Newspapers / The Charlotte Labor Journal … / Dec. 7, 1939, edition 1 / Page 1
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J* »Stem m Bulat Bases Ot USSSBL mww. Truthful, Honest, Impartial Endorsed by the N. C. State Federa tlon of Labor VOL. VII_No. 29. roum aovisticimint in Th« journal is a Oood INVaTMNT AND DIXIE FARM NEWS Endeavoring to Serve the Masses $2.00 Pw Tmt CHARLOTTE, N. C„ THURSDAY, DECEMBER, 7, 1039 ATTY.-GEN. MURPHY REJECTS A.F.L CONTENTION THAT LABOR GROUPS ARE NOT UNDER ANTITRUST LAWS WASHINGTON, Dec. 3.—Attor ney General Frank Murphy yesterday rejected the American Federation of Labor’s contention that unions were exempt from the anti-trust laws, and declined to interfere with the present anti-trust inquiry into the building industry. In a letter to President William Green of the A. F. of L., who had protested against indictment of unions an dashed for a “frank statement” of policy, the Attorney General said that the Supreme Court had ruled in several decisions that the anti-trust laws applied to the activities of labor organizations and their members. “In the Chicago milk case now pend ing in the Supreme Court,” the let ter added, “your general counsel, Mr. Joseph Padway, conceded this to he true and frankly asked the Supreme Court to overrule its former holdings. “In the enforcement of criminal statutes it is the practice of the de partment to follow the construction f laced on them by the Supreme Court, n doing so in this instance, the anti trust division has followed the usual practice, and 1 would not be justified in interfering with that course.” Murphy told Green, however, that he was “very glad to have the bene fit of your views,” and would be pleas ed to discuss the matter further with him ,or receive any written statement which the A. F. L. chief believed “might be helpful to the department.” Since the nation-wide building in quiry was begun in October, indict ments have been returned in five cities, adn in four of these, labor unions or members have bene charged with vio lating the Sherman anti-trust act. The first indictment was returned in Washington October lg*against a teamsters' union and five officers. Subsequently, union officials were in dicted in Pittsburgh, St. Louis, and Cleveland, i Green wrote the Attorney General asking if a statement of views of Thurman Arnold, assistant attorney general in charge of anti-trust divi sion, represented departizent policy. If so, Green said, it was “a grave perversion of the law” and repeated an A. F. L. contention that the'Clayton act served to “completely exempt” la bor unions from anti-trust prosecu tions. Arnold had stated that the depart ment recognized labor's rights but contended that unions were liable to prosecution if they engaged in re straints of commerce not concerned with legitimate objectives such as wages, hours, safety, health, undue speeding up, of the right of collective bargaining. . mwmmmwmm CAN LABOR GET TOGETHER? BY CHARLES STELZLE Organised Labor in this country is today stronger numerically than at any time in its history, the combined membership of the A. F. of L. and the C. I.-0. alone numbering about 8, 000,000. But with this growth have naturally come new problems, both in industry, and in the labor movement itself, the solution of which requires statesmanship of a high order. These recently created problems will become the increasing complex, in part, to mod ern methods of production pnd button,*'the exchange of commodities between different countries, improved standards of living, and new forms of organization. There is no patent method or for mula which can guide us surely and accurately in their solution. But of this we may be sure—whatever the method that may be applied, it will require the co-operation of all the va rious groups concerned. Industry, , Labor and the Public. If any one of these groups fails to function fairly and adequately, the entire plan will go limping along, thus, thus halting the progress of all concerned. And, nat urally, there must be unity in the pro gram of each of these representative groups. The failure of Labor in this respect is generally admitted. Everybody, from the President of the United States down to the humblest worker whose job is imperilled by Labor’s controversy, is asking the question: “Why can't Labor get together?” It is not our purpose just now to answer this question. The fact is, Labor it self knows full well why there are di visions in its ranks. But—and here’s the question which should be asked the critics—why pick on Labor be cause it can’t agree at once on what should be done? There are other groups in this country which have long been at sword’s points. Why haven’t they gotten together? For example, why don’t the churches get together? Most of the various denominations have a common pur pose and a fairly common program. But Methodists, Baptists, Luther ans, Presbyterians, and other major religious bodies in this country have ARMAN D J. DUMAS Funeral services for Armand J. Dumas, 36, who was found dead Fri day afternoon in his home, 630 West Seventh street, were conducted Mon day afternoon at 3 o’clock at the home and burial was in Elmwood cemetery. The services were conducted by Rev. Ben Harrup, pastor of St. Paul’s Pres byterian church, of which Mr. Dumas was a member. Surviving are the widow; three children, Amelia Dumas; Sarah Dumas and Edward Dumas; and four sisters, Mrs. L. L. Rowe, of New York State; Mrs. E. J. Blanch ard, of Malone, N. Y.; Mrs. Joseph Blair, of Holyoke, Mass., and Mris. Eva Connors, of Lake Placid, N. Y. Pallbearers at the services Monday were R. D. Kimbrel, F. B. Hooper, R. B. Williamson, J. W. Campbell, M. G. Dellinger, and J. Leek Housto.n Hon orary pallbearers were G. R. Rivers, Paul E. Dellinger, M. T. Skeen, J. P. Vest, S. W. Puckett, Roscoe Rouglas, J. F. Page, H. L. Kiser, Frank Barr, Jim Pamsh, W. I. Green, W. A. Neal, W. M. Witter, E. T. Beatty, Dewey Farris and F. G. Campbell. George Ade .author, was once ask ed if he had not often been mistaken for a minister of the Gospel, because of his homely dress. “No, he retort ed, “but I have been treated like one, when they made ms wait six weeks for my pay.” not only been separated from each other but divided among themselves for scores of years—some of them for nearly a century. Why don’t the various political par ties which insist that htey are deeply concerned about the social and eco nomic welfare of the whole people agree even in their party ranks upon a common program and actively put it across? Why should the whole world be tprn to pieces just now because of the fear of war between nations whose statesmen loudly profess their interest to be solely in the welfare of humanity as a whole? And no matter who should be the spokesman for these or any other group, the whole truth would scarce ly be told. Why expect Labor to pub licly confess its faults and take its chances on getting a square deal? This is no apology for Labor in the present situation. But Labor is no different from any other group trying to work out its own problems in its own way. In the last analysis, getting to gether is largely a question of lead ership. Whether it be in the Church, politics, international relations, or labor, it usually depends on some one man. Anyway, there’s where it starts As far as labor is concerned just now —theres’ a great opportunity for some one man in every community or local Labor body or national organization to step up boldly and make the fight for unity, even though he himself may | take a pretty good licking—and from his own crowd. In Making Your Christmas Gift List Keep JOURNAL Advertisers In Mind Charlotte Stores Set Yuledde Hours, Starting Dec. 14 and 18—Laws That Apply To Merchants Summarized Member firms of the Charlotte Merchants Association will begin Dec. 14 or 18 to remain open until later hours daily to accommodate the ex pected late rush of pre-Christmas shopping, according to an announce ment by V. P. Rousseau, secretary. The schedule of longer shopping hours was given by him, as follows: Variety stores, Dec. 14-16, both in clusive, open until 7:30 P. M. All stores, Dec. 18-23, both inclusive, open until 8:30 P. M Until those starting dates for the longer daily hours, all stores will con tinue to operate on regular sched ules, it was explained. Retail stores employing more than eight persons are subject to the North Carolina labor laws, but Federal labor laws do. not apply to the establish ments, except as concerning whole sale business, the secretary explained. Provisions of the North Carolina laws applicable to working hours for retail employes were summarized by Mr. Rousseau, as follows: Female employes over eighteen years of age are permitted to work ton hours daily—60 hours per week—for the week immediately preceding Christmas; that is, from Dec. 18 to Dec. 24, both inclusive, and two pe riods of one week each during the year for the purpoau of taking inventory. At all other times, the hours of such employes are limited to nine hours a day or 48 hours a week. All male clerks in mercantile es tablishments are exempt from the provisions of the law and their hours of work are unrestricted. Male clerks aer those who devote 60 per cent of their time to the sale of merchandise, it was pointed out. Facing' the Facts With PHILIP PEARL Is the political color scheme of the C. I. O. Red or just merely Pink? Let’s take a look. First we will turn the magnifying glass on John Brophy. Is Mr. Brophy a Communist? He denies it. But when John L. Lewis inaugurated an alleged Red-purge in the C. I. O. a month ago, Mr. Brophy headed the list of purgees. He was demoted from Na tional Director of the C. I. O. to Direc tor of local industrial unions. Just what did this mean? Nothing. For only a couple of weeks later Mr. Brophy was sent by Mr. Lewis to at tend the convention of the C. I. O. s New York State body. And Mr. Brophy’s address to tne convention was reported in the New York Times as follows: _ . _ . J “Earlier in the day John Brophyj * * * advised against any efforts td discriminate against Communists .im the C. I. O.” Second of the purgees was Harry Bridges. He was demoted by Lewis from the job of West Coast Director of the C. I. O. and his sphere re stricted henceforth to the State of California. But the C. I. O. has scarce any members on the West Coast ex cept in California. So what does that purge mean? Is Mr. Bridges a Com munist? He denies it.' . Is Joe Curran, head of the C. I. O.'s National Maritime Union, a Commun ist? He denies it. But he can’t deny the fact that the Communist Party controls and dominates his union. Mr. Curran was not disturbed in the purge. Is Michael Quill, head of the C. I. O.’s Transport Workers Union, a Communist? He denies it. But Mr. Quill refused to denounce the Hitler Stalin pact. And for that reason the American Labor Party, political arm of the C. I. O. in New York City, re fused to indorse Mr. Quill for re election to the city council. Mr. Quill was defeated. But Mr. Quill was not disturbed in the Lewis “purge.” - BIGHT IN HKADQUABTBB8 We could go on listing high C. I. O. officials, whose political color-scheme is questionable, beyond the space limi tations of this column, but now we want, to take a trip backstairs into C. I. O. headquarters and see what goes on there right under Mr. Lewis’ nose. The C. I. O.’s dictator’s closest ad versers are Lee Pressman, his counsel, and Den DeCau^feditor of the C. I. O. publications. r Both have been branded as fellow-travelers in numer ours recent articles but have not taken the trouble to affirm or deny the ac cusation. There is more concrete evi dence along the same lines. Some weeks ago Mr. Louis Stark, veteran labor reporter for the New York Times, published a story to the effect that Sidney Hillman and Phil Murray, both C. I. 0. vice-presidents, were en raged at Pressman and DeCaux. Mr. iStark said Hitttsanjwd Mocny.ac cused Pressman andDeCaux of edit ing out references to Communism from official C. I. O. statements. The in ference was that these two C. I. 0. leaders suspected their subordinates of trying to shield Communism by subterfuge from C. I. 0. criticism. That would seem to look bad for Messrs. Pressman and DeCaux. But was anything ever done about them? Were they purged? They are still operating at the same old stand and, for all we know, playing the same old game. On the other hand, the attitude taken by Messrs Hillman and Murray would seem to look well for them. After all, if they opposed the alleged pro Communist censorship practiced by Pressman and DeCaux, then that f would mean they opposed Commun ism. Maybe. The facts are that Hil-1 man and Murray had ample opportu nities to denounce Communism at the C .1. 0. convention but both were mum on the subject HUM’S THX WORD Why is the C. I. 0. so touchy on the subject of Communism? If that or PRESIDENT STALLS APPOINTS COMMITTEES FOR CENTRAL LABOR UNION FOR 1939-1940 L ' -- -- . The following committese have been appointed by President Henry A. Stalls, to serve Central Labor Union the ehsuing year, and while not com plete, it is asked that members will dip the list and keep it as a matter of record. Each chairman h— been fur nished with a list for each member. Keep your slip and be sure that the call of the chairman is complied with. CENTRAL LABOR UNION COMMITTEES 1939-1940 Executive—H. A. Stalls, W. M. Wit ter, Wa*. Greene, J. M. Brad burn, D. L. Funderburke. AUDITIING—C. G. Campbell, E. M. Morgan, J. Scoggins. EDUCATIONAL * LABEL—J. A. Moore, S. F. Black welder, Wa. S Greene. c* ®g A,Lf SECURITY - (Special J- P. Gallant, T. B. Cline, A. R. Cathey. LEGISLATIVE-J. M. Bradbur* D. L. Funderburke, L. R. McEliece. HOUSING AUTHORITY— (Spedal asrri. -• *■ * PRESS AND PUBLICITY—H. A. Stalls, W. M. Witter, W. S. Greene. INVESTIGATING—L. R. MeEbeee, W. B. Pope, R. E. Deese. LAWS—W. M. Witter, F, G. Camp bell, E. M. Morgan. BUILDING—J. A. Moore, L. R. Me Eliece, H. M. Sykes. ORGANIZATION—T. L. Condor, H. L. Kiser. F. G. Campbell, H. L. McCrorie, H. P. Walker. RELIEF AND GRIEVANCE—H. P. Walker, C. E. McGinnis, A. R. Cathey, H. L. Kiser, J. A. Mom. CHAPLAIN—Ernest Morgan. TRUSTEES—(Elective) 8. F. Blackwelder, E. M. Morgan, J. EL Scoggins. DELEGATE A. F. L.—H. L. Kiser. DELEGATES AND ALTERNATES STATE FEDERATION—J. A. Moore, F. G. Campbell; Alternate, D. L Funderbnrke. OFFICERS—H. A. Stella, Presi dent; W. M. Witter, Vice-President; Wm. S. Greene, Secretary-Treasnrer; C. E. McGinnis, Sergeant-at-Arma. GOOD WILL VISITING COMMIT TEE—W. S. Campbell, H. L. Kiser, J. T. Matthews. . CREDENTIALS—C. E. McGinnis, J. M. Butler, J. T. Matthews. UNION BARBER SHOPS IN CHARLOTTE DISPLAYING LABEL The following barber shops in Charlotte are 100 per cent. Union men are asked to keep these shops in when services in their line are needed: Collier, 506 S. Tryon Mosses, 527 W. Trade Court Arcade, 529 E. Trade Mingus, 323 E. Trade City, 219 W. Trade Broadway, 108 S. Church North Tryon, 315 N. Tryon _ iokason Bldg., 214 S. Tryon Toccis, 1025 N. Davidson St. Thomas’, 1030 N. Pegram Father Coughlin Calls For Revision Of Labor Laws Asks Moral Law DETROIT, Dec. 4.—The Rev. Chas. E. Coughlin yesterday urged in a broadcast speech that existing labor legislation be subjected to an immedi ate revision in which a code of unfair practices for labor would be written. “The time has come to perfect ex isting labor legislation,” the Royal Oak (Mich.) priest said. “We must save sill that has been gained for labor. We must protect labor in its every right—the right to organize, to bar gain collectively, to strike.” “But we must also draft new legis lation, he asserted. “For the time has come to write upon upon the statute books of the United States a code of unfair practices for labor paralleling the code we have already written for industry. Commenting on settlement of the prolonged Chrysler corporation dis ganization is free of the Red taint, why doesn’t it say so. Surely the C I .0. is not articulate. Their spokes men may be mum about Communism but they certainly do not pull their punches in hysterical condemnation of anyoen who accuses the C. I. O. of being linked with Communism. The proverb says there are none so blind as those who will not see. In this case—C. I. O. and Communism— there are none so blind as the color blind. The C. I. O. attitude, from what we can gather, is that it is color-blind. It cannot distinguish one political color from another. Espe cially, it cannot see Red. Once upon a time the same afflk. tion affected that segment of our pop ulation known as radicals or Pinks. The Pinks could not see Red. They freely expressed their sympathy with that “noble experiment,” the Soviet Revolution. You might ask how they felt about mass assassinations. You might ask how they regarded sup pression of civil liberties in Soviet Russia. They winced but they waved it away. Quickly and glibly they came up with the excuses, the sum total of which amounted to the plea that the end justifies the means. But now all that has changed. The Pinks are seeing red just as the rest of us are. They might stomach Stalin but they can’t take Hitler. And it has become obvious now even to the color blind that 8talin and Hitler are in the same boat and fellow-traveling in the same direction toward the same goal. Of course, it is only a question of time until one or the other starts rocking the boat and gets tossed out. But the phony idealism of Stalinism has been exposed. If the Pinks can see this surely the C. I. 0. should be abel to. If the Pinks «n see Red why can’t the C. L O.T Because the C. L 0 .is Red. The Reds never can see Red. pute in which an estimated 150 000 men were idle, Coughlin saiT‘happy„ I am to see the industrial warfare tem porarily ended, I can find no victory man.eit*,er Chrysler or workii^ „,^°ince “ore I reiterate, he Awiatyd that until the principles Ofnmj noli e t?pu1,ed to th« told Ofeco nomics which we call capital and hu bor, there will be no lasting or just peace in industry. B JU4t —DONTS Safety Is Watchword * j * For a Merry Christmas . Here are a few "don’ts” ter! Christmas, recommended by safety I authorities: 1 1. Don’t give small children toys involving alcohol, kerosene or geao-' line engines. They may tip over end set the house on fire. , 1 Don’t permit small children to' run electrical toys without the Su pervision of an adult. 3. Don’t permit small children fe use toy movie projectors without us ing safety film which burns slowly. Ordinary film burns explosively and gives off smoke and fumes which may* cause death if inhaled. 4. Don’t use candles or light ex tra fires without being extremely careful, especially in regard to can dles on trees. 5. Don’t wear inflammable cos tumes, especially Santa Claus beards, without fireproofing ft*m. 6. Don’t use inflammable orna ments and evergreen decorations. Superstitious Villagers Fear Year of Bad Luck If Candles Die on Tree LONDON.—Early Christmas tra ditions still endure among Yule celebrants. No Christmas tree la considered complete in rural areas unless it is bedecked with little candles at dif ferent colors. Many people count II an ill sign if once lit the candles go out or are snuffed out before they have burned to their ends. In old days the candle was made such a size that It would burn from the time it Was lit until midnight If it went out before that cell eras portended to the family for the com ing year. The Yule log, which many hold should be lit by a brandy preserved from the previous year's stock, should be blown into a blaze by the maids, but these must have clean faces and hands or the log will not light easily. In the north of Eng land it was once customary to let the servants have free drink so long as the log burned. Patronize Journal AdTH-tfeen
The Charlotte Labor Journal and Dixie Farm News (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Dec. 7, 1939, edition 1
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