The Daily Worker Newspaper, January 26, 1924, Page 6

LOYAL Everything was in full swing in the corner saloon when I dropped in one night in the Winter of '99. The bil- liard, pool and gambling tables were all running. A roulette wheel, a faro- bank and two stud poker games were crowded with players. Calling wp the stragglers to have a drink, I said to Ben Hastings, the bar-keeper, “Who is the man in the corner chair, The man sat huddled up with his hat drawn down over his face. Ben replied, “That is old Me- Cann; he don’t drink much but he would seli his soul for a dose of mor- phine.” I beckoned to him; he came stroll- ing up. shoving his hat back a little. He said, “I guess you don’t remember me, Bill, I used to know you in Tus- earora.” I recognized him, tho the few intervening years had made much change in his face and physique. He was now emaciated with the ravages of the drug. His eyes were unusually bright, but shone out of deep hollows. His face was gaunt and sallow. There was a nervousness about him. I walked over to the faro layout, put a silver dollar behind the ten-spot, playing the nine and pack open. It won on the turn. “Silver,’’ I said to the dealer. Picking up the coin I went back to the bar, and bought anether round of drinks. As I was leaving I saw one of the miners who was working with me on the Trade Dollar Mine talking confidently to . MeCann, the dope-fiend. Nearly every mining camp has its corner saloon. The one I mention here was located in Silver City, Idaho. A little town built in a narrow gulch between Florida and War Eagle Mountains. These towering peaks stood as mighty guards over the busti- ing little burg with its foundation in the bed of the stream that had been turned bottem side up by the gold diggers of the early ‘sixties. It. was typical of many mining camps of the WORLD’S WO 1 oo up before Congress, and in that connection it is interesting to read the resolution of the Red Inter- national of Labor Unions on the sub- ject of workers’ migration. This is ~ one of the resolutions passed at the Third Session of the Central Council of the Red International of Labor Unions, held in Moscow from June 25 to July 2, 1923. The resolution reads as follows: On Workers’ Migration 3 1. Revolutionary Labor | Union Centrals, independent organizations and minorities sympathizing with the R. LL. U. must institute special bureaus in those countries experienc- ing emigration and immigration, The bureaus will collect statistical mate- rial dealing with the number, sex, age and profession of immigrants and emigrants. They must likewise col- lect comparative material on the wages of all countries, on dearths, on the labor market, on the workers’ protection laws, on methods of em- ployment and also generai informa- tion of interest to migrating work- ers. These inquiries and activities will yield the possibility of a minute study into the problem of migration. 2. In all countries of immigra- tion, special committees comprising representatives of the nationalities yielding the largest percentage of immigrants together with representa- tives from the labor union central or from the organized minorities sym- pathizing with the R, I. L, U. must be formed. It is the aim of these committees to work out organizatory forms and to. effect a propaganda for creating brotherly connections and solidarity between the immi- grants and the home elements. Similar committees are to be es- tablished in the most important cen- ters of immigration and in the places of work. 8. Periods of disturbance and strike are favorable for conflicts be- tween home workers and immigrants, Employers and authorities making use of such opportunities excite na- tionalist tendencies with a view of litting and destroying working co solidarity, To avoid these dan- gers and so frustrate ruling class schemes, the immigrants must be|_ np rantee that their rights ey iabepent will be protected like those of the home workers, With West. The saloons and other less im- portant business houses were on the prinicipal of the two streets of the tewn. The red light district occupied the rear street, populated by white black and Chinese women, Cabins and little houses, the homes of the married miners, were scattered about the surrounding mountain sides. The snow fell deep that winter and there was litle to mark their locality except the stove pipes and an occa- sional chimney, sticking up thru the snow. The following morning as I-was gone. to work I passed McCanns ‘otesi Gulch. A light was shining thru the window. That morning the old dope-fiend was arrested at the stage office. He had gone early with a box to be shi to Salt Lake City. The Sheriff was waiting for him. Took both him and the box to jail, where upon examination the box was found to contain high-grade ore, that would run several dollars to the pound, McCann was locked up charged with grand eny. A scoundrel, nicknamed Tamarack, whom he had sheltered in his cabin, had squealed on him. was facing a serious situation. Conviction would mean a long term in the penitentiary. This chase of the dilemma did not worry him. He was thinking of the tortures he knew he would suffer if deprived of the drug that for years had made life endurable for him. About mid-day the Sheriff came to the cell-door, saying “Well Mac, how are you? With trembling voice, “I'm a little shaky, must have some medicine. On account of my nerves I have taken morphine pretty regu- larly. You know one who has used as much of it as I cannot get along without it. You can get it at the drug store next to the post-office. Tell him its for me, he knows what Till need for the night. You'll do that for me won't you sheriff?” “Sure, sure, I know your condition. that aim, the immigrants sheuld, le- gally or illegally, according to the | particular countries’ legislation, be! jinduced to participate in the work of strike committees, 4. The entire labor union press of the countries of immigration, but especially the press of the labor un- ion federations. directly interested, must systematically deal with the problems of immigration, reserving From : Modern American City . By the way, Mac you know the Min- ing Company have no intention of cinching you. But we’ve got to have the nathes of the men who gave you the ore. The stealing of rich speci- mens has been going on for a long time. Wel put a stop to it now. Who are the fellows?”’ Mae looked the sheriff square in the eye “I can- not tell you,” was his answer. The sheriff turned and walked away say- ing, “Alright, I'll see you later.” It was growing dark. Mac's every nerve was vibrating. His brain was hot. He trembled as with the ague. He knocked on the grated door with the tin cup. The sheriff came. Mac said, “Did you get that stuff for me?” “No, I've been busy.” But, encour- agingly, “I will before the store closes. You know the names of those men, do you Mac?” “Of course I do,” came the response in a shiver. ing tone. “I thought you did,” the sheriff remarked. “‘I’ll get the mor- phine for you to-night.” The hours and minutes dragged and thumped. Mac paced the cell, now and then steadying himself against the wall. With all his"force he tried to quiet the pangs of brain and nerve. The sheriff’s promise gave him strength to fight against insanity and what he thought was approaching death. At some monstrous visions he screamed out in agony, and so wore the night away without a wink of sleep. Morning found Mac clinging to the bars. His face white, his body limp. The guard came with his breakfast. Mac braced himself to say, “You get me some. You can get it.” The guard with a laugh said, “You'll have to wait till the sheriff comes; I can’t leave here any more than you can.” The sheriff came late. Mac was still leaning against the grated wall, the food untouched in the pan on the floor, “Well, Mac, how are you?” Startled by the voice, he straightened up, staggered back, tripped on the food pan, slipped and fell. He dragged himself to the door, pulling RKERS HAVE PROGRAM ON sufficient room for the treatment of this item. The artieles in question should be written in the language of the persons dealt with. Wherever possible, a special periodical for the immigrants in each country should be issued. Connections, however, must already to that end have been taken up with the revolutionary un- ions and the Communist Parties in the countries concerned alike with immigration and emigration, . a painting by Louls Lozowick. TY (An American Story) ® wi. navwoo himself first to his knees and then to his feet. Putting a scrawny, scarred arm thru the bars, he groaned, “Give it to me, give it to me. God! Sheriff, I'm dying.” The sheriff pulled the short blue bottle from his pocket. The white narcotic filled it to the ‘cork. Spasmodically, Mac’s shrivelled hand clawed for what he knew was sur- cease from his terrible agony. Ment- ally and physically, he had already nearly collapsed. The sheriff smiled, “Don’t be in a hurry Mac, you'll get it. You never wanted the stuff so bad before, did you?” Mac’s eyes . were filmed. His face was ashen | white. The fingers on his bare arm that protruded thru the bars opened and closed nervously. “Give me 8 little. Just enough to ease my head, I’ll go mad.” “You can have it Mac; but I must know the men who gave you the ore.” Mac did not raise his head, but said, “You can kill me, but I cannot tell you. It is their wives and children that I am thinking of.” He pulled back his hand. The ¢rip of the other relaxed, and he sank in a miserable heap on the floor, The company doctor was called, resuscitated Mac with a little brandy, but was deaf to his pleadings, and would give him none of the narcotic. The vile craving was gnawing vicious- ly at every fibre and tissue of Mac’s body. His brain squirmed, his skin creeped. Death would be his certain release, but it would not come. There seemed to be nothing but torment, torture aggravated by the sheriff with the little blue bottle. A few days later they led Mac into the court room more dead than alive. The prosecuting attorney asked him who the men were that were involved with him in the theft of the ore. He muttered, “I cannot tell you.” Mac was found guilty of grand larceny. Sentenced to seven years of hard labor in the Boise Penitentiary. He died there while serving his time. ‘They said he would sell his soul for 2 dose of morphine, but he stood the tortures of the damned, and sacri- ficed years of his life for—loyalty. IMMIGRATION 5. Immigrated workers may in no case form distinct trade unions. They must, on the contrary, enter the local organizations on exactly the same conditions as the workers. . The labor unions must create spe- cial language groups for those that are not acquainted with the language of that area. Wherever deemed useful, said groups may form their own clubs for prapaganda and edu- cation. These groups are obliged to find out the most suitable forms of organization for attracting for- eign workers, especially those tempo- rarily living in the country, to the labor unions, 6. In the home labor unions’ lo- eal sections, labor chambers, etc., rooms should be reserved in which immigrant workers can meet, 7. In addition to the problem of uniting the immigrant workers with the help of the labor union organ- izations and the questions of insur- ance against accidents, invalidity, age, ete., the organizations endors- ing the R. I. L. U. principles must also give much attention to the util- izing of the co-operative societies on behalf of the immigrants. _ 8. Immigration into Soviet Rus- sia is of special importance. Offers of immigration are being received from workers, technicians, engineers, ete., of various countries. Altho the present economic situation does not allow of a big influx and an eco- nomic utilization of emigrants, never- theless, qualified workers are badly needed for restoring the economic life. The emigration bureaus of the organizations attached to the R. I. L_ U. must study the question of emigration to Soviet Russia. The bureaus must register all petitions and communicate with the corre- sponding organs in Soviet Russia as well as with the Russian labor unions. The bureaus should give special at- tention to the immigration of techni- cians and engineers ready to ‘serve the proletarian Republic. 9. In the trade unions not affili- ated to the R. I. L. U., a lively propa- ganda should be developed on behalf of the immigrants’ protection. The private institutions, such as employment offices, etc., that live by sucking and tricking the immigrants, must be mercilessly combatted, ‘and if possible abolished,