Indorsed By Every
Craft In Charlotte and In
The State
lliinrttd As Official
Organ of North Carolina
Farmers’ Union
5c COPY—#2 YEAR
VOL. VI. NO. 1£
CHARLOTTE, N. C., FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1923
?
*
all the
One month from now, and happy childhood will reign supreme throughout the nation. Santa Claus, that best loved of all Friends, will gladden die hearts of i
oiies. Yet among the happy, throngs' will be those faces that Santa forgot. Breaking hearts will suffer silently, suffocated in their grief, aswondering eyes_,
beauty and happiness and gladness about them-wondering why Santa forgot them—why he gave so much to so many others, and passed them by.
and true souls of Charlotte. The men, women and children of this city will see to it that old Santa forgets none. There can be no happiness for Charlotte father* and moth
ers so long as there is one single child looking with longing eyes at an empty stocking. Let’s begin to cast about for the child that Santa might forget.
FEDERATION OF LABOR
Just a Milestone in Progress of Human Race—Greatest Human
itarian Institution America Every Knew—Gompers Congrat
ulated By Thousands of People—Look to Future
y With Utmost Confidence.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Nov. 20.—
On November 15, 1881, the Ameri
can Federation o£ Labor came into
existence and today is the forty,
second anniversary of that important
event was duly celebrated. '>
^Congratulations were received by
President Samuel Gompers at his of
fice in Washington from many call
ers and from distant points by wire
and letter.
“Condiitons today, after forty
two years of effort and organization,
are vastly different than they were
When the American Federation of
Labor was organized,” said Mr.
Gompers in a statement to news
papers.
“At that early date the wage earn
ers had almost to begin at the begin
ning in the effort to remove injust
ices, many of which were the herit
age of the European feudal system
. und many more of which were the
result of ignorance and of careless
ness of human life.
“Employers took thought only of
wage earners as instruments to be
used as tools were used—to be used
and cast aside. Legislators gave no
heed to the needs of the toiling
masses. The whole field was a field
in which labor’s contentions had to
start at the very bottom.
“Gradually abuses have been elim
■ inated. The twelve hour day has
gene. The conception that a worker
I is a piece of property, or a piece of
merchandise has gone. The con ten
»n that a worker is entitled to no
bn determining tSe -conditions
which he AaH live services
only trifle darkest timers of offit*
industrial order. „ •
“Largely as a result of the strug
gle by the wage earners for a better
life, for more of freedom, for better
living and working conditions, for a
more adequate wage and for a fairer
opportunity, the United States stands
head and shoulders above, every oth
er nation in the worl'd in point of
average human happiness and human
well-being.
“We still have our problems, and
among them are some of the early
days when it was necessary to fight
for a chance to exercise' a voice, for
a chance to speak. We have estab
lished fundamental principles; and
the problems of today are largely
problems of how to apply established
principles of justice and freedom in
order to continue the wonderful
progress that has been made in our
country and by our country.
“In 1881 there were but a handful
of organized wage earners. Today
there are six millions of them, num
bering in their ranks the finest citi
zenship in America, men and women
capable, alert, understanding the
needs of o\ir time and having the de
termination and the intelligence necs
sary to cope with the greatest prob
lems of our day.
“Most of the great contentions of
the trade union movement have won
general public approval and support
Most of the important contentions
of the trade union movement have
dealt with questions of vital impor
tance to the whdle citizenship and
not only to wage earners. Such a
one was the movement for universal
suffrage and such a one was the
movement to abolish* exploitation of
prisoners for private profit. Such a
one was the effort, still continued, to
prevent a flooding of our country
with unassimilable immigrants.
“We continue and we shajl con
tinue to struggle for those things
that mean a better citizenship every
where and for all, though our first
concern is the protection of the rights
and interests of the wage earners.
. “Truly there has been progress—
wonderful progress—in the forty
two years of American Federation
of Labor exsitence and activity.
There is in the whole world today
no organization so powerful, and yet
so disciplined and restrained in the
use of its power. And there is none
that uses its power so consistently
for the general good <of all.
“This aninversary is merely a mile
stone; it is not a stoppnig point or
even a breathing point. The issues
of the‘ day jessing and even?
changing. 4 A new Congress is about
toymme into being, necessitating the
ut&Jst vigilance. The childhood of
our nation must bd freed and this
freedom for childhood, anachronism
as the issue may be in this advanced
age, is one of the great issues that
--must confront that Congress.
“Industrial changes are taking
place, presenting great issues, not
only of labor organization, but of
general policy. The arena is filled
with issues that demand thought, vis
ion and constructive action. In 42
years of continuous struggle and ef
fort the labor movement has given
a guarantee of its character, stabil
ity and purpose. It stands forth as
a protector of the institutions of
freedom, a guardian of the bill of
rights, a great protagonist of equal
ity of opportunity, and an 'unfalter
ing champion of the principles of de
mocracy as the guiding principles in
the great affairs of our political and
industrial 4ife.’*
In honor of the event the Ameri
can Federation of Labor building was
festooned with a full dress Of Amer
ican flags.
COURT RULES AGAINST MATERIAL
DEALERS IN SAN FRANCISCO
By Internr.tional Labor Mows Service. *
. SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 20.—A smashing blow was given
the “American plan” by a decision of United States Judge M.
T. Dooling ordering building material men to abandon their
permit system.
Judge Dooling issued a decVee forbidding the Builders’ Ex
change, the Industrial Association of San Francisco and other
defendants to withhold certain building materials from contractors
who refuse to employ workers under the so-called "American”
or “open shop” plan.
J. Raleigh Kelley, assistant, attor
ney general, onp of the attorneys fop
the government, declared that under
. the decision the “American plan” in
San Francisco was a dismal failure
and that the government had won an
overwhelming victory.
In his decision Judge Dooling said
that from all the mass of evidence
certain facts stood clearly forth,
which he described as follows:
“The first is that the defendants
are acting in concert for the purpose
of putting into effect and maintain
ing what is by them designated the
. ‘American plan’ in the building in
dustry in San Francisco and some
of its neighboring counties. .The
‘American plan’ contemplates the
employment of union and non-union
men in equal proportions, with a non
union foreman on each job.
“* * * the secod fact that
the evidence clearly shows * * * j
is the so-called permit system is the
principal means by which the con
certed action of the defendants is
rendered effective. Under this sys
tem no one can purchase the building
materials covered thereby without
obtaining a permit from the permit
bureau of the Builders’ Exchange
and no one can secure such permit
who will not pledge to run his job
on the ‘Ajmerican plan’ * * *
“A third outstanding fact is that
plumbers’ supplies which were man
ufactured for the most part without
the state while not directly, under
the: permit system were just as'effect
ively dealt with by the simple pro
cess of refusing a permit to purchase
the materials that were under the
system to any one who employed a
‘bad plumber,' that is to say, one who
was not operating under the ‘Amer
ican plan.’ ”
Judge Pooling’s decision ends a
two-year fight of the building inter
ests to impose the “American plan”
on San Francisco. The fight began
when the workers refused to accept
a wage reduction and the Builders’
Exchange organized the Industrial
'Association and began plotting to en.
force the “American’ ’or “open
shop” union-smashing plan.
The employers refused California
building materials to contractors
who declined to’ work under “open
shop” conditions. Finding that
union contractors were getting ma
terials from outside the State, the
builders sent letters to outside firms
asking that materials be withheld
from union contractors.
Permits were issued to “American
plan” contractors and with these
permits materials were obtained. The
permit system was extended to east
ern companies and even into Can
ada and Belgium.'
RAIL STRIKE STILL ON.
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 20.—De
spite contrary reports, the shopmen’s
strike against the Delaware and Hud
son railroad is still on, and is waged
as vigorously as ever. The railroad
has an energetic press agent who in*
sists that the. strike is over.
George L. Berry’s Name Will Be
Presented for Vice President U. S.
-o
-I
SAMEUL GOMPERS
The Grahd Old Man of Labor—President of A. F. of L. Ever Since Its
Organization, With Exception of Only One Year.
Muft Register to Vote
In School Bond Ele&ion
Members of the city school board
'are appearing before various groups
of citizens, laying before the people
of Charlotte the actual conditions ex
isting in the city schools, and urging
the citizens to register and vote their
convictions in the specal election to
be held next month. The school of
ficals believe the proposed bond is
sue to be the proper way to solve the
serious problems, but state plainly
that as the citizenship is the sover
eign power , the school officials want
the citizenship to speak out in the
meeting, and say whether or not they
want the necessary school building
program to begin at once.
Truth is, it has been stated time
and time again, Charlotte has no
proper school facilities now, and peo
ple are coming into Charlotte by the
thousands. „ The city is not growing
by dozens, or by hundreds, but by
the thousands, and whenever a new
family moves to Charlotte it means
more children for the public schools,
in addition to the natural growth of
the schools by the entrance of child
ren already here who reach school
age each year. '
There is some little opposition to
r
the bond proposition, yet those who
favor the bond issue seem to think
this opposition small. The one thing
dreaded and feared by the people who
are anxious for the bond issue to be
a success is the indifference on the
part of those who are not opposed
to the bonds, but who will not take
the time and trouble to register and
vote.
The registration books‘close Dec.
1, and those who want to vote must
register. It ineans an entirely new
registration, and. the fact that one’s
name is already on the registration
books means nothing.' It is a new
registration, and evejry one who
votes must first register, and the
books close on December 1.
The issue is clear cut. The schools
are needed, and must be had. The
interest on the bonds is an invest
ment in the future citizenship of
Charlotte. The interest is all the
present tax-payers will be called up
on to expend. The principal will be
paid in years to come by the very
boys and girls who receive the ben
efit from the schools erected with
(Continued on Page Seven.)
CONSIDERED AS
STRONG MAN FOR
SECOND PLACE
Known As Industry’s Great
Statesman—Big Figure In
Legion Affairs.
George L. Berry, president of
the International Printing Press
men’s Union, and former national
vice commander of the American
Legion, known throughout the na
tion as industry’s great stateoman,
will be urged for second place on
on the national ticket when the
democratic national convention
meets to name standard bearers.
A California senator will pre
sent the name of Mr. Berry, for
vice president, according to pres
end plans of friends of the great
labor official. It is not known
whether or not Mp. Berry has ex
pressed himself on the honor that
is to be shown him when the con
vention meets. It is known that
he is always ready to serve his
fellows, in any capacity in which
he may be placed.
Mr. Berry, who made a great
record during the world war, is
no novice in the political game.
He lost the governorship of Ten
nessee by only half a dozen votes.
He is a southerner, an exception
ally able man, and these facts tak-,
sn in connection with his grant
reputation sugnqng the workers of
the nation, grvelum much strength
in the political field.
Mr. Berry would be a strong
running mate for any liberal can
didate the democratic party might
name. He would not run with
Underwood—and that’s a fact his
friends can vouch for before-any
' announcement whatever has been
made by the distingiushed Ame’r
BELMONT VOCATIONAL
SCHOOL.
Over there in the eastern part
of the city stands the Belmont
Vocational School—a great con
tributor to Charlotte’s future aid
vancement. In next week’s issue
of The Herald there will be a
special article about this school,
and the splendid work it is doing.
In addition to the hundreds of
boys and girls who attend the
school in day, time, there are sev
eral night classes, composed of
plumbers and steamfitters, sheet
metal workers, auto mechanics,
textile workers and domestic arts.
It is of these night classes that
the special article will deal. About
men, young men and older men,
who work all day and on two nights
each week attend the classes being
given in their particular work.
There is enthusiasm there, and
earnest effort that speaks well for
the future.
Those wanting extra copies of
next week’s Herald containing this
special article will greatly oblige
us by ordering in advance the ex
tra number of papers desired.
Organized Labor Mobilizes to Protect
Interests of Toilers in Next Congress;
Immigration and Child Labor Big Topics
By International Labor Newt Service.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 20.—
American labor has mobilized
its force for the coming session
of Congress and an organiza
tion of fully seventy-five labor
legislative representatives is
already on the job.
The first meeting of the
American Federation of Labor
Joint Legislative Conference
•already has been held and be
fore the new? Congress opens
a second session will be held.
The- Joint Legislative Con
ference includes the legislative
committee of the American'
Federation and the legislative
representatives of all bona fide
trade union organizations that
maintain such representatives
in Washington. The confer
ence represents six million
trade unionists.
Following the first ses&ion of
the conference President Gom
pers expressed his satisfaction
at the progress achieved and
his hope that the conference
would be able to contribute
much to the advancement of
labor’s Cause during the com
ing sesison of congress. He
said:
“The entire legislative situation
was canvassed by the conference
Particular attention was centered on
immigration legislation. The present
immigration act expires on June 30
and therefore immigration legisla
tion must be considered at an early
date by the incoming congress.
“Child labor was also considered,
the conference being pledged to work
for a constitutional amendment on
that subject. A special conference of
the Permanent Conference for |he
Abolition of Child Labor, consisting
of sixteen national organizations,
will help make plans in that connec
tion.
“Fully a dozen other important
legislative questions were ,discussed
and three committees were appointed
to make special studies on important
matters. The probable strength of
the forces that will favor construc
tive and progressive measures was
considered. Members of the confer
ence expressed themselves as hope
ful that the session will he produc
tive of at least some important leg
islation of benefit to the masses of
the people.” t
JDfflSON AND 1
TO SPEAK AT
KIN.G GEORGE WORRIED
WHEN PALACE PAINTERS
THREATEN TO STRIKE
^ “Royal society” of London
last week when a strike was
threatened at Buckingham Pal
ace, residence of King George
and family.
A non-union painter had
been put on a job at the pal&re,
and ' the trade union psunters
regularly employed there
fused to work with him. A
messenger from the palace was
dispatched poit haste, or by
automobile, to the officials of
the Nations! Federation of
Building Trade Operatives.
John Murry^ London district
secretary of the federation, at
once intervened and was able
to settle the 'dispute so that
the work of repainting some of
the planks about the king’s pal
ace proceeded without further
interruption.
King George said he wanted
it to be a union job.
-‘T-C
a flutter was caused in
I
TWO THOUSAND
IN S. S. WORK;
CALLING TODAY
„ , ,
This afternoon a call is being made
at evef'y homeiajj&lharJatfce. Kot a
house, from th^ finest residencetb
the humblest shack, will be passed
by, if plans of those having the work
in charge are carried out. The occa
sion is Home Visitation Day. The
purpose is to invite every man, wo
man and child in the city to attend
the Sunday school and church of
their choice. The work is being done
under the auspices of the Interna
tional, State and City Sunday School
Association. Mr. J. Shreve Durham
is in charge of the work for the In
ternational association, and ministers
and laymen from every church in
Charlotte, together with the superin
tendents and officers of every Sunday
school in the city, are assisting Mr.
Durham.
Two thousand men and women of
Charlotte are engaged in the visita
tion work. There is nothing secte
rian about it at all, nor is it a church
survey.. The sole purpose is to in
vite people to attend the church and
Sunday school of their choice. Meth
odists and Baptists, Presbyterians
and Episcopalians, Protestants and
Catholic and Jews, and all and every
church in the city are taking part in
the work. It is the biggest single
niece of constructive work that has
been undertaken in Charlotte in
many years. Through this great task
many hundreds of people will be
brpught to the churches and to the
Sunday schools, 'and this in itself is
wonderful. But fay. above even that
important part of the work is that
spirit of co-operation, of religious
toleration and respect for the views
of others, that is given in this work,
of others, that is given, birth and em
phasized in this work.
JUNIOR ORDER
HEAD TO SPEAK
Next Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock
the Hon. j. M. Sharpe, State Coun
cillor of the Junior Order of United
American Mechanics, will deliver an
address at Long'Creek school, this
county, on the principles of the
Junior Order. Park Council No. 90
will present the Holy Bible an^ the
American flag ,to the new School at
that place, and it ii upon this occa
sion that the state Head' of the order
comes to Charlotte. .
Members of Park Council and all
other Juniors and I their friends . in
and around Charlotte are requested
to meet at the Junior Hall, Belmont,
not later than 1 o’clock, and go in a
body to the Long Greek school build
ing.
H. A'. Stilwell, C. J. Overcash and
H, N. Russell,'the Council’s commit
tee, has arranged a program for the
afternoon that Will prove interesting
to the ctizens of Long Creek com
munity. The fact that Mr. 'Sharpe
is to be present, and deliver an ad
dress is sufficient guarantee that all
who attend will be amply repaid for
the time spent at the ceremonial.
LONGSAOREMEN WIN.
NORFOLK, Va., Nov. 20.—After
a month’s strike longshoremen in this
city won the union shop and secured
a wage rate of 75 cents an hour for
straight time and $1.07 an hour for
overtime.’
MGER
COUNCIL MEET
i ■ '
Joint Council Will Meet at
Four O’Clock.
OPEN MEETING
At 7 O’clock — Big Crowed
Expected-—Program) Arrang
' ed and Plans Completed.
LEXINGTON, Nov. 20.—Every
thing is in readiness for the meeting
here next Saturday, the 24th, of the
Joint Council of Carolina Textile
Workers. The business session will
be held at 4 o’clock in the after
noon, and a big open meeting will be
held at 7 o’clock in the evening. Both
sessions will be held in the Develop
ment budding.
Rev. Tom P. Jimison, that beloved
minister of Spencer, will be with us
at both meetings. Many workers
here have never heard the “Labor
Parson” speak, and everybody is ex
pected to.be at the 7 o’clock meeting
to hear him. Many of the workers
here will also attend the-4 o'clock '
business session, and hear Mr. Jimi
son in a ahort address there. Rut his
main speech will be deliver ., g a!*#'*?*
evening.
President C. P. Barring]
State Federation of Labe1
with us, too. Already** V
workers are looking upnr
Barringer as a GodserJ*
pie engaged in the texV^j
While M*r. Barringer is i j
the Railway Clerks, he* J
and has so stated, that j
14 f-ive
woruers oi eae state »*v\ ? ones
who should have first cohfttueration
by the officers and all members of -or
ganised labor.
It^wouldnM; lie a textile jeering,
hardly, without him. He has been
here; often, and the folks love him ,
and love to hear him speak. He will
preside at the business session of the
Joint Council, and will speak at the
night meeting.
'Then t^ere is James T. Robertson,
of MooreBville, vice president of the •
State Federation of Labor, and recog
nized as state’s foremost cham
pion ; among the textile workers.
Along with him will be Vice Presi
dent Jones, of the Joint Council,
.whole Christian spirit is a great fac
tor in the lives of the workers of
the state.
Committees will meet No. 36, the
train on which many delegates will
arrive. Some from nearby places
will come in automobiles, it has been
reported to Secretary of the Council,
T. E. Reid.
Lexington is looking forward, to the
meeting with a great deal of inter
est.
UNIONSCANNOT
BE SUED, SAYS
SUPREME COURT
Labor organizations cannot be sued
in North Carolina for the action of
a member of such organization.
This is the ruling of the Supreme
Court handed down last Wednesday
in the case of Tucker against Harry
Eatough and the United Textile
Workers of America.
Judge Harding, In Superior court
in Mecklenburg county, rendered
this decision, a few months ago, and
an appeal was taken from His Honor’s
ruling. The Supreme court upheld
Judge Harding’s decision.
Eatough preferred charges against
Tucker in the North Charlotte Tex
tile local, which is affiliated with the
United Textile Workers of America.
Tueker was expelled from member
ship in the local. He, through At
torney Marshall, entered suit against
Eatough and the United Textile
Workers of America for damages in
the sum of $10,000.
Chief Justice Clark wrote the de
cision, which declares that an un
incorporated organization cannot be
sued for the acts of the members. It
is an.' important ruling, because of
the desire on the part of those who
oppose labor unions to bring suits for
damages against the union, for acts
of the members. The Supreme Court
stated that a labor union could no
more be held responsible for acts
of its members than could the Amer
ican Legion or the Confederate Vet
erans be held responsible for acts of
their members.
The full decision of the Supreme
Court will be published in a later
issue: of The Herald.
Hion. J. Frank Flowers represented
M?r. Eatough and the United Textile
Workers of America throughout the
litigation, arguing the case last week
before the Supreme Court.