The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-01-02
"Unite and Fight" "A True Short Story

THE story of the Winters as told
i by Winter himself to the three
members of the Unemployed Coun-
ell on chilly afternoon is the
story Of the plight of the American
working class and its struggle for
way out of the economic crisis in
the year 1898.
| Ben Winter is dreSSmaker with a
wife and four kids to support. He
is known to be a quiet, honest and
industrious worker. Ben has worked
most Of his years, stopping only
when forced to do so by dull sea-
sons and lay-offs. AS matter of
fact Ben is employed part time even
at present. But while his working
week has only partly decreased and
| his efficiency even redoubled, his in
come has shrunk to the point where
he is in despair.
1t is over three years that the
Winters have been on the down.
grade. At first the family, never too
prosperous, began to economic on
such thinks that the poor consider
necessities in normal times and
luxuries in hard times AS condi-
| tons grew worse, the Winters began
to cash in and pawn away. Every
so often another article would dis
appear from the house, as If con-
sumed by an invisible monster. Only
a Pickering hope of better times
kindled by press and radio talks kept
up the spirits of the family.
But the race between economy and
income grew steadily apace. The
| family already retrenched to Starva-
ton lines faced desperate situa-
ton. st the door hungry beasts
CRASHED their bloody teeth: The
landlord menadngly threatened with
court action and eviction; the fur
niture company. with the removal of
the partially unpaid furniture; the
gas company, most impatient of them
all, issued Final Notice which, with
| it's black borders, seemed like death
warrant served on the entire group,
children and all. Ben's blood chilled
at the thought of it all.
lie only vaguely remembers how he
III strobe over to the Ward Com
mitteeman. (Mr. Winter, it should
be said, had no special taste for
politics except as a citizen when he
cast his vote for the Democratic
ticket which, in his innocence, he
confused with democracy
Mr.. Winter came to the Commit
teeman for a job, any sort of job
that would help him out of his diff
flculties. Mr.. Committeeman, whether
impressed by the beaten look of the
worker or, perhaps, overcome by his
own kindness, decided to help his
man, but in his own way. He lazily
SwSvelled in his leather chair, de-
positsA the wet cigar-end on the
corner of his desk and dialed. Jew
ish Charities? This is Mr.. Commit
teeman speaking ;. Yes, emergency
Oh, yeah, plenty of sickness
Will visit them tomorrow .. That's
fine" The puffy palm Of politics
crept all over the workers back as
he led him out of the Office. Glad
to give fellow hand always
glad to +. You bet"
Ben entered the house through the
back door Charity will knock
at his door tomorrow! ben Winter,
oh Ben Winterl Are you Mr.. Winter?
I am Miss Charity Ben sharply
drew back his hand :.
Ben retired without supper. That
was simple enough. With so little
to go around, Mrs. Winter concen-
trated~ her attention on the kids who
seemed to have grown more and
more delicate" and less and less
active. AS for herself and her hus-
band she thought that they, as adults,
could get by somehow"
Ben's eyes were shut, but his mind
was wide awake. A motley of |
human monstrosities packed the |