The daily worker. [volume], February 28, 1935, National Edition, Page Page 4, Image 4

About The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958

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Page 4
HO M E
L1 F E
-»*-
Aw« Barton
"POCIETY ... in the sense in!
which I mean it, includes all
these groups of younger people who
by right of background should have
had the advantages of cultivating
education, and who should presently
carry on the precepts of excellence
by means of personal example. . . .”
That is Emily Post talking, author
of "Etiquette: The Blue Book of
Social Usage.” She says that more
and more there is a lack of certain
qualities "that must ever distinguish
the behavior of ladies and gentle
men.'’ She says the "stars of so
ciety” should have a manager to
“convince them of . . . their quality
of distinction."
* * »
IF THERE is any convincing to be
* done about the "precepts of ex
cellence” and the "quality of dis
tinction” of the stars of society,
those who are really in doubt,
are us women of the working
class, Emily Post. And we need
more than a manager to convince
us. Quite entirely aside from the
fact that the "precepts of excel
lence” young society is advised to
carry on were gotten from slave
drivers whose dividends wring the
life's blood out of w’orkers in the
tobacco plants; from notorious pi
rates; from patriotic gentlemen who
sold their beloved country rusty
muskets in the Civil War, and from
others wfcose history could not
safely be looked into by an impar
tial eye—besides these facts, there
are other things. And no matter
how correctly these stars twinkled,
we would not want to twinkle like
them.
WE, FOR instance, would not like
” to imitate the unbeautiful sight
of the blue-blooded, aging, former
Mrs, Astor, pursuing over Europe
and America, what seems to be her
resisting very vital, young, and
handsome boxer husband, En z o
Fiermonte. Then there are the an
tics of the various Princes Mdviani,
notorious chasers of very rich wom
en, constantly enmeshed in court
proceedings over various little deals.
Then again, there is the current
mid-Western murder trial of a
young society star, who murdered
another rich boy who traveled
around with her in the same so
ciety crowd.
* * *
NO, EMlLY—even if the etiquette
of your stars of society, part of
a decaying class, were of the very
finest, their precepts of excellence
could never be ours.
* * •
THE New York World-Telegram of
February 25th reports that the
average family now spends $3.31
more per week for food than it did
two years ago. It bases itself on
the family whose income is com
paratively high. Here are some
prices. “In January, last year, prime
ribs of beef sold for 21 cents a
pound. Now the price is 31 cents.
Leg of lamb last year was 21 cents;
this year 29 cents. Pork sausage,
last year, 25 cents; this year 29
cents. Smoked hams, last year, 15
cents; this year, 23 cents. Butter,
last year 23 cents; this year 41
cents. Eggs, last year 35 cents; this
year, 46 cents.”
These are prices existing in New
York. I would like women in lo
calities outside New York to send
me last year’s and this year's food
prices for their section.
Can You Make ’Em Yourself?
Pattern 2163 is available in sizes
16. 18, 20, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42 and 44.
Size 36 takes 4'/i yards 36 inch
fabric. Illustrated step-by-step
sewing instructions included.
Send FIFTEEN CENTS in coins
I
2163 i)L rffcfif
or stamps (coins preferred) for each
Anne Adams pattern (New York
City residents should add one cent
tax for each pattern order). Write
plainly, your name, address and
style number. BE SIRE TO STATE
SIZE WANTED.
Address orders to Daily Worker
Pattern Department, 343 West 17th
Street, New York City.
Eviction of Sharecoppers
Sweeps Macon County, Ala.
By a Sharecropper Correspondent
NATOSULGA, Ala.—After many days thinking whether
to write you of our conditions in Natosulga, Macon County,
I said I would write, happen what may.
We are at a point where we don’t know what to do.
It seems that we will be slaves out- ;
right in spite of all that has been
done for us.
Under the Bankhead Bill, we had
a few sharecroppers here. Now men
with large families are forced to
work for wages of $7 to $lO a
month. They must do this or move
and there is nowheres to move.
Th.e landowners’ drive to our
barns with guns and take the last
ear of corn from them, leaving a
family of five or six to perish.
J. G. Rea. a post office clerk, sent
to Jake Green’s barn and took every
ear of com he had on a Seven year
old open account.
We can hardly live through this
depression. They beat our people
in this town and we can not raise
our heads.
Our people are having to move
every day, when they can get a
place to go to. Many of our people
want to farm but have nothing to
go upon.
The landowners will not sell us
stock because they want us to work
for wages. We will work for about
five months and then we will have
nothing and will have to work for
whatever we can get, By so doing
they will get us where they want us.
Will our people do this because thev
think they can’t do any better?
One of our comrades was shot at
a few Sundays ago because he
could not pay a small debt. Then
he was hunted that night as if he
were a rabbit.
The half has not been told. I
wish you could call at mv house
and sit down and hear the facts.
Jersey Restaurant
Real Workhouse
By a Worker Correspondent
NEW YORK.—A few weeks ago,
I gave my last four dollars to an
employment agency for a dishwash
er's job in Schwartz’s Restaurant,
223 Washington Street, Hoboken,
New Jersey.
This place is about the worst
workhouse I have ever seen. I was
the fourth dishwasher there in two
weeks.
Every one works there at least
twelve hours a day, and on Satur
day you put in an extra hour
without any extra pay. Mr.
Schwartz, the owner, is always roar- |
ing around the kitchen like a ma
niac, heaping abuse upon every one.
He tried it on me, but I warded
him off with some choice foul !
language of my own. After that he
passed me by.
He has a real network of stool
pigeons there, which is rather as-1
tonishing for so small a place.
There is a sixty-year old woman
working there. She does an amaz
ing amount of work, peeling and
preparing potatoes and vegetables,
washing silver and glasses, sweep
ing, etc. She does this 13 hours
every day for $7 per week, with
plenty of abuse heaped upon her
gray head in the bargain.
Mr. Schwartz, as I understand,
was once a big shot here in Ho
boken. However, with many others
he lost most of his money in the
crash. Now he Is trying to regain
his fortune, skinning the workers
slaving for him in his restaurant.
NOTE
Every Thursday we publish Jet
ters from farmers, sharecroppers;
agricultural, cannery and lumber
workers. We urge farmers and
workers in these industries to
write us of their conditions and
efforts to organise. Please get
these letters to us by Monday of
each week.
UNITY OF THE ROANNE TEXTILE WORKERS WON THE STRIKE
Just as in the United States, the
manufacturers and industrialists of
France, in conformity with the
policy of the government, inaugu
rated a brutal attack on the already
low living standards of the workers
by cutting wages and by means of
the stagger system. Among the in
dustries most cruelly hit has been
the textile industry', already badly
shaken up by the crisis.
One way of maintaining profits
is slashing salaries. That is how
bosses meet emergencies. So on
November 8, 1934, the textile manu
facturers of Roanne announced a
12 per cent cut in wages. The situ
ation at that time was already des
perate. In an investigation made
by the Strike Committee it was
found that 60 per cent of the work
ers in that industry were earning
less than 75 francs a week; that
frequently father, mother and child
had to work in order to maintain
themselves; that in many textile
centers the wages ranged below 40
and 30 francs per week ($2.40-$3.00).
| The Strikers Prepared
The unitary unions (the T.U.U.L.
of France) had foreseen these on
slaughts and for months were en
gaged in organizing an educational
camriaign to prepare the workers
for the imminent fight to be waged
against the industrialists. On the
morning of November Bth, the
workers at the Desmaret textile
plant (one of the largest at Rormne)
laid down their tools and within 24
hours the walk-out spread to all
the other factories. Thirty-nine
factories, including 8.000 workers,
struck in a solid determination to
defeat the offensive launched
against them. The employers were
From Factory 9 Jfine. Farm and Office
The Rusty Wheels
Os Justice
By a Worker Correspondent
NEW YORK.—Not long ago I ap
plied to Joseph Gelenter, a paint
ing contractor of 176 Jefferson St.,
since I had heard that he was pay
ing high wages.
After working a half-day X was
informed that my services were no
longer needed and to return next
day for my pay. The next day he
began to stall me off and this kept
| up for a period of several weeks.
Meanwhile, having learned that this
was a regular practice of his. X be
gan to lose hope of ever collecting
! my five dollars. <•
! Finally, I applied to the Legal Aid
i Society for help as this organization
is supposed to handle such matters.
I This “Society” with the condescen
sion worthy of a J. P. Morgan in
• formed me they could do nothing
. j since the amount involved was too
. : small.
Still optimistic, 'out beginning to
i: wonder whether the wheels of jus
j tice weren’t getting a bit rusty, I
! appealed to the Department of
, j Labor. 80 Centre Street.
This august body, after much
' questioning and with official groan
ing worthy of a f-'ke wrestling
; ; match, finally ground out a beauti
■ I fully engraved piece of paper,
known as a summons, and in
fGOOSAVE OUR\
j structed me to serve it on the
naughty contractors.
After having it served in the ap
; proved legal manner, the contractor
| for some reason or other, not being
awed in the least by the seals of
! the state of New York, completely
ignored it.
j After this setback I was instructed
j to apply at the Municipal Court for
a judgment.
Being still curious to see what
! makes the wheels of justice go
round, I applied at the Municipal
Court for a judgment. After much
time I was awarded a judgment
against this enemy of the working
i class. However, before the judg
i ment was issued I was informed of
i a 25-cent fee that must be paid a
j notary public. Having just a dime
. i with me at the time, the notary
• j public, a back-slapping politician,
; | greedily accepted my last dime.
: j Flushed with victory, and already
i mentally calculating how many
i meals $5 would buy, X was much
chagrined when informed that
judgment must be served by a
United States marshal with an at
tached fee of one dollar.
With less enthusiasm, and a
growing wonderment at the intri
cacies of the law, I returned the
next day with the dollar and ap
proached the marshal. This indi
vidual, a power bloated limb of the
law, learning the Judgement only
involved $5 refused to carry out his
dazed. They did not expect such
a reply.
How was this strike prepared and
who conducted it? Educational
unitary unions warned the workers
of the bosses’ attacks, and plans of
meetings took place regularly, at
which militant comrades of the
work in the factories and for strike
activities were laid out. A Central
Strike Committee was elected to
lead the struggle. The workers of
the different unions realized imme
diately the potency and effective
ness of such a plan. They organ
ized united committees in each shop,
in each factory, in such a way that
right at the beginning of the strike
the unitary and reformist unions
were united solidly for specific and
definite aims. From the very outset
the strike was in the hands of the
strikers, with the Central Strike
Committee, the connecting and
guiding force, leading them to vic
tory.
At first the employers refused to
deal with the strike committee.
Even as late as December 19th, the
president of the ‘‘Employers’ Fed
eration,” Monsieur Dechelette. wrote
to the sub-Prefect: ‘‘The Textile
Federation has said several times
and maintains that it does not
recognize the Strike Committee, in
which the conservative elements rule
alongside the revolutionary ele
ments.” This was a tribute to the
militancy of our comrades, and in
spite of their stubborness, in the
face of the growing solidarity of
the workers, the employers had to
meet with the strike delegates. Pro
posals and counter-proposals were
shot back and forth. The Employers’
Federation finally agreed that re
ductions would not h* applied to
salaries below 75 francs .a week
whereas at the outset the 12 per
DAILY WORKER, NEW YORK, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28. 1935
The Ruling Clawss By Redfield
C * -Jj
NEWS ITEM: N. Y. Evening Journal offers cash prizes for letters
describing heaven.
Lowell Strike Settlement Exposed
As Big Swindle Over Shoe Workers
By a Shoe Worker Correspondent
LOWELL, Mass.—The shoe work
ers in Lowell are just now begin
ning to see how shamefully they
had been tricked at the settlement
of the “holiday” that they had de
clared in solidarity with the workers
of the Laganas Shoe Shop who had
been on strike for eight weeks.
Their militant stoppage was con
cluded through a conference of the
mayor, some N.R.A. officials and the
Joint Council, and the dispute at
the Laganas shop was to be turned
over to arbitration.
When the employees of the Fed
eral Shoe Shop drew their wages
last Friday, the first day they re
turned to work (yes, one of the
conditions proposed by the Mayor
was that they work on Washing
ton’s Birthday, something that has
not been done here since the shoe
union is in existence) they found
that a slip of paper had been en
closed in their pay envelopes. This
slip read that they had their pay
Washington's Birthday
Dubbed Red Holiday
By a Worker Correspondent
BROOKLYN, N. Y.—This is an
actual scene in a New York Office,
a day before Washington’s birthday
An office worker is informed by
her boss that She would have to
work on Washington’s birthday.
Upon her refusal, her “patriotic”
boss shouted: "You must be one of
those Bolsheviks!”
sworn duty on the excuse that the
amount was too small.
This lesson in capitalist justice
brought back boyhood memories,
when I would stand and gaze at the
statues adorning our public build
ings, wondering at their significance.
Finally, like a splash, a great light
dawned on me, and I now under
stand the grim humor in blind
folding the statue of justice.
After the revolution, judicial
farces such as this, will be tales to
be told at workers' clubs.
cent cut was to include all cate
gories.
[ All Action Was United J
The strike was in the hands of
the strikers; the leaders were dele
gates of the rank and file, and the
solidarity grew daily. The tactics,
orientation and organization of the
strike were planned by both the re
formist and unitary unions. Side by
side the militants of these two
unions spoke at meetings, organized
and led the picket lines. Drives for
winning the support of other in
dustries, the small shopkeepers and
unemployed were made effectively.
All elections, all meetings, all drives
were launched jointly.
All problems concerning the strike
and proposed demands were sub
mitted to the Central Strike Com
mittee. Those workers who were in
immediate danger of being affected
by the wage cut joined with the
strikers and "demanded the signing
of a collective agreement which
should guarantee the present wage
rates for three months. Ten em
ployers signed such an agreement.”
This in itself was a victory. There
upon the workers whose demands
were granted decided to give 12 per
cent of their wages for the support
of the strikers.
A prominent feature of this strike
was the drive for new union mem
bers. On the basis of trade union
unity, one membership card for
both unions was drawn up jointly
and distributed, ‘‘leaving every
striker free to decide the organiza
tion he or she wished to join.” This
unity of action brought forth such
enthusiasm that non-union mem
: bprs joined the unions and the
i strike. Even the Christian trade
cut approximately 20 per cent dur
ing the "holiday.”
But that is not all. The owner
of the Laganas Shop agreed to turn
over all differences to arbitration
on one condition, and that is that
the scabs at present employed would
remain on the job. Since he still
needed about 150 workers to fill
the factory, these should be sup
plied by the union, and then there
would be a vote taken as to whether
or not the workers involved wanted
a union to represent them. The
vote is to be conducted by an N.R.A.
board.
The sentiment is strong for re
strike. The rank and file must take
the situation into their own hands
through the election of a broad
rank and file committee to handle
the situation. They should en
deavor to get the sympathy of the
10,000 textile workers in Lowell who
are also talking strike. Then what
has been lost can be regained and
more besides.
Relief Heads Indulge
In Old Army Game
By a Worker Correspondent
GLEN COVE, L. I.—ln Locust
Valley, L. 1., about two miles from
Glen Cove, there is a worker named
John Woroslowski.
Last month he was put to work
•by the relief administration. He
worked two days. He waited and
waited for his money. One day he
asked the timekeeper about those
two days.
The timekeeper sent him to the
foreman. The foreman did nothing
also, and sent him to Mineola. In
Mineola they told him to go back
to Locust Valley and go to the re
lief bureau where they should give
him some food for the two days he
worked.
But John went to the foreman
again and told him, “1 work two
days and I have to be paid for
them.” The foreman just said, “If
you want to, bring your lawyer, if
you have any.”
By PAUL GREEN
union joined up with the Central
Strike Committee.
The employers used all kinds of
fascist measures to break the spirit
of the strikers but in the face of a
solid united front they remained
powerless.
The strikers not only got tremen
dous moral support but they re
ceived financial assistance from
every nook and corner of France.
In short, the whole French working
class was behind them. Just a few
examples: Unitary trade unions, re
formist unions, unorganized groups
sent funds; besides the Socialist
and Communist papers of Paris, we
find even a regional paper, ‘‘La
Tribune,” of Saint-Etienne, opening
a collection in their favor; all
shades of opinion—the republicans,
socialists, radicals, etc., contributed.
Os course, the Coordinating Com
mittee of the Socialist Party and
the Communist Party voted soli
darity and jnoral and financial sup
port. Truly, it was one of the most
remarkable manifestations of work
ers’ solidarity. The campaign of
popularization was one of the finest
examples of how to win the sym
pathy and support of all strata of
workers.
Strike Gains I
In view of the increasing acute
ness of the crisis in France and in
view of the widespread attack upon
the standard of living, and con
sidering the wave of strike move
ments now pervading France, the
Roanne strike with its conduct and
organization is of tremendous im
portance. The lesson derived there
from is of great significance for us
in the United States also.
What did the strikers obtain? The
Employers’ Federation wanted to
Armed Thugs Gather to Break
Strike of Lettuce Pickers
By a Worker Correspondent
EL CENTRO, Calif.—Following the bloody massacre
of the striking lettuce packers, in which two strikers were
murdered and four injured including one woman who was
badly beaten, the reactionary authorities who obey the
dictates of the growers, went grimly about the job of block-
Horse Troop Seen
As Fascist Move
Bv a Worker Correspondent
SAN DIEGO. Calif. Casually
glancing through the Sunday Union
recently, I came across a spread
headline, "Exposition Drill Troop
Training for Exhibition and Duty
as Honor Guard.” ,
The writer of the story pictured
the organziation of this troop of
horsemen as a fine thing for the
exposition. Natty uniforms would
make a classy showing, etc. But
by now my curiosity was aroused
and I carefully read the story.
I read that the Junior Chamber
of Commerce was sponsoring the
drill troop. That the ranks of the
troop were being filled by prominent
business and professional men.
That the organization would be per
manent and remain after the ex
position. That it could be used to
escort notables in and out of the
city; for patrol duty around the
exposition grounds and at affairs.
A few days later another story
about this troop of horsemen ap
peared which told how it was pro
gressing and that at a future date
a dinner would be held for the troop
at which Victor MacLaglen would
be guest of honor.
That was enough for me. I smelt
Fascism right there. It is the for
mation of such groups, which ap
pear isolated on the surface, but
which underneath are all pretty
much interconnected, that the work
ers must be warned against so that
they will know who their potential
enemies are.
Take the local group, for instance.
Sponsored by the Junior Chamber
of Commerce, which on a national
scale is carrying on an anti-working
campaign. The troop is composed
of business men and professionals,
not of the working class. Playing
it up as a feature for the exposition,
they bury the fact that is planned
as a permanent organization. Not
only might it be used to escort
notables in and out of the city, but
it might also be used to escort un
desirables (to the organization'
such as militant workers or strik
ers out of the city, as well as patrol
strike struggles in the interests of
the employers, many of whom might
even belong to the organization.
With the bringing in of Victor
MacLaglen as the proposed guest
of honor at the troop’s first ban
quet, the local organization’s con
nection with MacLaglen’s proposed
state-wide troops of Lighthorse
Cavalry becomes apparent. The
movie star’s own troop in Hollywood
now numbers over 300 potential fas
cist troopers as well as a women’s
auxiliary of 60 or more.
The following is a list of the
impose a 12 per cent cut for all
categories, even those workers earn
ing less than 10 francs per day
(they work only four days a week).
The strikers obtained that there
shall be no reduction for those earn
ing less than 150 francs for two
weeks, and for those above 150 the
reduction is to be only 9 p=r cent.
The basic rate shall be agreed upon
by all employers. This is a very
important gain, since previously the
rate varied so much that workers
had been robbed five, six and seven
cents per yard of cloth, which often
amounted to three francs a day.
There are to be no dismissals for
strike activity, which means that
militant work conducted by our
comrades will go on. Previously
the employers made a practice of
laying off the most militant work
ers during the slack season. Now
all work will be equally distributed.
“In no case will the employers be
able to use unemployment as an
excuse for firing workers.” A work
ers’ committee selected from those
best qualified technically, and with
out discrimination as to political
tendencies or opinions, will be en
trusted with the work of establish
ing an applicable rate for the dif
ferent . trades in the industry.
All the above provisions are in
cluded in a collective contract drawn
up for six months and guarantee
ing the salaries and conditions of
work. Os course, the victory would
have been greater had not some ele
ments on the reformist side sabo
taged the strikes in some sections
by dealing directly with the bosses
and trying to induce the workers to
accept the bosses’ proposals. This
was a hindrance which was not
under the control of the Strike
Committee. But in spite of that,
after eight weeks of desperate
ing off the district around the let
tuce packing sheds, making of the
five-blocks area a veritable fort pro
tected by firearms, tear gas, fire
hose, and 200 armed so-called
“peace” officers.
“No-man’s land” is what they are
naming the territory immediately
surrounding the five-block area in
which mast of Imperial Valley's let
tuce passes before it is shipped out
into the U. S. This is the winter
agricultural crop which will pour
hundreds of thousand dollars into
the laps of the wealthy growers;
which they are preparing to defend
with their hundreds of hired gun
men and thugs, regardless of the
number of workers they have to
kill to do it.
They say it themselves. C. B.
Moore, managing secretary of the
Western Growers’ Protective Asso
ciation, said as spokesman for the
growers and shed owners today:
“We have nothing to conciliate.
The union program is one of rule
or ruin. The shippers have stood
it as long as they can. This issue
has got to be met somewhere, and
here and now it is being met.”
With the warm, red blood of the
workers the growers are meeting
the issue. With loaded rifles their
hired gunmen stand ready to meet
the issue with hot lead directed
against the workers.
What is this issue? “Recognition
of our union. No split-bench. The
Salinas Scale.” This is the issue to
the 2.000 lettuce packers, trimmers
and shed workers.
"The strikers are more than ever
determined that the slaughter of
shed workers shall not have been
in vain, and are prepared to fight
to the finish in our usual orderly,
law-abiding way,” C. B. Lawrence,
secretary of the Fruit and Vegetable
Workers Union, said.
Demand for Relief
Met With Threats
By a Worker Correspondent
CHICAGO, Ill.—l am a man on
relief with a family that consists of
my wife, four children and myself.
We get a food order of $12.41. I
have asked for a relief job but since
their medical examination marks
me C, I guess I never will get a job
again.
I went to the Police Department,
the Board of Health and the local
ward committeeman and they all
said that they could no nothing for
me.
I then went to the relief station
and asked my case worker for more
relief or some work to get what the
family needed.
She also said that they could do
nothing for me. I then threatened
to do something drastic.
Several days later, I was called to
the relief headquarters for investi
gation. They looked over all my
papers and then threatened me
with 6 months in jail and SSOO fine
if I ever again raised my voice in
a relief station. This is what they
call a free country.
members of this potential fascist or
ganization; Police Judge Clarence
Terry; Earl Roberts; Walter Kelly;
Bill Allen; Dr. John Steen; Harry
Simpson; Fred Steiner, lawyer and
reserve army officer; Evy Buchanan;
Joe Forward; James douche; Bob
Casey; Dr. George Cruikshank, the
troop commander; Phil Fiske;
Rupert Finley; Walter Casey; Jim
Henderson; Robert Rapp; Elmer
Heald; Jack Burman; Capt. Gar
rison; Fred Simpson, and Col.
George Fisher.
struggle, the workers find them
selves reunited and stronger. At
the last meeting of the strikers,
previous to the settlement of the
strike, a resolution on trade union
unity was unanimously passed by
the 2,000 workers present. This
resolution calls for "a rapid crea
tion of a United Trade Union Sec
tion by factory, of a single union
in each locality, of a single regional
textile union.”
At the conclusion of the strike,
funds were still available to supply
food, clothing and shelter for two
weeks for the strikers’ families.
| Lesson For U.S. Workers |
Tire points we have brought out
in this article should be of utmost
importance to the working class of
America. They prove that in order
for a strike to be successfully
launched and the object attained,
it is necessary that the workers be
thoroughly prepared for the strike;
that we attain trade union unity
among all strata of workers; that
the strike be led by the rank and
file and the rank and file strike
committees; that we launch a cam
paign of popularization in order to
draw into the struggle the unor
ganized, the unemployed, the small
shopkeepers, etc.; that in concluding
any unity with organizations which
may have different points of view
we state clearly the specific points
on which we are to wage the strug
gle; that the organization and orien
tation of the strike be clearly and
effectively worked out. It is by ap
preciating and understanding these
fundamental tasks and by organ
izing ourselves as did the Roanne
workers that we can hope to win
Ihe struggles which face us everv
i day right here In the United States.
YOUR
HEALTH
By—
A dreary Board
I ,
Tuberculosis and Nervousness
COMRADE L. M., of New Mexico,
j writes:—“l have been in the ■
! hospital for two and a half years
] because of tuberculosis of the lungs.
My lung is now almost completely
healed and I am in fairly good
shape. However, I am extremely
nervous. The muscles of the arms
and legs twitch upon the least bit
1 of excitement, and even conversing
j earnestly will cause me to become
excited. I do not want to be mis
understood here. This muscular
twitching usually comes on when in
bed at night. No special muscles
seem to be involved and a casual
onlooker would. I believe, not know
my feelings. There is, however, a
slight trembling of the hands,
which at times becomes very no
ticeable. The worst feature of the
whole affair, and what I am most
interesting in knowing the cause, is
the following: If I enter a room
where is a gathering of people there
will come into the back of my neck
a feeling of fatigue, which becomes
so bad that I have difficulty hold
ing my head up, and seem to have
hardly any control over turning my
head to either side. It becomes
necessary to cup my chin in my
hand to support the weight of my
head, so tired does the neck be
come. Upon being alone the feel
ing vanishes. I would like to know
whether you consider this trouble
organic or otherwise?”
• * *
Our Reply
THE twitching you complain of is
1 probably of mixed origin. In
people who are weak, especially if
such weakness is due to a chronio
disease, such as you have, muscular
twitchings are very frequent. They
are more frequent in people who are
more frequent in people who are
“nervous” or anxious. Your twitch
ings are probably due to a com
bination of both factors. Further
recovery from the tuberculosis with
accompanying gain in weight and
strength should lead to a marked
lessening or disappearance of the
twitching. Sedatives, particularly
bromides, help to control them.
Sodium bromide in five or ten
grain tablets can be bought cheaply.
The dose is ten grains three times
a day, six days a week. Bromides,
when taken continuously, tend to
produce a rash that usually looks
like Acne. If taken only six days
a week, a rash is much less likely
to occur. If a bromide rash doss
appear, discontinuing the drug plus
the liberal use of common salt and
drinking of large amounts of water
makes it disappear.
Your symptom of being unable to
hold up or move your head when in
company, is a sign of nervousness
or self-consciousness. This does
not mean that it is imaginary.
Nervous troubles are very real. They
certainly are real to the person who
has them. However, they can be
overcome. To do so often requires
the aid of a psychiatrist or spe
cialist in nervous disorders and we
do not know of any psychiatric
clinic in the small town from
which you write.
Nevertheless, you can probably
do a good deal toward overcoming
your difficulty by your own efforts.
All these measures that will in
crease your self-confidence will
lessen your symptoms. The most
Important of these is to make
friends and join with them in ac
tivities. We cannot give you more
detailed advice without knowing
more about the details of your dif
ficulties. We believe your tuber
culosis has had a good deal to do
with your nervousness and that a
complete cure of it will find you
free of much of it.
* • *
Soviet Medicine
4N ARTICLE which will describe
" what happens when a worker
gets sick in the Soviet Union will
appear in the first issue of
HEALTH AND HYGIENE, maga
zine of the Medical Advisory Board,
The writer is an authority on med
icine in the Soviet Union, having
access to the latest information.
What sort of clinics are set up,
what sort of treatment do workers
receive, how are the sanitariums
and rest homes run, what is th«
position of the doctor and his rela
tion to the worker, are all phases
of this question which will be dealt
with.
HEALTH AND HYGIENE will
continue to print articles on va
rious fields of medical care and
health prevention in the Soviet
Union, giving at the same time
information as to corresponding
phases of medicine and public
health in this country. Subscribe
now. One dollar a year advance sub
scription.
• • 0
Sex Problems of un-Married Adults
THIS will be the title of a lecture
to be delivered by Dr. Frank
wood E. Williams, under the aus
pices of the Medical Advisory
Board on March 6th at Irving Plaza
Hall, 15th St. and Irving Place, at
8:30 p. m. The admission is 25c.
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