Document text
ORIGINAL MSS. OR FIELD NOTES (Cheok one)
PUB. Living_ Lore in
New England
TITLE Itallan Shoe _Machine Worker
WRITER Merton R. Lovett
DATE
#4
3/24/39 wps.
CHECKER
somega.oxim..(1)
COMMENTS
PI'. 7
DATE
Interview
Paper No. 4
Interview
with
Roland Damiani
by
Merton R. Lovett
"As well as remembered."
Interview with Roland Damiani
by Merton Lovett
(from memory)
"I hope, Mr. Lovett, that you will attend the evening
school graduation.
"Yes, this has been every successful year. The grad-
uating classes are larger than last.
"Oh, no, I don't deserve much credit. I am only the
Recruiting Agent. I get as many members for the school as I
can.
"Yes, a great many at the Evening School are Italian
Americans. They need training and they are ambitious.
"Sure it helps them to get jobs or advancement. And
the citizenship classes prepare many for citizenship. These
'classes are getting smaller though. There are very few unnat-
uralized foreigners in Beverly.
"No, the United Shoe Machinery Company does not put
any pressure on the non -citizens.
They encourage them to take
citizenship courses. They do not insist.
"Well, if a man learns to read blueprints at the
evening school, the knowledge won't do him any harm. It may
help him get a better job. A good many lumpers have been put
onto machines, after they got their diplomas.
Page 2
"Is it true that the company discharged 300 men last
week? I wouldn't know. i am sure that a few have been laid
off. But you know how it is. Every rumor at the factory grows
rapidly and multiplies.
"Yes, that's a good example. There was a little talk
of fitting up to make a few machine guns for the government.
iNlothing has been settled, so far as know, but they have been
saying that the company was going to hire a thousand more men
to built cannon, tanks, and airplanes.
"Sure, they would have added battleships if the plant
was located in the harbor.
"I don't think that there is much cause for alarm.
Business is quiet in SOMB departments. It is picking up in
others.
"yes, during quiet times the company makes readjust-
ments. I know that many men have been moved, to departments
where there is more work.
"That's probably right. I heard that some machine
operators have been demoted. They have been set back and made
helpers again. Such men were those who did not make good after
two or three years of trial. They could not put out enough work
Page 3
to equal their rating. hot every man is mechanical. Some
never can become skillful, accurate or fast.
"What is a man's rating? Why, most operatives of
machines are on piece work. They get paid so much for each
piece, or each thousand pieces, manufactured. But to protect
them against breakdowns or tie ups, which may result in wasted
time and small pay, they are guaranteed a minimum amount each
week. This minimum is called a man's rating.
"You're right, Mr. Lovett. The company loses money
whenever the amount a man earns does not equal his rating. The
slow or lazy operative may never equal his rating, regardless
of conditions. The smart machinest has a big output and makes
much more than his rating.
"Naturally they get tired of paying a machinist money
that he does not earn. Once in awhile such men are dropped to
helpers. Then promising helpers are promoted.
"No, I do not think these men who are dropped have any
cause for complaint. Some may get sore. Most of them are better
off.
"Why? Well, a helper is guaranteed a certain weekly pay.
It may not be as much per hour as the machinists rating, but he
Page 4
usually works more hours. Besides the helper has less res-
ponsibility and less risk. Be knows in advance just what
his week's pay will be.
"No, I think that the foremen are usually fair and
honest.
"What can a man do if dissatisfied? He can appeal
to the Superintendent and get a hearing.
"I'm sure that the company wants to keep the men
contented.
"Is the company's purpose in this to prevent the
formation of a union? I don't know. I wouldn't say anyway.
"The man you were talking to may have deserved to
be fired. Have you talked to his foreman?
"yes, there are workmen who don't give a damn. They
spoil a lot of parts. When I was working on a machine I knew
men who did not take enough time setting up the work.
?Of course the parts were liable to be two or three
thousands off size. I knew one man who drilled only four holes
in a lot of brackets, though the blue prints called for five.
There is a raft of work that has to be junked.
"Are they going to fire most of the unmarried men? I
don't know, but I don't believe so. It's probably another of
those rumors.
Page 5
"How do I account for .the fact that the company made
unusually large profits last year though work at the plant was
slack? It's none of my business.
"Yes, the United Shoe does own a great many subsidiary
companies. Perhaps they were busier. They also have foreign
branches.
"You may be right. The company's income is mostly
from royalties. That depends on the numbers of shoes manufac-
tured.
"As you say, the royalties would continue to pour in
for awhile, even if the Beverly plant shut down altogether.
But sooner or later we would have to supply the shoe factories
with new parts to replace worn ones.
"Well, I should worry, Mr. Lovett. The work in the engin-
eering department shows no signs of slacking up.
"Yes, I attended the big concert Friday night at the high
school. The Boston office of the United Shoe has a wonderful
orchestra.
"There was a big crowd present. Did you know that the
famous Italian pianist, Jesus karia Sanroma, played several solos?
He is well known all over the world. He plays almost as well as
Paderwiski.
Page 6
"Sure, Sidney W. Winslow, the president of the United
Shoe Corporation, was a member of the orchestra. He played the
cymbals and what they call the percussion instruments.
"Well, he played all right. He seemed to enjoy himself
very much. He is kind of fat and has grey hair. The speech he
made was short and all right.
"Do I think the hall would have been crowded if the
company's president was not there? I don't know. It is a good
cause. All the profits go to the relief association.
"Of course it made some difference, President Winslow
being there.
"No, the workmen were not obliged to buy tickets. Of
course they were urged to buy them if they could. It was for the
benefit of the sick.
"Well, perhaps the bosses felt that they had to be pre-
sent. They were on the spot. If the audience was small it wouldn't
look very good.
"That's right, they did shut down the bowling alleys and
the club house Friday night. Perhaps the bowlers went to the con-
cert. Perhaps they didn't.
"Of course, there are some people complain about such
things. However money has to be raised for the relief association.
Page 7
•k,
"I've heard that also. Mr. Winslow, according to some,
is undignified and plays in the orchestra just to show off.
"Maybe? Or perhaps he is interested in the United
Shoe and in the welfare of the workmen. I wouldn't know.
"Of course he's very, very rich. People envy him.
I don't know him personally. Are you acquainted with him, Mr.
Lovett?
"So you shot at him with an air rifle when you were
both boys.
"Well, I don't think I'll try that now. But perhaps
you were justiried if he was trying to catch your tame trouts."