davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-03-20
IF ANY

II AN
Comrade Peter Nikiforov. of
Bashkiria, U.S.S.R., wonders how
the unemployed and half-employed
American workers manage to live,
what are living costs compared to
income, etc. A brief reply:
First, as to cost of existence.
Food: the leaaet, THE Fanily's
Food at Low Cost" sent out by the
U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, states:
THE orders below are suggested for
families suffering from shortage of
homegrown foods and ready cash.
These give good nutrition re-
turns for limited outlay of money.
They are not considered OPP
timum for nutrition, but they are
believed to be adequate. Any re-
duction in the suggested amounts of
milk, vegetables, and lean meat
must be made with great discre-
ton" For family Of 2 adults and
child the weekly rations are as
follows:
Bread. 10 to IS pounds; flour, 1
to 2 pounds. cereal, 3 to 4 pounds;
whole milk, 9 to "A quarts; potatoes,
8 to 10 pounds; legumes (peas,
beans, peanuts, etc., l to 2 pounds;
tomatoes (freSh or canned or
oranges), 4 pounds: other vegetables
and inexpensive fruits, IL to Il
pounds; fats. 2 pounds; sugar and
molasses, 215 pounds; lean meat
Oliver, fish, eggs, cheese, etc., 3 to
5 pounds; addition eggs for young
er children, 3.
Figured approximately at lowest
discoverable prices, this grocery or
der costs over IS. If there is an
other adult, as in Comrade Mkt
forov's family, another 50 at least
will have to be added. This is the
price of diet which the U. S.
government admits is on the ragged
edge of starvation.
What about housing? Well-in
New York City, a cheap 4-room
apartment, heated, costs from $50 to
$40 monthly, according to locality,
There's between SIS and 500
weekly for the barest living ex-
penses, not to mention shoes, soap.
carfare, stamps, newspapers, in
surance, doctor bills, and such!
And the codes set the minimum"
wages around So or $13 weekly! 80
what do the workers do?
First of all, they worry. They
all worry. Day and night. Nice
deep-vciced politicians and clergy
men tell folks over the radio that
worrying never solves any prob
lens, is bad for the health, and
stands in the way of success; that
confidence and faith, glorious faith
are all that are needed to bring
back that coy and recalcitrant
prcsDerity. Somehow, the work
ers don't listen. They go right on
worrying.
Then they double up''-move to-
gether, two or more families, into
an apartment meant only for one
family, and sleep packed so close
together there's scarcely room to
breathe.
Often they are evicted. They
move around from pillar to post and
back again.
Many foraged the garbage cans
for food and the ash cans for cast
off clothing. Many are long since
without homes of any sort, and
sleep in the parks and in doorways
in the summer and ride the subway
all night in winter.
When they just can't stand 1t any
longer, they commit suicide.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-03-20
Workers Council in
Spur, Tex, Formed;
To Meet March q
By a WORKER Correspondent

SPUR, Texas.-Saturday night,
March 10, here, we organized a
Workers Council. I joined. About
the 21st we will meet again; more
are coming in to the Council.
Conditions are getting serious
here. What happened to the
$500, 100000 that Hoover appripri-
ated? F. D. r. appropriated So
300,O00,000, then $95o,OOO, 900 more.
What has become o this money?
The working class certainly has
not had the benefit Of it.
We will have delegation at the
Houston Convention if nothing
happens. About two weeks ago
the Dallas News gave out these
figures: 11,500,0oO unemployed and
100000 being turned loose. Al
ready a G. w. A. worker has been
threatened with being taken off
the C.W.A. rolls, because a farmer
wanted him to work 1876 acres of
crops, or 10 acres, and his wife
to do the cooking for this slave
driving rascal.
Gentlemen, If there ever was a
time to organize, it is now. Why
not do our best to get 100000
voters by the next presidential
elections and see to 1t that the
working class has voice in these
problems? From now on, think
of the thousands that go to bed
hungry every night. I will write
more after the Houston Con-
vention.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-03-20
Shop Committee
Fights Polishers
Who Ask Raise
By a Metal Worker Corresponden

BY Metal Worker Correspondent
DETROIT, Mich.-The Metal Pol
ishers' Shop Committee at the
Douglas and Lomason plant, Lin
coin Ave, have cheap but easy
racket. The committee working on
day turn have an hourly rate of
80 Gems. This committee approves
the piece-Work rate for the others
in the shop, but they do no piece
work themselves.
Last week the afternoon-turn
polsherS demanded an increase in
the piece rate of a Ford job from
So a hundred The management
pointed out that the piece rate was
approved by the shop committee
and nothing could be done.
The men prepared to walk out.
The management then increased
the price to 81 a hundred. Next
day the shop committee learned the
news and reported the matter to
the local for disciplinary action
against the poliShers, who got a SO
per cent raise without approval of
the shop committee.
These shop committees are actu-
ally acting as agents for the bosses,
and the militant natal polishers
should take them off the job. Get
the money now. Next month you
may be walking the streets.
BUFFER.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-03-20
IMPROVED MACHINERY
is 4 CURSE At FORD,S.
4 BLESSING IN U.S.S.R.
35 Percent Output Rise
in Detroit Means Only
Greater Speedily
By an Auto Worker CorrespOndenl

Z ny An AASO UuAhCA OoNACcPOAAACAh'
DETROIT, Mich. - There is nc
limit to the speed up in the core
room Dept. K in the Foundry Build
ing. Six core-makers working in
gang used to make six fiywheel
cores in an hour. Later the work
was speeded up to 10 an hour, and
then to 20 and 80 an hour in a
gang of six workers or on an aver
age of 450 core boxes in three shifts.
After a general layoff, only 10
workers remained at work. A Spe-
cially designed machine was in
stalled where one worker now
makes $50 cores an hour. Produc-
ton increased 50 times. Under
such condition OF speed-up we have
no time to go the toilets for natu-
raj relief. With the fywheels are
also included 4 to smaller cores
to flH the core boxes.
When we worked in gangs of six
we had to insert various forms of
wire to strengthen the cores. This
is now eliminated by the use of
some powdered composition which
makes the cores strong without the
wire. We now must keep up with
the speed Of the machines, which
Is wrecking our health.
Signs Of Breaking Down
About four months ago one of
the workers was so exhausted from
overwork that he could not get up
and start working after his lunch
hours The foreman sent him to
the factory hospital, and the doctor
after examing him sent him home.
Three weeks after, this worker came
back to work. He was only able to
work one week and then was laid
of for good. The strongest work
ers who are still at work are show
ing signs of breaking down.
On other makes of cores the work
also has increased to inhuman speed
which is nothing new at Ford's. On
the water jacket job it required 8
workers in a gang to make a COM
plete core. Now one worker oper-
ating a machine makes more cores
than previously the eight working
in a gang.
The continuous, strenuous mus
cular movements gets one tired and
sore from head to food after eight
hours of slavery.
The workers have been afraid tc
speak of unionisn because of the
strong espionage at Fords. But nov
the tide is turning where some Of
the workers are not only talking
about the nerve-wrecking speed-ul
but the need of organizing to put
a stop to this. The Auto Worker;
News is finding its way into ou
department as well as to the whole
factory.
The militant workers pasted VI
stickers calling workers to organize
against 81 and speed-up, and de-
handing S. for hour day;
weeks lay-off pay. The foremen anc
service men Scraped the stickers of
but others found their place.
We must Immediately organize
committees of action against the
slave driving conditions.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-03-20
Gas Fumes
A Menace to
Life in Mill
Steel Company Tries to
Have Workers Blame
Each Other
(By a Steel Worker Correspondent

by Steel Worker Correspondent
CHICAGO, Ill.-Here in the gas
house Of No. 2 Blooming Mill, Wis
conSin Steel Co., 106th and Tor
renee, the gas fumes are killing, by
degrees, all of Us. The company
knows about it, but has never tried
to do any thing. They try to blame
us for making too much gas, hop
ing that we will blame the heaters
and then they have an opportunity
to carry the fight further between
the workers by going to the heat
ers with the hope that they will
blame the rollers or some other
workers, thereby making the work
ers struggle one against the other.
That is what has happened many
times in the past when anything
was brought up. They like to know
that we are calling the other work.
ers dirty names and blaming them
for everything because when we do
that they know that we are not
going to make them pay out any
money to make the place a more
decent place to live in.
We spend most Of our time here,
except when we are asleep, there
fore it should be made into decent
place.
1t is true that the most of us
are foreign born, but since we have
been in this country many years
and have made the company mil
lions where we have only received
meaSly weekly salary that was
only enough TO keep us in good
enough physical condition 10 come
back the next day and sweat out
our last days pay, we feel that we
should have some of the pleasures
that go with life, but if we are go
ing to have to spend the rest of
our existence in the same way that
we have spent the last few years
then there is nothing to do but
start putting up fight, for it is not
going to do us any good 30 stay
here and breathe these fumes all
day and then go home and spend
our time off trying to recover from
them.
We are asking especially for the
support of the workers who are
American born, but generally for
the support of every worker in the
department.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-03-20
COntintern Revealed TrOtSky
As Counter Revolutionary
Fought Az OppOrtUnist Attempts to Side-TrGck
Masses from Revolution


cal currents of the bourgeois
world. Within the Union Of Soviet
Socialist Republics the strain of
| long draWn-out class struggle in the
effort to bring Socialism in a coun-
try of smau-peasant agriculture
generated a tone of peSsimism
among the less thoroughly Boil
shevik Sections of the Communist
Party. Lenin had said:
80. as long as we live in a petty
peasant country there will be a
more solid basis in Russia for CAPT
talism than for Communism.
The tty-bourgeois tendency to
lose confidence in the victory Of
the revolution and in the possibility
Of building Socialism within the
Soviet Union began to crystalize
into a political group around the
still more dangerous, the waver-
ing ones''-Trotsky and his closest
frien DIS. Over estimating the
strength of capitalism and under
estimating the possibility of build
ing socialism with the resources to
be found within the Soviet country,
! losing faith in the flrmneSs and in
exhaustible strength of the indus
trial proletariat and believing that
nothing could be done with the
peasantry, that the union Of the
proletariat with the peasantry had
to be broken-TrotSky concluded
that the dictatorship of the prole-
tariat was doomed unless an early
revolution in one or more advanced
capitalist countries should come to
its rescue. TrotSky's platform Of
pessimism and lack of faith in the
revolution covered its own panic
with fantastic demands for a
Super Decentralization" at the cost
Of break between the proletariat
and the peasantry.
TrOtSkyiSt Counter Revolution
The struggle of Trotsky against
the Communist Party OF the Soviet
Union awakened the support Of
corrupt elements Of leadership in
Germany hedaed by Ruth Fischer
and Maslov, who covered their
counter revolutionary tendencies
with ultra-"left" phrases, and other
discouraged and demoralized ele-
ments in France, in China, and
other countries including a small
group headed by Cannon in the
United States.
The theological struggle against
Trotskyism throughout the Com
munist International resulted in its
complete exposure as it rapidly
completed its development into an
outright counter revolutionary
character.
TO Be Continued
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-03-20
Article VII


The period Of relative stabilfza-
ton was more relative than stable.
The mass strikes and revolution
sry UpriSings that had begun in
India back in 1919-1922, and the
mass strikes of that early period
in China, proved to be only fore
runners of coming storms that
would inevitably develop after the
successful establishment of the
revolutionary workers republic. The
red magnet of revolution began to
draw irresistibly the whole colonial
world to it's orbit, in the circum-
stances Of increasingly Sharpened
imperialist exploitation of colonies
and semi-colonieS - a component
part Of Sterilization.
The year 1925 Of Dawes Plan"
Sterilization was not without re-
volts Of the Riff tribesmen in North
Africa against French and Spanish
troops and the revolt Of Syria
against France, and 1926 witnessed
the Communicated revolt in Java
and IndoneSia which was brutally
crushed by Dutch imperialism with
the enthusiastic aid Of the "Soci-
alist" leaders Of the Second Inter
national.
In 1926 the Chinese revolution
led by young Communist Party
made great advances. From the
beginning Of the struggle led by
Maotse- Teng, leader of the Com
munist Party Of China, against
Chang Kai-Shek in 1927, the
Chinese revolution has made steady
advances, until today there is
established a Soviet territory ex-
tending over a sixth of China and
embracing a population Of from 30
10 80 million.
In these same years Of relative
sterilization of capitalism the
revolutionary war of Nicaragua
against United States Imperialism
cast before it beam of light upon
whole series Of oncoming strug-
giles throughout Latin America, the
result Of imperialist rivalries.
The British general strike broke
through the complacency of the
stabilized bourgeois world in 1926,
and, together with the lockout of
the coal miners, brought the open
betrayal by the British trade union
leaders and the Labor Party.
IN THE terrific strain Of this
period the weaker elements
within the Communist Parties, not
thoroughly assimilated to the
theory and practice Of Leninism,
were affected by powerful ideologi-
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-03-20
in
Steel Mill
Get Results
Company Gives in Thru
Fear of Militant
Organization
By a steel Worker Correspondent


CHICAGO, Il.-An example Of
how the Illinois Steel Co. fears or
ganization was shown last week
when a sticker was issued in one
of the departments where the COM
pany had refused to change the
shifts. The Steel and Metal Work
ers Industrial Union local issued a
small sticker demanding that all
shifts be put on a rotating basis, as
was formerly done. and not to keep
these men on nights all of the time.
The union members took the stick
ers inside, and results followed.
The boss came around and saw
the sticker, and, of course, wanted
to know, Who did that?" No one
knew, so he went to the main night
boss. This boss came down and
asked the men, What is the mat
ter? Don't you boys want to work
nights?" About 20 on the crew
yelled, NO" He said: "All right,
boys, come out on the pm. shift
tomorrow"
This is not the first time that
stickers have gained small demands
in the Illinois, as well as other mills
in South Chicago.
The steel company does not seem
to mind a leaflet as much as they
do q bunch of StickerS on the in
side. On one previous occasion
small stickers were put up, and, on
the strength Of this, steps were
taken to remove certain fumes that
men had been forced to work in.
Also, in another mill, when stickers
were put up, even the boss refused
to take a chance on removing a
Sticker, and it was up there until
one of the assistant superintendent
came in and took it down.
These stickers are easy to make,
being made on a photograph, and
if certain amount of care is used,
they can be made very attractive.
The cost is very small, and they
produce more results many times
than leaflets.
The sticker the union uses here
is made in two colors, green and
red, and is about 3x3, so that they
fit inside of a mans hand.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-03-20
MEMBERS OF M. E. S. A.
EDUCATED BY DAILY

polluted read these posted clip
pings and began to think. The
Daily Worker was moulding their
thoughts. They were disturbed at
the article concerning spies in the
M. E. S. of A.
Now Matthew Smith has gone
further and discovered that Con-
gresham Carl M. Weideman was
the head of a spy organization.
The M. E. S. of A., the Trade Union
Unity League organization, and
A. F. L. Rank and File will
smash the spy system. M. E. S.
of A members who are readers
of the Daily Worker should bear
in mind the value of the printed
word and should post cuttings
from the Daily Worker in their
local halls; near employment Of
fees; employees entrances and
other places where the workers
may read them. Every place should
be covered.
The new constitution Of the M.
E. S. of A. recognizes the class
struggle. Around that radical
base, we must form the united
front of labor.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-03-20
Soviet Union Workers
Get Benefit of Every
Profit Increase
(By a Soviet Auto Worker
Correspondent

ROSTOV ON DON, U.S.SR.-We
had a very good harvest, which, Of
course, means an increase in our
standard of living Our plant direc-
tor made his report to us last month
on the progress of the plant in 1888.
According to his report, we made
100000 rubles profit in addition
to about 100000 that was paid in
social insurance and social improve
ment around the town.
I am wondering how much profit
the plant in which you work in the
United States had made last year,
and if it vent back to the workers.
I certainly would hate to return to
the States and work for a capitalist
firm after enjoying the freedom
and pleasure Of working for plant
owned and managed by the workers
and for the workers.
America seems so far away from
me now after working in this coun-
try for the past two years and three
months. When 1 read the papers
about the U.S.A., it seems to me
that I am reading the pages out Of
past history, about period in which
capitalists owned all the land and
factories and the workers worked
for them like horses and slaves. I
feel that am in land of sun
shine and that America, although
the country of my birth and where
I lived for As years, is land Of
darkness.
Life here (US.S.R) is so lively,
everything and everybody is moving
forward with great strides. The
center of Moscow now is like Wood
ward and Michigan Avenue used to
be back in 1928-1929. Some day
sooner or later the American work
ers will wake up and take things
into their own hands and run the
government themselves for the in
terests Of the workers.
My 6-year- old boy is learning
very fast in the kindergarten. And
I am attending classes to improve
my technical education. Every one
is urged to attend some educational
institution in this country. In the
course of the next 10 years this
country (U.S.SR) will become the
most highly educated country in the
whole world.
AS you see am still living in
the same place and can live here
the rest of my life if want to be-
cause I shall always have work in
the plant. No layoffs and no worry
about tomorrow. The food supply
is getting better, especially in
quality. The clothing and other
supplies are becoming more plenti-
full, and every one is working and
has money.
The Communist Party is now
holding its convention in Moscow
and all the workers are very much
interested in Stains report, and
the report of the other officials of
the party. We have discussions
almost every day on the report. I
suppose the capitalists press in
America also is reporting some of
the doings at the convention.
I hope to hear from you soon. Let
me know the news from Detroit.
Fraternally yours,
BEN THOMAS
RoStselmash,
Kombine House 6, Apt. n
Rostoy-on-Don, U.S.SR.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-03-20
MUST DEFEAT ATTEMPT TO
MILITARIZE CHILDREN

11uuSOli, Ne L.
Dear Comrade:
Enclosed herewith is a marked
article from the Hudson Evening
Register, which I though might in
terest you. This is concrete evil
dence of how the war mongers, la
N. r. A, weasel their way into
Wall Streets Public School system.
In view of Ralph Easley's great
concern for the American public
schools, he might direct his pro-
fessional patriotic activities against
this vicious attempt to militarize
public school children in prepara-
ton for finance-capitals next i'm
perialist slaughter.
There is slight chance, however,
that the man, Easley, who was on
Henry Ford's payroll few years
ago, and boosted that, "in one year
he had written two books that
would do the Jews more injury than
10 pogroms," would do anything to
interfere with the hand of Wall
Street which keeps him well-fed.
signature authorized.)
GEORGE G. MARCLEY.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-03-20
60 =
I'm fIle, H.,ul(,'eR
lR##A S ss1:sYi ssss 49, III
CONDUCTED BY
HELEN LUKE

It's dark picture, isn't it, Com
rade Nikiforov?
But those workers who are class
conscious, and are uniting in the
Red organizations, neither go in
sane, nor do they kill themselves
las the bourgeois psychiatrists
are finally discovering, to their
apparent mystification.) These
radical workers are the fighters,
the leaders, who are not going to
lie down and die tameiy, letting
the expIoiters have everything
their own way. These are the
workers who are going to fight
to the last ditch to bring about
the solution that was brought
about in your once-Oppressed
land, Comrade Nikiforov.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-03-20
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
COMPRESSED AIR OR CAISSON
DISEASE
Continued

(C0ntinued)
In order to prevent CaiSson
disease, the decomposition must
take place gradually This means
that the working man has to reach
the surface in stages. About nine
years ago, the Bureau of Mines
found that if helium is substituted
for nitrogen in the divers bell, that
the danger of bends is lessened
and that the decomposition can take
place more rapidly. But owing to
the cost of helium, the greedy ex-
ploiters under our present capitals
tic scheme prefer to endanger the
health and lives of the working
men, rather than spend a few extra
dollars for their protection.
When the symptoms of Caisson
disease develop a few hours after
the working man has left the mine,
the tunnel, or the divers bell, he
should be taken back Immediately,
to the decomposition chamber
where he stays until an equilibrium
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-03-20
Wages Paid While
Under Free Medical
Care in i. s. S. R.
BY An American Worker in the
Soviet Union

DONBAS, U.S.S.R.-Just a few
lines to let you know am very
well now, and I start work again.
I was in the hospital two months
and I had everything free besides
$3.50 rubles from the Soviet Gov
eminent when I came out.
remember when I was in Amer
lea I worked and starved. I want
to tell you that no matter what
office go into here in the Soviet
Union all of the office workers get
up, let me sit down, and give me a
cigarette. When I was in the U. s..
A. those in the office didn't even
look on my face.
When I left Pittsburgh, Pa, to
go to the Soviet Union lots of my
comrades told me to write, but I
couldn't write everyone, so I write
to the Daily Worker for my COM
rades to know what goes on in the
Soviet Union.
ANTONIO REA.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-03-20
Gloucester Shipyard
Layofs Increasing
By shipyard worker CORRESPONDENT

BY Shipyard Worker Correspondent
GLOUCESTER, N. j. = There is
slackness of work among the work
ers employed in this district which
seems to be increasing daily. Places
such as the New York Shipbuilding
Co., which are supposed to have
large contracts, are laying off in
stead of employing.
I, myself, shipyard worker, have
been out of work for nearly two
years now, stin waiting 30 be en-
ployed.