Newspapers / The Charlotte Labor Journal … / Jan. 6, 1949, edition 1 / Page 2
Part of The Charlotte Labor Journal and Dixie Farm News (Charlotte, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
Editorial CHARLOTTE LABOR JOURN iL ft DIXIE FARM NEWS Published Weekly at Charlotte, N. C. __ B. A Stella, E ’.Itor and Publisher W. M, Witter, Associate Editor Knterio as second-class mail matter September li, 1931, at the Poet Office at Charlotte, N. C.. under the Act of Congress of March 8, 1879 SUBSCRIPTION KATES: 82.00 per year, payable in advance or 5c per copy. 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. Arm or corporation which may appear in the columns of The Labor Journal will be gladly corrected when called •e the attention of toe publisher. Correspondence and Open Forum opinions solicited. Were it not for the labor press the labor movement would not be what it is today, and any man who tries to injure a labor paper is a traitor to the cause. —AFL President Gompers. MUST BECOME LIBERAL OR DIE The Republican Party must demonstrate sincerely that it is concerned with the welfare and economic interests of the plain people of our country, if it is ever again to be come a dominant force in American politics. This is the view of the I.A.M., expressed by General Vice President A1 Hayes in a letter to William B. Millius, Jr., Chairman of the Young Republican Club of Washing ton University In St. Louis. Millius had . written to the I.A.M. expressing the views of his club that the Republican Party must be liberalized, the “Martins, Hallecks and Tabers” stripped of their power in the party, and he asked labor support of this program. In replying to Millius’ letter, Mr. Hayes said that “the sentiment and objectives” expressed by the Young Repub lican Club are “admirable”., although the I.A.M. does not agree completely with the club’s reasoning. Mr. Hayes said that labor has not “inevitably” drawn all support of the Republican party or the Republican can didates, and that it will in the future, as in the past con tinue to support principles, not parties. “We are ‘partisan to principles, non-partisan to party.’ We do not intend to deviate from that non-partisan policy,” Mr. Hayes said. Labor Backs Liberals of Both Parties Thus in the last election, Mr. Hayes pointed out, labor supported liberal Republicans and liberal Democrats, and opposed reactionaries in both parties. The people of the Uniied States have long1 igo cast aside the ancient theory held by Alexander Hamilton, that the country should be run by an “aristocracy" of the wealthy, of the so-called “best people,” Mr. Hayes said. “However, the unpopularity of this theory does not mean it has been eliminated in the minds of all the people of the United States.” he said. “We never had a clearer demonstration of how tenaciously the old Hamiltonian theory is still embraced, than to examine the attitude on legislation passed and rejected by the 80th Republican dominated Congress. “Therefore we agree with the policy statement of the Young Republican Club that the Republican Party must substantially change its complexion—not only in convention platforms and political speeches, but in actual practice. “In our opinion the Republican Party must demonstrate in a four-square, sincere manner that they are concerned with the welfare and economic interests of the plain people of our country. 1 might add here that the plain people are the greatest number of people and although they always have been a majority, the difference between today and the past is that fifteen million or so American workers are af filiated with organized labor and as the last election shows, the plain people of the United States do know how to par ticipate in government when the opportunity is given them to understand the issues. G.O.P. Liberalism Is Window Dressing The greatest fault of .the Republican Party, Mr. Hayes said, is that it uses liberal principles merely as window dressing, and tries to “get by” by giving mere lip service to the people’s demands. He said that genuine liberal and progressive Kepublicans are “few' and far between.” and this proves that “true lib erals are not being attracted to the Republican Party.” “Before the Republican Party can gain the confidence of the plain people, it must prove that it has stopped being the party of special interests; it must act affirmatively to prove that it no longer embraces the theory that democ racy is a concept of government for only those who have power and wealth—that only those who have power and wealth can decide the degree of democracy which is to be enjoyed by the common man,” Mr. Hayes said. “There is a power in our democracy which is not based on wealth and special privileges, as last month’s election made crystal clear. “How the Young People’s Republican Club can change the characteristics of the Republican Party, how it can dis card the McCormick’s. Taber’s. Taft’s, Ball’s, Hartley’s, Martin’s, and such leadership is the sixty-four dollar ques tion. We believe that is your problem; we wish you suc cess.” GOMPERS ON RUSSIA (27 Years Ago) “In Soviet Russia the Bolsheviks are using many words with a new meaning. It has been shown how they some times employ the word ‘democracy’ to mean the reverse of what all civilized peoples and all the labor movements of the world have hitherto meant by the word. So also, after abolishing all the rights of labor and labor organiza tions and of co-operatives, the Bolshevists, nevertheless, continue to apply the terms ‘trade unions’ and ‘co-opera tives’ to the empty shells that remain.” Commodities are designated by brand names and human beings are distinguished by Union Labels! New Year's Message By WILLIAM GREEN The year 1949 brings to all citizens of the United States grounds for deep gratitude for democratic institutions and the Bill of Rights which our forefathers provided for them selves and their children and which were transmitted to future generations. The richness of this heritage stands as a priceless pos session as we daily witness the slavery which marks the new invasions of the barbarians from Asia, who darken the churches, regiment the press, institute forced labor camps through the espionage of secret police, and impose one pattern for the whole of life. Against Communist re version to the Dark Ages, the American way of life stands out even more glowingly—freedom of decision with re sponsibility for using that freedom with due regard for the rights of others. Last year, those hostile to unions prevailed upon Con Tress to modify the law assuring workers the right to col lective bargaining with regulations and restrictions that would nullify freedom of contract, and hedged this regu lation about by granting the government the right to in junctions to control labor disputes, by facilitating lawsuits, and by imposing “class” requirements on workers. American workers did not resort to violence or illegal resistance, but like democratic citizens sought to- establish the meaning of the law by legal machinery. All this led up to our action in carrying the issue to final decision by the voting citizens of this country in a presidential election. That decision was unmistakable in the vote given to the presidential candidate of the party which pledged repeal of the Taft-Hartley Act in its platform and whose presi dential candidate pledged himself to that end. The election of President Truman and the vote giving Democratic Party control of Congress, was the reply to the reactionary ad v<>cate8 of anti-union legislation which echoed round the world as evidence of the effectiveness of democratic prin ciples. The American Federation of Labor is deeply gratified by this victory which vindicated constructive methods and we are confident that campaign promises will be kept. When freedom of contract is restored to labor, the American Fed eration of Labor is ready to assume the accompanying re sponsibility for wise use of rights. Not only do we want rights and opportunities for work ers in the United States of America, but for the workers of all countries. With the growing interdependence of the ; economies of all countries we find that un-freedom in one | country menaces the freedom of workers in other countries, so we believe in international organization of the workers I of all countries for mutual progress and protection. We fought the second World War to rid ourselves of the men ace which totalitarian states became to human freedom only to find that the most cruel dictatorial state had used the years of war to scheme for new opportunities for ag gression in order to impose communism on other peoples. During the war we carried on relief for victims of op pression by dictators and since the war we have tried to aid and restore free trade unions as the bulwark of human freedom throughout the world. Since we as trade unionists have rights and responsi bilities in keeping with our democratic institutions, we, in turn, should work for the advancement of democratic ideals nationally and internationally and support our government in promotion of these same ideals. The USSR has declared war on all free govrenments and' free societies and plans to impose a controlled press and controlled education upon such people, together with sup pression of church and family life as we know it. The Communist regime recognizes no personal rights and no law—only the will of dictators designed by party officers. Party members seek to infiltrate all our institutions to con trol them in the interests of Moscow. As members of the world’s strongest, most militant trade union organization, let us arm ourselves in this world crisis with a determination to maintain freedom that will make us invincible. By uniting with free trade unions in ether countries, we can form a global chain for defense and maintenance of human freedom. We must be on guard against the enemy in our unions, our press, our community, and in all world relationships. Some of The Things We Lend Money on Diamonds Watches Jewelry Men’s Clothinc Tools Silverware Shot Gas. Rifle* Pistol* Trank* Addin* Marklne* Musical Initrianti Kodaks Typewriters All Business Strictly Confidential. When in Need of Money WTe Never Fall You. See o* for bar rata ia dUmondn. watches. Jewelry, clothing. ate. RELIABLE LOAN CO. *01 EAST TRADE STREET Uncle Sam Says Here’* one big, safe resolution for 19491 “Resolved, I will take advan tage of the opportunity presented by *y government to buy 0. S. Savings Bonds regularly; the finest, safest end most convenient investment in the world.” If yon stop to think of H there’s no better lime than right now to start building a comfortable cushion for later year*. Upon matu rity, U, S. Savings Bond* will return to vou four dollars for every three dollars you put into them. They can be bought regularly under two convenient purchasing plans, the Payroll Savings Plan, where you are employed or the Bond-a-Month Phut OJ. Ti The Golden Rule of Trade Un ionism is to buy Union Label goods from others as you would have them pay Union wages unto you! Mi thhSijm eaV StNgKuUb 9g •M AMBULANCE PNONI 6129 %nd&^ll)£ailW,<?ftc. New end Reconditioned PIANOS For the beat value in NEW or reconditioned pianos, select ■ yours from our stock of nearly 100 instruments. Setinway, Mathushek, Winter, Howard, | and many others. Prices to suit everyone. ANDREWS MUSIC CO. “Our 55th Year” “Steinway Headquarters” 231 North Tryon Street H- ---A De VONDE Synthetic dea lers. Dyers Hallers, f urriers Seven Points Why We Are One of the South’s Leading Synthetic Cleaners 1. Restores original freshness and sparkle. 2. Removes carefully all dirt, dust and grease. 3. Harmless to the tpost deli cate of fabrics. 4. Odorless, thorough cleaning. 6. Garments stay clean longer. 6. Press retained longer. 7. Reduces wardrobe upkeep. De VONDE Call 3-5125 121 W. 6th SC START sJlu^ sM/ ^ NOW THE COMMERCIAL NATIONAL BANK Charlotte. N. C. Sherron Grocery 220 Lakewood Ave. Tel. 3-3590 CHARLOTTE, N. C. Benard's Gulf Service Complete One Stop Service 1600 South Boulevard Telephone 5-9193 CHARLOTTE. N. C. I I j I i i Scrugg's Service Station 1106 E. 7th St. DM 9135 CHARLOTTE, N. C. White Star Super Market 832 West Boulevard Telephone 3-8970 CHARLOTTE, N. C. Prosperous New Year! White Food Store 3106 N. Caldwell Tel. 2-4605 CHARLOTTE, N. C. For Indigestion, Sour Stomach and Gas, Taka NA-CO TABLETS MONET BACK GBAKANTOE SELWYN CUT RATE DRUG STORE NEXT TO FOOT OFFICE 109 SOUTH TRYON-!?8 NORTH TRYON ll A Bird You Want To Know' Proudly wo present the CS ROOSTER • the new emblem of Colonial Stores. The C8 Rooster le a new way of identifying Big Star and Little Star Stores, and above all — A MARK OF QUALITY FOODS. Join tbs thousands shopping under the sign of the CS ROOST ER today —you’ll bo glad that you did! COLONIAL STORES •* INCORPORATED • ITRORIZE JOUKIAL ADVERTISERS Martin’s Department Store RELIABLE MERCHANDISE ALWAYS AT LOW PRICK ~ Shop at Vftajrfin and Soon SHOES—CLOTHING—FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY AT CORNER TRADE AND COLLEGE
The Charlotte Labor Journal and Dixie Farm News (Charlotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Jan. 6, 1949, edition 1
2
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75