Newspapers / The Charlotte Labor Journal … / Nov. 18, 1937, edition 1 / Page 1
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The ONLY REALLY INDEPENDENT WEEKLY in Mecklenburg County. For a Weekly, its Readers Rep resent the LARGEST BUYING POWER in Charlotte Official Organ Central Labor Union; atanding for the A. F. of L. Wttt (Motif labor Journal Patronise onr Adver tisers. They make YOU* paper possible by their co operation. Endorsed by the N. C State Federa 1 ruth fid, Honest, Impartia* Uon of Labor AND DIXIE FARM NEWS Endeavoring to Serve the Masses Vol. VIL—No. 28 - * —• CHARLOTTE, N. C„ THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1937 JOVMMAL UVU1IMM DUttVt ▼Mg tlAMa $2.00 Per Year FILIBUSTER STILL ON IN CONGRESS, WITH CONFUSION INCREASING; MAY BREAK PRECEDENT ON WAGE-HOUR WASHINGTON, Nov. 18.—Administration leaders sadly watched another day of the short special session slip into the past with no more accomplished than the continuation of a blus tery Senate filibuster. Confusion was obviously increasing. Proponents of immediate legislation to help business were growing more ‘restless wit heach hour’s delay. Other .legislators bursting with thoughts and emotions were watching their chance to get the floor. So, Democratic leaders began a pressure drive ot get the administra tion’s program ready for considera tion. Speaker Bankhead announced at a press conference that “if necessary” He would break precedent and sign a petition to extricate the wage-hour bill from the desk drawer in which it was locked last summer by the House rules committee. Secretary Wallace appeared before the Senate agriculture committee and urged a compromise between the camps which favor compulsory and voluntary control of crop production. ne sugesiea, instead, a miacue oi me road” course. Meanwhile, the House subcommit tee on taxes agreed to “smooth^ out” the capital gains and losses tax, which has been the target of a per sistent attack both in and out of Con gress. Chairman Vinson said this would be done in a way that would help business without an “unseemly loss in revenue.” The farm bill and the wage-hour bill are items one and two on the pro gram sent to Congress by the Presi dent for the special session. He urg ed a revision of the tax schedules but implied that other legislative matter should precede such action. Over the bitter opposition of south ern members, the wage-hour bill was approved last August by the Senate, and reported out by the House labor committee only to run into a cul-de sac in the rules committee. Glove Workers Remain With The A. F. of L. A furious drive by a few individuals in the International Glove Workers’ Union of America, resulting in a slight majority of votes cast in a ref erendum in which not all members participated for the CIO, was decis ively rescinded at a recent conven tion of eight midwest locals, held in Milwaukee. Of the original 1,300 ' members, 1,200 are reported as still members of the organization, which voted to keep the A. F. of L. charter. The convention elected Thomas Du rian, of Milwaukee, as president, and Anton White, of Wewanee, Illinois, as secretary-treasurer; also seven vice presidents, including Frank Rosen thal, Milwaukee; Agnes Nestor, Chi cago; George Paitl, Menominee, Mich.; Nellie Bosley, Minneapolis;. Frank Resyck, Marfette; Elmer Merckel and Harriet Tauscher, Milwaukee. National headquarters have been es tablished in Kewanee, 111., home city of the new secretary-treasurer. It was also decided to hold the 1938 convention in Marinette. C. I. O. FACTION IS FADING OUT Secretary White succeeds James Kennedy, New York, who headed the move to fuse the old-fashioned A. F. of L. glove workers’ union with the Amalgamated Clothing Workers, one of the CIO group. Kennedy recently set up headquarters in the Amalga mated offices in New York, but his followers are said to be few and con stantly getting fewer,” as members of this honored union continue to ex press their preference freely and un derstandingly, for continued affilia tion with the American Federation of Labor. 20 Agreements Signed in Elberton Atlanta District (Southern Labor News Bureau) ELBERTON, Ga., Nov. 15th.—Fol lowing the victory won by the granite Call Is Issued For Secretaries’ Meeting Of N. C. Bricklayers November 17, 1937. Dear Sir and Brother: I am calling a meeting of the sec retaries of all subordinate unions in North Carolina to be held in the 0. O. Henry Hotel, Greensboro, N. C., on Sunday, November 21, 1937. The meeting is being called for the following reasons: To define the jurisdiction bounda ries of the subordinate unions. To devise a plan of campaign for fully organizing the State. To determine ways and means of combatting and preventing the setting of ridiculously low wage scales for the men of our crafts on State PWA projects. To consider the advisability of or gaaziing a permanent State Organiza tion for carrying out the above ob jectives, and for initiating and ad vancing any other progressive ideas for improving the standards of our crafts in North Carolina. It is imperative, for the good of our Organization in the State of North Carolina that you make a spe cial effort to be present at this meet ing. Please be present and oblige. I remain, Yours fraternally, J. T. BRISCOE, International Representative, B. M. & P. I. U. of America. and quarry workers three weeks ago, which resulted in a closed shop agreement and increased pay, 20 addi tional agreements have been signed in the Elberton-Atlanta district, al most completely enlisting all sheds and quarries in the district into the two unions—granite cutters and quar ry workers. The effect of the sweeping victory has been felt in other industries in the territory, it is reported, and many agreements are pending in these in dustries now, negotiations being car ried on by organizers of the Ameri can Federation of Labor. Subscribe for The Journal WINDSORS WOULD BE WELCOMED BY A. F. OF L.—OPPOSITION CAUSED BY THE BEDAUX SPONSORSHIP WASHINGTON, D. C.—American working men and women have not the slightest objection to a tour of the United States by the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, but would on the contrary extend to them a sincere and hearty welcome at any time they decide to visit our country, William Green, president of the American Federation of Labor, announced here. A formal state ment on the subject was issued from the Federation’s headquar ters in response to the following inquiry sent by T. G. Lytle, of the Toronto Star: “Will you withdraw your expressed opposition to the American tour of the Duke of Windsor and his Duchess now that Charles E. Bedaux has severed his connection with them? May we have the courtesy of an early reply ? ” Mr. Green sent the following reply: “American Labor never has nor does it now interpose any opposition to a proposed American tour of the Duke of Windsor and his Duchess. In stead we wish and sincerely desire to extend to them a hearty welcome and a cordial invitation to visit the United States. “When it was first announced that the Duke and his Duchess planned to visit America. I issued a public statement about October twelfth ex pressing approval of such a visit and a hearty willingness to meet the Duke and co-operate fully with him in the investigation he planned to make into economic and industrial conditions in the United States. “In connection with the opposition expressed by the Baltimore Federa tion of Labor, a subordinate branch of the American Federation of Labor, to Mr. Charles E. Bedaux and the speed-up system which he inaugurated and sold to American corporations, I declared that in. my opinion such action protesting the Bedaux speed-up system fairly represented the senti ment of American labor. “This expressed attitude of labor referred only to the declaration of the Baltimore Federation of Labor in opposition to Mr. Bedaux and his speed up system. It had no reference to any other action taken by the Baltimore Federation of Labor with respect to the visit of the Duke of Windsor and his Duchess to the United States. “American Labor’s opposition, therefore, which was given wide publicity, was against Mr. Bedaux and his speeding system and in no way against the Duke and his Duchess. “Now since Mr. Bedaux has severed his connection with the management of a trip to the United States by the Duke and Duchess, American labor will extend to them a most sincere and hearty welcime at any time they decide to come to the United Sates.” EDISON CO.’S LABOR BOARD EDICT WILL BE FOUGHT BY A. F. OF L CONTRACT IS TO BE DEFENDED WASHINGTON, D. C.—The National Labor Relations Board ordered the Consolidated Edison Company of New York and its six subsidiaries to break their agreements with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Charging that the companies had imposed the A. F. of L. union on the 30,000 employes and had discriminat ed against the United Radio and Elec trical Workers of America, an affil iate of the Committee for Industrial Organization, the Board ordered the companies to abrogate their agree ment with the Electrical Workers Brotherhood, which has exclusive bar gaining rights for the employes under the Edison contracts, and to notify the employes accordingly. William Green, president of the American Federation of Labor, who had just placed before Presidept Roosevelt the resolution adopted by the recent Denver convention of the Federation assailing the National La bor Relations Board, in commenting on the action of the Labor Board in the Edison Company case, said: “I consider that the decision out rages the provisions of the Wagner Act. Nothing in the Act confers upon the Board the right to invali date a contract. I think it not only an outrage, but it outrages the pro visions of the Act itself.” Dan W. Tracy, president of the In ternational Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, denounced the Board’s ac tion as “biased, bigoted, illegal and dictatorial.” I He said the decision destroyed “with the wave of 4. lead pencil a legal con tract entered into in good faith by 30,000 employes formed in an A. F. of L. union and a utility company,” adding: “That contract is in effect today. We are obliged to defend that con tract on principle with every ounce of moral and financial strength that we possess,, and we shall do so. “The power to abrogate a contract is not vested in the Board by the Na tional Labor Relations Act. Neither is Congress empowered to invalidate contracts, and, therefore, cannot dele gate such power to a subsidiary crea ture, namely, a board.” In a telegram to Floyd Carlisle, chairman of the Board of the Edison Company in New York City, Mr. Tracy declared that his union would expect the company to stand by its agreement. Mr. Tracy received the following telegram from Mr. Carlisle: “I have your telegram of this date. These companies made contracts in good faith with your organization and its local unions representing about 30 or 40 thousand employes. We ex pect to live up to those contracts unless and until the courts hold them to be invalid. The companies will take appropriate steps to obtain a ju dicial review of what we believe to be the board’s unfounded decision. Meanwhile we shall expect to proceed in all respects under the contracts and to go ahead with the arbitration ar ranged for the fair determination of questions arising under the con tracts.” Congress Convenes In Extra Session; Tax Reforms Suggested By President In Message—Farm and Wage Bills Are To Be Placed Before Industries WASHINGTON, Nov. 15.—President Roosevelt suggested to the newly-convened Congress yesterday that some of the tax burdens on business should be lightened, but he presented his Capitol Hill leaders with a vexatious problem by omitting to ask for immediate action on the recommendation. Endeavoring to carry out his wishes for “early” legislation on such sub jects as crop control and wage-hour regulation, they encountered an insist ent demand in both houses that quick steps be taken to help business out of its present difficulties. Whether the demands would reach such proportions as actually to de lay the Presidents’ immediate program remained to be seen. The Chief Executive’s recommendations went to Congress in a special message shortly after it met in response to his call for the special session, a call which went out before the current industrial recession began. Aware that many members were disposed to measure the value of prospective legislation in terms of assistance to business the president pre sented his proposals—crop control, the wage-hour bill, government reorgani zation and regional planning — measures which would give such assistance. He acknowledged the industrial decline, spoke especially of “lightening inequitable burdens on the enterprise of small businessmen and referred to the crop control and wage-hour bills as measures which would maintain and stabilize purchasing power. Government reorganization and regional planning he called “essential tools for the whole task.” “For the sake of the nation I hope for your early action,” he said, in conclusion. While public comment on the message generally was guided by the party affiliations of the commentator, there was obviously much disappoint ment that the President had not asked for tax revision at once. INDPENDENT FOOD DEALERS ASSOCIATION INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED THERE’S ONE NEAR YOU. JUST PHONE. WE DELIVER Gonvenient-to-Pay Loan Service Citizens Savings and Loan Company 114 E. 4th St. Dial 3-1181 For Quality Drugs and Sundries Visit the SELWYN CUT RATE DRUG STORE 129 W. Trade St. TeL 3-5151 AND THE NANCE DRUG STORE 305 N. Caswell Road TeL 8519 “Charlotte’s Friendly Drug Stores” JOHN S. NANCE. Proprietor PATRONIZE OUR ADVERTISERS A. F. L GAINING IN ALCOA PLANT, ALUMINUM COMPANY OF AMERICA: LADIES’ AUXILIARY IS NOW ACTIVE MARYVILLE, Tenn., Nov, 15th.—Members of the A. F- of L. Union here, which is working on an agreement with the Alumi num Co. of America, Alcoa Plant, are greatly encouraged be cause of the lorge numbers of men coming back into the A. F. of L. union. % Steering committees have been working hard since appointment of these committees representing the three shifts several days ago. In addition to the work being done by these steering committees, a ladies’ auxiliary has been organized and the wives of the workers are now rendering great aid in work for the local A. F. of L. Union. Carl K. Greene, representative of the A. F. of L. and assigned to the aluminum industry, is in charge of the local office for the federation and is doing excellent work. Clay McKenzie, editor of the Knoxville Labor News, is one of the really strong factors in the A. F. of L. fight in Mary ville, his home city. For the past several days James F. Barrett, of the Atlanta office of the American Federation of Labor, has been assisting the local leaders in carrying the fight here. Both the CIO and a company union are contesting the A. F. of L.’s right to represent the workers of Alcoa. That the A. F. of L. will soon clear the community of all such influences as represented by the CIO is already conceded by all, while the threat of the company union is not con sidered of any great importance. All but two plants of the Aluminum Company of America are now in the A. F. of L. column, and it is believed these two will soon come into the fold. GRANITE CORPORATION EMPLOYES GET 20 PER CENT PAY INCREASE IN GEORGIA UNDER THE A. F. OF L. ATLANTA* Gil, Nov. 45th.—W. B. Nixon, international rep resentative of the Operating Engineers, Atlanta District, reports hundred per cent in Local No. 926. In Local No. 329 an increase an increase in membership during past three months of one of 30 per cent in membership has been made. Employees in the Berkeley Granite Corporation have obtained a 20 per t cent increase in pay since joining the Atlanta Local, Mr. Nixon’s report shows. His organization embarces hoisting, portable and shovel men. Reports show that the organization is growing in rapid manner through out the Southern District. | Repre sentative Nixon’s headquarters are maintained at 358 Hurt Bldg., At lanta, Ga. Biloxi, Miss., Nov. 15th. To some ffve hundred and fifty youngsters in 40 or 50 towns along the Gulf of Mexico, a nickel means more than an ice cream cone or a bottle of pop. It is the symbol of tedious work?1 starting at 4 or 5 o’clock in the morn ing at a long table piled with cold, wet and slippery shrimp. In almost every picking and heading shed a nickel is the pay for a “bucket” of shrimp meat or of headed shrimp. I In Biloxi, Mississippi, there is a I billboard reading, “The little shrimp . nickel is a big factor in the progress ' of Biloxi ...” This is true of many communities, but to Biloxi which pro cesses eight million cans of shrimp annually, it has a special significance. Four years ago, a union came into be ing in Biloxi, long used as a horrible • example of bad labor and sanitary ! conditions, and led a strike support- ! ed bv police and townspeople. Now pickers get a cent per pound for shrimp meat, and hour workers re ceive 25 to 35 cents. They start the day at 4:30 instead of 1 or 2 a.m. and work in quite clean plants. Chil dren under 14 years are seldom, if ever, employed, babies are not brought into the sheds, and housing is measurably improved. This is Biloxi, where the union has established a closed shop. Farther westward, in the new shrimp front ier, organization has not yet come to win even these benefits for workers. Louisiana and Texas are now the center of exploitation for shrimp working children. [George L. Googe Makes Comment On Labor Situation CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., Nov. 15th. —W. A. (“Zeke”) Witt, president of Chattanooga Building Trades Coun cil, and a member of Local 226, Painters, will be in charge of or ganizing activities o fthe American Federation of Labor in the Chatta nooga district. This announcement was made Wednesday by George L. Googe, sou thern representative in charge of the A. F. L., when he made a brief visit, during which he met with the build-! ing trades council. Mr. Googe said that the -appointment would be con- 1 firmed by President Green within a! few days. Mr. Witt was indorsed for the pos ition by the Chattanooga Central La bor Union last Monday evening with out a dissenting vote, and the indorse ment was concurred in by the build ing trades. In his talk Wednesday eveniQgv Mr. Googe told the craftsmen that al though he was as desirous for peace as anyone, it was his opinion that I present negotiations in Washington will never be settled ur’.ess the con troversy was definitely and right fully adjusted for all time, and that “crackpot” unionism was eliminated entirely. Union-m^'ie products are always1 American-made The Union Labei <» O a of quality' When juu buy foreign-made goods, vou sre cuttinc vour own ■‘nr Don't ehisel on yonrsalf. BAKERY AND CONFECTION ERY WORKERS of Charlotte are requested to get in touch with organizer Albert Beck at Room 702 Mayfair Hotel. A drive to organize is on foot to assist all bakers to organize and get Union signed contracts with your employers. SHEET METAL WORKERS NOTICE—LOCAL NO. 366 Holds its regular meeting every Friday night at Building Trades hall llV/2 So. College St. Your presence is requested to attend this meeting of All Sheet Metal Workers. M. B. EUDY, Secretary, Local No. 366. BUILDING LABORERS AND HOD CARRIERS INT. UNION will meet at Good Samaritan Hall, Caldwell and Boundary Street, Wed. night, Nov. 24th, at 7:30 Subject: “Why We Unite.” Alfred Beck will address meet ing. We are asking you to assist yourself in organizing as we want to get all building laborers and hod carriers into the International Hod Carriers and Building Laborers and Common Laborers*1 Union of America.. For further, informa tion get in touch with ALBERT BECK, A. F. L. Organizer, Hotel Mayfair. TO ALL BARBERS AND BEAUTICIANS IN CHARLOTTE Being as there is not a Union Shop in Charoltte we are asking all barbers to start a drive for an organization so that the 25,000 Union Workers in this territory can know where to get shaved by a union barber and for women folks to get a Union Beautician to marcel their hair. Mr. Lloyd, Organizer for Bar bers will be in Charlotte in the near future. Organizer Al. Beck will assist with your problems. Let’s go, Barbers, for a Union town of barbers and stop this scabbing on hair cuts and shaves. BRICKLAYERS All bricklayers who are unem ployed get in touch with organizer Albert Beck at once. I need union men to fill the jobs. Have jobs for union bricklayers out of town. The Bricklayers Union No. 9 Charlotte meets 1st and 3rd Thurs ^ nionth at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 409 West 7th ,.Th* wiU close on Nov. 25. All Bricklayers should get a union card. The Bricklayers In ternaUona! is putting on a drive in this State to organize the brick layers and Plasterers and Hie Setters and all Trowel Trades. Get your card and let us build up a strong Bricklayers Union. PETE TOFFOLI, Secretary ALBERT BECK, Prudent N pop BRICKLAYERS OUT-OF-TOWN WORK AT $1.25 AN 'JOUR. CALL ALBERT BECK AT MAYFAIR HOTEL. CHARLOTTE ” **“**' -|-| -| 111 n_| Subscribe for The Jouiiial *?«*» ,*• the greatest nflnRAvrf the bust INST RANCE for Trade Unionism. »nr co"^;*;An8 for eve»r worker. 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The Charlotte Labor Journal and Dixie Farm News (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Nov. 18, 1937, edition 1
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