◆ SpookStack

( o . . t 5 Experiences of a Union Han Paul Berthiaume PowP*Berthiaune, President, Unitcd Ferniture Yorkers, CIO, New Orleans, Lcuisiana. Pertinent parts vf this article are set out as follows: "T experienced my first strike activity in the strike arainst the New Orleans Public Service by the AF cf Lin the latter part cf 1929. I was twolve yoars old and was an active sympathizer, as nearly everyone clsc in the city was. Quite a few tincs I was in the rddst cf ricts, throwing bricks at strectears ant pclicemcn, also helpinc pile bricks aleng Canal Street and by the Canal Car Barn cn which sitns were put saying "Strikers! Ammuniticn". The bricks were threwn about quite often and had to be vathered all cver arain, and su cn. In spite vf the fact that pecple turned cut as if tc the Mardi Gras porade the strike wos lost.... Living with workmen who were as a whele sworn against crooked politics is the reascn, I think, cf my being at Hirshlander Folk School learninre to de all I can te help the “workins classes. sagt Tnc next experience that helped sy hatred cf ersoked politicians y: mas in 1932 whin the Veterans were staging the Bonus Lerch to Yasbingten. The ew Orleans group cst aboard some ompty box ears, and an cutbeund freight picked them up. A very larze er~w.j saw them .ff. Well, the police must have been afraid, because they cidn't sn-w up there but waite? cutsive the city where they stcpped the train, cad. the wen cet off, anit sent the train away. It locked oe Like helf the New Crloans police ferce was there with suomacnine puns. The Veterans wore marehed te the hichwy and herce’ toward 2 on tooge hut oa, te tthgerne hacain + a ray oo UUWii,g EUG So wn tin ejitiacns Oo pan to Cet thers. anc fell in line vith the vets, sin ing wma tellin, them te turn urcarn? which they at, snl tne p.dice c.ule net stop them any ture. . 6 e = If the mon un@ weuen «f the labcr meove:nont knew mere abcut the ETGPLANDER FCLa SUPOGL ani its prectises there woul? bo mre students arolyincg for onrcliment than the sechvcl covle accom:cate. This weuld lurid te the possibility cf cther schccls such as this. kere at Hish- lancer a person is tehen in anc if he has any ability it is fcun¢e fou him and he is sh wm how to use it. We noec this kmewlodge in smier to fight tic stuffed shirt bosses insteac of remnining just eowerker to be bricked arcunt or firec according to the way the boss ftecls ... or to ko led by some big minin, interest inte biting yerr own nese tc spite your face, as are the company-incited peop hore whe call themselves the Grundy County Crusaders whe, cn bein teld that the cchecl is this anc that, are bent on destroying it withsut stc upiuc te think that it may be helping their cwn kind get better living wares for their work." -21-