The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1935-02-28

Navy Yard Nucleus
Tells How Shop Paper
Was Distributed

WHEN our unit was formed,
~ in October, 1888, condi-
tons in the yard were pretty
good, and the grievances of
the workers were not so great.
Especially at the time the unit
issued it's first shop paper,
Just six months ago, the yard had
Just hired over a thousand men or
more and the work in the yard was
so plentiful that the workers prac-
tically had things their own way,
as far as conditions were con-
cerned. The only lively grievance
that We had to fight was the ar
senic poison generated by Welding
on galvanized plates on the five new
.desroyers they are building here.
During this time we were point
ing out to the workers that they
must organize to maintain these
good conditions, and telling them
that these conditions could not last
at a time when the standard of
living of the entire working class is
being steadily dragged down to
lower level.
Our shop paper has always been
welcomed by the yard workers and
was passed around the yard and
read by them. For long time our
paper was issued outside the gate at
noon time and quitting time, and,
although the workers accepted
them, the fact that they we're dis
tributed outside the gate, kept them
from being accepted as a real yard
workers paper. At a District Bu-
reau meeting few months ago our
unit was discussed, and the District
Bureau pointed out the mistake of
issuing the paper outside the yard,
pointing out to us that ten shop
papers inside the yard had more
effect than hundred distributed
outside. The unit Immediately re-
acted to this correct advice. and the
last two editions of our shop paper
have been planted in strategic places
within the yard
During this period the effects of
the crisis were felt in the yard.
There we're mass lay-offs, the help
ers we're more and more forced to
do the work of mechanics, and more
work was being forced upon the
low-paid enlisted men of the navy.
These issues we're stressed in our
shop paper, which has become ire
mendously liked by the workers,
who eagerly look forward to its
publication.
/ Asst week the battleship Califor-
Il MIA was literally plastered with
Yard Workers" the Daily Worker,
the Moscow News and small pam
phlets of vital interest to both yard
workers and sailors alike. That is
sue of our shop paper contained an
article on sailors doing the work
of civilians, and was therefore put
aboard the ship in great lots. 1t
Immediately caused a great stir on
the ship and also through the yard.
The yard officers, along with the
ship officers, made futile attempts
to stop it's distribution.
The men working on the night
shift we're Immediately watched by
armed patrols of sailors. And the
men on day shift were forced to
show their badge on leaving the
ship and coming aboard. In spite
of all these maneuvers to hamper
the workers, going to the extent of
spreading rrmors that the ship was
being guarded because the Com
munists were going to blow it up,
the workers realize what is the real
truth and don't fall for the bomb
ing" stories. And although the
close watch kept on the workers
leaving the ship at night made it
difficult for some of them to catch
their boat home, they appeared to
be pleased that the "Reds" were
able to get their literature aboard
ship and really feel now that the
Yard Worker" is their paper.
The next issue of our paper,
which will be out in few days,
will answer these bombing stories.
NAVY YARD UNIT,
Bremerton, Washington.
Editorial Note:
Good luck to you, comrades. You
are doing difficult and important
Communist work. We will expect
more good reports from you. What
are you doing about recruiting into
your shop unit? Although recruit
ing must be carried on carefully, so
that your members are not exposed,
it must not be neglected. We
would like to have a letter from
you telling us your methods of re-
cruiting, how you safeguard your
members, and concretely how you
carry on struggle against war and
fascism.
!