The ONLY REALLY INDEPENDENT WEEKLY in Mecklenburg County
For • Weekly, Its
Truthful, Honest, Impartial
AND DIXIE FARM NEWS
Official Organ <
labor Union: endoc
of
VOL. V.—No. 2
i« »
CHARLOTTE, N. C„ THURSDAY, MAY 16, 1935
liiLl F
STRIKE AT QUEEN CITY PRINTING
COMPANY’S PLANT STILL HOLDING
PRACTICALLY 100 PER CENT PERFECT
The strike which occurred on Monday, May 6, involving
Printers, Pressmen and Bindery Workers employed at Queen
City Printing Co., is still under way._ It was 100 per cent effec
tive and a picket line is on duty constantly.
Th^firm has made great efforts to fill the places of all strik
ers and up to the time this paper goes to pres shas been unable
to do so._ They have, however, brought a great number of strike
breakers to Charlotte for this purpose and many have been per
suaded after coming here not to accept employment and others
have accepted it ahd have been induced to leave.
Several men who being unemployed
in the past and who had made appli
i cation for jobs prior to the strike,
were telegraphed to come here that
employment was open tb them but
they were not informed they were
as strike breakers and although broke
and away from home turned down
the employment offered when they ar
rived and learned the facts.
A few chronic strike breakers have
arrived however and are at work there
and there are a number of half baked
mechanics who know nothing of la
bors’ aims and who were in desperate
need of employment who are having
their first fling at being traitors to
their fellow craftsmen who are fight
ing to advance the condition of all
workers including those who deliber
ately choose to rat.
The Lassisters, owners of the plant,
quite well to do people who are en
gaged at Mooresville in the te^ile
industry have owned the plant Tor
about a year and have no knowledge
o fthe printing and binding industry!
save what they have learned in that
time and are stubbornly fighting but
are beginning to learn that skilled
printing house craftsmen are em
ployed elsewhere at better wages and
are not to be had so validly as readily
as they thought?
The entire controversy arose over
a refusal to recognize the union and
enter into contractural relations. The
unions are fighting not only to gain
recognition but to try to stabilize
the industry throughout this’section
which has been violating in many in
stances the Graphic Arts Code, as to
wages and by price cutting by com
petitive employers which has had a
very demoralizing effect upon the
► Central Labor <
[ Union
^ ^ A Ai A A
Charlotte Central Labor Union had
a fairly well attended meeting Mon
day night. hTere was not much ex
I day night. There was not much ex
gone through with clock-like precis
ion. Reports of locals were fair and
a harmonious spirit predominated.
Organizer Hailey, of the Bookbinders
Union made a report on the strike ac
tivities at the Queen City Printing
Company. Mr. Hailey is a versatile
speaker and is well-liked by all or
, ganized labor in Charlotte. Vice
President Kiser presided. The meet
ing adjourned a little ahead of time,
after a perfect session.
printing industry. • The unions believe
in a uniformity of hours and wages,
decent prices for the product so that
the employer can make a legitimate
profit and pay the prbper standards
of wages to its skilled craftsmen.
Mr. Janies J. Hailey, representative
of the International Brotherhood of
Bookbinders had several conferences
seeking union agreements for the sev
eral crafts during March and April
and engaged in friendly discussions
with both the father and son who op
erate the plant but after the last
conference held with them was called
home where he had a surgical op
eration. He was not here when the
strike occurred and arrived after it
had been on for several days, the
workers having taken a strike uopn
themselves in his absence. He stated
to the writer that he had believed fur
ther negotiations and patience would
have brought about an agreement
eventually and that he is ready to
meet the owners at any time they
signify a willingness to reopen ne
gotiation?.
He also stated however that if the
firm shows no evidence of a desire to
settle the matter and wishes to fight
it out to a conclusion that the print
ing trades unions have ample funds
to carry on and care for the strikers
and will continue to fight to a con
clusion. He expressed himself as be
lieving that the Messrs Lassiters are
laboring under the impression that
the unions wanted to take all the
profits of - the business and are not
sincere ip their desires to promote
friendliness and co-operation for all
concerned in the welfare of the in
dustry.
A number of Charlotte’s printing
Slants have signed agreements, Mr.
'ailey stated, and the relations of em
ployer and employees in them are
most friendly and he believes will
continue So. Others who have not yet
signed agreements have them in their
hands for consideration and will no
doubt soon reach an understanding or
face a fight as the Queen City Print
ing Co. is doing.
Mr. Hailey is stopping at the Hotel
Charlotte and is considering prob
lems of the industry not only in Char
lotte but through thie eittire section
of the United States and is contact
ing both employers and employees of
the industry seeking genuine stabili
zation for the good of all concerned.
He has found numerous employers
who admit the existing evils and who
are joining him in his efforts to
correct them.
Your own pocketbook will swell in
just the degree that you buy Union
Label Goods
LEGISLATIVE MIRROR
By ANNE OBSERVER
RALEIGH, May 6.—The Legislature is expected to adjourn the latter
part of this week. Some of them will have a lot of explaining to do to their
folksr back home. It would be interesting indeed to hear siome of these so
called explanations. 4 i
The State-wide boiler inspection bill has passed both houses, although a
number of amendments were added. Labor is Rooking for something out of
this.: The bill prohibiting the appointment of police, deputies sheriff and
other police officers who have been convicted of a felony and whose citizen
ship has not been restored, passed the Senate after a hard fight and at this
writing is before the House. Senator Bell had Mecklenburg county exempted
from the provisions of the bill; Senator Mason exempt Gaston county; Sena
tor Farrell exempt Forsyth county; several other smaller counties were also
exempt by their Senators. Possibly these Senators would like to see thugs,
gangsters, ex-convicts on the police and sheriff forces. WHy so ?
The bill to establish a state-wide examining board for plumbers and
steamfitters was finally passed by the Senate with only four votes against
it. However, w'hen it got over to the House the storm broke loose with
Tom Bowie of Ashe and Fenner of Nash leading the fight against it. After
much argument Fenner moved that the bill be tabled and it was. Labor’s
forces immediately got busy in an effort to revive it. A bill that has been
tabled requires a two-thirds vote to be put back on tbg calendar. However,
our friends in the House went to work and the| next day the bill was taken
from the table and put back on the calendar. AJ vote is expected on it today.
Labor is making a final effort this week to get a vote on the bill intro
duced in the Senate by Newman of New Hanover providing that all wages
be paid in cash or check, that the name of the worker be written on the en
f vlope along with the amount of pay per hour, deductions, etc. This bill pro
bities that no person shall be required to trade at a'company store or live in
a company-owned house as a condition of employment. A special effort is
also being made to get the pick clock bill out for a vote, as this is a worthy
measure and should be enacted.
After the General Assembly’ adjourns sine: die the Legislative Commit
tee of the State Federation of Labor promises to issue a final legislative
bulletin that will be of much information and value to the membership. It
will contain most of the important record votes. The Legislative Committee
has announced it will Urge every local union to thoroughly acquaint itself
with this information and to file it for reference to be used in the next polit
ical campaign.
There were many disappointments over the fact that the Senate by a cou
ple of votes refused to enact the Day liquor control bill which had passd the
House. There is a common expression in Raleigh that the Legislators won’t
do anything about liquor except drink it. And the great majority of them do
that and it's no secret. It is a strange coincidence that many of the wettest
voted dry and many of the so-called drys voted wet. One Senator, who is
dripping wet personally, and makes no secret of it, got up on the floor of the
Senate and preached a sermon against the Day liquor control bill, quoting
the Bible all the way from Genesis to Revelations. He admitted the greatest
money crop of his county, it is said, was the illicit distillers of liquor. Oh, I
w it may be that before you read this many changes have been made. You
rever tell from on day to another what this bunch will do. Someone has
sted that they be taken out tp Dix Mill and placed in padded cells.
* I • i
BY
HARR>
BOATE
Charlotte has just emerged from another election of city officials, and
as usual, someone lost and someone won, as was bound to be the result, be
cause of the large number of persons seemingly anxious to be connected
with the ctiy government. In the primary there were more than fifty names
listed for fourteen vacancies, which included one mayor, eleven councilmen,
an two members of the school board. The official ballot at the final election
contained sixteen names. The Victors in this election, as in the past one,
have the duty of establishing a new form of city government, and if things
go true to form, perhaps in two more years we shall try another plan. Char
lotte has in recent years had the mayor and city manager form, commission
form, mayor, manager and council form, with a council of five members, one
of whom was mayor, and now we shall try the plan of a mayor with eleven
councilmen, the recent legislature having passsed a new bill of rights
for the city. Perhaps they had the same thought as did Solomon, the
wiseman, who says in his Book of Proverbs, “In multitude of counsellors
there is safety.” That may work out perfectly, but on the other hand, where
there are more ideas there is a greater chance to pick the wrong one.
However, we believe the new- official family will be a wise and effi
cient one, especially if the city aq- a whole will give them the support they
should have, for they have been selected to govern for the city as a whole,
including every citizen, and that means you. So do not begin to complain
because your favorite candidate did not win, but remember if you remain
in Charlotte you are subject to whatever rules are laid down for our guid
ance, so jump in. and help us make Charlotte one of the best cities in the
country. Charlotte is heralded as “The Queen City of the South,” but if
we keep on changing forms of government we shall annex the name of
“Charlotte, the Experimental City.”
Here is the result of the election: Mayor, Ben Douglas; councilmen:
John L. Wilkinson* W. N. Hovis, John F. Durham, J. S. Nance, J. H. Hunt
ley, L. R. Sides, J. S. Tipton, W. Roy Hudson, John F. Boyd, Claude L.
Albea and Herbert H. Baxter. So much for the names. In that list we
'have three morticians, and one each of the following: Transfer man, in
surance, pharmacist, gasoline and tires, music, grocer, contractor, pointer
and lumber dealer. With such a variety of occupations they should be able
to undertake most anything. In fact, it should be possible to have a very
harmonious government, for the musician member is an artist in his line
and being very congenial, he will do his part, even to bringing in the high
school band if need be. No duobt the other members are equally efficient in
their respective line, and it is the hope of one and all that the new city;
government will settle down to business immediately, bury whatever differ
ences may exist, if any, and proceed to enjoy their labors, for after all they
are not there solely to help you and I, but to help themselves also, for they,
too, must abide by their own decisions.
Here’s hoping that all citizenss will join in with them and help them in
the task, for it will not be an easy one. There is much to be done, and when
two years have gone by, it will be discovered that there is much yet undone,
even though they .worked without’ceasing and gave the best that was in
them.
In conclusion will say just this: When'God made this earth for man
He did not quite finish it, for had He done so there would have been nothing
for us to do. As a result, man has been busy from then till now, and many
things have been accomplished. At the outset God laid down a few rules to
guide us. Since that time man has been busy making laws and breaking
laws, until we, know* not what is right or what is wrong, and new laws,
like children, are being bom every day. Truly will our new city fathers
find much on which to bestowtheir energy.
NATIONAL MANUFACTURERS ASS’N
HAS NEVER BEEN ACCUSED OF ANY
PHILANTHROPY TOWARD WORKER
The National Assoeiationof Manu
facturers comes to the country with
a proposal which is at once a bribe
and a threat.
“Surveys,” says the NAM, “indicate
that close to $20,000,000,000 in expen
ditures, which would give employment
to 4,000,000 men for two years, is pent
up in the field of factory expansion,
renovation and rehabilitation alone.”
This idle money will pour into im
mediate use on certain conditions. All
reform legislation must be “shelved.”
The unemployment insurance bill, the
Wagner labor disputes bill, the hold
ing company bill, changes in the rail
road laws, the Guffey coal bill, the
30-hour week bill. In a word, every
measure that looks to either comfort
or security for that enormous major
ity of people who work for a living
must be thrown aside, while the finan
cial masters of the world use $20,000,
000,000 to remodel the industrial ma
chine.
In substance, the NAM says it will
bring prosperity if its wishes are
obeyed, and continue the depression
of its ■wishes are not obeyed. Labor’s
instant reaction to that arrogant bluff
- -
is that if NAM has such power, the
first duty of the nation is to take
that power away. If the welfare of
the country is in the hands of a! little
group of special interests, who never
in their lives have given" a sign pf
regard for that welfare, then I it is
time for reforms that make the Presi
dent’s program seem mild.
Another point: No one has ever I
accused the NAM of philanthropy.
It will invest twenty billion dollars
only for the purpose of getting more
than twenty billions back. The laws
to which the NAM objects arb de
signed to protect labor and consum
ers. The obvious conclusion is that
the manufacturers of the county pro
pose to take that twenty bililonsj plus
interests and profits, out of the glides
of workers and consumers who might
be protected by those laws.
The NAM is the world’s prize col
lection of Bourbons. It forgets noth
ing, and learns nothing. It cannot
forget that it ran the country in the
years from 1921 to 1929, and it can
not learn that the years of economic
hell which followed are due solely to
the greed, the stupidity, the arro
gance of Big Business.
Charlotte Theater
Presents ‘‘Wings'
In the Dark”
No matter whether you’re interested
in aviation or not—whether you can
tell a .plane’s type by the noise it
makes in the sky or whether you’re
unable to tell an aileron from a wing
—you have a stirring, dramatic treat
and an hour of thrills, chills, and
grand comedy in “Wings in the Air”
awaiting you. The picture, starring
Myrna Loy and Cary Grant, opens
Friday at the Charlotte Theatre
The story deals with a young pilot
who is an inventor of instruments for
blind flying. Aided by a beautiful
female; stunt pilot, he prepares to set
out on a transoceanic hop to. prove
his inventions, but an accident blinds
him at the last moment. In this
state he conceives the idea of per
fecting his instrumment so that even
in his blind condition he can fly the
plane. ,
The climax of the picture, in which
he establishes the usefulness of his
instruments, is one of the most ex
citing sequences which has ever been
filmed.
The picture offers Myrna Loy an
other new characterization as the
stunt pilot.
This time she gets further from
her earlier exotic roles than she has
ever been, and proves herself to be
a a down-to-earth person and a high
ly capable actress. This adds an
other ringer to het recent successes
and helps establish Myrna Loy as one
of the best bos office bets of this
year. ]
Cary Grant is also fortunate ip get
ting his most unusual role to date.
His part as the inventive pilot pre
sented some difficult problems ip act
ing. The fact that he contributed
largely to the dramatic thrills of the
picture speaks well for his perform
ance.
Night Baseball
Begins Monday,
May 20; Charlotte
Meets Norfolk
On Monday, May 20, Charlotte
wJll begfin its night baseball
games, meeting Norfolk on the
20th, 21st and 22nd. Games
will begin at 8:15, and the out
look for a good series is in
prospect.
RALEIGH, May 2.—International
Secretary-Treasurer Woodruff Ran
dolph of the International Typograp
hical Union spent today in Raleigh on
business. He addressed a meeting of
the local union in the afternoon in the
afternoon in the Manteo room at the
Sir Walter. While here he visited
with the Hon. Josephus Daniels, Am
bassador to Mexico, who is home on
vacation. Mr. Randolph stated his
organization was in a healthy condi
tion at the present time.
TRADES UNION MOVEMENT CRUSADE
FOR JUSTICE - MEN AND WOMEN
HAVE GIVEN BLOOD FOR CAUSE
To be a trade unionist means something more than just membership in a
union—it means a way of living organized to achieve definite objectives.
This is why large accessions to unions often dwindle away leaving only
those who really believe in the union way of living and who have the cour
age to stand by their convictions. A trade unionist believes that all wage
earners have a right to a square deal in all their work relationships and
should have a voice in determining what is a square deal. The fundamental
principle of unionism is the fundamental principle of free government—the
right of the governed to representation. Those who believe in this principle
firmly enough to insist on making it the basis of their organization for liv
ing are the staunch trade unionists who have made freedom and justice
realities in the! lives of the masses of wage-earners.
In a sense!the trade union movement is a crusade for justice. Men and
women have given their blood and all that makes life worth living for this
cause. But the crusade for the adoption of principles only clears the way
for their use. The trade union must be able to direct wage-earners in the
exercise of their rights and in the fulfillment of the accompanying obliga
tions. The trade union executive must not only know what are the abstract
rights of union members but what are their rights under the specific working
conditions and what is fair production in return. The technical side of pro
duction is as much a field for his study as it is for management
While the | union executive has the responsibility of leadership, union
n.nk and file members have just as important obligations. If they are true
trade unionists the obligations of union members are a primary responsi
bility. Maintenance of union membership becomes a fixed rule of living with
the responsibility of practicing union principles of livnig in all relationships.
The union member must know union principles and policies and will use
his influence to support the work of the union. Union membership and the
union movement are positive—standing for great principles of human free
dom and welfare. The union movement is an institution which can help our
nation reach new levels of prosperity and national greatness.
Pres. Lawrence
Welcome Visitor
At Journal Office
President R. R. Lawrence, of the
State Federation of Labor, who has
been putting in a lot of hard work
at Raleigh in' behalf of Labor legis
lation, dropped in on The Journal
Monday, and his visit was a welcome
one, as “Roy” has the “ins” and
“outs” of the problems of labor at his
finger tips, and is an indefatigable
worker for the cause. He had been
up Shelby way and repprted the strike
at the Ella mill is in a state of “Status
quo.” He goes back to Raleigh to
gather up the loose ends and “take
stock.” His estimable wife has been
a great aid in keeping the records
straight the past few months, being
always on the job.
REELECTION OF ROOEVELT
IS PREDICTED BY THOMAS
MANCHESTER, N. H.—May 6.—
re-election of President Roosevelt,
barring an unexpected crisis, was pre
dicted here tonight by Norman Thom
as, former sipialist candidate for
President. | >
| Thomas said it was true the new
deal had suffered a reversal of pop
ularity, then asked, “how can you de
feat a President with; five billion dol-'
lars to spend?”
He observed, however, that if Mr,
Roosevelt ever wrote his memoirs he,
would be “compelled to express deep
regret ttf being re-elected.”
Continuing his fight for the south
ern “share-croppers” Thomas here
and in Claremont this afternoon
urged a congressional investigation
into the situation of these farmers.
Terming the Bankhead bill for the
rehabilitation of ; the “share-croppers”
too ambitious, Thomas said he “would
give Tugwell a billion dollars” for that
purpose.
The Union Label is the greatest
ASSURANCE of quality and the best
INSURANCE for Trade Unionism.
Women’s Label
League Change
Meeting Night
Due to the “Mock Trial” at
Brevard St. Methodist church,
May 20, the Women’s Union La
bel League will meet at Central
Labor Uinon Hall May 27. All
members are urged to. be pres
ent as this wil Ibe the last meet
ing before the “Mock Wedding.”
Mr. W. E. McKamey
I # I' 8* '
Prominent in Fraternal
and Labor Circles
The subject of this sketch, Mrs.
\V. E. McKamey, has been a factor
in the activities of fraternal organ
izations in Charlotte for many years,
and is well and favorably known for
the interest she has taken in civic af
fairs. She is Past High Priestess of
the White Shrine and one of the
founders of the Women’s Union La
bel League of Charlotte.
SAYS U. S. CHAMBER COMMERCE
DOES NOT REPRESENT ATTITUDE
OF THE SMALLER BRANCHES
The statement of C. A. Noyes, Secretary of the Owosso
Chamber of Commerce, that the United States Chamber of Com
merce does not represent the attitude of most of the smaller
chambers throughout the country, is very timely.
Retail business, smaller business men, and professional men
are beginning to find out that the control of the Chamber of Com
merce in the hands of the larger employers of the country' is not
for the best interest of business generally.
There can be no prosperity in any business community unless
the workers are steadily employed at decent wages. To regard
an industrial city as a reservoir for cheap labor such as we have
here in Detroit is actually a menace to legitimate business.
All taxpayers in this community have been compelled to carry
the welfare burden in order to subsidize the automobile manufac
turers and others in carrying their surplus labor.
It is about time some of our business men got wise to them
selves. Let’s hope Mr. Noyes makes a little more noise in the
Chamber of Commerce.—Detroit Labor News.
I 4 I NIGHT
BASEBALL
Will Be Inaugurated in Charlotte
Monday, May 20,21,22
CHARLOTTE VS. NORFOLK
NIGHT GAMES AT 8:15
Bleachers* 40c (All Tax Paid) Grand Stand 65c