I
The ONLY REALLY INDEPENDENT WEEKLY in Merkftnburff County
for a Weekly, Its Renders Represent the LARGEST BUYING POWER in Charlott*
Official Organ Central
Labor Union; endorsed by I
State Federation of Labor
Che Charlotte labor Journal
truthful, Honest, Impartial
ant llS ^
AND DIXIE FARM NEWS
Endeavoring to Serve the Masses
Vol. V.—No. 51
YOU* ADVIRTIItMINT IN TN« JOURNAL II A
INVIITMKNT
CHARLOTTE, N. C, THURSDAY, MAY 7, 1936
JOURNAL ADV CRTIRIM BUUNI Co H»l O RRATIOR OR
$2.00 Per Yew
AN OVERFLOW AUDIENCE GREETS
dr. McDonald at court house
LAST NIGHT WITH ENTHUSIASM
The County Court House last night was packed to capacity
(seating and standing), the corridor full and many turned away,
was the greeting that Charlotte and Mecklenburg gave Dr. Ralph
McDonald, to hear a speech that for simplicity, sincerity and hon
esty has had but few equals in the history of historic Mecklenburg.
He declared “the present system of taxation unfair," and stated that
"the taxes of the average corporation are very heavy in comparison with
the highly profitable corporations. For instance, one corporation worth $450,
000,000 pays franchise taxes on less than $150,000,000. Another worth
$IUO,000, pays franchise taxes on $200,000. He vigorously rapped the sales
tax, promised if elected to advocate its immediate removal from the books,
and argued dramatically that it includes the necessities of the poor man
who is unable to pay it.
“It is conservatively estimated that at least one billion dollars in wealth
today is escaping taxation altogether, and this amount is more than value
of all farm lands in North Carolina. There are at least $900,000,000 worth
of corporation value escaping franchise taxation. The total tax burden on
corporations was reduced from 1928 to 1934 by $10,587,000 a year.”
He gave definite examples of how this reduction affected certain cor
porations, showing that one corporation’s taxes were cut from $1,430,000 to
$686,000. If his program is put into effect, he said, corporations will pay
less in taxes than they did when the “present group of machine politicians
gained control in 1928."
He referred to his three opponents as fine gentlemen, stating, “I don't
know anything about them except that which is good, and my fight is in
no way personal. We merely dilfer upon the issues, and if 1 am defeated,
1 shall still be their friends. There are no finer men in the State, and here
in his home county I wish especially to pay my personal tribute to John
McRae.”
The Doctor declared that “in the last three and one-half years the State
had collected $20,000 more than had been expended for States uses, and
argued that such a method was a bad way to “balance the budget.” :
“Where will we get the money?” he asked. “We will include dividends
in our income tax provisions, charge 10 per cent in the higher brackets, tax
the power and utility companies more heavily, include in our chain store tax
provisions all chain service stations owned by the major oil companies. Those
a.e some of the ways. 'We will have a balanced budget, yes, but balanced
upon ability to pay.” —
Co-operation of his administration, if elected, promised co-operation with
President Roosevelt’s humanitarian measures, promised a fair deal for the
farmers and laboring people, lower utility rates, and said he would seek a
reduction in interest rates on the State’s bonds.
WORKERS REFUSE TO GIVE UP UNION
IN ORDER TO HOLD JOBS AT ROCK
HILL PRINTING & FINISHING PLANT
ROCK HILL, S. C., May 5.—Forty-one employes of the print
ing department of the Rock Hill Printing and Finishing company
did not report for work yesterday, but the plant, which employs
about 1,300 persons, continued operations, and it was reported
there this afternoon the printing department also was working
on a curtailed basis.
Mill officials said the printing department had been operating two 10
hour shifts, beginning Monday at 7 a.m. and closing Friday at 3 a.m. .It
was understood printers first asked that this schedule be changed so that
they might work one 10-hour shift four nights in the week and one eight
hour day in the week. j.
Printers said today plant employes and towsnpeople convinced them this
would be an injustice to others at the plant, and they conceded the issue to
the management. However, the mill officials asked the men to give up
their organized association, it was said. The men refused to withdraw from
this association, and upon this point the matter was said to hang today.
The plant asked the men to accept their former positions on the basis
of individuals rather than as members of an association, it was Baid.
In the only formal statement made about the situation, A. O. Joslin,
treasurer and resident manager of the plant, said: “The situation created
at our plant this morning by 41 printers of our printing department, which
places in jeopardy the livelihood of 1,300 people in the rest of the plant,
is certainly discouraging, disgusting and disappointing.”
Supreme Court Rules
Not Upon the Guffey
Coal Act; “Lay Off!”
WASHINGTON, May 5.—Another
opinion session failed to produce a
supreme court ruling yesterday on
constitutionality of the Guffey coal
act. The decision was postponed for
at least two weeks.
The court adjourned until May 18
after meeting briefly to announce
whether it would review 18 controver
sies appealed from lower courts. Not
a single decision was handed down.
Three more sessions for the an
nouncement of decisions will be held
before the court adjourns for the
summer on June 1.
Twenty-four cases remain to be de
cided, an average of 8 for each meet
ing.
Court observers had not expected
the Guffey decision today, as the jus
tices had been tied up all week lis
tening to arguments.
That left Tittle time to write opin
ions.
Sec. R. K. Amyx
Of Central Body
To Go To Atlanta
The Journal learns with regret that
R. K. Amyx, amiable secretary of
Central Labor Union, and as good a
union man as you can find, has ac
cepted a position in Atlanta, Ga., and
leaves Monday to take up his duties.
He will be missed, both as a worker
in the union, and for his amiable per
sonality.
Plumbers and
Steamfitters
Outing Was A
Great Success
Last Saturday the Plumbers and
Steamfitters Union put on a fish fry
at their new club house on the Ca
tawba. It was a “stag” affair and
reports percolating in to us leaves no
doubt in our mind that the boys had
a wonderful time. They didn’t raise
the half-sunk Hesperus, but the “old
girl” took one good look at the bunch
in the late afternoon and sunk a little
deeper in the Catawba mud. At any
rate they had plenty of fish and
necessary accoutrements, whatever
that is, and there were no hungry
ones when the day was over.
These boys have a way of putting
things over in a big way, and har
mony is the kev note that is making
posible the things they are doing.
Woman’s Union
Label League To
Meet Next Wed.
Don’t forget the change of day
from Thursday to Wednesday of the
Woman’s Union Label League. Ev
ery second and fourth Wednesday
are the new days. Meetings are at
Moose Hall on South Tryon street
Be on hand next Wednesday, May 14,
without fail, at 8 P. M.
Panama hats are not made in
Panama, but in Santa Elena, Ecua
dor.
OUR ANNIVERSARY EDITION
On Thursday, May 14th The Labor Jonraal will issue its
Fifth Anniversary Edition. We hope to make it an edition
in keeping with oar previous effort, bat can only do so by
having the support of oar business concerns. This edition
will have wide distribution and wiD prove of value as an ad
vertising medium. The publisher asks that our solicitors
be given due consideration.
PCMTINKNT
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CHATTING
■Y
HARRY
BOATS
Several weeks ago mention was made in this column that Mount Airy,
N. C, was endeavoring to induce manufacturers to move their establish
ments into that city, offering as one inducement the cheap labor which
could be secured. It was also mentioned that had the price of labor been
mentioned it would have been published, in order that people may know how
much human endeavor was valued thereabouts. Time tells all stories, so
it has finally come about that Typographical Journal has secured these
figures, and they are here given in the exact words:
“Seeking to induce manufacturers of the north to establish plants in
southern locations, 'business boosters’ in Mount Airy, N. C., have been dis
tributing mimeographed postcards calling attention to the ‘low-priced labor
market’ existing in the vicinity of that town. The card states that ‘ex
perienced hosiery and underwear operators are available,’ and adds that it
presents ‘a wonderful opportunity for any manufacturing business.’ The
card quotes prevailing wages at Mount Airy as follows: ‘Girls (piece work),
60 cents a day; women, $1; men, $1.25.’ What better argument could there
be for the adoption of the National Textile Bill, now pending in Congress,
which seeks to compel payment of, wages in that industry at former code
levels?” . t 1
This information is given for what it may be worth to those who read.
If you do not place a high value on the work which you perform, that will
be a good place in which to find work. If your skill as a workman is worthy
of a living wage, this may serve as a notice to buy your ticket on through
the city to one which has a higher wage standard.
A bill pending in the Massachusetts General Assembly proposes re
quiring registration of private detectives within 24 hours after they are
hired by manufacturers. It is being bitterly opposed by detective agencies
and has the support of organized labor. For both of which reasons the bill
should become law. An effort is also being made in Congress! to pass a
law whereby to put a stop to transporting strike breakers from one state
to another.
In 1877 there was published in the New York Graphic a cartoon drawn
by an unknwn artist which pictured a spellbinder delivering an oration
over what might be termed a combination telephone and radio, while his
audience listened with interest to words coming to them over the air. Fifty
nine years is a long time, but that cartoonist had a long vision, for we are
doing that very thing today, and complain sometimes because of static in
the air, thus making the words hard to understand. Remember what was
said when the telegraph was put into use: “Behold what wonders God
hath performed.”
Following up on my article of last week which dealt with a member of
Congress who ran wild and became enmeshed in the law as a result, it
might be here related that since that article was written this same party
was married and started for Florida on his honeymoon. In Alexandria, Va.,
just seven miles from Washington, he was again arrested for speeding. He
was doing sixty miles per hour, but evidently the police were able to do
better, hence the later trouble. This man may yet be tamed, if he stays
in this part of the world long enough and does not meet a telephone pole.
Th following from the Cincinnati edition of the Northern Advocate con
cerning another prominent personage of our great country may be of
general interest:
“Good humored merriment spread like a smile over the national counte
nance when press reports stated that Gen. John Pershing had been ar
rested by three patrol officers who had served under him in France, for
speeding through the town of Turlock, Cal., at the rate of 48 instead of
25 miles an hour. If the patrolmen had recognized the general, they might
have been impelled to make the charge by vivid memories of the strict
discipline which as an army officer he always required. Soldiers! have
keen memories and a quick sense of humor. An enlisted man once de
clared that if he survived the war and returned home, he would hire a bugler
to stand beneath his window early every morning and blow the reveille, so
that he could stick his head out and tell the bugler to take a journey to a
place of super-heated climate.” f
If the truth were known, no doubt many an ex-soldier has entertained
the same opinion on that aibject. i
How many of us remember that song entitled ‘Oh! How I Hate to Get
Up in the Morning.”
Typographical Union
Held Meeting Last
Sunday Afternoon
Charlotte Typographical Union No.
338 had a well-attended meeting Sun
day, May 3. After the regular rou
tine had been gone through, and mat
ters of a purely private nature had
been reported and discussed, the nom
ination of officers for the ensuing
year was gone into, with election by
Chapel the third Wednesday in May.
It took in the I. T. U. delegate; dele
gates to the stathe federation conven
tion at Winston-Salem; delegates to
Central Labor Union, etc.
The nominations, with the excep
tion of those who were nominated, but
excused themselves for various rea
sons, are as follows:
For President—Ray Nixon, J. B.
Felmer, L. D. Atkinson.
Vice-president—Harry Boate, Hen
ry Stalls, L. H. Dosh.
Secretary-treasurer—H. M. Sykes.
Recording secretary—Howard L.
Beaty. .
Delegates to Central Labor Umon
—Harry Boate, W. M. Witter, Claude
L. Albea, L. D. Atkinson, W. A. Sad
dleson.
Delegates to State Federation of
Labor—R. C. Nixon, Harry Boate, C.
L. Albea, C. T. Boger, L. D. Atkin
son. J.' C. Felmer, J. R. Rem.
L T. U. delegate—H. M. Sykes, L.
D. Atkinson.
Allied printing Trade Council—
Ray Nixon, H. M. Sykes, R. L
White.
Sergeant-at-Arms—H. A. Veta, A.
M. Jones, C. L. Barger, W. H.
Hanes.
The union label was much in evi
dence, as all candidates were required
to have at least six pieces of wear
ing apparel, bearing the label. One
application for the Home was acted
upon favorably, while another appli
cation for pension was approved.
President Nixon presided, with the
old guard, Secretaries Sykes and
Beatty, holding the fort, and, by the
way, these two gentlemen have no
competition for their respective posts.
And the barbecue picnic is next
Tuesday, from 12 o’clock on. Keep
this in mind. Be on hand, and re
member the “fellowship” slogan.
It isnt’ as hard to get the thing
you want as it is to keep from get
ting the things you don’t want.
Don’t be afraid to obey. A man
must learn to obey, before he may
hope to command.
State Meeting Of
Labor Voters League
of North Carolina
WINSTON-SALEM, May 3.—An
important meeting of the Labor Vot
ers League of North Carolina will be
held in the Wake County Court
house, Raleigh, Saturday, May 16,
according to a call just issued by the
state secretary, E. L. Sandefur, of
Winston-Salem.
It is expected that practically ev
ery county in the state will be rep
resented by delegates and visitors
from the ranks of A. F. of L. unions,
the railroad brotherhoods, farmers
and workers in all classifications.
The primary object of the Labor
Voters League is to “further the leg
islative interests of the worker,
farmer and average citizen, and to
establish leagues in the several coun
ties. Working in conjunction with
the state league, county leagues will
endeavor to choose candidates, both
in primaries and general elections,
who will truthfully and faithfully
represent the working people of the
state, and who will work for the en
actment and administration of laws
for the benefit and protection of our
people.
The organization’s legislative pro
gram discloses among other things
that it favors complete elimination of
the sales tax on all articles, favors
retention of the primary Sections,
but seeks to abolish the absentee bal
lot, and favors improvement of laws
affecting the working people and
fanner so as to afford a larger meas
ure of safety and protection on and
off their jobs. It is a non-partisan
organization. ‘
Be Certain You
Are Registered
If there is any doubt in tjie
minds of voters as to whether they
are properly registererd, they are
urged to go to their respective
places of registration and deter
mine from the registrar if their
names are property entered. It
will do a voter little good to wax
enthusiastic over his favorite can
didate and learn upon going to the
polls on election day that he has
failed to qualify.
PRESIDENT WILLIAM GREEN URGES
ROOSEVELTS RE-ELECTION; LAUDS
POLICY OF THE NEW DEAL LEADER
WASHINGTON, May «—President William Green of the
American Federation of Labor, declared yesterday for the re-elec
tion of President Roosevelt.
Addressing the convention of the National Women’s Trade
Union league, he said, “we have been inspired and thrilled by the
leadership destiny has given us. We want to continue it.”
Reporters inquired subsequently if he had meant advocacy of the re
election of Roosevelt. Green assented.
In his speech, the labor leader spoke of “slaughter” of NRA wage and
hour standards by industry since the supreme court invalidated that new deal
agency. He contended principles of that extraordinary law would be restored
in legislation.
The NRA and social security program were praised by him.
“We can’t,” he said, “afford to make any change in the leadership of
this great forward movement. '
“We want to think it out and think it through. Workers of every group
will understand every phase of the great social security program. There is
nothing that is going to stop us from obtaining eventually a social security
program providing adequate protection not only to the aged but to the un
employed, the dependent, the sick and incapacitated.
There is being awakened a social consciousness in America,” he said.
“Neither a political election, the development of any political program of
any kind, no matter who will be in charge, can stop this new social develop
ment which has gripped the nation. We are standing mi the threshold of a
great future.”
Green’s political stand was the latest contribution to discussion in labor
circles since the United Mine workers voted to support the President; and
its leader, John L. Lewis, joined with George L. Berry of the printing press
men’s union, and Sidney Hillman of the Amalgamated Clothing workers, in
setting up a pro-Roosevelt union organisation.
HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
FAVORS “LABOR CHLSELERS”;
HIGH-PAID LOBBYISTS CAUSE
By I. H. ORNBURN
By killing: the Walsh-Healy Bill, the Judiciary Committee of
the House of Representatives has gone on record in favor of anti
union employers, wage chiselers and sweat-shop bosses who are
able to under-bid fai remployers in obtaining contracts for sup
plies that are purchased by the Federal Government. The action
of this reactionary Committee is contrary to all the principles
advocated by the New DeaL It means that those concerns who
establish decent wages and hours cannot hope to compete with
unfair concerns when dealing with our Government.
Since the N. R. A. codes of fair wage and hour agrements were abol
ished by the Supreme Court, the only hope for Unionized industries, so far
as selling supplies to Uncle Sam is concerned, was to obtain a law allowing
the government to demand American labor standards in the manufacture of
its supplies.
A swarm of high-paid lobbyists we** sent to Washing «*n by the ar«tfc •
union employers and they succeeded in changing eight votes in the House
Committee. This made it possible for the “Bourbons” of the Judiciary
Committee to kill the measure in secret session, after it had passed the
Senate. Now contracts for Government supplies will go to the lowest bidders
who are chiselers and grafters. They foist upon the Government cheap
and shoddy goods, made under unsanitary conditions and in sweated in
dustries.
Recently the exposure of “fixers” and “racketeers” selling army sup
plies to the Government caused a stench that smells to the high heavens..
But a majority of the Judiciary Committee favors these exploiters and crooks
to honest employers who maintain fair working conditions.
With over twelve million jobless, and recovery for the “forgotten man*
lagging because of the low purchasing power of the masses, the Judiciary
Committee throws the drowning American Worker an anchor instead of a
life saver.
Take Time By
“The Forelock”
Fight The Fly
An exchange carries this piece of
good advice and a State Collette dem
onstration agents says “fight the
fly now.” |
“Fight the house fly now. The
homemaker who takes the offensive
in early spring will not find himself
on the defensive in August,” say home
demonstration specialists at State
college.
Screns are among the best weapons
to use against the fly, the special
ists point out. Screens in just a few
of the windows, or in the windows
only, are not enough. Every door
should have its screen. Full-length
window screens add greatly to sum
mer comfort, because the windows
are eliminated between the upper
edges and the top sash which admit
flies and other insects.
“The best way to destroy the fly
however, is to destroy its breeding
place. House flies not only annoy in
summer but menace health because
they breed in filth and feed on filth
before alighting on human food.
They pick up germs in the thick hairs
and bristles which cover their legs
and bodies. Absolute cleanliness in
disposal of all garbage and waste,
whether in the house or barnyards,
is essential in fighting the fly,” say
the home specialists.
McDonald speakings
Newton, Friday, May 8—
8:00 P.M.
Shelby, Saturday, May 9—
8:00 P.M.
A. F. L. Executive
Council In Session
t, At Washington
An A.P. dispatch from Washing
ton, on the A. F. L. executive coun
cil, now getting down to business,
says in part:
Faced with the increasing bitter
scrap between craft and industrial
unionists, the Federation’s executive
council opened its quarterly meeting.
Some labor men expected the coun
cil to reaffirm the Federation’s non
partisan political policy, adopted
last fall at the annual convention.
Green and a group of building
trade union officials told the presi
dent that the A. F. of L. was whole
heartedly for the Wagner housing
bil. After the White House call.
Green said he h8d high hopes the bill
would be enacted this session.
Central Labor Union
Takes Time Out For
McDonald Meeting
On Wednesday night of this week
Charlotte Central Labor Union
skipped its regular meeting to at
tend the McDonald rally which was
held at the county courthouse that
night. The next meeting is sched
uled for Wednesday, May 21st, at 8
P. M. Remember the date and be on
hand.
Men in the United States marry at
an average age of a little over 27%
years.
-*-L
i Motorists of the State of South
Carolina spent 830,000,000 for gas
last year.
TO ADVERTISERS
SUPPORT YOUB 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.