Bérmunkás, 1935. január-június (23. évfolyam, 824-849. szám)
1935-06-15 / 847. szám
8 oldal BÉRMUNKÁS 1935 julius 15. What’s in a Pai? Big Peter and Steve are inseparable pals. On Big Peter’s First day on the new job his mighty fists flashed in and out great quantities of dough, kneeding it into delicious delicacies — hot cross buns for laymen’s breakfast, wonderful biscuits, shortcakes topped with rich cream and luscious berries. Once he swung his fists too high and a great wad of dough stuck to his face, blinding him. That’s when he met Steve. Steve was a “fancy cookies” baker. He had been sliding the crisp goodies from enormous baking sheets when he saw Peter’s predicament. And he didn’t laugh! Instead, he stood on a stool (in order to reach Peter) and wiped his face. What came from behind the mask of dough pleased him because, you see, they are inseparable pals. They had been working together, side by side, for several months, warmer weather had set in and the time was right for picnic and other summer-time pleasures. On the day of the firm’s annual outing, Steve took Peter in hand. Peter knew his biscuits but he didn’t know fancy cookies. . The picnic grounds boasted a dance floor protected by shade trees. Peter and Steve were looking around for a sugar cookie a piece. “That’s her” shouted Peter, raising a huge arm to point across the gay flutter of the dance floor. “Half-pint, I’ve found the girl who makes all this fuss worth while. Com on. I want an introduction.” Steve swung his 140 odd pounds upon the big arm and pulled it down. “Civilized people,” he said, “don’t point.” And they don’t yell “That’s her!” Then he turned to look in the direction the big un had indicated. “My pal, you would pick out the prize winning layer cake!” he whistled softly as his eyes lighted upon a glorious blond. “Cut the kidding and start mixing batter,” the giant urged. Steve shook his head sadly. Big boy, the ingredients haven’t been doped out yet that would mix with that un. Something in his tone caused Big Peter to glance down quickly. “Has she thrown your for a loss too?” he asked. “Every Romeo behind an apron has tried to rush her,” Steve responded. But he did not deceive the Big Fellow. “If she’s your girl, that lets me out,” he stated decisively. “She’s not wearing my brand,” Steve replied. “She’s what you would call a maverick — there for anybody who can rope her. All she has ever given me is permission to hope.” Peter shook his head. “The- re’d be no chance for a man like me, against you, anyhow.” Steve dropped his air of mockery. “Big un, won’t go between us. I’ll give you an even break — then let the best man win. There’s only one man in the World like you — she has seen hundreds like me. Your play is to be yourself and not try to imitate us. Perhaps a caveman is what she has been waiting for. There were sundry adjustments to ties, etc. “We’ll go to her. And, remember, after the instruction it’s every man for himself.” “I wouldn’t do it of it were any girl except that one,” the giant apologized. “Can’t we still be friends?” “Sure,” snapped Steve, “just like in books.” He performed the introduction gracefully and added, “My best friend and a fine fellow.” Then he turned to leave. Half way’ cross the room he was roughly seized from behind. Peter jerked the little fellow about. As Steve looked up into the grim face above him, the giant growled, “You fumbled with your damn politeness.” He held Steve powerless, while his huge arm came up to point openly at a girl with a shock of dark curls above saucy eyes. “That’s her!” he said again! Big Peter and the owner of the dark curies (Patricia — “Pat” to you) had been married for two years. The Biscuit Company had been on a strike for three months now. Steve was in the picket line but his thoughts were . . . His “glorious blond” had said “yes,” at last, and meant it. But the World was topsy-turvy — he couldn’t ask the girl to set “the day” when his prospects were so poor; everything looked black. He thought he’d go see Peter in the evening as he hadn’t been there for sometime. Oh, he liked to go, allright, but those two were still so in love it made him feel like an intruder. They were the proud parents of a “ducky” kid. “Pat” said it looked like Peter, Peter secretly thought so too, but wished the mite had had a “break” and looked like his beloved “Pat.” Steve, however, privately believed his godson (gee, it made him feel that he was here for something, anyhow) was too young yet to be catalogued. That night the usually jovial Peter was tense but silent,— the usuall sweet “Pat” was somehow saddened. (She was frightened about their financial future but had somehow reassured Peter.) It made Steve want to turn traitor — give in to the concern heads and work on any terms, any wages. But that would be unforgivably weak; he didn’t want that, not after they had fought so hard. All the other men were leaning on him, looking to him to put spirit into them. But Peter’s landlord wasn’t going to wait for a strike to ■end. In fact he was going to put an iron into the fire too. With the sudden scarcity in houses and the consequental rising of rents, he was confident he could re-rent so the sooner he got possession, the better. And the larder was down to nothing. Peter had applied to the Relief Agency board for aid. A young negress sat at the desk and asked the entire history of his life and his father’s before him; then in a businesslike voice said that an investigator would be sent to his home and they would receive a check in about two weeks if everything was as stated. Not- withstandig Peter’s plea for immediate aid as they were hungry now and if they didn’t soon get food they wouldn’t need it in two weeks, the girl was adamant: she was doing her job well, and “that’s all, if you please! Next case.” They were fortunate in that until the strike is ended and they can get on their feet again, a little old sunt takes care of “Pat” and the baby. Shelters and feeds them out of the little she has. Steve shares his bunk with Peter. There remains1 one satisfaction in the entire unhappy situation ; the two inseparables are together again. By: Anna Zsamar. TARKA SZÍNPAD ÉS KABARÉ lesz junius 15-én, szombaton este a Bérmunkás Otthon 1351 3rd Ave. ahol nemcsak a legjobb műkedvelők, de a közismert színművészek fognak fellépni. Rendezi az IWW és a Modern Színkör. Lesz jó zene és Tánc. A hüssitők mellé a rendezőség gondoskodik arról is, hogy a helyiség is hűvös legyen, melyre már meg vannak téve az előkészületek A belépő jegy 25 cent. TÁRSAS KIRÁNDULÁS junius 23-án, Edenwald erdőbe melyen lesznek különleges meglepetések. Bővebben a következő lapszámokban. Kidőlt harcos A detroiti munkástársakat egy veszteség érte Szilvágyi munkástársunk elhunytával, aki minden alkalommal segítségünkre volt az Egy Nagy Szervezet terjesztésében. Szilvágyi munkástárs még fiatal korában ismerte meg az IWW-t az akroni nagy sztrájk idejében 1913-ban és azóta állandóan az Egy Nagy Szervezetet hirdető IWW mellett agitált, az utóbbi napokban is, állandóan IWW lapokkal és irodalommal volt tele a zsebe és igyekezett a munkásokat a szervezet érdekébe megnyerni. Az utóbbi időkben nem bírta munkaerejét eladni, hogy családja részére a rendes megélhetést megkeresse. Mint aki a munkában nőt fel, nem birta a munkanélküliséget, bántotta az a helyzet, hogy alig negyvenöt éves korában, már nem kellett munkaereje, igy serdülő fianak kellett munkába állani, hogy a családot eltarthassák. A munkanélküli életet nem tartotta életnek, igy nem csinált titkot belőle, hogy vágyik a halálba, az enyészetbe. Álomban kereste a menekvést és hogy ezt előmozdítsa, nagymértékben szedett be alvó porokat, mely siettette a halálát. A Wodmere-i temetőben hamvasztottuk el holttestét, a rokonok, munkástársak, ismerősök részvéte mellett és tettünk igéretett, hogy hátramaradt fiainak nem csak rokonszen- vünket adjuk, hanem továbbra is segítségükre leszünk, hogy az osztályharc részére öntudatos munkássá, harcos társunkká nevelkedjenek. J. S. jelzéssel többször találkoztunk a legidősebb fiának Írásaival, úgy a Bérmunkás, mint az Industrial Worker hasábjain. Reméljük sokszoros energiával és tehetséggel fogják apjuk által abbahagyott agitációt, nevelést folytatni. A munkástársak és rokonok összeadtak 23 dollár 50 centet melyből egy koszorút helyeztünk a szervezett munkásság nevében koporsójára és a megmaradt összeggel pótoltuk a temetési költségeket. Tudósitó. TÁRSAS KIRÁNDULÁS az Edenwald Erdőbe. Junius 23-án, vasárnap egész nap. Rendezi az IWW new yorki csoportja és a Modern Színkör. Lesz jó zene, tánc és a legjobb ételek és hűsítők. Gulyás, lacipe- csenye, szalonnasütés. Belépti dij nincs! ÚTIRÁNY: A Lexington Ave. subway az E. 180. utcáig, onnét a Westchester Railroad Local train a Dyer Ave. állomásig. Vagy pedig a 3-rd Ave. “L” a 133-ig utcáig ahonnét szintén a Westchester Railroad Local train a Dyer Ave- ig. Esős idő esetén a Bérmunkás Otthonban d. u. 3 órai kezdettel táncmulatság. Olvasás után adja lapunkat szomszédjának Junior Column
