Document text
64,4
Forms to be Filled out for Each Interview
FORM A
Circumstances of Interview
STATE New York
NAME OF WORKER Joseph Vogel
ADDRESS
DATE April 26, 1939
SUBJECT Hospital "Grippe With Complications"
1. Date and tirc of interview
April 25, 1939
2. Place of interview
Hospital and Medical Employees, Local 129
3. Name and address of informant
A Porter, Beth Moses Hospital
4. Name and address of person, if any, who put you in
touch with informant.
5. Name and address of person, if any, accompanyini: you
6. Description of room, house, surroundings, etc.
FOLKLORE
NE-- YORK
(Use as many additional sheets as necessary, for any of the forms, each
bearing the proper heading and the number to which the material refers.)
FORM C
Text of Interview (Unedited)
STATE New York
NA EE OF '.IORKER Joseph Vogel
ADDRESS
DATE
SUBJECT
April 26, 1939
Hospital "Grippe With Complications"
FOLKLORE
NEW YORK
It's the little boss who gives the most trouble. If a big
shot like the superintendant don't quote me 4- if he tries any funny
stuff, the Union has got him by the balls. But complain to the superintendant
about a little snot like the housekeeper and he says it's personal.
Tactics:
At Postgraduate hospital the housekeeper's got a anti -Negro
bias. Chauvinism:
At Beth Moses the housekeeper's got a anti -White bias. I'll
give you an example. I'm not talking about myself. Keep me out. Black or
white, it's the same thing.
One of the porters. Take anyone, what's the difference? He
gets sick with the grippe. Whose fault is it? He's working in the main
building and gets overheated. The housekeeper sends him on an errand to
the laboratory. Overheated, he goes through a cold alley. He gets the
grippe. Figure it out for yourself.
This porter I'm telling you about, when he comes back to work
the housekeeper sends him to the dispensary to be examined so as to decide
on his fitness to return to work.
Sanitary measures. Okay'
2.
At the dispensary this porter I'm telling you about waits
from one to four. The visiting doctor don't show up. There are fifteen
patients waiting. No doctors
I'm not criticising. I'm giving you a straight story.
Finally Finally, they send for an interne. The patients, you gotta
do something, you can't leave them there. The interne takes care of them.
He examines the porter and gives him the OK to start working as far as
his health is concerned.
Is that enough?
No The housekeeper refuses to accept the verdict of the
interne. Well, who are you going to believe? No: She insists the
porter needs an examination by the outside doctor.
"Listen", I say to her. "Where is the United States? On
this side or across the ocean?
Dictatorship:
Don't quote me, I'm not mentioning any names.
The next day, this porter I'm telling you about goes to
see the visiting physician. Dr. Hitlin, a gentleman, a doctor with a
private clinic. This porter describes him the situation. He's amazed.
What's the matter, if a interne is good enough to take care of clinic
patients, why isn't he good enough to take care of the porter? If his
examination is accepted for fifteen patients, what's the matter with one
porter?
That put the housekeeper in her place. Low down: A snake's
vest buttons Y'understand?
It's not enough. She's got it in for the Union. All right,
step on me!