Newspapers / The Charlotte Herald (Charlotte, … / July 4, 1924, edition 1 / Page 1
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\ CHARLOTTE, CAROLINA, FRIDAY, JULY 4, 1924 FIVE CENTS A COPY—$2.00 A YEAR Herald I [way Workers fike To Compel yers To Keep Word Service. Cuban rail Bn their strike B;ration of the m mr t K La of contract, need in a cable the Pan-Ameri Labor, as follows: w>u^ui 10 a suucessaui ■P railroad workers feel your action in our ^Khau. Extend our greetings to ^^meiican workers. W “OTHERO, “HERRERA, ' “TAMAYO. “AREVALO.” Twn months ago the railroad workers of Cuba went on strike, de manding certain readjustments in conditions and wages. After a strug gle the strike was settled and an agreement entered into. About a month ago the railroads violated the agreement, whereupon the strike was renewed for the sole purpose of enforcing the agreement already signed by the roads. In violating the agreement with the workers the roads sought to strike a blow at the unions which, if successful, would have resulted in destruction of the organizations and restoration of old anti-union condi tions^ The Cuban railroad workers, for tHfe first time organized in a na tional federation, applied to the Pan American Federation of Labor for support and assistance. As the most practical method of meeting the sit uation and complying with the wish es of the Cuban railroad workers, the ^an-American Federation of Labor addressed the following cable gram to President Alfredo Zayas, at HSvana, Cuba: “We have followed with deep in terest the critfbal situation resulting in Cuba from railroad strike and we earnestly hope that before crisis as sumes major propbrtions your gov ernmem will use its good offices to r obtain an amicable and just settle ment between railroad management and striking workers. The Pan American Federation of Labor sup ports the Cuban workers in their de fense of their right to organize and bargain collectively and we earnest ly hope the Cuban government will protect that right.” The following day the Cuban rail road workers assembled in mass meeting, cabled appreciation of thisj action, stating that the government: had immediately interceded. On the following day complete victory for I ,the workers was announced in a cablegram signed by the four execu tives of the Cuban railroad organiza tions, addressed to the Pan-Ameri can Federation of Labor. UNORGANIZED TRICKED; PUBLIC NEXT VICTIM New York, July 3.—Pacific north west lumbermen recently - reduced wages of their unorganized em ployes^ and though orders are on file that will meet production capac ity, the "lumbermen, it is declared, will permit stocks to be lowered “and buyers will find it necessary to pay reasonable prices.” A general shut-down of the mills is predicted. This another way of saying that i the limber barons have’ cut wages and are now preparing to force the public to pay higher prices. The lumber fnen were aided in their wage cutting by their company “union,” known as the loyal legion of loggers and lumbermen. The W'orkers were told that the industry is on the verge of collapse and that > lower wage rates is the only thing1 that can save it. In financial circles it is now stated that slackening in the lumber industry “has been over emphasized.” Only the unorganized workers believed the story that no orders were being received, t In the week ended June 7 there was a substantial increase in nation al lumber orders and shipments. Orders received by Southern pine association mills were 9 6 per cent and shipments 79 per cent of the actual production, while mills of the West Coast lumbermen’s association received orders totaling 117 per cent and made shipments amounting to 99 per cent of production. With wage cuts assured, and or ders piling up, the mill owners are arranging to gouge the public. Cur tailment of stocks is necessary, that the cry of “supply and demand” may be used when prices are increased. PULLMAN COMPANY SPLITS. Chicago, July 2.—The Pullman company has organized a new cor poration to handle the manufactur ing ffaxt of its business. This will permit the company to get out from under the jurisdiction of the inter state commerce commission. > STATE EEDERATION MEETS IN DURHAM To the Affiliated Central Bodies, Railroad Brotherhoods, and Ail Labor Unions—Greeting: Complying with the Constitution of the North Carolina State Federa tion of Labor, you are hereby ad vised that the Eighteenth Annual Convention will convene in Durham, Monday, August 11, 1924, at 10 oJ^lock, a. m., and will remain in sei *&>n until all business is complet-, ed, estimated at three days. Representation—For Central La bor Unions and Building Trades Councils Two (2) Delegates each; other organizations the basis of rep-, resentation shall be: Two (2) Dele gates for the first Fifty (50) mem bers or less, and one additional del egate for each Fifty"-'(50) Up to Two Hundred (200) and one (1) for each additional One Hundred (100) up to Four Hundred (400) and one delegate for each additional Five Hundred (500) or major fraction thereof, up to Two Thousand (2, 000). And in no case shall any local union be represented by proxy or shall have more votes than dele gates present at the convention. The delegates shall be elected at least two weeks previous to the An nual Convention of the State Feder ation of Labor, and the names of such delegates shall be forwarded to the Secretary of this body imme diately after their election. General officers shall be ex-offlclo delegates, provided their International Union is affiliated with the American Fed eration of Labor. » Each delegate, to be entitled to a seat in this Convention, shall be re quired to present a proper creden tial from his organization to the credentials committee. All per cap ita tax and assessments must be paid up to July 1, 1924. Unions not already affiliated are urged to send one dollar with application for affi liation and three months’ dues in advance at once to the Secretary Treasurer. Credentials—Credentials in dupli cate are herewitn enclosed, and as soon as your delegates have been elected, the same should be filled out, signed and sealed, and the du plicate credentials forwarded to the Secretary-Treasurer, C. G. Worley, Box 92 5, Asheville, N. C., before August 1, 1924, and the original turned over to-your delegate. Cre dentials committee meets one day prior to the convention, hence sec retaries will observe the necessity of mailing duplicate credentials, prop erly signed by the officers, and bear ing his postofflce address, as soon as delegate is elected. Headquarters—The Hotel ' Mal bourne will be made headquarters. Rates $1.75 per person up. Object—The object of the North Carolina State Federation of Labor is to bring about a closer co-opera tion between all the different organ izations in the State, whereby an educational campaign may be car ried on, which will enable all our people to obtain a more thorough understanding of the necessity of uniform legislation in the State; to discuss ways and means by which laws of interest to the working peo ple may be enacted, and thc«e ini mical to our interest defeated. Dis cussion of all matters of interest to Organized Labor will be considered at this meeting. Every affiliated Union should be represented and every Delegate se lected should prepare their matters carefully in advance so as to be in a position to get an intelligent dis cussion on each subject any Union may desire to bring before the Con vention. It is just as important that your Union attend the Federation Convention as it is for your mem bership to attend local meetings, and we sincerely trust your Union will see the necessity of selecting dele gates at oiJte and send their Cre dentials to the Secretary immediate ly in order that he may communi cate with each delegate relative to accommodations while attending the convention, and other matters of importance to be presented in ad vance, s Do not fail to write the address of the delegate plainly so there will be no mistake in mailing. For further information, write the Secretary. .Anticipating the largest and great est State Convention ever held, I am, Yours fraternally, C. G. WORLEy, Secy. DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL MEET HEARS OF LABOR’S DEMANDS ffew Tork, July 3.—Organized la-^ bor presented to tlje Democratic na tional convention the identical de mands that the Republican national convention was asked to approve. The demands were laid before the convention’s resolutions committee by authority of the executive coun cil of the A. F. of L. and the execu tive committee of the A. F. of L. na tional non-partisan campaign com mittee. The latter consists of Pres idenvtxompers and .Secretary Frank Morrison of the A. F of L. and J\s. O’Connell of the A. F. of I., metal trades department. A large number of trade up on officials were here developing semi ment for the labor planks and also for 4he vice presidential candidacy of George L. Berry, president of the International Printing Pressmen and Assistants’ union. In discussing the labor planks, President Gompers emphasized the need for remedial legislation to meet] changing social conditions This is shown in labor’s demand for a re peal cf anti-trust legislation, which was passed by congress a tuarter of a cemury ago in the belief that uo litical action could check the unit ing of economic forces. Strong ground was taken in oppo sition to the labor injunction which the unionists declare to be “a per version of the injunctive process.” Ratification by the states of the chila labor constitutional amend ment, recently passed by congress, urcred. ■ "It Is esesntial for the conservation of national verllity that child life be protected,” the unionist Repeal of the labor clauses of the transportation act was favored, as was a law prohibiting the interstate transportation of convict labor pro Otlfer demands were: Construc tion of public works in periods of acute unemployment; full rehabili tation of the world war injured; adequate pay and classification for civil service employes; compensa tion for occupational disease vic tims; modification of the Volstead law to permit 2.7 5 per cent beer; opposition to sales tax; favor gradu ated income and inheritance taxes: favor membership in the league of nations and participation in the world court. “We declare for the maintenance of speech, press, assemblage and as sociation,” the unionists said “We oppose any regulation to restrict these fundamental rights, believipg that individuals and groups should be responsible for their acts and ut terances. "We oppose conscription, except as a military measure for defensive war, end oppose all proposals to ini tiate compulsory labor under what ever guise.. “In order to maintain representa tive government based upon the will cL’ the people, we advocate a/con stitutional amendment emblin.5 con gress to re-enact by two-thirds vote any measure declared unconstitu tional by the supreme court of the United ?*rt.^s*.'* ' STRIKE OF PALEFACES IS AIDED BY REDSKIN New York, July 2.—An Indian chief is in this city aiding struc tural iron workers in their strike for union recognition and higher wages. Employers induced Indian bridgemen from Canada to come here and accept employment. They arev smuggled .in, despite the federal labor department and representatives of the union who watch the Canadian Indian reser vations. The union has interested the Indian chief in their cause and he tells his fellow redskins what it means to break the strike of pale faces. The iron workers say the In dian is a successful pleader for unionism. LABOR SITUATION IN W. GASTONIA (By Rev. C. J. Black, in The Gastonia Daily Gazette.) That the world is in a bad shape financially, no one will try to deny, but what has gone wrong with the world? Why do we see so many idle folks on our streets from Thursday until Monday? Well, we say that our mills are not running as they should. They have had to curtkil operation, but why have they had to curtail as they have? You say be cause they cannot sell their goods? We must say it is because they can not meet their competitors, and why can they not meet them? Is it not becase they are turning out the qual ity of goods they should? It most assuredly is. Our helpn does not realize how important it is to make perfect work at this critical time. The Loray mill officials placed a card In the pay slips of their opera tives last week telling them if they made better work it meant full time, but many do not realize that that is true. Now if better goods means full time, why not make better work? We are sure that it can be done very easily. Just a little more care on the part of every one and the work is done. Folks, since the bread and butter question of Gas tonia is depending on what you do, why not do your best for a few weeks and try out the situation? What do you say about it? Do you realizez that it will put new life into our town, and it will not stop at our town, but will reach the surrounding towns. Many of our present difficul ties will disappear like the dew be fore the sunshine. Our mill men want to run, but they cannot run at a continual loss. Let us make it possible for them to compete with all kinds of opposition, and then win out gloriously. Let us all do our best, and then no kick will come. Better work, better pay, better work, more time, better work, more joy. Let us do our dead levil best. Mrs. R. H. Glover at the Trenton has been sick for the past three days. We trust that she may soon be out again. METAL WORKERS GAIN. La Crosse, Wis., July 2.—Organ ized sheet metal workers have rais ed wages through negotiation. SENSE FROM CONGRESS “By collective bargaining labor has made itself secure. * * * * Everybody is aware of what la bor has gained through collective bargaining. Every honest man must admit how impossible would have been this advance of labor from a veritable serfdom to its present position without col lective bargaining”—Senator Roy al S. Copeland of New York, in sp eaking on Farmer Relief. “The great tolling masses of the people, who are not often articu late at Washington, must organ ize to make their influence more powerful in the legislative branch of our government.”—Representa tive Ashton C. Shallenberger of Nebraska, in Address on Revision of Railroad Rates. “Some will tell you that we made a great mistake -in passing the bonus law'. The only regret that I have in that connection is the fact that I had no opportunity to vote for a cash bonus. Con gress took the best of care of war profiteers In its last session. Why should we not have taken some care of the real war winners?”— Representative Charles I. Stengle, of New York, Speaking on the Work of the Sixty-eighth Con gress. I Textile Workers Urge Nomination of McAdoo ---a- * Resolutions urging support of Mc Adoo for the presidential nomination by North Carolina’s delegation at the Democratic convention as long as his name is before the convention, petitioning the extra session of the Tar Heel legislature to enact a 48 hour work week law for the textile industry, and calling upon the legis latures of North and South Carolina ,to ratify the child labor amendment to the federal constitution, were adopted at a meeting of the joint council of the United Textile Work ers of the Carolinas at the Charlotte Central Labor union hall Saturday afternoon. A large group of textile., workers from the locals of the two states was present for the meeting, creden tials being presented by delegates from Lexington, Salisbury, China Grove, Landis, Kannapolis, Concord, Greensboro, Durham, Roanoke Rap ids, Mooresville, Statesville, Hunters ville, Gastonia, Rock Hill, S. C., Gaff ney, S. C., and Columbia, S. C. The council /decided to hold its July meeting in Salisbury. This will be the last Saturday in July and the meeting will be held over Davis and Wiley Bank in the center of Salis bury’s business district. Shipman Endorsed. C. P. Barringer, of Salisbury, pres ident of the North Carolina State Federation of Labor,, was present and addressed the meeting. He said that the name of the Federation of Labor had been drawn into the fight between M. L. Shipman and F. D. Grist for the nomination of State commissioner of Labor and Printing and that enemies of the labor move ment are saying that the Federation of Labor is battling with the Amer ican Legion. These statements he branded as ‘‘false, malicious and misleading,” tending to injure the prestige of the large body of North Carolina work ers. He urged the textile workers to suport Mr. Shipman because the prestige of the federation for the next four years, is at stake. “His defeat will mean that the anme of the North Carolina Federa tion of Labor is mud, nothing more and nothing less,” concluded Mr. Barringer. The question of urging the sup port of McAdoo by the Tar Heel del egation at the New York convention of the Democratic party was brought to the attention of the workers by James F. Barrett, presi dent of the Joint Council. Insist On McAdoo. He said that the cause of labor will be materially strengthened by the nomination of Mr. McAdoo and the workers agreed with him when they quickly voted to send a tele gram to their delegates at the con vention beseeching them to stand by Mr. McAdoo as long as his name is up for consideration. The following is the text of the resolution, regarding the federal phild labor amendment: “Whereas, the federal government has passed an amendment to the; GonstityUon of the United States to regulate the hours t)f labor of child ren under 18 years of age, and “Whereas, this amendment is now placed before the legislatures of the 48 states for ratification, and ■f “Whereas, the textile industry has been one of our great manufac turing industries using child labor since its inception, and “Whereas, it has been testified be fore a committee of the United States Senate in 1907 by Mr. R. M. Miller, Jr,, of Charlotte, N. C., ex president of the American Cotton Manufacturers association that 75 per cent of the workers in the North Carolina cotton mills were children 14 years of age or under, and “Whereas, we have made some wonderful progress since that time and believe that we should contin ue to make mo're progress, therefore, be it “Resolved, that the Joint Council of the United Textile Workers of the two Carolinas do hereby go on record in favor of this child labor amendment and ask the legislatures of the two states to ratify it at the earliest possible moment, and be it further “Resolved, that we do everything in our power as a joint council, as local unions, and as individuals to help the passage of this measure for the emancipation of the child life of our country.’’ Report on Conditions. Reports from delegates were re ceived, all declaring that some sort of curtailment is in progress at their respective mills. The delegate from Salisbury reported wage cuts, from 10 to 15 per cent, and the elimina tion of bonus grants, by three mills there. At the request of President Bar rett delegates submitted figures on the number of vacant houses in the various mill villages. Mapy dele gates said that unUsual number of houses are not occupied. Later in the meeting Mr. Barrett referred to these vacant houses as evidence of the efficient work of the councils committee in acquainting farmers And others in the rural side regard ing wages and working conditions in the textile industry and urging them to remain on the farm instead of coming to work in cotton mills. The question of high school grad uates from the homes of textile workers was considered when it was shown, by delegate reports, that only one graduate from 16 was from a textile home at Huntersville, one out of 59 at Lexingtonrfdlfwypmufwyp of 57 in Mooresville, and one out of 59 at Lexington. Mr. Barrett urged upon the workers to see that their children are allowed to finish their high school course and not quit to go to work when they reach the age of 14 years. Big Business Voices Satisfaction With Republican Party Platform: Wins Twelve of Thirteen Planks By International ILaboar Sews Service. Washington, July 2.—“Big Busi ness,” acting through the National Association of Manufacturers, has presented to the Republican and Democratic parties a series of thir teen platform demands. Harden Colfax, writing in The Washington Evening Star, says that twelve of the thirteen Big Business planks were written into the Repub lican platform at Cleveland. “Open Shop” Plank Wins Qualified Approval. Of the thirteenth plank Colfax says Big Business regards the plat form declaration, not as a denial of what Big Business wants, but as “a non-antagonistic declaration of prin ciples.” This plank evidently was the Big Business “open shop plank” which as set forth in the Big Busi ness series of demands reads as fol lows: “To select and pursue any .lawful business or occupation, to make leg itimate agreements in furtherance thereof, and to be secure in the re ward of effort, is . a fundamental right of both liberty and property. All citizens must be equally free to make and maintain' voluntary em ployment agreements, individually of collectively, as they may mutually circumstances in each establishment agree and in accordance with the or operation and without respect to compulsory membership or non membership in any organization.” Efficient Output Called Essential. There is another paragraph in cluded in the plank, which, taken in conjunction with the first, is mere meaningless platitude. It is: “Efficient production is essential to individual and nation prosperity. It is obtained only through the suc cessful co-operation of management, capital, and labor. The mutual good will, essential tothe maintenance of and be sustained within each-'estab thelr right relations, must originate lishment. It must spring from with in; it cannot be imposed from with out. It is the growth of sympathy and human understanding • which cannot be manufactured by law.” Evidently speaking authoritative ly, Colfax sums up as follows the satisfaction received by Big Business, as represented through the National Association of Manufacturers at Cleveland; Shows Platform Satisfies Business. ‘‘Organized business, in its “plat form,’ said, ‘We urge more reliance upon private energy and character and less upon public law and appro priations.’ The Cleveland platform says, ‘The Republican party stands now. as always, against all attempts to put the government into business.’ "Organized business said, ‘Ameri can industry requires the highest standard of public and private mor ality.’ The Cleveland platform says, ‘We recognize the duty of constant vigilance to preserve at all times a clean and honest government and to bring to the bar of justice every de filer of the public service in or out of office.’ Budget and Tax Demands Are Met. “Organized business said, ‘We pledge our continued support to the national budget system.’ The Cleve land platform says, ‘The budget sys tem has been firmly established. * * * We commend the firm in sistence of President Coolidge upon rigid government economy and pledge him our earnest support to this end.’ “Organized business asked for tax reform. The Cleveland platform pledges the party to further tax re duction, ‘as rapidly as may be done with due regard for the essential expenditures of the government,’ and WISDOM Each week a quotation from some wise and famous person whose writings are tucked away in the storehouse of history and achievement. “Give me the money that has clothe every man, woman and child In an attire of which kings beenv spent in war, and I will will build a school house in every and queens would be proud. I valley over the whole earth. I will crown every hillside with a place of worship consecrated to Jhe gospel of peace.”—Charles Sumner. TEXTILE WORKERS ARE NOT DECEIVED Cotton mill workers are not by any manner of means deceived by the present mill situation. They know that the plan on foot is to begin operation at a reduced rate. This fact has been plainly manifest dur ing the recent meeting of the Union Workers. The workers are prepar ing to resist this wage cut plan. They will not be in a very strong po sition to put up a resistence because of the long period of items. In fact the textile workers may have to ac cept any kind of* a proposition made to them by the mill owners. Star vation is a terrific weapon to use in a battle with the workers. However it is expected that the workers will offer battle in any at tempt to reduce their wages. PRISON-MADE GOODS OPPOSED BY BUSINESS New York,. July 2.—Work shirts made in Florida prisons will be sold throughout the country without a distinguishing mark, said F. A. Alli son, secretary of a garment manu facturers’ association, in protesting to Governor Hardee of Florida against convict labor in that state. The governor has signed a con tract with a private concern to em ploy 250 inmates of the Florida state prifeon farm in the manufacture of work shirts. Governor Hardee, Mr. Allison said apparently gave no consideration to the advisability of adopting the “state's use” method of employing prisoners, in line with action taken by other states. He pointed out that Florida will receive a maximum of 72 1-2 cents per dozen, contrasting with wages of $2.50 per dozen and more paid to free workers for the same labor. '"The 72—1-2. cent rate, according to Mr. Allison, will not compensate the state for its expenses, “the public of Florida and all other states being bound to lose through additional taxes necessary to make up the de ficit.” In defending his action. Governor Hardee said he is authorized to em ploy prisoners upon jmblic roads and at other public work which will aid in making the prisoners self-sus taining. Mr. Allison ppinted out that the employment of prisoners upon public roads or similar work provides a saving to the state through the ability to avoid the hir ing of high-priced free labor, but the use of such prisoners by private contractors at one-fourth the wages of free labor serves only to enrich the private contractor. RESISTING WAGE CUTS. Toledo, Ohio, July 2.—"Business men’s administrations” have put this city on the financial rocks, and poli tical Babbits who talk of their “bus iness connections” are urging a re duction of 15 per cent in the wages of municipal employes. Anti-union employers agree with the proposal. If adopted it would be a precedent for them. The trade union move ment is resisting the plan. adds that progressive tax reduction ‘should be accomplished through tax reform.’ Other Similarities Are Pointed Out. “Organized business called for a stable and constructive policy toward the railroads. The platform says, ‘We favor^ a stable, consistent and constructive policy toward our rail roads.’ | “Organized business characterized ‘unrestricted immigration as an unT mixe'd evil.’ The platform indorses the recently enacted immigration law; the present tariff law and its flexible provisions, and the Ameri can merchant marine. “There are other minor similari ties,^ but the foregoing planks fur nish the high lights. It is significant that with their adoption by the Cleveland convention there became manifest during the week the first stirrings of what business organi zzatzions here hope will grow into a new rival of industrial activity.” % LABOR NO LONGER HAS TO DEFEND NON-PARTISAN POLICY Where are those ot yesterday who denounced organized labor’s1 non-partisan pu-Vcal policy? Who insisted that our unions should indorse a labor party? The trade union movement was the pioneer in the new order.. It was the first to plead for political indeepndence. It was the first to protest against judgment-blinding partisanship. In the days of yesterday, trade unionists were told political pow er and economic power are of equal importance. Sort of a huge bird, or a flying machine, with a wing on each side. Where are these wise men—the intelligentsia of their day—who brought turmoil into our unions by their padded-cell logic? Yesterday organized labor pleaded a'one for non-partisanship. T oday, this is a nation-wide characteristic. Party discipline is destroyed and party feeling is passing. Public opinion, rather than the secret caucus, and the party lash, is the governing power. Argument and propaganda have replaced prejudice and appeal to passion. _ The new System is a test of true citizenship. In the old days it was only necessary to obey the political boss or a convention mandate. The trend of the times is to abjure parties; to vote for principle and the man who approximates that principle. Voting, howeVer, is the least of a citizen’s duty. The non-partisan theory compels ot\£ to think. Democracy rests on an enlightened public opinion. Social legislation and remedial laws are the reflex of the voters’ sympathy and understanding. All progress has come through this system and trade unionists should be the vanguard in that development. Public opinion is resistless. If the people, for instance, under stood that the labor injunction overthrows government by law, the plunging of this nation toward judicial autocracy would be quickly checked. If the people understood that our future citizenship will be harmed by every child forced to labor in factory and mill, the so phists who talk “states’ rights” and oppose the child labor amend ment would be overwhelmed. Privilege, power and wealth spend money without stint to mold public opinion to their interests. With this accomplished, legisla tion is merely legalizing the popular will. The last fight is waged in legislative halls.. This must always be supplemented" in popular forums and with the printed word. Law makers do not resist an overpowering public opinion.. If they did, democracy would be a failure. Privilege and power is well aware of this. They now attempt to mold the popular will. Let wage workers awake to the foundation for social legislation. Let them take full advantage of the non-partisan theory to urge the cause of justice on every occasion before every group of 1 citizens. v High School Pupils Win Prizes for Best Essays On Immigration Problem •c CHURCH REPORT EMBARRASSING That report made to the States ville conference of the M. E. church a few weeks ago by the missionary ladies of North Charlotte has been very embarrassing to the members of Charlotte churches which have been contributing to the North Char lotte extension work. It is said tnat the most interesting part of that re port dealt with the success the church ladies had in keeping the women of North Charlotte from go ing on a strike last September. In other words the welfare workers of North Charlotte presented to the conference a report wherein it was shown that these church workers had been successful in keeping 60 women loyal to the Highland Park Manufacturing company and pre vented them from Joining with the other workers who had gone on a strike. Those Methodist churches in • Charlotte may be interested to know that their contributions have been used for the purpose of keeping Mr. Charlie Johnson’s cotton mill workers loyal and satisfied. REVOLT AGAINST HIGH TAX While passing the buck is a uni versal practice, in the United States of America it has been brought to a stage of perfection no other nation can boast of. Financial journals supporting great corporate interests have lately been throwing fits over what they pretend is gross evasion of the'fed eral income tax on the part of wage-earners. One of these publi cations quotes from The London Times a paragraph concerning the summing of 15,000 workers in New South Wales for the non-pay ment of income taxes, and draws the wholly unwarranted conclusion that similar evasions of income tax es are being made in this country. The fact that a large amount is col lected in Great Britain from work ers is also cited as indicating that workers of this country are escaping their just share of the taxes. These comparisons are entirely misleading, as doubtless they were intended to be. In the first place, exemptions are much higher here than in the countries referred to; andf in the second place, taxes are higher all along the line in England than they are here. I There are probably fewer than half a million wage-earners in this country earning more than $2,000 a year. The exemption for an unmar ried man is $1,000 and for a mar ried man $2,000, with an additional $200 for each dependent. So that, in the case of the average family rf five, the net income must reach $2,. 600 before being subject' to income tax. The average yearly earnings of the highest paid unmarried workers do not exceed $1,500. So that, even if there were half a million unmar ried men earning the highest wages, the aggregate taxable income would be only $750,000,000, yielding only $15,000,000 of revenue. If the total wages earned by all the workers in the country, at ihe highest estimate, paid the normal rate provided by the federal income tax law, the revenue would be only $1,000,000,000. Yet' these publica tions pretend that it is “bolshevism in the treasury, similar to that which dominates the bureau of labor,” which prevents “these well paid cit izens from being compelled to pay their share in the cost of running the country.” The reader must not fall Into the common error of assuming from the foregoing that underpaid labor sim ply because it does not draw enough wages to come under income tax law provisions escapes the payment of taxes. The American people are in re volt Against high taxes, the greatest in history, one banker said recently. It is a peaceful revolt, but insistent and growing.' Therefore it behooves the politician and public official to walk softly and carry a pruning I knife for governmental waste and expense. This, was. the warning given by Lewis E. Pierson, president of the Merchants’, Association of New York, vice president of the United States Chamber of Commerce, and well known banker, who spoke at ttie mid-winter meeting of the Hankers’ club of Chicago. “Out of a national income of $58, 000,000,000, the United States in 1922 took more than $7,000,000,000 for taxes. About $2,900,000,000 was taken for federal taxes, nearly $8t-0, 000,000 was taken by the states, and $3,300,000,000 was taken for city and local taxes. “Combining all the taxes on the American people, it follows that 12 per c£nt of every dollar earned in the United States was devoted to payment of some kind of taxes.. In credible as it seems, $12 out of every $100 earned was used to pay the ex penses of government. “Suppose that instead of taxing, the individual indirectly the govern ment had compelled the people to remit their taxes directly out of their earnings. • What an overwhelming! roar of protest would arise. “There is no more urgent problem than that presented by the increase in rents.. An investigation disclosed that the average New York tenant is paying two months’ rent each year in city taxes. This is one-sixth of all the money received by land lords. A similar study will reveal approximately the same situation in every city. About $3,300,000,000 raised to pay the yearly tax bills is coming from taxes on real estate. “It is well to remember that labor itself is in the grip of the same vicious circle of high taxes, high rents and high cost of living.” The vicious circle is an invention of Big Business that keeps the mass es milling until dizzy and incapable of intelligent thought or action. To escape a portion of the income tax, Big Business cuts its former enor mous profits, and builds up its bus iness by cheating the government. Civilization started Egypt and these Egyptian clothes are ending it in America. • * By International labor News Service. Indianapolis, Ind., July 2.—Amer ica’s widespread interest in the ques tion of immigration, to which organ ized labo has devoted much atten tion, was indicated by the great num ber of essays submitted in the Amer ican Legion’s national essay contest on “Why America Should Prohibit Immigration for Five Years.” More than 350,000 high school pu pils, epesenting every section of the country, submitted essays in the con test. Three prizes, first $750; sec- ! ond, $500, and third, $250, were of fered by the American Legion for the three best essays. The judges were Raymond F. Crist, United States ommissioner of Immigration; W. T. Bowden, Assistant Commissioner of Education and ^Villiam Tyler Page, clerk of the House of Representa tives. The prize winners were as follows: First prize, Sara R. Heysham, 17 years old, Norristown, Pa.; second prize, Florence Sweetnam, 16 years old, Rochester. N. Y.; third ''prize, Byron Hill, 17 years old, Jacksbnj Tenn. The first prize essay follows: WHY AMERICA SHOULD PRO HIBIT IMMIGRATION FOR FIVE YEARS. America has done nobly by the stranger. From the beginning she has been a home for the oppressed. Class distinction, social prejudices, differences by birth, religion or ideas have not been erected as barriers. A man was recognized as a man “for a’ that.” Nobly has our generosity been re warded. In the conquest of the west they have borne the burden. In the crisis of-the Civil War they stood by the Union. In the development of great public enterprises they have done the rough work. Those who came were our kinsmen. Men from the British Isles and northern Eu rope. Their ideals were readily ad justed to our own. 'w But a change has taken place. The character of the infmigrant is different. Now more come from Southern Europe. Instead of join ing in the conquest of the west they congest our already over-congested cities. They come without money, ' without education and without standards of living. Their ideals of government are alien to dur own. The problem of our cities, always serious,has become acute since the World War. We are without suffi cient houses for hqmes, which tends to lower moral standards. . Oijf schools are inadequate to meet the growing numbers, which breeds ig norance, vice and crime. Huddled in districts they live in America as though not in America. Our laws are ignored and strife is. all too common. -- ■ Therefore for the’ sake 6t ttoe J stranger-'• who coitle to orrr ’sKores '- J as well as for the best interests of a those who are already here' and 1 for the well being of our homes and institutions we ought to lock the gates against all strangers for the next five years. We owe it to the Founders of this republic todguard the institutions and laws we have inherited. We have a trust to preserve th# Ship of State. To loatl a boat beyond the law of safety means the destruction of all. We owe it to our homes to see that the moral standards of society are not lowered. To create abnor mal conditions that breed immoral ity is to jeopardize the family, to guardantee an intelligent and We owe it ,to the future America' contented citizenship. Every Amer ican child must have an opportunity for education in our public schools. Neither child labor nor igndsanqe can be tolerated within our bordjts. We owe it to all that is sacre^ji life to preserve the religious ideal^l Sunday has a meaning in our his tory. “Religion and morality” George Washington declared to be “Indispensible to prosperity.” To secure these blessings to our selves, to the strangers within eur gates and civilization will requira a just measure of time. Five year* of self-discipline in the life of the Na tion may mean the salvation of America as well as the salvation ofi the world. YOUR WORTH. In this commercial age when the size of a person’s bank account de termines his social status the ques tion of financial Worth becomes 9., subject of vital Importance. / ' Did you ever think what you are really worth as a business producer? Three thousand dollars is 6 per cent on $50,000. If you are earning $3,000 a year you are worth as a human producing machine, $50,000. If you were running a factory In which was a machine of steel and brass that cost $50,000, you would insist upon its being run to full ca pacity, wouldn’t you? Every hour and every minute of the working day you would want it to be pro ducing. If it stopped for half a day be cause it got tired or out of order or some one threw a' monkey wrench into the gears you would feel that you were losing a lot of real money. All right. Suppose ycus low up or lay oft. Maybe you’re a $75,000 man, or maybe you’re a $25,000 man—no matter what the value. You see what you lose when you let yourself run slack. And yet when organized labor in recognition of the time-worn truism that “all work and no play tends to make Jack a dull boy,’’ seeks to shorten the hours of labor, so as to prevent the slackness that spell'' loss, the chief beneficiary of sueh a move is the one that howls the loud est about the unreasonable attitude of organized labor and refers to thp good old times when labor was fore- r ed to toil from sun up to sun down for little or nothing regardless of. personal inclination or the iniquity | of such a system. Labor is worth what it is capable of producing, bufcj it is far from getting more than a i fractional part of that in Spite of its . state of organization. TOO MANY LAWS. New York, July 3.—The countr is burdened with too many laws George R. Lunn, lieutenant govern or,-declared at the meeting of Retail Credit Men’s national tion. The speaker said 70 per of American business men are romic iMit'iratfo.”
The Charlotte Herald (Charlotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
July 4, 1924, edition 1
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