Tha ONLY REALLY INDEPENDENT WEEKLY in Mecklenborg County
For a Wfeekfr lU
nmrmmt tkm LARGEST BUYING POWW to
Official Organ Central
Labor L’nioal i
the A. F. of L.
Clip Charlotte labor Journal
tisera. They Make YOU*
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AND DIXIE FARM NEWS
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VOL. IX—No. 36
YOU* AOVMTMIMIHT IN TMI JOUHMAL !■ A
IMVtSTMaT
CHARLOTTE, N. C„ THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1940
$2.00 Par Y
CIT if-COUNTY EMPLOYES HAVE OPEN
MEETING TO PUBLIC—f. A. WILSON
AND OTHERS MAKE SHORT TALKS
' On Monday night at the hall over
Covington’s store on Pegram street
the City and County Employees local
and State Highway Workers held an
open meeting and barbecue supper
which was well attended and snort
talks were made by invited guests,
among them being Councilmen John
Ward, W. N. Hovis, Roy Hudson,
City Attorney Jeff Scarborogh,
City Tax Collector Jim Armstrong,
W. S. Campbell, of Charlotte Post
office Clerks, vice-president of the
North Carolina State Federation of
Labor; J. A. Moore, a member of the
machinists’ union; and O. C. Fogus,
superintendent of the ctiy motor
transportation unit.
L). G. Kiser, president of the City
Employes Union, presided.
The principal address by T. A. Wil
son, of Raleigh, chairman of the
Workmen’s Compensation Commis
sion, speaking on what can be done to
help civil employes, Mr. Wilson
stressed the need for introducing the
merit system for state, county and
municipal employes.
“No real headway or reforms can
be effected until the merit system has
been introduced in this state as it has
in 13 other states,” Mr. Wilson said.
“We are approaching the day,” he
said, “when all states will adopt civil
service.”
I He traced the development of the
I spoils system under Andrew Jackson
to its present form and pointed out
how many at its evils could be avoid
ed by the introduction of the merit
system. He praised the fact that
North Carolina has for the last 40
years enjoyed government virtually
free from the spoils system, but warn
ed that unless steps were taken to
introduce civil service in the state
government, it was still highly pos
sible for the spoils system to creep in.
He commended the local members
for the fine work they were doing in
getting firemen and police here under
civil service and expressed the hope
that it would not be long until all
city and county employes were under
civil service.
Mr. Wilson was introduced by
George Kendall, of the Machinists
local.
City Employes local, No. 242,
sponsored the affair, which is a part
of the program Central Labor Union
is putting on to promote organization
and to strengthen locals as to mem
bership. D. G. Kiser, president of the
City Employes Union, acted as mas
ter of ceremonies and introduced the
various speakers, and to him much
credit is due for the success of the
[ meeting, which was enjoyed by all.
Tobin Demands
Labor Peace In
Name of Teamsters
President Daniel J. Tobin, of the In
ternational Brotherhood of Team
sters, largest affiliate of the Amer
ican Federation of Labor, tossed a
bombshell into the labor world this
week by calling upon the “rank and
file everywhere" to “rise up" and de
mand peace between the AFL and
His proposal was carried as a
signed editorial in the Teamsters’
magazine, and, coupled with it, Tobin
declared that “less than a dozen men
on both sides are responsible for the
drvisi^i. or >s,«.jO,COO worker*."
Tobin’s statement astonished AFL
leaders, who criticized his suggestions
and declared the record plainly show
«1 blame for the split lay with the
CIO. On the CIO side, all inquiries
were referred to John L. Lewis, who
declined comment.
Motorman and i roiiey
Get Lost in Cincinnati
CINCINNATI. - For 27 years
Thomas Widaman, a motorman, has
been piloting street cars from down
town Cincinnati to Madisonville, a
suburb 10 miles out. Today he got
lost. A traffic tie-up forced him to
go straight ahead when he should
hav* made a turn. With no way
to turn around, he discharged his
passengers and kept on until he
reached College Hill, another sub
urb five miles out.
It was strange territory to him.
He met another motorman who told
him of a short cut back to town.
Before he got back a company in
spector located him. The inspector
said the company had instructed
him to watch for a stray street
car and lost motorman. The inspec
tor helped Widaman fird his way
back.
Scot Hen Kills Mice
EDINBURGH. — Alyth boas is it
has the only mice-killing hen in Scot
land. Two men were preparing
ground for storing crops when a
mottle appeared. It was immedi
ately attacked by the hen. which
worm ’ the rodent until it died.
Latar < aother mouse appeared and
the httn repealed the killing.
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Information As To
Labor Calls
FOR CENTRAL LABOR UNION,
call Wm. S. Greene, Secretary,
229 S. Try on Street. Phone
3-1459.
FOR BUILDING TRADES HALL,
call 9140; 113% S. College Street.
CHARLOTTE LABOR JOURNAL,
call 3-3094; 302 S. College Street.
CENTRAL LABOR UNION meets
in Pythian Halt, Piedmont Build
ing, 218 S. Try on Street every
Wednesday night at 7:30. H. A.
Stalk, president.
BUILDING TRADES COUNCIL
meets every Friday night at
113% S. College Street, at 7:30
P. M. H. L. Kiser, Business
Agent.
FOR TEAMSTERS AND CHAUF
FEURS LOCAL NO. 71, call
3-5601; office. Builders Bldg.,
Room 126; H. L. McCrorie, Busi
ness Agent, home phone, 3-6388.
Parking Meter
Racket Ghost
Again Bobs Up
Strong disapproval to the meter
system of parking control was voiced
Tuesday by Carolina Motor Club of
ficials who branded it a “cheap, chis
eling, nickel-snatching racket design
ed to place an unfair additional tax
on motorists.”
“The parking meter plan is simply
a revenue-raising idea, rich with lav
ish profits for meter promoters, and
productive of huge sums in new tax
money at the expense of the motoring
public,” said Frank D. Miller, man
ager of the club’s local branch. “No
soluf :.o -a the parking problem, the
meter system is merely an attempt to
substitute mechanical coveralls for
police inefficiency.”
The Motor Club’s statement on the
matter was provoked by a story in
Sunday’s Observer revealing that city
councilmen were considering installa
tion of meters locally following “suc
cess of the system in Raleigh.”—Ob
server.
(This bobbed up once before, and
seemed likely to go over, but some
“sympathetic” councilman at that time
“switched swiftly” and it was “defer
red Ed.)
Lo She’s Suing Her Agent
To Break Her Contract
NEW YORK. - Lissom Lucille
Wilds, honey-haired model, whose
pretty face and figure have been
seen on many a magazine cover, is
suing her agent, Walter Thornton,
for the right to get married without
paying a $10,000 penalty.
But Thornton insists he won't per
mit her to get married to Bill Kent
of Brooklyn, also a model, unless
she pays off. He explained:
“I spent 2V4 years building her
up, and I’m not going to lose that
time and money.”
Lucille’s mother, Mrs. Alma
Wilds, signed a six-year contract
containing a marriage • penalty
clause with Thornton in 1937, and
the model ratified it when she be
came of age.
Her attorney contends such a
clause is “aoainst public policy.”
Thornton insists:
“She is the tops in my 10 years
as an agent for models end I will
oppose any action to ’>fy the
clause ”
IF YOUR SUBSCRIPTION
IS IN ARREARS
SEND IN A CHECK
CENTRAL BODY OBLIGATES DELE
GATES; “OFF-THE-STREETS” SKATING
AREA PROG’M GIVEN RIGHT-OF-WAY
The meeting last night of the Char*
lotte Central Labor Union warn well
attended and much busmen trans
acted. After the regular routine was
gone through four delegates obligated,
and reports of locals made, the meet
ing was turned over to the Off-the
Streets Skating Area program, which
the body is sponsoring, and Chair
man J. A. Moore of the steering com
mittee made an exhaustive report of
the plans for the campaign and of
progress already made in advance ac
tivities, outlining the work in hand
and asking the wholehearted co-opera
tion of every local affiliated with the
A. F. of L. in Charlotte.
The campaign is set for a period of
15 days, but wiU last longer if neces
sary, to put the project over. Assur
ance of co-operation and good will is
being received by the committees
from many sources.
On Saturday at 2 p.m. a meeting of
all committees is scheduled to be held
at the County Court House, Commis
sioners room, and all members of la
bor organizations are invited to be
present. Progress made will be re
ported and further plans discussed.
This undertaking is one that should
vitally interest every citizen of Char
lotte, as it means the saving of lives,
and preventing maiming for life, or
other injuries to our children.
DIES COMMITTEE GETS A NEW LEASE
ON LIFE WITH $75,000.00 ADDITIONAL
APPROPRIATED-A. F. L. APPROVES
Washington, D. C.—The nearly
unanimous vote of the House of Rep
resentatives in extending for one year
the life of the. Special House Com
mittee to Investigate Un-American
Activities, and the appropriation of
$75,000 more for the work of the com
mittee, followed a letter sent to mem
bers of the House of Representatives
and the Senate by President William
Green of the American Federation of
Labor.
“The convention of the American
Federation of Labor which was held
at Cincinnati, Ohio, recently,” Mr.
Green said, “expressed approval of
the work which the Dies Congres
sional Committee has performed and'
of its continuation of the investiga
tion which it is making into the ac
tivities of subversive group within the
United States. '
“In conformity with this action
taken by the highest authority within
the American Federation of Labor,
1 am officially requesting that you
support such proposals as may be sub
mitted to Congress, providing for the
continuation of the Dies Committee
and of.an appropriation sufficient tat
enable it to carry on its investiga
tions.
“I cannot conceive of anyone, other
than those who may be exposed
through association with communist
organizations, and communist front
organizations, objecting to a thorough
investigation into the activities of sub
versive forces within our social or
Committee.
“Those who have no sympathy with
these un-American groups, these sub
versive forces within ou rsocial or
der, who are constantly seeking to
change our form of government and
to promote revolution, can with per
feet propriety give wholehearted sup
port to the work of the Dies Com
mittee, and to the investigation it has
made and which it can continue to
make.
“The people of our country are en
titled to know the truth. We of the
American Federation of Labor want
them to know the facts. We want
those who are undermining our form
of government and those who are en
gaged in subversive activities to be
exposed.
“Ridicule, denunciation and sar
casm, all directed toward the Dies
Committee by those who seek to sup
press its activities and prevent it from
carrying on its important work, can
only be looked upon with suspicion.
We cannot permit those who engage
in such tactics to prevent a thorough
investigation and a public exposure
of the actions and of the activities
of individuals and groups who are en
gaged in un-American activities, and
who aer seeking either directly or
indirectly the overthrow of our gov
ernment.
“The preservation of freedom and
4emocracy is a matter of vital concern
to those who believe in our4nrm
of government. We can protect our
selves if we know who and what it is
that is undermining and attacking
our government structure. Those who
are with us need not fear, those who
are against us ought to be exposed.
The Dies Committee is rendering a
great public service. It should be con
tinued until its investigation is com
pleted.
“I urge you to support the Dies
Committee. I appeal to you to vote
for an appropriation which will ade
quately equip the Dies Committee to
I complete the excellent, splendid work
I which it has thus far carried on.”
Tlief Admits Thievery
But Insists He’s No Liar
MONTREAL.—Insisting that ha
was a *obber, not a liar, Sylvio
Gaumont, 21, was given the benefit
of the doubt by Judge Tetreau in
criminal court here.
He was found guilty of robbery
with threats of violence, but a men
tal examination was ordered when
testimony showed that he was either
very daring or mentally deficient.
He held up a restaurant in which he
was well known and easily recogniz
able.
Pressing an emphatic claim to
truthfulness, Gaumont pleaded
guilty to a charge of simple rob
bery instead of armed robbery and
to the theft of $30 rather than $86.
Two women clerks in the restau
rant had accused him of holding
them up with a gun and stealing
$86. They swore that he held his
hand in his pocket as he forced
them to hand over the money.
Gaumont swore he had no gun
and added:
“Listen, Judge, I’m a truthful guy.
I’ll piead guilty to the rap. But
please let’s have this straight All
I took was $30.’’
Paint used in the United States
every year would cover a fence 600
feet high encircling the earth.
Jdaho Ghost Town
Loses Post Office
CAMAS, IDAHO.—Ghosts don’t
receive mail, so the United States
government has ordered closing
of the post office in Camas—one
of Idaho’s “wide open’’ towns of
the early West.
The three or four local families
will receive their mail at Hamer.
The population of Camas num
bered in the thousands when
mines of the Birch Creek section
were going full blast. It once
boasted 11 saloons and four
hotels.
Panhandler Develops
A Taking* Approach
0MAHA.—A new panhandling
approach was reported to police
by Mrs. Charles Swanson. A man
stopped her on a dark street.
“Lady, gimme your purse,” he
growled. “I’m hungry.”
She handed him the purse. He
opened it, took out a quarter,
dosed It, handed it back and
walked away.
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TO THE MEMBERS OP
ORGANIZED LABOR
AND THEIR MANY FRIENDS
★ This newspaper has always endeavored to create and maintain wyj between em
ployers and employees.
★ The highly competitive conditions of today require more harmonious efforts in every
line of endeavor in order to achieve the highest degree of success.
★ Our efforts in this regard are made possible by the firms and individuals advertising
in our columns. By their co-operation theyprove conclusively that they are interested
in the welfare of the working man and that they appreciate his business.
★ In addition to thanking these advertisers for this expression of their good will, we
urge every member of Organized Labor and their families to demonstrate their good win
as well and favor these firms with their patronage,
★ You are assured of sincere, courteous and reliable service in dealing with these places
of business which handle choice selections of dependable merchandise in their respective
lines.
THE CHARLOTTE LABOR JOURNAL
PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION
REPORT FDR THE PAST SIX MONTHS
HAS ITS BEARING UPON CENTRAL
LABOR UNION SKATING PROGRAM
SECOND INSTALLMENT
This is the second of a series of The Journal is carrying
embodying the report from June 16 to Dec. 30, as made by Supt.
J. M. Ray, of the Park and Recreation Commission. Just at the
present time when an endeavor is being made by Charlotte Cen
tral Labor Union to establish “Off the Street’ Skating Areas, it
should prove interesting reading.
ATTENDANCE
The attendance records show that
a gfeat number of people do receive
some benefit from tne Public Parks
and Playgrounds. All of these rec
ords are not as accurate as we hope
to have them in the future—though,
they were taken from the estimates
given by people not connected with
this department. There are recrea
tional services rendered to the public
which cannot be accounted for in
terms of actual attendance. The
beauty of the Rose Garden and Iris
Garden (at times); the numbers of
children playing without supervision;
the spectators at swimming pools,
etc. We do not dare estimate the
number of “apooners” in the parks or
the “bums” sleeping there.
The Works 1 Progress Administra
tion required a. weekly report of at
tendance from the 16 different parks
and receration centers which they fur
nished leaders for this year. From
these reports we fiad that there were
3,806 actually registered for partici
pation in the 11 white and 6 colored
centers, with a total for the period
from June 30, to December 30, 1939,
of white 159,693 participants and 21,
413 spectators. Negro participants
73,771 and 3,410 spectators.
The Twilight Baseball League gave
us the next highest count of specta
tors. This number is an estimate of
the average number attending the
games multiplied bp the actual num
ber of games, making a total of 96,
000.
The City-County League games
played outside the City, where a fee
was charged, averaged approximately
200 paid admissions per game
(which is not too much for a fair es
timate for games here where no fee
was charged). Thirty games actual
ly played would-giva-a total of 6,000.
Attendance at the swimming pools
and stadium perhaps should not be
included in this report since that was
business—but, since fees were charg
ed it was at the same time recreation
for the public. Since June 30, there
have been 8 church services and 36
football games in the stadium. There
were 64,163 paid admissions to the
football games (perhaps half that
many more not paid) and estimating
the attendance of church services at
600 each gives 4,000 more. The at
tendance at the two pools was 14,393.
In this total is included the attend
ance of Fairview from June 8, 1939.
The estimated attendance of the 167
parties and picnics was 5,276. These
estimates were made by the persons
who made arrangements for the party
and scheduled dates at this office.
There were many parties held which
were not scheduled through us, thus
making this estimate lower than it
should be. Tins number does not in
clude the tennis participants or spec
tators except for one month at In
dependence Park.
WPA ATTENDANCE REPORT
11 White Playgrounds and Centers.
Lattle Park
Woodlawn
Wilmore
Independence Park
Cornelius
N. Charlotte
Red Shield Club
Cordelia Park
Wesley Heighs
D. H. Hill
Chapel of Hope
2,591
5,088
222
33,245
7,658
40,332
37,899
10,938
*1,722
12,818
7466
129
206
8
9,127
8,975
680
4,660
850
60
261
252
Number RegisteS?93 21,413
Children, M. 1,860 F. 79!
Adults M. 162 F. 12!
6 Negro Playgrounds and Center:
Participant* *
Fairview
Morgan
First Ward
Second Ward
Hill Street
1,386
8,403
14,865
37,902
11,225
1667
1,540
490
891
™... „ 73,771 8,416
Children M. 367 P. 886
AduMa M. 66 P. 61
All WPA supervised Play
grounds and Centers
--181406
All WPA supervised Play
grounds and Centers
(negro) _ 77101
Twilight A City-County Basel
AieWrias::::::“:Ig5SS
Swimming Pools _14,393
Picnics and Parties_ 5475
Total---448418
BA8BBAI.I. AND SOFTBALL
Baseball and Softball are, without
a doubt, the most popular and attract
more participants in the City than any
other activity. The Twilight and
City-County Leagues were a great
success, which is largely—and has
been for the last quarter of a century
—due to the excellent promotion and
direction of Mr. A. L. Paul, business
muager of the leagues.
During the summer season, the 6
teams in the Twilight League played
a senes of 120 games—each Wore
approximately 800 spectators, who
witnessed the games free. This may
sound like Chamber of Commerce fig
urges, but those of you who saw any
games will verify the number. Ap
proximately 90 men and boys supplied
•amusement for 96,000 people. Tha
City-County League, playing a series
of 30 games, to an average attend
ance of 200 people. This League also
carried 6 teams, and the 90 men (esti
mating that 1& men played on each
team at one time or another) played
to 6,000 observers.
Two other very important features
of the Baseball activities in the City
were the American Legion Baseball
School in the spring, and the Atlantic
Baseball School—sponsored by the At
lantic Refining Company, under the
coaching and supervision of Paul Ed
wards, assisted by Vince Bradford.
Neither of these schools were pro
vided by this Department, but it
seems criminal that a program can
not be provided for boys of that age
who like baseball but are not good
enough to make the Legion squad.
The Softball activity, under the
sponsorship of the Charlotte News
and the able supervision of Ray Howe,
was also successful in that there were
56 teams registered and played sched
uled games throughout the season.
This number includes 9 separate lea
gues (8 men and 1 women) playing
their own schedules on the City pub
lic Parks and Playgrounds, and the
City school playgrounds.
The Department and Sponsors were
hard pressed at times to arrange play
ing fields for, not only the 56 teams
in the 9 leagues, but other inde
pendent teams of the City. The com
pletion of Bryant Park field and in
stallation of lights relieved the con
gestion slightly. All indications point
to the fact that lighted softball fields
for night play will not only relieve
the congestion of over crowded sched
ules, but a small charge for spec
tators would do much toward financ
ing the overhead costs of lights, um
pires, scores and trophies. This has
been proven by various cities of this
State who now contemplate lighting
more fields because of their financial
success. This small fee for spectators
relieves the players of the cost of
balls and other equipment, thus re
warding participation and emposing
a slight penalty on those who would
rather watch than play.
The Negro teams are beginning to
organize their leagues at the 2 negro
fields, or any available corner—«"'1
no one enjoys a ball game more than
a negro. Under WPA supervision •
league was organized and played an
elimination tournament in the late
summer. For the first time a trophy
was given to the winning team, Sec
ond Ward Community Center, by
Grier and Thompson Funeral Homs
(Negro). Under adequate supervis
ion and leadership, negro ha«*»n»n
and softball teams should provide
much recreation and amusement for
a needy people.
(Continued Next Week)
Beryllium Experiments
Conducted for 18 Yean
CLEVELAND.—The Brush labora
tories here have experimented for
18 years with one of science’s most
interesting problems—the study of
beryllium, metal of mystery, which
may have important uses in muni
tions manufacture.
’’Beryllium Is light and promises
to be strong and reasonably plenti
ful,” said Dr. C. Baldwin Sawyer,
who has worked for years with the
metal at the laboratory established
by Charles F. Brush, arc-light in
ventor.
"When added to copper, beryllium
causes it to become hard enough
to cut through some steels. This
beryllium-copper alloy likewise >ex
ceeds the milder steels in tensile
strength. Beryllium is considera
bly lighter than aluminum in its pure
state. But we have problems yet to
overcome. We now are trying to
overcome its brittleness.”
Horse Like Doff
SUNNYSIDE, WASH. — Hermit
Lyons has a horse named Yolinda
that will do more than 30 different
tricks, including lying down, sitting
and eating at a table, shak^g
hands, taking off her master’s bet,
walking a rail like a cat and stand*
ing on all four feet on a pedestal
10 inches square.
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Every American should be free to
transport himself, his family Us
friends and his goods in his own ve
hicle.
To some, life is a composite, harm
onising a thousand dements into a;
glorious mosaic.