GENERAL MOTORS' SIT-IN STRIKERS' THOUGHTS
INSIDE FISHER BODY #2 – FLINT, MI
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Written by Francis O'Rourke
December 30, 1936 – 6:45 a.m.
Men waving arms – they have fired some more union men. Stop the lines. Men shouting. Loud talking. The strike is on. Well here we are, Mr. Diary. Two sit-down strikers. This strike has been coming for years. Speed-up system, Seniority, over-bearing foremen. You can go just so far you know, even with working men. So let's you and I stick it out with the rest of the boys, we are right and when you're right you can't lose. What a lot of talk. Confusion. Curses. Now the fellows are settling down. I never knew we had so many entertainers in this little shop. Some are dancing, others have formed a quartet, - fair singers too. Now a snake dance, everyone is asked to sing a song, do a dance, or recite a poem. So the day is passed. It's 4 A.M. Time to go to bed. What a night. NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP.
December 31, 1936 – 11:30 a.m.
Had a good sleep, was surprised for a minute to find myself here in the shop. What will happen today? I hope it will be over. Thinking of that party at my home this evening. I wonder if the basement is decorated for the occasion. Wonder how Sweet (the wife) and the children are feeling. Bet Mother is worried about me. I felt so sorry for Dick today - he wanted so to stay, but when you're feeling good it's tough enough here - when you're ill it's too tough.
NEW YEAR'S EVE
Wonder if my company has arrived yet for the party? I bet they think I'm a swell host - They know I've never been a heel yet and I'm too old to start in now. Gee I'm glad Chick and Junior are in with us - They're always clowning and able to say something funny. It's sure a help. Poor Ed over there looks blue – his chin will be dragging the floor in an instant. Never expected to spend New Year's Eve in a shop, but here I am, for which I am glad.
There it is, twelve o'clock. Whistles, cheers – 1937. Peace on Earth – why must men in the World's most perfect Democracy have to take such steps to survive? Well the wife and all my guests are out on the street celebrating with me. It's sure swell, but (somehow) a lump climbs into a guy's throat. My brother-in-law here beside me, fools the same way. I can see we'll have to kid each other out of it.
Prayers and sleep. It's harder to sleep each night. Thoughts march in and out, in and out, until dawn chases them away and we sleep. Now I lay me down to sleep I pray the Lord my soul to keep. May our Heavenly Father watch over, protect us from harm and speed our settlement so we may return to our families. I ask in Jesus' name – may His will be done.
January 1, 1937:
Had a lunch but no appetite. Wonder how many traffic injuries last night. Wish I had a morning paper, maybe an agreement has been made. The boys have settled down, not so much noise right now. Did you notice the expressions on the faces? Drawn, pale, tired and anxious. Do hope this can't last much longer for all of us are here to stay – Now I lay me down ….
January 2, 1937:
Won't we ever have any rest? Sheriff Wolcott was here with an injunction. Did you know we were breaking a law? Did the fellows at Kelsey-Hays in Detroit break the law in their sit-down strike? If so, why didn't the Wayne County Sheriff serve an injunction on them? Are the laws of Genesee so different than those of Wayne County? I never expected Sheriff Wolcott and his law enforcement. We have done no harm. We're just honest working men that have been pushed so far and so hard that we can't keep it up any longer. They say we're lazy workers. Is a man lazy if he has not missed a day's work in two years, has not been late and kept up with a line manufacturing forty-five bodies an hour all that time? Most of these men have done just that and our employment records prove it. I'm glad the Sheriff is gone. Wonder if he will return? On guard against violence - watch, watch, watching all the time. No rest tonight. We don't want violence and yet we hear peace preached all the time by our strike leaders. Now I lay me down ….
January 3, 1937:
Well, the Sheriff never returned. Our prayers were answered, Thank God. Now we can have peace and rest. We need it. The boys are pleased that there was no trouble – the spirit is at the highest it's been since we sat down. Everyone is cheerful and all smiles. There is talk that we can return home without the danger of them scabbing our jobs. Home, Sweet Home …. I think I'll buy a couple dozen of those cards and hang two in each room of the house. I wonder if Patsy can ride the tricycle Santa Clause brought her, and Jerry the bike. I have some Christmas shirts I'd like to try on. Sweet probably wants the basement cleaned. Well, to bed for me. Now I lay me down ….
January 4, 1937:
In time I guess men grow used to anything. Let me see how many days we have been here. One, two, three, four, five long days. Gee I thought weeks had passed. The fellows are in a playful mood. Some have a ball made of rags and are playing basketball; using an old pail for a basket. We have a volunteer barber now, and boy is he busy! This has been a swell day. I hope the night passes the same. Now I lay me down to ….
January 5, 1937:
The Flint Alliance and anti-strike organization has been organized. What a night of wild rumors – on your pins boys – here they come, up to the gate. They won't take us out, we're sincere. All through the night, no, no sleep, jittery nerves, strained morale. The time and the conditions are taking their toll. One brother is acting queer. Should we ask him to go home? Another is sick of body but his heart is all there. We'll have a car take him home over his own objections. Some of the weak are giving up. Wonder if we can rest today. We ex-servicemen don't mind it much. The breaking point seems between 6 o'clock and 8 o'clock in the evening. My company was over this evening. Sweet and the children sure are loyal. They haven't failed yet. It sure helps to know the good wives are with you in thought and spirit. Thank God for that. Wonder if we can sleep tonight. To bed .... Now I lay me down ….
January 6, 1937:
Another day Diary, and a fair rest! Suspicion seems to have taken hold. Each of us watch the other. Is he one of us or is he one that is paid by our opponent? Watch him! Watch out for him, I hear all day and into the night. Daytime seems like eternity and nights seem like minutes. Sorry that Boysen took the stand he did. I always had respect for George, but I'm afraid it's gone now. Well shades of night have long since passed – let's try and rest tonight. Now I lay me down to sleep ….
January 7, 1937:
Well, Diary. Fisher #2 gets pretty cold when the heat has been turned off. I'm glad we have those blankets from home – they sure come in handy. Play pedro, sure helps pass these long days by. Never played much pedro in my life – I'll bid seven – just another day. Eat? No thank you. I'm not hungry. You don't have much appetite when all you do is walk back and forth – one end of the shop and back again. Always thinking of what tonight will bring. Here it is, evening again – evils always come in the night – be on your guard at all times men. Are the guards at each door? Watch the back of the shop. They could come across the railroad bridge and sneak up on us from the rear – be on your guard at all times men. They shall not take us out – so through the night – daylight has it's silver streaks through the shadows and maybe we can sleep in peace. Now I lay me down ….
January 8, 1937:
Pay day – yes, we have a few dollars coming – but we're not interested in them now. Wonder what the early news flashes were. Our good Governor Murphy, whom we have so much faith in, is doing all he can for an early settlement. Some of our boys have rested much better since the Governor has taken hold. How much longer must this go on? If I were out I could sell a few suits tomorrow and could we use the money? Well tomorrow will soon be here. Night has dropped its blanket of darkness and the rumors are again making their rounds. Our men are on edge again – there will be no rest tonight I'm sure – but might as well lie down. Now I lay me down .…
January 9, 1937:
This has been a very peaceful day. Had an invitation to dinner with the trimmers – they have a kitchen of their own and T-bone steaks were on the menu. Those trimmers are real chefs. I'll tell their wives about it when we get out. The men can prepare Sunday dinners at home for a change.
This usually was Sweet's and my night out (Sweet is the wife) and we usually made our weekly trip to the movies. I hope she can go tonight, she's been so good since I've been here, and tomorrow I see the children. They think I've been working all this time.
Hello, Sweet. How's everything at home? Do you have coal? How are the children? That was a lovely dinner you brought down last night. Yes, we are feeling fine; most of us have colds, but nothing to worry about though. Well, I'm glad everything is O.K. We'll see you tomorrow. Good Night dear."
Well might as well lay down now. Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord ….
January 10, 1937 – Sunday:
Sunday and I've missed Mass. I'm sorry, but I missed Mass during the World's War and this is war. Sunday always seems like a day of rest, but so many visitors are out in front. I wonder what they think. Some have sneers on their faces. Usually office workers. They know nothing of the working conditions in the shop. Others are here with encouragement. Would like to go down on the walk like the inquiring reporter and ask each one down there for their opinion of this whole affair ... the fellows here seem more relaxed than they have been for days. Some are kidding the watchman. There goes a tray of hot coffee to the watchman. The men and the watchman are very friendly toward each other – after all, we all are just honest working men. Well I guess I'll retire. Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord ….
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...forever known and celebrated as White Shirt Day. The daily diet of the Flint Stay-in Sit-down strikers, bean soup and cornbread, are served at yearly celebrations. Standing around a chalk drawn February calendar, Ralph Lockhart, with his right hand raised, top left-hand corner, to the right of the man in the hat and overcoat, just turned 88 years young in 2002.