Che Charlotte labor Journal
tSudorerd by the N. C. State
Federation of Labor
AND DIXIE FARM NEWS
13 YEARS OF
CONSTRUCTOR
SERVICE TO
NORTH
CAROLINA
READERS
Official 0> pan of Central Labor Union, Standtng
for the A. F. L.
VOL. XIII—No. 21
V«*Mt ADVUTIMMINT IN TH« JOUftNAk !• A O00»
INVMTHlNf
CHARLOTTE, N. C„ THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7,1943
Joumu un»i.m Omni co~»io«»»Tio« or
$2.00 Per Yea?
Labor Is “Producing For Attack
99
Tl»* ONLY REALLY INDEPENDENT WEEKLY In Mecklenburg County minted and compiled in charlotte an* For a Weekh Its Keaderx Kepresent the LARGEST BUYING POWER in Charlotte
w u _ MECKLENBURG COUNTY IN ITS ENTULKTl mi h
GREEN SAYS U. S. MUST ASSUME
WORLD PEACE RESPONSIBILITY;
UNDER SECRETARY OF WAR WARNS
AGAINST DANGEROUS OPTIMISM
BOSTON, Oct. 5.—Delegates to the American Federation of
Labor’s 63d annual convention yesterday heard Under Secretary
of War Robert P. Patterson caution them against the dangerous
optimism of “fencerail strategists” and cheered their president,
William Green, as he called for an end to America’s isolationism
fnrpvpr
Patterson remarked that “some of
you present have heard fencerail
strategists say^ that Germany will
crumble this fall as Germany crumb
led in the fall of 1918. Or that our
victories in the South Pacific have
softened up the Japanese and that
we can take them easily when the
war in Europe is over. I have heard
some talk like that—but not around
the War department.”
The under secretary called 1944 the
year of decision, but said that does not
mean the end of the war. He said that
although the German armies are re
treating now, they are retreating in
good order, and “soon there will come
a day when the forces of the United
Nations will reach the lines where the
Germans are determined to stand.
That will mean fighting of the hard
est kind.”
Green, in his keynote address said:
“This war has taught us that Amer
ica cannot isolate herself from the
rest of the world. As a nation we
face a new era in international rela
tions when the "war ends. Our first
object must be to assure lasting peace.
We know now that peaceful intentions
on our part are not enough, that we
must assume our full share of re
sponsibility, that the warlike tend
encies of other nations do not break
beyond bounds.”
Green asserted that 85 per cent of
America’s war material is produced
by union labor, and “We hope that
the bullet that will finally end Hitler’s
life will bear the union label.”
The AFL president said the “tragic
figures” of the production front show
that “casualties to American workers
through accident since Pearl Harbor
number 80,000 dead, 7,000,00 injured,
on and off the job. . . . Twenty thou
sand have been killed in the armed
forces of our nation. What a striking
comparison.”
AMERICAN LABOR LEADERS GIVEN
CONFIDENTIAL REPORT ON STATUS
OF OUR MILITARY GREATNESS
Two American labor leaders this week were given a confi
dential report on the status of our military might, together with
a clear-cut picture of the production and supply problems which
must be overcome if we are to win an all-out victory over the con
tinued growing strength of Germany and Japan.
Headed by William Green, president of the AFL. and Philip Murray,
president of the CIO. the labor chieftains heard, military experts, some of
them only recently returned from the World’s battle fronts, explain these
problems at a two-day War Department Conference of Industry, Labor and
Newsnaper Leaders in Washington. D. C. Sept 27 and 28.
The labor leaders were in unanimous agreement that the information
disclosed to them at the conference. made it plain that the Axis was still
strong and that there was no justification for any feeling of complacency
or the idea that the war is as good as won.
They heard “off the record" speeches bv George C. Marshall. Chief of
Staff, and General H. H.. Arnold. Commanding General, Army Air Forces,
along with considerable information of a confidential nature from high
officers of the Army Service Forces, Ground Forces and Air Forces.
Under Secretary of War Robert P. Patterson, at whose invitation the
more than 200 labor and industrial leaders gathered, declared that the con
ference “left no doubt that our recent victories have failed to affect in any
vital degree the strength of the enemy.”
Free Labor Will Out-Produce Nazi Slaves
THE MARCH OF LABOR
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AMERICAN LEGION AND UNION
LABOR ARE NOT ENEMIES, SAYS
THE IOWA LEGIONAIRE
The American Legion is NOT against Organized Labor.
The American Legion is NOT opposed to the closed shop.
The American Legion is NOT controlled by enemies of Labor
Unionism.
Labor Day was an ideal time for all true Legionaires to im
press these facts on the minds of our fellow citizens.
Thousands of leaders and rank and
file members of Organized Labor be
long to the Legion; many have held
and now hold offices in our organi
zation.
Any Legion official, regardless of
who he may be, who, through the
press, radio, platform, or in private
conversation conveys the impression
that the Legion is or has ever been
against the closed shop, misrepresents
the Legion. Personal controversies
between Legion and labor leaders are
NOT clashes of their groups.
Attempts by certain interests to
make strike breakers of • Legionaires
as such in the early years of the
Legion’s life were frustrated. Per
sons who are now trying to use the
Legion to combat Organized Labor
find the Legion still well-balanced and
steady.
The Legion deplores strikes on
war production, and says so in clear
cut language; the Legion likewise de
plores treatment of employees by em
ployers which foments strikes.
The Legion condemns labor racke
teering, but is equally bitter against
business profiteering.
The Legion readily recognizes that
laboring men have just as much right
as business men, professional men,
farmers, veterans and others with
mutual interests have to get together.
True, the Legion and Organized
Labor have differed on some ques
tions; also true is that the Legion
and the U. S. Chamber of Commerce
have differed, but all differences have
been argued the American way.
The Legion nationally, or in no
state department, has ever adopted
a resolution which would warrant any
honest person in saying that ’ the
Legion is against Organized Labor or
is the voice of union foes.
Thinking Legionaires hope this sit
uation will continue for all time. They
know that an overwhelming majority
of unionists are thoroughly loyal tt
the U. S. Government, and are just
as eager as other citizens to blast
destructive isms. They know that a
vast majority of unionists are doing a
superb job of producing equipment
for our armed forces, and that hun
dreds of thousands of them are serv
ing nobly in uniforms.
Before these truths, we know we
speak for all good Legionaires when
we wish Organized Labor the best of
everything to which it is entitled on
Labor Day and every day thereafter.
—The Iowa Legionaire.
TYPOGRAPHICAL UNION MEETING
SUNDAY, SHORT, SWEET, YET FULL
INTEREST; HONOR ROLL PRESENTED
The October meeting of Charlotte Typographical Union, No.
338, held Sunday afternoon at i o’clock in Moose Hall on South
Tryon street, and presided over by President Pridgen, was per
haps the shortest session in the history of the organization—-35
minutes. The attendance was good and the short session was taken
up principally with routine business and reports of secretaries and
committees. Secretary Burgess’ financial report was especially
good and showed much progress along all lines.
The report of the committee appointed at the September meeting to pro
vide suitable Christmas presents for the boys in service overseas, reported
that presents for about half of the boys had beep provided for and that the
remainder would be remembered before the deadline this month, which is the
Greetings were had from the Greensboro Typographical Union and the
pleasing information was conveyed that that local had just secured a con
tract which calls for a very material increase in wages. This contract is
now before the Labor Relations Board for its acceptance or rejection.
Announcement was also made that The Typographical Journal, the official
organ of the International Typographical Union, publication of which was
suspended three or four months ago due to a misunderstanding in the ranks
of the Executive Committee, would resume publication.
An “Honor Roll” card was printed and one distributed to the members.
It includes the 21 Typos now in the armed forces, some of whom have already
seen action against the enemy. The “boys” are: R. B. Alexander, W. I).
Austin, R. H. Cadieu. H. S. Cooke. M. G. Hildreth, J. E. Lippard, J. R.
McClure, L. B. St. John, Frank F. White, F. J. Moody, L. W. Pridgen. Jr.,
N. O. Ross, H. W. Smith, L. B. Suggs, H. E. Surles, W. M. Thompson, F. R.
Vita, A. M. Farris, James L. Humphrey, W. W. Porterfield.
WAR PRODUCTION ENGINEERS AND
LABOR LEADERS MET IN ATLANTA;
AIM IS TO STEP UP PRODUCTION
ATLANTA.—“Production of war materials in the Southeast
can be speeded up and increased through cooperative efforts of
labor and management to bring about greater plant efficiency
and fu'ler utilization of existing manpower.”
This was the opinion expressed in Atlanta by labor leaders
and War Production Board engineers who met in Atlanta last
week to formulate plans for furthering organization of labor
management product’on committees in Southeastern war plants
under the War Production Drive plan.
Emphasizing that this is entirely a voluntary program, that
these committees deal only with problems affecting production,
and are not set up to further the interests of any one groups
Robert R. Moore, AFL, Regional Labor Representative on the War
Production Board staff, said today, “The American Federation of
Labor has wholeheartedly indorsed the labor-management pro
duction committees.”
“LET’S GO U.S.A.-KEEP’EM FLYING”
CHARLOTTE LABOR JOURNAL
STRIVING FOR THE RIGHTS OF THE WORKERS —
AND A FAIR DEAL FOR THE EMPLOYERS
THE PLEDGE OF EVERY LOYAL
A. F. OF L UNIONIST
“I Pledge Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of
America and to the Republic for which it stands—One Na
tion, Indivisible, With Liberty and Justice for All!”
rrs LABOR’S WAR — LETS
FIGHT—WITH PAY DOLLARS IN
WAR BONDS.
PRODUCE
FOR VICTORY
ROOSEVELT, IN MESSAGE TO A. F. L
MEETING, PRAISES CONTRIBUTIONS
OF LABOR IN FIGHT FOR VICTORY
BOSTON, Oct. 6.—President Roosevelt sent a message to the
American Federation of Labor convention Tuesday praising la
bor’s contributions to victory, urged still greater efforts to in
crease production levels and held out the prospect of a substantial
rollback of prices.
The President expressed “gratifi
cation at the splendid task that has
been done by American wage earn
ers in turning out the munitions and
implements of war.”
Secretary of Labor Frances Per
kins, addressing the convention, also
praised labor unions generally but
said she wanted to “make this per
fectly plain. When men are fighting
and suffering and dying that we may
have peace and well-being, and when
there exists, as at present fair and
proper machinery for settlement of
disputes, no strike is justified.”
AFL President William Green call
ed the delegates’ attention to Mr.
Roosevelt’s remark that “in this free
country we are proving ourselves able
to do voluntarily all that is necessary
for the war effort and to stand back
of the brave men who go into com
bat.”
Green asked the delegates to
“please note that he emphasized the
fact thatr in his opinion, labor would
do voluntarily—I repeat, voluntarily
—all that is necessary through the
soldiers of production in order to pro
mote the war effort.”
The implication of Green’s remark
was the AFL’s continued opposition
to compulsory labor controls at this
time.
Delegates applauded as the Presi
dent’s message, read by Secretary
George Meany, concluded with the
statement that “we anticipate a good
deal of success in the rollback of
prices which will stabilize and reduce
the cost of living in essentials. For
this the infoimed co-operation of all
your members is needed.”
Green commented that “labor
knows that prices have been soaring
out of all proportion to the stand
ard rates of wages. We are happy
indeed in that the President has as
sured us that it is his firm and de
termined purpose to see to it that
these high prices are rolled back.
We will stand with him.”
Arthur J. Altmeyer, chairman of
the Social Security board, outlined to
the convention a proposed unified
comprehensive social insurance sys
tem. “It would be tragic,” he said,
though we achieve the goal of full
“if we did not recognize that even
employment and full production it
will still be necessary to provide a
system to eliminate want, because
working people will still be confronted
with the great economic hazards of
sickness, physical disability, old age,
and death as well as intermittent un
employment.”
“VICTORY FESTIVAL WEEK”
“CALVACADE OF THRILLS”
HAMID’S “VICTORY REVUE”
OCTOBER 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16
Charlotte’s war 'substitute for the annual Southern States
Fai.r’ a »a,a Victory Festival Week” to be held on the grounds
°..”,e exposition, will open here on Monday night, Oct. 11,
with attractions of state fair magnitude And an overflow of
patriotic displays and 4-H Club exhibits.
„„ V*™ ®f f'ore*Kn Wars leaders, sponsors of the festival, have rounded
up half a hundred vaned entertainment features to give visitors the greatest
»rr*y of attractions seen in Charlotte since the 1941 fair. *
Three afternoons of championship horse racing, two auto thrill show
!J!?.t,nees’ the mammoth World of Mirth Shows, George A. Hamid’s 1943
Victory Revue, famous circus and hippodrome acts—these are some of the
top flight amusement events scheduled. ***
*!!d cashing for $1,500 in purses, will be in action
ssawsatsssafir*of “• •"*** *“
Thr*H-»«el(*rs will discover many new features added to the World of
TJ‘^I|SI°W8 since its last appearance at Charlotte. Heading these is
Terrell Jacobs famous wild animal circus, where 50 lions and tigers a h
of elephants an dother jungle beasts perform. K ’ a erd
Three different crews of workmen this week were attiring the 96-arre
s?aPhTes IK \r°Und8 fa *'*.**■ Fr°"« the grand entrance *o the raring
stables, the huge area is being trimmed and readied for the gala week. *
Free Labor Will Out-Produce Nazi Slaves
‘Tight - Work - Save”
** * * * ... -n n a a
1
• DON'T ADD TO HIS BURDENSI
So long as we have held fast to voluntary principles
and have been actuated and inspired by the spirit of serv
ice, we have sustained our forward progress and we have
made our Labor Movement something to be respected and
accorded a place in the councils of our Republic. . No
lasting gain has ever come from compulsion. If we seek to
force, we but tear apart that which otherwise, is invin
cible.—Samuel Gompers.
i