13

Florida
Enrique and Amanda
Folklore

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in the factories now; most of them came from Georgia."
"You know what's the matter with them cracker people?" interrupts Amanda. "They live so far out than running water ain't got there yet."
"We used to make fifty-five dollars a week," Enrique continues, "but now don't nobody make much more than about eighteen dollars. I guess it's mostly because the machiens can make cigars so cheap; you can buy the best kind of cigar now, two for five cents. And ain't nobody smoking cigars like they used to; young people all smoking cigarettes. Cigars is going out of style.

"In the days when we made fifty-five dollars a week we didn't have no unions. Maybe that's why we got so much pay. When we use to strike we always won, but since the unions organized we ain't won a strike. We used to go on strike and everybody stick together good; you know, Key West and Cuba would send help, soemtimes five percent of our wages, to take care of our families while we on strike. Of course, the people in Koy West is all on relief now.
"This AF of L union is no benefit to us. Before we can strike now we have to get permission from the Florida union officers, and they have to get permission from the national union officers, and they won't let us strike. If we go ahead and strike anyway witout permission, we all lose our jobs at the factories and there is plenty workers to take our places.
"Roosevelt, he is the one make the--what you call it--um--Lewis, CIO, that's right. Roosevelt don't make it, but he make it grow good. He may CIO is all right. He proves he like the CIO the way he put good men on the Labor Board and the Supreme Court.

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