Editorial
THE CHARLOTTE LABOR JOURNAL
(and Dixie Farm News)
Office of Publication: 118 East Sixth Street, Charlotte, N. C.
Telephones 3-3094 and 4-5502
Address All Communications to Post Office Box 1061
H. A. Stalls, Editor and Publisher W. M. Witter, Associate Editoi
Published Weekly at Charlotte, N. C.
Official Organ of the Charlotte Central Labor Union and Approved by
The American Federation of Labor and the
_ North Carolina Federation of Labor
Entered as second-class mail matter September 11, 1931, at the Post
Office at Charlotte, N. C„ under the Act of Congress of March 3, 1879
SUBSCRIPTION RATES: |2.00 per year, payable in advance or
5c per copy.
ADVERTISING RATES for commercial advertising reasonable.
The Labor Journal will not be responsible for opinions of corre
spondents, but any erroneous reflecting upon the character, standing or
reputation of any person, firm or corporation which may appear in
the columns of The Labor Journal will be gladly corrected when called
to the attention of the publisher. Correspondence and Open Forum
opinions solicited.
WE’RE BOUND TO HAVE DIFFERENCES
In a nation of one hundred and thirty million people, of
all races and creeds, many different opinions are bound to
arise from time to time, but our forefathers knew this long
ago and provided in the Constitution of the United States
means of settling them in a democratic manner.
'Hie Civil War was fought over a difference of opinion,
which arose at a time when the country was in its infancy.
This was settled on the battlefield at great human sacrifices
by both sides. But out of this experience arose a great will
of the people to settle their differences according to the plans
of the constitution—peacefully. Both sides learned a much
needed lesson.
Today, however, another kind of war is being fought —
an industrial war of great magnitude — which perhaps, in
part, is due to the high pressurge both management and
labor had exerted upon them during the bitter war years.
Labor has made demands for more “take-home” pay and
management thinks it is demanding too much. Labor is ob
stinate, and so is management. * Labor has asserted its
American right to quit work and has quit. Management has
failed to set up the necessary machinery to settle the dis
putes in any way except in its own way. So the disputes
of both naturally become the concern of democratic Ameri
cans as a whole, because it directly affects the well-being
of all.
Therefore, it seems as though the issues involved must be
submitted to arbitration, either through voluntary action of
the disputants or through the forced action of a democratic
people.
Throughout the years many instances are rewarded where
labor and management have agreed through coiuractural re
lations to submit matters of dispute to arbitration as there
in provided. These 'arbitration agreements have been very,
very successful when occasions have arisen to use them, and
The Labor Journal ventures to say that had arbitration
agreements been incorporated in the contracts of the great
manufacturing plants involved in labor troubles today most
of the plants would be operating smoothly while the differ
ences were being settled through peaceful, democratic chan
nels.
The International Typographical union, of which this edi
tor is a member, has arbitration agreements in almost 100
per cent of its contracts with publishers and submits
issues that arise regarding terms of the contract to- abitra
, tion. When these decisions are handed down they are then
the law for both parties to the agreement. If this plan
should be adopted by American industry and labor as a whole
strikes would be almost unheard of. Otherwise the picture
is dark and the outcome will be more governmental control
over what should be the business of those who operate busi
nesses and those who help build them into huge fortunes and
what should be security for both owners and employes alike.
THE CO-OPERATIVE SPIRIT IS WORKING
The Charlotte City Council is to be heartily commended
for its adoption this week of plans submitted by Harold J.
Delaney. Charlotte Housing Authority, which call for apply
ing to the Federal Government for financial assistance in
providing temporary dwellings under provisions of the Mead
Bill.
Although long awaited, The Journal is pleased to see defi
nite action being taken now to relieve a most acute local
housing shortage.
It is understood that plans call for reconverting the Morris
Field barracks installations into temporary dwelling units,
as soon as the government restores title to the war-time
air base to the city.
Through the plan the city government hopes to secure as
much money as possible to reconvert the base property into
use as dwelling units sufficient to provide for about 180
families.
The City Fathers have secured the co-operation of the
local housing shortage committee, headed by C. W. Roberts,
which committee* has been making a study of the local situa
tion for some time. Mr. Roberts has pledged the support
of his committee toward making up the financial difference
between what the City spends and actual cost of reconverting
the property. This, of course, to be provided through local
contributions to this most worthy cause.
The Housing Committee has been working diligently for a
long time in formulating plans to relieve the housing short
age and it deserves the commendation and support of all
Charlotte citizens. To the Copncilmen and the entire com
mittee The Journal salutes you.
ALWAYS SOMETHING
“I declare,” exclaimed a certain field worker in the
Department of Agriculture, ‘‘I try to make things easier
for the farmers l call on, but sometimes I encounter a pes
simistic fellow who is hard to pacify. The other day I called
on a man to whom fair weather and superior cultivating
skill had brought bumper crops, and I said to him, ‘Well,
you ought to be satisfied with such crops as these. There
is certainly nothing lacking. You have no cause for com
plaint this year’.”
“What did he say to that?” a listener inquired.
“Oh,” replied the government man disconsolately, “he
picked up a handful of dirt, let it trickle through his fingers,
and replied, ‘Well, you know such crops as these is pesky
hard on the soil.”
Foolish Question
Teacher—Why should we celebrate Washington’s birth
day more than mine?
Smarty—Because he never told a lie.
WORKING IT OUT
BY PRANCES PERKINS
One of the surprises of the re
construction of Belgium after the
war is the co-operation between
workers and employers in the
achievement of a new social se
curity program for their country.
The new system has actually been
made into a law and was put into
operation on January 1, 1945.
The plan roughly provides for
the coverage of Unemployment, old
age, sickness, death and some oth
er social disasters. It is interest
ing to Americans because of its
provision for family allowances
in proportion to the number of
children in the family. This fea
ture is not ordinarily thought well
of in the United States where wages
are high and educational oppor
tunities are free. In Belgium,
however, this feature is extremely
popular and it is believed that it
will make possible further devel
opment of industrial training, ap
prenticeship and formal university J
education for the children of work
ing people. The cost of these
social benefits is paid for by con
tributions of wage earners and
employers. The wage earners con
tribute 8 per cent of the fund and
the employers contribute the rest
of the fund. The government con
tributes only for the maintenance
of administrative costs and for the
conduct of the consultative com- j
mittees composed of workers and
employers, who are set up in the
act as a part of the machinery. i
It was at first feared that the
economic disturbances following
the end of the war would create
large unemployment and that the i
necessity to pay benefits for this
unemployment would make a too j
great strain upon the fund. How
ever, the pattern of unemployment <
j
in Belgium has shown constant i
improvement. In January 1945 j I
there were 300,000 unemployed j i
which is a large amount in com- •
parison to a figure of a million ji
and a half normally employed. In i
November 1945 there were only j I
a hundred thousand persons un- j i
employed, and in addition the in- ! 1
dust rial activities had absorbed j I
well over a hundred thousand more | <
persons — who were dischargee
from the army or returned from
forced-labor or captivity in Ger
many.
A constructive aspect of this
program is that it appears to be
the first occasion in Belgium in
dustrial history when the leaders
of the Labor Movement and the
leaders of the Employers’ organi
zations met each other face to face
and discussed their mutual prob
lems—the problem of their coun
try and came to agreements. Ex
perienced labor leaders have told
me that in a service of 20 years
they had never met the officers
of Employers’ Organization and
that there was a deep-seated preju
dice among such employers not
only against the labor unions and
trade unions in general, but a per
sonal prejudice against individuals
who took a position of leadership
in such unions.
The tragedy of the great war
and the agony of living through
occupation by the enemy was suf
ficient to break down this preju
dice. Every Belgian one meets
speaks with horror of the anxieties
and humiliations of those months
but a new kind of patriotism de
veloped and in the light of that
this prejudice against labor leaders
vas swept away and the two groups
vere able to find friendship and
nutual respect while deceiving the
Kcupying enemy as to what they
vere up to.
Another prejudice in the labor
novement was also overcome at
his time. The Christian Trade
inions which are fairly strong in
3e!gium and the Socialist Trade
■nions which are dominant had
lever been able to get together,
n fact had been at swords points,
deeply prejudiced against each
ither and often denouncing each
>thor; in the pangs of occupation
hey perfected a program of work
ng together. At the present the
ymptoms of prejudice have dis
ippeared. A small group of Com
nunist trade unions have also
•uried the hatchet and are now in
process of reconciliation with old
ine trade unions. Common suf
erings overcome prejudice when
ommon sense doesn’t.
RUTH TAYLOR SAYS:
BY RUTH TAYLOR
How do you work ? Do you
finish what you start to do ? Do
you have to do things over ? Do
you work because you have to—
or to fill up time?
It was Carlyle who wrote “Ge
nius is the infinite capacity for
taking pains.” And it is that abil
ity, that willingness of spirit
which is even more important than
manual dexterity or mental skills.
All work is as seeds sown; it
rrows and spreads like the ripples
from a stone thrown into a pool.
We do not know against what
bank it may spend itself, or whom
and what it may affect.
Slipshod work hurts first the
doer. First in having to redo—
for redoing work is staying in a
rut, is not progressing or learning.
Second, in the weakening of abil
ity to do a job right. Carelessness
is a habit-forming drug, insiduous
in its sapping of morale, but dead
ly in its effects.
The work that each of us do,
the work- that is before us, is our
job, to be done by us. We must
prove that we do it better than
| anyone else.
But there is another thing to be
| remembered. Dr. Stelzle brought
I _________________
it out in an article once years ago:
“The day’s work stands for a social
ized effort, which has become pos
sible only because others in the
past have contributed their share
to our effort. .To these we owe
a debt of gratitude. There is only
one way in which we may pay this
debt we owe them—we have the
privilege of building upon the
foundation laid by our forefathers,
so that other millions may be
blessed because of our own labors.
“This may seem idealistic, but
the law of progress demands this
of us, unless we are content to be
come parasites, living from the la
bors of others. In a sense, every
man is a parasite who is willing
to receive the benefits which have
accrued as the result of others’
labors, without contributing his
share to the common good.”
This is as true today as it was
when it was written. The way to
get ahead — both materially and
spiritually—no matter what task
confronts you, is to do the day’s
work as though it were the only
job in the world—the one thing
by which you would be judged.
“With good will doing service,
as to the Lord, and not unto men”
so wrote Paul.
■ OFF THE BEAM
1 ■■■■■■ —---- --
Keep Out
Harry— My girl's father doesn’t
like me.
Jerry On what grounds does he
object to you?
Harry—On any grounds near his
■ house!
Bigger. Anyway
Explorer*—And this bear on the
floor here I shot in Alaska. It was
a case of me or him.
Bored—Well, the bear certainly
makes a better rug.
Always Wrong
She.-Do you love me more than
anyone else in the world?
He— Sure.
She—Oh. so you’ve been out ex
perimenting again!
Rough Rider
Ned — The way you ride you
must have a lot of feeling for a
horse.
Ted — This is the first time I
ever rode one. But I do have a lot
of feeling.
Broad Hint
He — Here Fido! Hare yon
taught him any new tricks since I
was here last?
She—Yes. If you whiste, hell
fetch you your hat.
Left at the Post
Slim—Did you know that horses
sleep standing up?
Jim—Sure, every time I bet on
them.
The Mature Type
Senor —* How about some old
fashioned love-making ?
Senorita — All right, I’ll call
grandma down for you.
Worthwhile
Jones — Are you saving, any
money' by being so serious about
a budget?
Smith—Sure. My wife and I
are so serious we have to stay in
every night to balance it. Then
it’s too late to go anywhere.
CONVERSE RUBBER
Washington, D. C. — The 1,138
employes of the Converse Rubber
Company of Malden, Massachu
setts, all members of the Rubber
Workers Federal Labor Union* Lo
cal 22763 — AFL, have saved an
average of $1,000 bach in War
Bonds placing them among the top
100 of the 184,000 companies par
ticipating in payroll deductions for
Bond purchases, the U. S. Treas
ury announced recently.
Now buying extra Bonds in the
Victory Loan, Converse workers
participated 100 per cent through
V-J Day in the payroll savings
plan. During 1944 and 1945,
twelve cents of their every pay
roll dollar has gone into War
Bond savings.
Officials of Converse feel that
the payroll savings plan not only
has enabled employes to build up
a substantial financial reserve, but
also has resulted in a new spirit
of confidence and improved em
ploye morale.
HOTEL AND RESTAURANT
WORKERS
New York, N. Y. — A Victory
Loan quota of $3,000,00 for 50,
000 hotel and restaurant workers
in Manhattan and the Bronx was
recently announced by the New
York Joint Board of the Hotel and
Restaurant Employes International
Union, A. F. of L., after a canvass
of thirteen local affiliates.
LABOR SHOWS A 8UCCESS
Chicago, III,—The “truth” of the
Victory Bond radio show given by
organized labor of Chicago was its !
outstanding success. It was the
first Bond drive ever held in Chi
cago where the doors of the the
ater had to be closed and people
turned away. The Chicago Audi
torium Theater with a seating ca
pacity of 4,000 proved inadequate.
People were standing in the aisles ;
and on the stairways at both of;
the two shows.
Colorful Man
Jones—What’s the idea of paint- I
ing your library in brown?
Smith—So if anyone comes in
they can find me in a brown study.
ADMINISTRATOR’S NOTICE
Having qualified as Ancillary
Administrator of the Estate of Olv
ga Hoblitzell, deceased, late of
Wood County, West Virginia, this
i? to notify all persons having
claims against the estate of said
deceased to exhibit them to the
undersigned at 214 Johnston
Building, Charlotte, North Caro
lina, on or before the 17th day of
January, 1947, or this notice will
be pleaded in bar of their recovery.
All persons indebted to said estate
will please make immediate pay
ment.
This the 17th day of January,
1946.
E. A. HILKER,
Ancillary Administrator,
Estate of Olga Hoblitsell,
214 Johnston Building.
(Jan. 17-24-31; Feb. 7.)
State of North Carolina,
County of Mecklenburg.
IN THE SUPERIOR COURT
Lonnie J. Ammonda, Plaintiff, vs.
Etha Ammonds, Defendant—
Service by Publication Notice.
The defendant, Etha Ammonds,
will take notice that an actipn en
titled as above has been com
menced in the Superior Court of
Mecklenburg County, North Caro
lina, to dissolve the bonds of mat
rimony now existing between said
plaintiff and defendant on the
grounds of two years’ separation
according to law, and said defend
ant will further take notice that
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she is required to appear at the of
fice of the Clerk of the Superior
Court of Mecklenburg County on
the 7th day of February, 1946, and
answer or demur to the complaint
in said action, or plaintiff will ap
ply to the Court for the relief de
manded in said complaint.
This the 10th day of January,
1946.
J. LESTER WOLFE.
Clerk of the Superior Court.
(Jan. 10,17,24,31)
State of North Carolina,
County of Mecklenburg.
IN THE SUPERIOR COURT
Betty Pauline McManus, Plaintiff,
vs. R. H. McManus, Defendant—
Service By Publication Notice.
The defendant, R. H. McManus,
will take notice that an action en
titled as above has been com
menced in the Superior Court of
Mecklenburg County, North Caro
Una, to dissolve the bonds of mat
rimony now existing between said
plaintiff and defendant on the
grounds of two years' separation
according to law, and said defend
ant will further take notice that
he is required to appear at the of
fice of the Clerk of the Superior
Court of Mecklenburg County on
the 7th day of February, 1946, and
answer or demur to the complaint
in said action, or plaintiff will ap
ply to the Court for the relief de
manded in said complaint.
This the 10th day of January,
1946.
J. LESTER WOLFE,
Clerk of the Superior Court.
(Jan. 10,17,24,31)
When you have read The Journal
pass it on to your neighbor.
2S
CAFETERIAS
0«UU>m . ASHIVUI . (At(KM . CHATTAMOOGA . BOMB . AWAHTA ■ tOAMOt
Manley R. Dunaway
REAL ESTATE
Friend of Labor
109 Latta Arcade
Charlotte, N. C.
WIRING : LIGHTING FIXTURES : 1 REPAIRS
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ECONOMY ELECTRIC COMPANY.
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Worship Services
11:00 a. m.
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Training: Union
6:00 p. m.
Dr. William Harrison Williams, Pastor
For Indigestion, Sour Stomach and Gu, Take
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