Beyond the Depths-Hooverville in Camden, New Jersey
Jefferies, Frank
Beyond the Depths—Hooverville in Camden, New Jersey ' 'Normal" Capitalism Crushes Many Workers Into Class of Hopeless Outcasts—Others on Border-Line f »j I'lHiin j» iin prn THE...
...They have al stood for the same thing thai Hoover stands for: capitalism first, last and always...
...I date my Socialism back to last August when I found a copy of Th« New Leader hunger edition on my front porch...
...New York city...
...have proven this much in the pasi 1 They will not make any effort t abolish a system upon which the...
...It is too much to expect that so, clologlsts should display the intellectual detachment of physical scleni tists...
...In two of the words they ran second...
...Editor...
...All article* would be written in plain languagi and with the thought always In mine that the reader is unacquainted wltl the movement...
...For the lack of proper i environment, these people have ] sunk to the level of the animal that 1 Infests wharves, docks and sewers...
...Employment agencies Hoovervllles, picket lines and othei places where bitter minded men arc bearing the brunt of the class struggle should prove fertile ground...
...And tbe queer ¦ part of all this Is, that unemploy* ment does not figure, In any large - proportion, In this picture...
...Each In Its own sphere was regarded as the i truth...
...Then they wll have so many deserters they can no endure long and the workers can an< will ascend to power and we will es tabllsh a workers' republic...
...Yes, these people vote at every election...
...and all because of tbe-rotten ; environment, not only of today, but I of yesterday as well...
...The vast arm of unemployed Is proof that the Cap iiaiLst system has reached Its climaj To sincerely attempt to give all th unemployed work would necessitat eliminating private ownership of in dustry and commerce...
...It has been a composite paper trying to fulfill all these requirements and it has been an essential service that it has rendered the party through years of confusion...
...it may be called lowly...
...It it is advisable to mention the different parts of the body used In getting a living, why not include knees...
...What about these other people that have always lived thus...
...111"" I...
...I write to ask New Leader readers If they feel the need of such a system...
...Hooverville" Is g>o exception to what has taken place in nearly all cities and towns in this land of the mill and the home of the...
...Prior to that time I bad swallowed the usual run of stories on Socialism handed out by the press and others Interested in natotsaung the status quo, which contained a generous dose of free love, abolition of religion and division of wealth...
...Socialism will conquer...
...Beyond the Depths—Hooverville in Camden, New Jersey ' 'Normal" Capitalism Crushes Many Workers Into Class of Hopeless Outcasts—Others on Border-Line f »j I'lHiin j» iin prn THE "Hooverville" depicted b; Morris HiUquit has given birtl to an inspiration to portray othe: "villas" to which can be attache) the name or names of any or al our Presidents...
...There Is no dlffei ence between the Democratic and Re publican parties...
...It falls upon us to save oui country from dictatorship by exploiters at the hands *>f a military power Yuma, Arizona...
...Dues are only $1 per year am If you are out of work and sincere!] desire (o affiliate with the organ lea TO CORRESPONDENTS Due to the unnecessary length of some letters the Editorial Board earnestly requests correspondents to be as brief as possible...
...A L.", whose articles on'exceptionality and on the nature of triangles prompted this writing, should bear in mind that human emotions are more complex than geometrical figures...
...I believe the national convention would act wisely In seriously discussing a paper for the masses...
...gThe greatest flaw in our present system of propaganda %s that we do not reach the masses systematically, often enough and effectively enough...
...They realize from Instinct that it Is part of human nature to exist, and that they cannot eat soap...
...When Miss Smith answered the boss' summons she took—with her hands—her pencil from her hair and rested her note-book on hex knees, and that suggests an idea...
...Einstein, I understand - explained the anomaly and amendec the theory to suit the facts...
...And still some seem to think there must be something the matter with the revolution...
...of every voter believing In the Social 1st philosophy to register his true sentl incuts and affiliate with the Soclalls party...
...also, that the truly scientific mind is not over dogmatic...
...The result Is that others are held out for weeks and finally are not used at all...
...Unemployment it not the cause of their condition...
...These papers could be bought lr large los by locals, Yipsel circles anc other auxiliary groups and distributee free of charge...
...Come and do your duty...
...I am ,-njoying a delicious plate of soup presented by Norman Thomas when—Ughl There't>a cockroach In It I And I forget everything but the damned cockroach...
...Miss Dorcas Fellows gave me an encouraging reply and said that possibly they would undertake the Job...
...Long letters limit the number that can be run...
...All the Capitalists hope to do Is t pacify and keep the unfortunate vie Urns in subjection and keep men ii power who will perpetuate the syster that has brought so much misery...
...Their subject is too intimate i and Important for that...
...Nor was there any alternative, for their lowly condition, if...
...then concluded thai something was tbe nutter with i t the "law...
...These refugees from landlordism < and taxation, constitute the type ] ' that have never made any concrete : demands for better conditions and have utterly succumbed to a dei generate system...
...slave...
...The New Leader Is written for, and read by party members with the purpose of giving and receiving Information of the progress of the movement the world over...
...The speakers on the L. I. D. lecture -tours and regular party speakers address audiences made up almost wholly of people already in the movement...
...I should think writers and speakers would find this necessary...
...How can we expect to gain recruits by having them read about militants and Marxians, right wings and left wings, dual unionism and trade unionism...
...Tbe "Klondyke" There is another section in Camden, closely related to "Hooverville," insofar as location Is concerned...
...be sufficient for the start...
...And these people will never be willing to take part in the transformation...
...If his Job Is a stake and he can not see any othei course let him register Independent Such cases are rare...
...And tbe fact that they have gone "Beyond the Depths," has not been the cause of the millions of unemployed to follow suit...
...I don't know whether I am peculiar but It has about the same effect on me as a red rag on a bull...
...He should i*.t...
...The reporter apparently misunderstood my criticisms of American Communists and applied them to Soviet Russia, Bronx, N. Y. Wisconsin Primary election results In Wiscon( sin cities showed a big Increase in , the Socialist Party vote...
...Workers of hands and brains and knees, unite...
...This place It a melt- ig pot for habitual down and outers - and every kind of inhuman, prac. tice breeds here, from rape to murl der...
...In time, however, astronomers , observed that the planet Mercury took i a course that was not in full accordance with the law of gravitation...
...PuVthermore I have had the advantage of viewing the activity and propaganda of the party for six months without being enmeshed In its quarrels and staid, trite methods and phraseology, and can pass unbiased Judgment upon them...
...From Our Mattbag THE NEW LEADER FORUM Arizona—Classifying Workers— Socialist Propaganda Methods TO ARIZONA SOCIALISTS By Lester B. Wootever Representing Local Yuma of U Socialist Party as secretary, I wish I present what we feel every Social!/ and every one embracing the Socialii philosophy should do...
...and allow the existing order, or disorder, to envelop I and suffocate them...
...With this idea in mind I wrote the Lake Placid Club and suggested the compilation of a Socialist | filing manual, a guide based on the Dewey filing system but making particular provision for Socialist- subjects...
...No Socialist cai work In harmony with either becaus their fundamental theories are opposeto his...
...The tar and grease surfaced Delaware River, with city sewers emptying into it at the foot of every street, furnishes the west coast of this piece of made land known as the "Klondyke...
...Experience In Arizona has show the folly of Socialists giving aid c support' to any candidate on elthe Capitalist ticket...
...Though The New Leader is moa necessary as an inter-party organ, ou most urgent need at this time is i propaganda newspaper for the masses It need not be big...
...The letters of Comrades Edwards and Cordlner below are models of the terseness that is desired...
...This section is known as Hell's Half Acre, a very appropriate name...
...In Superior, four out of the five I candidate* of the Unemployed Council were nominated in tbe Aktermanle primaries...
...Let us build up the organization Ir Arizona and put a ticket in the field Let no one put Republican or Democrat ofter his name...
...The subject of the debate was the tactics that the working class must use In America...
...There is no reason for a "low caste" civilization of the* kind that has surrendered to the environment that has created "Hooverville" and places similar to it...
...Sorrespondenta should try to cover not more than one or two points and to be brief...
...In some instances, what :i was formerly the floor of these • shacks, could be more closely re* t lated to a cellar,-due to tbe seti tiing of these structures and ashes a into the mud...
...The great majority have proven that they desire better environment, otherwise all the vast acres of dumping ground would have taken on the aspect of miniature cities long before this...
...For the most part,-these people have an income from one source or another, no matter where, and have been living in this Klondyke for quite a few years...
...And pity Is wasted on these "human beings" that do not possess the will power or stamina to try to elevate their : environment...
...How would this look...
...They checked (if that Is the right phrase) their observations...
...At first . they were inclined to deny the phenomenon and call it an Illusion...
...It is not imperative that they be clean...
...Every Socialist should see tha he write...
...Today there Is an alternative for existing conditions as they are...
...Civilization will advance...
...Li.1...
...Most of these people have always lived in surroundings such as pictured, and therefore take it for granted that it is Dart of human nature for r a "poor people" to be submissive to 1 any and all conditions that are X forced upon them...
...or do we expect . them to Join the party by readlrn about Sam DeWltt's golfing or Mc Alister Coleman's cats...
...This is not, however, a time to be proper...
...The shacks picture in "Hooverville" are veritable palaces in comparison to some of the huts in e Klondyke...
...One or two letters that violate this rule are In type...
...And there twill be no foundation for better environments until the present system is abolished and the hew order of Socialism Is installed...
...Because these people, mentioned above, art little better off than the sewei rats that crawl in front of their doors, it does not mean that tbe unemployed masses will all degenerate to that level...
...wor ry whom the Capitalist parties nom hiate or whom they elect...
...ELIMINATE ALL BARRIERS...
...I made no such statement, and at no time in the debate did I speak any criticism of Soviet Russia...
...That would let in scrub-women and preachers...
...It is our dut] to act...
...Newton's theory was of course much I older, more widely known and more highly respected than the theory of Marx...
...If we d< our duty wc will soon drive then both in one camp...
...Racine Soclallsts scored a big Increase in the [ primary vote In Tuesday's election...
...Four pages, tabloU size, issued monthly, would, becaus of the financial condition of the part...
...These facts cannot be de nied...
...The...
...So, why those useless, objectionable words...
...Here in Camden, N. J., there is one locality in particular, where the people, men, women and children, hardly know the meaning of soap and cleanliness...
...I myself like to file away Important information for future reference...
...In five wards out of seven, Socialists scored' victories over their opponents...
...thrive...
...The rule will be enforced after they appear...
...Do other people do this,'or would they like to...
...FILING MATERIAL By Manuel boy Frank Research—the study Of a particular question—Is sometimes most practically done backwards, by keeping one's material filed systematically according to subject...
...This place was once a mud flat, since converted into an ash and garbage dump...
...They are immune to all else In their begging and stealing activities, in order that they get something to eat something to wear and the necessary amount of money to stall off eviction...
...Oh, here's an afterthought...
...Therefore It becomes the dut...
...And as a matter of course, they pay little or no rent and are quite satisfied to stay where they can do as they please, without interference from the poi lice...
...The argument of tbe Young People's Socialist League on this occasion, as we presented It, was that the Socialist Party by Us more democratic and parliamentary methods was better fitted to achieve the social revolution than the Communist Party...
...the ditch digger hitting a rock with his shovel uses his brains In deciding that a pick would be better...
...1 Invite the attention of students to the utility of the Dewey decimal filing system and ask, how many would like, to get a Socialist adaptation of It...
...Why...
...and i environment in the height of per- i fectlon could not force them to I the surface...
...Socialist after his nam when he registers...
...The Marxians tread sufficiently solid ground without claiming it to be 100 per cent bed rock...
...A largi cartoon on the front page, a tew ar tlcles Indicting the present class rule articles giving the fundamentals o Socialism, a column giving the prog ress of the movement the world over and a revolutionary poem or tw< would complete the Issue...
...Chicago, 111...
...As a Socialist, I look to Soviet Russia as the most promising place in the world...
...For school board, the Boi clallsts lead the field...
...And as the predictions were fulfilled each theory > acquired the status of a law...
...I am sending this letter to reassure my comrades...
...Our correspondent will be Interested to know that we are also- working on the idea of an elementary propaganda edition such as he describes and we hope to solve this problem.—Editor...
...There was no necessity to gather , and cook refuse In unsterilized tin i cans...
...J.JJ...
...AN EXPLANATION By Aaron Levenstein Under the flattering head, LEVENSTEIN WINS DEBATE, a Brooklyn newspaper sums up the recent debate between the Young People's Socialist League and the Young Communist League by attributing to me the statement that the entire political structure of Russia is based on false and contradictory principles...
...And while I quite agree with Comrade HiUquit that Socialism will be the only means of keeping the world from degeneratin, to tbe same level as portrays above, the fact still remains the this same clam of victims of pei : petual rotten environment, will b » tbe most stubborn bulwark in th ' path of Socialist program...
...They are self-evident Mr...
...For the reason that it is a part of human nature to exist with the least amount of effort...
...Jackson Heights, N. Y. SOCIALIST PROPAGANDA By Ernest Erber It might not be proper for me, a recent convert to the cause, to be criticizing and advising the learned and experienced leaders of the party...
...And please remember that these conditions did not come, alone, out of the present depression, nor are they the result of unemployment...
...This particular group live in houses...
...And any move on their part to change the system, or to elevate their environment, would really be an effort to which they would not be equal...
...Now old comrades who have beci registering Democratic or Republican come back into the camp where yoi belong...
...For the damnable, rotten system that perpetuates tbe continuance of this mode of "living...
...HiUquit realises the full am tragic meaning of unemployment t< the working masses, because of th< fact that a mere handful of spine less, supine people that were unwilling- to fight back, degenerated dumbly and passively, to the lowest depths of misery, from which the) twill never return...
...To give more writers an opportunity, the editor has been Instructed to reduce long letters to a reasonable length...
...These conditions were prevalent in the boom days of prosperity...
...And to submit t without protest...
...And they will continue as long as the present environments are In vogue...
...executive in his office uses his •hands to summon Miss Smith to "take this letter...
...Refugees from the System . In primitive times, the filth of , ash dumps, garbage deposits and ) polluted streams were unknown...
...i And something also happened thai . was not in full accordance with th« - other theory: Russia took the way: ward course in this case and went ' straight ahead into a collective com. monwealth without taking the pre- scribed detour through an age of in- dustrialism...
...Neither Capital!* party will do anything to solve th unemployed problem...
...We have been repeatedly advised to use The New Leader for propaganda...
...The New Leader for years, as a national paper, had the problem of trying to provide elementary propaganda for the uninformed, news of the movement all over the world, a forum in which party members could discuss party problems and to provide serious and even scientific contributions for the members...
...HAND AND BRAIN By William Edwards In an excellent featured .article by Paul Blanchard, I came across that "hand and brain" stuff again...
...The Socialist candidate for President of the Council received more than ' twice as many votes as the present Incumbent...
...The two Capitalist parties suppor tlie philosophy of private profit an< special privilege...
...But even if Marx got as near the truth as Newton did (and having regard to the nature of bis subject this Is highly Improbable) there would still be room for some sociological Einstein to supplement the theory of economic determinism...
...They have 1 gone beyond their depth, they have ] sunk below the lowest level...
...Both i theories stood the tests: they account - , ed for the past, made the present lni telllglble, and were the means of predicting future events...
...And any effort to educate or elevate them to a higher level, through an appeal to their human nature, would be futile, unless there was a solid foundation upon which to place them...
...Dump pickers were the first to build shacks and inhabit this newly discovered land, which is bordered on the east or land side, by two huge, nationally known industries, a cork linoleum plant and a licorice works...
...Hastings en Hudson, N. Y. NEWTON AND MARX By Robert Cordlner I Marx studied the ways of his fellow 1 men, and like Newton, who pondered over the planets, he propounded a . theory to explain their behaviour...
...And a few Marxians . were quite bitter about it...
...tlon, we will give you a card wlthou payment of dues...
...There is no ex cuse...
Vol. 13 • April 1932 • No. 12
