Newspapers / The Charlotte Labor Journal … / Aug. 20, 1942, edition 1 / Page 1
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Che Charlotte labor Journal Endoreed 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. 13 YOUR ADVERTISEMENT IN THE JOURNAL IE A OCOD INVESTMENT CHARLOTTE, N. C„ THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 1942 JOURNAL ADVIRTIIKM DESERVE CONSIDERATION the Readers $2.00 Per Year - “United We Stand for Victory” ~ The ONLY REALLY INDEPENDENT WEEKLY in Mecklenburg County K™«^For a Weekl>T Its Readers Represent the LARGEST BUYING POWER in Charlotte WIN THE WAR’ THEME OF AFL CONVENTION All unions affiliated with the Amer ican Federation of Labor are notified thru the Central Labor Union by President Wm. Green and Sec’y-Treas. George Meany that the 62nd annual Convention will be convened in the Royal York Hotel, Toronto, Canada, on Monday, Oct. 6, 1942, at 10 A. M. President Green states that those who attend the convention will be in fluenced by one thought—a single ness of purpose and a determination that Hitler must be defeated at any cost. All action taken and every de cision made by the delegates in at tendance at the Convention will be based on that one common purpose —the winning of the war. E. A. Witter Joins The Army Edwin A. Witter, born and raised in Charlotte and Business Manager of the CHARLOTTE LABOR JOUR NAL, joined the U. S. Army last week and is now undergoing his pre liminary training at Camp Jackson. Because of the dependency of his wife Elizabeth and 2% year old son, James, Mr. Witter, felt that he would become too impatient waiting for his draft call, and decided that this was as good a time as any to get in. Ed win also turned down importunities of his friends to apply for a commission by reason of the fact of his previous training and education at cadet and military schools, but his mind and am bition was set on being a “buck pri vate” and that is what he is. His host of friends and the friends of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. M. Witter, wish him luck and God-speed. 12th Century Chapel Uncovered Discoveries made in England re cently during excavations at the Church of St. Michael, Milverton, in Somcrsetshiie, are (Mitt of a twelfth century chapel, and a rood-loft door way and a piscina, both of the thirteenth century. Janitor Sells $200,800 War Bonds NEW HAVEN, Conn.. Aug. 19.— Adolph Fleischman, a Yale janitor, who works nightly in the Sterling Memorial Library, has sold $200,800 in war bonds and stamps. In addi tion to his night work, he devotes eight hours a day selling war bonds, foregoing luncheon and two-weeks’ vacation. NAME BROWN MANAGER OF SHELL PLANT NEW YORK, Aug. 19.—The United States Rubber Co. announced today it would build and operate a shell loading plant ip North Carolina un der terms of a contract with the Navy department. Ernest G. Brown has been named general manager of the company’s shell loading division, erected to handle the assignment. Lost Ration Books Seen As A Racket Asserting that the large number of claims for replacement of gasoline and sugar ration books on the grounds that the originals had been lost, stolen or destroyed had “reached racket pro portions,_ Russell H. Potter, assist ant regional rationing executive of the Office of Price Administration, warned that Federal prison terms and fines would be sought for persons making false statements. In New York alone, 300 “lost books were reported in three days. FIGURES BAD FOR NAZIS Occasional scattered reports from Germany telling of the dire effect of the war upon the marriage and birth rates are supported by official sta tistics recently printed in German newspapers. As summarized by the London of fice of the International Federation of Trade Unions, these figures show that in sixty-three large cities of the Nazi Reich the number of marriages during the first three months of this year was only 63,339, compared with 78,109 for the same period last year and in 103,643 in the same quarter of 1940. Births were 116,786, against 129,913 and 162,610 for the respective quarters of 1941 and 1940. The total population of the cities covered by these figures rose from 24,162,000 in 1940 to 24,535,000 in 1942. i* “FIGHTING” . .IZvety Marking Minute! A. F. L OPPOSES LIMIT OF $25,000 ON NET INCOMES WASHINGTON, Aug. 16. — The American Federation of Labor notified congress Wednes day it was opposed to a limi tation of net incomes to $25,000 annually, as proposed by Presi dent Roosevelt and supported by a spokesman for the Con gress of Industrial Organi zation. Raymond G. Cranch of the Washington research staff of the A. F. of L. told the senate finance committee his organiza tion realized that many inde pendent businessmen would find it necessary to restrict their ac tivities, reduce their war work and decrease their employment of labor under such a limitation. Most Sailors Not Lonely, Navy Warns All ‘Juliets’ GREAT LAKES, 111., August 16th. The Ninth Naval District warned “well-meaning but misinformed” girls today that all sailors are not lonely. The “communique” was directed to “Juliets of unknown vintage” who have been addressing mail in such general terms as: “to a sailor with a lonely heart.” “Naval establishments have no de partment devoted to the registering of sailors with lonely hearts, nor have they the time or inclination to go to the trouble of trying to find out who might like to receive a billet doux from some unknown Juliet of unknown vintage,” the headquarters announce ment said. The Navy pointed out that most sailors, “contrary to popular belief,” had relatives, friends and sweethearts who wrote them regularly. “Girls, have pity on the over-worked postal employes,” the communique said. “Do not write to any sailor unless you know him and have his correct and complete address. “If you do know a bluejacket, write —and often.” Speeders on ‘Unpatriotic Roll’ ASHEVILLE, N. C., Aug. 19.—Be ginning Monday, the names of motor ists convicted of speeding will be placed on a public “unpatriotic roll” by the Buncombe County Rubber Rationing Board here. ITS LABOR’S WAR — LETS FIGHT—WITH PAY DOLLARS IN WAR BONDS. WISDOM “Poverty is a crime—but it is not a crime to be poor. Murder is a crime—but it is not a crime to be murdered.” Henry George—“Progress and Poverty.” WLB UPS WAGE OF 61,000; KILLS RAISE FOR 32,090 WASHINGTON, D. C„ Angv 16.—The National War Labor Board today awarded a wage increase of l]/2 cents an hour to 61,000 workers in 40 New England and 11 southern textile mills but denied increases to 32,000 employes in 10 plants of the Alum inum Co. of America and 90 workers in the Buffalo, N. Y., plant of the American Magnesium Co. In the Alcoa case, the Aluminum Workers of America, the United Automobile Workers and the National Asociation of Die Casting Workers, all CIO, had asked $1 increase daily. In denying it, the board found that the workers’ peace-time standards of living had not been lowered and they weer not en titled an icrease. The vote was 8-4, the labor disseting. In unanimous action on the textile case, the board agreed that the increase, retroactive to June 15, was needed to narrow in equalities between the wages of the workers involved and the wags in other industries in the same areas. In the case of American Magnesium Co., which is a subsidiary of Alcoa, the board found that the workers were not entitled an increase, because since Jan. 1, 1941, they had received raises com pensating for the estimated 15% rise in the cost of living. Labor Day To Be Huge This Year High Government Officials To Join AFL Green and CIO Murry in Big Event WASHXlNliTUlN—Labor way tnis year will be tne occasion oi nation wide celebrations unsurpassed in the entire 48-year history of this workers’ holiday. In recognition of the heroic service of the nation’s production soldiers in winning the battle of production within six months, the Government in tends to do its utmost to make this Labor Day the greatest of all time. President Roosevelt, the heads of the Army and Navy, and War Produc tion Director Nelson plan to join with AFL President Green and CIO Presi dent Murray in a nation-wide radio program which will be broadcast over all networks on Labor Day. Green indicated he will lead a giant Labor Day rally in Chicago, climaxed by a mass meeting of 100,000 workers in Soldiers Field. His message will be carried in a separate nation-wide broadcast. Every large city in the nation will have huge Labor Day parades, with battalions of America’s newly trained soldiers and sailors participating. LIVING COST BONUS ORDERED IN CANADA Workers Get $1,000,000 Extra Weekly As Index Tops Price Ceiling by 1% in Month OTTAWA, Aug. 19.—For the first time since the price ceiling was instituted in Canada in October last year the cost of living has risen by more than one point during a single month and in consequence, beginning today, more than $1,000,000 a week will be paid out to Canadian workers in cost-of-living bonuses. The increase in the cost of living, it has been pointed out by both Donald Gordon, chairman of the Wartime Prices and Trade Board, and the Bureau of Statistics, is to some extent a seasonal one and in part due to circumstances over which the price board could not obtain. immediate con trol. It is accounted for to the extent of 87 per cent by increases in the price of potatoes and beef, together with moderate increases in the price of eggs and lambs. At the same time there have been offsetting declines in the price of butter, cheese and lard. It is believed that by October, when the potato crop is harvested and the beef situation has been taken fully under control, this slight increase will be be wiped out and the cost of living will return ot where it was before the ceiling was imposed. The total increase Bince last October has been only 2.4 per cent, thus indicating how effective the price control ceiling has been. Until June 1 it stood at 117, representing a rise of only 1.2 per cent in nine months, and there was no need for any wage adjustment then. The Wartime Wages and Control order, however, provides that in the event of a rise of over 1 per cent in any one month those employers not already paying a cost of living bonus shall pay on to all employes earning, les sthan $3,000 a year. In the majority of cases the amount will approximate 60 cents ft week and it is provided that the adjusted bonus shall not exceed $4.28 a week or 17 per cent of the basic pay. THE HOME FRONT We are now on the offensive. For the first time in this war American forces have moved against the enemy with the objective of- expelling him. The theater of action is the Solomons. The Solomons are a chain of islands, the islands are steaming jungle and abrupt peak and the home of head hunting savages who doubtless have learned new lessons in savagery, lately, from the Japanese. For Japan’s line of communion runs through the Solomons and in the Solomons Japan flanks Australia. From its very start this first American offensive indicated to the Home Front the need for redoubling our production effort. Admiral King, Com mander in Chief of the U. S. Fleet, said it appears we have lost at least one cruiser and that other warships had been damaged and he said—“Consider able losses, such as are inherent in any offensive operation, must be ex pected.” MUST PREPARE FOR LOSSES We must go on from offensive to the offensive if we are to win this war, we can win this war only by driving the Japs out from the territory they have seized, by driving the Nazis from Europe and the Neast East. To do this we must accept losses on a great scale, and we must prepare for these losses. We canont sit smugly back on past performance. Last Sunday Elmer Davis, Director of the Office of War Information, spoke of the front line of production and said of it that “Generally speaking this line is holding firm.” But Davis went on to say that this front line could break unless new lines swiftly are established behind it. “We cer tainly shall fail,” he said, “unless we increase the production of raw ma terials.” He said we must develop new processes, end waste, and—something in which everyone can help—“Press for full salvage by every citizen in the land.” Materials and more materials—that is the desperate need. This is war in which tanks are destroyed by hundreds in a single action on a single sector of one front. And yet into a tank of the General Grant type go about 26 tons of steel, some six hundred pounds of copper, more than five hundred pounds of chromium and more than six hundred pounds of manga nese, aluminum, lead and zinc. SALVAGE IS PARAMOUNT More than ever today the emphasis must be on salvage land on such further restrictions of an already restricted civilian industry as may be pos sible. It is possible to tighten up on the civilian economy here and there, and wherever it is possible it must be done. One of our most critical shortages is the shortage of steel and last week the War Production Board ordered the makers of wooden upholstery furniture to stop usihg iron or steel in springs. WPB launched a drive for material salvage embracing 37,000 dairy plants throughout the country and appealed for metal salvage embracing 37,000 daily plants throughout the country and appealed to whole sale and retail merchants to “make a clean sweep” of store rooms; and shops for critically needed material. There are almost two million retail mer chants in the U. S. A. and more than 100,000 wholesalers. And the com bined Production and Resources Board, the agency throughout which Great Britain and the United States attaek their joint production problems, says an American Steel Mission is going to England to work out plans -for a more efficient method of using steel, and to study British methods of collecting scrap. We must forget that we are the richest country world, until the war is won we must live as though the U. S. A. were a poor country, without resources. Last week WPB ordered that men’s work clothes must have fewer pockets, fewer buttons and buckles and must consume less cloth. Another order cut use of rubber in manufacture of products intended not for civilian use, but for the armed forces. The order prohibited use of rubber in a long list of military products, including cartridge clip boxes and gun grips. WPB called on the wood furniture industry to help relieve civilian shortages by using wood to make articles normally of metal such as lockers, ice boxes, wash tubs, pails, lamps, trailers, truck and bus bodies, but WPB warned that the highest quality lumber must be used primarily for military purposes and that only lower grades would be available for these substitutes. TRANSPORTATION PROBLEM GROWS The p?oblems of war time transportation increase with the turning wheels 'and the passing days. In a sense, transportation is the key to victory—or rather,, one of many keys with which we must unlock many doors before we win. Production, mass assembly line production, is really a matter of distribution—a matter of getting material to processing plants, thence to fabricating factories, eventually to the point of final assembly and ultimately to where it is needed on the fighting on the fighting fronts. The only way in which we can depend on our transportation systems, local and long haul, to do their job is by cutting civilian demands on these systems to the barest possible minimum. And that is what we are doing. BUY COAL NOW, ODT WARNS The Office of Defense Transportation announced last week that by cutting out duplicate passenger train and bus schedules in the first half of 1942, the railways have gained 114 locomotives and 553 passenger cars to meet the needs of war traffic. The greatest civilian long distance transportation problem is that which affects Eastern States next winter with a shortage of fuel, especially fuel oil. The railroads are moving great 60 car tank trains on limited schedules to the East, but there is a point beyond which we may not count on the supplies so received. WPB has set aside 11,000 tons of scarce iron and steel for members of grates and other equip ment needed to change oil burners and furnaces so that they will burn coal. People in the East who have oil furnaces which can be changed over should do so at once—and they should buy their coal now, too, because there is a growing, shortage of railway cars and it may not be possible to move the coal after cold weather sets in. The problem of local transportation is something which concerns every body and it is a critical problem today. Every time the big rubber tires of a delivery truck revolve they bring nearer the time when that truck must be laid up. Whether such trucks serve America until the war is won, or whether our system of distribution by truck breaks down, depends largely on the way the trucks are used. ODT, working with owners and drivers of our five million trucks, has made plans to save trucks and tires as much as possible, but no plan will work unless everyone helps. Plan ahead,, when you buy, buy for as long a period as possible—that means fewer trips for the truck. Carry your own packages when you can. For years we have depended on department stores and groceries, laundries and dry cleaners,, bakeries and dairies and drug stores for all sorts of deliveries which were covenant—but necessary. OPA DENIES NEW RATIONING The Office of Price Administration denies it plans to add new com modities to the rationing program. The rumors arose from OPA’s plan to prepare rationing machinery for future emergencies. Part of this plan is “a universal rating book which, placed in the hands of every citizen in the country, could be used for the rationing of any commodity or article in which a shortage occurred.” The U. S. A. and Mexico have concluded an arrangement by which Mexican farm workers may enter the U. S. A. to help get in this year’s bumper crops . . . WPB has authorized Henry J. Kaiser, West Coast shipbuilder, to submit plans for building five hundred Martin “Mars” flying boats for use as cargo carriers and has asked Reiser to pro ceed with designs of a new type two hundred ton flying boat ... In July we spent $184,400,000 a day for war—a gain of 16.3 per cent over June . . . more than 1,500 negro recruits now are being trained at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station and 300 Negro Coast Guard recruits have been assigned to active duty . . . You can’t buy railroad watches any more unless it is an Army order or you work for the railroad. Admiral William D. Leahy, the President’s Chief of Staff, in a radio speech—“This is the time to make our stand . . . We dare not be reckless with the fact of our own country—we dare not throw away the fate of the world.” USE THE PAYROLL PLAN 10% EACH WEEK FOR WAR BONDS
The Charlotte Labor Journal and Dixie Farm News (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Aug. 20, 1942, edition 1
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