Newspapers / The Charlotte Labor Journal … / Sept. 5, 1935, edition 1 / Page 1
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Hie ONLY REALLY INDEPENDENT WEEKLY in Mecklenburg County For a Weekly, Its Readers Represent the LARGEGST BUYING POWER in Charlotte Official Organ Central Ijibor Union; endorsed by State Federation of Labor Truthful, Honest, Impartial Che Charlotte labor! Journal K Patronize oaf Adrer tiaora. They make YOUB paper posible by tfcoir co operation. AND DIXIE FARM NEWS Endeavoring to Serve the Masses VOL. V.—No. 18. YOUS ADVERTISEMENT IN THE JOURNAL IS A OOOD mraatsMT CHARLOTTE, N. C„ THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1935 journal Advertisms dkskrvk consioiration or TNS IIBADEN $2.00 Pet Tear STATE FEDERATION OF LABOR CONVENTION RE-ELECTS R. R. LAWRENCE AS PRESIDENT; FULLERTON FIRST VICE-PRES. * DURHAM, Sept. L—With the selection of Winston-Salem as the 1936 convention city and the re-election of Roy R. Lawrence as president, the 29th annual convention of the North Carolina Federation of Labor, in session for the last three days, closed here Saturday night. The final day’s program included the addresses of Dr. Ralph McDonald of Winston-Salem, announced candi date for governor, and W. L. Lump kin of Louisburg, an unannounced candidate for lieutenant governor, both of whom strongly appealed for the immediate removal of the State wide sales tax. Other officers selected are: J. H. Fullerton of Charlotte, first vice-president; E. L. Sandefur of Win ston-Salem, secretary and treasurer; Sam Latta of Durham, C. A. Fink of Spencer, W. E. Shuping, J r., of Greensboro, W. M. Runyans of Ashe ville, M. L. Rufty, of Salisbury, Paul Christopher of Shelby, vice-presidents; Jonah Tate of Winston-Salem, ser geant-at-arms; and H. D. Lisk of Concord, chaplain. Sandefur, Fink, Shuping, and Christopher were re-elected to their posts. W. B. Plemmons, outgoing first vice-president, was made an hon orary vice-president. Because of ill ness, Plemmons of Asheville was un able to attend the convention. Late today the convention adopted a resolution calling upon Governor Ehringhaus to appoint special inves tigators to ascertain the identity of guardsmen who “butchered and mur dered” Ernest Riley of Belmont dur ing the textile strike last September. The resolution further points out tha/t, by the governor’s refusaH <to do so, “the workers and citizens of North Carolina will realize that the governor places his stamp of approval upon the the slaughter of this helpless textile worker, and thereby is accepted to be a party to the conspiracy as accessory after the fact.” The convention also passed resolu tions supporting a move for a special session of the State Legislature to enact suitable social security legisla tion, to remove the sales tax, to ratify the child labor amendment, to pass an anti-injunction act, and to estab lish minimum viage laws for women and minors in industry and commerce. It was decided to hold the 1936 con vention beginning on the second Mon day in August. Other speakers during the day in cluded Tom D. Parrish of Raleigh, of the Railroad union; Mrs. W. E. Mc Kamey of Charlotte, repreenting the Women’s Union Label league; George Gpoge, Southern representative of the American Federation of Labor; and Charlie Parish of Durham, president of the North Carolina Labor Voters’ league. GORMAN TALKS IN CHARLOTTE AT LABOR DAY PICNIC-ONLY HOPE IS ORGANIZATION,” HE SAYS (The following account it taken from Monday Morning's Observer) The advice to strike when mills employ the stretchout, in crease hours or institute wage cuts—first given by Francis J. Gor man, U. T. W. vice-president, last June when the Supreme Court invalidated the NRA structure—was repeated by him in Char lotte Monday in a speech to union workers at a Labor Day cele bration in Brvant Park. Speaking from a small platform j fixed to the bumper of a sound truck, the generalissimo of the cotton textile strike of 1934 hammered home the necessity of organization to his small crowd that either stood around the truck or sat on a nearby embankment. Time after time he repeated that the only hope of labor is to organize so perfectly that it will have the strength to bargain with its employers. His audience was unexpectedly small, but Gorman expressed little surprise. United Textile Workers’ officials who had preceded him to the platform had already charged that mills in Mecklenburg, Gaston, and Cabarrus counties were operating through Labor Day and that some which had been closed for days and weeks resumed work on the holiday. “When I left Washington,” Gorman said, “I had an idea all of the mills might be closed, that employers had become civilized and realized that this day—Labor Day—belonged to labor and would give their workers the right to enjoy the day which has been set apart for them. Next year I hope textile workers will demand a holi day and if necessary stage a one day strike and close the mills in or der to get it.” Reminding the audience that there is no longer any code structure to re quire mills to maintain the level the industry reached under the NRA, Gorman said the only weapon left for labor is to organize to bargain with employers. “I advise you now as I advised you after the Supreme Court ruled out the NRA,” he said, “where there is chiseling, where the stretchout is be ing re-employed, where hours of labor are lengthened or wages reduced, strike! If you don’t strike you are lost.” Early in his speech, the most of which he gave extemporaneously, he referred to “employer magazines,” and quoted from the American Wool and Cotton Reporter of August 29,' a magazine which he said resembles “that published in Charlotte by Clark, anti-union, anti-labor, and the organ of the employers.” “Here’s what they say: ‘The cotton goods business is very quiet. It does not improve. It shows scant signs of life. It hasn’t quickened a bit since the cabinet report came out. The fact of the matter is that the big buyers of cotton factory products know that the whole present situation is arti ficial. They know that mills ought to run full, and overtime where pos sible. They know that the rest of the people of the country can’t buy cotton goods from mill operatives who work only 40 hours a week. They know the wage costs are too high, and those great big merchants, garment manu facturers and converters, won’t place any future orders priced upon the present day artificial situation. They know wages have got to be lower, that hours have got to be longer, and that the most efficient manufacturing is based upon a 24-hour day operation. Why does the textile industry delay in putting into effect the working conditions that will actually create business?’ “This is what we are up against,” he shouted, “right here in North Caro lina and South Carolina. We have thousands of cases in the South. We have filed a number of cases with the new board and intend to expose every atempt made to retard the progress in the union.” He urged workers to support candi dates for national and state offices who are sympathetic toward labor and briefly recited the provisions of the national textile act introduced in the last Congress by Representative Henry Ellenborgen of Pittsburgh, Pa. “This act is a labor bill,” he said- “It was designed and written to protect the textile workers, to eliminate child labor, restrict the working hours of women and children between the ages of 16 and 18, to eliminate the stretch out and prevent increasing the length of the work week and slashing of wages.” At one point in his address he read excerpts from the Monday morning issue of The Observer of a sermon delivered Sunday by Dr. Richard L. Ownbey, pastor of Myers Park Meth odist church, in which the preacher had said that the social creed of the church stands for a “ ‘fairer distribu tion of wealth, a living wage as a minimum, and above that a just share for the worker in the product of in dustry. It calls for the safeguarding of all workers against harmful con ditions of labor, and for protection of women workers in the interest of family life. It calls for reduction in hours of labor, for one rest day in every week, and for a shorter wotking NIGHT BASEBALL ASHEVILLE AT CHARLOTTE Sept 9,10,11 NIGHT GAMES AT 8:30 I Bleachers, 40c (AH Tfcx Paid) Grand Stand 65c | PCKTINKNT COMMCNT OH Timclv Topic* CHATTING -On November 16, 1933, the United States Government officially rec ognized Russia as a substantial government, although few if any if our pri vate citizens held any such view, for all that could be read in published ac counts immediately gave the reader the opposite impression. However, cer tain money interests in the United States were desirous of securing some of the money which Russia was spending for needed articles she herself could not produce. So, to please these particular interests we joyfully (?) took her into the family of nations and permitted her' to mingle freely and ’at will over our broad land. Yes, Russia did officially promise that she would not interfere with us in the orderly managing of our own affairs, and it may be that she has kept her promise—officially—but certain it is she has not been as watchful over the action of her children as a good parent should be. PYom the day recog nition was given trouble has been spreading, and that of such a nature that Communistic influence was suspected, and among the laymen in many cases it may have been positively identified. However, we have still permitted this influence to work, and it has been working overtime, and just who woke up our Uncle Sam it is hard to say, but now Russia has been notified that if she does not withdraw her dogs of destruction, we will not let her official representative stay in Washington. So on August 25, Ambassador William C. Bullitt, at Moscow, issued an offi cial warning to Russia that unless Russian propaganda and destructive in fluences are withdrawn from the United States, recognition will be withdrawn, and our ambassador will be ordered home. Had the judgment of the common people been taken at its full value, rather than the money views of certain interests, Russia never would have been recogniaed by us, and much trouble and unrest throughout our bright and fertile land never would have occurred. Too bad we must let the disease get such a start before we began doctoring. As was stated in these articles quite recently, we have many people in America who have no right to be here, and the proper authorities should get busy and see that they are put where (.hey belong. —4-“j[ accuse the present administration (Hoover’s) of being the great est spending administration in peace time in all our history, one which has piled bureau on bureau, comimjsion on commission, and has failed to antici pate the dire needs of reduced earning power of the people.”—Franklin D. Roosevelt, speech at Sioux City, September 29, 1932. —j—At this writing preparations are still advancing for that expected war between Italy and Ethiopia. It is to be hoped some way may be found to avert this conflict, but if it must come let the United States stay at home and look out for our own internal affairs. We have not forgotten the last time we went out of our way to help those whom we suspected all along were our friends. Experience is a thorough school, but tuition is costly. ——A Japanese girl); thinking that all joy would be hers when she reached America, says: “I expected to hear the name of Jesus on every tongue.; I thought it would be easy to bring my brother to church in Amer ica, where I expected to find all the people Christians, but he has never heard the name of God from American lips except on the fruit farm, and then only with oaths and curses. Now he sneers and says, ‘The Americans send their religion across the sea to us because they have no use for it themselves.” Arkansas Baptist. Such an impression of America is held by many nations, because we call America a Christian nation, and then do so many things in our daily busi ness life and methods which do not fit in with their ideas of Chrstianity. The truth is, there is no such thing as a Christian nation today. We, along with other nations, are unfair both to our title and our claim. --In a very few days the school bells will again be telling their song to the children of the land. To some it will be a time of gladness, but to most it will be a doleful sound, at least while the weather is nice and fishing is good. PELZER MILL MANAGEMENT HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR TROUBLE THERE ON MONDAY MORNING The killing of a woman at a cotton mill at Pelzer, S. C., yes terday and the wounding of numerous others were caused by the management of the mill, Francis J. Gorman, of Washington, D. C., vice-president of the United Textile Workers, declared here Mon day night upon his return from Pelzer. “We made a thorough examination of the facts and we find the responsibility squarely in the hands of the mill management,” said Mr. Gorman, who led the nationwide textile strike of test year. “I am to meet with the National Labor Relations Board Wednes day and at that meeting I shall lay the facts before the board.” The labor leader declared the striking textile workers had been fired upon by two groups of company union members. One group fired from the upper stories of the mill, while another fired ’ from a high point across from the mill. The strikers were picket ing in front of the milL he said, and were caught in the cross-fire. None of the strikers had a gun, he declared. Mr. Gorman was accompanied to Pelzer by Paul R. Christo pher, of Shelby, vice-president of the North Carolina Federation of Labor and representative of the United Textile Workers, and , H. D. Lisk, of Charlotte and Concord, representative of the I U. T. W. ' The woman killed at Pelzer, it was pointed out by the three men, was struck in the back of the neck by a bullet fired from the fourth story of the mill. The bullet coursed downward into her chest and stomach, the three declared.—Observer. week as increased production may permit. L ’ ” “This expression from one of your local ministers,” he answered, “is be ing repeated in pulpits over the country. Those who are your em ployers sit in churches and pray for these very things on Sunday, sub scribe toj them at church services and on Monday, like today, Labor Day, run their mills, depress wages and lengthen jhours.” He spoke of the Labor Day rioting at Pelzer, S. C., where a woman had been killed and 15 persons shot a few hours earlier, and said that he was going to the area to make a personal investigation. He in company with other labor leaders who attended the meeting left at 1:30 for the strike area. He said the responsibility for the tragedy could be laid at the doors of the mill management, who had re fused to recognize the union, had re fused to accept mediation, and had refused to bargain with employers as they were required to do by law. Mr. Gorman was introduced by H. D. Lisk of Concord, who had charge of the meeting. Preceding Gorman on the platform was Paul Christopher of Shelby, United Textile Worker or ganizer and one of the leaders of the 1934 strike in this area. Christopher {raced the growth of the organization since the first days of 1929 and re called feelingly that it was just a year ago that the textile operatives, 500,000 strong, left the mills to strike for their rights. “Our organization is growing,” he said, “we have more men in the field than ever before but we Senate Probe In Pelzer Riot Sought By Mr. Gorman — Washington, Sept. 4.—A demand I for investigation by the Senate muni tions committee of the labor outbreak at Pelzer, S. C., yesterday in which one woman was killed and approxi mately a score injured was voiced yesterday by Francis J. Gorman, first vice-president of the United Textile Workers. Gorman contended a private army, equipped with modern rifles, was be ing used against the striking em ployes of the Pelzer Manufacturing company, and declared he intended to confer with Senator Nye in an ef fort to enlist the interest of the Sen ate munitions committee. He said officials of the United Tex tile Workers planned to discuss the Pelzer strike situation tomorrow with the new National Labor Relations board at a conference scheduled origi nally to take up methods of procedure in union complaints against manufac turers. WaWMMWWMWMMSWMWWW need the aid of every worker. Every worker should be a member.” The meeting and picnic which fol lowed was given by the Charlotte Cen tral Labor Union of which Frank Barr is president. In the afternoon con tests and athletic events were staged. I LABOR PICNIC AT BRYANT PARK SUCCESS, DESPITE OPERATION OF MANY TEXTILE PLANTS MONDAY Labor Day in Charlotte passed off quietly. There was a good ly gathering of the “faithful” at Bryant Park throughout the day, the attendance being cut due to the fact that all the mills, compara tively speaking, operated on that day, of all days, some calling their operatives to work that had been closed for weeks and months. They may have carried out this procedure in order to show the workers how much they loved them, but we doubt that. Brother ruiierton was master of ceremonies, asisted by Brother Mc Elice, both of the entertainment com mittee. Good order reigned through out the day, both young and old en joying themselves to the utmost. The contests were participated in by many and the decisions of the judges went uncontested. Skill and comedy fea tured the events, which lasted until late in the afternoon. Below is a list of the winners of the contests, the prizes and the donors, along with the program, as handed The Journal by the committee. Welcome by Frank Barr, President C- L. U.. Address by Francis J. Gorman and others. Basket dinner at 12:00 noon. Horse shoe pitching event won by shirt donated by Charlotte Labor Journal. Children’s Race for young girls won by Evelyen Rape. Prize, Box of Candy donated by Piedmant Candy kitchen. Young women’s race won by Roxana Kelly. %Prize, Cleaning order donated by F. G. Campbell Cleaners, 719 Lou ise Ave. Married Women’s Race. W-on by Hazel Love. Prize, $2.00 grocery order donated by A &'P Stores. Children’s race for boys won by Jimmy Biggers. Prize, $2.00 grocery order donated by A & P Stores. Boys’ Race won by Dan Smith. Prize, $2.00 grocery order donated by A & P Stores. I Oirls’ Race won by Helen Barrett. Prize, Dry cleaning order dona#d by F. G. Campbell Cleaners. Ball throwing contest won by Mrs. Roy Morton. Prize, $2.00 grocery order donated by A & P Stores. Honey Moon Express Race won by Miss Vernett Threatt and J. A. Wall. Miss Threat received a large beauti ful cake donated by the Friendly Bak ery. Gilnier Holton, owner. J. A. Wall received a pair fo pants donated by Belk Brothers Stores. Men’s Races won by R. K. Amyx, secretary-treasurer of C. L. U. Prize, beautiful Parker fountain pen do nated by Eckerd’s Drug Store. Mixed Race for married people won by Mr and Mrs. H. L. McCrorie. Prize, beautiful stand lamp donated by Perry Mincey Furniture Co. by Perry Mincey Co. | Novelty race for men won by D. L. ' Funderburk 1st and L. K. King, 2nd. 1st prize, union made tie. 2nd prize handkerchiefs donated by the National Hat Shop. Men’s ball throwing contest won by i C. M. Mills. Prize, cleaning order do noted by F. G. Campbell. Married Women’s Duplex Race won by Mrs. Hearn and Mrs. Love. Prize, bag of groceries to each donated by Dupre’s store, Tryon St. Lie telling contest won by Mr. W. E. McKamey. Prize, car wash and grease order donated by J. B. Hobbs Service Station. The Journal thanks its friends for the many complimentary remarks on its Labor Day edition, and would also mention the fact that it was made possible by the co-operation of the mer chants and business men of Charlotte.. » ■ President Roosevelt says “the United States is undergo ing repairs”—and its some repair job, too. But we wonder how long it will take to do the job? GREEN DECLARES GOVERNMENT MUST BECOME PROTECTOR OF HUMAN WELFARE IN ADDRESS The imperative necessity of the Government assuming respon sibility for the social welfare of the masses, with complete author ity to enact welfare legislation and regulate industry for social purposes, is stressed by William Green, president of the American Federation of Labor, in his Labor Day message. He points out that this principle involves equality of opportunity for both those who invest in labor and capital. Mr. Green emphasizes the fact that the Supreme Court of the United States in its decision holding the National Industrial Recovery Act unconsti tutional denied to Congress the authority to enact social welfare legislation and holds a way must be evolved by which the people collectively may veto the action of Government authorities which bar social progress. The text of the message follows, in part: “An achievement of the past year constitutes a fundamental gain that gives to wage earners the key to self-progress. “For decades society has recognized that the union was the wage earner’s method of increasing his income and raising his standards of living, but nev^r until Section 7-A of the National Recovery Act was made law did society put this right into legal form. “When employers refused to conform to law, labor asked that the Gov ernment be authorized to assume responsibility for preventing employers from interfering with labor’s right to organize in unions and bargaining collec tively through representatives of their own choosing. This was written into the National Labor Relations Act. “Although judges may do their best to restrict the number of workers to whom this law will apply, the Federal Government has made this impor tant declaration of policy for whatever area of labor relations the Federal courts may permit to come under its jurisdiction. “It is now a generally accepted policy that Government shall protect rights growing out of ownership of property. This was a more obvious obligation necessary to basic order in society. “The time is now overdue for Government to assume responsibility for assuring to men and women rights as human beings so that their welfare may have at least equal consideration with wealth and the products of their labori . > ]•r i 1 - |, i ■ “There is involved in this issue which labor has raised the key to the future of our nation. It proposes that society offer even-handed opportunity for those who invest creative labor with those who invest capital. “The progress and the enduring development of our nation depend upon the acceptance by our Government of its responsibility for human welfare. “An avowed purpose of our Government is to promote the general wel fare, and Congress is given power to lay and collect taxes to provide for the general welfare. This, together with its power to regulate commerce be tween the States is the basis for labor’s belief that the Federal Government has legal power to legislate for social welfare. “We know that the moral and economic need for such legislation puts still further obligation upon Congress. “Industries now organized upon a national basis, buying their crude materials from any supply center in the nation and selling in a world market, are in no sense local institutions. They can escape any regulation not na tional in scope. “Unless regulated, cut-throat competition brings sweatshop labor con ditions. The welfare of our 49,000,000 persons gainfully employed by busi ness enterprises depends on whether society places a restraining han't on business struggle for profits for the few and forces more equitable division of returns from joint work. 7T"V ' Central Labor Union ! Central Labor Union held its regu lar weekly meeting Tuesday night with only a fair attendance, but what was lacking in numbers was made up for in the spirit of the meeting. The report of President Frank Barr, who was a delegate to the state convention at Durham from central body made a concise and lengthy report as to the proceedings. Chairman Fuller ton, of the Labor Day picnic com mittee made a report, which waa elab orated upon by Brother McElic? of the same committee. Reports of lo cals were of a varying nature, but up to the average the past three months. There was some discussion over several matters of a private na ture, but there was good will and a spirit of fellowship through it all. President Frank Barr presided, with Secretary Amyx, and acting Re cording Secretary Boate at their posts. The attendance of ladies at Tuesday night gave evidence of an in creased interest being taken by them in the Labor movement. The meet ing adjourned about 10:30 p.m., going half an hour beyond the scheduled time for adjournment.
The Charlotte Labor Journal and Dixie Farm News (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Sept. 5, 1935, edition 1
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