1 a
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VOL. VIII—No. 17
YOUR ADVISTISSMSMT IN THS JOUBNAl IS A
CHARLOTTE, N. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1939
JOURNAL AOVBRTISSM DMIIVI CONSIDERATION OF
TMB RBADBRR
12.00 Per Yew
Organization Committee of Central
Labor Union Makes Good Report;
Local Presidents, Secretaries Are
Asked To Attend the Next Meeting
The Charlotte Central Labor Union
held its regular Wednesday meeting
with many matters of interest coming
up for discussion. The Endy Broth
ers Carnival appearance is going on
as planned the week of September
25th through the 30th. Various spe
cial and regular committees report
ed, every one showing by their re
ports that they were active, produc
ing delegates.
The strike of the Teamsters and
Chauffeurs was dealt with at length
by the special committee appointed to
help. Various new organisations
also were reported formed and in
process of formation by the organiza
ziation committee. Another rapid
augmentation of delegates to the
CCLU seems to be in the offing.
One of the largest soon to affiliate
with the Charlotte Central Labor un
ion will be a branch of the Bricklay
ers, Hod Carriers, and Common La
borers union. This new union will
soon have a membership of several
hundred, it is said. The Teamsters
and Chauffeurs union also reported
much activity.
In connection with the organiza
tion dirve now under way the Central
Labor Union president, Henry A.
Stalls, last night issued a call for
all local union presidents and secre
taries to attend the Central Labor
Union meeting next Wednesday night
at 7:30 o’clock in Moose Hall, South
Tryon street, further to consolidate
plans for the organization campaign.
The delegates to the State Federa
tion of Labor convention made their
report.
Under reports of locals some very
favorable news was heard relative to
the numbers of new members being
received, as well as closed shop con
tracts being signed with new compa
nies, heretofore unaccustomed to deal
ings in collective bargaining.
The meeting adjourned after much
discussion of a private matter until
next Wednesday.
Investments from the United States
jin foreign countries at the end of 1937
were $4,759,000,000 in excess of for
eign investments in the United States.
(Department of Commerce).
Const and General
Laborers Union To
Get Charter Soon
A charter has been sent for from
Charlotte of the Consctruction and
General Laborers Union, and will be
installed within a week or ten days,
this new local starting off with
around 100 members. The final or
ganization meeting was held last Sat
urday, with a large attendance. John
S. Turner, representing Int. Hod Car
riers, Building and Common Laborers
Union of America, did the organiza
tion work. Mr. Turner has just in
stalled locals in Greensboro, Raleigh
and Wilmington, and has. orgamza
tions in su;te of formation in Greens
boro and Fayetteville. Not only for
his own organization has Brother
Turner done good work in North
Carolina, but for other labor units,
always being “subject to call” when
reeded.
I. T. U. Ladies’ Aux.
To Have Basket
Lunch Bryant Park
Sunday Afternoon
On Sunday afternoon, at 5 o’clock
the Ladies Auxiliary of Typographical
Union No. 838, are going to have a
basket luncheon at Bryant Park.
These events are given periodically by
the ladies in order to draw the fami
lies of the Typo boys into closer con
tact, and they are enjoyable affairs
indeed. The time is so arranged as
to give the boys on the night shifts,
a chance to be present. “Eats-a
plenty” is one of the outstanding fea
tures, as each family is supposed to
bring a well-filled basket and an
empty stomach. The boys can discuss
craft a w* enjoy fellowship, and the
ladies can “discuss” each other (and
the men). So get your basket ready
and your mind in a happy mood, for
this affair, as always is going to be
a most enjoyable one.)
The Comrades Moan Low These Days
American Communists are singing
mighty low these days.'
No longer do they split the welkin
with praises of Soviet Russia as de
fender of democracy, freedom and
Comrade Stalin has knocked the
props right out of the argument that
Soviet Russia is friend of democracy
and foe of Nazi-ism.
The Soviet-Nazi trade and non-ag
gression agreement did the trick and,
is taking a lot of brashness out of
Communists, here.
They try hard to defend the Soviet
Nazi pact but it is plain their hearts
are not in the job and that they are
finding the going very rough.
They could probably argue more
convincingly on the thesis that the
moon is made of green cheese.
• * *
Effect of the trade and non-aggres
sion agreement on American Commun
ists was shown at the annual parade
of the American League for Peace
and Democracy, a Communist “front
organization.” . ,
Parade was held in New York City,
•stronghold of the Stalinists.
Last year it said 15,000 to 20,000
marched. This year about 4,000 were
in line, the New York Times report*.
At a rally after the parade, speak
ers alternated between a defense of the
pact as a blow at Germany and Italy
and a confession that they were “con
fused” as to the ultimate significance.
Chances are they wont’ be long con
fused as to its meaning.
Rest of the world is not confused.
It knows the pact for what it is, a
blow at the democratic nations.
* * *
In all truth, the agreement must
have been a tremendous shock to the
Communist rank and file. Leaders may
not have been so jpuch surprised, as
they are fully aware of Comrade Sta
lins' capacity for duplicity.
In recent years the Communists
have based their tactics and whole
policy on the idea of an inevitable
war between Nazi Germany and So
viet Russia- , .
So they gave up their program of
revolution! for a time( and sought to
woo American favor with every device
of propaganda.
The aim was American support for
Russia in the event of war with Ger
many.
Former extremists measures and the
ultimate program of Communism were
played down and specific reform
measures advocated by the New Deal
and others were favored.
Democracy, the antithesis of Com
munism, was extolled to the skies.
Even support of the hitherto hated
church was sought.
♦ • *
Now comes Dictator Stalin shaking
hands with Dictator Hitler and prom
ising not to join any war on the Nazi.
Years of Communist effort to ap
pear devoted to democracy apparently
have been wasted effort, if Russia and
Germany are to become chums.
Sincere Communists must be exceed
ingly peeved.
“Here we have been acting like good
little boys, when we might have been
raising hell and bringing the revolu
tion," many must say.
No wonder they are “confused.”
• • •
So far, the Communists have been
doing a good job of making themselves
ridiculous by their defense of the
Soviet-Nazi pact.
The more they talk the weaker their
arguments appear.
Their labored explanations fail to
convince but add to the gaiety of
nations.
And any gaiety is welcome in this
time of world trouble.
WINGS OVER THE JUNGLE!;
TAmAN FINP5 A SOU
M-Q-M • Thriller with
Jafeny 1EISSMVLLEI
Maureen O’Sullivan
PLUS
Another suspense-filled chapter of
"Mandrake* The Magician” and Popeye Cartoon
TEXTILE ORGANIZATIONAL WORK
BEING DONE BY THE A. F. OF L
THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE SOUTH
TEXTILE UNION SIGNS GOOD m
AGREEMENT AT HARTSVILLE
HARTSVILLE, S. C.f 8ept. 11.—
An agreement was signed here last
week between the Hartsville Print and
Dye Works and LocaI Union No.
21948, A. F. of L. textile organisation.
The agreement contains many features
of benefit to the workers. There are
328 employes in this plant eligible to
membership in the Local Union, and
more than 300 of this number are
members of the Local in g^)od stand
ing. Gordon L. Chastain, tof the
Southern Cotton Textile Federation,
assisted the Local Union in the ne
gotiations.
PAY RISE ASKED'TO MEET
COST-OF-LIVING BOOSTS
WASHINGTON, D. C.—Boosted cost
of living will lead the United Textile
Workers of America, A. F. of L. af
filiate, to demand wage increases suf
ficient to liquidate the rising costs,
according to Francis J. Gorman, chair
man of the union’s executive council.
The textile manufacturers, Mr, Gor
man said, were getting higher prices
for their products and could advance
wages without decreasing dividends.
“The textile workers are not going
to be victimized by a general hike in
their living costs,” he declared.
FONTANA WORKERS TURN TO
THE AMERICAN FEDERATION
OF LABOR
FONTANA, N.C., Sept. 11.—Char
ter was installed here last week for
the newly organized American Fed
eration of Labor local union which is
made up of employes of the Tennessee
Copper company employed at the
North Carolina plant, These workers
have had a local union of the CIO
here, but voted unanimously some
time ago to disband that union and
organize an A. F. of L. local union.
Ed Long, A. F. of L. representative
who has done such splendid work id
the Copper Basin, installed the charter
and obligated the membership and
the officers. a
AGREEMENT SIGNED BY^UNlON
AND BIRMINGHAM LAUNDRY CO.
BIRMINGHAM, ALA., Sept, 11>~
An agreement was signed here last
week between the Ideal Laundry com
pany and Local 109, of the Laundry
Workers International Union. The
agreement runs for one year, and con
tains many clauses of great benefit
to the laundry workers. R. R. Moore,
former State Labor Commissioner of
Alabama, but now an organizer for
the American Federation of Labor,
assisted the Local Union’s officers and
committees in the negotiations.
CHARTER IS INSTALLED AT
WINSTON-SALEM FOR NEW
TEXTILE UNION
WINSTON-SALEM," N. C., Sept.
11.—Charter for the recently organ
ized A. F. of L. Textile Local Union,
formed by the employes of the Haynes
Knitting Mills here, was installed last
Week, and the new union started on
its way. Elmer Estes and Alfred
Jones, A. F. of L. organizers, assisted
the local membership in the installa
tion ceremonies, while the organiz
ing committee of the Central Labor
Union lent its aid throughout the or
ganization period and attended the
installation meeting.
A. F. L. UNION ASKS
TEXTILE STRIKE PRODE
WASHINGTON, D. C.—The Bane
Wool Company, Barre, Mass., was
charged with using terroristic prac
tices against tstrikers in a request
made by Francis J. Gorman, chairman
of the executive council of the United
Textile Workers of America, A. F. of
L. affiliate, in a request that the
Department of Justice and the Senate
Svil Liberties Committee investigate
e situation in Bare, where members
of the Textile Workers local employed
by the company have been on strike
for a number of weeks.
CHARTER INSTALLED FOR
LABOR UNION AT HOUMA. LA.’
HOUMA, La., Sept. 11.—Charter
for the newly organized local union
of Common and Construction on La
borers was installed here last week,
With W. L. Donnell, of the A. F. of
L, staff, acting as installing officer.
Holt Ross, Southern Representative
of the Common and Construction La
borers International Union, was to
have been here for the event, but was
called to another city, requesting Or
ganizer Donnell to act for him.
LABOR ORGANIZES LOCAL
UNION AT GREENSBORO, N. C.
GREENSBORO, N. C., Sept. 11.—
A local union of Common and Con
striction Laborers was organised
here, charter installed and officers
>named, since the convention of the
State Federation of Labor held in
Raleigh, August 14. John S. Turner,
of the Laborers’ International Union,
was here and assisted the workers in
perfecting their organization. Aid
ing also was the organizing committee
of the Central Labor Union, under di
rection of Vice-President Causey of
the State Federation of Labor.
There are 22,500 electrically wired
homes in the United States.
.- - - .- - -------
Facing' the Facts
With PHILIP PEARL
Propaganda and profit* are the
chief carriers of the most virulent
disease known to man—war. The dis
ease has broken out again in Europe
in epidemic proportions. Only twen
ty-two years ago the same thing hap
pened and this country was too
thoughtless to prevent its spread, so
we were hit too. Certainly we should
be enlightened enough by now to set
up a quarantine against the disease
and isolate it to the other side of the
Atlantic.
Already, however, the propaganda
machine is blasting away »t us and
American business is flirting with the
alluring charmer known as “Easy
Profits.” The United States is "on
the spot.” We are officially neutral
but powerful forces are at work to
involve us in the conflict sooner or
1# Remember that they told us that
we fought the last war to “make the
world safe for democracy?" Now they
are tolling us that the United States
can not afford to let democracy in
Europe be crushed under Hitler s
heel. We admit it is a persuasive ar
gument. An overwhelming majority
of Americans hate Hitler. They hate
everything he stands for. They fed
Hitler must be stopped. Therefore,
they sympathise deeply with Great
Britain and France. But, brothers,
and sisters. Great Britain and France
created Hitler. They are responsible
for his rise to power. If it had not
been for the selfish and short-sighted
“settlement” of the last war engineered
by England an dFrance, the German
people would never have been in the
mood to listen to a Hitler. Now it is
up to England and France to destroy
the hateful creature they created. It
is their job. We wish them luck. We
believe they can do it. But we are
not going to do their dirty work for
them again.
THl BOOM BOYS
We must also watch out for the
boom boys. They are at it again. And
they are very dangerous. Because to
a nation which has suffered from
business stagnation and unempoly
ment for so many years the prospect
of busy factories and regular pay
checks is a great temptation.
But we should remember what we
learned after the war. The Congres
sional hearings which exposed the
machinations of munitions makers
who foment war to make fat profits
opened our eyes. We should not close
them now to the facts. We’'have a
neutrality law now which forbids us
to sell munitions to any belligerent.
It is a good law for America. It is a
bad law for the munitions makers.
Suppose we change the law and sub
stitute a “cash-and-carry” law which
many well-meaning statesmen favor.
What will happen? Well, England
and France controlling the seas, will
send their ships here and buy arma
ment, planes and guns in huge
amounts. Business will boom. Labor
will benefit But suppose our cus
tomers, nevertheless, get the worst of
it in the war. Will we be able to stay
neutral and see our customers get
licked? Not a chance. The minute we
depend on any of the belligerents for
our domestic prosperity we are inex
tricably involved in the conflict our
selves and our actual entry into the
war is foredoomed.
Let us not be beguiled by high
pressure salesmanship to the effect
that we can benefit out of this war.
The everlasting truth is that war dis
eases and corrode? eyerything it
touches. America’s policy should be
to keep hands off the war and fingers
out of the war pie. \
STALIN'S ROLE
Only the short-sighted see in the war
situation merely the danger of a Hit
le rvictory. That would be terrible
enough. But watch out for Stalin.
The strategy behind the Stalin-Hitler
pact is now beginning to reveal itself.
The Soviet dictator is sitting on the
sidelines helping Hitler all he can
against the stronger combination of
the Allies. Why? Because he wants
« more equal struggle. He wants
Hitler and the Allies to fight each
other to a standstill and kill each
other off so he can march in and take
over the whole works. We don’t be
lieve it’s possible for Hitler to win
the war. But Stalin can by sitting
on the sidelines. And that is the real
threat in the European picture.
And what are our Commie friends
on this side of the Atlantic doing
about it? Are they repudiating
Stalin for entering into an alliance
with Nazism? Not a bit of it. Earl
Browder, head of the Communist
party in this country, declares from
the witness stand before the Dies
Teamsters Strike On Great Southern
Trucking Co. in Charlotte Is Still On;
Boys Are Still Standing Firm
H. L. McCrorie, organizer for the Teamsters and Chauffeurs,
Charlotte local, reports the strike of the drivers of the Great Sou
thern Trucking Co’s Charlotte branch as progressing along peace
ful lines, as far as the drivers are concerned. There has been two
meetings of the Labor Board looking into this affair. It is stated
that this company has violated the Wagner Labor Relations Act.
The only minor trouble that has occurred was caused by one of
the strike breakers. Drivers have been imported here from At
lanta, but all of the trucks are not moving.
The men are peacefully picketing the plant, 24 hours each
day, in three shifts. All evidence points to the fact that the boys
will win out on a Labor Board decision. The concern has ^
trouble with its drivers in other places, the main office of which
is in Jacksonville, Fla.
It is reported that L. A. Rawlinson, president of the Southern
Trucking Co., walked out on the Labor Board meeting Wednesday
afternoon, the State Labor board and the U. S. Department of
Labor, as well as representatives of the Teamsters Chauffeurs,
composing the Conference.
The teamsters are not striking for a closed shop or higher
wages, or shorter hours, but for the enforcement of the Federal
law.
The Teamsters and Chauffeurs local has been trying to get
a conference with Mr. Rawlinson for the past six months, to
adjust grievances, but ho has refused in every instance to meet
with his employes.
, It will be of interest to all union men to know that the Team
sters have signed up a closed shop agreement, with seniority
rights, with the Miller Motor Express Co., this agreement cover
ing all employes of the concern between Richmond and Atlanta.
This agreement was negotiated by Organizer H. L. McCrorie,
assisted by James H. Fullerton, and R. C. Weigel, of Wilmington
Teamsters local.
SWAT THE PROFITEER
Scenting blood on the European front, as the buzzard scents car
rion, the profiteer is on the loose in this good old U. S. A.
“Sugar up 75 cents s hundred.”
“Hogs Spurt as War Gets Under Way.”
“Flour Takes Rise As War News Rolls lit” j
These are some1 of the headlines that show what follows in the
wake of war—profiteering.
The horrors of war are enough for even a peaceful nation to
endure. To subject our people to the further necessity of combatting
the Profiteer is inexcusable.
America is in no mood to create another 21,000 millionaires, as it
did in the World War.
America has learned much since the bloody days of 1917-lt, and
will not endure the high-handed abuses of that disgraceful itsbsda of
profiteering and harassment by malefactors of wealth.
America is going to stay out of this war—and American greed had
better take warning that profiteering will not be tolerated.
Congress will be called in special session in a few days and the
Neutrality Act will be revised to provide “cash-carry” trading with
the other nations.
We are not likely to trade with Germany, for Hitler has no money
nor ships to come for our goods. And he can’t haul war supplies in
gall, nor pay for them with brass.
We’ll sell England and France all the supplies they want. They
have the money to pay for them and they have the ships to haul them
in.
But we have enough for alL Just because warring nations wQl
pay a premium for supplies is no reason for us to tolerate the
Profiteer.
Charge France and England a higher price if you can drive that
sort of a bargain—but prices to Americans who help produce these
wanted commodities must be held within reason.
AMERICA IS IN NO HUMOR TO STAND FOR A NEW FLOCK
OF WAR-MADE MILLIONAIRES, AND THE PROFITEER WILL
SOON FIND THAT OUT.
This must be a war of reason; of saneness, of humility that the
World must go through with it.
There is no place in this country—and never will be again for that
detestable worm, the PROFITEER!—Jim Trent in Knoxville Labor
News.
FIVE MILLION HUNGRY
MOUTHS TO^E FILLED
Uncle Sam is going to set up a
larger table for undernourished
school children. During the last
year the Surplus Commodities
Corporation has been supplying
food for 800,000 daily lunches in
14,000 schools, but announced that
the program will be enlarged to
take ^are of 5,000,000 hungry
mouths.
Committee that Criticism of the Nazi
Soviet pact by a party member con
stitutes grounds for expulsion from
the party. The squirming Soviet
agent gave a fine exhibition of Jonah
swallowing the whale when he tried
to justify the pact.
In the light of Comrade Browder’s
testimony, is it not significant that
not a single C. I. O. orator on Labor
Day saw fit ot condemn the Soviet
Nazi pact? On the other hand, let us
see what President Green had to say
about it. He declared:
“The American Federation of Labor
has ever been against them all—Naz
ism, Fascism and Communism. Now
we spe them united. We see Hitler
and Stalin in an unholy alliance and
Italy, through Mussolini, a co-part
ner with Hitler.”
Enough said.
i
N. C. Listed 11,076
Released “Reliefers”
Can Now Get Back
On Gov’t Payroll
ATLANTA, Sept. 13. — Maleohh
Miller, southern regional director of
the Work Projects administration, said
Tuesday relief workers dropped re
cently from WPA rolls because of 18
months’ continuous service could ap
ply immediately for certification.
The rule requires a minimum 30
day furlough for any person except
a war veteran who has been continu
ously employed by WPA for 18
months. Recertification of a client,
Miller explained, could place the per
son on the eligible list for assignment
after 30 days. He added, however:
“The chances are there would not
be much opportunity for him to get
back (on the pay roll) at once. We
always have a waiting list, and if
5,000 persons are dropped because of
the 18-months’ clause an equal num
ber are put on from the eligible list.
Henec a recertified worker would have
to wait his turn.”
Miller said a total of 97,021 per
sons were dropped through August 31
under the 18-months’ clause in seven
southeastern states. He listed these
as Alabama, 15,042; Florida, 13,600;
Georgia, 15,159; Kentucky, 24,257;
North Carolina', 11,076; South Caro
lina, 10,395; and Tennessee, 7,592.
SEND IN NEWS
I
Every onion in the dty should hove t press correspondent.
You went news of your onions to sppesr in yoor paper.
Then get busy and see that some one is especially appointed to Mai
it in.
And see that it reaches the office on tine, for every paper has a
closing tinM.
All news most be in the office not later than S o’clock Tosedsy evening. 1
if it is to appear in oar next issue.