North Carolina Newspapers

The ONLY REALLY INDEPENDENT WEEKLY in Mecklenburg County For a Weekly, Its Readers Represent the LARGEST BUYING POWER in Charlotte Truthful, Honest, Impartial « Cbarlotlr labor Journal AND DIXIE FARM NEWS 4. Endeavoring Official Organ Central Labor Union; endorsed by State Federation of Labor Endeavoring to Serve the Masses VOL. IV.—No. 44. m Tm« to a CHARLOTTE, N. C., THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 1935 •m Dnnri Cm ▼m Rum $2.00 Per Year ALBEA WILL SOON ANNOUNCE FOR CITY COUNCIL - HEARTY EDORSEMENT OF ALL LABOR The Observer Sunday morning carried the following regard ing Claude L. Albea’s candidacy for the City Council. And the Journal is quite positive that Mr. Albea will be a'candidate: ine cnariotte central Labor Union has indorsed Claude L. Albea as a labor candidate to succeed himself on the Charlotte city council for the third consecutive term, it was learn ed yesterday. In unanimously, indorsing Mr. Al bea the labor body, composed of,sev eral thousand members, the union made no mention of any other labor .candidate. , It was also learned that a number of local branches of the Central Labor union have already gone on record as unanimously favoring Mr. Albea for re-election in the governing board of the municipality. In view of the union’s action Mr. Albea is expected to announce his candidacy for re-election for the third term at an early date. Altheough the indorsement of Mr. Albea, president of the Central Labor Union, was made two weeks ago no announcement of the fact has been made by labor leaders of the com mu.iity. (The Labor Journal made this announcement two weeks ago.) Mr. Albea could not be reached last mgnt lor a statement. It was learned from authoritative sources that the Charlotte Central Labor union, composed of representa tives of various locals, that Mr. Al bea was enthusiastically indorsed as a labor candidate for the post he has held for four years and preparations are»*being made by local branches of the Central Labor union to indorse the action already taken by the pa rent organization. Mr. Albea is a popular member of the present city council and was urged sometime ago to run for the state house of representatives, but declined to make the race. Besides being president of the Charlotte Cen tral Labor union, Mr. Albea is one of the vice presidents of the State Federation of Labor. The councilman during his present term of office has been a member of the fajority faction of the council. Although Mr. Albea could not be reached for a discussion of the in dorsement, it is expected that he will officially announce his candidacy within a short while. Testing Code By The Jail Route Up in New York NEW YORK, March 4.—Morris Kaplan, 57-year-old head of the M. Kaplan Tobacco company, Inc., Went to jail last Saturday to make a test of the wholesale tobacco code which prohibits the selling: of cigarettes be-/ low a minimum price. Kaplan sold the cigarettes to Max well Siskind, code supervisor, it was charged. Through his attorney, Kaplan re quested that bail be fixed when Mag istrate George B. De Luca in com mercial grouds court proposed to par ole him for special sessions court. Bail was set at $25 and Kaplan re fused to deposit it. Register and vote for the supple mented school tax. Books close March 9th. Van Every Says We Must Pay for Spools Or Jails “We must pay taxes, either for schools or for chaingangs and jails,” de clared S. A. Van Every, Charlotte business man and member of the city school board, in addressing a meet ing of the Busines sand Pro fessional Women’s Club at the Chamber of Commerce last week. Local Textile Labor Notes of Much Interest There was a mass meeting Satur day morning at,10 o’clock in Concord, N. C. There was not room in the hall for those who attended the meeting. It was the largest crowd this local has had since the strike. Brother R. C. Thomas, Brother Lester Adams, and V. T. Threatt, spoke at this meeting. We had a mass meeting at Local 2019, Belmont, Saturday at 7 P. M. Had“-«- good crowd, and a very eti * thusiastic meeting at which time was given a report on the findings of the Workers Assignment Board and the Federal Trade Commission. At 8:30 P. M. there was a mass meeting at Local 2018, North Bel mont. This was a large and enthus iastic meeting, at Which time Red Lisk endeavored to explain the Cot ton Textile Code of Fair Competition, and spoke on various bills that were being introduced in both the State and National Legislature. Also com mented on the amendments that are being introduced into the Cotton Tex tile Code. Then there was a meeting with Local 2397 Saturday at 2 P. M., and Red Lisk spoke at this meeting. This is a new local that was organized during the strike, but has around 95 per cent of the employees of their plant in the organization, and which is one of the most progressive new locals we have in the State. Brother F. L. Widenhouse spoke at the North Charlotte local Satur day night at 7:30. He reports that this was one of the most enthusiastic meetings that he has attended in months, and that this local has fine prospects of being one of the best locals in this district. Labels may come and labels may go, but the Union Label will go on for ever. Allied Trades Council to Be Formed By the < * ’ Printing Crafts A well attended meeting of the Al lied , printing craftsmen was held at Central Labor Union Hall Sunday \afternoon, and steps were taken to form the Charlotte Allied Printing Trades Council. Giles C. Courtney, of Richmond, Va., Typographical Union representative for the south east; W. G. Burrows of Pressmen’s Home, Tenn., representative of the International Printing Pressmen’s union; and James J. Hailey of Nash ville, southern representative of the International Brotherhood of Book binders, were present and made talks on the benefits of the movement. These gentlemen will remain in Char lotte for several weeks working this proposition to a successful conclusion. A number of new members were add ed to the crafts at the meeting. Another meeting will be held in a short time to elect officers and start the organization on its way. Efforts will be made to drive out “price-cutting and slave-driving” methods. The union representatives laid especial stress on the importance of seeing that the union label appears on all printed matter that is produced under 100 per cent union conditions. The three unions represented by the speakers have a total membership in the United States and Canada of more than 300,000 employes Of print ing firms. Register and vote for the supple mental school tax. Books close March 9th. Piv trs in Tropics Fear Manta Will Devour Them Di ers In the tropics avoid the man ta, h' ldlng to the traditional story that the g ant ray will engulf a man and Blowh devour him. Such, however, seems to be mythology. The manta la dm gerous when wounded, and can. be taken only by harpoon after a hard battle of several hours, says Popular Mechanics Magazine. _ The cow fish has a coat of armor insisting of hardened scales which form a bony box from which the Jaws, fins and tail can be moved freely. The name Is applied because of small horns In front of Its eyes. The porcupine fish Is one of the most grotesque mem bers of the flnny tribe, being of olive color and spotted with black dots. Armed with sharp-pointed spines, it Is difficult to handle without being In jured. Like blow fisli, which also are found In the gulf, porcupine fish are capable of inhaling air or A a ter to form a balloon-like appearance to frighten enemies. Although a small fish, generally run ning about six or seven inches In size, the bat fish looks the least of any like a fish. It appears to be a toad, but has splne-llke scales and a spinous dorsal fin. While the drum fish Is not exactly a queer specimen, its powerful Jaws hold _a set of mlil-like teeth with remark able crushing force. Schools of drums, from three to four feet In length and weighing from 40 to 60 pounds each, can make short work of a small oys ter reef. When young they are striped like a zebra. Later they become a dusty color. A large female will lay 6,000,000 egga. The Union Labe) is the greatest ASSURANCE of quality and the best INSURANCE for Trade Unionism. Vour own pocketbook will swell in just the degree that you buy Union Label Goods BY HARFtt BOATE TRAGEDY pertinent Comment on TIMELY TOPIC* Under this heading the North Carolina Christian Advocate of February 28 gives a very thrilling account Of the martyrdom of Rev. and Mrs. John C. Stam at the hands of Chinese communists. The tragedy took place on December 6, 1934, and the account is written by Dr. Robert E. Brown, super intendent of Wuhu Hospital, in China. He says is part: On December 6 the communists made a surprise attack on Tsingteh about noon. After looting, they carried off the Stam family and a number of Chinese people. It was reported that one wealthy Chinese was promised his freedom on payment of $40,000. After making payment of this amount he still was not released, but was taken away by the communists. They left the city early the following morning and marched rapidly for 50 li UChinese equivalent of an English mile), arriving there before noon. They occupied the city. The Stams were left at the post office, while the town was being taken. The postmaster offered them fruit and tea. Mrs. Stam ate something, but Mr. Stam took advantage of the moment to write a letter, which ho left with the postmaster. Someone asked Mr. Stam where they were being taken. He replied, “We are going to heaven.” Evi dently they had overheard the communists say they were to be killed. They were placed in a large home that had been looted. Mr. Stam was tied to the end of the bed so that it was impossible for him to lie down. His wife and the baby were allowed to use the bed. The next morning they were led through the streets, and the poor people of the town who had not fled to the mountains were called to witness the execution of the foreigners. It is reported that they walked with unshaken courage and calm assurance. At the head of the main street on the hill the communist officer addressed the crowd, explaining that the foreigners were hurting China by helping the present Nanking government, as demonstrated by using the people’s money to build new roads throughout the country, therefore they should be killed. When Mr. Stam was ordered to kneel down for the knife a number of people, including some non-Christians, were daring enough to speak in be half of the American missionaries. They were rewarded by kicks and curses. One Christian shopkeeper fell on his knees and begged that their lives be spared. For his persistence he was bound and taken away. It was later learned that he was killed. Mr. Stam was ordered to kneel, at which time he began to speak to the crowd. What he said is not known, but while he was yet speaking the executioner cut his throat. His wife' was then made to kneel and her head was almost severed from her body from behind. This was about 10 in the morning. At 1 in the afternoon government troops ar rived and fighting continued until darkness, when the communists withdrew, The murdered missionaries left a child barely three months old, which was taken care of by Chinese women, who furnished mothers’ milk until a supply of nursing food could be obtained. The baby is now being cared for at a missionary hospital in China. ' , . ' • This is an abbreviated story of an outrage committed in China by wan dering bands of communists and malcontents, much resembling the work of some of the kidnap work done in America where ransom money is demanded. This group was composed of between 2,000 and 3,000 people, mostly young men of high school age, but the type of young men not wanted in the schools, and who, with some' of their teachers have become communists in revolt against the government. It is reported that Mrs. Stain was behead ed by a lad only 16 years of age. * Another story of China is culled from Mr. Brisbane, who says: On an is'and in the Pearl river inhabitants of a Chinese fishing vilalge dreaded and disliked a small settlement where 24 lepers lived. A message from Hong Kong says the villagers solved the question by killing the 24 lepers and burning the villag;e. He further says that shocks us, but such bar barity was once the rule. The old were killed and sometimes eaten in primi tive days. Crippled children were destroyed, delicate ones were purposely ex posed to hardships that they could not survive, which meant destroying the finest brains, as children with well developed brains are often most delicate. Maniacs, supposed to be inhabited by demons, were horribly beaten and tortured to “drive out the devil,” even in comparative!^ recent Christian times. The human race is some distance from real civilization. The above stories miy act as an incentive for our home people to sup port the coming election in support of our public schools, as only education can prevent our country from slipping back into just such conditions as those related above, Which are of most recent occurrence. See that you are registered, and then go to the polls and do your duty as good citizens. r .[' i WOMEN’S UNION LABEL LEAGUE HEARS ADDRESSES BOOSTING THE UNION LABEL MOVEMENT The meeting of the Women’s Union Label League Monday night was well attended, and what may have been' lacking in numbers was more than made up for in spirit and enthusiasm. The talks by three representatives of! the printing trades unions, J. J.| Hailey, of Nashville, Tenn., southern representative of the International Brotherhood of Bookbinders; W. G. Burrows, of Pressmen’s Home, Tenn.,' representative of the International Printing Pressmen’s union, and Giles C. Courtney, of Richmond, Va., south ern representative of the Interna tional Typographical union were well received and dwelt mainly upon the necessity of the workers becoming! more conscious of their, duty to not ■ purchase or lend aid or succor to for eign-made goods, prison-made goods and goods produced in sweatshops under the worst of conditions, and the was forcibly brought out that the NRA label on goods you may pur-' chase does not take the place of the Union Label of organized labor. Mrs. Hugh M. Sykes, president of the Women’s Auxiliary of the Char lotte Typographical Union also spoke briefly of experiencec in securing the Union Label upon merchandise. The pair of union-made stockings offered by her organization to the members of the Label League for the best work in promoting the Union Label the past month was awarded to Mrs. Bertha Gurley, of Carvine Textile local. The hall was tastefully decorated and refreshments were served. The kitchen shower was a success and many local unions are sending in cash contributions to assist the ladies of the league in equipping their kit chen. , . ’ The officers of the Label League are working faithfully and the mem bership is co-operating with a fine spirit. Mrs. W. E. McKamey, is president; Mrs. Dumas, first vice LABOR RACKETEERING IN CHARLOTTE CONDEMNED BY CENTRAL LABOR UNION £ ■] V-M '- ! ‘ * j Racketeering: in the name of Organized Labor in Char* ■ lotte in the advertising, publicity and co-operative field brought forth the following resolution, which was unanimous /■ * ly passed Tuesday, January 21, by Central Labor Union: i “Resolved, That the Charlotte Labor Journal is recognized in Charlotte as the only official paper of this section, and that merchants and business con cerns are warned against outsiders soliciting adver tisements or funds in the name of Labor, unless they have secured the sanction of Central Labor Union. For information merchants and business men may ■ may call The Journal at 3-4855, or Central Labor Union, 9185. The motion carried unanimously." CHARLOTTE TYPOGRAPHICAL UNION GOES ON RECORD FOR SCHOOL SUPPLEMENTAL1 TAX The Typographical meeting last Sunday afternoon was brief, but in teresting. Secretary Boger of Cen tral Labor Union appeared before the body and made an earnest plea for support of the school supplement to put Charlotte public schools in the rank they should be. Mr. John White made a plea for the schools also and asked that every member of the Typographical Union pull up his s|eeves and go to work in earnest to see that the school sup plement is put over, as it was the duty of all workers to provide the best educational facilities for their children as only a small percentage of them were ever able to go to college. President Nixon appointed a commit tee to push the registration of voters and to see that they went to polls and voted for the tax. , _ The meeting adjourned to meet with members of allied crafts looking to the formation of an Allied Printing Trades Council. Strikers Are Ordered Reinstated By The Textile Labor Board WASHINGTON, March 4.— The Robbins Knitting Company of High Point was Saturday held by the Textile Labor Relations Board as having violated the la bor bargaining clause of the re covery act and ordered to offer reinstatement of 38 striking em ployes of last September in their old positions, and place 30 on the preferential list for employment within 15 days, or the matter will Be referred to agencies of the government for appropriate action. Register and vote for the supple mental school tax. Books close March 9th. Animals Have Own Games and Have Lots of Sport Animals play games of their own in vention, as children do. Most young animals are exceedingly fond of ‘‘tug o'-war." Young foxes are particularly addicted to this form of sport, pulling against one another with might and main, and every dog lover has seen terriers doing the same thing. Otters are fond of i "shooting, the chute” down a slope already well worn by generations of ‘‘shooters." Natural ists say that badgers play "King of the Castle” by moonlight. One of them mounts to the summit of a hil lock and holds It against. all comers, the badgej- who jdrives him oft taking his place until he, too. Is dispossessed. They play In perfect good temper for hours at a stretch. Lambs are often observed to play a similar game. Both cats and dogs play hide and seek. A dog and a cat In the same house will thus play together, but the cat always hides and the dog finds. Elephants, are known to have special spots In the dense Jungle where they resort for dancing!—Tit-Bits Maga zine. Stlnkwood From South America Stink wood Is a native of South Africa and was widely used by the early Cape settlers In making furni ture that Is highly prized by collec tors. The wood Is dark walnut or red dish brown to black, with a yellow sapwood and a grain that Is extreme ly fine, close, dense and smooth. Teak Is scarcely more durable. The name was suggested by the strong, unpleas ant odor Omitted by the trees when freshly felled and sawed. All efforts to substitute Gape walnut. Cape lau rel or laurelwood have failed. The scarcity -of stlnkwood is due to the wasteful employment of It In recent years In building houses, wagons and other commonplace commodities. There Is an abundant supply of It still stand lng In South Afriea, which will be ready for the cabinet-makers a cen tury or so from now, a stlnkwood tree requiring about 200 years to reach furniture size.—Detroit Free Press. president; Mrs. Bertha Gurley; second vice president. Mrs. R. K. Tm*yXi»correspondinK secretary; Mrs. J. A. Moore, financial secretary; Miss Threatt, doorkeeper; Harry Boate, chaplain; Mrs. George J. Kendall, sergeant-at-arms. Councilmanic List Growing Mr. Warren is the seventh candi- . date to announce for the race. The others are Miss Elizabeth Conrad, J. C. Mungo, L. R. Sides, Ben Favell, Sam Goldfein, and E. J. Matthews. This still leaves four places on the new 11-man council as provided for in the Bell bill unprovided with can didates. - It is almost a certainty that -the present councilman ahd mayor will also be candidates. Charlotte Theatre Presents “Big Hearted Herbert” “Big Hearted Herbert," a Warner Bros, comedy romance, comes to the screen of the Charlotte Friday and Saturday as the feature attraetbn There is an all-star cast headed by the inimitable comedy team, Aline MacMahon, and Guy Kibbee, whom audiences will remember for their hilarious team work in “The Merry Frinks" and “Gold Diggers of 193b.” The picture, based on an uproar iously funny story by' the famous au thor, Sophie Kerr, while largely com edy, is spiced with a delightful ro mance with the charming Patricia Ellis and Phillip Reed in the roles of the loveis. Their affair runs the gauntlet of exceedingly rought paths, however, in the shape of a crabbed and crc-tthcty parent. ~ «--*'■ __-• Aline MacMahon, as the mother, takes a hand in smoothing the way for the lovers by taming her nagging and ill natured husband by giving him a dose of his own medicine, which provides some highly' amusing and novel situations. Guy Kibbee, in the title role, pro-1 vokes the family -discord by his stub born insistence that his children be brought up in poverty ahd ignorance just as he himself had been, although he has attained influence. Others in important roles include Helen Lowell as a comical onee-a week maid, Robert Barret, Henry O’Neill, Marjorie Gateson, Nella Wal ler, Trent Durkin, Jay ; Ward and Hale Hamilton. Mat-Bands and Baldnesa g , - Baldness, says a writer In the Los Angeles Times, Is not due to parasites,, dandruff, nervousness or brain-work but to the pressure of hat bands upo* the blood vessels In the scalp. Here tofore, women wore loosely fitting hats, and escaped baldness. Narrow headed men, do not feel the pressure of hat-bands as much as do thick heads,’ and narrow beads are seldom bald. According to the United States Department of Public Health, It Is im possible to restore hair which has van ished. Baldness cannot be cured, but may be prevented. For Death to Wash Scythe ,n some of the remote villages of eastern European countries, the peas ants, when a death occurs, Immediately place a large tub of water outside the front door so that Death may wash his scythe when he leaves.—George Pol hamus, Toledo, Ohio,' In Collier’s Weekly. • Register snd vote for the supple mental school tax. Books close March 9th. Ask Quick Action in Support of McCarren Amendment It has not been the policy of the American Federation of Labor to make a general appeal for support of pending legisla tion, unless such legislation is likely to have a vast public sig nificance. The proposed McCarren amendment to the $4,800,000,000 Work Relief Bill does have that significance. Its retention is regarded as of paramount importance to the welfare of all wage-earners and to the progress of the nation. You should, therefore, communicate at once with your United States Senators and with your Representative in Con gress, urging them! to support the McCarren Amendment es tablishing prevailing wage rates in the Federal Relief Bill. Hie only time this can be effective is NOW. A telegram is preferable, but a letter or even a postcard will do. The im portant thing is to ACT RIGHT NOW.