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the A. F. of L.
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Tenth Tear Of Continnona
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VOL. X—NO. 31
raua u»nrniant ia Toe
- * •— CHARLOTTE, N. C, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12,1940
UVUT
$2.00 Per Y<
GOOGE PRESIDES AT MEETING OF
FEDERATION HEADS OF THREE
STATES—SHAPE PROGRAM FOR
CO-OPERATION OF EVERY UNIT
By “JIM” BARRETT
(Southern Publicity Director A. F. of L.)
Inaugurating a plan of cooperation between Stott Federations of
Labor in the South that promises great benefit in tha future, officials of
state bodies of Georgia, South Corolina ond North Carolina met hern lost
Saturday and Sunday and adopted a program of action that will hove for*
reching effect. Dewey L. Johnson, president of the Georgia Federation of
Labor, President Al Flynn, Secretary-Treasurer Fred E. Hatched ond Leg*
islative Chairman Earle R. Britton, of the South Carolina Federation of
Labor; President C. A. Fink, First Vice-President H. L Kiser, Secretary*
Treasurer H. G. Fisher, Vice-President Stough Campbell ond State Organ
izer A. E. Brown, of the North Carolina State Federation of Labor, attended
the meetings.
George L. Googe, Southern Repre
sentative of the American Federation
of Labor, presided at the conferences
and directed the shaping of the pro
gram for cooperative action by the
three State Federations of Labor.
Numerous International representa
tives attended all conferences and
contributed largely to the success of
the tri-state meeting.
monthly meeting of the North Caro
lina State Building and Construction
Trades Council was held in the county
courthouse, attended by delegations
from nearly all points in the state.
All State Federation of Labor offi
cials, International officers and
Southern Representative Googe also
attended the meeting of the state
building trades.
First action of the visiting State
Federation officials was a conference
held with the management of Belk’s
Department Store, at which time nego
tiations were begun for an agreement
that has for its purpose the creation
of a plan that would be mutually ad
vantageous to the building trades
members in the three states and the
Belk stores.
The Federation officials then turn
ed their attention to the matter of
state legislation affecting labor in
Georgia, South Carolina and North
Carolina. It was decided that all three
states would offer identical state
minimum wage and maximum hour
bills. Labor in the three states will
also oppose adoption of experience
rating for state unemployment com
pensation. * - ,
South Carolina and Georgia will at
tempt to obtain Workmen’s Compen
sation laws for their states similar to
that operating in North Carolina. It
was agreed that North Carolina has
the best Workmen’s Compensation of
On Sunday afternoon
any state m the South. All three
states agreed to make an effort to
get each state to adopt the state fund
plan, instead of the present plan
which insures through insurance com
panies.
It was brought out that states hav
ing the state fund pay to the injur
ed worker one hundred cents of each
dollar paid into the fund, which ito
states where insurance companies un
derwrite Workmen's compensation
funds the worker gets only one dollar
out of every $ 1.84 paid into the fund.
In other words, the state fund is op
erated as other state business, while
insurance companies and overhead ex
pense eat up 84 cents for each dol
lar paid to the injured worker, or al
most as much as the injured worker
gets as compensation for time lost be
cause of injury.
Much discussion was had on many
other matters of importance to labor
in the three states represented, and
action taken that will expedite the
work of organisation, legislation and
all other activities essential in labor's
constant forward march.
Reports made at the Sunday after
noon session of the State Building and
Construction Trades Council were
most encouraging, except that report
made of deplorable conditions existing
at Fort Bragg. A plan of action was
decided upon by the executive board
of the State Council in a meeting held
Sunday night, at which time Mr.
Googe and International representa
tives assisted the state council board
in formulating a plan of action. The
January meeting of the State Council
will be held in Fayetteville, near Fort
Bragg.
The two days may in all earnest
ness be referred to as marking the
passing of another milestone in the
American Federation of Labor’s on
ward march in the South.
NINE MILLION HOMES NEEDED
BY POOR-LOW COST BUILDING
IMPEDED BY INTEREST RATES
WASHINGTON, D. C.—Urgent ned for vast extension of
low-cost housing construction was stressed in a report by econom
ists and housing experts on the staff of Senator Joseph C. O’Ma
honey’s Monopoly Investigating Committee.
More than 9,000,000 American fam
ilies with incomes below $1,600 a year
•need new homes, the report declared.
If tfcese homes were built, the de
pression would be cured to a “surpris
ing” extent by “getting idle men back
to work”- and “finding an outlet for
idle investment funds,” it was found.
The report is a reminder that the
national defense program is not the
only way to put men, money and ma
chines to work, because this can be
done by clearing slums and providing
decent homes for the American peo
ple.
“The difficulty, however,” the re
port says, “is that under the present
£et-up the housing industry is geared
to provide homes primarily for fam
Alice earning $2,000 or more per year.
“We build largely for this limited
group because the home-building in
dustry has followed traditional prac
tices and failed to keep up with pro
gressive methods that have enabled
other industries to extend their mar
kets to low-income groups. Moreover,
Sof the raw materials of the
ng industry are concentrated in
a few hands, with a controlled *nd
inflexible pricing system."
It points out that construction costa
are highest in some cities where build
ing trades wage rates are lowest, and
I lowest where labor costs are highest.
| Other important facts disclosed at the
O’Mahoney committee’s hearings are
cited to explode the idea that “high
wages” are the cause of the high coat
of housing.
On the other hand, the report ex
plains that high interest rates are a
real obstacle to home construction,
and that “rental housing for the lower
gotiations.
half of the middle income group
i ($1,000 to $2,000) might well be stim
1 ulated” by reducing the rate of inter
est charged on the money invested.
Fly the FLAG
THE A. F. OP L. STANDS WITH AND FOR IB FLAG
d
SCOGGINS UNANIMOUSLY ENDORSED
BY CENTRAL LABOR UNION FOR THE
VACANT SEAT ON CITY COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING,
DECEMBER 11, 1940
The meeting: was called to order by President Scog
gins, and the pledge of allegiance to the Flag taken by
the assembled delegates. The minutes of the previous
meeting were read and approved. The Carnival Com
mittee turned over a signed contract and report was re
ceived with thanks. Brother Moore deserves the thanks
of the members for this work.
Various regular and special committees reported.
The roll call of officers, delegates and locals followed.
The letter from the Internal Revenue department
was ordered to be answered with the statement that we
have no salaried employees per the report asked for.
Certain highly skilled crafts are reported wanting
the assistance for organization, from the Central body.
President Scoggins was asked to leave the hall, and
Brother Moore acted as president, while the delegates
debated the endorsing of Brother Scoggins for
the vacancy in the Council. It was decided, as this was
not an election, but an appointment possibility, the sub
ject was not political, and was in the same category as
the appointments approved for the draft Boards, Federal
Housing Authority, Parks and Recreation Committee,
etc,
A motion passed unanimously to endorse Brother
J. A, Scoggins for the vacancy caused by the passing
away of Brother Hudson. Brother Scoggins was recalled
into the hall and the chair. Brothers Kiser and Greene
were authorized to see that $e papers were notified.
The Tri-State A, F. of L. meeting last Sunday was a
great success, and accomplished what it was designed
to do. Delegates were asked to concentrate on the State
A. F. of L. convention to be held in Charlotte. The stand
on the ‘Experience Rating System’ is harmful, according
to the officials of the A. F, of L,
LABOR’S CO-OPERATION PLEDGED
IN PROGRAM OF UNINTERRUPTED
PRODUCTION IN INDUSTRIES
OPERATING DEFENSE PROJECTS .
The Labor Policy Advisory Committee of the National Defense Advh'
ory Commission mode public, on December 9, a statement pledging labor's
continued cooperation in a country-wide program of uninterrupted produc
tion in defense industries.
This statement was unanimously adopted at a regular meeting of the
Labor Policy Advisory Committee, which comprises sixteen representatives of
the three great labor groups—6 representing the A. F. of L., 6 representing
the CIO, and 4 representing the Railroad Brotherhoods.
The session was presided over by Sidney Hillman, chairman of the com
mittee, and Commissioner in charge of the Labor Division for the National
Defense Advisory Commission.
The statement follows:
In this time of world crisis, American labor is awake to the crucial Mod
for a strong national defense program. Labor recognises fully that if the
democratic way of life is to be preserved, and enlarged, our country moat
prepare itself for total defense—morally and materially. Labor knows that
it is the first to be trampled under the march of dictatorship. Labor knows
that if workers are to remain free men, and keep their free choices, 4trn*f
racy—as a living fsyth, as a living reality—must be equipped to meet th*
threat of totalitarianism, within and without. Labor has been and is to
operaing whole-heartedly throughout the entire defense effort. Until very
recently no single serious interuption of production in defense industries had
occurred; and then only too such work-stoppages took place—the first i«««W
six working days, and the second four days.
‘This record Is ample evidence that labor recognises the importance of
continuous production to meet defense needs. Labor again re-affirms its as
surance of cooperation with the national defense program and further pledgee
itself to take no action which may in any way impede production before all
conciliation facilities of the Federal Government for resolving any
controversy have been exhausted. ~
Mr. Hillman declared that “the point of view expressed by this SOB
mittee, which speaks for all sections of organized labor, again confiraa. fM
underscores, what has been and remains the serious determination of labor's
leaders and its rank and file to give unstinted support to ipaure the soecess
of the National Defense program.'*’
The C. C. L. U. endorsed the inclusion of occupation
al diseases as compensable in the State Workmen's bill
to be brought before the State legislative bodies.
After much discussion for the good of the order
the meeting adjourned.
WM. S. GREENE, See.
of jf *timing a Local Union having the youngest officers
” ■**yJLo?.1 affiUatloB with the American Federation of Labor. The local is that of the
«rrml..i Jm. Workers Local Urion, organised sis months ago, and is now preparing to negotiate am .
theiTages a^aaHroUo“?’PW,rt * the A»h*ville Mica Company, In the picture above the officers aJf/
■t_,eft’ Mis* II"el WhAUk.er’ recording secretary, 20 years of age; standing, left to right
***“• Grace Cosgrove, vice-president, 21-plus (and this is the age she gave); Clenon Clark, president,
man Of thi Y'180"’ 20 >'»rs of age, and Clarence Jackson, chair
ln u"lon "**>■ *“l ■“»
WSWNSSWSSaw
Lee KeUy, 72,
Labor Warrior,
Passes Away
for Coca R. Las
T tWO
Baptist. ..urch. Rev. Raymon_
pastor, officiated, assisted by «...
Jeta Baker, of Wiimot Baptist church.
Rev. Eugene Intery, of Statesville
Ave. Baptist church, and Rev. Q.
W. Burke, of Fort Mill, S. C. Bur
ial was in Elmwood cemetery.
Mr. Kelly, a retired carpenter, was
formerly a resident of Georgia bat M
lived in Charlotte for the last fifteen
years. He is survived by his widow,
Mrs. Sara Kelly; three sons, Claude
Kelly, Leirne Kelly, and Roy Kelly,
all of Charlotte; two daughters. Min
Gertrude Kelly, of the home ana Mia.
Mamie Thompson, of Ocala, Fla.;
and a brother, A. S. Kelly, of Sooth
Carolina.
Pallbearers wil Ibe J. J. Watson, O.
E. Mathis, J. F. Lane, S. C. Boom,
T. A. Martin, and W .H. Ferguson.
[And in the passing of Brother
Kelly, a good man has gone to his re
ward. He was a faithful union man,
and a man loyal to every doty—the
home, the church, as a citizen and a
lover of his fellow man. Peaea be to
his ashes.—Ed.]
PATRONIZE THOSE
WHO ADVERTISE Of
THE JOURNAL
IDEAL LABOR LEADER
BY DR. CHARLES STELZLE
Moses was the great labor leader who delivered from cruel
bondage millions of Israelites who were slaves in Egypt. He might
well serve as an example for the modern labor leader. The devel
opment of such a leader is always a slow process. For in the labor
movement there is so much at stake, and there are so many in
terests involved, that the row enthusiast can not be entrusted with
the power of leadership.
Enthusiasm there should be, but it must be enthusiasm
founded upon intelligence, knowledge and self-control. It re
quired long years of solitude in the land of Midian to transform
Jhe hot-blooded Moses, the adopted son of Phoroah's daughter,
into the modest Moses whose name has become a synonym for
meekness. "Learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians," never
theless he needed the solidarity, deep-thinking life of the shep
beard on the hillside to prepare him for the great task of leading
out into liberty the slaves of the Egyptian ruler.
He came, too, with the consciousness of sure victory, because
he knew that his cause was just. But more than that, he was
because he came in the spirit of a strong moral faith.
Tlli* tfngpcjpation in which he was about to lead was more than
an eeonomie deliverance dependent upon brute strength, and the
ability of a mere man to exercise unusual power. He had back
of him the Omnipotent God of Abraham, of Isaac and of Jacob,
the forefathers of the afflicted Israelites.
T*!* •*"* 'rare so conspicuous in Moses must be
found in the modern leader. He must have had an experience
which sobered him, so that ha is familiar with the deeper, truer
things of life. He must depend not so much upon his speech as
upon his character. Ha must have the power which can come alone
through the consciousness that his cause is just, and that back of
him, too, as He was back of Moses, stands the God of the com
mon people, who is saying through him: "Let my people go."
Journal Readers Co-operate With Those
Who Advertise In It
THE MARCH DF LABOR • !
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SK-ON 6-RAY WEEK TO DC 9-NN WEK
THE STUDY REVEALED THAI NCARLV TO
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OUTPUT ON AN ACTUAL INC NIAS! .
FAMOUS SWRJ6 ORCHESTRA LEADKR, STiU
KEEVS HIS COAtMlWCftiS VIMOH CARD.
A good mcad deserves a
Good HAT; A (MON MAN
DESERVES A UNION LABEL J
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