The Daily Worker Newspaper, November 30, 1932, Page 4

Dail Published by the Comprodaily Publishing Co., Inc., daily except Sun "SYBtH Bt., New York City, N. ¥, Telephone ALgonquin 4-7956. Cable Sa@ftess and mail checks to the Daily Worker, 50 B. 13th St., New York, N. XY. SUBSCRIPTION MATH $6; six months, 33.50; 5 months, $2; 1 wenth, %e w Yor’ City. Yoreign and $ months, 33 By wail everywhere: One ye: excepting Borengh of Manhattan and Bron, Canada; One year. $2: 6 months, 35 No Illusions About Non- Aggression Pacts n-aggression uesday France. we this scramble among the capitalist powers to sign pacts with the Soviet Union? Monday Poland signed, T Japanese diplomats are discussing a similar pact x Has France abandoned its poisonous anti-Soviet policy? Have the tnurderous vassals of French imperialism at the head of the puppet gov- ernment of Poland given up hope of war and intervention against the Soviet Union? Do these signatures mean, as the notorious imperialist propaganda agency, the Associated Press would have us believe, that “a new era of friendly relations between Europe's eastern-most country and the nation that lies between her and much of the rest of the continent thas arrived? Of: course The estimate of ist stabilization heral not! ine Communist International that the end of capital- w wave of revolutions and wars is not refuted ny these signatures. The opening words of Comrade Manuilsky in his re- port, on “The Soviet Union and the World Proletariat,” at the Twelfth Plénum of the Executive Committee of the Communist International were: “As you know, our epoch of war and proletarian revolutions is ¢haracterized by the fact that the struggle between the two sys- tems—the dying world of capitalism and the rising world of socialism is becoming the key point of world politics and world economy. This is not a characterization of a historical moment, not something that can be overcome by diplomatic action. It is a correct appraisal of at epoch—the epoch of the general crisis of capitalism ‘Hence there could be no more dangerous illusion than that these signatures indicate the end of capitalist conspiracies against the Soviet Union. At the same time it would be equally wrong to state that such pacts ‘rp in-no way to be regarded as a victory for the Soviet Union and the world-proletariat. They are, first of all, victories for the peace policy of the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics; a consistent policy of peace that ‘was carried in the midst of provocations that have no equal in all history for -viciousness and depravity. T yeace policy was shown in the per- sistent proposals for disarmament made by the U.S.S.R. in Geneva (pro- posais that were sabotaged by the imperialist powers) and in the present Pacts. ° . ° also shows that the mighty growth of socialist construction in the Sotiet Union, the completion of the Five-Year Plan in a period of four years'ang the launching of the Second Five-Year Plan which will mean the definite liquidation of classes, has decisively thrown the balance in favor of the world of building socialism as against the decaying world of capitalism. The tremendous creative energy of the Soviet masses, under the leadership of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, has made the Soviet Union a power that must be reckoned with by every other power on earth ; ‘Im the period of the rapid growth of socialist construction in the Soviet Union, raising the economic and cultural level of the Soviet masses, the- capitalist world has declined, untii today the volume of production hassumk to the level of three or four decades ago. France, which boasted for’a year and a half that it had escaped the most serious effects of the°gréatest economic crisis of recorded time, has been smashed down be~ Jow thé pre-war level of production. Neyer before in any crisis has capitalist production been driven down below the starting point of t o-called business le. Faceq with Sit a’devastating economic catastrophe the capitalist count all strive to %ind’a way out for themselves. This sharpens all the contradictions of capitalism. “hye ruling class of the United States strikes out against its great ifwPertulist rival, Britain. It sharpens its struggle against Japan for @gmination of the Pacific. The financial power of the United States is usedtd strengthen its position against its rivals. France, with the second Jargést. gold supply uses: its financial power to counteract the United Ststes.” France and Italy are engaged in intense conflict; also France anq-Efgiand. Germany and Poland quarrel over the Danzig corridor. The. puppet goverments in South America plunge into undeclareq wars reflecting the struggel between Britain and the United States. In the Far East war rages. 4 The awful impoverishment of the toiling masses of the capitalist coun- ties and the colonial and semi-colonial countries is driving them to the polit Of desperation. The existence of the Soviet Union is, as Comrade Stalin said, a powerful revolutionizing factor among the toiling masses. The-completion of the Five-Year Plan provides such a powerful material bases for the causes of the proletarian revolution that the strength of all Communist parties increases. This, also, is of tremendous significance in-registering achievement for the peace policy of the Soviet Union throughout the world. As the Central Organ of the Communist Party of the Soviet Uniow, Pravda, said: “There is no doubt that. the con- clusion of the non-aggressian pact a direct reflection of the sympathy, which is growing daily, of the toilers of the entire world toward the the U. S. S. R.” The toilers of the world are not forgetting the lessons of the last imperialist world war and there is a growing hostility towards imperialist war in general and an attack on the Soviet Union in particular. “This proves that the imperialist powers, even those that have been in the forefront of the open attempts to foment war and intervention agdinst the Soviet Union, those that have actively planned attacks from tite East and the West, are forced to more and more conceal their war Plans under pacifist disguises, . OW, more than ever, it is essential that a relentless struggle be carried on against opportunist underestimation of the war danger. The war in the Far East still goes on. “Small wars” are raging in South America, The inter-imperialist rivalries may at any moment be diverted into an anti-Soviet war. Propaganda for the peace policy of the U.S.S.R. is not enough. We must organize definite actions against war. Stop shipments cf munitions that are now going to Japan and to Europe! Make the stfugglé against war an inseparable part of all our campaigns! Defend the Chinese people! Defend the Soviet Union! As against all pacifist iNusions that demoralize the ing class and peralyze the‘action of the workers, the masses must be! ced and.are, in ever larger numbe: becoming convinced that there is only one decisive out of the misery of capitalism and that is the over- throw of capitalism and the establishment of a workers’ and farmers’ government - Democrat Ballyhoo HE Democrat Party leaders, on the heels of their “magnificen, mandate ‘from the American people,” are already attempting to meet the de- mMahds of the unemployed with the same blatant pallyhoo which the Re- Qublican adiinistration. feeds the hungry millions. “Phe Standard Statisic Company bulletin for Noy. 14 says: “The unemployment relief problem will reach new heights during the coming winter. Not only will the number of unemployed be greater’ than last year, but a larger proportion will be dependent upon charity for support, at a time when the financial resources of private and public agencies wit have been weakened by three winters of extraordinary . But one does not need such statements to know that this i the worst winter ever faced by the American working class from the standpoint of need for food, clothing and housing. Every wintry blast carries with it the voices of millions in misery. , Such things do not bother John H. McCooey, Tammany boss of Brook- lyn and high in the councils of the Democratic Party nationally. On No- vember 27 he said in a public statement: “While there has been great suffering and deprivation among a large portion of our people during the last few years, we feel confident that under Democratic auspices we are on the threshold of a future more jperous than at any time during the history of our great republic. _ “Despite the hardsh'ps through which we have passed, we have every reason to be thankful for the many blessings and advantages which are ours, and Thanksgiving time is the time for natural ex- pression of the gtatitude of a great and free people for the countless evidences of Divine protectiun.” Ti by “divine protection” this biatherskite means that many of the unemployed have nothing but the canopy of heaven to cover them he is quite right. But McCooey is merely the advance agent for the Roosevelt circus, whose barkers are already boosting for “an optimistic outlook” with the White House as their pitch as soon as he is inaugurated. Lét there be no illusions among workers about the probability that ings will be better” because Wall Street has exchanged a former mining’ for @ graduate of Groton and Harvard. “vAnSter the McCooeys in a decisive way! ” Mass organization, the united front of all workers, regardless of race, cvetd Jor, color, mass struggle, working-class discipline and the revolution- aecrship and program of the Communis, Party—-this is the only way out of the miseries of ihe capitalist crisis and increasing mass un- extpldyment for the working class. Join the Communist Party! Add your strength to the ranks of the onig Bevoiutionary party of the working class standing in the interests of ‘ai-Workers openly opposed to the three parties of capitalism—Demo- crat; Republican and Socialist. . “Vet the Communist Party! After the Elections-- Next Tish} Resolution Adopted by Dist, 8, C. F. (Continaed) Neither in the coal fields noi the whole state of Tinoi struggle against criminal syn ism made an issue altho seven lead- ing members of our Party are fac- ing trial chargeq with criminal syndicalism. Nor did we develop struggle against deportations of foreign born. The struggle against the terror in the coal region and the practically little civil war that ex- isted there, were not utilized to mobilize masses to defeat terror and to link it up with the election strug- gle, for the right of workers to strike, organize, assemble and speech. HE main fire in the Illinois coal flelds must be opened against social-fascist and left social-{fascist leaders of the P.M.A. and inst the leaders of the United Mine Workers of America. But this can only be done successfully by di veloping activity on the basis of t united front from below The beginning of this was the sending of delegations by eleven lc the P.M.A. to participate delegation to the Mlinois legislatur This is the beginning of the cor- rect application of the policy the coal fields. On'the south’ side of Chicago among the Negro masses, we had a big increase in votes. (In the First Congressional District in 1930 our candidate received 44 votes and in in 1932 our candidate, Newton, re- 1932 our candidate, Newton, re- vote for Lightfoot in Senatorial District No. 5). But this vote does not correspond with the influence the Communist Party has on the south side. And this is because the Communist Party did not develop’ struggles of the masses we were un- able successfully to expose and de- feat the Negro misleading, serving Republican and Democratic Parties. VOTE NOT ONLY SIGN OF STRENGTH It would be wrong to judge the votes cast for the C. P. as the only strength of the C. P. The strength of the Communist Party among the masses is far beyond the votes cast for the Communist Party. A large number of votes for the C. P. were not counted. This is very definitely established in a number of precincts in Chicago, St. Louis and elsewhere. Workers, especially unemployed flophouse workers, were disfran- chised. Many of them were unable to vote because of moving from tesidence and then a large per- Gentage of foreign born workers who are disfranchised from voting because they are not citizens. On election day, poor organizational control of the votes. Even in Congressional District No. 1, Sen- atorial Disttict No. 5 and others on Chicago. south, side, we did not cover half of the precincts and we see very definitely that in precincts where we had comrades, votes were counted more accurately for the Communist Party. Where we were absent the Communist votes were not counted or counted for other parties. A glaring example is in one precinct where 21 votes were count- ed for the Communist Party and there were yet 200 ballots to be counted, but the comrade got sick and left, and the returns showed that in that precinct our Party got only one vote. In another precinct $20 was, offered to a’worker if he would disclaim the 5 votes that were cast for Foster. There is no ques- tion that such cases can be mul- tiplied by hundreds, But all these cannot explain the fact that’ the number of Communist votes should have becn much bigger’ and there- fore we cannot be satisfied with | the election results. ‘HE task of our Party now 4s to be an active factor in smashing the illusions created by the Democ- ratic Party, during the election campaign, thay the election of the Democratic national and state tickets means “a new deal” for the masses, etc. But these illusions can only be undermined and destroyed among the masses: if we will mo- bilize the toiling masses and es- pecially workers in the shops, mem- bers of the AF-.L., for the struggle around the immediate demands such as the present National Hun- ger March, development of the united front activities in the shops, around their grievances and issues of the workers and to devolop such type of struggles that have been carried on in Chicago on October 3ist, etc. Any view that the Democ- rats will expose themselves, any view of waiting until the Roosevelt Government exposes itself is the most dangerous conception and will prevent the Party from being an active factor in destroying illusions and mobilize the workers for action. Especially in this respect it is necessary to win over for the united front policy, tactics and daily strug- gles, workers who ‘still follow the social-fascist leaders (Muste, Social- ist. Party, AFL, Farmer-Labor Party, ete.). This is greatly under- estimated in the whole Party, In all ‘the struggles of the masses we must bring to the’ forefront the siruggle against the capitalist sys- tem, showing that there is only one way out of the crisis anq that is the revolutionary way out and pointing out the successes and ac- hievements of the Soviej Union, MUST CENTER ATTACK ON DEMOCRATS The Democratic Party will not hhave easy sailing. ‘The difficulties will grow and it is our task, basing ourselves on the needs of the mass- es, to center the attack against the Democratic administration and suc- cessfully centering the attack against the Democratic administra- tion as the capitalist government. ‘This cannot be done without center- ing the main fire upon the social- fascist leaders in the ranks of the working class, (Muste, AFL, 8. P., renegades Lovyestone and Cannon), They can be exposed, defeated, isolated from the masses, and the masses following thei, can be won on the side of the class struggle only if we will develop the strug- gles on concrete issues. 4 (80 Be Concinded) } LOOKS WINTER THIS | THE HOOVER-ROOSEVELT PROGRAM! « A PRETTY STIFF fi { MAYBE IT'LL CUT DOWN o9R: UNEMPLOYMENT: PROBLEM - ane By CHARLES STRONG, HE writer recently visited Edith Berkman at the Carroll Sana- torium, Rutland, Mass., wiere ‘she is confined to bed as a result of a years brutal persecution and im- prisonment by the federal authori- ties. Mass pressure of the workers rescued her from Doak’s clutches. But the victory in her case is only conditional. The conditions of her release on bond demand that she leave the country upon her recov ery. But the only reason the au- thorities demand her deportation is her active leadership of the textile workers in the Lawrence strike. ‘The right to remain in this coun- try must be won for Edith Berkman. Her case is part of a fundamental issue facing the American workers, the issue of the defense of the for- eign-born workers, TACKS ARE INTENSIFIED. ‘The attacks upon foreign-born workers by the federal authorities are growing sharper and more vici- ous each day. The Department of Labor has become an open strike- breaking agency which directs its activities against the foreign-born workers at the same time that the police—and sometimes troops—at- Each time a strike, or a struggle of the unem- ployed developes, the immigration officials snatch militant foreign- born workers and leaders for de- portation. The strike-breaking role of the Department of Labor “was forcefully demonstrated in the strike of the textile workers in Lawrence, Mass. The leaders of the militant National Textile Union, Devine and Murdock, were de- ported, while Edith Berkman was imprisoned, rdly directed against , these atactks ainst all the HILE out ea the employers’ campaign to reduce wages, to spread the stagger sys- tem, speed up the workers on the job and to break the resistance of the employed and unemployed workers and their struggles for better conditions and adequate re- lief. A brief lew of some of the deportation cases will demonstrate this point. The Berkman, Devine and Murdock cases developed thru the strike in Lawrence. Now a num- ber of miners’ leaders are threat- ened. with deportation. Frank Borich, Vincent; Kamenovich, lead= ers of the National Miners Union, and a number of others face de- portation for leading the miners’ struggles lagainst starvation and slave conditions. Nels Kjar, for many years member of the Car- penters’ Union in Chicago, and a militant, active leader among the workers of Dlinois, has just been deported, WHOLESALE ATTACKS. But it’ is not the leaders alone who are being. atacked and de- ported. Just the other day, on the eve of the, National Hunger March, 433 Mexican workers were spirited away Mexico, many’ being torn away from their. families. Nine Japanese workers were arrested in to be deported, for no other reason but that they attended a meeting called by the Communist Party, and were active in the organiza- tion of Japanese agricultural work- ers. THE DIES BILL. The attacks of the {mmigration authorities in the past have been directed chiefly against workers in specific struggles. These attacks are about to be co-ordinated into a general, centralized _ offensive against the foreign-born, by means of the Dies Bill. This bill has al- ready been passed by the -House of Representatives. It will come up in the Senate when the next session opens. If passed it will constitute one of the heaviest blows yet dealt the entir country by the capitalist class, worker while and black, must combine in militant struggle to defeat this vici- ous measure. » AN native and foreign-born, DER. thié bill’ any" foreign-born workers who so much believes in Communism, or, “a system based Long Beach, Calif, and are about * For a United Front in | Defense of Foreign-Born| upon common ownership of prop- erty and abolition of private prop- erty” is subject to deportation. Like the criminal syndicalism law of California under which eight work- ers were railroaded to prison for organizing agricultural workers of the Imperial Valley,—the Dies Bill makes possible.the elimination of any militant foreign-born worker whose activities are opposed to the interests of the bosses. The terms of the bill are so vague and all- inclusive as to wipe out every ves- tige of rights for the foreign-born workers. If a foreign-born worker goes on strike or participates in a hunger march or demonstration for relief; if he demands freedom for the Scottsboro boys, if he fights an eviction, or refuses to play the part of a scab—he is subject to deportation under the Dies Bill. But who is so foolish as to think that the Dies Bill is directed only against the foreign-born? How much of a step is it between the Dies Bill and some similar méas- ure along the lines of a national criminal syndicalism law directed indiscriminately against all the workers? PART OF GENERAL DRIVE. As 2 matter of fact every attack on the foreign-born is nccompanied by simultaneous atacks on the na- tive-born. While the foreign-born workers are seized for deportation, the native-born are imprisoned, shot or haye their heads split open by police clubs—as well as the foreign-born workers. The impris- onment of Foster, Amter, Minor and Raymond for their leadership of unemployed workers in 1930; the attacks of the Hoover government on the ex-servicemen in Washing- ton; the shooting of unemoloyed workers in Chicago, Detroit, St. Louis, -etc., prove this. et ea (UST as the conviction of the nine Scottsboro boys represented a clear-cut maneuver by the capital- ist class to arouse race hatred and drive a wedge between the Negro and white workers, so the Dies Bill embodies the basis for ‘further splitting the ranks of the workers by crushing the foreign-born sec- tion of the working Class, by arous- ing antagonism between the netive and foreign-born. These tactics must be broken against a solid united front of all the workers in this country. Only a uipited strug- place the Tull ‘burden of ‘tie capi- talist crisis upon the shoulders of the workers: Only such a siruggie can. win immediate relief, for: the: unemployed and social insurance for all the workers. But such uniled solidarity can not. be maintained unless all the workers regardless of vace: color or nationality combine in the fight against all forms: of discrimination, — whether it be against the Negro workers, the for- eign-born or any other section of the working class. F FIGHT FOR RIGHT TQ STRUGGLE IN U.S. “Massicanierences, protest jii66t- igs,-resoluttons and telegrams’ ré- flecting organized. will of broad masses of workers, must develop in. defense of the foreign-born, The right to remain in this country, to belong to unions and other working class organizations, to strike and participate in all working class uc- tivities, must be won. This right must be won for Edith Berkman, for Frank Borich, for all other vic- tims of the deportulion terror, and for the entire foreiga-born popu- lation of this country, Fight deportations! Defeat the Dies Bill! Build the unity of workers of the U. 5.! ’ Ask Workers to Aid in Book on Hunger March Th? League of Professional Groups is planning to issue a book on the Funger March which will contain eye-witness reports of the March by various writer-members, and sketches made in action by artist members. It'is urged that workers participating’ in the March keep diarice which can be made available as source-matreial | gle of the workers.¢an-deteat Pie | ‘to’ A Militant Agricultural ’ Strike in Cal. (By a Worker Correspondent) 'ACAVILLLE, Cal.—A strike broke out among the agricultural workers here on November 14 in resistance to a cut in the daily wage from $1.50 to $1.25 and the Jeng*hening of working hours from eight and a half to nine and a half. The workers would also in the fu- ture be obliged to furnish their own means of transportation to work, which amounts to 25 cents a day and was formerly provided by the bosses. Thus in reality the Wage cut amounted to 50 cents a day. As soon as the wege cut was an- nounced, the wi rs refused to accept it and the strike was spon- taneous. The workers called upon the T, U. U. L. and the Agricultural Workers Union to help lead the strike and «immediately organizers weie sent in from San Francisco and Sacramento. A strike commit- téé has been elected comprising 17 workers representing the various nationalities. Picketing is carried on every morning by Spanish, Filipifo, Japanese and American workers who have all joined the strike and so farsthe tie-up is com- plete. Smashing Police Terror In spite of the terror of the po- lice, the strikers are standing firm, and so far haye been able to resist the at‘empts to break the strike. About 6:30 one morning three aun- dred men, women and children had gathered on the highway leading into the city. The women and children barricaded the street, pre- venting trucks from going through to the ranches. The sheriff and deputies were called immediately, but when they threatened to arrest the leaders the w A “If you take one, When an officer thrust one of thé youth le dared him to shoot and the work~ ers threatened to tear him to pieces. TYe demonstration ended without arrests or bloodshed. Numerous organizations, includ- ing A. F. of L, locals, have eon- gratulaied the workers for their splendid fight and pledged support and a big mass meeting is being planned in San Fra co with strikers as main speakers. Sacra- mento sent a truckload of food, and money is being ised in many cities to help the st rs win their demands, + 0s) UNION INCREASES MEMBERSHIP > ~ As a result of the strike the Agri- cultural Workers Union, which was very weak, has increased its, mem- bership from 30 to 200 in Vacaville alone. Most of these workers are Filipino, Japanese and Sj)janish- American workers. These workers have learned an important lesson in this strike, The chief instigetor of -the wage cut happens to be a wealthy million aire farmer, Frank Buck, who was elected November 8 as a democratic Congressman by this district. | Be- fore the election he promised. the Spanish-American workers an in- ase of up to $2.25 a day if they yote for him. Two days later the ge cut was announced, and ‘at the, same time he attempted to use the Filipino and Japanese workers as strikebredkers, which, however, was prevented due to the solidarity ofthe workers and to the fact that the T. U. U. L. promptly sent Japanese and Fili- pino organizers in’o the strike. The workers in Vacaville have learned the real strikebreaking role of the Democratic politicians, and that only through the solidarity of all | nationalities and races and by mili- | tant struggle “and revolu ionary | leadevship will they be able to smash the wage cuts. The strike is of great importance, as it is laying the basis for a strong Agri- cultural Workers Union, not only in Vacaville but the whole of California. gun at ders, he i By Burek | NEGRO SLAVERY TODAY John L. Spivak’s Stirring Novel “GEORGIA NIGGER” NOTE.—"Georgia Nigger” is a smashing exposure of the hideous nerssentae sat national oppression of the Negro m: ‘The Daily Worker ie relentlessly opposed to the white ruling class term. “aigger.” and to the oppression and ‘con treatment of Negroes which it symbolizes, The author shares th's wee, order to paint m true picture of these horrible conditions, he conckdered tt to use this term ac otberxise he wovld have put into the months ef the bess ers terms of respect for Negroes which they do not wse.—Editer. INSTALLMENT 26 THE STORY SO FAR: David Jackson, a Negro Youth, is on bis | FLIES AND MOSQUITOES | ' wagons that took the load to level to the editors of the ‘book, and sec- tions of which directly in the volume, may be published All workers interested in co-operating arc asked » boss way to Macon, Ga., to look for a job when he is picked up on the streets of a small town, charged with vagrancy and sentenced to three months on the chain gang. While the warden, Bill Twine, is taking him to the prison camp, known as Buzzard’s Roost, David tries to escape. He is caught, beaten up and given an additional nine months. Twenty-pound steel spikes, extending 10 inches in front and 10 behind his legs, are put on David when he arrives at camp. He watches the prisoners coming back from work and sees one of them tortured in the stocks for having looked at a guard in a way that did not please him. Now continue: ° * . T is: hard to walk into a cage again. If was dark and hot inside. He clambered to the upper bunk he was assigned, careful to avoid jab- bing the others with his spikes, and stretched out on the blanket, crumpled on the straw mattress, It was too much trouble to slip the pants through the eye of the spikes and he remoyed only his coat and shoes, They all slept in their pants, stripped to the waist, if they had no underwear. ‘The iron door grated and clanged shut and the noises of the cage at night began: chains clinking, mat- tresses rustling, a convict hum- ming softly fo “himself, sporadic comments, curses in undertones, sharp slaps at flies and mosquitoes. Not a breath of air stirred. The cage filled with the acrid stench of eighteen unwashed bodies. A Negro scratched himself un- der the armpits. Another belched gas and laughed. From the adjoining cage a white swore querulously: “Gog damn stinkin’ niggers!” Sen ‘HROUGH the bars you saw the trusty go to the shadowy mass in rtocks and raise the topmost board. The wrists were released and the convict tell back, nis shoulders striking the earth and his legs pointing absuzdiy up- ward, When the ankles were freed, his feet slid over the board, the chain scraping the wood, They dragged him like a sack of potatoes to the cage. The door grated again. Those who were not asleep raised themselves on elbows and stared as the trusty lugged him to a lower bunk. CAGED AGAIN The door closed again. The pad- lock snapped. Insects droned. Bodies tossed restlessly. A Negro snored. A convict stumbled to the pots. A wild thing cried in the swamps, a sharp ery of anger or hunger or loneliness, wie ele is hard to sleep the first night in a cage in the heat and stench, and doubly hard when legs are weighted with spikes. When David did sleep he awoke each time he tried to turn, Once the convict who had b2en in stocks startled him from a fitful doze by a cry of pain felt in a nightmare, and once the boy awoke from a dream where, Jost in a dismal swamp, his spiked legs were tangled in twining roovs that drew him down into a glassy, stagnant pool. It was quiet and peaceful in his father’s cabin now. The half moon was over the broken chimney and the stars were winking like silly Negro ‘gals. The sagging front po-ch was piled with picked cotton. Zebulon was asleep with his mouth open, hugging his skinny little arms close to his breast. And over everything was the stillness preced- ing dawn. PREPARING BREAKFAST The cook and his helper stumbled sleepily to ‘the ‘kitchen: » A: Jamp was lit and their figures ‘bobbed fantastically on the yellow squares of window of kindling snapped in two were like distant pistol shots. The guard sat on the kitchen steps, scratching his neck and yawning. The cage docr swung open and the guard called the old, familiar: “Ey'rybody up! Gittin’ out! Shake yo’ laigs now!” ‘ Chains rattled and clanged and convicts stumbled sleepily. from their bunks, crowding’ and ‘jostling one another im the narrow aisle. ° UZZARD'S ROOST was rushing work» on the road to Jeff Beacon’s acres. “Last year the planter had acquired unbroken land cheaply and the county was now making an ancient cowpath as wide and Jevel as other Ane: ator ploughed tl convict crews shovelled it into mule deep hollows. In a semicirele about: the. wagon, their legs planted firmiy inthe broken. earth, they. waited for the signal from the walking Tue guard approached David: “Ever work on the shoyel gang?” “Yes, suh.” SMALLPOX CARTER 4 Smallpox Carter set the liek for David's crew, a huge, pockmarked Negro doing twenty years for man- slaughter, “Bettah put'm neah me, Bess,” he suggested. “Jes’ to see dat he doan hu’t hisse’f none.” ‘The walking-boss nodded. Con- victs must shovel in unison, for if one rises wh'le another bends, an |. arm may be badly gashed. The eastern sky turned gray. “Let's go!” the guard shouted. ‘MALLPOX bent chis broad back and with a grunted “Hep!” rose with a shovelful of earth and heaved it into the wagon. As he bent each man in the -crew bent with him and ,when he rose, they. rose with him. Steadily, with rhythmic precision, fourteen shov- elfuls lo tie minuie, they bent and rose to Smalipox’s lead. Their breath. came in pants, sweat, broke out on their bodies. The Negro who had been punished threw his shoulders back after every heave as though to ease a strain on his back. Only when the wagon was full and ready to give place to an empty one, did Smallpox utter a loud “Hol hit!” and everyone paused, resting on their shovels while the loaded wagon creaked away and the other took its place, WORKING WITH SPIKES ‘The twenty-pound spikes pulled David ankle deep in thé loose earth. The large brogans the commissary had given: him filled with soil, His heart pounded. Moscles ached. The red dust set~ tled in his nostrils and mouth. His throat felt dry and when he spat he spat cotton. In a momentary breathing space while wagons were being changed Smallpox whispered to David: “Lick too fas’?” “Tl mek hit,” he said doggediy, The filled wagon lurched. The driver struck the mule’s flanks sharply with the long reins. “Go on, mule!” he shouted. “Reck’n we'll hit up a slow tune,” Smallpox said with a wink. AVID .nodded gratefully. ‘The huge Negro’s deep voice started. a rhythmic chant, like the cry of his ancestors praying to their gods in the jungle. As his shovel sank into the earth he sang: Uh, uh, lawd— . With perfect synchronization each shovel sank into the soil at the last word. I wonder why— Eleven shovels swished their loads into the wagon. T got to live Fo’ de bye an’ bye. Silence followed the last word. Shovels rasped into the soil again in the rest. De sweet bye an’ bye! As he ‘finished the verse he heaved. Uh, uh, lawd, Doan you bother me. T’se never happy, Cept on a spree— Cain’ you see? Uh, uh, lawd— Uh, uh, lawd— Uh, uh, lawd— Ub, uh, lawd— Po’ me! Smallpox’s pitted face shone with perspiration though the sun -had scarcely topped the wooded horizon. Backs bent and rose in silence. The. cries of the driver to his mule sounded shrill. They sang the same song again. ‘The walking-boss strolled over and listened. “Hey! he shouted. “Whut you singin’, Smallpox? A lullaby? Wan’ to put ‘em all to sleep on the job? Beiter hit up If I Kin Git to Georgia, Line! It’s a lot livelier!” ‘The huge Negtfo grinned. “Yas, sah,” he returned without pausing, “but wukkin’ faster, Boss, ain’ gonter bring mah twenty years roun’ no soonah!” “Well, don’t make ’em all lulia- bies,” he cautioned gruffly. (Continued Tomorrow.) WITH 20-POUND SPIKES WEIGHING HIM DOWN AND IR~ RITATING HIS ANKLES, WILL DAVID BE ABLE TO STAND THIS KILLING PACE FROM SUNRISE TO SUNSET" EVERY DAY? BE SURE-:AND. READ TOMORROW'S INSTALLMENT! “So Please Send Us As Much As You Can...” “MOTHER. and five children— starving, freezing, unable ta. pay the rent. .Such is the plight of Mrs. Mile Sklarsky and het fam- ily. Her husband is serving @ sen- tence of from three to six years at * Blawnox, Pa., on a charge of “in- citing to riot” in the Pennsylvania coal strike of 1931. We understand the meaning of the phrase “ins citing to riot” in Pennsylvania: it means participation in struggle for « living wage for one’s family. The following letter grows out of this “crime” of Mike Sklarsky: s “Dear Friends: “Please send as much as you can for we have no clothes, no coal, no stove and nothing to eat, So please send as much as you can, ; “MRS. SKLARSKY” “P. S.—Please send it. as you can, for I need it Just that and no more, you turn away from such a plea? Can you fail to answer this simple, direct, appeal? Join the Interna- jonal Labor Defense; support the ii Prisoners’ Winter Relief Campaign! ‘Send all contribuiions to 80 BE. 11th St.. Room 430, New York. HEAR AUTHOR OF “GEORGIA NIGGER”—John L, Spivak will speak at the N. ¥. John Recd Club, 450 Sixth Ave., this Friday éve-- - ning, Dec, 2. Subject: “Chain Gangs in Georgia.” Admission 25¢,