The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-03-14
One-Half of New Orleans
Population on Charity

al1d the playing Of smau-tiIne DO
litics by labor leaders, unions which
had the support Of the public, have
disinteTated Today, the Central
Trades and Labor Council, the BODY
representing organized labor, does
not get in enough dues to afford an
Office or a telephone. The Central
Trades is nothing more than a name
here-a name and a president who
is playing local politics so that he
can become a constable and get
some sort Of regular salary!
With union labor disorganized
and demoralized and scarcely any
organized objections to the speed
ups and wage cuts, wages dropped
to scale which is way below mini
mum living costs. The unskflled
worker, which includes most Ne
groes (26 per cent Of the total popu-
lation) is utterly destitute. Wher-
ever possible Negroes have been
fired and whites given their Jobs.
The result is that the NEGROES
plight here in proportion 80 his
population, is much greater than
even in the farming area. The
Negro, with only Is per cent Of the
population gets so per cent Of the
total charity distribution in the
city-which gives one an idea Of the
extent Of poverty among them.
Next to the Negro. the white col
lar class numbers the greatest of
those driven to charity. More clerks.
stenographers, etc, are on the char
ity list in proportion to their popu-
lation, than in any area I have been
in so far.
These facts, however. will be con-
sidered in detail in the succeeding
articles. The outstanding thing is
that the city and the vast ma iortv
are simply unaware of the fun ex-
tent Of disintegration. Residents are
told that things are picking I'D and
they accept it hopefully, most Of
them waiting patiently for their
turn TO come for a little improve
ment. They know that conditions
are exceedingly bad, that workers
by the tens Of thousands have no
JOBS, storekeepers and small as well
as large business men have and
are cutting wages, and that those
who DO work can scarcely make
ends meet.
Home life, here as In Brockton
and Charlotte, has disinterrated
When homes were broken 10 double
up and save on rentals; wives and
children have been thrown into an
already flooded labor market in
despatring efforts to keep family
and home together until now AL
most every other person out Of the
100000 inhabitants is listed as a
worker.
So far as government relief Is
concerned It seems 10 have failed
utterly here in making dent IN the
Unemployment situation. With all
the millions the government poured
into New Orleans and Mississinni
less than per cent of the unem-
ployed registered for government
Jobs have been given work. and
many Of those who have been given
work were placed on Temporary
Jobs, which might be from a day
to couple Of weeks.
The political situation here Is
only minor factor in the lives and
activities Of city residents. Huev
Long is not factor in New Orleans
conditions except insofar as his
state controlled dock board keeps
few ships away by high docking
charges. His strongest hold is on
the farmer. The increasing depths
OF the depression is actually rally
ing an increasing number of per
sons to his demagogic appeals for
share the wealth-spread the
work" With every newspaper ex-
cept his own weekly, bitterly OBJ
posing him, he nevertheless doubled
his city following at the last Mayor
atty election.
I think this is significant because
the election of the Long opoosition
candidate for Mayor has been hail
ed far and wide as a sign that Long
is finished. The fact is that Long
never carried New Orleans and At
the last election instead of meeting
with crushing defeat" as the
country hailed it, he really doubled
the number Of voters for his can
didate.
Whatever may be said of Long.
his appeals to curb millionaires and
spread the work is finding svrn-
pathetic ears. I believe that if he
were not such an absurd motlnte-
bank, his appeals would have raj
lied the whole state and city to his
banner, for there is a strong re-
sentiment here against the rich In
general and widespread approval
Tor high taxation Of incomes. The
feeling in the city, however. does
not compare with the intensity
found in the Mississippi farming
area. One Of the very curious things
about this undercurrent of resent
ment and rebellion in this citv is
that it is scarcely noticeable among
the unskilled workers who are Iiv-
ing on charity yet quite pronounced
among the white collar worker,
who are destitute as well as thoss
with some sort of jobs.
Ito Be Continued