Indorsed By Every
Craft In Charlotte and In
The State
4
VOL. VI. No. 2
CHARLOTTE, N. C., AUGUST 10, 1923
Herald
mm\
Indorsed As
OrttnyfNortfa^ynab
Farmers*
5c COPY—$2 YEAR
CANNOT SUE
LABOR UNION
IN THIS STATE
Decision of Judge Harding In
Tucker-Eatough Case.
THE FIRST TIME
Labor Organization Was Ever
Sued In North Carolina
Court s—Of Gr^at
it Interest. -
“Labor organizations cannot be
sued in North Carolina.”
This is the decision rendered by
-Judge Wl F. Harding, in Superior
Court chambers om Wednesday, in
the case of P. E. Tucker against
Henry Eatough and the United Tex
tile Workers of America.
Several weeks ago Mr. Eatough
filed charges against Mr. Tucker,
who was a member of the North
Charlotte Textile Local Union. The
charges were heard in (the union
meeting and M*\ Tucker was ex
pelled from membership. Through
his attorney, Hon. W. L. Marshall,
Mr. Tucker sued Mr. Eatough and
the United Textile Workers , of
America for $10,000 damages. Hon.
J. Frank Flowers, representing Ivlr.
, Eatough and the International
Union, insisted before His Honor
that a voluntary organization could
not be sued. Judge Harding upheld
this contention of the defense prose
J cution.
This decision will be greeted with
much interest throughout the state,
as it is the first time in the state’s
history that a labor union has been
sued.
It is expected the case against
X Mi\ Eatough as an individual will
be heard some time in the future.
State Federation to Meet In
Greensboro Next Monday
■* __
Some Things That Will Come
Before Convention.
IMPORTANT MEET
1*1 , ■■ ■ —
Frpe Textbooks, 48-Hour Law,
Convict Leasing Among
• Important Matters.
On next Monday morning the
State Federation of Labor will meet
in Greensboro for annual conven
tion. James M!. Ellis, of Spencer,
is president of the organization, and
Charles G. Worley, of Asheville, is
secretary-treasurer. Mr. Ellis has
been in office .for one year, and Mr.
Worley has served the state body
for five years.
There is a rtemendous amount of
work to be done by the Federation
in the Greensboro convention. The
labor forces will more than likely
take action on the following import
ant questions. '
Wbrkmen’s compensation iaw.
Free school books for the state’s
free schools. >
State-wide Australian ballot.
Examination and licensing of
plumbers, electricians, and other im
portant inspectors of work wherein
(Continued on Page Two.)
FLOWERS IN
IREDELL COURT
J. Fratak ^Flowers, Charlotte attor
ney, is attending court this week in
Statesville, appearing as counsel in
the ease of Wood vs. The Moores
ville Cotton M/ills. The case has oc
cupied the court’s attention for sev
ral days, and is considered one of
the most important to come up be
fore this term of Iredell court.
MORE GRADE ACCIDENTS
Washington, Aug. 8.—Railway
grade crossing accidents included 517
persons killed and 1,710 injured in
the four months of last year, reports
the bureau of public roads. 'A great
percentage of the casualties were oc
cupants of motor cars in collision
with .railroad trains at grade cross
ings. Experts of the bureau declare
the accidents can be lessened only
by an underpass or overhead cross
ing.
BAKERS CONTINUE FIGHT.
Chicago, Aug. 8. — Organized
bakers are as vigorous in their op
position to the Ward baking company
as on May 1 last when this bread
trust declared for the anti-union
shop.
A Strange Brand of “Peace”
Peace reigns on the Pennsylvania railroad system, says W., A.
Atterbury, the road’s vice-president.
If it be peace that rules on the Pennsylvania, then deliver us
from the Pennsy’s brand of peace, which bears a closei resemblance
to war.
The Pennsylvania led in the fight on the railroad shopmen, and,
despite Atterbury’s assertion that peace riegns on h'is lines, the
railroad is still opposing the shopmen with every resource at its
command. It has spent large sums in hiring and attempting to<sfcrain
strike-breakers whose incdmpetency is shown at every Pennsylvania
roundhouse and repair shop.
Results of the Pennsylvania’s policy are strikingly illustrated by
two recent accidents caused by defective boiler tubes. Fireman
and enginemen were seriously scalded in each instance. A. G.
Pack, chief safety inspector for the Interstate Commerce Commis
sion, sharply criticized the Pennsylvania for the “accidents,” de
claring that investigation had disclo^d that the locomotives in
volved had been improperly and inadequately repaired. The sup
position is that the locomotives had been “repaired” by incom
petent non-union shop workers.
Not content with endangering its employes because of its
hostility to organized labor, the Pennsylvania has been varying its
program by killing on a recent Sunday thirteen persons who were
'struck at two grade crossing by the same Pennsylvania train Within
a fety hours. The Pennsylvania, in common with other railroads,
permits hundreds of grade crossings to exist on the plea that it
cannot afford to abolish them. At the same time, it finds vast
sums to spend -in efforts to prevent its workers from organizing.
Meanwhile, the Pennsylvania, under the leadership of Atterbury,
is trying its best to wreck the unions by establishing fake schemes,
of “employe representation” which take no cognizance of the or
ganizations which the men themselves have built up.
Truly, it is a strange “peace” that reigns on the Pennsylvania
and of which Atterbury boasts in public addresses!
TEXTILE UNION
WINS STRIKE IN
CHATTANOOGA
- i i
Lockout of One Department
Brought on General Strike
Miss KeHeher Directed
Union Activities.
Chattanooga, Tenn., Aug. 8.—
Strikelockout of textile workers at
the United Hosiery mills- at East
Chattanooga was formally ended
Friday morning when Local 1086,
United Textile W/orkers, ratified an
adjustment of differences made by
the management of the mill and a
committee of the workers, together
with Miss Mary Kelleher, represen
tative of ' the mftrenational union,
who has been in charge of the dis
turbance since its inception.
The trouble at the United mills
had been brewing for several weeks,
and was the result principally of disr
affection in what is known as the
boarding room, in which department,
something more than 100 skilled
workers are employed. A request
for an increase in the wage rates
was made, the management replying
that this would be granted just as
soon as a plan could be worked out.
After some weeks had elapsed the
proposed new wage scale was sub
mitted to the employes* bift proved
to be decidedly objectionable, the
workers contending that a provision
of the plan was a “task,” or bonus
system, which was impossible of ac
complishment. It was felt that the
proposal would in any event mean a
sharp reduction in pay, and their
declination of the offer was followed
by what they regarded as a lockout.
This was followed some days later
by a sympathetic walkout of prac
tically all of the 700 empldyes of the
corporation.
A notable feature of the disturb
ance, which has been evident from
the first, was the friendly spirit ex
isting in spite of the unfortunate dis
agreement, and it was the confidence
that this feeling was mutual which
led the workers to seek a conference
on Thursday. The negotiations,
which were conducted in the very
best of spirit, resulted in a substan
tial increase in wages, together with
the elimination of- an objectionable
subordinate and satisfactory adjust
ment of more or less minor griev
ances in regard to working condi
tions throughout the plant. Details
of this feature of the settlement
were to some extent to be worked
out in the regular course of the
work, but no trouble is anticipated
in their adjustment.
The mill will resume operations
Monday, according to announce
ment, without prejudices or discrim
ination of any character.
Members of Local 1086 were high
ly pleased at the settlement of the
disagreement. Many additions to
the roster have been made within the
past few days, and they are pre
pared to proceed in the fellowship
which comes through collective ac
tion, taking their place in the large'
family of local trades unions and as
sisting their brothers and sisters in
other lines toward the goal of better
living standards and a closer co-op
eration between employer and em
ploe throughout the city.
/ - - :
Three North Charlotte Textile
Workers Discharger^ From the
Highland Park Mill No. Three
Reading left to right:—Miss Carrie Parker, WJilliam Young and Miss
Annie Langley.
Miss Parker is the sole support of a widowed mother and a little or
phaned sister. She has been with the Johnston Mills for 12 years. The boss
refused to give' her any reason for her discharge.
Mr. Young has been with Mr. C. W1 Johnston for 34 years, going to
work in the Johnston Mill when he was only, nine years old.
Miss Langley, who; was discharged on Wednesday of last week, has
been in the mills for several years. Her mother was also discharged last
Mpnday. All these workers are among the most popular people of North
Charlotte'; and the fact that they were summarily discharged, and refused
any hearing at all, has arouse’d the workers of this entire city and section.
SITUATION TENSE IN
NORTH CHARLOTTE
C. L U. FAILS
TO SECURE A
SETTLEMENT
Worked Hard To Bring Peace
able Settlement.
KEUSTER ACTIVE
As Were Others, in Effort To
Secure Peaceable Negotia
tions—All Failed.
The Future?
On Tuesday evening, July 31,
after hearing the' report of the dis
charge of W'ill Young and Miss Car
rie Parker from their jobs in the
Highland Park mills, the Central
Labor Union apppinted a committee
to see if the matter could be satis
factorily adjusted, without the work
ers having to go to the court of last
resort. The Central body was, and
is, extremely anxious that nothing
happen that will tend to disrupt the
even tenor of the day, nor interfere
with the peaceful progress of indus
try, business and the working people.
From reports made to the Cen
tral body that organization was
forced to' the conclusion that the
discharges of the workers was a di
rect result of the activities of those
discharged in the labor movement.
Such being the case, and always
standing for the American right of
any and all workers to belong to
the labor union of their craft, the
Central body deemed it not only
just, but necessary, that it, as the
parent body in this city, take charge
of the cases and endeavor to pro
cure a peaceable and just settle
ment. j • -
With this object in view, the Cen
tral committee called upon Editor
Harris, of The Charlotte Observer,
and sought his advice. He readily
advised the committee to see some
influnetial citizeas, and was deeply
concerned about the situation, com**
plimenting the Central body on its
efforts to secure a peaceable and just
settlement of the controversy.
Then Business Manager C. 0.
Keuster, of the Chamber of Com
merce, was called upon. He worked
faithfully and diligently in an effort
to secur a hearing of the cases, to
the end that a just and fair settle
ment could be made, and in this way
and manner making unnecessary any
disruption of business conditions.
On Wednesday* following the dis
charge on Tuesday of M;r. Young
(Continued on Page Two.)
Will Young Has Been Notified
to Move from Company House
There is herewith reproduced the notice sent by the Highland Park
Manufacturing company to Will Young, notifying him to vacate the "com
pany’s house in which Mr. Young’s family has been living for a long time.
This notice is given on a regularly prepared blank, with names and
dates filled in, showing plainly that it is a regular custom of the Highland
Park company to throw people out of their houses whenever they are so
minded.
Mr. Young has been with Mfc\ Johnston’s mills for 34 years, with the
C. W. JOHNSTON J. L. SPENCER D. H. ANDERSON
President Treasurer Secretary
HIGHLAND PARK MANUFACTURING CO. '
Manufacturers of
i COTTON GOODS
CHARLOTTE, N. C., Aug. 4, 1923.
To W. T. Young:
You are hereby notified that this company de
mands possession of the house and premises known
as No. 33, heretofore occupied by you as a tenant of
of the Company; and you are hereby notified to va
cate said house and premises on or before the 8th day
« of August, 1923.
In the event you fail to comply with this notice,
proceedings will be begun against you on that date,
to eject you as provided by law, from said house and
^ -■ premises.
HIGHLAND PARK MFG. CO.
By L. E. Anderson,
Superintendent.
exception of a few months out. He went to work for Mr. Johnston when
only 9 years of age.
Superintendent Anderson, whose signature appears on this ejectment
notice, is also superintendent of the Sunday School in the North Charlotte
M. E. Church. Mks. Young and the children belong to that church and
att?fod the Sunday School led by Superintendent Anderson.
Mr. Young will resist the ejectment proceedings, and'has retained Col.
T. L. Kilpatrick as counsel.
Read the notice published herewith.
1
THREE WOMEN
AND ONE MAN
FIRED OFF JOB
Will Young, Miss Parker, Miss
Langley and Mrs. Langley
FOR 34 YEARS
Will Young Worked for John
ston—Miss Parker Sole
Support of Widowed
Mother.
On Tuesday, July 31, Will Young
and Miss Carrie Parker were dis
charged from their jobs in the High
land Park Mill No. 3. On Wednes
day, the following aday, Miss Annie
Langley was discharged. On Mon
day of this week, Mrs. Langley,
mother of Miss Annie, was dis
charged.
All told, there have been about
fourteen men and women discharged
in North Charlotte this summer, and
the fact that each and every one
of those receiving their “walking
papers” were active trades unionists,
members of the North Charlotte
Textile Union, and the Charlotte
Central Labor Union, are forced to
the conclusion that these discharges
have been on account of union af
filiation. This fact is made clearer
when it is considered that the mill
management would give no reason
for such discharges.
Wfll Young has been working for
Mr. C. W- Johnston, president of
the Highland Park Manufacturing
company, for 34 years. He began
work in Ml-. Johnston’s mill when
only nine years of age. He has been
in the employ of Mr. Johnston’s mills
practically all the time since that
early age. Mr. Young is 43 years old
now, has a wife and six children, and
is considered one of the best textile
workers in this section. His wife
has worked many years in the John
ston mills, too, smci for some time
the oldest daughter has also worked
in the Johnston mills.
L. D. Williams was Mr. Young’s
boss, and he, of course, is under the
supervision of Superintendent L. E.
Anderson. Mfc*. Young says he was
discharged at the instance of Super
intendent Anderson. *.
Mr. Young received notice to va
cate the mill-owned house, and the
pathetic side of this ejection pro
ceeding is the fact that Mr. and Mrs.
Young have spent considerable time
and money in fixing the place up,
(Continued on Page Two.)
PIEDMONT PI
SHOP DECLARE
ON UNFAIR LIST
Typos Hold Interesting Meet
ing—Newi Member Initiated
“Pop” Ollen Presides—
Other Matters. 1
John Neal Cadieu was obligated ’a
member of the Charlotte Typographi
cal Union at the regular meeting of
that organization held Sunday after
noon. The new member is working
on The Charlotte Observer, and
comes from Monroe, where he has
many friends who congratulate the
Charlotte organization in adding to
its roster a young man} of splendid
character and bright promise.
President Bridges is spending a
few days in the mountains, at his
old home in Waynesville. In his ab
sence “Pop” Allen, vice president,
sat at the helm and conducted the
meeting through two hours of ex
traordinary strenuous business.
On recommendation of the com
mittee that has had charge of the or
ganization work, the Piedmont Print
ery was placed on the unfair list.
This means that no member of the
organization will work in that Char
lotte concern, until such time as the
management of the Piedmont Print
ery changes about face, and signs a
contract with the union.
Mtessrs. Coble, Grainger and
Keever were named auditing com
mittee of the local.
Check for expenses of H. C. Allen,
delegate to the I. T. U. convention,
Atlanta, was ordered drawn. Of*
course “Pop” is going to have the
time of his life at the convention
next week.
Messrs. Snakenburg and Duke were
named as delegates to the Central
Labor Union.
Letters from President Howard,
of the International, were read and
much information of value was given
in the letters. ' .
Action was taken to hardie the
members who allow their cards to go
unpaid, thereby placing in jeopardy
their standing in the union. Some
times the younger fellows, not fully
(Continued on Page Two.)
CARPENTERS
GAIN MEMBERS
Forty new members for the Car
penter’s Union is the proud record
made by Business Agent R. L. Lyle,
of the District Carpenter’s Council.
These organizations are growing,
and one of the big reasons is the fact
that builders and contractors in
Charlotte have finally discovered
that the most costly thing they can
do is to employ boll weevil carpen
ters. True, such carpenters can be
secured fCr much less per hour than
a regular experienced carpenter will
work for, yet when the cost of build
ing is considered, it is found that
the economical way is to employ njen
who know what they’re doing.
The union will not have as mem
bers any except men who have had
experience and who can qualify as
mechanics. Good carpenters in
Charlotte who have refrained from
joining the organization are finding
it rather difficult to secure the con
fidence of those who want carpentry
work done, so long as they remain
out of the organization.
Then, too, carpenters are growing
weary of working at a lower wage
than is paid in most any other North
Carolina city. .This is another rea
son for the growth of the organiza
tions.
JUDGE CLARKSON
RETURNS TO CITY
Associate Justice Heriot Clarkson,
of the North Carolina Supreme
Court, returned to the city Thurs
day morning from New York where
he attended the wedding of Hon.
J. D. McCall, a life-long friend of
the associate justice. £
Gompers and Other Officials
In Declaration.
MANY PRESENT
Whole-Hearted Consideration,
and Co-operation of Labor
For President Cool id ge.
On Friday morning, following the
death of President Harding, Presi
dent Gompers of the American
Federation of Labor gojt in tele
phonic communication with? the rep
resentative labor men whose organ
ization^ are' located in Washington
and a^ked them to meet at three
o’cloclcTn the afternoon in the Exec
utiveCouncil Chamber of the Ameri
can Federation of Labor building.
Thirty-five officers of the labor or
ganizations of the district assem
bled at the appointed hour and aftei*
two hours’ conference, adopted the
following declaration in connection
with the passing of President Har
ding. It was an earnest and sympa
thetic gathering throughout. -»>
The! Declaration. *
We are profoundly grieved by the
passing of President Harding. The
shock of his untimely and unexpect
ed death brings to us a sorrow and
a sense of loss that must be felt by
all Americans. To Mirs. Harding we
desire to express our deep sympathy
and our great admiration for her de
votion and sublime courage.
Wp believe we speak for the great
masses of the wage earners of our
country in our expression of sorrow
in this hour of national sadness. It
is a characteristic of our people that,
(Continued on Page Two.)
kA
LABOR PAPER AN ADVERTISING
MEDIUM
PRINTERS INK, the* recognized authority
on advertising, after a thorough inves
tigation on this subject, says:
“A labor paper is far better advertising
' medium than an ordinary newspaper in com
parison with circulation. A labor paper, for
example, having 5,000 subscribers, is of |nore
value to the business men who advertise in
it than ordinary papers with 25,000 sub
scribers.” *
The Charlotte'Herald Meets all These Requirements
And More._
MORRISON
TO SPEAK
HERESOON
Passed Through Charlotte on
Thursday, Gave Promise
GOlNE TO ATLANTA
For Typo Convention-*—25
Years Secretary of the
American Federation
of Labor. ^
Frank Mbrrison, secretary of the
American Federation of Labor, was
in Charlotte a short time Thursday
morning, on his way to Atlanta,
where he will address the Interna
tional Typographical Union conven
tion which meets next Monday.
Secretary Morrison will stop in
Charlotte on his return trip and de
liver a public address, presumably
in the county court house. He will f
notify The Herald of the date he can
stop here, and publicity will be given
the meeting.
Secretary Morrison is well known
in Charlotte, having been here sev
eral times. He delivered an address
here in 1920, and a large crowd
heard him. The public will be in
vited to hear him again one day next
week. '
In speaking of the President’s
death, Secretary Mjorrison told of
how the city of Washington is
mourning the loss of Mr. Harding.
Forty labor officials were in the cor
tege when the body of the President
was taken from the station to the
White House.
The Federation secretary is a
printer by trade, but for the past
twenty-five years has been secretary
of the A. F. of L., and in this offi
cial capacity has made thousands of
friends in the United States. State,
county and city officials will meet
Secretary Mprrison when he visits
this city one day next week.