Newspapers / The Charlotte Labor Journal … / May 23, 1940, edition 1 / Page 1
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The ONLY REALLY INDEPENDENT WEEKLY In Mecklenburg Owmty Foe a Weekfr lt» R—dw Rgprwent the LARGEST BUYING POWER la Cfcftotf Official Organ fentrai Labor Union; standing for the A. F. of L. Cht Charlotte labor Journal Patronize our Adver tisers. They Make TOUR paper possible by their co-operation. Truthful, Honest, Impartial Endorsed by the N. U State Federa' tion of Labor and dixie farm news Endeavoring to Serve the Masses VOL. X—NO. 2 YOUR ADVIRTIIIMINT IN TM« JOURNAL M A INVUTMMT CHARLOTTE, N. C„ THURSDAY, MAY 23, 1940 $2.00 P« You HITS “FIFTH COLUMN”; CLEANING NECESSARY IUR NATIONAL DEFENSE” WASHINGTON, D. C.—Representative Martin Dies (D.) of Texas, told the House it was wasting money on national defense until it dealt effectively with fifth col umn” activities of the Communists, Nazis, and Fascists in the United States. • Concluding an hour’s speech in which he told the House about the findings of his committee investigating un-American activities, Dies called on John L. Lewis to oust Communists in the Congress of Industrial Organi zations. “I am going to say to Mr. Lewis that it is his duty to bring men like Quill and Joe Curran before him and make known that there is no place on American soil for agents of foreign powers,” Dies declared. He referred to Michael Quill, head of the Transport Workers Union, and Joseph Curran, head of the Nat ional Maritime Union, who have been described as Com munists by some committee witnesses. “If Mr. Lewis will accept that challenge, they can clean their own house,” Dies said, “and if they will do that the country will give them a clean bill of health. Some House members applauded as Dies asserted “we ought to have deported Harry Bridges bet ore now. Members of the House stood and applauded for nearly a full minute—an unusual demonstration—when Hies concluded with this declaration: “I believe that we can unite, as one people under one God, and sustain the greatest aemocracy tne world has ever seen.” HEP DIES HITS— REP. DIES “HOUSE 1 FOR i L''ij~u~tru~i~<~i~i~' ‘ * ~ ““ * * " m STALLS RE-ELECTED HEAD TYPOS; RAY NIXON MADE VICE-PRESIDENT; HUGH SYKES RE-ELECTED SECTARY H. A. Stalls, member of The Ob- < server mechanical department, yester day was re-elected president of the , Charlotte local No. 1138 of the Inter national Typographical union. ! Others elected are; Vice-President Ray Nixon; secretary-treasurer, H. ai- . Sykes; recording secretary, H. L. Beatty; sergeant-at-arms, J. C. Met calf; auditing committee, H. F. Carn ker, Byron Luna, and J. 1. Primm; delegate to 1. T. U. convention at New Orleans in August, C. J. Pridgen; delegates to allied printing trades council, W. M. Bostic, Ray C. Nixon, W. P. Sanderson, H. A. Stalls, and H. M. Sykes. . Voting in the election of inter national officers, the Charlotte union cast ballots as follows: For president, Claude M. Baker of San Francisco 31, Francis G. Barrett 62. For vice-president, Jack Gill of Cleveland, Ohio, 69, Alfred J. Whit tle of New Rochelle, N. Y., 23. For second vice-president Don F. Hurd of Oklahoma, Calif., 60, Thomas Holland of Vancouver, B. C., 19, and Thomas J. Gethins of Boston 7. For secretary-treasurer, Woodruff Randolph of Chicago, 71, John C. Con ley of Fort W’orth, Tex., 21. For five delegates to A. F. of L., Jesse L. Boyle 66, John T. Dormois 63, Edwin C. McEntee 62, Charles F. Stephens 59, John Simons 61, Henry E. Clemens 25, Harry M. Wicks 20, and Paul E. V. Muret 29. For agent to Union Printers’ home, Charles M. Lyon 65, William P. Cant vell 16. . . For three trustees to Union Print rs’ home, J. Cliff Kane, 66, William i. Lucas 59, George Ballinger, Jr., •2, Daniel J. McCauley 52, F. L. ^ferdesteller 19, Sloan C. Springfield 18, K. Bruce SmtttWH. * For delegate to Trades and Labor Congress of Canada, William R. Trot Ler 55, Harry M. Fraser 20. For board of auditors, Joseph M. robin 64, D. P. Lyon 22. A “Four-Minute” House Painting Job Done In Omaha OMAHA, Neb.—Omaha painters sloshed white paint on a nine-room rouse today in four minutes, eight and i half seconds to claim a record over Memphis workmen who took eight and i half minutes to do a similar job re lently. Ninety-six unon members painted :he house proper while 14 others lap ped their brushes against the brick foundation and chimney. “I guess we pinned back the ears if those boys down South,” said Joe Gross, busines sagent for the unions. PATRONIZE THOSE WHO ADVERTISE IN THE JOURNAL THE MARCH OF LABOR |lHE CAtPENTEIS | SOCIETY Of PHILAO€LPNIA| ORGANIZED 1724, INCLUDING BOTH MASTERS AND JOURNEYMEN. WAS THE EARLIEST ASSOCIATION OF CRAFTSMEN Ml AMERICA . ISSUED -Ate FAMOUS EXECUTIVE ORDER ESTABLISHING THE 1feM hour imy on government work WiiHooT reduction** wa«v AFTER CAMPAIGN of PRESSURE. From LAEoR/MOTtMEAJT — ONE HUN OREO YEARSA60 TSS# r^jJlRED ea* . // SOZZEOS.CO* I CffALIO hJ PlCKtr J sitii, wa« Mti BY (UCTKlCUUUj | 1» AWACT ATTENTION While Picket**/' IN MEW | CROWDED (V sneers. MUMe ABOin T.OOO Pe*«0*»fc>ML AkAlUAuV IW*W»*0>J*0 «D« DCBT in) IWt •/.*. * HO« #©» SrtAU. t>fcT»S<W ^OUkMM'T UMIfeOO into KBTtD Bilf A Good WAT - FOU IHtftt It A UNION LABEL HAT AT EVERY P*:ct / “Not A Single Millionaire Should Be Created!” “Labor Unions Should Not Take Advantage of Emergency To Strike,” Says President Roosevelt WASHINGTON, May zz.—*»rinuy describing events in Europe aa a worla disaster, President Rooaevelt yester day laid down this two-fold policy to govern America's vast rearmament program: . 1. Not a single war millionaire should be created in the United States. 2. Labor unions should not (and he expressed confidence that they would not) take tactical advantage of the emergency to strike for special wages or privileges withheld from the rest of labor. At the same time, the President struck out at his press conference at Germany's war methods, although he did not mention that country by name. Enemy planes, he said, were sweeping down the roads of Prance with ma chine guns wide open, taking a death toll of refugees the like of which has never been seen before. As the President spoke. Congress was in a whirlwind of activity push ing his recent defense recommenda tions through toward passage. The Senate made rapid progress with a $1,820,841,000 army appropriation bill, in which were included the sums asked by the President last week for that branch of the service. Mean while, the chairmen of the House and Senate naval committees introduced legislation to authorize a force of 10, OOOplanes and 16,000 pilots for the naval air corps. Summing up the capital and labor policy which is to guide the defense program, nr. noo seven saiu ure government proposes in no way to weaken the social gains of the last few years. The whole objective, he added, was to prevent anybody—cap ital or labor—from getting rich oat of world disaster. The country as a whole is united on the defense question, he asserted, and as fast as the news comes in from theo ther side the more united it is. He remarked that he presumed the corespondents present had read what was going on. On the subject of the hours of workers employed on defense produc tion, Mr. Roosevelt said he would like to see the work week stabilised at 40 to 42 hours, with just as little over time work as possible. Rather than the latter, he thought it advisable that the unemployed be put to work. The whole question came up when a reporter asked for comment on a recent statement by John L. Lewis that the C. I. O. would endeavor to or ganize the workers in the aircraft and other defense industries. Mr. Roose velt merely replied that that would be legal, but, after a pause, went on into his statement on both labor and cap ital. Talking about airplanes, he said the problem was largely that of pro viding the 1,000-horsepower engines used in fighting planes. So far as the planes were concerned, he said, man ufacturers had twice as much floor space as they have been using. .. Colored Housing Project Still In A “Struck” State The Fairview Colored Housing Project is reported by Business Agent Hower as being completely out. The crafts struck for a 100 per cent union job. The project has been closed since Monday, with the exception of the Bricklayers being allowed to work to use up mixed mortar to save a loss to the contractor. The aim of the Building Trades is for bigger and better buildings, and protection to both craftsmen and builders. The project has around 200 employed. An agreement is expected to be reached within the next day of two. The Building Trades claim that this agree ment with the Goode Construction Co. has not been lived up to. Business Agent Hower reports new construction contracts being entered into weekly and that everyone is working. Odds and Ends, Local, Labor, Etc. “Civil Liberties Union Fights List ing of Aliens”—All of which shows where that organization stands. Typographical Union members struck on the Raleigh Times Tuesday morning. Contract agreement was given as the cause. May is a “great” month—the Twen tieth Celebration, Memorial Day, the Journal’s ninth birthday, also the ed itor’s—66, thank you! The “Mutt and Pet” parade Tues day afternoon took all the laurels of the Twentieth festivities. Another in stance that you can’t down youth. Finis was written Wednesday night in Charlotte’s May 20th of May Inde pendence celebration. Next on tap is Fourth of July, and this will be a fine year for flag displays. The great game of politics in North Carolina has been in something of a slump—between the war, baseball and the 20th of May the boys haven't been getting much of a run for their money. Compensation seekers of the struck Nebel Hosiery concern, were having a hearing at the U. 8. Court room; strike-breakers with guns, and a lady witness fainting were the highlights. The Journal learns that Claude Al bea will be released from the Veterans Hospital, Columbia, S. C., the first of June, which will be good news to his friends in Charlotte. He is reported to be in excellent health and doing fine. Paul Grady of Kenly, candidate for nomination by the Democratic party as governor, promised North Caro lina labor the protection of its rights and called for establishment of a North Carolina Labor Relations board in a speech Tuesday night at Meck lenburg courthouse. The Season's On First Angler: MI caught a fish so big my friends wouldn't let me pull it aboard for fear it would sink the boat." Second Angler:: HI quite believe you. I once had a similar experience on board the Queen Maty." Subscribe For the Journal Registration Books Snow lliat 34,272 Already Registered Of the 36^44 persons registered on the new primary books in Mecklen burg county, as revealed yesterday b yChiarman Chase Brenizer, 34,272 were listed as Democrats and the re maining 2372 gave the Republican party as their party. Figures showing those registered in the general election disclosed the fact that only 46,726 names were on these books, the report showed. Before the general election in November, howev er, there will be another three-Satur day priod during which voters may register. . On the library special election books were 14,136 names. It will be neces sary, therefore, for 7,069 persons ac tually to vote for the library levy if the election is successful, it was point ed out, since in special elections the .vote is against registration.—Ob server. . A. F. of L. Membership Hits All-Time Peak , WASHINGTON, D. C.—The membership of the American Fed eration of Labor—dues-paid mem bership—now stands at the highest point in its history. Secretary - Treasurer George Meany reported to the Executive Council that 300,000 new members have been gained since last August. This brings the total dues-paid membership in the American Fed eration of Labor to 4,300,000. With both the president and* secre tary absent from their posts, the for mer on account of sickness and the latter being called out of town, Vice President J. A. Scoggins occupied the chair and T. L. Conder, of the Carpen ters local, was appointed secretary. The regular routine was gone through in orderly manner, all locals making good reports. The Bakers local sent two new delegates. Business Agent Hower, of the Carpenters local, re ported on the struck job of the colored housing project, which he said was closed down 100 per cent. Several other matters of importance were discussed, and laid over until the next meeting. The attendant was good and the discussions spirited. HOUSE COMMITTEE URGES EXPULSION OF BRIDGES WASHINGTON, D. C.—The House of Representatives Immigration Com mittee approved a bill sponsored by Congressman Allen of Louisiana to deport Harry Bridges, CIO leader on the Pacific Coast, to Australia. As serting that “abundant evidence was introduced to show that Bridges was a Communist,” Mr. Allen described the proposed legislation as “a new and untried route to rid the United States of alien enemies from within” and expressed confidence in its con stitutionality. Everything John Elisabeth: “How's your new board ing house?” Susanne: “The rooms are just tol erable, the table is so-so, but the gos sip is simply gnat.” INVASION OF NEUTRAL NATIONS BY NAZIS DENOUNCED BY A. F. OF L EXECUTIVE COUNCIL — A WARNING WASHINGTON, D. C.—Organised, labor demands that the United States stay out of the European war. This was the flat declaration of the Executive Council of the American Federation of Labor which denounced Nazi and Soviet invasion of peaceful, neutral countries in Europe but in sisted on American neutrality. The text of the Council’s statement follows: * “The Executive Council of the American Federation of Labor ex presses the felings of all American workers when it condemns unreserved ly the invasion of Holland, Belgium and Luxembourg by Nazi Germany. Our sympathy goes out to the in nocent, peace-loving peoples of these nations that have been victimized by the superior force of Hitler’Ss war machine. These latest explosions in Europe were not unexpected. We predicted last February that if Soviet Russia’s invasion of Finland were successful the next vxi tcmiso?andkhhidsmhrdlu the next victims of the Nazi-Soviet alliance would be Belgium, the Neth erlands and the Scandinavian coun tries’! We saw then, and it has be come obvious now, that the purpose of the dictators of Germany and Rus sia is to seize every democratic na tio nand subjugate every free people in Europe. We in America are a peace-loving people. The Executive Council of the American Federation of Labor does not see how the entry of the United States into the European war would serve the cause of peace. On the con trary we feel that if we steadfastly mantain our neutrality we will be in a better position to aid in the recon struction of Europe when the war is over. On behalf of the workers of this country, we make the flat declaration that the United States should remain out of the war. We in America are devoted to the cause of freedom and democracy. We aer shocked by what is going on in Europe. But we do not see now the cause of democracy could be furthered by our involvement in a foreign war. The opposite is true. Democracy and freedom on this earth would be jeo pardizd if the United States were to go to war. Our function as a nation should be and must be to safeguard and maintain peace and democracy in the Western Continent by maintaining strict neutrality regardless of our sympathies and feelings toward the victitms of totalitarian aggression in Europe. Therefore, we recommend the fol lowing program: 1. This country must quickly strengthen and modernise its de fenses, taking advantage of the les sons in new military techniques which the present European war affords. 2. We must not let emotion un balance our clear thinking nor con tribute to the development of war psychology. Rash and hysterical statements should especially be avoided by those in a position to in fluence public opinion. 3. We must redouble our vigi lence against treachery and the cre ation of “Trojan horse” organizations by Soviet and Nazi adherents in this country.” A. F. OF L PLEDGES AID IN NATIONAL DEFENSE PROGRAM — WILL DO ITS PART TO MAKE UNITED STATES SAFE AGAINST ALL FOREIGN FOES WASHINGTON, D. C.—Respond ing whole-heartedly to President Roosevelt’s appeal for national co-op eration in the new billion-dollar de fense program, the American Feder ation of Labor pledged the Govern ment its active and loyal support. The Executive Council meeting here, acted promptly to assure the na tion that organized labor will do its part fully to help make this country safe against foreign foes. In the national emergency which confronts all Americans, the Council statement said, the responsibility of all major factors in production cannot be adequately discharged “unless there is co-operation between management , and labor .and the Government. The American Federation of Labor has been working in close touch with all Government agencies engaged in the national defense program for a long period without friction or trou ble of any kind. The Executive Council, however, detected a movement to relax wage and hour safeguards set up by organ ized labor and by legislation on the part of certain business interests claiming labor sabotages. Such reports were scotched by the Council which denied the existence of any such shortages and added: i “The problem is not a shortage of skilled mechanics but the fact that so many of these have been forced by the depression to seek employment in lower wage occupations.” The Council added: “The emotional effort to immedi ately suspend rules and regulations now protecting labor will not appeal ■o thoughful Americans.” President William Green explained it a press conference that it would be disastrous to lower wage and boor standards at a time when wiilllniia of Americans are unemployed.* He urged that extra shifts be pot to wmkj if necessary, to speed up production of defense equipment. Only if an actual emergency arises and if real labor shortages exist will it become neees sary to lengthen hours, he declared. Significantly, while Senator Bone of Washington estimated that the cost of battleship construction I»m increas ed 200 per cent in some cases since the last war. Senator Tobey, of New Hampshire, declared that the actual labor cost in battleship construction because of the use of machinery 'l“ been reduced, while hourly wage rates have increased only 7 per cent. The Executive Council statement concluded with this pledge: “In 1917 the American Federation of Labor demonstrated its readiness and. willingness to do everything with in its power to assist the Govern ment in the winning of the war. Thia pledge of support went farther that of any other national trade un ion movement of the countries which were involved. “In the present emergency, caused by the necessity for a rapid develop ment of the nation’s national defense, the American Federation of again pledges its active and co-opera tive support with industry and with every appropriate governmental agency having to do with the produc tion and construction of (m national defense or any other na tional requirement to that end” BUILDING TRADES DEPT. ENDS TWO N. Y. DISPUTES WASHINGTON, D. C.—The execu tive council of the Building and Con struction Trades Department of the A. F. of L. settled purisdictional dis putes on two New York projects. Regarding a dispute between elec trical workers and building and com mon laborers on the Mid-Town Tunnel in which fifteen electrical workers struck, it was decided the electrical workers should do all electrical instal lation work. A dispute between sheet-metal work ers and lathers as to who would place acocustical material in the Tiibor ough Hospital was settled by order ing both sides to abide by a decision to be made by a board or arbitration of the building tradees of New York and the employers’ association. MIGRATORY LABOR PROBE PLANNED BY HOUSE UNIT WASHINGTON, D. C.—By a prac tically unanimous vote the House of Representatives has authorized the appointment of a special committee to investigate the problem of migratory labor and recommend legislation for the rehabilitation of homeless fam ilies. President Green of Ike Ameri can Federation of Labor personally appealed to Chairman Sabbath of the House Rules Committee to grant prompt consideration of the bill. Representative John H. Tolan (Dem.), who sponsored the legisla tion in behalf of the California dele gation, declared the situation is so acute that it cannot longer be ignored with safety. IDAY- SATURDAY /triumpmTorbSiiiI |'^‘,at| I *m ) * I »mIAN hunte p«v LORRE, fM LUKA Monday - Tuesday Eleanor Powell “Broadway Melody of 1940” Wednesday - Thursday “Charlie McCarthy Detective” with Edgar Bergen Subscribe For the Journal
The Charlotte Labor Journal and Dixie Farm News (Charlotte, N.C.)
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May 23, 1940, edition 1
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