Newspapers / The Charlotte Labor Journal … / Nov. 14, 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 Orgaa Central lilwi whmi by State Federation of Labor Truthful, Honest, Impartial Che Charlotte labor Journal Patronize omt Adver tisers. They make YOUB paper posible by their co operation. AND DIXIE FARM NEWS Endeavoring to Serve the Masses | VoL V.—No. 27 YOU* ABVUTIIWIMT IH TUI JOUNMAL la A CHARLOTTE, N. C., THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1935 JOURNAL ADVERTISERS DUKRVfe CONSIDERATION OF THE READER $2.00 Pet Year RALEIGH NEWSPAPER CRITICIZES MILL VILLAGES OWNED BY THE TEXTILE MAGNATES Editor’s Note.—The following editorial, entitled “Forgotten Villages,” criticizing the system of company-owned houses, which is a feature of the oppression imposed on their employes by South ern textUe mill magnates, appeared in the “News and Observer,” Raligeigh, N. C., in connection with the recent action of the Mooresville Cotton Mill Company in evicting strikers from the company’s houses. Strikers and mill owners have been in the courthouse in Concord over the eviction of strikers from the company-owned houses in the Mooresville Cotton Mill Company’s mill village. Few will disagree with Judge J. H. Clement in his exposition of the law in the case to the effect that while the company has a right to evict families at any time without giving a reason, as every property owner has, if-must give the occupants due notice, as required by law. But the law is not enough. The South ought also to remember that when the President put the textile code into effect in July, 1983, h said: “The planning committee of the indue try, provided for in the code, will take up a once the quettion of employe purchase of homes in mill villages, especially in the South and will submit to the administration before January 1, 1934, a plan looking toward eventual employe home-ownership.’' Commenting on that statement at the time The News and Observer said: "Such a declaration means no less than the abolition of the most per nicious form of indusrial feudalism in America .... Under the best paternalistic manufacturers, mill villages in some instances were provided with better living facilities than workers generally could secure for them selves with the wages which tehy received .... Yet always they lived well by the grace and permission of the manufacturer whose big house often sat apart as a manor house from which all hope and all justice must come. Benevolence came down; only work and obedience went up from the people. Self-government and the control of their own homes was denied the inhabi tants of the best Southren mill villages. The paternalistic management may have provided better conditions than the workers themselves would have pro vided, nevertheless, the worker was dednied the democratic right of shaping his own community and even his own home. * “Not all mill villages were excellent, even after a paternalistic pattern. No Southerner is unfamiliar with other mill villages composed of rows of half-tumbling houses, as innocent of plumbing as of paint, which send their uncertain steps to unsightly yards and streets. No Southerner who has observed industrial conflict in the South is unfamiliar with the practice of making the mill worker’s tenancy of mill houses a factor adverse to him in collective bargaining, and a weapon to be used against him is the form of eviction when the will owner desired to express his displeasure at any worker’s act or the act of the majority of the community. Strikes and evic tions in many instances were one and the same thing in many Southern mill communities. “In both the best and the worst mill villages the workers have been too much set apart from other men and women. They were segregated from their employers. Paternalism sapped them of their strength, nnd segrega tion robbed them of association with the freer citizens around them. Mill villages owned by the people who live in them would cease to be such mill maintained ghettos for mill-controlled men. Owned by their inhabitants such villages would lose the undesirable qualities of their identity with the mill and become, like other sections of cities, residential actions in which mn and women live no ruld nor regimented, but in independence and fredom.” That was in July, 1933. It is now Octobr, 1935, and if the planning committee ever made any move toward the fulfillment of this high enterprise, there is no sign of it. The mill village remains in Mooresville and in every other town where tex tils are manufactured in the South, the same blight on a free South that it was bfore July, 1933. Contentions, court decisions, and a fall from the spirit of idealism behind courage which marked the summer of 1933 have inter vened Tlie mill village urns been forgotten. But the mill village remains now as thn, a bar to the forward movement of free men in a free South toward industrial happiness and industrial understanding. Arkansas Sharecropper Report Scored LITTLE ROCK, Ark.. Nov. 11.—A rosy picture of plantation tenant life in Arkansas presented in an agricul tural adjust administration report was described Saturday by Harry Malcolm deputy state labor commis sioner, as “propaganda, pure and sim ple.” The AAA report, given but yester day, was based on a survey of what it described as representative planta tions, and said the Arkansas share cropper was making more money, get ting out of debt and living better. Chicken and dumplings, fresh pork and beef, vegetables and fruits were listed as part of the current diet of “the average sharecropper.” By contrast, Malcolm, who made an investigation of the tenant situation in eastern Arkansas some months ago, said that thousands of the ten ants were in debt with little hope of getting out, that many could not clothe and feed their families and themselves, that garments made from cotton sacks were common in the area, that landowners periodically had their mmmmuwmmmmmmmmmmmu tenants arrested and fined to increase! their indebtedness and hush com plaints, and that complaining tenants are habitually moved off the planta- j tions. Hosiery Workers Organization To Go Forward In N. C. DURHAM, Nov. 11.—Emil Reive, president of the American Federation of Hosiery Workers, during his visit here, said: “Organization work will go forward in North Carolina. It is one of the largest hosiery producing States in the country, yet in many instances the wage rate is far below that paid in some other States. The hosiery workers in North Carolina will be given an opoprtunity to join the American Federation of Hosiery Workers, establish collective bargain ing and improve their conditions. Our organization work here is in charge of H. I. Adams, of High Point, and will be carried out on a sound basis and high plane.” President Reive ex pressed gratification at the progress made to date. Several organizers are in the field under the direction of Mr. Adams. The Women’s Union Label League is planning a big meeting for next Monday night, Nov. 18, with an extra Thanksgiving pro gram as one of the features. Every member is urged to be pres ent as there will be business of importance on hand, and an ef fort is being made to map out a real working program for the winter months. So be on hand. The meeting will be at Central Labor Union Hall, at 7:30 p. m. \ I About 5,000 people are needing support in Mooresville. These women, children and men are the ones who are in volved in the Mooresville Textile strike, which is a matter of vital importance to every worker in North Carolina, as it involves the fredom of the employes. Send all contributions in cash or provisions to T. F. Moore, president Textile Local No. 1221, Mooresville, N. C. All locals of the N. C. State Federation are asked to heed this call for aid. TO ADVERTISERS SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL LABOR PAPER. It serves the territory thoroughly of those who buy your wares sad nuke a local labor paper possible for the workers. THEY READ IT, ENDORSE IT, AND PATRONIZE ITS ADVER TISERS. PMTININT Ti«tr Tone* HATTING HARRY BOATS The question of hitch-hiking, or thumbing of rides on the streets of cities and county highways is one that has been a matter of disturbing nature for many months. There is no doubt that many times the driver of an auto mobile may be perfectly willing to pick up and accommodate with * ride some of those whom he meets trying to “travel on his thumb.” Many of these people are perfectly respectable and honstly deserving of all the help that it is possible for them to obtain, but who they are is the query. Many cases have come to public notice where a driver traveling alone has, in the goodness of his heart, picked up one or more persons who have haled them on the way, only to later find they are commanded to drive over to the side of the road and turn the car over to the guest, then get out of his own car and forget it. Some have later been found dead along the roadside, and sometimes the murderer is discovered, and sometimes not. It is hard for many drivers to pass by and not heed the request for a lift, and most drivers are willing to do so if it were not for the knowledge of what has befallen many drivers in the past, and it is not pleasant to drive on, thinking perhaps you have refused to give that which was in your power to give, to one who may be most deserving. Refusal to give a ride does not always mean a hard heart or pure meanness. If memory serves right, I believe a recently-enacted law in North Caro lina says it is unlawful to solicit rides in this state, but never a day passes that this law is not violated; and the streets of Charlotte are not free of these violators. School children are persistent offenders in this respect. In following up this line of thought here is an item which came under my eyes recently in “The World Outlook," under the title “Chit-Chat Along the Highway. It makes good reading. Says the author: “It, is one of the Chit-Chatter’s rules never to pick up people along tha highway. But this morning the sight of a middle-aged woman thumbing a ride almost involuntarily pressed the brake, No, I won’t do it ... . How do I know who she is ©r what she is? A little farther down the road my conscience began. ‘Who are you and what are you that you should be able to ride in an automobile and your sister woman, just as good perhaps—who knows?—standing along the highway begging a ride?.’ Long used to the prodding if not the dominance of this sometimes disagreeable mentor, the Chit-Chatter put her foot on the brake and went into reverse. ‘Come on,’ she called. “Well, I do say, I din’t know you were backing up for me,' came in a rather pleasant voice from the foot traveler. ‘I must apologize for my shoes. My feet are so swollen from walking I had to cut them. They surely do look bad. It was kind of you to stop,’ she went on in an even stream of conversation, ‘but everybody has been kind to me on this trip.’ In answer to the question concerning the point of stalling and destination she told her story. “ ‘My husband was a barber in-.’ She named a well-known Georgia town. ‘He made a good living, and we had saved enough to buy a comfort able home. When the depression came on he lost his job, and we had to take out our savings to live on. He still didn’t get a job, so we had to mort gage our home. By and by we lost it. We just went from bad to worse. He worried until he couldn’t stand it any longer. He died, and I took what little money I could get together and went to my sister up north in D——. I hadn’t been there long until the same thing happened again. Her family had to get on relief. Not being a citizen of that state, I couldn’t, of course, get any help. I still had a tiny bit of money left, so I set out afoot for-. They were all shocked at the idea of a woman hitch-hiker, but when one had to do a thing she just had to d6 it, thats’ all. Out from D—— a little piece I was picked up by some people who brought me to a tourist camp outside of L-, where I stayed the first night I had enough money to pay for my first night out. Yesterday morning l was picked up by a man who brought me to M-. He surely was a kind gentleman. He said that if I hadn’t been a middle-aged woman he wouldn’t have given me a ride. He had had enough experiences with pretty giH he said. He picked up one, and she stuck a pistol in his side and demanded his wallet. He had been keen enough to get away from her, and wasn’t going to run that risk again.’ “This man had brought her to M-, had given hw dinner, and at her request had left her at the railroad station to spend the night. She had walked out to the suburbs of the city, where the Chit-Chatter had picked her up. “The Chit-Chatter had now reached her destination. She had had an interesting morning with the companion of the highway. As for her sin cerity, one can not say. She was a woman of at least a high school edcrea tion. She talked well, and one could but believe her story. We turned into a filling station, and here, giving instruction to a friend who kept it to see that she be given food and put on the bus for her destination, the Chit Chatter left her companion of the morning, and turned into her own street, none the worse but perhaps a little wiser and a little happier for the experi ence.” s Just another illustration of what is met day after day on our highway and of the problems which are met and must be decided instantly by auto mobile drivers. What to do is the question at all times. Gastonia Labor News of Interest GASTONIA, Nov. 12.—Members of the Gastonia building trades union met Monuday night at 7:30 o'clock in the Gastonia central labor union hall on East Franklin avenue,, according to an announcement by R. C. Thomas, district organizer for the United Tex tile Workers of America. Mr. Thomas also announced other meetings to be held this week as fol lows: Wednesday night at 7:30 o’clock, the regular weekly meeting of the Gastonia central labor union was held at the hall on East Franklin street. Saturday morning at 9 o’clock, the regular meeting of textile local union No. 2121 of South Gastonia, will be held at the local hall. At 10 o’clock Saturday morning an open-air meeting will be held at Mau ney’s store near the Rex mill in Ranlo. Mr. Thomas said that, William F. Scholl of Charlotte is expected to be among the speakers at the regular monthly meeting of the Western Car olinas Textile council to be held here on November 30. Subaerfb* for Tho Joanal CENTRAL LABOR UNION WILL MEET IN MOOSE HALL WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT 7:30-BE PRESENT For the benefit of deelgates not present at the meeting Tues day night of Central Labor Union, the announcement is made that Central body has changed its meting night to Wednesday, at 7:30 p.m. in the Moose Hall—South Tryon Street, third floor. This change is made in order to better facilitate the fast growing Labor movement in Charlotte. The Building Trades are going in a hall of their own on South CoUege street. The old meeting place is being kept open for two weeks to allow the proper procedure to be gone through with the various locals. To Pash Industrial Unionism—Brophy Is Named Director WASHINGTON, Nov. 11.—Indus trial unionism—opposed by craft un ions at the recent American Federa tion of Labor convention—will be pushed by an organisation formed to day by representatives of seven inter national labor unions. John Brophy, of iPttsburgh, Pa., was named director with John L. Lewis, president oft he United Mine Workers of America, president, and Charles P. Howard, president of the Internationa] Typographical Union, Secretary. The organisation will, be called the "committee for industrial organisation.” A Home Milling Concern With a Large Output The Interstate Milling Co.t an old and established concern, with repo* tation, manufacturers of high-grade flour and meal, with a capacity that would surprise the ordinary citisen. For instance: Per day, 1,200 barrels of flour; 1,00 bushels of corn meal, and 400,000 pounds of feed. This company manufactures Sun Flower, self-rising and Elisabeth, plain, both 'brands being popular in this section. LISK TELLS CENTRAL LBR. UNION WHAT IS REALLY HAPPENING IN THE MOORESVILLE STRIKE AREA The striking feature of the meeting Tuesday night was the piece de resistance, which was the last fifteen minutes of one of the best meetings held by Central Labor Union in many moons. “Red” Lisk, who is in charge of the Mooresville strike situation delivered one of the best talks from an organized labor stand point ever put on the floor. He told of the eviction of five families Saturday from the mill houses. He told of the furniture being “pulled” from homes, on the mill property, by a so-caUed friend of the workers, with their business in Statesville. He told of where the wrong furniture Was pulled, bought from another con cern and paid for, but was put in a “blanket” pull, and when these people saw their paid for possessions taken from them, a howl was raised. The Mooresvili* mill, he stated had just obtain ed an $800,000 loan, sponsored by Mr. Lassiter, of the Lassiter Press, but which we all know as the Rat Queen City Printing Company, who has connection with the MooresvUle strike mill. Mr. Lisk stated they had lost no men, and while the mill is still run ning, workers who have been brought into Mooresville, to take the place of the men and women fighting for their rights, do not go to work, but go back to their respective homes, "The overseers are telling the workers the strike is over,” Mr. Lisk stated, “trying to draw the workers back that way, but the subterfuge is not gaining headway.” Relief must be had for these men, women and children, for as has been stated, this is a test case for North Carolina labor, with every interest thrown against it, even those who have come before the labor unions of the state and pleaded for co-operation in the killing of certain laws that affected the welfare of our citizen. But, back to the beginning, and Central body. Reports of locals were exceptionally good. New delegates were obligated and business was dis pensed with in regular order. Vice-President Kiser presided in the absence of President Barr, who is on the sick list. There were many lady delegates present and all in all it was just one more good meeting- of Central body with many of the “old timers” back again on the firing line. AND DON’T FORGET—THE NEXT MEETING OF CENTRAL LABOR UNION WILL B EH ELD IN THE MOOSE HALL, ON SOUTH TRYON STREET. . CHARLOTTE FOOD SHOW OPENS AMIDST GLARE AND GLAMOR, WITH THOUSANDS PRESENT Opening, last night at the City Armory Auditorium, the Charlotte Exposition and Food Show gave another demonstration of what the people of Charlotte think of this annual event. It will be a continuous performance until the midnight hour of the 23rd. And don’t forget Irene Rich, the famous movie actress and radio star, will be present in person on the 19th and 20th. There will be attractions each night, and free vaudeville is on the pro gram. i A DISSERTATION ON UNION iSftf SENT US BY BRO. E. A. THRIFT, PRES. STATE TEXTILE COUNCIL “NO MAN LIVES TO HIMSELF’ This statement was made a long time ago, but what a sound principle it carries with it through the ages. How different our conditions would be, as working people, if we could all realize the truth of this statement and adopt its principles. How often have we seen or experienced suffering and poverty caused by the unfair methods used by some manufactur ers and industrial leaders of our day. And hope for a chance to better our conditions. We have that chance today, this opportunity to band ourselves closer together in this great movement of or ganized labor. We must put aside all selfish interest and those who seek to live only to themselves, and realize that we are our brother’s keeper. Some of our greatest enemies in the past have been those in our ranks, who because of selfish interest, have betrayed their fellow workers into the hands of our enemies, stamping themselves Judas Iscariots or Benedict Arnolds. We do a lot of kicking about the fellow we elect to public office. If he fails to keep the promises made to us in his campaign, and I know that some of them should be kicked all the way out of office, but the fellow in our own ranks who seeks to feather his own nest at the expense of those who work by his side and live next door to him, is far worse than any betraying politician of our day. Let us not say too much against the fellow who has not as yet seen fit to come into our organization, but let us put our own house in order. Then this same fellow worker Will, have no excuse to. offer, but will be glad to come in with us. Organized labor has come a long way, has had to fight many battles, internal as well as external, but it stands today as the only hope for the masses who must labor daily that we may live. For its principles through the years have been as they are today, founded on this great doctrine—United we stand, divided we fall. Let those of us in organized labor act according to this great principle. Then we shall be able to teach others to do likewise. Then one day, “No man shall live to him self,” but all who labor will stand united in victory. ^Jk-ATHRIFT. PATRONIZE JOURNAL ADVERTISERS / Union Labels assure you that the productf are American-made. In crease employment in our own coun try by buying Union-made goods. ATTENTION! MEMBERS WOMEN’S UNION LABEL LEAGUE The regular semi-monthf> meeting of the Women’s Union Label League win be held at Central Labor Union Hall, corner Fifth and Tryon streets, next Monday night at 7:30 p. m. A full attendance is requested. 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The Charlotte Labor Journal and Dixie Farm News (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Nov. 14, 1935, edition 1
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