Newspapers / The Charlotte Labor Journal … / July 30, 1942, edition 1 / Page 1
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- “United We Stand for Victory” - The ONLY REALLY INDEPENDENT WEEKLY in Mecklenburg County and compiled in cbarlotte ampfqt a Weekly Its Readers Represent the LARGEST BUYING POWER in Charlotte _ _——— ——Z MECKLENBURG COUNT* IN ITS ENTIRETY - - . . - . _ Che Charlotte labor Journal Endorsed by the N. C. State Federation of Labor AND DIXIE FARM NEWS Official Organ of Central Labor Union; Standing for the A. F. L. _ VOL. XII—NO. 10 VOU« AOVIITIIMHT IN TMI JOURNAL It A OOOO INVSRTMSNT CHARLOTTE, N. C„ THURSDAY, JULY 30, 1942 journal Advertisers Deserve consideration op THE READERS $2.00 Per Year INFLATION CAN LOSE THE WAR Twenty dollars a day is a pretty good wage. But it doesn’t mean much if your groceries cost you $30 a day. To catch up with your grocery bill, you demand a wage increase of $10 a day. But by the time you get it, your grocery bill has jumped to $40. So you are still one jump behind. That is inflation. That is why President Roosevelt is trying desperately to prevent inflation. He knows what it does to the working man. Wages never catch up with prices when inflation starts. It is beginning to look as though the President must have some intelligent cooperation from labor if he is going to stop the race between prices and wages. Ordinarily a working man doesn’t have to worry about things like this. He hires a congressman, pays him $10,000 a year and expects him to give intelligent cooperation to the Presi dent to prevent such economic catastrophies as inflation. This year, however, the average working man hasn’t got a very bright congressman. So you had better forget about your congressman—until election day—and start figuring this out for yourself. As things stand now, the congressmen think they can get themselves a lot of votes if they scuttle the President’s program and give farmers more money for their crops. This, of course, means that you will pay more for your groceries. But the congressman tells you you can get a pay raise to buy the farmers’ crops. He knows, but he doesn’t tell you, that you can’t increase your pay as fast as the prices of groceries rise, for one reason and another. He figures that by the time you wake up to the fact that you are sliding down the inflation skids, the election will be over and you can’t do anything about the bum steer he gave you. But President Roosevelt knows what it is all about. And when he says that wages must be stabilized, he is try ing to protect what you now have. Under inflation, you will lose what you have. The President did not say there should be no more pay raises. He said that under-paid jyorkers were entitled to equalization. But if wages start up in a general spiral, then prices start up also, and the race is on. President Roosevelt is making an emergency move to pre vent inflation. He is trying to protect labor and labor should be intelligent enough to'help him. When the war is over, we can get some of the bugs out of our economic system, provided we win. The best way hot to win is to disrupt production and destroy our economic balance by inflation. Inflation would be a forerunner of military defeat. It must be avoided at all costs, because, if we lose the war we lose everything we are fighting for. You will be all through so far as having anything to say about your wages, your hours or your working conditions. You’ll do what they tell you and you’ll say “Yes, sir” when you do it. It would be a lot smarter to lose a pay raise now than to lose the whole pay check later. Three-Fourths Of His Wages Go For War Bonds VANCOUVER. Wash—War Bond sales records at the Kaiser shipyard showed one worker whose salary was $46.15 had signed for $37.50 worth of bonds each week. ‘ No, it was no mistake, he said. “If I’d gotten into the Army I’d be making 21 bucks a month. “This way I’ve got 33 left. Be sides I had a kid brother on Bataan. CIO USES AFL LABOR DETROIT—AFL unions are re modeling the building which the Unit ed Automobile Workers, CIO, recent ly purchased to house its Interna tional offices. In choosing the AFL for the work, the auto union ignored the United Construction Workers Or ganizing Committee headed by A. D. Lewis, brother John L. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ISSUES BOOK The CHARLOTTE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE has issued its new blue covered book on very fine coated paper giving a complete history of our city and county and a record of their growth. The book is a magnifi cent piece of work and does credit to our city and to Mr. Kuester and his associates in the CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF CHARLOTTE. Beware of New Family Group Life Insurance Racket Workers are being victimized by a new form of mail-order insurance racket. It is called “Family Group Life Insurance.” A typical mail-order advertiser says: “There is no reason now why any member of your family should be without life insurance. One policy, costing only $1 a month, can insure them all.” The company accepts all members of a family group, ages 1 to 75, without medical examination, un der a $l-a-month insurance policy. The maximum benefit is stated as $1,000. The policy buyer naturally assumes this means that each member of his family is insured for $$1,000. That is far from the truth. In the first place, the maximum benefit ranges from $100 to $1,000, depending on the age at death. And secondly, this maximum benefit for each indi vidual is divided by the number of persons covered under the policy. For example, if a family of 10—grand parents, parents, and children—is in sured under such a policy, and if the grandfather dies at 70 the family gets just $10. $100 maximum benefit at 70, divided by 10, the number of per sons covered.) These family group insurance poli cies lead people to believe they are protected by insurance. WISDOM Each week a quotation from the pen of some famous person who contributed to the progress of our civilization. “THIS ABOVE ALL; TO THINE OWN SELF BE TRUE, AND IT FOLLOWS AS THE NIGHT THE DAY, THOU CANST NOT BE FALSE TO ANY MAN.” WM. SHAKESPEARE, “Hamlet” UNION BLOOD NOW RUNS IN MANAGEMENT’S VEINS By War Production Board Service. There was trouble at the Electric Storage Battery Co. in Philadelphia, Pa. Leaders of Local 113 of the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers (CIO), were in Washington demanding higher wages, a union shop, premium days—in fact, they had about every grievance it’s pos sible for a union to have. Hearings before the National War Labor Board in Washington began on June 15. Feeling was bitter between the union and the employers. L. W. Mosely, personnel manager, was ready to testify. Suddenly he collapsed. He was rushed to the hospital with an internal hemorrhage. Transfusions were necessary. So management representative Mosely was given three transfusions. He now has union blood in his veins. For his donors were Charles Goff, president of Local 113; Robert Davidson, secretary of the Local; and Carl Bersing, international representative. Mosely recovered- Hearings were resumed on July 10. As yet there has been no decision in this case. The union boys are said to be wondering what effect their blood will have. FITTING NAMES ‘'OR NEW SHIPS It is most fitting that ships to be launched and christened on Labor Day should bear the names of Samuel Gompers, Andrew Furuseth, Peter J. McGuire and other great leaders of American labor. They fought for democracy all their lives and the ships to bear their names will help in the same fight, in the war of the United Nations against the Axis. The ship-launching program will be one to be long remembered by the American people. The program, prepared by the Maritime Commission and other government agencies, is expected to surpass even the achievements of Maritime Day. Representatives of both the AFL and CIO are aiding m the making of the arrangements and will participate in the ceremonies. John P. Frey, president of the Metal Trades Department who is in charge of the arrangements for the AFL announces that high Government officials and members of Congress have agreed to take part in the ceremonies at the chief launching.) ARE YOU FIGHTING MAD? By E. S. Land, Chairman U. S. Maritime Commission Everyone of us is in this war. You and I and he and she. From the youngest apprentice in shipyard or factory to the top executive, from the typist to the Chairman of the Mari time Commission . . . we’re all fighting on the battlelines of production. ^ We have been given our fighting orders by the Command er-in-Chief. _ They must be carried out. A minute lost—ten minutes lost—time wasted . . . that’s what our enemies want. “Take it easy,” Hitler whispers. “Make the job last long er. He doesn’t add, “Give me a chance to invade your shores.” “Let’s take the day off,” whispers Mussolini. “Let’s go fishing.” He doesn’t add “So I can give you a stab in the back.” “To hell with taking care of your tools,” whispers the wily Japanese. “Let somebody else do it.” He doesn’t add “That’s an ‘honorable’ way of committing sabotage.” Efficiency is the individual’s best weapon against our foes. Their production drive isn’t voluntary, it’s compulsory. It isn’t cooperation, it’s slavery. The success of the Victory Fleet Drive depends upon the voluntary cooperation of free men and women—their offensive strategy against those evil hordes which would destroy us. Your men building Liberty Ships: Your spirit sails into many censored ports, the world over. Across space, soldiers, sailors, seamen, airmen and all who represent you over there thank you, their buddies over here. And men of other na tions, your fellow workmen, know you’er fighting with them against enslavement. We who build ships have a grave responsibility, one that will decide the fate of democracy. The freedom of man is de pendent upon ships. Never in the history of wars has such a situation existed. Never did major strategy center as much on ships. You should be proud of your share in the defeat of your enemies—the damnable exploiters who are now selling workers on the slave market, not as individuals, but in droves—100, 500, 1,0000 at a time. • Yours may be an invisible uniform—but you are in this war, out in front. And you and I and he and she should be as fighting mad as our men in far places. PLAY SAFE AND GET YOUR BIRTH CERTIFICATES American citizens have begun to realize the advantages of having birth certificates. This has been, publiciz ed by the U. S. Bureaus of vital statistics for many years. However, the majority of people failed to take the advice seriously until they were faced with the necessity of proving their birth before they could enter the army or navy, or before they could secure a defense job which required that a birth certificate be furnished. Citizens not having birth certifi cates should apply to the Bureau of Vital Statistics of the State Board of Health in the state of their birth. Until 1940 it was a very simple procedure to get a delayed birth certi ficate. Proof of birth consisted mere ly of an affidavit made by a relative or friend. Under these simple require ments it occasionally happened that fraudulent certificates were filed which were used for improper and illekal purposes. In 1941 new and stiffer require ments for obtaining a birth certifi cate went into force over all the na tion. Three facts must be shown on every birth certificate: 1— Exact day, month, or year of birth. 2— Exact place of birth. 3— Names of parents, including maiden name of mother. This must be proved by written evi dence, dating from a time as near as possible to the claimed time of birth. Affidavits alone are no longer suffi cient. AH persons applying to the Bureau of Vital Statistics for a birth certi ficate are earnestly requested to be patient at the delay in receiving one. The delay is caused by an unpre cedented number of applications reaching the bureau, and by the re quirements for utmost accuracy. Uncle Sam has laid down certain rules for proof of birth which the Bureau of Vital Statistics must abide by. “Red tape” is dispensed with to the limit of safety in all Bureau of Vital Statistics proceedings. Late News — Labor and Industrial Four employes of the Ordnance Department’s Arsenal at Watertown, Mass., have received cash awards for suggestions which have speeded production and reduced manufacturing costs. They , are Walter/R. Ward, machinist; George R. Tleck, maintenance machinist; Janies F. Farrar, toolmaker; and William C. Parsons, machine operator. ARMY STUDIES WORKERS’ HEALTH—More than 100 medical directors and safety engineers responsible for measures safeguarding the health of 250,000 Army Ordnance manufacturing plant workers met July 17 and 18 in St. Louis to discuss the latest scientific advances in industrial hygiene. More than 13,000,000 women, representing over one-fourth of total employment, are now working in this country, Mary Anderson, director of the Women’s Burear, U. S. Labor Departmerit, announced last week. “Two million more employed women will be needed by the end* of 18942, and at least 5,000,000 more women than are employed now will be needed by the end of 1943,” Miss Anderson said, explaniing that such needs include war work, consumer goods production, farm, and all other industries. WORKERS CITED FOR HEROISM, PRODUCTION—Under Secre tary of War Robert Patterson has sent a letter of commendation to Vernon L. Nash, electrician at Huntsville Arsenal, Huntsville, Ala., for bravery in disconnecting an electric switch at risk of his life, thereby saving valuable government equipment. The ship building records of June were made possible through the co operative efforts of shipyard labor and management. Many thousands of shipyard workers, most of them untrained in ship-building before coming to the yards, are becoming more familiar with their jobs and as a result production increases. A review of the progress made during the last six months shows there has been a steady increase with each month. Beginning in January when 16 ships of 197,628 deadweight tons were'delivered, the monthly production has been: February, 26 ships, 289,549 tons; March, 26 ships, 291,473 tons; April, 36 ships, 401,632 tons and May, 58 ships, 632,304 tons; and June, 66 ships, 731,900 Otons. Under Secretary^** the Navy James V. Forrestal last week urged that to meet critical labor needs'All Naval contractors should give the fullest possible consideration to the employment of members of the families of men once employed by the contractor but now serving with the armed forces. Pointing out that the fathers, mothers, wives and sisters of men now in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard logically will make most loyal and willing employees, Under Secretary Forrestal asked management to pay particular attention to employment applications from these people whose primary interest is making certain that their relatives get the arms necessary to defeat the enemy in the quickest possible time. This policy will bring increased income to families who may be making serious financial sacrifices during the wartime absence of their male relatives. In addition, this freedom from financial worry of the families naturally will further the morale of the fighting men at the front. 6,000 Frenchmen from Lorraine, “unsympathetic to the German au thorities,” have been deported to Poland and forced labor. A Polish workman was executed for offering resistance when struck by his German employer. 112,500 tons of steel, 1000 ton*, of copper, 5800 tons of aluminum, 4760 tons of rubber and 7850 tons of zinc will be saved annually through the stop order on the manufacture of washing and ironing machines. The 12,770 workers who made washing and ironing machines are now working on gun mounts, gun sights, shells and other ordnance materials. Labor Is Praised In Army Paper “United States war strategists are convinced that the chief hope of revo lution in Europe comes from labor,” declared Drew Pearson and Robert S. Allen in an exclusive article in “Firepower,” the Army’s official publication for ordnance workers. Stressing the importance which the government places on labor’s war con tribution, the famous columnists wrote: “Although not generally known, the nucleus of the old Social Democratic party which tried to create a real re public in Germany is still intact. Fifty Social Democrats from the old Reichstag are now in this country. Administration leaders are giving more and more credit to the great job labor and industry are doing in arm ing not only the United States, but also the United Nations. “For some time it was a military secret, but now it can be revealed that when Germany and England started shooting at each other in September, 1939, the United States had only enough smokeless powder to last the Army a few weeks. The miracle of American labor and industry—such as you men and wome nin the Ordnance plants—is that we now have far more smokeless powder production than we had at the end of the Armistice, and we built that production almost over night! “It was a military secret until re cently that the British twice were completely cleaned out of small arms and cartridges. Once was after Dun kirk. The other was after Greece and Crete. In each case United States arsenals and plants were opened wide. We were almost denuhded but the British were kept going. Ordnance production workers, as well as the American laboring men and women everywhere, will have a direct part in winning this war.” MR. AND MRS. BABB REVISIT OLD SCENES Mr. and Mrs.* Roswell Babb for-, merly of Charlotte but now residents of Birmingham, Ala., are visiting friends and relatives in the city and will remain until the first of August', Mr. Babb has been sick for several months, but has recovered sufficient ly to visit old friends in the city. He l was formerly connected with the me chanical department of the Charlotte News. I. T. U. CONVENTION MEETS IN SEPTEMBER C, R. Austin, who will represent Charlotte Typographical Union at the Golden Jubilee Convention of the In ternational Union at Colorado Springs, Colo., is making preliminary plans to attend that meeting in Sep tember. A letter from International head I quarters at Indianapolis, Ind., last week brought the information that nothing but a governmental order can stay the holding of the convention this year. However, due to transporta tion problems, the attendance this year will doubtless be the smallest in many years. CHARLOTTE UNION MEETS SUNDAY Charlotte Typographical Union No. 338 will meet in regular monthly ses sion Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock in the Moose Hall on South Tryon Street. President C. J. Pridgen will preside. O. N. Burgess, secretary treasurer, and Howard L. Beatty, re cording secretary, will be in their re spective positions. Most of the boys who have had vacations with pay this year have re-1* turned from these periods of rest and a large attendance is expected Sun day. Routine matters will be dis posed of and plans will be made for Fall and Winter activities. “LET’S GO U.S. A.—KEEP ’EM FLYING” “FIGHT - WORK - SAVE*’ USE THE PAYROLL PLAN 10% EACH WEEK FOR WAR BONDS V
The Charlotte Labor Journal and Dixie Farm News (Charlotte, N.C.)
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July 30, 1942, edition 1
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