Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1943-05-21
Shall We
Go Back
By f. P. ROBAL
NO FACTORY

one thing I'm sure. You're never
going to work in a factory. I've
spent eighteen years working
my hardest and still have moth
ing. | can't even buy one of the
automombiles I'm helping to
make. You're not going to make
the same mistake"
So, time went by, as time does.
High school was over and there,
cleaning on the horizon, was
that nebulous thing known as a
college education" But, some
how, in the confusion of a pc
riodic depression" the sum that
had been carefully raked to-
gether for this purpose had melt
ed away to buy food, to pay the
rent and the installment collec-
tor. There was always an Install
ment collector and carrying
charges"
GOES TO WORK
Well, the youngster, like a
sturdy young American, went to
work in a coal yard to dig up
the necessary tuition fee. You
know, industry and virtue will
conquer all, etc. However, the
guy that ran the coal yard was
having his little difficulties, too.
He lacked the capital for mod
ern equipment. He couldn't af-
ford to advertise on a par with
his competitors, nor could he
hire high pressure statesmen. The
profit margin grew simmer and
simmer and finally his little
venture into free enterprise"
fell flatter than one of Aunt
Jenny's light, fluffy pancakes.
The youngster, nothing daunt-
ed, started searching for new
job. But there were many other
youngsters land oldsters, too)
indulging in the same pastime
with negligible success. The
months passed and with the
coming of winter the corners Of
the house grew cold because coal
purchased by the bushel must
be used sparingly.
FATHER RETURNS
Finally, the big factory be-
grudgingly called the old man
to come back to work. There
were profits to be made. The
old man drew his first check at
thirty-five cents per hour; the
second was tied up by something
called "garnishee" as all the
wolves pounced at once.
mo, sir, brother! No relief.
No surplus foods. You gotta job.
Support your own family. We
amt gonna help you no more"
So the old man went to the
boss" and, through a process
for which the boys in the fac
tory have name, got the young
ster an interview for a job.
THE BOSS
The boss" eyed him as though
he were a choice steer or
sturdy male slave on nineteenth
century auction block. Evidently
satisfied with his appraisal he
growled, well, y amt much
but III give you chance. Prob
'ly put you to work in the morn
ing" He stalked off and the
workers applied themselves in
dustriously to their jobs as he
walked by. How did they know,
maybe this new guy was to re-
place one of them. He did. He
sat for an hour and half wait
ing and then walked out. He re-
ported the following morning to
hear the Boss" roar, Dammit.
whereinhell did you go yester-
day. | had job for you to do in
the afternoon. Don't yuh wanta
work? Well, what are yuh wait
in for. Get over there and get
goin'"
The youngster meekly turned
away and reported to his new
job. AS he started to work he no.
ticed one Of the old men was
missing.
"Yeh, he got into it with the
boss yesterday and got fired. He
was pretty slow, anyway"
MORAL
Sure, that's how | got into a
factory when | was eighteen. And
what are you snickering about.
That might be your story or your
old mans. Or maybe you've got
better one. And now might be
good time to stop and think
whether or not you'd like to go
back to it after this war.