Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-07-24
Out ~of the Night

likely Hindu. The steamer
Drachenfels of the Hansa Line
was in port. Its stokers were
HinduS. l FASTENED down TO
the harbor and boarded the
Drachenfels. The HinduS
aboard did not understand me
when / talked 10 them about
a congress. l tried another
method.
Like 'em singsong missy:
Like 'em young little sing
song-baby: You boys quick
come with me. No charge"
Three OF the East Indians
were willing to go. Two wore
Scraggy boards. The third
was clean-shaven. but as thin
as a SHELTON. All three wore
grimy turbans and shirts
dangling out over their belts.
Licking their chops in antici-
patton. they followed me into
a taXicab. We drove straight
TO the Congress.
"Come inside" I said. "See
'em singsong-babies. Right
here"
HINDUS STUNNED
The three were stunned
when they saw themselves in
Il halt futt OF men bent over
paper. heMilderedthey stared
al the red banners all around
them. / led my victims past
-tahie,-where- inter-
national praesidium sat, and
on Ia the speakers podium.
i pushed the clean-shaven one
ahead.
There was the sound of
drums. and tireri silence. Ernst
Wollweber, the president of
the Congress. rose and an
nounced with a thunderous
growl that in spite of the at
temptS of Scotland Yard 10
sabotage the participation of
an East Indian delegation, the
East Indian comrades had
found a way 10 come 10 the
congress. He ended with the
call:
"The representative OF the
DOckers' Union of Calcutta
now has word"
The three Hindus stood
helpless on the stage and
gFinned
The young American, Mike
Appelman, now took charge of
the situation. He glowered
ferociously AT the Eindus.
"How long you work."
asked Mike in a fierce whisper.
"SiX To six" said Hindu.
1.-THE East Indian comrade
says that the imperialist ex-
ploiters force East Indian
workers to labor uninter-
ruptedly from q In the morn
ing to 6 at night. a minimum
of IL hours day, and seven
days week." interpreted
Appelman, turning 10 the
audience.
"How much your pay?"
Appelman snapped at the
Hindu.
Three pounds"
East Indian proletarians
must slave $50 hours a month
for so shillings, or six hours
for the equivalent of a quarter
dollar" announced Appelman
to the Congress.
what you eat for sup
per-" he asked the Hindu.
Rice"
FED LIKE ANIMALS
"They are fed like animals.
Three times a day handful
of rice. that Is the ration of
East Indian workers." bel
lowed Appelman.
"You like more money:
Better supper: Beat up the
boss ." he coaXed his quarry.
The Hindu stared. Then he
grinned, and nodded.
"The East Indian workers
declare themselves willing To
join in the struggle of the
classes, the struggle for higher
pay and shorter hours, for
freedom from exploitation. for
Socialism. for the protection
Of the Soviet Union against
attacks of the imperialist
sharks" Appelman thun-
dered.
The Congress roared APP
plause. The band struck up
the Internationale, and the
delegates rose 10 their feet
and sang. Quickly the three
Hindus were husteled out of
the hall. At the entrance,
they demanded 10 know when
they would meet the promised
"sing-song-missies."
BEAT IL, YOU buns" they
were told. Get back to your
ship
The virtual dictator Of the
Congress which drafted the
program of demands for the
seamen and lockers of all
nations. was the Russian
Kommissarenko. He was also
the dictator of the Soviet
Transport Workers Union and
its 100000 members.
Com a d KommiSsarenko
held up before the full session
Of tho Congress. the methods