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Vol. V.—No. 20
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CHARLOTTE, N. C., THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1935
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GOOGE TO REPRESENT A. F. OF L
AT LABOR DEPT. CONFERENCE
TO BE HELD IN ASHEVILLE
Washington, D. C.—William Green, president of the Ameri-,
can Federation of Labor, announced the appointment of George
L. Googe, special organizer and the Federation representative in
the South, to represent him, at the Second National Conference on
Labor Legislation to be held under the auspices of the Depart
ment of Labor in Asheville, N. C., October 4-5. The conference
will be similar to the one which was held in Washington in
February, 1934.
Secretary of Labor r ranees rerkins
invited Mr. Green to attend the con
ference. He was unable to accept the
invitation because of official duties in
Atlantic City in connection with the
annual convention of the American
Federation of Labor which convenes
there on October 7 and with the con-,
ventions of the Departments of the
A. F. of L., which will be held in At
lantic City the week preceding the
Federation convention.
In announcing the Asheville confer
ince, Secretary of Labor Perkins said
it “will afford an opportunity to re
view Najtional and State labor legisla
tion and to discuss ways and means of
meeting our future needs, especially
with reference to social security as
well as various other desirable forms
of labor legislation.’
The Governor of each State has
been asked by the Secretary of Labor
to appoint two officiol delegates to
the Aheville meeting—one the Labor
Commissioner of the State and the
other a reppresentative of labor. Act
ing on the request of Secretary Per
kins for a list of names of those whopi
he believed should be officially invit
ed to attend tne conference to repre
sent Labor, Mr. Green submitted the
names of the secretaries of the State
Federations of Labor.
Mr. Googe will ararnge for a con
ference of the representatives of labor
in Asheville on October 3 to discuss
subjects for the consideration of the
conference.
In a memorandum listing legislative
measures which it was suggested the
labor group should present to the con
ference with the recommendation that
efforts be made to secure their enact
ment in States which do not have such
laws, Mr. Green included:
Ratification of the Child Labor
Amendment to the Federal Constitu
tion-- anti-injunction legislation; un
employment insurance and old-age
pensions to meet the requirements of
the national Social Security Act; min
imum wages for women and minors;
convict labor legislation to' take ad
vantage of the Hawes-Cooper Act;
workmen’s compensation laws for Ar
kansas, Mississippi and South Caro
lina; amendments to workmen’s com
pensation laws in States where neces
sary.
UNION PAY MAY BE GIVEN UNION
WORKERS, SAYS HARRY HOPKINS;
LOCAL CONDITIONS TO BE MET
Washington, Sept. 21.—The works progress administration
has issued an order which Administrator Harry L. Hopkins says
may mean the payment of union wages to some relief workers.
The order permits state executives of WPA to fix the hours
of work, though the “security wage” rates ranging from $19 to
$94 a month wiU remain the same.
Labor unions have been seeking to
have the government pay the same
wage rates as prevail in private in
dustry. The new order was issued
yesterday at about the same time that
executive., * .>ho building trades of
the American Federation of Labor
visited Hopkins.
Hopkins denied, however, that the
question of union wages entered in
to the decision to issue the order.
When reporters asked if the order
aimed to assure payment of “pre
vailing wages,” he said it merely gave
sate administrators authority to bring
hours in line with local conditions.
In some cases, he added, the order
mignt result in maKing "tne security |
wage the equivalent of union wages
if the hours are brought low enough.”
In no case will the hours be more than
eight a day or 40 a week.
Hopkins predicted that by Novem
ber 1, the $4,880,000,000 work relief
drive will have resulted in the employ
ment of 3,500,000 persons. A total
of 931,703 persons, including 502,000
in civilian conservation camps, al
ready have been put to work, he said.
The government plans to discon
tinue direct relief (known as the
“dole”) by November 1, Hopkins as
serted, but he added that should job
quotas not be filled in some places,
direct relief there may be continued.
WHAT UNIONS DO FOR |
THE COMMUNITY
William Green, President American Federation of Labor
Unions are the agencies which wage earners have organized
to bring them opportunities for a fuller and better life, to pro
tect them against wrong and insure justice at work, and to answer
the human needs of men and women at home, at work and in the
community. Therefore unions have stood for principles and pro
moted movements which furthered human growth and progress.
Unions first started the movement for free public schools. W'age earners
demanded schools so that their children might have opportunities for an
education.
Trade unions keep the children of wage earners in the schools and out of
factories and mines, because trade unions work for wages which will support
a family. Union citizens have been foremost in demanding improvements
in public education and public playgrounds.
When a worker makes more money he can spend more mpney. Higher
wages in your community will mean better business. Workers want and need
many things, such as furniture for their homes, clothes and food. If they
have higher wages they can buy these things.
Because trade unions help to increase pay and to make work more regu
lar, it is possible for workers to save against a rainy day. Workers’ savings
mean insurance and bank deposits. These savings are important to bankers
and the community.
Trade unionists are home owners. Better income makes a better citizen.
No one likes to rent or live in tenements. All people want comfortable homes
in attractive surroundings. The trade union makes this possible for the
worker.
Because a trade union works for shorter hours, workers have leisure
time to study and read and be better citizens. Trade unions carry on adult
education work and this work depends upon the public library.
The union helps to make more independent, healthier and better in
formed men and women workers.
These various services contribute to. the upbuilding of the community,
to better and more wholesome living and to the development of more equit
able principles of living and working together..
Waiters Stage An
Act Rich Guests
Did Not Expect
Philadelphia.—An unbooked act
stopped the gay time of high society
at a large, swanky restaurant here
recently.
The act was put on at the high
point of the cabaret show, interrupt
ing a throbbing tenor, and throwing
the audience of svelte gowned women
in a state of commotion.
It was the offering of a Waiters’
Union Local, but it was not intended
for the amusement of the guestsf and
it starred John Cassidy, buginess
agent of the Local, who had the temer
ity to appear in a business suit.
For stage props Cassidy had a whis
tle. He blew it hard. Instantly, ev
ery waiter put down his tray and his
napkin, picked up the merry-makers’
checks, and quietly walked out.
The smiling host lost his smile, and
begged the guests to wait on them
selves and besides, to confess how
much their bills amounted to.
The plan was not very successful.
Orders were confused, soup spilled,
and memories tricky when it came to
checks.
The host slipped out, signed a union
contract, the waters came back and
everyone was relieved, especially the
society audience which cheerfully con
tinued its interrupted high-jinks.
TO ADVERTISERS
SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL LABOR PAPER. It serves
the territory thoroughly of those who buy your wares and
make a local labor paper possible for the workers. THEY
READ IT. ENDORSE IT, AND PATRONIZE ITS ADVER
TISERS.
CHATTING
BY
HARRY
BOATE
-We as a nation are still confronted with the problem of unemploy
ment, while the government is yet creating work for many, with borrowed
money which must some day be repaid with interest. Direct relief has been
or will be discontinued, which will make greater the cry for work in order
to come into possession of money with which to buy the necessities of life,
all of which furnishes a problem which some one or more persons will be
called upon to solve. Many times in the past have many of those now seek
ing work expressed adverse opinions on the person who invented work,
and possibly it was with this thought in mind that the following lines or
poetry were written by Grace Noll Crowell and published in The Adult
Student: j
It was a loving God who meted out
His punishment that far-off Eden day,
When down the garden path He turned about
And sent the man and woman on their way.
“In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread;” brief words
That changed the course of life for every heart; .1 '
A sentence passed among the flowers and birds
That morning as He bade the two depart.
And yet today there is a strange reprieve.
Deprived of work that once was theirs to do,
There is a sound of wailing as men grieve
The wasted, useless, idle hours thrpugh.
Their hurt hearts crying until breath is spent
For the thing God gave them as punishment.
-All of which recalls a story of many years ago when a prisoner
who had been confined for many years was given his freedom. He was
taken to the front of the prison, turned loose, and told to go where his de
sire was the greatest. He managed to wander about the town until evening
came, when he drifted back to the prison and requested the warden to give
him back his old room. Truly, man is a queer creature.
-On the subject of discontent and disappointment, read this: “yes,”
said the old man, “I have had some terrible disappointments, but none stands
out over the years like one that came to me when I was a boy.” “And what
was it?" “When I was a boy I crawled under a tent to see the circus, and
I discovered it was a revival meeting.”—The Messenger.
--About as near a piece of fiction as one can well conceive is that
event which took place high in the air above Toronto, Canada, recently. A
professional baseball player, Koenecke, whom Brooklyn bought for $75,000,
was “released,” which in this case means discharged, because he was no
longer able to produce results desired. At Detroit he chartered an airplane,
with pilot, taking as passenger a parachute jumper. He had previously
been ejected from another airplane because of unruly conduct. While travel
ing in tne chartered plane he again became unruly, interfered with the pilot, and
finally became engaged in a scuffle with the parachute jumper, and at last
the pilot left the controls, picked up a fire extinguisher, striking the ball
player on the head and killing him. He then resumed his pilot’s seat and
brought the machine to earth. It appears the dead man was either drunk or
crazy, or perhaps both.—crazy drunk. At any rate, one is dead, and the two
living are now confronted with the problem of explaining just what did
take place in the heavens above. All this is another proof of the state
ment: “Ye know not what a day may bring forth.”
-The national lawyers’ committee of the American Liberty League
has declared the Wagner labor disputes act “unconstitutional.” We are
thankful for the fact that this decision may also be unconstitutional, since
the guess of these gentlemen has no more weight than the guess of the aver
age man. It will take a higher command to determine legally the constitu
tionality of this act, which was backed by the American Federation of Labor.
Just what the United States Supreme Court may think of it has not yet
been divulged.
r-The Methodist churches, north and south, have finally agreed to
lay aside all differences and come together as one family, which should
have been done many years ago, in the opinion of many. Now we hear the
glad news that in 1938 there will be a joint convention of veterans of the
War Between the States, Conferedate and Federal, on the Battlefield at
Gettysburg, Pa., in which the veterans will march side by side, but the flags
of each side will be completely unfurled. That battlefield occupies one
beautiful spot of God’s earth, and it will doubtless be a beautiful sight to
any who may be fortunate enough to view the march. The ranks on both
sides are getting very thin, and it will not likely be a long and tiresome
parade, as have been many inauguration parades, which have taken as long
as eight hours to pass a given point. We hope this march will really take
place, and that all who witness the same will give to it the hearty approval
which it will reserve.
ONLY HOPE FOR WORKERS
LIES IN OWN INITIATIVE
William Green’s speech to amusement and service trades
of New York:
“The worker employed in private industry who pins his
faith and hope in legislation and legislative enactment and
the government for higher wages and improved conditions
of employment will end his days filled with bitter regret and
disappointment.”
Also: “_even though the Supremo Court declared the
National Recovery Act invalid, the American Federation of
Labor and the organized labor movement still exists and
still functions.” \ ■
Old-Age Pensions
at 65for Capital
of Nation
Washington, D. C.—The last week
in November, 1935, the needy persons
in the District of Columbia who are
65 years of age or upward will he
eligible to pensions, the amount of
which in each individual case shall be
determined by the Board of Commis
sioners of the District.
The law was passed by the recent
session of Congress just before it ad
journed and was signed by President
Roosevelt.
Thirty-five States and Territories
in the Uniited States and the District
of Columbia now have either State
wide mandatory systems or county
optional systems of old-age pensions.
According to the District of Co
lumbia law assistance may be grant
ed only to an applicant who is a citi
zen of the .United States; has at
tained the age of 65 years or up
ward; has resided in the District of
Columbia for five years or more with
in the nine years immediately pre
ceding application for assistance, and
who has resided therein continuously
for one year immediately preceding
the application; is not at the time of
making application an inmate of any
prison, jail, workhouse, insane asylum
or any other public reformatory or
correctional institution fis not a habit
ual tramp or beggar; has no child or
other person financially able to sup
port him and legally responsible for
his support, and has not made a vol
untary assignment or transfer of
property for the purpose of qualify
ing for usch assistance.
A rather drastic provision of the
measure sets forth that if any
“spouse, father, child, or grandchild”
of a pensioner is believed by the au
thorities to be reasonably able to as
sist the pensioner, suit may be brought
against such relatives to recover the
entire amount of assistance provided
under the law or such part thereof
as the specified relative “was reason
ably able to pay.’ ’
Labor Bills Ex
plained By Law
rence in Speech
Concord,—Scores of textile and
other union members from this im
mediate section of the State heard an
address here today by Roy R. Law
rence, president of the State Federa
tion of Labor. Mr. Lawrence spoke
this morning at 10 o’clock at a mass
meeting held in the union hall and
sponsored by local textile unions.
| The State Federation president is
concluding a speaking tour of the mill
districts throughout the State and he
devoted the major part of his talk
to an explanation of the Wagner labor
disputes bill and other legislation af
fecting labor.
These major measures, he told an]
audience composed chiefly of textile
workers, were enacted principally for
the benefit of laboring people and ex
plained their purposes as outlined in
debate during their passage in'Con
gress. He lauded efforts of * the
Roosevelt administration to increase
the advantages of the working classes
and described the labor disputes bill,
the social security bill and old age
pension measures as among the most
Executive Board (in addition to
important in the nation’s history.
ROOSEVELT THROWS CHALLENGE
TO TALMADGE BY OPENING HIS
CAMPAIGN “WAY DOWN IN GA!”
An A. P. dispatch coining out of Atlanta last week tells the
voters that Franklin D. Roosevelt will probably open up his cam
paign barrage in Atlanta, Ga., around Thanksgiving Day, right
in the home nest of his arch enemy, Gov. Eugene Talmadge, who
also has his hands on the throat of labor, using his state militia
for the benefit of the mill owners— The dispatch, in part, follows:
Atlanta. Ga.—A challenge to the by Mr. Roosevelt on his candidacy in
political strength of Governor bugene
Talmadge was seen here this week iri
the announcement that President
Roosevelt would open his southern
campaign for renomination with a
speech in Atlanta.
Talmadge, democratic governor of
Georgia and bitter critic of the Presi
dent, was carrying on his fight
against Mr. Roosevelt in a series of
speeches in the middle west when the
Atlanta engagement was announced.
The Atlanta Constitution says Mr.
Roosevelt will speak here late in No
vember on a specific date to be an
nounced later. At that time the Pres
ident will be on his annual visit to
Warm Springs.
It was added that in accepting the
invitation extended by the Georgia
congressional delegation Mr. Roose
velt said the speech would be delivered
some time during Thanksgiving week.
At Hyde Park, N. Y., aides of the
President said there was no imme
diate indication of an announcement
Georgia during his fall visit to Warm
Springs.
Senators Richard B. Russell, Jr.,
and Walter F. George of this state
are in charge of arrangements for the
occasion. They expect the speech to
be delivered at Grant Field, Georgia
Tech’s football stadium, which will
seat 50,000 persons.
Motorcades from all parts of the
state and surrounding states are be
ing talked to transport the democratic
faithful to hear their party chief
tain.
Georgia’s governor came to an open
break with the President several
months ago when he harshly criti
cized new deal policies and declared
the renomination of Mr. Roosevelt
“would be a calamity.”
Since then he has hurled his criti
cisms on every occasion. In speeches
in various parts of the country he has
urged the democrats to select another
standard bearer next year if they
wish to escape defeat.
“WOMAN KILLED BY PERSON OR
PERSONS UNKNOWN” IS THE
VERDICT IN PELZER, S. C. CASE
Anderson, S. C., Sept. 20.—After having: heard 30 witnesses,
including: both strikers and members of the Pelzer Good-will as
sociation, a coroner’s jury, composed of six Anderson county
farmers early toady found that Mrs. Gertrude Kelly, who was
killed in the rioting at Pelzer September 2, “came to her death
at the hands of a person or persons unknown to the jury.”
After the inquest, Coroner J. Roy
McCoy said no warrants would be is
sued in connection with Mrs. Kelly’s
death .
Although none of the 30 witnesses
who took the stand this morning testi
fied they knew who killed Mrs. Kelly.
Five persons, all of whom were said|
to have been shooting in the direction
of the railway cut, in which Mrs.
Kelly was killed, were mentioned as
possible slayers of the young textile
worker.
Nine testified they saw J. L. Cole,
a special constable in the employ of
the Pelzer Manufacturing company,
shooting in Mrs. Kelly’s direction at
the time she was fatally injured, while
five witnesses gave similar testimony
regarding Charlie Alverson, and seven
testified they also saw George Her
bert shooting in that direction.
One witness testified that G. W.
Hinson might have fired the fatal
shot, although the evidence was that
he was using a shotgun, whereas Mrs. i
Kelly was killed by a 45 caliber bullet.'
Still another witness testified to hav
ing seen Sloan Gambrell shooting in
the vicinity.
W. A. Winkle and Dick Turner
were other men mentioned as having
fired shots, but there was no evidence
that they were shooting in the direc
tion of Mrs. Kelly.
Although Coroner McCoy had sum
moned some 79 witnesses, a number
of them had not put in their appear
ance When the inquest was closed,
and a large number of those present
were not placed on the stand when
leaders of the union and Good-will as
sociation agreed that their testimony
would be in line with that already be
fore the jury.
The inquest, which lasted approxi
mately three hours, was conducted by
Coroner McCoy, asisted by Solicitor
Rufus Fant.
The jury deliberated for 15 minutes
before returning its verdict.
1 Constable Cole, who took the wit
ness stand, denied that he fired a shot
during the riot. He was in the mill
at the time, he j said.
“THE BIRTH OF A NEW ERA,”
SAYS WOODRUFF RANDOLPH, IN
TIMELY ARTICLE IN TYPO. JOURNAL
Woodruff Randolph, secretary-treasurer of the International
Typographical Union, writing a lead signed article, headed “The
Birth of a New Era,” has the following to say that will prove of
great interest for its sound logic, to every worker, whatever his
craft, or wherever located. We quote:
I’hroughout alleged civilized nations there is great struggle and de
termined movements in divergent directions. Each claims it is based on
justice and seeks divine; aid.. Each appeals to patriotism and love of home
and country.. None grants to the other much more than passive if not hostile
recognition.
“If this cracking, moving and tremulous condition persists the results may
be much like an earthquake.. There are no known benefits from earthquakes.
.“However, the fact that there are so many countries involved in radical
change in civil and industrial relations does indicate one very definite fact
the old systems have broken down— A new alignment of forces is made and
different if not new policies adopted- Unfortunately, these policies seem to
be centered on grab instead of give.
“From where we stand it looks like plain grab for Japan to take over such
a large slice of China— Mussolini picks out Ethiopia as his ‘take.’. Austria
fears Germany, or maybe Italy is fearing for Austria. France seems to fear
war against her from several sources and Britian fears loss of power and
prestige among the many colored races of her dominion.
“Where in all this seeming chaos will a new era of civil and industrial re
lations be born? Which among nations believes that “They that take the
> sword shall perish by the sword?” Where under the lash of dictatorship,
whether it be Facist, Nazi, Cbmmunist or Imperialist, can truth, justice and
reason prevail?
“May we be pardoned for predicting that in none of such countries will
civilization find a new lease on life. The hates and fears, the selfishness
and greed and the glorifying of war or force among nations offers only added
ruin to the human family.
“In the western hemisphere there seems to be a chance for salvation. The
United States of America seems to have learifed not to grab any more. The
countries of this half of the globe have not been looking at each other with
envious eyes.
“If the birth of a new era is to occur it will most likely be here. It can
not occur if we listen to the outworn and unsuccessful leadership of industrial
and financial dictatorship. It is no secret that so-called business men have
had a free hand in running the country. It is also no secret that they ran
it into the ground.
The restrictions of a national constitution must be removed if progress
is to be made. Horse and buggy days are gone. More amendments are
needed to pave the way for real government ‘of the people, by the people
and for the people.”
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A REGULAR PASTIME
, The United States Chamber of Commerce met in Washing
ton, D. C., last week and its chief business was criticising the New
Deal, which puts Chamber on record as running true to form
when anything is given the long end except Big Business.
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