The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-11-05

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An photographed statement
submitted by Wickman to the Conn
munist Party election campaign
committee here reveals dramatically
how Wickman developed into a
staunch leader Of his class, emin-
emily qualified to bear the standard
Of the Communist Party in Congress
and out.
Wickman says OF himself in his
statement:
Il was born Sept. End 1902, on a
farm at Holly Hill, South Carolina.
Born Of a slave mother and a kid
mapped father. Lived on a farm
doing every farm task until 16 years
old. Attended country school until
9th grade With a family Of II it
was extremely difficult to provide
the family with bare necessities.
Father seldom freed himself from
the debts and increased farm only
to the extent that the family grew
and the renters and farm owners
absorbed labor power.
"At the outbreak of the World
War, left home for CharlestoWn,
South Carolina. Fearing my par
ents would demand my return, I i'm
mediately left for Savannah, Geor-
gia. There 7 worked in sulphur,
nitrate, fertilizer and coke mills.
Homesick, I wrote friends who in
formed my parents Of my where
abouts. After I returned home, T
planned to attend school at Col
umbia, South Carolina. (Allen Uni
versity-7 years, 1918 to '25). My
school life and expenses were upon
myself Up until 1924 after school
months I worker at every job to
be had. In the army as porter.
butler, then to hotels, etc. I worked
as bellboy, elevator operator, sales
man, janitor These were my major
means of employment. I worked a
little on the docks in Savannah,
and around the waterfront in Nor
folk, Va.
IT led one strike in school that
ended in the State Department, Of
Education. While in Charlotte, N.
c., I led a strike. demanding that
the same food be given to workers,
maids, bellboys, walters, etc., with a
clean place to eat and change
clothes.
MY first contact with the Revo-
lutionary movement was through a
magazine article discussing the
Sacco-Vanzetti Case and the I.W.W.
Later I met Alfred Levy This meet
ing in Central Park West made the
first real impression and opened the
channels that Immediately led me
into the movement.
II attended the first Unemploy-
ment Convention, Chicago. party
records will show life) The trip to
the Soviet Union was the real be-
ginning Of my firm conviction Of
the correctness and practical work
of Communists. This impression in
contrast with a trip later to the
South, created the undying deter
mination that only along the path
travelled by the Russion workers
and peasants led by the Bolsheviks,
can the Negro masses and all OPP
pressed toilers free themselves. Only
the Soviets bring land, freedam,
bread and peace.
During my life in school two
things happened that had some
effect but little explanation. After
the Void War, feeling was high
against Negroes. I remember in the
Spring Of 1922. One of the best ball
players was on his way to the cam
pus on Sunday. A group of white
kids were playing ball in the street.
The pitcher happened to lose con-
troll and the ball reached this walk
ing student. He in turn. hurled the
ball back to the players. In doing SO,
one was struck on the leg. No ex-
element was raised and the kids
took it as part of the game. In the
night this player travelled the same
street coming from his grill friends
house. Unexpectedly a mob closed
in on him threatening to do him
bodily harm. The voiced fury grew
to open attacks and a cry to lynch.
Leroy ran all the way and told a
few wakened students. Within 20
minutes the campus was almost
surrounded. A body Of students
came down stairs and demanded to
know what the trouble was. E. w.
Murry asked for a gun and said he
would go to the mob and demand
an explanation. Finally, we to-
gether advanced to the armed mob.
For about 40 minutes the discussion
conferred whether or not to let him
go. The discussion, however, when
the students were aroused, grew so
sharp that the mob retreated with a
promise not to harm Leroy"