Newspapers / The Charlotte Labor Journal … / July 14, 1938, edition 1 / Page 1
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The ONLY REALLY INDEPENDENT WEEKLY in Mecklenburg County. For « W—kly. Its Readers Represent the LARGEST BUYING POWER In Charlotte Official Or fan Caatral Labor Uaion; ttaaiiif far the A. F. of L. Che Charlotte labor Journal Patronise onr Adver tisers. They nuke YOUR paper possible by their co operation. Truthful, Honest, Impartial by the N. C. the of ' AND DIXIE FARM NEWS Endeavoring to Serve the Masses VOL. VIII—No. 9 MViaTItlMINf in Tmr journal is a good CHARLOTTE, N. C„ THURSDAY, JULY 14, 1938 Journal Advertioriin deserve Consideration or THE readers $2.00 Per Y< GEORGE L GOOGE TALKS AT GENEVA INTERNAL LABOR CONFERENCE ON “TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND APPRENTICESHIP” GENEVA, July—The International Labor Conference, meeting in Geneva last month, voted unanimously to sub mit the question of “technical and va cational education and apprentice ship" to final action at next year’s session. . In the meanwhile, the conference requested the International Labor ot fice to dispatch to all interested gov ernments a questionnaire designed to obtain their views as to the type ol action that should be taken. The points on which the govern ments will be consulted were drawn un by the conference committee on Technical and Vocational Education and Apprenticeship, composed of 60 members, of which 30 represented governments, 15 workers, and 15 em Pl Mrs* Clara M. Beyer, of the U. S Labor Department was the U. S. Gov ernment representative; George Googe, Southern representative of the Ameri can Federation of Labor, was the U. S. workers’ representative, and Wil liam T. Foster, director of the Poliak Foundation for Economic Research, of Boston, Mass., the U. S. employers’ representative. The committee favored the setting Up of a central advisory body, com posed of representatives of the au thorities concerned with matters of vocational guidance and training, gen eral education, placing, economic pol icy, and the protection of workers’ in terests; as well as of representatives of other interested parties, including occupational organizations of em ployers and workers. Mr. Googe, in urging the conference to submit the question for final action next year, declared that the question of proper worker-training was “knit up intimately with the larger ques tion of public and private education and with democracy itself.” “In my own country, the United States of America,” Mr. Googe said, “we have had enough experience with the question of technical education to participate intelligently in this in ternational conference. For many years the unions of the American Fed eration of Labor have sanctioned and created a sound system of technical and apprenticeship training. Some of the unions, such as my own, the In ternational Printing Pressmen’s and Assistant's Union, support richly en dowed technical trade schools. “All of them co-operate warmly with employers, and in all instances where technical apprenticeship train ing goes forward fruitfully, it is the product of intelligent co-operative re lationships with employers. The gov ernment, too, of the United States plays a valuable part and many spe cial courses have been set up for work ers throughout the United States un der the Smith-Hughes Act, by which Federal and States Governments co operate in supplying machinery and instructors for courses laid out by the unions and the employers. “Our Government expends many millions of dollars in this field an nually. Industry and labor have re cently, through the study of the Pres idential Commission of this entire sub ject matter, with government and ed ucational agencies acting as a co-ordi nating influence, greatly revitalised our entire program of technical and vocational education and apprentice ship, with the government agencies emphasizing co-ordination between employers’ and workers’ groups. “This, we believe, gives the sound est pattern for the conduct of such educational enterprises. There must be a general co-ordination of all agen cies, and the government only can sup ply this general co-ordination. But I must say with a great deal of em phasis that the profoundest principle of all education must~not be violated in technical and vocational education and apprenticeship training. That principle is voluntary co-operation. As soon as the habit of ruthless com pulsion for the sake of propaganda enters into any branch of education, we are preparing our youth for some other type of citizenship than the dem ocratic type. “I also want to say with a good deal of emphasis that we believe that the children of workers should, in their elementary and high schools, have the chance for all-around development and have the same opportunity as the chil dren of better advantaged parents for self-expression and for fitting them selves for general citizenship before they secure specialized training for a trade or occupation.” The conference also adopted two resolutions submitted by the commit tee. These requested the governing body of the I. L. 0. to consider the desirability of placing on the agenda of early sessions of the conference, the questions of vocational guidance and vocational retraining and read justment of adult workers. CHATTING PERTINENT COMMENT ON TIMELY TOPICS By HARRY BOATE 9 In letter of last week it was stated that when Washington was reached our car was parked and not again used until time for starting home. The reason for this is the fact that street cars and buses carry one any where in and about the city. For f 1.25 a pass can be purchased, good to ride on any of these conveyances, for one entire week. No transfers needed. All one does is to board a car or bus, show the pass to the conductor, and go as far as you wish. Get off when and where you please, board another, and continue this to your heart’s content. Why worry driving a car through traffic, and perhaps find no parking place when you desire to stop? To this writer, it seems foolish to do so. Washington changes so rapidly it is difficult to keep your bearings. So many government employes and so many places of business, it is hard to convince one’s self that we are sup posed to be going through a severe business slump. Visiting in large and beautiful apartment houses and din ing in fancy dining rooms tend to make one forget that thousands in our country are without work and without many of the things necessary to comfortable living. However, this trip is one of pleas ure, and not of study, so will forego further comment on this line. With passes in our pockets, we.jproceeded to board one conveyance after another, until it would seem there was no part of the city we did not san^uid it may truly be so. We were 'ggfcrmly wel comed by friends of former days, en tentained lavishly, informed of the many changes made here and there, talked of those who had left town or had died since our last visit, and many such changes have occurred. One such friend called one after noon with his wife. We boarded his auto and were taken to Greenbelt, the Government’s experiment in housing, which is a large and expensive bit of town building. From Greenbelt we proceeded to Annapolis, Md., viewed the city and returned to Washington. Then an evening meal at the home of our host and pleasant converse for a few hours ana the day is over. Sunday morning to our old home church, which was holding its last service as such, having merged with another congregation. Pleasant asso ciations were here renewed. Dinner engagement cut short our visits among these good people. Afternoon spent among other friends, and finally a supper engagement with another friend of former days compelled us to say good-hpa and harry on. Our host of the evening was a taxi dermist and explorer, who did his own cooking and had a fine meal spread ready fop us on arrival. Our host was with Admiral Peary on his trip North when he discovered the North Pole, and my readers may rest assured the evening In this home was not passed in dull conversation. The day had been warm. After the meal a warm rain began falling, and Mrs. B., our host and myself sat in comfortable chairs and talked of Eskimos until we began to feel chilly. These hours flew all too fast and much informa tion of value was secured. Our host, Mr. J. S. Warmbath, born in Poland of English parentage, is now employed by the United States Government at Smithsonian Institute. To say he can keep one interested in conversation on science and nature is not enough to giv* him justice in this art, for it is an fcrt, and he has it well in hand. Reading in Geographic Magazine for June of recent accessions to the Zoological Gardens, we headed for this display of animal and wild life, and we were not disappointed in what we saw, for this display our Govern ment has arranged for the pleasure and instruction of all who wish to visit is large and well cared for. Four giraffes recently added are a real attraction. These animals may not mean to high-hat those who look at them, but they sure do hold their heads up in the air. They reach some nine or ten feet. About the most amusing part of the trip to the Zoo was a visit to a new bird, which comes from India, Java, and Ceylon. It is about the size of a robin, very black, and has a white collar about the neck. And it can talk, and I do not mean maybe. A young man who knew of this ability of the bird spoke to it, and it said, “Hel lo,” as plainly as a human. After his departure, Mr. B., as I stood beside her, said “Hello” to the bird. No reply. Repeating the word several times, the bird finally stretched its neck and said to her: “How’s your old man?” Naturally, we began a surprised laughter and forgot to answer the question. After some moments of watching we finally took our depar ture and as we walked away we re ceived the departing remark, “Good bye.” We answered and continued on our way. The hippopotamus was in the water as we approached his cage, with his chin resting on the step. I do not blame him for resting his chin, as it j must be tiresome to carry so much meat around all the time. The ale INDUSTRIAL CONCERNS MAY FIND A STRANGE RECEPTION IN SOUTH WHEN IT TREKS TOWARD DIXIELAND Walter L. Fry, the Detroit manu facturer who last year as boss of his establishment started a sit-down strike against sit-down strikes, has an nounced that his company will move its manufacturing operations to Co lumbus, Ga. He alleges he has been “trapped among President Roosevelt’s great experiment, Governor Frank Murphy’s labor policies, and Michigan’s high labor rates.” The movement of industrial enter prises to the South from New Eng land and the North Atlantic States is apparently continuing, but this is one of the first indications that Mid western companies are likewise join ing the trek to a South which they expect to be sunnier in respect to la I bor policies and labor rates. But what ground is there for be lieving that the South is an Eden in which New Deals are unknown, gov ernors do not interfere in industrial disputes, and labor primarily an agri cultural region, but in certain parts it is being rapidly industralized, and as soon as the process is made com' plete by the emigration of resentful industries, the South will have just the same problems that now exist in the North on the same scale. There is something to be thankful for that the wage and hour bill en acted just before Congress adjourned contained no differential clause pro viding for lower rates of pay in the South than elsewhere. If that provi sion had been inserted, the rush of low-wage industries from the North might have given a serious case of industrial indigestion, or perhaps even something' worse. As matters stand, the South can offer room and a wel - come to every industry which is not looking for cheap and docile labor and is not ruled by reactionary employers. Indeed, that welcome is as hearty as it is universal in Dixie. The South is conservative in cer tain respects, but those who deem it a haven for industrial Bourboniem are misinformed about the traditions and temperament of its people.—Ra leigh News and Observer. A CONSTRUCTIVE UNION MEETING IS HELD BY MUSICIANS’ LOCAL; GREENE DISCOURSES ON MATTERS OF INTEREST TO EVERY MEMBER Editor Labor Journal: A few days ago the musicians of Charlotte held their regular stated monthly meeting. I am not going to reveal some of the details of that meeting, as the developments are strictly business, and therefore pri vate. • But what I want to bring up, is the business-like way, as well as the democratic way, as well as the com mon-senseness of the business itself transacted. Musicians are supposed to be tem peramental, unbusinesslike, dreamers, idealists, in fact everything a good meeting man is not. But, I am will ing to wager, that no two and one half hours of meeting by union men in Charlotte ever accomplished more than our meeting last Thursday of the musicians’ local of the American i Federation of Musicians. The principal discussion was about the creation of more work for mu sicians. Not a higher scale, shorter hours, but more work. What could be better? The delegates to the Tampa convention reported on the work done in Florida. What was the subject up permost in the minds of 776 delegates from all over the United States and Canada? More work for musicians. Not shorter hours, or higher scales, but more work. We in Charlotte need more meet ings devoted to the creation of more work. And by meetings, I mean union meetings, not the flowery effervescent sales talk work-creators by retailers, striving to increase sales, but more directed sensible planning by those who know the work, because they do it. If the C. of C. sees fit to tell peo ple they ought to buy their way out of a depression, or rather spend their way out, then they should not criticize President Roosevelt for doing exactly what they are trying to induce. But printers can spend more time in their meetings thinking out new outlets for their printing talents. Mu S & W Celebrates 18th Anniversary With Week’s Party One of the most beautifully and artistically decorated spots in Char lotte this week is the SAW Cafe teria, which is celebrating its 18th an niversary in elaborate manner. The menus for the week are built upon the basis of showing the patrons of the Cafeteria the appreciation of the concern for the success it has attained with no view of financial gain, in other words Mr. Frank Sherrill and his competent staff are giving the public a real birthday party. The Journal believes its readers have, or will, drop into the SAW this week and partake of the real hospitality that always awaits you. phant still likes peanuts, and the mon keys are still performing the same antics he has always played. A large variety of beautiful monkeys are stored in this building. Lions, tigers, leop ards, and about all the members of the large cat family are in another building. The bears are still a pleasant at traction. Snakes, alligators, crocodiles, members of the rodent family, and a large variety of fur animals are all there to be viewed and studied, and it is an interesting study if one has time and inclination. The inhabitants of this menagerie are too numerous to recount all, so will say, “Go to the Zoo when in Washington.” With a short visit to a few of the numerous large stores of the city, our time has all departed and it is now the hour to start for Charlotte. Never have we been able to finish our visit to Washington, and yet while we lived there many years, we were unable even then to see all that can be seen and enjoyed. sicians can do the same. The building trades, the P. O. clerks, butchers, candlestick makers, all of us can spend more time trying to help our indus tries create work. If the shoe fits, let the union wear it. Analyze your last meeting, and find out the constructive things you have done to make your own jobs more secure. And when I say own jobs, I mean that collectively, not the individual job, but the jobs of your craft. In your next meeting, see if you can’t figure out some wise legis lation that would do North Carolina industry good, in your own particular craft. See if you can’t figure some business like means of increasing the volume of business by your individual craft. W hen you go home from a meeting like that, I am sure you will go home feeling like you did not waste your time at a union meeting, and that you accomplished something worthwhile. Anyway, the musicians went home feeling that way from their last meet ing. WM. S. GREENE. 5,300 TEXTILE WORKERS OUT IN GREENSBORO - i GREENSBORO, July 13.—With all four local plants suspending activities “temporarily” yesterday morning, the strike situation at the Cone Mills, including the White Oak and Revolu tion Cotton Mills, the Proximity Man ufacturing Company, and the Proxim ity Print Works, took on few develop ments during the day. A general gathering of the strik ers, who number around 6,300, was held in the morning at the Proximity school house, at which time several speakers were heard. TYPOGRAPHICAL UNION PROVIDES ACCOUNT NUMBER ON TRAVELING CARDS The International Typographical Union voted at its last convention to include on members’ traveling cards a space in which the social security account number of each member is written. The United States is the world’s largest user of coffee, consuming about one and one-half billion pounds a year or 450 cups for each inhabitant. The principal products of crude oil are gasoline, kerosene, fuel oil, lubri cating oils, asphalt and wax, all of which are derived from crude oil by the cracking process. / TRUTH ABOUT RINGLING CIRCUS CULOSING GIVEN IN STATEMENT BY SEC. FEDERATION OF ACTORS; BOOK EXAMINATION REFUSED | WASHINGTON, D. C.—In order to correct certain exaggerated stories appearing in the daily newspapers relative to the reasons for the closing of the Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey Circus at Scranton, Pa., Ralph Whitehead, executive secretary of the Ameiican Federation of Actors, is sued the following statement which was made public by the American Federation of Labor Information and Publicity Service: “Our union members join with the entire country in deploring the delib erate closing of the Ringling Broth ers, Barnum and Bailey Circus. “The 1,600 performers and work men love the circus just as deeply as the millions of American circus fans. They are the finest troupers you can find in the show business. “These people are attached to the circus not only by bonds of sentinqpnt but by bonds of necessity. It means bread and butter to them. “Is it likely that the circus workers would cut off their own livelihood and force the closing of the show just out of spiteful and arbitrary insistence on wage rates which the circus could not sustain? “Yet this is what the circus man agement, with its traditional subordi nation of truth to imagination, is try ing through high-powered publicity, to make the public believe. “The facts are these: “1. For the past year the Ameri can Federation of Actors has had a contract with the Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey Combined Shows, Inc., covering all employes except mu sicians and billposters. The contract, which included a minimum wage of $60 a month, has four more years to run. “2. In Rochester, N. Y., on June 17, Mr. John Ringling North, president of the corporation, posted a notice de claring a 26 per cent pay cut would go into effect on June 19 for all em ployes. “3. The members of the American Federation of Actors, the Billposters Union and the Musicians Union re fused to accept the pay cut, which was in violation of their contracts. *4. The situation came to a head in Scranton, Pa. City officials and un ion leaders of Scranton joined me and my associates in seeking conferences with Mr. North. Our every effort to effect a compromise was summarily rejected. A committee suggested to Mr. North a compromise of 12 1-2 per cent pay cut. He wouldn’t listen. His adamant position, expressed in the presence of city and union officials, was, ‘You take a 25 per cent cut or we go back to winter quarters.’ , “6. Our union suggested that if Mr. North could prove to our satis ' faction that the circus was losing money we would be willing to go to our members and recommend accept ance of a pay cut. Mr. North refund to permit independent certified public accountants to examine the corpora tion’s books unless the 25 per cent cut was first*agreed to. I “These statements are fully corrob orated and substantiated by affidavits from representatives of eight union organizations in Scranton who partic ipated in the conferences and by May or Fred J. Huester, of Scranton. I have a letter from Mayor Huester which reads as follows: “ ‘I want to take this opportunity to inform the Federation that as May or the City of Scranton, together With the Director of Public Safety and the officials of my Police Department, we were all present at all meetings held by the officials of the Ringling Broth ers and Barnum and Bailey Combined Shows, and the officials of organized labor, while they were in conference attempting to settle their differences, and I wish to state at this time that eyery effort was made by Mr. Ralph Whitehead to bring about a satisfac tory settlement but that John Ringling North would not compromise.’ xr “T£e.onl.y reason ever given by Mr. North in justification of a wage cut was the assertion that the circus was losing money. Yet he publicly stated h*? conferences with union and city toi'n'A/ln ^at t*?e c*rcus had cleared $250,000 in cash profits so far this year. “In the light of these facts our only conclusion is that Mr. North and the circus management felt they had al leady licked the cream of the business m the big cities and were unwilling to take the usual business risk of con tinuing their scheduled tour of the smaller cities, even though by this de cision they are depriving millions of men, women and children of the joy the circus and are forcing the 1 600 circus employes out of their jobs. Republicans Are Getting Busy In North Carolina The shock troops of the North Caro lina G. 0. P. gathered for an all-day session in Charlotte Saturday to scheme bombs and high explosives for the Democrats to worry about this fall. The preliminary campaign opens next month. There was State Chairman Jake P. Newell, of Charlotte, the generalissi mo of the Republicans, preparing strategy. There was Charles A. Jonas, for mer Congressman, gathering his spe cial Senatorial ammunition for his contest with Democratic Senator Rob ert R. Reynolds. And Frank Patton, of Morganton, getting himself entrenched to explode Democratic Representative A. L. Bul winkle. And _ Vonno Gudger, of Asheville, Republican candidate against Demo cratic Senator Zeb Weaver. And Irwin Tucker, of Whiteville, Republican candidate for the State Supreme Court. And Monroe Adams, of Statesville, the Republican hope against Demo cratic Representative Bob Doughton. And Brownlow Jackson, of Hender sonville, State secretary of the Re publican party, and a score of other important figures from other sections of the State. The _ meeting was behind closed doors in a Selwyn Hotel room and lasted from 11 A. M. until far into the afternoon. Mr. Newell, discussing the meeting afterward, said that it was concerned almost entirely with the general tone of the coming cam paign against the Democrats and with such matters as campaign funds.— News, Sunday. The Boates Have Gone Boating Again On Land Today Mr. and Mrs. Harry Boate and one of the little Boates (the other being up at Boone) has gone boating again in the “family car,” this time going as far as Tampa, Fla., where the Colonel has some interests. They will sail leisurely along the high* ways, observing the things of inter est, and letting life pass along in an orderly manner, as is their wont. The Colonel and his family are loved in Charlotte by all who know them, and he has taken care of his contribution for The Journal by two advance ar ticles, which will cover his share of the “job” for two weeks. Each profession has its special stone in Brazil. The lawyer is recognized by his ruby ring, the doctor by his emer ald, the dentist by topaz, while the engineer wears tourmaline. Charlotte Central Body Nominates Officers For Year Central Body, after a two weeks’ vacation, got into action Wednesday night, and while the attendance was not up to par, it was still very good considering the hot weather. The main feature of the meeting was the nomi nation of officers for the ensuing year, which brought forth very little competition. H. L. Kiser was renomi nated for president, with no opposi tion, as was Claude L. Albea for vice | president; William S. Greene for sec retary-treasurer, and Brother Mc Ginnis for sergeant-at-arms. For trustees, Boate, Conder, and Camp bell were nominated, and there is no contest for them, as three are to be chosen. The only case where a con test will occur is in the race for two delegates to the State Federation of Labor, which meets in Wilmington in August. Those nominated were Mc Crone, Hill, Greene, Boate, and Fes perman. The meeting was presided over by President Kiser. Reports of locals showed most of the members of the various locals working, some of them overtime. The next meeting, Wednes day, July 27, will see election of of ficers. “Jack” Moore Goes To Columbia, S. C. To Take Treatment Our friend, “Jack” Moore, of the Machinists’ union, but more recently having become a post office employe, left last week to enter the Veterans' Hospital at Columbia, S. C., for treat ment. He expects to be there for about 60 days. Brother Moore has many friends in the labor movement as well in other circles, and it is the hope of each and everyone that he wifi re turn to his duties fully recovered. 150 Workers Back To Work At Cotton Oil Plant Here About 160 employes of the local plant of the Buckeye Cotton Oil com pany are back at work in three eight hour shifts, it became known yester day. Resumption of work followed a seasonal lull, starting last April. Re newal of activities at the plant is ahead of schedule, according to of ficials. '■ o R- E-. Evans is manager, and V. L. bmith is superintendent. The Char lotte plant is one of several in the South operated by the Buckeye Cot .0i* Company, a subsidiary of Proctor A Gamble.—Observer.
The Charlotte Labor Journal and Dixie Farm News (Charlotte, N.C.)
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July 14, 1938, edition 1
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