap. He was talking to a man
yho wouldn't reveal his name, but
those number was 1918. Mr..
Zine is a steam crane operator,
: hard-bitten man of SO. He eX-
ylaimed:
"Strike! Why should strike?
was in a strike here last fall
and it didn't get me anything.
I've had my belly full of it.
"Who's going to take care of
my wife and nine children if 1
strike? They haven't enough to
eat and wear as it is.
"Here they talk strike and
I've only just got out of debt.
1 owed the market sos, but
three pay days ago cleaned the
debt up. Do have to go in the
hole again?"
Family In Need
Mr.. Cline said he is making $12O
month, but in Scathing tones he
declared he wasn't supporting his
amily-not really supporting
hem-on that money. His pay
would be "all right for single
nan but not for a man with nine
mouths to feed" He flung out
lis arms in a gesture of despair:
''LOOk at those two paws, feed
ing nine! My nose is on the
grindstOne. 1 can't save a dollar
/ amt got a MCKEE"
Mr., Cline told how the "over-
head" was eating him up" He
said he rents a ten-room house
over in the colored district for his
big family and pays $40 a month.
Then there is SIS month for gas
md electricity; $3.50 a month for
water and in winter So a month
Tor coal. Why last winter he used
375 bushels of coal! He asserted:
cts a dogs life I'm leading,
I've worked in this steel business
for thirty.twO years. Where am l
now? Look at what I'm up
against.
"I'm sending my kids to
school, yes, but it's nippity-tuck.
Our family has no amusements'
no automobile, no radio. / have
had one of suit clothes in three
years.
One Pair of Shoes
"See this pair of old shoes
I'm wearing? Well, I've worn
'em IL months for work and
dress. When I'm going some
where-which is seldom get
q shine"
Mr.. Cline said he did picket
duty in the strike here last fall.
The reason he went on strike
was that "12 men with clubs
and lead pipes kept me from
going into the mills" He "signed
up and was given a card" But
he never paid a cent of union
dues. He added
81 won't strike this time.
Why, 1 couldn't get another
job. I'm so. Get that, Pm 50.
And so is past the age limit
In onv mill in the country"