the LARGEUST BUYING POWER
Endeavoring to Serve the Masses
The ONLY REALLY INDEPENDENT WEEKLY ia MecUeaborf Ceuty
For a Weekly, lie
Official Orpa Coateal
Labor Uaioo; cadorocd by
State Federation of Labor
Truthful, Honest, Impartial
AND DIXIE FARM NEWS
Vol. V—No.32
YOUR A0VMT1MMWT IN T«C JOURNAL
iNVilTMINT
CHARLOTTE, N. O, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1935
JOURNAL AOVRRTII
ns Dram** cohiidua^ion
TMS R.AOCS
12.00 Per Y.
CENTRAL LABOR UNION CRITICIZES
WPA ADMINISTRATOR, CHARLOTTE;
RESOLUTION SENT TO PRESIDENT
Charging that administrators and supervisors are inefficient,
crowding out men more qualified, and that workers have not
been able to obtain their pay, a resolution adopted by the Char
lotte tabor union calls upon national officials to make an im
mediate investigation of “deplorable conditions’ > ‘he works
progress administration. z ,
A letter, signed by members of the resolution commjtu*. lucludingJ.H
Fullerton. H. L. Kiser and R. L. McEliece. has been direcf
Roosevelt, Harry L. Hopkins, national director of the WPA. mni Wfflton.
F. Green, president of the American Federation of Labor, irrording to an
announcement yesterday. Charlotte News, Sunday. Dec. 15
This letter, made public by the committee reads as follows:
WANT IMMEDIATE ACTION
“At a regular meeting of the Charlotte Central Labor Union on De
cember ll information was presented giving the following f^f* regarding
the deplorable conditions existing in the handling of WPA projects. While
we realize the national office is not responsible for this deplorable condition,
nevertheless we feel if the facts are presented to yon we have every reason
to believe you will demand immediate action that will bring about an adjust
ment‘ThethfacU,as presented are: That inefficient men are acting, u ad
ministrators and supervisors of the WPA projects, who do not have sufficient
knowledge of the work they are doing, when men who are much more quali
fied for these various jobs are unable to get work or relief, and the great
majority of those on these projects have not and are not at this date able
to get their pay, though many have worked as much as four weeks and *re
also entirely cut off of relief.
ASKING PROBE
“Therefore, as the only representatives the masses of the working people
have, we are requesting that an immediate investigation of these deplorable
conditions be made that unfortunate worthy people for whose benefit this
money was appropriated shall receive the full benefits.
“Hoping you will co-operate in bringing about a better distribution
of this work and the funds appropriated for such, we are awaiting your early
co-operation.
“Yours for co-operation,
“J. H. FULLERTON,
“H. L. KISER,
“R. L. McELIECE,
“Resolutions Committee.”
AROUND WITH THE LOCALS
BY H. D. LISK
In traveling around to all the Textile Locals we often see
things and learn things that would make some of the Coun
try’s outlaws, look like pikers. Just for an example. Take
some employers that are not satisfied with causing honest
people to suffer..without cause but even^go far enough to
separate men and their wives. The thing'that puzzles the
writer is that a large number of them are members of our
Churches, but from the way they act they believe they
can commit murder, and, when Sunday comes they are ready
to clean themselves for the next week. However they are
the ones that the workers must look upon as the country s
best citizens yet, so they say.
Well I am sure that there is going to be hundreds of
WPA and PWA workers that can at least say that there has
been a Christmas if Mr. Coan decides to send them their pay
checks. And by the way, I see where several of our most
prominent office holders are all heated up about the things,
and they are going to see that the ship with the pay comes m.
Now there is where they have me again, because I know they
are not going to change things around when election time
comes again of course all they would have to do would be to
elect some office holder that would pass the old age pension.
Now, of course, the mill bosses would like to see all of Ameri
ca s employes making at least a living wage they tell us so
and we must believe them. They think. But maybe they
are right, because if you remember last year during the tex
tile strike down at Lancaster, S. C., the workers said they
didn't need any Union and that they had the best man in
the South to work for. Now that must have been Mr. Elliot
Springs, because I am told that he has given his employees
ten or fifteen hours extra without any extra pay. Now
wasn’t that sweet of him. And another mill that is very good
these days to their employees is the Cascade mill, at Moores
ville, N. C. Why they only stretched them out from seven
and eight looms to fourteen; and, would you believe it or not,
they are paying them almost half as much -per hundred
thousand pick as they were, and while we are talking about
Mooresville, N. C., I wonder what has become of some of
the stool pigeons that were ground at the first of the strike.
But then we must rememberXhat it cost money to keep them
around, and we know that the mills are not making any money
or they would be paying their employees better wages. Well,
now, the boss just told me it was time to quit for today, so
in closing let me say that the only way to correct all the un
fairness in textile mills is to Organize and start your col
lective bargaining. And I said collective bargaining and not
collective arguing.
LOOK AT THE LABEL ON YOUR PAPEk. * YOUB
SUBSCRIPTION IS DUE. SEND US A MONK. ORDER.
CHECK OR CASH. IT WILL BE WELCOME ~T THIS
TIME
Americanism is an unfailing love of country, loyalty to
its institutions and ideals, eagerness to defend it against all
enemies, undivided allegiance to the flag, and a desire to se
cure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and posterity. !
PATRONIZE OUR ADVERTISERS
Your own pocketbook will swell in
lust the degree that you buy Union
Label Goods
It doesn’t require a “power lobby”
to put over Union-made products, but
it does require all our purchasing
power.
GREETINGS TO LABOR
FRANK BARR,
President Charlotte Central Labor Union.
CHARLOTTE CENTRAL LABOR UNION
As president of Charlotte Central Labor Union I send the
Workers through The Journal greetings of the season, and may
the New Year see our blessings increased and fellowship, harmony,
and prosperity prevailing.
FRANK BARR, |
Pres. /'har. Central Labor Union.
Charlotte, N. C. ^ j -
LINCOLNTON GREETINGS
Lincolnton Textile Local No. 1875 wishes Labor and The Journal a
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
THOMAS L. LAY, Secretary.
Lincolnton, N. C.
PAW CREEK GREETINGS
Paw Creek Textile Local No. 2078 wishes Labor and The Journal a
season of happinss and good cheer, dwelling in the spirit of fellowship and
love one for another.
T. A. GRIER, President.
Paw Creek, N. C.
ORGANIZER LISK SENDS GREETINGS
To the workers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year is my sin
cere and heartfelt wish, and may the mistakes we have made the year just
closing be remedied and may a new vision of the fellowship of man per
vade every mind.
H. D. LISK,
Organizer, U. T. W.
Concord, N. C.
WESTERN N. C. TEXTILE COUNCIL
May this Christmas bring happiness to Labor, and may organized labor,
as a whole, be brought more closely together in the bond of fellowship, is
the hope and aim of all union men.
T. A. GRIER,
Pres. W. Textile Council
Paw Creek, N. C.
ORGANIZER DOOLEY, HOSIERY WORKER SENDS
GREETINGS
Editor Labor Journal:- Would like to thank you, along with Central
Labor Union of Charlotte for your untiring co-operation given me the
past few weeks, and would like to take this method of wishing you and yours,
and all Organized Labor, a Happy Christmas and prosperous New Year.
J. DOOLEY,
Organizer A. F. of H. D.
Charlotte, N. C.
ALBEA SENDS GREETINGS
To my friends in the Labor movement I extend greetings of
the season wishing each and every one a Merry Christmas and
a Happy New Year. *
• CLAUDE L. ALBEA.
Charlotte, N. C.
HARRY BOATE SENDS GREETINGS
A very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year is my wish to all who
-labor. The laborer who belongs to a union is doubly Messed because of that
membership. To the laborer who does not belong, let me say: Make yourself
a Christmas present by taking out a membership in the local of your craft,
and Christmas, 1938, will be happier as a resale—Harry Boate.
GREETINGS FROM N. C. TEXTILE WORKERS
To Organized Labor of North Carolina.
Greetings:
“A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.”
As we commemorate this another birthday of Christ, may we hear again
the Angel’s call, “Peace on earth good will toward men.”
May each member of our organisation have that peace, which comes from
having served his fellow man and brother worker and let Good Will be the
House in which we abide.
E. A. THRIFT,
Pres. N. C. Textile Council
Charlotte, N. C.
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.
TWENTY-ONE WITNESSES DENY
THAT MEMBERS OF THE U. T. W.
TOOK PART IN PELZER RIOTING
ANDERSON, S. C., Dee. 18.—The State rested its case yes
terday against 62 men and women alleged to have participated in
the rioting at Pelzer mill September 2, and a parade of defense
witnesses went on the stand in criminal court here, i
The 21 defense witnesses heard before court recessed for the
day all denied seeing members of the United Textile’Workers
local at Pelzer take any part in the shooting in which one woman
was slain and 30 men and women were injured. 1
It is expected the case will consume
the remainder of the week, Judge E.
C. Dennis of Darlington is presiding
at the special torm.
Ed Ricker, a striker, was first ti
take the stand for the defense. He
denied having a weapon of any kim
and said there was “never an under
standing” among union members t<
prevent any person from going ti
work.
The State contends the strikers bar
ricaded themselves in front of the
mill entrances, and State witnesses
named Ricker and others as being seei
with guns.
Ricker said he saw only two men
with guns on the morning of the riot
ing and that he knew neither of the
men possessing them. U. T. W. pick
ets had instructions to be peaceful ant
not to resort to violence, he testified
He declared that the night befori
the rioting he saw members of tht
Pelzer Good Will association taking
arms into the No. 4 plant.
Miss Margaret McCombs, a prett*
young employe of the Pelzer mill,
testified she did not “see a single gun*’
in the hands of men behind the picket
lines on the morning of the outbreak.
Leslie Taylor, a striker injured dur
ing the fighting, said he did not have
a gun and that he was in the picket
line.
“The trouble broke out all of a sud
den and I jumped behind a piece of
sheet iron for protection,” he explain
ed. i s
Taylor, one of the defendants, said
he did not see any of his companions
firing.
Mrs. Lulu Hiott, whom State wit
nesses claimed beat Arthur Flemming
over the head with a stick after he
crashed the picket lines and was on
his knees praying before the mill’s
locked door, said she hit Flemming
after he ran against her “with a knife
in his hand.”
She denied striking Flemming while
he was praying. She said the only
weapon she had was a “little stick.”
Henry Mullinax, accused of taking
part in the rioting, said he did not
participate. He charged, however, that
he was shot in the head by Superin
tendent B. R. Branham of Mill No. 4
He asserted that most of the shoot
ing was done by “the Good Will
crowd.”
Asked why he didn’t seek Bran
ham’s arrest, Mullinax replied “I
didn’t think they would give me” an
arrest warrant.
The State’s final witness was J. -
Cole, a deputy, said that his car was
shot at during trouble prior to the
riot, and denied participating in the
rioting.
--~~~~—***
CHATTING
♦
* MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Once more has that season of the year arrived when people move about
in mysterious ways, bringing j^ms bundles which in some manner disap
pear and seemingly are never Drought forth again, peopre go shopping who
have not done so for many months, unusual activity seems to pervade every
home, and the children as a rule are on their good behavior, for Santa Claus
visits only good little boys and girls, and good mamas and papas. Shopping
.places have been more than busy for some weeks, and soon the tired sales
people will welcome with delight the hour when the stores close on the last
shopping day, for they have worked long hours and hard.
It is to be hoped that the Messenger of Cheer will not miss any indi
vidual, any home, any community, or any state, and that the real spirit of
the occasion will be felt and appreciated by all.
In a large sense many communities have much for which to rejoice, as
what we have been calling WPA has brought early gifts. Charlotte in par
ticular received the government grant to build the Airport, which it is hoped
will be built without further delay, and by so doing hundreds of families
will enjoy their Christmas present for many days to come, as this work will
last for months. It is also hoped Charlotte will receive the grant of funds
with which to finish the stadium, in which case Charlotte will have more
cause for rejoicing, as these projects will mean work, and work means money,
and that is the thing which has been very scarce in most pockets for several
years. However, work has been more plentiful during 1935, payrolls have
been larger and more money has been passed over to the workers than has
been customary, and all things point to a season of real joy and happiness.
The firemen of the Charlotte city fire department have been busy during
their spare moments throughout the year gathering up and repairing dis- ,
carded and broken toys which have come into their hands, and the poor
and unfortunate children of the city will not be forgotten, for there will be
a Christmas celebration prepared and conducted solely in their interest, at
which every child will be presented one or more toys and candy and fruit
and other things which go to make up a Merry Christmas. The Salvation
Army will serve its customary free dinner to tbe unfortunates who call for
help, the various churches, through their organized groups, will do their part
cheerfully, as many classes have taken the responsibility of providing a
Christmas dinner for some family which otherwise might not have been pro
vided for. .
Sixfce Christmas is the season representing the gift of Christ to the
world, at which time the world rejoiced, it is to be hoped the world will again
rejoice, since Christ is still the Giver of all Good Gifts, and there is no in
dividual or group or race or nation which has not the privilege of enjoying
these gifts. All that is needed is to open the heart, permitting the Holy
Spirit to enter and take possession. After that the Spirit guides, and all
who have accepted the Christ as their guide has Christmas not only one day
in the year, but each day is a separate Christmas, for there is cheer in the
heart all the time when Christ rules.
People of all nations celebrate Christmas in some fashion, notwithstand
ing it is in America a religious holiday, but somehow the spirit of generosity
i and good will takes hold on the hearts of men at this season in a more sub
stantial manner than at any other time.
How, it seems that efforts to provide good cheer to all, rich and poor
alike, will be successful, and there will be little reason for even the most -
downtrodden to pass the day without some sunshine having been put into
his or her life. Some people will wake on Chritmas morning and find the
tiling most desired has been left in their stocking, or it may be that a shiny
new car has been left in the garage. About the only desire that cannot be
supplied by expressing a mere wish is that good health may be given to those
who have been sick, or that those who are halt or blind may be restored to
normal health, but aside from these things, which would be given if humanly
possible, other things will be given to make the lives of those so afflicted as
cheerful as possible. ]
Once again, with a cheerful heart—MERRY CHRISTMAS!