Newspapers / The Charlotte Labor Journal … / April 4, 1935, edition 1 / Page 1
Part of The Charlotte Labor Journal and Dixie Farm News (Charlotte, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
The ONLY REALLY INDEPENDENT WEEKLY i For • Weekly, Repreeent the Truthful, Honest, Impartial AND Endeavortn VOL. IV.—No. 48 m Tub to a CHARLOTTE, N. C., THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 1935 5,000,000 JOBS WILL BE CREATED BY THE 30-HOUR WEEK, SAYS INTERSTATE COMMERCE COM. WASHINGTON—Declaring that the Black bill establishing a compulsory 30-hour week in industry is the solution for the busi ness depression, the Senate Interstate Commerce Committee ask ed the Senate to enact the measure into law without delay. The report, written by Senator Neely of West Virginia, esti mated that 5,000,000 idle would be provided with jobs by the shorter work week which the bill makes mandatory for all indus tries whose products enter interstate commerce. In urging the passage of the Dill the report said, in part: In addition to providing a shorter work week and Work day, this bill would prohibit any reduction in the hourly, daily, weekly, or monthly wages of employes affected by it, pending a reasonable opportunity for d'scussion and agreement between em ployers and the duly selected repre sentatives of a majority of their em ployes. “The bill contemplates the employ ment of America’s jobless men and women in private industry by giving work to all who desire it at shorter hours, instead of giving work to a part of the people at longer hours. “The measure proposes that pri vate business supply this work at shorter hours without reducing the aggregate purchasing power of the Nation. “The greatest menace to our eco nomic and political system is wide spread unemployment, with its con sequent waste and misery and dis content. “In spite of all the efforts that have been made to employ the idhe, the government is today necessarily feeding more than 20.000,000 people at public expense “Probably more than 10,000,000 who are able and eager to work cannot find employment. “The traditional American method of employing oiir people is through private industry. “We are now appropriating about $5,000,000,000 to give jobs to 3V6 mil lion on public works rather than in private business. “How many other millions will still be jobless after this $5,000,000,000 ap propriation has been exhausted, no one can accurately foretell.” “A shorter work week and work day will restore happiness and hope to millions who will be given employ ment. The bill, if passed, will in crease production throughout the Na tion. It will put idle men and idle machines to work. It will support our idle toilers with wages instead of taxes.” “The 30-hour week, without decreas ing wages, would supply jobs and pur chasing power; would increase pro duction ; reduce costs of production and raise the living standards of the average American family.” “According to the most generally accepted views, the working hours of 20,000,000 toilers would be regulated by the pending bill. "The most conservative estimate is to the effect that the reduction in average weekly hours would be 25 per cent. E. J. Heick, of Axton-Fisher Tobacco Co., Speaking Before Senate Committee Commends The Tobacco Workers’ Union The following is an example of the spirit of Organized Labor as exemplified by the Tobacco Workers, as stated be a Senate Comsiittee in session to reduce the tax on the 10-cent (or poor man’s cigarette: “In our plant the Union with which we have dealt for nearly 36 years, has fostered co-operation rather than competition between them selves and the management—a real, work-together, worthwhile spirit which has resulted in substantial gains to both. Their demands, and particularly wage demands, have never been unreasonable. Adjustments in wages have been made from time to time, but usually at the suggestion of the management. In fact, dur ing the war period and immediately following the World War^the wage contracts were set aside and in round table disciisisons adjustments in wages were made, which were satisfactory to both the workers and ourselves. * The Tobacco Workers' Union has gone far in raising the standard ot our workers. The Union has done much to foster education amc-ng its members—that makes for better workers. The Union has raised standaids by increasing independence, by developing manhood bv dis couraging selfishness, reducing prejudice and establishing a spirit of tiatermty and comaraderie. Norman Thomas In N. Carolina HIGH POINT, April 2.—Norman Thomas, former candidate for presi dent on the Socialist ticket, will de liver five addresses in this state this week-end, E. A Riddock, state sec retary of the Socialist party, an nounced yesterday. Thomas will address the Institute of Human Relations at the Univer sity of North Carolina Friday after noon at 4 o’clock. His subject will j be “Trends Toward Fascism.’’ Sat urday morning at 10 o’clock he will speak to workers and farmers at Wil son; at'2 p. m. he will address the state textile convention at Durham; and at 4:30 o’clock he will appear before a public meeting in Winston Salem. Saturday night at 7:30 o’clock he is to speak to a mass meet ing here sponsored by the workers’ organization and Central Labor union. ^ The Uhion Label is the insignia of the great army of American Labor. Lisk and Scott Very Busy Men These Week-Ends Textile Organizer "Red'’ Leisk and Special Representative S.’ H. Scott, of the Tobacco Workers, had a busy week-end, being present at large meetings at Concord Saturday morn ing; Ranlo, where the Western Tex tile Council met, Saturday afternoon and night and at Rockingham, Sun j day afternoon. On Monday night these gentlemen •attended an enthusiastic meeting of •Central Labor Union at Gastonia. Mr. Lisk reports the best meetings since the late Textile Strike. They bring The Journal the report that more than 1,000 letters have gone to representatives in Congress the past week asking that they sup port the Labor Legislation now up for consideration. Truly it may be said that Labor is letting no grass grow under its feet, but is up and doing. LABOR RACKETEERING IN CHARLOTTE CONDEMNED BY CENTRAL LABOR UNION 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: ‘‘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 outriders 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.’* STORMS “Storm” is a word which one is not accustomed to welcome with much joy, jtor many times it means destruction and frequently death to some who are forced to experience them. Viewed from a distance, they sometimes look to be more severe than they eventually prove to be, but at their best they are not welcome visitors. ^ ,, On Monday night of last week Charlotte was visited by a sudden and rather severe hail storm, accompanied by much rain, and later reports proved that Charlotte was not the only part of this state which was paid a visit by this spring storm. In Charlotte hail stones fell as large as marbles, while in the district between Morganton and Shelby the stones were reported to ge as large as guinea eggs. While the writer recalls experiencing hail storms in which more of the ice fell, and greater damage was done, yet it must be said in all truth that the size of the pellets in this latest storm was the largest he has ever seen Much damage to property resulted, and the dam age to fruit and other growing things may not be known for some time. In the middle west dust storms have been doing much damage to the farming land. The dust stays in the air for some time and is earned to great distances. It has been reported in a number of instances where ram has fallen filled with mud and snow has fallen covered with dust. Listen to what Will Rogers says about these freak events: “New York, March 28.—Flew through these dust storms last night with the pilot flying entirely by instruments. Where in the world is it going to ’ It’s a terrible thing, and it’s going to bring up some queer cases in law. If Colorado blows over and lights on top of Kansas, it kinder looks like Kansas ought to pay for the extra top soil, but. Kansas can sue ’em for covering up their crops. Now this week’s wind has picked up Colorado, which was in Kansas, taking Kansas with it, and that’s what’s in the air looking for a new place to light. In the middle west now you got. to put a brand on your soil, then in the spring go on a roundup looking for it.’’ From what has been shown on the screen in the movies lately giving actual views of these storms in operation, the people in this section have much for which to be thankful when storms are being considered. [Will here give in a few lines what science has to say on the subject of storms, for there are many kinds, and each part of the world seems to have its own particular ones. ,1 ' BLIZZARD—iA severe, blinding storm of dry snow, typically with a very sudden onset and accompanied by a freezing wind. .Following the great storm of March, 1888, during which snow fell to a depth of three feet in the Atlantic states and New England, and was driven for days by powerful gales into drifts 5 to 20 feet high, the term “blizzard” came into universal use in Ameinca. In the winter of 1919 violent storms of this type swept .the east ern United States, paralyzing traffic and causing immense damage. The most destructive blizzards occur in the plains region from North Dakota to Kansas and eastward to Ohio. CYCLONE—Cyclones are violent storms ranging from 100 to 1000 miles in diameter In these storms high winds rotate somewhat spirally about a oaim central area Because of the rotation of the earth, a cyclone in the northern hemisphere blows about its center from right to left, or in a direc tion opposite to the movement of the hands of a clock. 1| For the same rea son, cyclones in the southern hemisphere rotate from left to right. Cyclonic storms move eastward in the middle latitudes and westward in the tiopics. HURRICANE—A violent tropical storm, or true cyclone, called also typhoon and baguio, generally accompanied by rain, thunder and lightning, and very destructive winds. About two-thirds of the hurpeanes occur in the West Indies and China sea during August, September and October, and the wind rarely exceeds a velocity of 100 miles per hour. They often do immense damage along the Atlantic coast in the United States, both to shipping and &fi property On land. The storm which caused great devastation in Galveston, Texds, in September, 1900, was a tropical hurricane which veered farther northwest than usual. Similar storms of cyclonic origin occurring in the Pacific ocean are commonly called typhoons. Other storms of cyclonic origin occucring in the Pacific ocean are com monly called typhoons. >1 pther storms not mentioned here are listed as ram, snow, thunder, tor nadh? waterspout, whirlwind, and wind. ^Another kind of storm common in deserts is a sandstorm, somewhat akin to the dust storms just mentioned. These are the storms which have suc ceeded in covering up the cities of ancient civilization, which are now being giadually dug up, adding much to present day knowledge of what these peo ple o!f ancient times did, and how they lived, and the latest find in the past few weeks is looked forward to as giving evidence that many stones in the Old Testament are not mythical, but basied on actual fact. RICHBURG WANTS TO SEE NRA EXTENSION BILL PASSED AT ONCE; GREEN DEMANDS 30-HOUR LAW WASHINGTON, April 1.—With strikes assertedly threaten ing: in four big industries and labor clamoring for action, the ad ministration hurriedly laid before congress Saturday a secretly drafted bill to extend the NRA. The measure failed, however, to meet the objections of Blue Eagle critics. It was introduced suddenly by Chairman Harrison, of the sen ate finance committee, after Donald Richberg, new NRA head, ap peared before his committee in closed session to warn that four major strikes have been brewing and to suggest that quick action on the recovery legislation would help to settle them. The administration’s chief “trouble shooter” told the committee of threat ened walkouts in the automobile, steel, coal, and textile industries He appealed to the committee at least to get a bill before congress. With the committee’s approval, Harrison walked over to the Capitol and introduced the measure, which he had been closely guarding for days. The Harrison measure would provide some restoration of the anti-trust laws under NRA, limit codes to industries in or affected by interstate com merce, extend this controversial labor section 7A, and limit the President’s authority to impose codes. K The unexpected introduction of the measure came after William Green, stocky president of the American Federation of Labor, threw his organiza tion’s support behind NRA continuation but demanded of the Black-Connery 30-hour-week bill, thus far opposed by the administration. Arguing that extension of NRA was “the only plan which is available to us at this time for the rehabilitation of our economic system,” Green told the senate finance committee that organized labor wanted both it and the 30-hour wdek| ' ! f Simulaneously in the house, Chairman Connery, Democrat, of Massa chusetts, of the labor committee, shouted at his colleagues that, if the rules committee had not “smothered” the 30-hour and Wagner labor disputes bill, strikes in major industries could have been avoided. The responsibility for the 1,000,000 workers going on strike, he said, rested on the house, because of its refusal to consider the Black 30-hour week bill in the last congress after it had passed the senate. Tobacco Heads Testify As To ( The Benefits of Labor Unions _ ■ i WASHINGTON, D. C.—Striking testimony based on thirty-six years experience, that collective bargaining with independent unions and the closed shop mean peace in industry gave'legislators and government of ficials here the best first-hand evi dence they have had on how to avoid industrial warfare between capital and labor. , Only two manufacturers presented facts before the Senate Committee on Education and Labor during a re cent hearing on the Wagner disputes bill. A statement by Wood F. Ax ton, noted tobacco manufacturer and President of the Axton-Fisher To bacco Co. of Louisville, who has spent a lifetime operating factories with out labor troubles was dramatically convincing. E. J. Helck, vice president of Ax ton-Fisher, said unions are organiza tions of peace that raise the stand ard of workers. H. M. Robertson, of the Brown ft Williamson Tobacco Corporation, declared that farmers and labor should get more of the to bacco dollar. By buying unfair produces, you are paying a ransom to the foreigners who are kidnapping your own pros perity child. Union Labels assure you that the products are American-made. In crease employment in our own coun try by buying Union-made goods. - jf V j 'll LABOR DEMANDS NEW CODES ' FOR TEXTILE INDUSTRY, OR STRIKE IMMINENT VERY SOON --— i , WASHINGTON, April 2.—Coincident with appeals in both the house and senate for relief for the cotton textile industry, labor tonight laid down a demand for congressional investigation of the < entire situation and for the imposition of a new and radically re vised code for cotton mills. The United Textile Workers told the President, all cabinet members, and members of congress that, “if these conditions continue, a strike must come at a not far distant date.”. i The textile workers, in a letter signed by Francis J. Goman, first vice president, denounced the recent 25 per cent production curtailment program, appealed for “a merciless” investigation of the industry, and proposed an eight-point program for reorganization of the trade. In his letter, Gorman asserted, “I am pot conveying any threat of a general strike, but I know that, if these conditions continue, a strike must come at a not far distant date,” and declared the feeling prevailing among textile strikers was one of “be ing baffled and betrayed.” He proposed: “1. A thorough and merciless in vestigation of this industry, its cap ital structure, and its methods of op eration and of selling. “2. Compulsory elimination of ob solete machinery. “3. A 30-hour week. "4, Drastically increased rates of pay, elimination of north-south dif ferentials, and a restoration of the differentials between minimum rates and skilled rates to their pre-code ratio. ^ _ill_ “5. Imposition of a new code, with labor sitting in equal numbei as. with employers on the code authority and all subordinate boards. • “6. A joint govemment-labor-man agement study of marketing and mar ket extension. “7. Mandatory recognition of the union whenever the union can show a majority in membership by secret ballot or by union books. “8. Immediate action by the depart ment of justice to punish those who • violate Textile Labor Relations boaid orders or National Labor Relations board orders.” Gorman assailed the mill manage ment as “haughty and autocratic” and warned that “the next strike, when it comes, will be more bitter than the last,” and that “it will not end! until one side or the other is com pletely beaten.” 1: j He contended the mill manage ments had violated their own code and concluded: , “Perhaps there has been no inten tion of it, but promises made when the last strike was ended have not ’ been fulfilled.” RFC Concern Violated Sec. 7-9 Is Charge X _ WASHINGTON.—An instructive mix-up illustrating the ramifications of holding companies has indirectly involved the Reconstruction Finance Corporation in a case of discrimina tion against trade unionists. When General Dawes was on the verge of bankruptcy for his Chicago bank, he borrowed 90 million dollars from the RFC, posting certain collat eral for the loan, including controll ing ownership in the Public Utilities Securities Corporation Dawes de faulted, and the RFC came into con trol of the corporation, placing five of its members on the eight-man di rectorate. This holding concern con trols Utilities Light and Power Co., which in turn controls the1 LaClede Gas Co of St. Louis. Gas House Workers' Union No. 18799 asked the LaClede Gas Co. to recognize the union and negotiate an agreement with its representatives! The company refused to do so and dis missed Joe Davis, a union worker, who had been employed by the company for 14 years, charging him with sleep ing on the job. The case came before the National labor Relations Board, which ruled the company had violated Section 7-A of the National Recovery Act by re fusing to bargain collectively with the Gas House Workers’ Union and gave' the concern 10 days to put Joe Davis back to work. Publisher Chisels Graphic Arts Code As to Wages-Hours ANN ARBOR, Mich.—Lengthening the work week of his employes from 40 hours to 48 hours without any in crease in wages was the subverse plan adopted by A. J. Wiltse, manager of the Ann Arbor Press, to recoup an alleged loss of $10,000 out of $200, 000 business last year, and to guard against future losses, i [ The scheme boosts the hours in the plant eight hours above the minimum in the graphic arts code and cuts the wages 20 per cent less than the code minimum Because of his antiunion principle. Ann Arbor Tyuographical Union terminated its agreement with Wiltse a number of months ago. Payne Denies The Charge of Communism Howard Payne, prominent textile leader, and at all times conservative, makes the following statement in re gard to the malicious report that he is a Communist: “Since my entrance to the race for the city council rumors have been circulated in certain parts of the city that I am very radical, in fact a< communist, and that I had tried to make a talk at the county courthouse on communism but was not allowed that privilege. "That statement is untrue, as I have never attempted to make a talk at the courthouse on any subject, but, as you will remember, some time ago such an attempt was made by a prom inent local communist, Paul Crouch. “I have no connections whatever with any radical or communist or ganizations, my only connections with any labor organization being with the United Textile Workers of Amer ica, which is a legitimate labor organ ization, affiliated with the American Federation of Labor.” Forest City and Ninety-Six Workers Lose Their Fight __ WASHINGTON, March 27.—In sustaining its former decision today that the Alexander MaJ ufacturiog company of Forest City, N. C., and the Ninety-Six Cotton mills of Nine Six, S. C», were not compelled to take back former strikers of last Septem ber. the textile labor board laid down a new principle that “coequal with the right to strike are the rights of the miller to run his mill and of other 5 employes to work.” The cases were rehearc upon ap plication of local unions cf the Tex tile Workers after an adverse de cision January 31. It w&h contended by the strikers they retain some sort of an equity in their jobs while they were on strike. On this basis, the strikers at the Alexandei manufac turing plant, especially, contended that a strike, per se, doss not ter minate the relationship of employer and employee, and that the striking employees retain some kind of right or equity in their jobs while they are on strike. “Upon this basis the strikers of the Alexander Manufacturing company held a claim to the jobs they had manped before the strike which was superior to any claim tl ereon held by other employes who may have been called) in to operate those jobs while the first set of operatives were out on strike. Civil Service Post May Go To Dr. Squires It was reported from reliable sources Monday that Dr. Claude E. Squires, member of the city council who recently announced he would not seek re-election, is being backed fcr a place on the civil service commis sion in April. The term of Commissioner J. A. Daly expires at that time, it was stated, and Dr. Squires is being men tioned as his successor. Several, mem bers of the council, it was stated, are in favor of Dr. Squires' appointment in the event he should desire the of fice. > The vacancy to arise cn the civil service commission already has been the cause of several heated controv ersies. , *. Claude L. Albea has openly stated he will not support Mr. t'aly for re election, and Councilman Max L. Kahn has4 charged that Mr. Daly was responsible for guiding Mr. Al bea into office four years ago. In reply, Mr. Albea contended if he ever owed Mr. Daly anything “he paid him long ago.”—Observer, * LENTIE TRANSFERRED FROM RICHMOND TO NEW YORK CITY Joe Lentie, one of the vice-presi dents of the Tobacco Workers’ Inter national Union, who has been doing duty at Richmond, Va., the past two years, is now located in New York City, where he will have greater room for action. Joe is a hustler and has many friends in Charlotte among the workers who wish him well. He is a good mixer, a good executive and knows his line from A to Z. Dr. Sigmires says if he is given civil service post, and action is legal, he will resign from the City Council. Themdst way to display your loy alty to Trade Unionism is to buy only from those who display the Union
The Charlotte Labor Journal and Dixie Farm News (Charlotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
April 4, 1935, edition 1
1
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75