Newspapers / The Charlotte Labor Journal … / Dec. 15, 1938, edition 1 / Page 1
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The ONLY REALLY INDEPENDENT WEEKLY in Mecklenburg Co—ly. For * Weekly. Ita Readers Represent the LARGEST BUYING POWER in Chariufrw Official Orfu Casual Labor Union; standing for the A. F. of L. Ihr dharlottp labor Journal CHRISTMAS SHOP the JOURNAL WAY Truthful, Honest, Impartial VOL. VIII—NO. 31 Endorsed by the N. C. 8tatc tioa ad Labor AND DIXIE FARM NEWS Endeavoring to Serve the Masses INSISTMINT CHARLOTTE, N. C., THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1938 $2.00 Per Y« Shop Christmas With Journal Advertisers Gorman Breaks With the C. I. O. HE WILL LEAD A MOVEMENT TO COME INTO FOLD OF THE A. F. OF L.; SAYS COURT RULING SEVERED TIES WITH JOHN LEWIS’ C. I. 0. ORGANIZATION It Seems That a Life and Death Struggle Is On—Two-Year-Old Peace Broken By Charges and Counter Charges Between Sid ney Hillman and Francis G. Gorman—Break Started By Provi dence, R. I. Textile Organizer—Gorman Will Call Convention of Textil Workers At An Early Date—He Claims The U. T. W. Will Emerge As the Only Recognized Textile Organiza tion. [The following story is by Jesse S. Cottrell, special Washington corre spondent of The Charlotte Observer, and appeared in Wednesday's issue of that paper.) WASHINGTON, Dec. 13—A life and-death struggle for control, with the Carolinas the chief battleground, broke here today between Francis J. Gorman, president of the United Tex tile Workers, and Sidney Hillman, chairman of the Textile Workers’ Organizing committee. The two-year-old serenity that had prevailed in the ranks of the cotton mill workers of the country over their affiliation was shattered when Gor man issued a notice to every union in the country that a convention would be called soon to form a new U. T. W., after the decision of the superior court in Providence, R. I„ that the con tract between the C. I .0. and the T. W. 0. C. is invalid and of no effect, and that any pact that exists be tween the unions and the C. I. O. must be negotiated themselves and not by officers of the T.'W. O. t', their new affiliate. REPLY BLISTERING No sooner had the Gorman State ment been issued than Hillman, from C. I. 0. headquarters, issued a blister ing reply in which he charged, in ef fect, that Gorman was trying to de liver the United Textile Workers to the American Federation of Labor. “If Mr. Gorman wishes to join the A. F. of L.,” said Hillman, new dealer, president of the Amalgamated Cloth ing Workers, and recognised as the brains of the T. W. O. C., “this is his own personal business, but he cannot take the Textile Workers with him.” Charging that Gorman’s action was “purely an independent move on his part and declaring the T. W. O. C. will continue to work with undimin ished strength until collective bargain ing and all the benefits that flow from it are established throughout the tex tile industry,” Hillman declared that the Rhode Island case would be car ried to the highest courts for a final test. BEGAN TWO YEARS AGO The row which broke today had its genesis two years ago when the United Textile Workers voted to affiliate with the Committee of Industrial Organ ization, and was given the name of the Textile Workers’ Organizing commit tee. Immediately an intensive C. I. O.-T. W. 0. C. drive for new mem bers was undertaken, with C. I. 0. men in the field, many of whom had never had their hands on a loom. The T. W. 0. C. now claims a membership of 450,3000, according to President John L. Lewis’ "History of the C. I. O.," whereas the Amalgamated Gothing Workers’ union, on which Hillman rode into the fore as a union leader, has only 252,620. All was going well until Joseph Sil - via, T. W. O. C. organizer in Provi dence, withdrew from the T. W. O. C„ and allegedly attempted to set up an independent local with an A. F. of L. charter; In doing so, he took with him, so it is charged here, about $1,000, which he is reported to have claimed for the new union. The T. W. O. C. then instituted suit to restrain him, with the contract between the C. I. O. and the T. W. O. C. as grouds for action. The court held, however, that the C, I. O. had no legal right to con tract with the T. W. O. C. as a na tional organization to organize new unions without consent of the locals and nullified the agreement, so far as that jurisdiction is concerned. CONSIDERED IMPORTANT Then came the unexpected Gorman call today and Hillman considered it of such importance that his blistering reply was issued immediately. In his statement, Gorman declared that the situation irt the textile union field had been brought to a crisis de manding immediate action by the de cision of the superior court in Provi dence, R. I., which declared the con tract between the U .T. W. and thi C. I. O. invalid and ordered U. T. W. funds returned to the U. T. W. “That decision,” said Mr. Gorman, “eliminated the Textile Workers’ Or ganizing committee from the field. T. W. O. C. was set up by the con tact. The contract is invalid. Con sequently, its creature, T. W. 0. C. ceases to e»|st. Manifestly, there must be a basic change in the policy of the United Textile Workers, in or der to bring about a unified move ment, ending the confusion and dis satisfaction growing out of T. W. O. C. activities and its dissolution by court decision. PLANS CONVENTION “I shall exercise all of the constitu tional functions of the president’s of fice, actively and energetically, in or der to make possible tne development of a constructive program and a unit ed movement. Headquarters of the international, as directed by our last convention, will be in Washington, and all unions are directed to deal hence forth only with the international un ion headquarters under my direction and administration. My letter, in the hands of all local unions today, ad vises them to be prepared for an early convention of the United Textile Workers, which is, under the circum stances, a necessity.” Gorman stated that he realised from the beginning of the C. I. O.-T. W. 0. C. textile drive that the C. I. O. agree ment could remain operative only with the sanction of the local unions and that the court action which resulted in the throwing out of the agreement was brought by the officers of the T. W. O. C. themselves and caused his resignation from the committee. “I have taken the responsibility for the signing of the agreement from the beginning,” Gorman said, “and I assume the responsibility at this time regardless of the consequences, legal or otherwise. But I propose that those responsible for the pre^-nt situ ation and who instituted the case upon which the decision was based will also answer for their actions to our convention, when one is held.” CITES CONSTITUTION German notified local unions that they must be guided from now on by the constitution of the United Textile Workers of America as the only legal document in existence. "It provides a safe instrument for the conduct of the organization,” he said. “All con tracts will be honored. Labor board cases should be brought in the name of the U. T. W. A number of reports have come in to the effect that em ployers are trying to dismiss cases FR IDA Y-SATURDAY c Witk RICARDO CORTEZ PHYLLIS BROOKS ROBERT WILCOX NEARLY A TWO MILLION DOLLAR CHRISTMAS SLATED FOR CHARLOTTE SAYS THE NAT. CONSUMERS TAX COM. A $1,901,400 Christmas was forecast this year for Charlotte retailers by the National Con sumers Tax Commission in a survey indicating nation-wide Yule sales approaching two bil lion dollars. Christmas shoppers in this city’s stores will pay, most of them unknowingly, $290,914 in hidden taxes, according to the report released today at NSTC headquarters in Chicago by Mrs. Kenneth C. Frazier, president. The “holiday business” esti mate was based not only on re ports from department and spe cialty stores, but on figures from all retail lines, including drug, food, furniture, hardware, household furnishings, jewelry, automotive, dry goods, novelty and variety stores, the report said. An average of $6.11 apiece will be paid in indirect levies by families in this state, whose Christmas expenditures are ex pected to equal $39.96, the study showed. It explained that while most families will spend less than this estimate, expenditures of those in the upper income group will bring the average to that figure. Mrs. William T. Hannah of Waynesville is NCTC state di rector in North Carolina. In releasing the survey, Mrs. Frazier declared, “Hidden taxes not only add to the price of Christmas purchases, but to the price of food, clothing and other year-round necessities as well.” There are more than 1800 commission units from coast to coast, Mrs. Frazier said. She described the NCTC as a “non partisan /'women’s organization | designed to analyze all taxes, and combat those that penalize i the consumer.” brought by the T. W. 0. C. u a result of the invitation of the agreement.” The Textile Workers’ president said he has been in conference with legal counsel since the decision and a defi nite plan has been outlined for the pro tection of the local ujnions pending the convention. Gorman declared that the failure of the T. W. 0. C. to permit democratic participation on the part of the Textile Workers themselves, coupled with the idea of substituting T. W. O. C. char I ters for the legal U. T. W. charters was i responsible for the breakdown and confusion of the organizing move ment under T. W. 0. C. expresses confidence Gorman expressed confidence that the United Textile Workers of Amer ica would emerge as the only recog nized international union in the tex tile field. He said it took 30 years to consohfate the various independent the°“textil> thC Uw T- *ddi“» ‘hat count™ W°r.ker8 throughout the u permit ‘his tempo raipr setback to destroy this unity. Gorm?nI?>rt/£0,Vthe 800111 informed Gorman s office that a cotton federa tion or department is now in process of organisation. H lowJ!1”*" repHed t0 Gorm»n a. fol ]\“The Textile Workers’ Organizing ‘I** Congress of Indu * trial Organization is neither imprest ed nor disturbed by the move m nounced by Francis J. Gorman to have not yet been XoM in the*?! i The membership that it we "rv" h«H#trre than 2,000, and these m^mtm "° C9“pUint' from ASSAILS RIGHT Mr- Corman has no right under the constitution of the U. T. W to ^ . convention even of thele lL£ That is, the constitution provides that such a convention can only be called by the executive board o/the U ? W ?£TTn?nt«betwe*n th® u. T. T ' wlr C' *: °-’ under which the T. W. O. C. was set up, was entered !S£ of the nwmber ship of the U. T. W. has given it en thusiastic support. Mr. Gorman was a signatory to this agreement which "® “®w seems bent on breaking up. The court decision in Providence, w n •?pealed by ‘he T. Jv.9; C. It involved a sum of $1,000 which a discharged organizer, who subsequently joined the American Federation of Labor, tried to take with him. BEING CLEANED DP "The local situation in Providence is also being cleared up so that the textile workers there may continue their affiliation with the T. W. O. C., which is their desire. “Since its formation, the T. W. O. C. in association with the C. I. O., has been successful in affecting-the sub stantial organization of an industry ' which was previously almost com ' pletely unorganized. Some 450,000 | workers have been organized in the | T. W. O. C., and of this number, 300, OOOaer covered by union agreements signed with the T. W. O. C. I “If Mr. Gorman wishes to join the A .F. of L., this is his personal busi I ness, but he will not take the textile ! workers with him. They have secured too many benefits through C. I. O. or ganization to be misled by any such attempts to split their ranks. “We consider Mr. Gorman’s action as purely an independent move on his part, and the T. W. O. C. will continue : its work with undiminished strength I until collective bargaining and all the | benefits that flow from it are estab ! lished throughout' the textile indus try.” _ "A WORLD OF THOUGHT” WASHINGTON, D. C. —Some of the questions which now provide the WORLD with “A WORLD OF THOUGHT.: How long will Hitler continue his maniacal and unprecedented cruelties upon German Minorities? 4 When will Japanese monopolies stop grabbing markets from American companies? When will the truth be told about the murderous Spanish con flict? ‘Who will deny that our present national defense program is not designed for a show-down on for eign policy which will likely lead this country into another war? Ib the Temporary National Eco nomic Committee going to exert its efforts toward getting at the ills of our economic machine or is it gathering political cannon fodder? CHRISTMAS IS NEAR “BUY UNION LABEL GIFTS” , LEARNING FAST A woman traveling by train was talking with the man in the next seat. In describing her holiday, she said that she had visited San Jose. “You pronounce that wrong,” said the man. “It is San Hosay. In Cali fornia you should pronounce all J's as H’s. When were you there?” The woman thougth a minute, then answered, “In Hune and Huly.” START 1939 CHRISTMAS SAVINGS NOW AT CITIZENS SAVINGS AND LOAN CO. • 114 E. 4TH ST. DOUGLAS TALKS SLUM CLEARANCE PERSONNEL, EXPECTING CONGRESS TO PROVIDE FUNDS-LABOR SHOULD BE CONSIDERED ON THIS BODY Mayor Douglas, abed with a severe cold, was giving further thought to the selection of the five persons who will constitute Charlotte’s local Housing Authority to carry out plans for clearance of some of the city’s slums by the erection of law rental housing units. Municipal officials were not dis turbed by the report from Washing ton that all the present funds of the USHA have been allocated and none will be available until additional money is authorized by the Congress. It was explained that Charlotte’s authority will have months of pre liminary work to do before it will be ready to ask for a loan from the United States Housing Authority and belief was expressed that Congress will appropriate additional funds be fore Charlotte is ready to file an ap plication for a loan. Then, too, it wa* explained, con sideration will probably be given by the authority to a plan for carrying out the housing projects through pri vate capital. If this plan can be worked out, it will not be necessary to turn to the USHA for a loan. The City Council last Wednesday authorized the appointment of the five-man housing authority, after the Mayor’s committee had made a survey and reported a decided need for new low cost houses in Charlotte. The mayor is empowered by the State housing law to appoint the Authority, which will have staggered terms. Mayor Douglas, who has been suf fering with a severe cold for several days, did not appear at his office yesterday but he had previosly an nounced that he will give careful thought to the selection of the five members of the Authority. He has promised that he will name those who are free from political entanglements and who are outstanding in the com munity. He has indicated that the announcement of the personnel of the Authority will probably be made for next Sunday.—Observer, Sunday. N. CAROLINA WILL BE SCENE OF TEST FOR LEGALITY OF WAGE-HOUR LAW; FLAGRANT VIOLATION’ CHOSEN TEST WASHINGTON, Dec. 14.—North Carolina will be made the testing ground for the constitutionality of the wage-hour law, with a silk mill in volved, Administrator Elmer F. An drews revealed yesterday. Returning to Washington after an extended trip to the west coast, the wage-hour chieftain disclosed that a “flagrant violator” in North Carolina has been chosen for one of two initial prosecutions under the law, which will mark the first test of the entire statute’s legality. The second firm is in his home state of New York, Mr. Andrews stated. Action, leading toward the prose cution will be taken within “a matter of a few days,” Mr. Andrews said, serving notice that only a policy of active enforcement could make the law carry meaning. The first step in active enforcement, he indicated, must be to prove the constitutionality of the law. Although he declined at his press conference to give further details on the pending action beyond saying that the firm was “close to the textile in dustry,” it was later learned that the firm involved had a number of mills in North Carolina engaged in the pro cessing of silk. Declaring that the contemplated action dealt with a “typical case of flagrant violator,” a Wage-Hour ad ministration spokesman stated the concern was one which had moved from New York several years ago *t*o take advantage of lower wages m the South, but ownership still remained in New York.” The spokesman char acterized it as “one of the less de sirable types of companies.” GRANDMOTHER SPEAKS OUT I said to Grandmother, “Poor dear you! Your life was so hard, your pleasures so few.” But Grandmother spoke out sharp and quick, “You modern youngsters make me sick! “Your Granddad and I had our youth together, We tempted fate and dared the weather. “We built our house of the wood we cut— A house for us—to you a hut. “We turned our ground and we sowed our seed, And to our harvest shaped our need. “Food and clothing were coarse and rude, But we made our home and we raised our brood. The rains fell cold and the hot sun burned, But what we had we knew we’d earned. “And we knew more living in one week’s strife Than you will know all your easy life.” —Anne Abbot Dover, Spirit. PATRONIZE JOURNAL ADVERTISERS % fandh, - (OaaihjuiL. FUNERAL HOME Ambulance Service 900 Soatb Try on CHARLOTTE, N. C. Phona 4227 PITTSBURGH PLATE GLASS 00. 201 G. 6TH ST. CHARLOTTE, N. C.
The Charlotte Labor Journal and Dixie Farm News (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Dec. 15, 1938, edition 1
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