davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-20

that end H., I'D NA.1n 1 ask that
he wake the following morning to
attend the baby he fatty refuses.
Il suppose that too will be helped
after the revolution. It's bad enough
to struggle along financially under
this system, but when everything is
put off till later, we might just as
Well not exist now.
"A comrade whose eyes are set
toward a Soviet America.
''E. d. N"
Before going or to answer this
letter, want to ask Comrade E. D.
N. if she was not so terribly upset
when she wrote it that she wrote
re- opposite of what she meo ut
Tt seems one sentence should read,
81 am ashamed to admit that the
lact that I agreed to it's removal
made no difference to him. Or Go
l misunderstood something?-
Well, this letter, believe it or not,
somewhat describes the situation in
my own household, though it's not
so bad, 1 having no baby to look
after, but only little column. 1
thought I was pulling a smart one
TO marry a chef, with the idea that
as he ate where he worked I'd escape
he Job Of cooking, and oh how got
fooled, for along came the food work
er's strike.
Now he 0ashes madly in and out
from the picket line, the court
room, and meetings, the household
is at SKIES and seyens, nobody has
the least notion when mealtime is,
and the slate posted by the kitchen
door proves handy for each Of us
to let the other know II he's still
alive.
Your letter, Comrade E. D. N,
came the day after I took the bright
copper buttons off navy corduroy
raincoat so I wouldn't look so much
Ike a policeman. Comrade Husband
has been raising h for weeks be-
cause I run around looking like 'the
Wrath Of God" so I bought the rain
coat because it was the cheapest
thing I could find to wear while the
regular coat Is cleaned and pressed.
But Comrade Husband couldn't bear
the sight Of the coat until the but
tons were changed for plain ones.
He cooks rarely, and just to show
me how it should be done, and sits
and reads up on the Austrian Situa-
ton and gets a liberal feminist edu-
cation While 1 do the dishes. But
ask you-how can you stop loving
man who pickets for half an hour
and three quarters Of an hour
straight in IA below zero weather and
gets up at $50 in the morning to
try to sell the Daily Worker in the
subway-and presents a gal with the
books she needs in her business?
But justice is sweet. Here's a per-
fectly swell passage from the very
first book he gave me, Clara zetkin's
"reminiscences of Lenin." Last chap
ter, Women, Marriage, and Sex"
Your husband must have missed it
too, and lot of other radical hus-
bands, if am to Judge by what I
hear. 1t goes-heck. Our space Is
al used up. I'll quote 1t tomorrow.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-20
Small Retailer
Ruined by Big
MonOnolv Business
Rr y SmalI Storekeeper

BY Il Small StCrekecper
CHICAGO, Ill bought grocery
and market in 1923 for $4,000 and
property for $1,000. Improvement
81 900. totalling $4,000. 7 did $4,000
worth of business in 1925, $4,000 in
1888. 1 never had a days vacation,
I don't think, gamble OF have an
auto. 1 didn't lose dollar in cash,
stock or bonds. I made $4,000 in two
previous stores. I could not sell the
whole outfit for my mortgage of
SIS 000
My profit in 1888 was $780, Taxes,
interest, coal, insurance, upkeep, gas,
heat, telephone was $3.50, which
leaves $3.50 to live on year for four
people, with a $4,000 cash invest
ment. Big business monopoly has
ruined me. I bought this for an in
vestment. Now l am IS and broke.
In 1928 was q Republican. Now
I am radical.
I am expecting letter from my
relatives Amsterdam, Holland), as 1
am following the international ques-
tons PRUSSIA and Germany.
Three months ago they wrote me
that the dollar was only worth SO
cents in Holland and that in Ger
many the poison gas and ammunition
factories are working full time.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-20
Lives Are Further
Endangered in the
Gary Steel Mills
(By a Steel Worker Correspondent

my a oVSCi hOrkcT correspondent
GARY, Ind.-Ever since Mr.. Grif-
fin took charge of all the Central
Mills, Rail, Billet, and "A such bloom
ing and plate mills, safety has been
diSregarded in all the Gary steel cen
trail mills The cranemen are speeded
up by Mr.. Grif1n's general superin-
tendent to such an extent that they
have no time to heed the ENGINES
and carry their lifts over the heads
OF the Switchmen, because of the
economy program of Griffin, who
wishes to keep down repair expenses
and to make extra bonuses for him
self.
The brakes and bells on all the
cranes are out Of order. and because
OF this the cranemen have no way
OF warning the men on the floor
when they carry lifts to and from
the pits Time and time again the
electrical department has attempted
to repair the cranes, but Mr.. Griffin
would not allow them to!
Organize and demand safety by
forming department committees
backed by the men and present your
demands to the bosses.
In the Transportation Department,
there is much favoritism going on
and with the help of the company
union representatives, there is dis
elimination against Negro workers.
1t is true that in switching, the
majority are Negroes, but they are
placed on the most unclean jobs and
most dangerous of being.
Burned by riding on the hot metal
cars which are used for transporting
the ingots, it doesn't take much for
the workers to see that the yard
masters and the company union rep
resentatives are working hand in
hand to get more out Of the workers.
We must depend on our own or
ganization to help us. The company
union helps the bosses. Join the mill
ant, fighting, Steel and Metal Work.
RS Industrial Union and help win
improved conditions for yourself and
fellow workers.
The campaign Of the Gary Steel
Worker to expose the CRATER, Ed
Wall, who gives special fayors to those
who give him presents, has borne
fruit. Edward Wall was fired last
week.
Don't forget for minute that there
are more like him yet.
Write in to the workers papers and
expose the grating bosses, and don't
forget Mr.. Dean, the 44-plant super
intendent, because he happens to be
one Of Ed Walls best friends.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-20
s. P. Leadership
MObilizeS Against
Toledo C.W.A. Men
BY a C.WA. Worker Correspondent

BY a C.W.A. Worker Correspondent
TOLEDO, Ohio.-The C.W.A. and
Relief Workers Union, affiliated
with the Unemployed Council. hav-
ing been able to sign up 200 C.W.A.
workers and set up three neighbor-
hood branches, has caused the city
administration to be alarmed. The
Ohio Unemployed League (Musteite)
has failed in its counter movement
to stop the organization of the G. w.
A. but is still attempting counter &C
tons.
The Socialist Party, dormant since
election, has finally come to life and
issued a call to the C. w. A. workers,
urging them to attend a meeting in
the Roi Davis Auditorium Feb. Z.
One hundred and fifty workers re-
sponded. The auditorium has a
seating capacity Of over 300. Karl
PAUL., Ohio Socialist Party organizer,
urged workers to join the G. w. A.
Protective Association. PAUL. said the
Communists we're dictated" to by
New York. He also said the Protec-
tive Association had obtained per-
mission of the city officials and got
support from the press. He en-
phasized that the Protective Associa-
ton would support the government.
Cole, local organizer (SP), in his
speech said that the Protective Asso-
citation was to work side BY side with
Roosevelt to continue G. w. A. jobs,
and appealed to Real Americans to
join, and that there is to be no dis
elimination; that there should be
real freedom in this new organiza-
ton
Bitker, a member of the G. W. A.
relief workers union, took the floor
and, although he was ruled out Of
order by the chairman, stated that
Cole was a strike breaker; that Cole
in a Socialist meeting last summer,
when asked about his stand on the
United Front strike against the local
nose-bag relief forced labor, said
they would not participate in the
strike.
When it became known there
would be no question period, many
workers walked out.
About 80 signed up to join the G.
w. A. Protective Association. Some
Of these were S. P. members who
signed to give it start.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-20
by a Worker Correspondent

LEN v Eli, COl-Ine following is
some of my experiences as a CWA
worker.
I was one Of the first called to
work as I had been on relief for
over three years, not being able to
find work in that time. I was sent
TO the Platte River, which is very
crooked, to help straighten out its
banks.
One day bunch Of us were work
ing Shovelling mud when the fore
man hollered down asking us if any
of us could do rip rapping daying
rock. I answered that 1 was a stone
mason and could do the work inform
ing him that I demanded $110 per
hour, as that is the scale set for
skilled workers by the government.
Well he got mad as hell and stated
that I should be glad that 1 was
working and had a nerve in asking
for SO much wages. He then went
to one of the straw bosses who singled
me out and sent me to work with
a 16-lb hammer breaking stone.
While doing this work one cold
morning I slipped and fell, getting
one Of my feet in the water, and
after getting home found that my
foot had Irczen.
hTe next morning I asked the fore
man for a slip to the doctor and he
told me that as I was working I
could go pay for the doctor. Then
I got sore and he and I tangled, I
throwing him into the river and very
nearly drowning him.
Well I knew that it wouldn't be
long until I got mine after what hap
pened. But I went right on work.
ing as If nothing had happened until
about week ago things again be-
gan to happen, for one morning this
same skunk who calls himself a work.
ing man came up to me and told me
to go to the tool house and wait until
he came over there. So picked up
the tools I was using and went over,
saying to myself, well I guess my time
is up. But looking around I noticed
that he was singing out other work
ers, sending them over to where
was. Thirty in all came over, not
knowing what was going to happen
to them either.
Backed Up BY Other Workers
Shortly the boss and large truck
came up to the timekeeper's Shanty,
and he told us all to climb in, that
we we're going for a long ride to
the mountains on another project
about Is miles from town. Most OF
them climbed into the truck not
knowing where they we're to be taken,
so l spoke up and said that before
went on another job 1 would have
to have my foot taken care of by
doctor and again asked for an
order. Well, he again blew up and
again informed me that l was d
trouble-maker, that wouldn't let the
men work, and was always kicking
about something on the job. SO he
told me that I could go over to The
City Hall as they wanted to talk to
me about something anyhow.
The other men who had jumped
in the truck, hearing us, climbed out
and refused to go anywhere unless
I went too. They told me that they
would go along with me to the City
Hall and help see that got a square
deal. I told them not to go out OF
their way for me, as they ali needed
the miserable work and wages they
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-20
DenUer CWA Yorker Stands
Up against Bullying Boss.
Continues Organization Work Despite Threats of
Government StOOLpigeOns

were getting. But they all decided
not to work unless worked also.
So to the City Hall we went to
Room 4O6, to a Mr.. Stinson, who
turned out to be the chief stool
pigeon for the CWA here in Denver,
and going into his Office I found
that there is a large force of detec-
lives hired and being paid with CWA
funds to spoop around and get all
the dope they can on all who show
themselves dissatisfied with things as
they are on the jobs, and those who
try to organize other workers into
fighting class struggle organizations
or unions.
The first thing Stinson asked me
was if it wasn't true that 1 had been
trying to get workers to join the
Workers Protective Union. 1 told
him that 1 had. He then went over
and pulled out drawer of one of
the cabinets and showed me a couple
of leaflets that the union had issued
calling on all CWA workers TO a
nesting, and he also told me what I
had said to various workers, on what
lay had said it, and to whom 1
had spoken. 1 asked him if it wasn't
true that Our" president, Franklin
D. Roosevelt, had asked and urged
us to organize. To this he said, THAT
is all baloney!" Well then, in
formed him that if that was the case
he, President Roosevelt, and the
whole damn bunch was all baloney as
far as 1 was concerned.
He then notified me that he would
see to it that I never would again
get work on a CWA project if he
could help it. I asked him when he
became SO big that he had the power
Of Dictator Mussolini aid also told
him that as far as / was concerned
didn't give a rap if 1 worked or
not as all that had gotten out of
working on the CWA was a frozen
foot.
I also informed him that outside
in the hallway 20 other workers we're
waiting to see if was going to work
again or not. He thought I was try
ing to bluff him, guess, for he went
outside to see for himself. No sooner
had he poked his nose out in the
hall, he slammed the door and came
over to me and began to oack water
He said that If I would promise to
behave myself and let tic workers
alone he would see what lie could
do in getting me back on a job.
then again got sore and told him
as far as I was concerned he could
stick his job, as was only starving
on the wages I was getting anyhow.
He scratched his head and said that
he was going to give me another
chance.
So he gave me an order to so back
to work on another project. This
caused me to lose weeks wages.
But there is one thing I found out,
that whenever workers wake up to
their real conditions and try to bet
ter them, such things as happened
to me and 90 other workers are bound
to take place.
Instead of breaking rocks with a
l6-pound hammer as I was once do
ing on the Platte River Project I am
now carrying water and organizing
relief workers into Relief Workers
Protective Union. But my foot is
still sore and so is my conscience,
towards the whole administration OF
the capitalist system.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-20
Every Ounce of
Energy Squeezed
from Ford Workers
By an Auto Worker Correspondent

by an Auto WORKER correspondent
DETROIT, Mich.-I am an en-
ploye in the foundry Of the Ford
Motor Co., better known as the mad
house" If had a mule and would
curse and drive him as those men
are driven, 7 should be reported to
the Humane Society; these men are
driven to every ounce Of energy.
With the latest improved machin-
cry many men are thrown out of
employment. Two new machines
have been installed in the foundry in
the last two weeks; one displacing 10
men and the other 25 men; this con-
dition does not only apply to the
foundry, but throughout all the
plant.
I'm not opposed to machinery in
asmuch as it could tighten the misery
and drudgery of the workers, but I
do believe that as this mass produc-
ton is forced upon us the hours of
labor should be reduced and those
men displaced by the machinery be
kept on and given a chance to sup
port their families and provide them
with the necessities of life, rather
than force them on the welfare.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-20
THE DAILY WORKER IN THE
LUMBER COUNTRY
Powers Ore

Powers, Ore.
Dear Editor.
Though this IS only a small logging
town. and one company at that, with
the red scare working overtime
against a newly organized National
Lumber Workers Union, the great
special Tenth Anniversary Edition Of
the only workers and poor farmers
dali PAPER in the U. S. was re-
ceived eagerly by the workers here.
Sixty workers here are working on
C.W.A Job, with 100 more regis
tered. However. because of our mill
tant action, relief is being issued to
all in need. Workers, please make
q special note of this fact, you must
fight and fight hard if we are to
live. The Daily Worker IS q hun
dred thousand pound machine gun
In the hands Of the working class
We must learn to use it more and
more effectively, by putting it into
he hands of the workers.
We are in the most backward sec
Jon Of the q. S. as far as the social
consciousness Of the workers is con-
cerned. But those of US who are
fighting have the respect Of both
our enemies and the majority Of
the workers, and they are fast learn
ing to ike the Daily Lack of
money r~cvents more subs being
taken With most heartfelt greet
ings to the heroic comrades OF the
Daily" and staff, we promise to
double our efforts here in behalf OF
the voice Of the toiling masses, the
Daily Worker.
Yours for a workers and poor
farmers world,
POWERS UNIT, COMMUNIST
PARTY,
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-20
Denial of Sick Pay
Force I'll. r. Worker
Into Icy Cold to Die
BY a Worker Correspondent

BROOKLYN, N. Y.-Not daring to
lose his much-needed pay as Home
Relief INVESTIGATOR at Precinct 70,
Brownsville, George Hardy, middle
aged world war veteran, continued on
the job during the zero icy blasts of
the past week despite a heavy cold.
contracted rapid pneumonia, and
died Tuesday. Fellow employees at the
R. B. found his wife without food
and heat in the house, and no money
for rent. Hardy had been going about
with worn-out shoes and a thin over
coat. they remembered; before OBJ
tanning the Home Relief Job he had
been broke and without employment
for many months.
Home Relief workers are now Or
ganizing under the E. H. r. E. A..
and demanding that all employees be
paid for days missed because of i'll
ness. George Hardy's death is directly
placed at the door of the Home Re-
lief administration, who have cal
lousy refused up to now to pay for
absence because of illness or any
other cause, or to provide free med
ical service to employees.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-20
Ea~@N 81
@ the II apllleeF
< s5455#&aG> HELEN LUXE &c 4 EI@
Co. go e. ~ .a CD A.
HELEN LUKE

lust as the contest between the
y DAILY" columnists Tor the raising
OF the $4,000 fund was closed Hobo
Blackie. who drops note Of en-
ccuragement from time to time sent
= tsecond) cellar With The remark
That ne was betting his shirt on
.-Hs and thar nen the Gust cleared
way the wosneu's column would be
q the lead Poor Blackie, he lost
his. shirt, for the dust cleared to
show us bringing up the rear just
beautifully. But it had to be
brou9ht up by someone, so We don't
mind)
Keep your eye on the head of
that drill while you are using that
sledge, wrote Blackie when we
promised to ebandon the tack-ham-
lner methods for the sledge in driving
against the boU~gecisie. We are
watching the women because we love
them a later card brought this
message: Tom Paine slid The
world is my country and every man
IS my brother Gustaye Herve. of
France, said the same thing after
more than 100 years And this
old stiff hopes you will live to hear
The gals say, The world is our coun-
try, and every man is our pal. And
we want to take the hunted look
out of the eyes OF our class martha
Millet's poem in the Daily Worker
Take the message TO them"
Righto, Hobo Blackie. That's what
we are aiming to do, among other
thing-liquidate the duel between
working-class men and women, in
order to unite them to fight side
by side in the Great Duel, as they
cid in Vienna.
A Letter
Dear C9mrade Helen:
II bought my 18-month-old son q
Eavy cllinchilla coat with a red
eagle, the kind you see worn by all
children. 7 assure you neither the
eagle nor the gold army buttons at
tracted me at the time of the pur-
chase, but just the low price. When
INV radical husband noticed the
eagle he Immediately ordered it to be
removed, explaining he does not wish
10 help the capitalists propagate war
CT display the Fascist eagle, the
V.R.A. and everything else you could
nttacll to the little sleeve worn by
r baby It didn't mean anything to
he. heing sympathetic myself. but
the fact that a person could be
10 fan9tical did ir-itate me some,
although took it off.
II am ashamed to admit that the
TACT that / didn't agree to It's re-
noval made no difference to him.
"Comrade Helen, I love my hus-
band as much as when we first
met, but am not happy. 1t seems
the revolution is brewing here in
my own little nest. He is not all
10 blame, he is further ahead in the
the movement, and I can't keep
pace. / am afraid to attend demon
straticns, although / lock forward
10 doing SO, but in the meantime
It's ar~unnents all the time. He
maass me 10 attend some affairs
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-20
Eagle Pencil Co.
Spies Help Speedup
(By a Worker Correspondent


NEW YORK There is an awful
spy systme and SO it is very hard
for me to speak to my fellow work
ers. If we dare to leave our work
for one minute to speak to other
workers, the boss will lay us off.
I realize that union in our place
would better our conditions, and I
think that there are other workers
in the shop who feel the same way
about 1t as I do.
I am writing this letter hoping
that you will print it SO that other
workers in the shop will see it.
I have been working in Eagle Pen
Gil Company for the last five years.
When I started to work here, was
making $40 week. Since that time
1 have been getting one wage cut
after another until now I am get
ting only $12 week. At the same
time, the price of food and clothing
has been going up so high that I
can hardly get along on the money
that I am making.
We are all working on piece work
except those who are being hired
now. They have to work for six
weeks at $40 week. Then they are
put on piece work and can make
no more than $12 week, and some
times less. There is no minimum.
Although we workers are anxious
to get on piece work at first, We soon
realize that we gain nothing by it.
We only work harder and faster.
It seems to me that the only way
we workers can put an end to such
low wages is by organizing against
any wage cuts and this terrible
speed-up which the boss Is trying
to put over on us.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-20
DELIVERY GOES ON

Atlantic City, n. j.
Dear Comrades
My foot jerked when I slipped last
Monday, the pain of which has kept
me home since, but it is coming
along nicely.
I kept one Of my sons away from
school to deliver the papers rather
than have the readers lose any of
this valuable matter which the
Daily Worker exposes. -G.H.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-20
LIKED TAXI STRIKE ISSUE

new YORK, N. Z.
Comrade Eoitor:-
So much has been said lately
about the improvement in the Daily
Worker that for me to repeat 1t
would be trite.
However, I must tell you that
Tuesdays issue Feb. 6th issue on
the taxi strike) was remarkably
good in content and form. I am
not a Communist Party member,
but eyerytime see a nice issue
militant, fearless, OPEN OF the
Daily Worker (and I see it every
day. l feel a sense Of personal
pride in it, as though it was really
MY paper.
Long life and power to the Daily
Worker. w. X.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-20

A large number of the letters
which come to this column deal with
The question of the failure of S0eak-
ers to appear at meetings for 4 'ich
they have been advertised. Tbs col
unn has death with this question be-
fore. Obviously we cannot publish
all of these letters. But we wish to
express our complete agreement with
the worker who writes the following
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-20
Forced Labor in
Fisher Lodge
Detroit

Dear Comrade:
l notice that in the Daily Worker
of Feb. 10, you have workers cor
respondence from Detroit with the
headline Men Work for Meals Only
in Fisher Plant" After reading this
piece, I was considerably confused
until it dawned on me what was
really meant. The writer is speak
ing not of the Fisher Body Plant,
but of Fisher Lodge, a place where
unemployed single workers live.
Fisher Lodge is located in an old
factory building belonging to the
Fisher Body Co. There are between
1000 and 1000 men quartered there,
and the place is run by the Volun-
teers OF America with funds provided
by the city. "A. b. MAGIL.