iT —ALLY INDEPENDENT WEEKLY In Mocfcknbarr County
For a W—kiy It* Readers
tho LARGEST BUYING POWER la
• Lotar Ukka; i
u» A. r. «r i*
Che Charlotte labor Journal
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kj tk N. C State Fktrt
AND DIXIE FARM NEWS
Endeavoring to Serve the Ms
VOL. IX—No. 89
VMI AOVnTiaiHMT IN TH«
CHARLOTTE, N. C, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1940
8S.00 For Yoar
PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION
DEAL IN THE DIFFERENT PHASES
OF WORK IN LAST INSTALMENT
FOURTH INSTALLMENT
This is the final instalment of the report ending Dee. 31,
1939, made by the Park and Recreation commission. The report
in its entirety has been carried in The Journal, due to the fact
that Central Labor Union is sponsoring the Off-the-Street Play
Areas for children, and gives some idea of our need for more rec
reational faculties for all the citizens of Charlotte.
Looking at the sheet on finances
would give one an idea that building is
about the limit of our program. Most
of the year’s revenue from city taxes
hut been devoured by construction,
though that was not the ultimate aims
of the Commission—it is a last resort
to complete what we believe will be
a great benefit to the public, and at
the same time assist the Department
iu future financial conditumk.
The lower nine holes of the old Mu
nicipal Golf Course are being reno
vated and reconstructed. This is be
ing done at very little cost' through
the help of the Works Progress Ad
ministration. The tees and greens
have been re-arranged and rebuilt in
cluding two completely new green lo
cations, and several new tees. All
greens and tees have bene completed
and sown with rye. The fairways
are being lenovated at present.
The course will actually measure
3,264 yards, making it a par of 34, or
perhaps 36, depending upon the No. 8
bole, whisk is by actual measurement
capable of being either a par 4 or 6;
and since it is on a steep incline per
haps it is best to make it a 6.
The Mecklenburg Drainage Com
mission is dredging the creek at pres
ent through the Golf Course and ex
pects to go approximately one-half
mile below the course. This will be
a great service to the course in keep
ing the creek within iU banks.
There have been several improve
ments made in the different parks by
the WPA beautification project which
has terraced areas, sodded banks and
bare places, and put out shrubbery.
This project has not been Ktive on
park properties all of the time since
June 30th, but is now on the Golf
Course doing considerable work (over
considerable time). They are sched
uled to grade and terrace Eastover
Park in the near future.
Some conactruction and improve
ments hhve been made at the Stadium,
namely, the construction of a tool
house oy the WPA, the installation
of a time clock by the Western Union
at the expense of the Standard Oil
Company, the purchase and installa
tion of a public address system at the
expense of the Coca-Cola Bottling
Company of Charlotte. The latter
may not be considered much improve
ment by those who heard it at first,
but it can be used on various occa
sions during the entire year; church
services in the summer, Easter' serv
ices, and at different times at the
swimming pool. Considering the fact
that this service, was free to every
game in thet stadium this year as
compared with $15.00 to $50.00 for
service at every game up to that time,
it was not a bad investment as it cost
nothing in the beginning.
The 25c parking in tne past was
eliminated this year because of the
public criticism and resentment to the
charge. The set-up was not a finan
cial success anyway, according to re
ports on deposits for the period. This
year the supervision of parking area
was given to a private individual, who
supervised free parking at all high
school games, at the other games he
was allowed to charge a small fee of
10 centst as pay for his services at all
contest*. We feel that this arrange
ment was not unreasonable to the pub
lic. It was handled in a very efficient
manner, and there is no doubt that
his receipts did not exceed the total
amount reported last year when the
charge at all contests was 25c per car.
Up until July of 1939, there was a
mall
small fee charged for wood and serv
ices at the various parks, for wiener
roasts, steak frys, fish frys, etc. This
charge was also eliminated by the
Commission thereby making such
services free to the public. Since
July 1, 167 parties were registered in
our office with an estimated total at
tendance of 5,275 people in the three
parks—Cordelia, Bryant and Revolu
Information As To
Labor Calls
FOR CENTRAL LABOR UNION,
call Wa. 8. Greene, Secretary,
229 S. Tryon Street. Phone
2-1459.
FOR BUILDING TRADES HALL,
call 9149; 112ft S. College Street.
CHARLOTTE LABOR JOURNAL,
call 2-2994; 292 S. College Street.
CENTRAL LABOR UNION meets
in Pythian Hall, Piedmont Build
ing, 218 S. Tryon Street every
Wednesday night at 7:29. H. A.
BUILDING TRADES COUNCIL
meets every Friday night at
112ft 8. College Street, at 7:29
P. M. H. L.
Agent.
FOR TEAMSTERS AND CHAUF
FEURS LOCAL NO. 71. call
2-5691; office. Builders Bldg..
189; H. L. McCrorie, Basi
l-6288.
tion. The greatest number attending
any party was anticipated by the Pa
triotic Sons of America at Revolution
Park, September 4. The next highest
estimated number was at the water
melon feast—park reserved by Mr.
L. 4 Ledbetter for the Veterans of
'Foreign Wars.
300.00
590.00
200.00
300.00
RECOMMENDATIONS
This should be divided into two
classes: first, the vital necessities
which must be attended to for preser
vation of properties, and the success
ful operation of others. These are
listed with fairly accurate cost prices
—where prices havJ been received.
Paint seats in stadium (ap
proximately) -$ 500.00
Three gang mowers for fair
ways and parks- 260.00
Build cdddy house at golf
course
Paint swimming pool
Buy lights and fixtures for
bath house at pooll
800 lbs. Bermuda seed in May
Operating expenses which
usually run per month
about - 1,000.00
We list second the items which are
important—and perhaps should be
listed above:
Nets and playground equip
ment _
Wire and repair backstops
for tennis and softball
courts ____- 250.00
Recreation leaders through
summer supplementary to
WPA program. At least 12.
Two maintenance men and
one professional at Golf
Course.
Build bath house at Fairview
Park.
Item three is most necessary for
a successful recreation program. This
statement i > jnade with all earnestness
and sincerity.'
Charlotte will never have a com
mendable program for its abundance
of leisure time in all classes of people
and all ages until adequate trained
leadership is provided to stimulate
the desire to play and direct the ac
tivities throughout the city. Twelve
is just a start toward the necessary
number needed through the summer,
but, with that many we could do a
world of good for that age and class
of people who need the service most.
There is a definite need for more
adult recreation in the city, and for
oragnization and leadership of those
activities for adults, but that age
group is not suffering like the
younger people are. The teen age of
the city has very little opportunity for
active recreation which is so impor
tant and necessary to the growth of
a sound, healthy mind and body. We
often hear the question asked, “Where
should we spend most money on rec
reation or juvenile delinquency?"
Charlotte has a good answer for that
question. According to an appraisal
summary of Charlotte’s public recre
ation facilities and program by a
number of the National Recreation
Association, it is just about at the
bottom of the heap in the Southern
section. The juvenile delinquency of
the city is rated just about at the
Statistics taken irom oo cities in
the United States between 60,000 and
100,000 people by the National Rec
reation Association, show that an
average of $12,640.36 was budgeted
and spent for recreation leadership.
The greatest amount spent by any one
city in that range of population was
St. Joseph, Missouri, of $67,913.00.
The next highest was Austin, Texas,
which 0pmrt $36,731.00 for leader
ship. Charlotte is included in the 66
with nothing budgeted for leadership
land nothing spent. The average
number of leaders for the 66 cities
was 37.7 per city. St. Joseph was
also first on the list in number of
leaders with 232. Greensboro, N. C.t
was third with 128 paid leaders.
Charlotte, according to population,
is the biggest city in the State, but
Greensboro spent $19,697.00 for
leadership, Durham spent $14,460.00,
Winston-Salem $8,838.00. These fig
ures do not include the WPA lead
ership. The number of recreation
leaders listed by all cities did not in
clude emergency workers. The WPA
workers are fine as a supplementary
part of the program, but it si diffi
cult to build a program with that type
of leadership exclusively. Mrs. SiUs
has done well with the material she
has had to do with this year, but as
t oon as she could train a good leader
he would get a job in private employ
ment. Those who were not able to
get a job elsewhere usually were of
little service to the program. There
are, however, exceptions to this, but
generally that is the case. Durham
has 26 WPA workers on their recrea
tion leadership staff, working with
the 66 regular paid leaders, and Mr.
Woods commends them highly for
their assistance to his program.
EXPLAINED
I Tourist: “What’s in hers?”
Guide (leading the wuy into a
morgue): “Remains to bo soon, sir.”
SOUTHERN LABOR CONFERENCE
CREDENTIALS COMING IN AT A
RAPID RATE FOR ATLANTA MEET
ATLANTA, Ga., Feb. 12.—Creden
tials to the Southern Labor Confer
ence to be held in Atlanta on March
2 and 3 are simply pouring into the
office of George L. Googe, Southern
Representative of the American Fed
eration of Labor. These credentials
are coining from Central Labor Un
ions, Building Trades Councils, Metal
Trades Councils, Women’s Auxiliaries,
Union Label Leagues, Local Unions,
Railroad Brotherhood Lodges and lo
cal unions of the 21 Standard Rail
road Organizations. They are com
ing from Textile Unions, Federal La
bor Unions, Longshoremen, Miners,
and Service Trades Local Unions. In
spection of the credentials already
received indicate two things: First,
that the Southern Conference will,
indeed, be the largest meeting ever
held by the American Federation of
Labor in its long history; Scond, that
all groups of workers affiliated with
the American Federation of Labor
and the Standard Railroad organisa
tions will be represented in the Con
ference.
While these credentials are pouring
into A. F. of L. headquarters in At
lanta, reports from the hotels in this
city bring the heartening message
that reservations are being made for
the Conference from all parts of the
country, and from practically all Ns-'
tional and International Union offi
cials. Reservations have already
been made in the hotels here for Pres
ident Wm. Green, Secretary George
Meaner, Secretary Emeritus Frank
Morrison, and many other members
of the A. F. of L. Executive Council.
Executive officers of numerous Na
tional and International Unons also
have been made, and others are cont
ing in daily.
President, Dewey L. Johnson’s com
mittee on arrangements headed by
Albert W. Gossett as chairman, is
working long hours to have everything
in readiness for the reception and en
tertainment of the visiting thousands.
The mayor and leading citizens rep
resenting the business and profes
sional life of the city of Atlanta are
lending every aid in making complete
these preparations.
That March 2 and 3 will be busy
days is indicated by the program of
activities which begin early Saturday
morning, March 2, when President
Green will be guest at a breakfast to
be given him by leading business
executives of the south, registration
of delegates and visitors will start at
9 o’clock in the City Auditorium, and
for an hour while registrations are
being made and the great crowd as
sembles, a musical concert will be
riven b ythe Union musicians of At
lanta.
“AM I MY BROTHER’S KEEPER?”
BY CHARLES STELZLE
It was a murderer who first asked
the question. He asked it in an at
tempt to create an alibi. He used it
to switch the argument from the
main issue. He attempted to get1
away from the cold truth and raise a
heated sociological discussion. But
Cain could not avoid the fact that he
had murdered his borther Abel.
There are some men today who
would promptly deny that they are
their brothers' keepers, but, scording
to the rules of civilized people, they,
are their brothers’ murderers. This!
may seem like a brutal statement, but
let's examine a few facts. It should
be borne in mind that not all murder"
ers fcse “gats” and daggers. For ex
ample, it is quite as possible to kill
ample, it is quite as possible to mur
der a little child with a rotten tene
ment as it is to with a battle axe.
When an industrial concern main
tains dark, dirty shacks for its em
ployees, denying them even the com
monest conveniences—no sewers, no
water, no sanitary facilities—with
the result that those who live in them
are already on the undertaker’s list,
it is murder. When a factory owner
fails, to make adequate provision for
escape from fire, when he refuses to
supply even the minimum of safety
devices, he is a potential murderer.
When, merely to add to his profits, a
manufacturer uses impure materials
and sells them for pure food, causing
people to become sick and to die, that
manufacturer is a murderer.
The question as to whether men of
this type are their “brother*’ keep
ers” cannot enter into our discussion,
because their action belies every ar
gument they might offer. Most of us,
and this includes every decent em
ployer in the country, would agree to
the condemnation of those who wil
fully bring suffering and death to
helpless people.
We instinctively become indignant
when such things are done to indivi
duals, but what about nations whose
armies ruthlessly despoil a whole
people, destroying its homes, wreck
ing its institutions, sealing its tres
urers and its lands, devastating its
accumulated riches of culture aud re
ligion, and killing thousands of its
women and children—at the same
time piously declaring that they have
“the divine right to rule?” Can such
nations escape their responsibility,
and shall they fe free from the penal
ties which are imposed upon us as
individuals?
To such nations comes the same
condemnation—although in larger
measure—that came to the first mur
derer. And here is the condemnation
as recorded in sacred history: “The
Lord said unto Cain, ‘Where is thy
brother?’ And he said, ‘I know not:
am I my brother’s keeper?' And the
Lord said, ‘What hast thou done? The
voice of thy brother’s blood crieth un
to me from the ground. **• A fugi
tive and a vagabond shalt thou be in
the earth’ *** And Cain said unto
the Lord, “My punishment is greater
than 1 can bear.’”
P. O. CLERKS AUXILIARY
TO HAVE ANNIVERSARY
LUNCHEON SATURDAY
The Woman’s auxiliary to Local
375, National Federation of Post Of
fice Clerks, will have an anniversary
luncheon Saturday at 12:30 o’clock at
Efird’s dining room. Mrs. E. E.
Phelps, of Winston-Salem, state pres
ident, and Mrs. Earl H. Bergen, of
Augusta, Ga., district national vice
president, will be guest speakers.
“There never has been a Presi
dent who did so much for labor,
organised or unorganised, as
Franklin D. Roosevelt Union la
bor, particularly. The Wagner
Act, Social Security, Unemploy
ment Insurance, WPA, Wages and
Hours—all these were initiated un
der the New Deal. No other Pres
ident has done anywhere near as
much.”—New York Datty Newt.
................... -|-|-ii-i nji.
Hie yak, an Asiatic beast of burden,
has the head of a cow, the tail of a
horse, and it grunts like a pig.
Equal Recognition Is
Protested By A. F. L
Int. Labor Confe’nce
MIAMI, Fla., Feb. 11.—The Amer
ican Federation of Labor executive
council uttered a sharp protest
against equal recognition given the
rival C. I. O. before the International
Labor office's regional conference in
Havana last fall.
Through President William Green,
the council sent its official objections
to the Labor department against ap
pointing one representative from the
Congress of Industrial Organisations
and another from the A. F. L. for the
Cuban meeting.
Green said he would tell Secretary
Frances Perkins that the federation,
in the .future, would participate in
such meetings only if given exclusive
Recognition.
SAFE
Mother (to her son): "Tommy,
you mustn’t go fishing with Peter;
he’s just getting over the measles.’’
Tommy: "Mother, I- never catch
anything when I’m fishing.”
A. F. L PLANS MILITANT CAMPAIGN
ALONG LINES OF ORGANIZATION
IN THE SOUTH AND THE FAR WEST
MIAMI, Fla.—The Executive Coun
city of the American Federation of
Labor, at its mid-winter session here,
completed plans for one of the most
important organization campaigns in
thejristory of the Federation.
strength of the Ameri
The entire_0.. .
can Federation of Labor will be util
ized in a comprehensive and system
atic effort to bring the many thou
sands of unorganized workers in the
Sitith and Far West into the organ
ized labor movement, with special
concentration on-textile workers, the
retail trade, office and white-collar
workers, marine workers, Govern
ment employes and miscellaneous in
dustries.
In announcing the plan for the na
tion-wide organization drive sponsor
ed by the Executive Council, William
Green, president of the American
Federation of Labor, said:
“We are going to make a determin
«?*prt to organize the unorganized
m fields which have hitherto resist
ed unionization. Particular empha
sis will be placed on the Far West and
the South.
LOCAL UNION OFFICIALS WILL DIZCCT
CAMPAIGN
“We are enlisting the full strength
of our far-flng organization in this
drive. But we realize that each sec
tion of the country has its own special
problems. Therefore, local union
leaders best familiar with these prob
lems will be called upon to direct the
drive in each locality with the full as
sistance of our national organization.
“The first step in the campaign
was a survey of all non-unionized in
dustry in the country which was re
cently completed. We called upon
more than 800 of our city and county
central bodies to report on all unor
ganized plants in their vicinity.
Charlotte Teamsters & Chauffeurs Local
Is Striving Hard For A 1,000 Membership
Mark By The Middle Of This Summer
Organiser H. L. McCrorie, of the
Teamsters and Chauffeurs, reports
that many contracts have been re
newed or negotiated du.ring the past
15 days, some of them being:
Akers Motor Line, Gastonia, a pay
increase of $2 to $6 per week, affect
ing nearly 160 employes.
Harris Bros. Transfer Co., Char
lotte, increase of $2 to 66 per week,
about 75 employes being affected.
Ross Motor Lines, Gastonia, $4 to
65 wage increase for week; about 25
employes.
R. & W. Transfer Co., Gastonia, $8 .
weekly increase affecting 30 mem
bers.
Negotiations with the Miller Motor
Express Line for an increase of about
130 employes is in the making.
The above contract does not take in
many that have previously been suc
cessfully negotiated. The employes
of the companies contracted are mem
bers of the Charlotte Teamsters and
Chauffeurs local, which is striving
for the 1,000 mark by the middle of
summer.
Do You Want A
“Skating Area”
Named After You
Any person who agrees to under
write the cost of one oflh# pseposed
“off the street” play areas will be
recognised by having the area named
u JSm> Henry Stalls, president of
the Charlotte Labor Union, announced
last night.
Twelve such areas in widely scat
tered parts of the city have been pro
posed where children may skate and
play without being subjected to the
dangers of the street. These areas
will consist of a concrete pavement, 40
by 800 feet, and each will cost ap
proximately $375.
Mr. Stalls said that if any one
agrees to underwrite the cost for one
of these areas will be honored and the
area will be named for him.
HITLER & STALIN
TAKEN CRACK AT
BY THE A. F. OF L.
MIAMI, Fla.—Condemning unre
servedly the principles of Communism,
Nazism and Fascism, the Executive
Council of the American Federation
of Labor, at its mid-winter session
here, assailed “Soviet-Nazi imperial
ism,” denounced Hitler and Stalin as
outstanding “enemies of mankind,"
urged the United States Government
“to do everything it can without en
dangering American neutrality to help
Finland resist Soviet aggression,” in
sisted “that the United States main
tain strict neutrality and keep out of
European wars,” called for “every
possible assistance to the victims of
bacial and religious persecution in
Europe,” repudiated “all attempts to
Bovietize American labor,” and refused
“to have any traffic with Communist
agents.”
HORSES
“Did you hear about the Lady Go
iiva stunt a girl is going to pull7”
“What’s that—Lady Godiva?”
“A girl without any clothes on is
going to ride horseback down Fifth
Avenue 1”
“Great! I haven’t seen a horse in
rears.”
Subscribe for the Journal
TO THE MEMBERS OP
ORGANIZED LABOR
AND THEIR MANY FRIENDS
im always endeavored to create and Maintain food will between em
and employees.
highly competitive conditions of today require more harmonious efforts in every
endeavor in order to achieve the highest degree of success,
efforts in this regai&are nude possible by the firms and individuals advertising
Mtamas. By their co-operation they prove conclusively that they are interested
relfare of the working man and that they appreciate his business,
iditioa to thanking these advertisers for this expression of their good will, we
cry member of Organised Labor and their families to demonstrate their good will
and favor these firms with their patronage.
★ Yon 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
THE CHARLOTTE LABOR JOURNAL
WHO'S WHO
IH UNIONS
WILLIAM L. HUTCHESON |
f
i o
WILLIAM L. HUTCHESON
William L. Hutcheson, President
of the United Brotherhood of Car
penters and Joiners of America, is
also a member of the Executive
Council of the American Federation
of Labor, succeeding: Frank Duffy,
who recently resigned.
Mr. Hutcheson is a strong: advo
cate of the fundamental principles
of Trade Unionism. He believes
in the Union Label and has pro
moted the Union Label of the
Carpenters' Brotherhood with great
effectiveness. He believes that the
Union Label stands for fairness
toward employer and employe alike.
It is a mark of mutual cooperation
and good wilL
His address Is: Mr. William
L. Hutcheson, President, United
Brotherhood of Carpenters and
Joiners of America, Carpenters'
Building, Indianapolis, Ind.
CARPENTERS AND JOINERS'
LABEL
While the Cigar Makers are gen
erally understood to be the in
ventors and sponsors of the earliest
Trade Union Label in America, a
similar device was used six years
earlier, in 1869, by the Carpenters’
Eight-Hour League of San Fran
cisco. This League furnished a
stamp to all planing mills operat
ing on the eight-hour plan, in order
that they might be able to identify
the work of the ten-hour mills.
The carpenters still have a Union
Label and are today one of the
most active Unions in the Psion
•Label Trades Department.
The Label of the United Brother
hood of Carpenters and Joiners of
America should appear on all fc—fc,
bar, store and office fixtures, furni
ture,' millwork and other, wood >
products. O
For further information regard
ing Union Labels, Shop Cards and
Service Buttons, writs Mr. L M.
Ornbum, Secretary • Treasurer.
Union Label Trades Department,
American Federation of Laber
Eui’ 'ing, Washington, D. C.