t \ ft* ONLY RRALLY PIlWWPfOEMT WEEKLY hi M«ddgrtHinr F«r » W«*fr m ftiidf — ihm LAHGE8T BUYING POWER to Official Orgaa Ceatnl Labor Uaioa; staadtag for the A. F. of L. Cbe Charlotte labor Journal too* Truthful, Honest, Impartial by the N. C. SUU Fedora tioo of and DIXIE PARS news Tcatk Tour Of Endeavoring to Serve the Masses VOL. X—NO. 33 CHARLOTTE, N. C, THURSDAY, JANUARY, 2,1941 $2.00 P«r Y< “NO MAN LIVETH UNTO HIMSELF’ (A New Year’s Meditation) By Dr. Charles Stelzle Any plan or movement which leaves oat of consideration the spirit of brotherhood cannot survive in a true democracy. The worker has no right to build up a class movement which ignores the interest of every other group in society, any more than the capitalist has the right to build up an organization which per mits him to dominate the interest of all others. The dignity and self-respect of every man is greatly increased when he definitely, consciously becomes a part of society as a whole. If he is to be a part of society, he must obey the funda mental principle that he may exercise his personal liberty only insofar as it does not interfere with the liberty of others. He will recognize the fact that in a democracy there is no such thing as the absolute right to do as one pleases. He will discover that in the society of human beings, every man is compelled to give up certain things which he puts into a common fund. These constitute the sum of our mutual obligations to each other. But each of us draws from this common fund more than any of us puts in. Kept for himself what a man keeps may be added to, but what he contribute* to the common fund will be multiplied many fold, thus increasing the fund from which he may draw. Probably the greatest moment in a man’s life is when he dis covers himself; when he sees his own soul and recognizes how small it is. It often happens that this vision comes to a man on New Year’s Day; when he takes stock of himself and makes re solves for the new year. That man is blessed who when he is given such a vision, can lay aside all prejudice and passion, and look upo nhis fellowmen with a clear mind and a pure heart. It is then that he discovers the riches which his fellows contribute to the common fnnd. When such a vision comes to him it may lead him to become a greater man in his spirit and his life, and it may point the way to some great mission — to dignify and ennoble his appoints? IhIi GREETINGS, MOTORISTS Christinas Holidays Are Here Help Us Save A Life This Year Everyone Must Do His Share So Watch Your Step and Drive With Care Around the Curves and Over the Hills Through ’41 With Fewer Spills Wishing You and Yours A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year N. C. State Highway Patrol (The above wording on neat cards were handed out by Highway Patrolmen, and many who were stopped to receive these tokens throught they were being given a ticket,—Ed.) New Year Begins More Than Once, Believe It or Not! New Year’s day isn’t always New Year’s day. The actual date varies among the Egyptians, Chinese, Jews, Romans and Mohammedans from September 6 to March 1. January 1 was designated to be New Year’s day when Julius Caesar established the Julian calendar in 40 B. C. However, the calendar year thus established was 11 min utes longer than the astronomical year. To correct this discrepancy, Pope Gregory IH suppressed 10 days in 1183 by ordering that October 5 be called October 18. England and its colonies, however, did not adopt this new calendar until 1752. For almost three centuries, therefore, New Year’s was celebrated twice every year—both times on January 1. New Year’s never fell on the same day two years in succession in old QiIm The new year began on the first moon after the sun entered the sign Aquarius. This date varied from January 21 to February 18. Jewish New Year’s, when translated into dates of the Gregorian calendar, varies from September 8 to Octo ber 4. Mohammedans celebrated Muhar ram, or New Year’s, on February 10 last year. But it wasn’t the be ginning of 1040 for them; it was the first day of 1359. Because the Mo hammedan calendar is arranged dif ferently from ours, the new year does not always fall on the same date according to the calendar in use by ttw Christian nations. Happy New Year! When will YO*' celebrate T »■ fOUR SUBSCRIPTION IS IN ARREARS SEND IN A CHECK Central Labor Union Enters Upon the New Year On Jan. 8th Next Wednesday, Jan. 8th, Charlotte Central Labor Union will pick np where it left off two weeks ago, and start 1941 off, it is hoped, with a well attended meeting, and that the thread, broken by the holidays, will be picked up and that 1941 will see arrester ac complishment for Central Body. President Scoggins, Secretary Wm. Greene, and the delegates of the affiliatedhlbcals labored faithfully in 1940, but greater things are on tap for 1941. By the way the State Fed eration Convention will be held in Charlotte the second week in August, 1941, and that will give the boys some thing to work for, and look forward to. Typographical Union Holds First Meeting Of Year On Sunday On Sunday, Typographical its first m ty, January 6th, cal Union No. 331 eeting of the h Charlotte 338 will hold New Year. The year 1940 Saw No. 338 put in one of the best years, and President H. A. ~ " “ ries Sykes and Beatty the entire membership • faithful in attendance, an^alert and faithful to every duty imposed upon them; but this local is lookin forward to better things in 194: Here’s a Happy New Year to all the boys. i94i JANUARY i94i I i. ii inm inn 7 14 21 28 8 18 22 29 2 9 16 23 30 1011 17 24 31 18 28 MMMMMMMMMMMMMN PATRONIZE THOSE WHO ADVERTISE IN THE JOURNAL PRAISE FOR PRES. GREEN’S ADDRESS ON “LABOR AND NATIONAL DEFENSE* • ? i • We might be considered somewhat biased if we praised in our own words the recent radio address by President William Green of the American Federation of Labor on “Labor and National De fense.” So we are reprinting, herewith, the response this ad dress evoked in the editorial columns of the New York Herald Tribune. This newspaper is regarded as a conservative organ and that fact makes its condemnation of those who would take advantage of the defense emergency to assault labor standards doubly significant. We quote from the Herald-Tribune: “Mr. William Green has pledged the A. F. of L. to the de fense effort with vigor and fort-rightness. He has pledged to ‘avoid strikes, not only for trivial reasons but for scarcely any cause unless particular conditions become completely unbearable.* He has pledged it to ‘any reasonable and necessary sacrifices'; he has founded his position upon the rock-bottom truth that ‘national defense means self-defense to American workers’; he has cited the ‘glorious’ example of British trade unionism’s re sponse to national crisis, nor has he weakened the force of his declaration by including a few inferential side shots at the Con gress of Industrial Organizations, in which there have been evi dences of a less whoie-soulde understanding of labor’s stake in defense. “The address is a fine one and makes salutary reading after the outpourings of those statesmen who are going about the M talking of making strikes in defense industries a criminal offense, or otherwise converting preparedness into an assault on labor standards and union organization. Defense win be nothing if it is begun in a civil war; and it is as important to conserve the position of the workers, where that is possible, as to conserve the position of industrial owners or any other class in the community.** I *********** Journal Readers Co-operate With Hiose Who Advertise In It m A NEW YEAR MESSAGE By WILLIAM GREEN Federation of Labor defi faces tho Now Year ready to do its fall daty in the of American democracy. , The ranks of the American Federation of Labor are strong er today numerically, financially, spiritually and in every other way than ever before. This great army of American workers— 6,040,000 strong—is now pitching in with all its skill, training and genius to do the Job set for it in the Government’s blue prints—building the most powerful and invulnerable defense structure in our nation’s history. Already the program is spurting ahead of ichedale because the men and woasen of the American Federation of Labor are contributing not only their strength and their craftsmanship but a high patriotic fervor and an unconquerable spirit of confidence. Our people see the dangers ahead. They regard any and jail forms of totalitarianism as a curse and a blight They are devoted to democracy and tho freedom it guarantoee to them and their children in their daily life. That is why American workers are praying for a victory for Great Britain over tho Totalitarian aggressors of Europe. That is why they favor extending every assistance to Great Britain short of war. American workers want peace. They are willing to do everything in their power to keep America at peace. That is why they are giving wholehearted support to the natkaml de fense program and are ready to make any necessary sacri fice to bring about the success of the defense progress. Wo are proud of tho way our fellow trade-unionists in Great Britain have rallied to their country’s defense. They have voluntarily relinquished soum of their moot precious gains and freedoms but they have demanded and obtained a full voice in the shaping and administration of Governasont policy. The heroic defense of Groat Britain which challenges the ad miration of the entire world is duo not only to tho erased S&grcsr%&&%&&! of the try dur We are proud of tho record our American Federation of Labor have in this ing the past year. There has not hen a single strike by * in Federate ‘ * American Federation of Labor union which impeded the fense program. We are preosing for wider and even more effective self-discipline among our organisations, we are pre paring to assume new burdens and sacrifices whenever neces sary, out wo also insist oa our democratic rights. We want a voice in shaping defense policies and wo demand representa tion on all Government agencies adadnistering the defease program* The coming year appears full of promise for American workora. Already tho tragic army of unemployod which the nation has boon compelled to support for tho past ton years is being rapidly absorbed by private industry. Unemployment totals have dropped to 8,000,000. By the end of the coming year we predict that 8,000,000 new jobs will have been created and the army of unemployed practically will have disappeared. This is an encouraging prospect and labor has further reason for gratification in the realisation that the Govern ment of the United States is determined to protect its hard won econondc, social and legislative gains. We mast think not only today and tomorrow and the months of 1041 but of the years ahead. Our future security as a nation depends to a large extent oa tho umiatonaaee of labor’s standards. Today a fine feeling of friendship, understanding and co operation exists between the Governments of the United States and American workers as represntd by the American Fedra tiou of Labor. This feeling can and must be maintained and wing the coming yew. With the Government workers ef ow country working hand in hand with and reliance oa each other, American democracy is safe against any foe. The American Federation of Labor pledges itself during the coming yew to remain true to the of American democracy and the welfare of American PERHAPS ... OR LIFE’S SOLILIQUY By AL. J. VENNO, In Miami Citizen I know that whsn I’m called to die, I’ll scan the things I did, The worthwhile things, the manly things, and all thethings I hid; And when I’ve taken stock of them, perhaps IT1 find the Will show the good has equalised the bad I’Ve done before. Perhaps my tongas has said some words that eased another’s load, And perhaps the things I said to him did help him on the road Perhaps the grip I gars his hand encouraged Urn to say Though I’m now, ril win other day. Some frieads of mine see only ills in other lives while I Amjookb^ for the beet in men and other traits deny. And I feel I gained their friendship by the good I tried to do, For I know I aimed to show them that I weald bo staunch and true. Bospract of thooe I call my Mends, the love of children hors. The things that money cannot bur, that are to me so dear k^Pod me live and make my Hfe much better by their aid And brought me satisfaction and of death Tm not afraid. I would not change tbeoe of mine for all the earthly gold, wonld be a worthless thing if friendship’s love grew cold. And the happiness that this gives nm All my soul with tender thoughts Makes mo realise the value of these things that can’t be bought (M^yoo, when I am called to die, perhaps the flghts I’ve won Will rerempense s»e fully for the good that I have done. ft*..*“■ Wupurhape some friends wiU say: Ho saroty dM the boot ho could, and wo have laid a man away. I PATRONIZE JOURNAL ADVERTISERS