(
CIie Charlotte
Endorsed by the N. C. State
Federation of Labor
AND DIXIE FARM NEWS
VOMi APVUmiHINT IN TMI JMMAL •• *
^ ' ) INVMTMMT ______
Offteiai Organ of Central Labor Union; Standing
for the A. F. L.
• 13
CONSTRl
SERVICE ,
NORTH
CAROLINA
READERS
$2.00 Per Year
CHARLOTTE, N. C„ THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 1944
JOUMMAt AOVietieim OtIIRVI CONBIDIRATION OP
TM* WlADIM
44
WIN THE WAR
Free Labor Will Out-Produce Nazi Slaves --—
Tho ONI.T REALLY INDEPENDENT WEEKLY In Mecklenburg County ***> comrtiJD » charlotte ano for a Weekly Its
MECKLENBURG COUNTT IB rTS KNTIRET' I
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sw --
A. F. OF «iAN FOR 1944
resent the LARGEST BUYIN
H in Charlotte
A. F. L. NON-PARTISAN POLITICAL
POLICY IS REAFFIRMED IN
A BI-PARTISAN BROADCAST
WASHINGTON, D. C.—The American Federation of Labor
last week strongly reiterated that it will follow a strict non
partisan political policy during the coming campaign in a “Labor
For Victory” broadcast featured by appeals for labor support
at the polls by spokesmen for the Democratic and Republican
National Committees.
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diana declared that the greatest peace
time prosperity ever enjoyed by work
ers in any country was experienced
during Republican administrations
and declared that a Republican victory
in November offers the best opportun
ity for full post-war employment and
better working conditions.
Rep. Michael J. Bradley (D.) of
Pennsylvania insisted that the Demo
cratic Party, under the leadership of
President Roosevelt, has enabled labor
to make greater advances in ten years
than previously had been recorded in
a century. He warned that the Re-,
publicans migfht seek to nullify these
gains by cutting off funds for enforce
ment of labor legislation.
After the Congressmen, who were
designated as their party spokesmen
by tne respective national committees,
had wound up their debate, Philip
Pearl, commentator for the AfL said:
“Now, you have heard both sides of
the case. The American Federation
of Labor, insurance of its non
partisan political jpolicy, does not at
tempt to pass judgment. It believes
its members can be relied upon to
exercise their good sense in deciding
not endorse any national ticket as a
whole nor any political party as a
whole.
“The Federation does, however,
keep careful check on the voting: rec
ords of members of Congress. On the
basis of these voting records it gives
its official endorsement to members
of Congress who have voted in the in
terests of American workers and for
the welfare of the nation as a whole.
“These endorsements are made re
gardless of the political affiliation of
the patricular candidate. It makes
no -difference to the AFL whether a
member of Congress is a Democrat
or a Republican. If his record shows
him to be a friend of labor and a
loyal American, he can count on the
Federation’s endorsement. Otherwise
th» members of the AFL are urged to
defeat him.
“There you have the Federation's
non-partisan political policy in a nut
shell. We are confident it will work
out in the coming political campaign
for the election of candidates who will
do everything in their power to win
the wa rand to win the peace.”—A. F.
of L. News Service.
A. F. OF L. EMPLOYES OF SWIFT & CO.
GIVEN PAY INCREASE BY FOURTH
REGIONAL WAR LABOR BOARD
ATLANTA, April 14.—The Fourth Regional War Labor board today
announced a general fire cento per hour across-the-board wage increase for
union employee of the Swift and Company refinery at Charlotte, N. C. The
decision was rendered in the dispute case involving Swift and Company and
the Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen of North Carolina,
lecdl 269 (AFL).
Chairman M. T. Van Hecke said the increase, retroactive to October 21,
1942, would establish a minimum of 45 cents an hour for female common
labor and a minimum of 50 cents for male common labor.
The board also ordered a guaranteed work week of 32 hours for em
ployes in the bargaining unit; denied the unions request for double time on
Sundays, but ordered the company to pay time and a half on six designated
holidays and double time on the seventh consecutive day worked in any week;
ordered that two and one-half cents be added to the base hourly pay of em
ployes laid off periodically during the regular week but ordered to work on
Sundays without opportunity to receive premium rate overtime; denied the
union’s request for a night shift differential and ordered standard maintenance
of union membership with 15-day escape clause and company deduction of
union dues,
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Free Labor Will Out-Produce Nazi Slaves
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC
THE CHARLOTTE LABOR JOURNAL
is the only weekly published in the Piedmont
section of North Carolina representing the
A. F. of L. It is endorsed by the North Caro
lina Federation of Labor, Charlotte Central
Labor Union and various locals. THE
JOURNAL HAS A RECORD OF 13 YEARS
CONTINUOUS PUBLICATION AND SERV
ICE IN THE LABOR MOVEMENT.
AMERICAN HEROES
BY LEFF
When war broke out. Marine Sgt. Maier J. Rothschild of New York'
Ciljr was studying journalism at night, selling Mocks in Wall Street day*
times. On December SI, 194K, 24 days after Pearl Harbor, he enlisted. He’s
been awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in hand to band
bayonet combat, and the Navy Cross for fighting off and killing 95 out of
150 of the enemy storming a machine-gun emplacement. He’s not giving up
until we win. And yon? Are you still baying that extra War Bond?
V. S. Treasury Department
OURS IS THE DECISION
BY RUTH TAYLOR
As we enter into the season of th« great American sport—national elec
tions—speeches fly fast and furious. The spellbinding orators of all parties
declaim loudly what America must and must not do!
Before we praise or denounee what they suggest—let us first search our
own squls and decide just what we as individuals are willing to do. In the
last analysis, it is up to us. No party or person can put across a policy for
America without the support of the people of America.
Do we want narrow isolationism? Do we want America to stay out of
world politics? If so, are we willing to rearrange our economy to cover the
needs of this country? To keep a sufficient standing army and air force to
ward off aggression from abroad? To be ready to fight our own battles
without any help? And to fight any new war on our own soil?
Do we want the Four Freedoms? If so, are we willing to give to others
the things we want for ourselves? To readjust our way of living so that
all sides have rights instead of privileges? To do our share in helping the
w orld get back on its feet? Reliability lion is not merely helping people. It
is better than that. It is helping people to help themselves.
Do we want to revert to the status <juo and let the troubles pile up ahead?
Shall we let old and new misunderstandings breed the seeds of future wars?
Must unsettled problems still fester in the minds of men? Do we want a
truce only—and war again in another twenty years?
Do we on the other hand want to take the long view and plan for peace
and prosperity in our children’s time? Will we assure to them a future free
from the dangers and disruptions of war? Are we willing to put the same
energies and self sacrifice into establishing the peace that we are in fighting
the war?
The conferences and peace tables may settle the boundary lines of na
tions and may lay down ways of protecting the downtrodden—but unless the
free peoples of the earth are willing to do their share, to assume the respon
sibilities of collective security within which weak peoples can learn the dif
ficult art of self government, all the pronouncements will do no good. The
decision is up to us. What do we want? What will we do?
NHWSMMMWSIIMMWMMMMMMIWMMMMMWMWWNWNMNI
MECKLENBURG POLITICS SUFFERS
“WAR SLUMP” WITH LITTLE INTEREST
AND MANY INCUMBENTS UNOPPOSED
The filing period for the Democratic primary, May 27, ended
last Saturday. The registration books will open April 29th and
will be open through May 13th, the challenge day being May 20th.
The second primary will be held, if necessary, June 24th, with the
general election November 7.
mere are quite a numoer ox oixices
without contest this year, something
really unusual in Mecklenburg poli
tics. The candidates who will retain
their posts automatically because no
body is running against them are
Chairman S. Y. McAden of the county
commissioners, and Commissioners A.
D. Cashion, J. Caldwell McDonald;
Carl J. McEwen, and Sandy G. Porter;
Register of Deeds John R. Renfrow;
Mrs. Jessie Caldwell Smith, county
treasurer; and J. Mason Smith of the
county school board.
The list of posts in which there are
contests and the candiates:
State Senate—Joe L. Blythe and
T. V. Griswold.
House of Representatives — E. T.
Tonissen, J. B. Vogler, C. E. Hobbs,
Harvey Morris, Arthur Goodman, Ma
jor Robert B. Street, M. R. Dunaway,
L. Reid Gilreath, R. W. Richardson,
Bob Leinster. Rev. A. W. Davis, a
Negro, also is running. There are
four places available on this ticket.
County recorder — Fred H. Hasty,
William H. Abernethy, Henry L.
Strickland, Wade H. Williams, and
A. A. Tarlton.
County surveyor — J. W. Spratt
and T. J. Orr.
Charlotte township constable—Dan
B. Bradley and Fred A. McGraw.
Berryhill constable — Frank S.
Clonts.
Steel Creek constable — G. P. Free
man.
Paw Creek constable — Evans B.
Johnston.
Morning Star constable — John M.
Earp and J. Reid Newell.
Sharon constable—F. G. Chipley.
Mallard Creek constable — L. L.
Crenshaw.
The candidates listed are those who
will run on the Democratic ticket sub
ject to the primaries. The Republi
cans entered a slate for the State Sen
ate and the House of Representatives.
RED CROSS AIMS
THREE MILLION
HOME NURSES
—V—
Three million persons trained to
give simple treatments when there is
sickness in the home, willing to follow
doctors’ orders to the letter .even if
given over the telephone—such is the
long-time objective of the American
Red Cross Home Nursing campaign
recently launched in Washington.
Doctors and nurses are scarce ar
ticles these days! The war has taken
55,000 fine physicians and more than
forty thousand trained nurses. Civil
ians can’t summon either of them
whenever they think they need proes
sional service, as in the days of peace.
For doctors and nurses on the home
front 'have greater burdens on their
shoulders then they are able to hear.
Their time must be conserved. They
must be called in only in cases of se
rious illness. The homemaker moat
have greater self-reliance and be able
to take over when there is ordinary
sickness in the family.
-V
SOME TOUCH
Minister: “I touched them rather
deeply this morning, don’t you think?”
Deacon: “I don’t know. We haven’t
counted the collection yet.”
THE JOURNAL has by far
the largest city circulation of
any weekly published in Char*
lotts. Tour ad in The Journal
wiH bring results from tbs
workers.
I
A.F.L. Textile
Workers To Hold
A Convention
—V—
WASHINGTON, D. C.—Pres. Fran
cis J. Gorman of the United Textile
Workers (AFL) announced that the
union would meet in convention here
beginning April 24. The national wage
question is one of its leading problems
to be considered.
Gorman said officials of the govern
ment and the AFL would address
“delegates from every textile state
in the country,” during the convention
sessions.
AFFILIATION OF MINE WORKERS
WITH A. F. L. “BOGS UP”-TOBIN SAYS
“NO GOOD CAN COME FROM IT”
WASHINGTON, April 18.—Negotiations for the re
turn of the United Mine Workers to the American Fed
eration of Labor bogged down further yesterday.
UMW Chief John L. Lewis disclosed he had received
a letter from Federation negotiators expressing belief
that little was to be gained from another parley right
away, but offering to hold one if Lewis wanted it. Lewis
tersely turned the offer down.
Daniel J. Tobin, chairman of the AFL committee ap
pointed nearly a year ago to confer with I^ewis, advised
Lewis in a letter that the AFL executive council would
open its spring meeting in Philadelphia on May 1. “It
seems to me,” wrote Tobin, “there w'ould not* be very
much progress made in tlfe holding of another meeting
before the council meets, nut if you think anything would
be gained I will be glad to have the committee meet
with you and your committee. If you decide a meeting * *
would be helpful, I suggest April 29 in Washington or
Philadelphia.”
BRECKENRIDGE LONG TALKS TO
POST-WAR FORUM-SAYS GOVT
WILL STICK TO POST-WAR AIMS
NEW YORK.—Assistant Secretary of Statd Breckenridge
Long says the American people may rest assured their Govern
ment will stick to its present war aims.
He told the American Federation of Labor postwar forum last
week the United States wished only to help invaded countries back
on their feet, and had no intention of meddling into their internal
affairs after the war.
“We,” said Long, “will not permit
the armed forces of this ceuntry to be
used for the support of any group, or
any Government, contrary to the will
of the people.
“The American people need have
no fear that the American point of
view is not being vigorously and ef
fectively presented on every occasion
wheer our immediate and long-range
interests are involved.”
The diplomat said American foreign
policy must be judged both by its
effectiveness in winning the war and
its success in helping to lay the basis
for peace and economic well-being.
And sometimes, he said, the objective
is not achieved—“Finland is a case
in point.”
Long told the labor forum these
three conclusions had been reached:
1. That the major nations and the
law-abiding states should create an
international organisation to enforce
peace and security.
2. That each nation subscribing to
the program, and in due course all na
tions, should pledge not to use force
except within the frame-work of the
organization.
3. That each of the major nations
and any others agreed suon should ac
cept special responsibility for backing
up the program.
Long said his department would dis
cuss with both parties in Congress the
problem of committing the nation’s
armed forces for international action.
JOURNAL READERS PATRONIZE JOURNAL ADVERTISERS
WAVES AT PLAY |
official u.i.NAvr photogaaphs
Young women enlist in the WAVES
SO serve their country in wartime.
Some do exciting work — rig pars*
chutes, help teach Navy men gun
nery and flying, take radio code
message from the battle fleet. Others
follow more prosaic pursuits—ste
nography, storekeeping, telephone
operating. But there's ample time for
j recreation — recreation of each girl’s
; choosing. WAVES are shown above
' playing volley ball at the Great
Lakes Naval Training Station. Be
low, WAVE cheerleaders at a foot
ball game at the San Diego Naval
Training Station. Young women,
20-36, without children under 18, can
, get full information at Navy Recruit
ing Stations or Offices *■* **<val
Officer Procurement