(Copyright, estate of Gaillard Hunt)
CITY OF MASTERLESS MEN
12.
NEW YORK--SIDNEY S. LENZ AND HIS PARTNER OSWALD JACOBY WERE 1751 POINTS IN THE LEAD IN THEIR 150 RUBBER CONTRACT WITH MR. AND MRS. ELY CULBERTSON.
ADD HOOVER
PRES. HOOVER'S MESSAGE TO CONGRESS SAID IN PART:
-WE HEIST PUT STEEL BEAMS IN OUR CREDIT STRUCTURE*XXX STRUCTURE-
-WE MUST HAVE INSISTENT AND DETERMINED REFDUCTION IN GOVERNMENT EXPENSES -WE MUST FACE A TEMPORARY INCREASE IN TAXES-
WASHINGTON--SEN. TRASKER L. ODDIE OF NEVADA VOICED OPPOSITION
TO BIMETALLLISM OR FIXED RATIOS OF GOLD AND SILVER BEFORE THE CON-
CONVENTION OF THE AMERICAN MINING CONGRESS HE URGED RESTORATION OF SILVER TO ITS PREWAR PRICE AS A BASIS OF SAFE AND SOUND POLICY.
ADD HOOVER
-I AM OPPOSED TO ANY DIRECT OR INDIRECT GOVERNMENT DOLE-
-THE EMERGENCIES OF UNEMPLOYMENT HAVE BEEN MET IN MANY DIRECTIONS-
TAMPA- -A FEDERAL INJUNCTION AGAINST 140 ALLEGED CONMUNISTS PROHIBITING THEM FROM INTERFERING WITH THE PEACEFUL CONDUCT OF THE
TOBACCO WAS ISSUED TODAY
ADD HOOVER
-THE COUNTRY IS RICHER IN PHYSICAL PROPERTY, IN NEWLY DISCOVERED RESOURCES AND IN PRODUCTIVE CAPACITY THAN EVER BEFORE
INSERT -INDUSTRY- AFTER -TOBACCO- TWO PARAGRAPHS ABOVE
ADD HOOVER
THE COUNTRY IS RICHER IN PHYSICAL PROPERTY, IN NEWLY DISCOVERED
RESOURCES AND IN PRODUCTIVE CAPACITY THAN EVER BEFORE-
-OUR SYSTEM, BASED ON IDEALS OF INDIVIDUAL IN
I
T
I
A
T
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VE IS NOT
XXX XXX
-OUR SYSTEM? BASED ON IDEALS OF INDIVIDUAL INITIATIVE AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
IS
NOT AN ARTIFICIAL THING
13.
Peter stood with two Government workers on the grassy mound at the base of the statue of one Lafayette, who assisted us in our Revolution. The two had taken a half hour of their annual leave to watch the Hunger March.
Over the heads of the people on the sidewalk they could see the whole of the broad asphalt of Pennsylvania Avenue on which traffic had been routed to the other side to make way for the parade. Across the street was the White House grounds with the gates closed and an unusually large number of police in bright uniforms loitering about.
"We can get a good view from here," said one Government worker.
"Just wait till a cop comes along," said the other.
"Yah, the tool of capitalism," said Peter.
"Hi, Comrade. Why aren't you down there in the ranks?" asked the first.
"He's not in the ranks because he thinks he's going to get his job back," said the second.
"Seven to five I get it back," said Peter.
"What do you base those odds on?" asked the second.
"Well, you see, my family has been Government workers for three generations."
"Oh, yeah?" said the first. "You just tell the Super that. He'll say that all these Government working Manns have got to come to an end some time, and it might as well be now."
"I don't intend to tell the Super anything. I'll tell my sad story to certain boys on the Hill and get them to tell the Super things."
"It might work," said the first.
"I've seen it work," said the second.
Peter drew out a pack of cigarettes and passed them around. They lit up, using the base of the statue as a windshield.
''Wish they'd start the hostilities, '' said the first.
"What do you mean 'hostilities'?" said the second. "So far there hasn't been a shot fired, worse luck."
"Why worse luck?"
"I'd like to see 'em do something," said the second.
"Such as what?"
"Oh, invade the Capitol. Throw a scare into Congress."
"It takes the Anti-Saloon League to scare Congress," said the first, sitting on the grass. The parade was not in sight, so they all sat, doubling the tails of their overcoats under them.
The second continued, "Congress sits up there thinking of the unemployed as a problem, and something they have to save money on by leaving it up to private charity, and at the same time they give large handouts to big corporations through the R.F.C. They think the way to prime the pump is to pour the water on the top of the manure pile. On the other hand, the Socialists think they ought to drill a few holes in the pile to help the water soak through, and the Communists think the only thing to do is turn the pile upside down, with a lot of violence."
"By God, that's an extremely clear explanation of the politico-economic situation," said Peter. "I couldn't do any better myself."
"He mixed his whaddyacallems," said the first. "Outside of that it was oke. You might even say it was a graphic illustration."
"However, neither the Socialists nor the Communists have any chance of winning," said the second. "So we can't tell how their ideas would work."
"We can see 'em at work in Russia," said Peter.
"Who can see 'em? All I ever see reported in the papers is famines and millions starving," said the second.
"And if all the millions starved that they say starved every year, there wouldn't be any population left," said the first. "Here they come."
They all stood up. The parade was approaching, marching four abreast and flanked by policemen. There was at least one policeman to every rank of marchers. As they went past, a section of the parade was yipping, "Black and white, organize and fight."
The first Government clerk turned and said, "If they keep that stuff up, they'll lose the South to the Democrats."
In front of the White House the parade halted and the leaders went into a huddle. They came out of the huddle and a detachment approached one of the gates. Police rapidly converged on the gate, both from inside and outside the yard, and when the delegation arrived there, they were outnumbered at least three to one. A consultation was held, and the delegation returned to the ranks.
"Ho, ho. The invasion has been repulsed," said Peter.
"Look how seriously the cops take it," said the first.
"They're not going to get anywhere that way," said the second.
"I counted twenty-four hundred," said Peter. "The papers said fifteen hundred."
"Yeah," said the first. "What did you do, count the feet and divide by two? How could you count 'em in that short time?"
"Count 'em by ranks," said Peter.
"That's not accurate. They're not all full ranks."
"They should have had a bigger turnout, anyhow," said the second.
A harsh voice broke in and ordered them to get down. They had not noticed the cop coming across the park. As they threaded their way among the loose crowd on the sidewalk, Peter noticed on quite a few faces the same indignant fear he had seen in the Auditorium. They separated at the corner, the two go back to work and Peter to walk through the park toward the parade.
He saw an empty bench and sat down, and then he became conscious of the fact that he had not gone to bed last night so he lit a cigarette against drowsiness. The parade was at a standstill and someone was making a speech.
He did not get up and go over to listen to the speech. He had suddenly become absorbed in his own predicament. Next step go and see someone. Mr. Clark, from Virginia, Room 418, House Office Building. Tell Mr. Clark that Mr. Peter Mann, Mr. Gilbert Mann's son, would like to . . . . How do, Mr. Clark. Glad to see you, sir. Mother's very well, thank you sir. . . . I'd like to ask you to do me a small . . . . Answer his questions quickly if not accurately. Certainly I'm qualified, Mr. Clark, because . . . If it would be convenient for you to write a letter, sir, it would . . .
Have to tell Mother, and she'd worry. She always expected whatever he did to turn out wrong and it usually did , for that matter.
Whose fault was it? Not entirely his but partly his. For instance, it wasn't his fault the Office was full, but he should never have left it. As long as you leave one job for another just for the sake of leaving, you're playing directly against the percentage. Like drawing to an inside straight. The only way to get anywhere is to get a job and hang on to it for years and years, and more years. Until you're known as an expert. Until you have Seniority. Until you're wrapped up in the damn thing and the world outside the narrow field of that job ceases to exist. The percentage lies in getting in a rut. God damn.
Even a rut isn't a sure thing, though -- take the twelve million unemployed. Lots of 'em twenty-five years with the Company deep in a rut and still they lost. The system always was wrong, now it's getting wronger and wronger. But it's easier to change your own status than it is to change the system. Where did that line come from?
It was the time he and Finley had gone out to the Standard Oil lease at Alameda Heights looking for work. They were sitting on a piece of twelve-inch casing in front of the toolhouse waiting for the foreman. There were two large posters on the toolhouse (Standard went in for sticking up pep posters everywhere) and one showed a back making an end run with the caption, "Know your goal. Plan your advance. Setbacks fail to discourage those who are going a long way." The other depicted a stooped and twisted person supposed to represent an agitator and its caption was: "Beware of the peddler of discontent. Shun the dealer in complaints and grievances. Don't let him sell you unhappiness." That one had started the argument about the system, and he and Finley had agreed that the system was plenty wrong but nothing much could be done about it right now, and anyhow it was easier to change your own status than it was to change the system. But that was a long time ago -- it was the year of the first Dempsey-Tunney fight. What did Finley think of the system now?
A wild cheer at something the speaker said rang out from the parade. Finley's not in that parade -- he wouldn't be they're a bunch of screwy communists getting thrown out of places and liking it Finley would think they were screwy like mission stiffs so would Shorty Slim Heavy Blackie American workers Shorty Slim Heavy Blackie sitting on their ass in pool halls waiting for someone to need men reading sports section Frisco Examiner waiting. Hell with it.
The speech was over and the parade moved down the Avenue. The crowd began to break up. Peter stretched and yawned. He should go home and get some sleep. He couldn't see Mr. Clark that afternoon -- he'd be on the floor, and anyhow, he was really in no condition to see anybody.
14.
ADD PULITZER PRIZE
MCCUTCHEONS CARTOON WAS TITLED -A WISE ECONOMIST ASKS A QUESTION
AND DEPICTED A BANK FAILURE VICTIM IN CONVERSATION WITH A SQURRR
SQYXXX SQUIRREL, WHO ASKS -WHY DIDN'T YOU SAVE YOUR MONEY- BANK FAILURE VICTIM ANSWERS -I DID
NEW YORK- - SEVERAL HUNDRED PASSENGERS ON THE MUNICIPAL FERRYBOAT
TOMKINSVILLE SAW FREDRICK BECK UNEMPLOYED PAINTER END HIS LIFE IN A LEAP FROM THE UPPER DECK INTO THE BAY.
SHANGHAI- -600 JAPANESE BLUEJACKETS WERE COMBING CHAPEl TONITE
IN AN ATTEMPT TO RESCUE A JAPANESE SENTRY LAST SEEN AT DAWN
PERSUING 6 CHINESE WHO HAD FIRED ON HIM AND SERIOUSLY WOUNDED
HIS COMPANION
WASHINGTON- -THE SENATE TODAY UNANIMOUSLY PASSED A BILL AIMED SPECIX
SSPECIFICALLY AT PREVENTING THE FREEING OF FOUR SURVIVING MEN ACCU
SED OF CRIMINAL ATTACK ON MRS THALIA MASSIE. THE MEASURE STRIKES
OUT THAT PROVISION OF HAWAIIAN LAW WHICH MAKES TWO SUCCESSIVE JURY
TRIALS EQUIVALENT TO AN AQUITAL.
WASHINGTON- -THE SUPREME COURT TODAY REJECTED AL CAPONES PETITION
FOR REVIEW OF THE CASE IN WHICH HE WAS CONVICTED OF EVADING IN
COME TAX LAWS AND SENTENCED TO SERVE 11 YEARS IN LEAVENWORTH AND
PAY A $50000 FINE,
ADD SENATE
REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS IDENTIFIED WITH THE PROGRESSIVE BLOC
PREVENTED TEMPORARILY A VOTE ON A MOTION TO TAKE UP THE HALE NAVAL BILL WHICH WOULD AUTHORIZE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NAVY TO THE LIMITS OF THE WASHINGTON AND LONDON NAVAL TRAEATIES.
LONDON- -THE LONDON TIMES WILL SAY TOMORROW:
-IN VIEW OF THE GIGANTIC RESOURCES OF THE COUNTRY AND THE EASE AND RAPIDITY WITH WHICH THE U.S. NATIONAL DEBT HAS BEEN REDUCED SINCE THE WAR, THERE IS NOTHING VERY TERRIFYING ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF A DEFICIT WHAT DISTURBS THE AMERICAN PEOPLE IS THAT CONDG XXX CONGRESS, INSTEAD OF SETTING AN EXAMPLE OF STEADINESS AND C0000PERATION TO A COUNTRY FACING A CRISIS, HAS ALLOWED ITSELF TO BECOME BEWILDERED AND UNORGANIZED.
ADD SENATE
SENATOR NORRIS SAID -I WOULD RATHER FEED THE PEOPLE THAN BUILD
BATTLESHIPS.
WILTON LLOYD-SMITH, CHAIRMAN OF THE BLOCK COMMITTEE ORXXX OF XXXXX
WILTON LLOYD-SMITH, CHAIRMAN OF THE BLOCK COMMITTEE ORGANAZATION
IN NEW YORK, SAID THE ORGANIZATION WILL PUT 5000 FAMILY HEADS TO
WORK WITHIM A FEW DAYS, BUT WHETHER THEY REMAIN AT WORK WILL
DEPEND ON THE CONTINUED RAISING OF MONEY IN EACH BLOCK TO WHICH
A BLOCK-AID CASE IS ASSIGNED.
JOHN CAPLES, ASSOCIATED WITH BATTEN,BARTON, DURSTINE AND OSBORN,
WRITES IN -TESTED ADVERTIZING METHODS- THAT THE AVERAGE AMERICAN
HAS APPROXIMATELY THE MENTALITY OF A 13 YEAR OLD AND THAT WORDS
NOT IN A 13 YEAR OLD'S VOCABULARY, CLEVERNESS OR HUMOR SHOULD BE
AVOIDED IN ADVERTIZING COPY.
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