davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-08-24

Can't Escape Sociological Problems
BY HELEN LUKE

Following the letter printed yes
terday, in which Comrade RATHER
inc D. suggested that our space
should be devoted entirely to down
right household questions such as
the adulteration of food and other
products, short weight practices,
diet, household hints. ETC.. we here
print the other letter on similar
lines, this one from Coopersburgh,
Pa:
Il think the D. w. made a very
wise move when it introduced the
In the Home to its readers. The
only criticism I have to make, is
that the corner is not large enough.
May offer two suggestions?
I think more emphasis should
be placed upon urging women to
learn all they can about the fun
damental rules Of health, diet, etc,
not only for the benefit they and
their families will derive from this
information but so that women will
realize that the ruling class steals
more than mere money from the
workers. The more informed work
ing women become, the more they
will know what to demand in hous-
ing and food for their husbands
and children.
There is a tendency among some
radical men to belittle any attempts
at gaining knowledge of the laws
OF health. think this attitude
uncommunistic I have been told
that in Russia the children are edu-
Gated to understand the evil effects
Of drinking and cigarette smoking
The more informed workers become
the more they will be feared by the
rich.-M. Q. H"
In reply to these letters-Com-
rade Katherine. suggesting that we
stick more closely to household sub
1ects. and deal less with sociological
problems, says: Lead in baking
powder! Why? Lead In beer
silk hose =" etc.
Why? For profits, Of course. All
the sllortweighting, adulteration of
foods, the metal weighing of cloth,
Is done in the name of Profits. And
this proflt-seeking is part and parcel
Of the capitalist system. So even
in dealing with Strictly" house
hold problems, we Immediately
plunge head over heels into socio-
logical and political problems!
Sugar. race and -four are whitened
and robbed Of the germ-content or
vital dark portions, for profits.
More and more housewives are
using canned milk (Which is lower In
vitamin content) rather than fresh
because canned is cheaper. Now
there's no harm in the occasional
use Of good canned food, but the
continuous use of canned goods.
daily, over long periods of time.
provides possibility Of gradual
absorption of metal from this food.
But as long as the canned milk is
cheaper hungry people are going
to use it.
Why is 1t cheaperp-Again. the
system. It occasions no loss to
dealers through spoilage. it can
stay on the shelves long time;
and under the provisions of the
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-08-24
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
Poison Ivy Again-FrOm a Reader
Poison Ivy is a most unusual dis
ease. It is quite easy to write about,
but one cannot really become elo-
quent until one has experienced
the exquisite torture Of an itching
skin. Victims, however, are some
what compensated for their misery
They become analytical. They want
to know more about the cause Of
their grief. Afflicted comrades, as
a rule, desire to become more fam
iliar with this innocent looking
plant-to make friends with tat
a safe distance. The perfection that
can be achieved is illustrated by
letter we have received from a
reader of our column. It should
serve to acquaint campers with
poison ivy without their having to
go through the usual period of ap-
premiership:
Until the revolution comes and
We send out our groups to wipe out
pests, it should be important that
we know not merely how to relieve
ivy poisoning, but how not to get
it. To recognize poison ivy is an
almost sure preventive.
Poison ivy has three leaves on
one stem. They are smooth and
usually shiny. Stay away from all
three-leaved plants until you are
sure they aren't poison ivy. There
are not very many such plants.
Virginia creeper looks little like
poison ivy, bat 1t has five leaves.
Short fine hairs grow from the stem
Of poison ivy, but don't get that
close. 1t has clumps of greyish Der
ries. In the fall the leaves take on
the most beautiful OF autumn colors.
What trap for the beauty lover
who doesn't know some nature!
This pest very rarely grows in
the deep woods. Why should it?
People walk along roads and are
attracted by old fences and trees.
Along fences and trees is where
poison ivy fourishes. Sometimes it
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-08-24
Socialist Duns Taxi Union

who are looked on as Reds" on
the union floor, spreading the slogan
of "Pay your dues. attend all union
meetings" showing this was the
only possible way of holding our
union together. We finally con-
WINGED some 900 men that by re-
ducing our dues to dollar, and by
forcing the resignation of the Felix
trained Executive Board, we could
have real union.
Now that we do have strong,
dues-paying membership again, the
Man on the Flying Trapeze," Felix,
turns up with a claim of 81 900 due
him for, as he puts it in his bill,
Services rendered from November
to March" And this is the man
who said he is fighting for the
working class.
OF course, the bill was boeed long
and loud by the members when it
was read off at our last meeting,
and unanimous motion was
passed that the Secretary was to
inform Felix that we didn't owe him
penny, as he stated many times
during the strike that his services
we're rendered only with the aim Of
helping us win our strike and so
better the whole working class.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-08-24
3 Years On Eligible
List, But Failed to
Get Post Office Job
BY Post Office Worker Cor
respondent

by a Post Office Worker Cor
respondent
STATEN ISLAND, N. " On
July 81, 1881 I took a test in New
York City for the position of Clerk
Carrier for Staten Island, N. Y.
There were approximately 1900 ap-
plications filed.
A few months later I was noti-
fled of my rating, 1850, and nv
position on the eligible list was 48.
About the middle of July, 1894,
I received letter from the Post
Office Department wanting to
know why 1 didn't report for work.
| went to the Post Office at Chris
topher ST., New York City, and
there explained that the reason I
didn't report was that didn't re-
ceive any notice to that effect.
On Aug II, 1884, I received a
letter from the General Post Office
Of Staten Island to go there and
to be sworn in as a temporary sub.
l went there and the first thing I
asked was if I was taken off the
eligible list, and if I accepted would
I be placed on the regular substi-
tute carriers list. I was informed
that this was only teporary ap-
pointment, that there would be no
more regular substitute carriers
made off that list, and that I would
have to take another test.
I told them that was the wav orr
good Uncle Sam compensated a
veteran and father of eight chill
dren, and that I was washed up as
lar as another test was concerned.
I had taken three tests for this par
tlcular job, and seven for the
Municipal Civil Service and passed
all except the first one for clerk
carrier, costing me about S75 be-
tween fares and time lost, and more
materialized, perhaps because the
wheels ran dry and failed to
grease them.
l wish to warn others in the same
boat that this is part of a scheme
by which they hold us on the string
and keep us guessing so that we
VIII continue to be 100 per cent
fools.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-08-24
Roads Seek
.TOACOid5%
Restoration
Unity Movement Urged
to Force Pay Rise to
Meet Higher Prices

(By a R.R. Worker Correspondent
LONG ISLAND CITY. - In the
recent wage negotiation for the re-
turn of our 10 per cent cut between
Whitney and the railroad president,
we were sold out. We were forced
to give up the 10 per cent all at
once without a vote, and when the
question of the return of the 10 per
cent came up, what did Whitney
do? Even though the railroads adj
mitted they were making more
money than they were making in
the boom times, without putting it
up to vote, he agreed on return
of 2la per cent on July l and 212
per cent on January l, and the
other S per cent on April l. If this
agreement had been brought up to
us for vote, I am sure we would
have rejected it. We want the
whole 10 per cent now.
Now the roads want to stop the
return of the last 5 per cent next
April. They will try to get Whit
ney to agree to this. The time to
stop this is to act now! Resolutions
should be sent to the Grand Lodge
demanding not only the return of
the last 5 per cent, but also an in
crease Of 10 per cent to meet the
rising cost Of living.
The Unity Movement was formed
to fight such leadership and to re-
place it with rank and file leader
ship. Our aim is to show the rail-
road workers, by forming unity
groups in the lodge to fight for bet
ter conditions, that they can stop
all these abuses.
In Fresh Pond yard We have Jobs
classed as road jobs which do only
yard switching. In CHASING these
jobs as road jobs, the Penn has been
saving SO cents day on each man.
To stop this and other abuses, the
men should get together and form
unity groups and bring them up at
the next meeting. LAWN won't do
anything unless we make him. So
let's get together and make him
get these jobs classed as yard jobs.
NOTE: = To get results from
LAWN, the trainmen should or
ganize themselves in group be-
fore the lodge meeting. They
should decide among themselves
who will bring this demand on the
floor and just what each one will
say when he gets up to speak for
the motion. In this way the group
can swing enough support from
the other members to carry the
motion and force LAWN to act on
this grievance.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-08-24
On Guard Against ''Red
Scare Raised to
Split Ranks
BY Subway Worker Correspondent

ny SUBWAY WOTNer Correspondent
NEW YORK. = Now that the
Transport Workers Union, indie
pendent, is a success, propaganda
will be directed against 1t by the
company and it's hirelings. Trans
port workers should remember that
when confronted by the Red Scare
Moscow paid agitators," etc, that
is not the issue at all, for this type
Of propaganda is used to split the
men.
1t should not be said that we are
little boys not able to think for
ourselves. We know full we'll that
the reason for our banding together
and organizing was the basic fact
that our wages and conditions were
lousy and are becoming more lousy
as witness the pension" fund with
its charge Of only per cent to
belong.
Transport workers remember at
all times that as individuals we are
nothing but Democrats, Republicans,
Socialists, Communists and so forth
united, we are all. Be on your
guard against any and ell types
of propaganda, expose it with logic
and rest assured that our condi-
tons will then be bettered by the
help of our union.
Another thing to take into con-
sideration is that the Daily Worker
honestly and fearlessly publishes
working mems correspondence and
this is the reason you read so many
letters tfrom T.W.U. members,
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-08-24
Deny Protection
Against Layoffs
RaurOad Workers Learning That Rank and Fill
Unity Movement Can Get Better Conditions

A job that was to last two years
lasted only a few months. This
week "a shopmen we're laid off at
the Meadow shops, Jersey. Lay-offs
have also taken place in the Clear
KEEL force, with mass lay-offs to
take place next week at the Sunny
side Yards and engine house.
Fellow workers, the backbone of
the company union has been
broken. Keep it so. The company
is trying hard to heal the break.
The A. F. Of L. is diScredited. The
Brotherhood Of Railroad Shopcrafts
of America held meeting last
week in Jersey City in the Com
pany Y. M. C. A. building. Only
three joined.
The rank and file workers have
arrayed against them the govern
ment, which admits on the one
hand that the cost of food has adj
vanced, as compared with the in
dex for April Is, 1888, by more than
% per cent, also that food such as
eggs, lard, butter, tea, macaroni.
cabbage, milk, sugar and bread
would rise another Is to 20 per cent
in the next couple OF months,
meaning total of At per cent de-
crease in the living standards OF
railroad workers. On the other
hand we have the rats and yellow
dogs which assist the company by
spying and getting workers fired.
in addition to the $4,000 laid off
yearly through Eastnan's coor-
dination.
Then again we have that bunch
of misleaders and betrayers within
the A. F. of L. who on the least
sign Of militancy on the part of
the workers raise the cry of Com
muniSm. The militancy of the
Communists has proven itself to be
the leadership of the workers in
the day to day struggles with the
bosses.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-08-24
Daily Worker Helped
10 Expose Chicago
StreetcGr Betrayal

sympathy strike the second day of
the strike, was veritable bomb
shell. The reactionary Tribune, y
Hearst's yellow sheets, the "impar-
tial" Daily News, gave us front
page publicity, citing Quinlan
Taber as getting ready to EXTERN
mate us. Not this time!) Mayor
Kelly's corrupt police were Dragging
about what they are going to do to
us, but finally, under the pressure
of our agitation, the union officials
decided to save themselves by tax
ing the leadership of the sympathy
strike movement into their own
hands and asking the National Ex-
ecutive Board of the union for q
sanction of general walkout.
All this proves to you conclusive
ly the necessity of having our own
magazine, which, by appearing reg
ularly, will educate and organize
the Chicago traction workers for
the struggle to improve their con-
ditions all the way around, on the
job, in the union, and of course, at
home.
This magazine will be our battle
cry against fast man-killing sched-
ules, against suspensions for infrac-
ton of rules, against stool pigeons.
the names of which we will print,
against all the prosecutions and in
justices. 1t will be our best griev-
ance committee, our defender and
organizer.
Send communications and finan-
cial contributions to Editor, Chi
cago Traction Worker, Room 800
100 N. Wells St." Don't sign your
communications if you are afraid,
but write just the same about your
depot or garage.
GROUP OF RANK AND FILE
MEMBERS OF DIVISIONS
241 AND 30S.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-08-24
Schedule Man Helps
Railroad to Cypress
Dining Car Workers
BY Group of Railroad Worker
CORRESPONDENTS


LONG ISLAND CTTY.-The OPP
orator of the dining car depart
ment of the eastern division of the
Penn comes from the ranks of the
storeroom department. He became
steward and he learned all he
knows from those he persecutes
today.
He has become the schedule man
who produces speed-up and miser-
able wages, especially for the
walters and cooks. His name is
Catlin.
Fellow workers, Catlin has be-
come great in the eyes of the COM
pany because he sold himself as a
tool for the Penn to be able to
exploit more easily his former fell
low workers. There are other
lackeys, like Rooney, Jimmy Barnes
and Redding.
The Penn will continue to use
these men and others like them to
Cypress us. They are organized
under the bosses against us. We
must organize for our benefit. Join
the Brotherhood of Dining Car
Cooks and Walters to drive these
hounds off the road.
A GROUP OF DINING
CAR WORKERS.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-08-24
CarJOdderS
Fight Scab
Officials
AL Transfers Union
Leaders Help Boss
Intimidate Men

BY a Dock Worker Correspondent
DETROIT, Mich.-We are a group
of dockmen employed at the docks
of the Universal Carloading Co.
organized and showed in the
Brotherhood Of Railroad Clerks,
against our will, but we had to &C
cept the ruling of the A. F. of l..
After nine months of political bull
and scab conservative labor dip
lomacy, we severed connections from
this group on account of their
policies. They sent drunken repre-
sentatiYes, so drunk that we had to
help them on their feet, the liquor
furnished by officials of the Uni
versal. These so-called unionists
also turned out to be lodging in a
scabby hotel
Our B. of r. G. representatives
also automatically agreed that the
chairman of our committee would
on later date be dismissed on
some technical charge due to his
radical" agitation.
We are now organized into an
independent union. The militancy
of the Rank and File" was shown
through three strikes. We won bet
ter conditions in that way.
The company saw that this organ
ization could not be bought because
the rank and file" was the author
ity on all decisions. They conspired
with the we'll known labor racketeer,
Mr.. Murphy, President of Transfers
Local No. 407. Now here we are,
100 men on the streets, muscled out
and forced, with the sanction of the
officials, either to put on a No. 4O7
button or to lose our jobs. We are
now without jobs, scabbed on by the
A. F. of L.
In spite of Murphy's musclemen
and punch-drunk hoodlums, all but
five weak sisters (who were fright
ened into local No. 407) now stand
solidly together and hereby protest
and expose the scabby tactics of
the A. F. of L. leaders.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-08-24
WIN THE YOUTH AT FREE
DANCES
New YORK Civ. N. ]

New York City, N. Y.
The other night a worker
took me to one of the famous City
Free Dances which are organized
by the LaGuardia City Admins
tration at the w. 125th st. pier.
Thousands of young people were
dancing, with the feeling that the
City Administration gives them free
enjoyment. But of course there Is
something behind the purpose of
these Free Dances.
Now we are in a period of i'm
perialist preparations for war. The
bourgeoisie wants to win the youth
on their side to fight for them in
the coming war. OF course in order
to succeed they use every method
and this is one of them.
Our Party, and especially the
Y.C.L.ers, have not taken any ac-
ton yet to expose all these methods
to the youth.
Action must start immediately
by issuing leaflets, sending com
rades among them, on open discus
sions by our comrades selling lit
erature, the Young Worker, Daily
Worker, etc.
It is great opportunity for the
Y.CL. to work among the youth at
these dances, because they gather
by thousands in one place. They
are all workers children whom we
must win to our side, to fight for
their own class, the working class.
We must not forget that Hitler
came into power in Germany by
winning the youth to his side and
used them to suppress the working
class.
Let's get into action and win the
youth to our side.
T. G.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-08-24
BY a Taxi worker Correspondent

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - am a
member of the Philadelphia Taxi
Drivers Union. You probably know
that Dave Felix, of the Socialist
Party of Philadelphia, was our
lawyer and the leader (rather mis-
leader) of our strike of last Novem-
Der, December, and January.
We didn't hear or see very much
of Felix after the strike was over.
His last important function in our
union was carried out on the night
we agreed to accept his mastery
craftsmanship of that now famous
agreement which hung a milestone
around our necks as an organiza-
ton, and was responsible for the
blacklisting Of 10 of our men, nine
of whom are still unemployed.
During the three months follow
ing the end of the strike, our union
went into rapid decline, men re-
fusing to pay dues and belong to
the organization for various reasons,
most of which can be traced to con-
ditions brought about by the Felix
agreement.
After hard fight, some few men
working alone and in quiet way,
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-08-24
Company Unions Make Little Roadway with Penn RR Workers
WORKERS HEALTH
Conducted by the
Daily Worker Medical Advisory Board

sprouts out Of the ground In single
stems, but it almost always grows
as a vine climbing along fences, ur
trees and over rocks.
I'VE have had excellent results
with potassium permanganste ap-
piled at the first sign or indication
Of Ivy poisoning.
"Comradely yours,
S. ". A."
Growth
P. B., Lake Michigan, n. Y.-The
glands co2cerned with growth are
the pituitary and adrenal cortex. AT
present treatment with the growth
hormone of the pituitary is promis-
ing, but not well enough developed
to be used in your case, since we
are certain that you do not wish to
be the subject for further expert
mentation.
We advise balanced diet with
plenty of milk, eggs and vegetables;
outdoor play and sunlight, and
when more is known of glandular
treatment, say in year or two
you might inquire again.
Difficulty of UrinatiOn
c. X, Chicago, Hl.-The condi-
ton which you describe is probably
due to an enlargement Of the pro-
state gland, This gland is situated
at the base Of the bladder and when
Is becomes enlarged it causes fire.
quent passage Of urine, often with
some burnirt. and later it causes
inability to pass urine.
Causes for endorsements are
simple Inflammation, old gonor-
rhea and tumors.
You should be examined by a
competent physician and have your
prostate gland massaged regularly
If no tumor is present. If no relief
is obtained, 1t may be necessary to
operate and remove the gland. It
is useless to irrigate the canal with
permanganate or any other solu-
ton.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-08-24
BY Org. Commission, Dist. 8.
(Chicago)

The Central Committee of our
Party has issued an open letter to
the membership in District No. 8
in regards to our failure to build the
Y. G. L. The District and National
Conventions very sharply dealt with
the responsibility of the Party in
reaching the youth and building the
Y. G. L. Following the Convention,
the Section Committees undertook
certain specific tasks which remain
ed however on paper. Following is
list of partial control tasks:
Section $50 new members,
shop nucleus, in Harvester.
Section $50 new members.
Section $50 new members,
shop nucleus, Stewart Warner.
Section $50 new members.
Section 6-25 new members,
shop nucleus, in Harvester.
Section 2 and 7-85 new mem
bers.
Section 8-25 new members.
Section 9-35 new members.
Section 1870 new members.
Section lbs new members.
Section 1925 new members.
Coal Fields-S0 new members.
Rockford Section-25 new mem
bers.
Party Responsibility
From the present status of the
Y. G. L. it is obvious that 80 per
cent of these control tasks remained
on paper. Whatever was done, was
done by the Y. G. L. directly with
very little assistance by the Party.
We must realize that our RESPONSE
bility in building the Y. c. L. con-
sists in assisting the League with
forces, helping the units in the re-
spective sections in their work,
drawing the League in closer coll
liberation in the campaigns and ac-
tivities of the Party by considering
the youth problems in connection
with everyone of our campaigns,
recruit members for the Y. G. l..
We must correct some conceptions
of Party members in that connec-
ton. Some comrades assigned for
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-08-24

were sprayed with good eggs" by
Connolly's company union rats. In
this attack they did the one thing
they did not realize, and that was
to let the men of the IR.T. see
rs well as smell how lousy they are.
The activity of the beakie depart
ment and their dollar a day rats,
in circulating amongst the crowd
trying to spot men they knew, as
well as their efforts at the nearby
stations in trying to get numbers,
has made the men hate them so
that they are signing UP by scores.
which activity bodies no good for
these rats.
Anger at the pension has not
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-08-24
"Pull" Saves No One
rom Dismissal Drive
At Western Union Co.
BY a Telegraph Worker Cor
respondent

NEW YORK; can do any.
thing I want; I got pull" This
was the song of many Western
Union employe who had some rela-
tive or acquaintance in response
BILE position.
With the present firing campaign
OF the company in full swing. these
people confidently sat back relying
on their pull" One by one they
were fired. Now the possessor OF
this pull in my office has been fired.
So long as workers rely on myth
cal forces which don't exist they
make it easy for the company to
exploit them further. We should
rely on ourselves only.
I have just joined the Telegraph
Messengers Union, ia w. 14th st.
| urge all other messengers to do
likeWise-to do it nov.