Editorial
THE CHARLOTTE LABOR JOURNAL
AND DIXIE FARM NEWS
Published at Charlotte, North Carolina
OLDEST LABOR PUBLICATION IN THE TWO CAROUNAB
H. A. Stalls, Editor and Publisher W. M. Witter, Associate Editor
R. G. Thomas, Greensboro ..—.Field Representative
Entered as second-class mail matter September 11, 1981, at the
•Post Office at Charlotte, N. C.,. under the Act of Congress of
March 3. 1879.
Oldest Bona Fide AFL Newspaper in North Carolina, consistently
serving the American Federation of Labor and its members s.nce it
»•» founded. May 12, 1931. Approved by the American Federatien
of Labor in 1931.
Endorsed by Charlotte Typographical Union, Number 338, An Af
filiate of Charlotte Central Labor Union and the North Carolina Fed
eration of Labor.
News Services: American Federation of Labor, U. S. and North
Carolina Departments of Labor,, and Southern Labor Press AsSocia
The Labor Journal will not be responsible for the opinions of cor
respondents, but any erroneous reflection upon the character, stand
ing or reputation of any person, firm or corporation which may ap
pear in the columns of The Labor Journal will be corrected when
called to the attention ef the publisher. Correspondence and Open
Forum opinions solicited, but The Journal reserves the right to reject
objectionable reading matter and advertising at all times.
*
“LET THE SUNLIGHT
OF A
FREE PRESS
SHINE IN DARK PLACES’*
SOUTHERN LABOR PRESS ASSOCIATION
MEMBER SOUTHERN LABOR PRESS ASSOCIATION
_____
WEEKLY BIBLE THOUGHT
i “So shall it be at the end of the world; f
the Angela shall come forth, and never the
wicked from among the just.”
—St. Matthew
“VOLUME-DESTROYING” TAXES
Labor agrees with President Truman on most things but
can't see eye to eye with him on the question of the war
time excise taxes. Though these taxes are a burden on
business, reducing sales and employment, particularly at a
time of slackening industrial activity, the President favors
their retention. Labor believes they should be eliminated
or reduced.
Striking evidence of the effect of the taxes has just come
from the Western Union Telegraph Company, whose busi
ness is hampered by a 26 per cent excise tax on telegrams.
Reporting a defiicit of $5,091,795 in the first seven months
of this year, compared to a loss of $1,192,600 in the same
jperiod in 1949, the company attributed it to the reduced
business activity and to t^e “volume-destroying effect ot
the telegraph excise tax."
For the seven months, revenues from telegrams sent by
the public, which bear the full impact of the tax, declined
9.1 per cent, the company added.
The Commercial Telegraphers Journal said some months
ago:
“The war is over. Telegraph employes want employ
ment. The excise tax is discouraging and impairing the
use of telegraphs. It should be eliminated entirely.”
The same thing could be said of the wartime excise taxes
on transportation fares, electric light bulbs, amusement
admissions, luggage and other things. They should be elim
inated or at least greatly reduced.
—Wilmington (Del.) Labor Herald.
UNION WAGE SCALES FOR SOUTHERN DRIVERS
AND HELPERS ADVANCE
Rates for a majority of the union motor truck drivers
and helpers in twenty-one Southern cities advanced from
2c to 30c per hour between July 1, 1948, and July 1, 1949,
it was announced recently oy Brunswick A. Bagdon, Re
gional Director of the United States Department of La
bor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics in the South. Advances
between 5c and 10c per hour were most frequently reported.
The Bureau’s annual study of negotiated union wages
in the trucking industry disclosed hourly rates of from 60c
per hour for wholesale fruit drivers in Memphis to $1.94
for drivers of large construction trucks in Mobile. Oil truck
drivers in Oklahoma City were paid $1,775 while drivers ot
euclid trucks (used in the construction industry) in Little
Roek and heavy construction equipment drivers in Mem
phis were receiving $1.75 per hour. Other rates reported
were $1.68 for drivers of 3- to 5-ton trucks in Mobile;
$1,625 for drivers of brewery trucks in El Paso; $1.56 for
truck drivers transporting chemicals in Houston; and $1.55
for special construction equipment drivers in Chattanooga
The report is based upon data secured through personal
visits of the Bureau’s field representatives and by mall
questionnaire. Rates for over-the-road drivers and local
city drivers paid on a mileage or commission basis were ex
cluded from the study.
Copies of the report for any of the 21 cities may be
obtained by addressing the U. S, Department of Labor’s
Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1020 Grant Building, Atlanta 3,
Georgia.
Council Hails Slates’
Action On Labor Laws
St. Paul.—The Executive Coun
cil hailed the propeu made la
the various states to repeal oh*
noxious labor legislation and to
enact satisfactory labor laws, but
warned that the situation leaves
no room “for complacency or
reduced effort.”
Summing up the results of
state legislative actiefi in the la
bor field, the council’s report de
clared:
"State federations of labor are
to be congratulated on the re
sults of their hard work in Maine,
Massachusetts, New Mexico, Mis
souri, Delaware and New Hamp
shire. There the voters defeated
proposals to ban closed shop and
other types of pinion security
agreements.
"Maine voters in September re
jected a 1947 anti-dosed shop
law and defeated a proposed
measure with even more restric
tive provisions.
"In November, voters in New
Mexico defeated a proposed amend
ment to the state constitution
which would have prohibited deny
ing employment to any person
because of membership in, resig
nation or expulsion from, a labor
| organisation, or refusal to join
I a union.
“Massachusetts, at the Novem
ber election, also defeated a pro
posal to ban the closed shop. In
the name election, this state also
turned down a measure to require
labor union officials to be elected
by secret ballot at least once a
year, and a proposed law which
would have prohibited strikes un
less approved by a majority ol
the union’s membership.
“ ‘Little Taft-Hartley Act's h
Missouri and Delaware were re
pealed. The New Hampshire ad
regulating union security agree
ments was also repealed.
“In addition, Michigan amended
its law substituting voluntary ar
bitration of labor disputes foi
compulsory arbitration in publk
utilities. This provision for vol
untary arbitration applies to all
types of labor disputes. Other
amendments made less restrictive
the conditions under which a
strike vote is conducted.
“A bill to repeal the 1947 Mis
souri act that regulates labor
disputes in public amities is still
pending. The Missouri legislature,
tlPI
•r* injured or kilted
walktac,
■oa rid— -in an
Dent row b* tfca on*!
now in recess, expects Jo recon*
rene in the fell.
“The record ie a good start on
the long road trade onions must
follow to secure the repeal of anti
to District 50, United Mine Work
few years in nearly three-quarters
of the states. The record merely
shows that the job can he done
but that it is not easy.”
The first book printed on the
press brought across the Atlantic
by the Puritans. The book was
hymnal, produced on a printing
Noith American continent was a
entitled “Bay Song Book.”
Polic Precautions
I
A food health rule far parents ta
Impress upon children In Infantile
naralysis epidemic areas Is ta avald
crowds and plaeea where cleee cam
tact with ether perasna Is likely.
R| THE NATIONAL FOIWBATIBI
Hfor infantile paralysis
tfiOK
tkhS/mm
. Sthhltth <
Ia An Important Part at Ton
Child’* Ed n«*tion
It Is educational, cultural,
spiritual and exciting.
See the new 73 note Wurlitx
or spinnette piano, only $396.00
plus bench and tax.
Other fine spinnette pianos
88 note, price $495.00 plus
bench and tax.
Fine Grand Pianos $096.00 to
$1.800JKL. plus bench and tax.
Other fine makes that we
sell, Ivors A Pond, Poole and
Sohirer.
Always. in stock, used and
reconditioned upright pianos.
Bargain prices $100.00 to
$200.00. Terms as low as $6.00
monthly. Free Delivery.
mm 6ARDIIER CO.
118 W. TMe Charlotte, N. C
COMES THE REVOLUTION!
It’s here—now—today!
For you—the American citizen—are the greatest
revolutionist in history!
You have met those age-old tyrants—cold, hunger,
dirt, disease—and hurled them back.
True, they have not surrendered. We still have pov
erty. We still have sharp ups and downs of prices and
jobs. The revolution still goes on.
But it has gone farther here. We have won for our
selves more comfort, more convenience, more security
and independence, than any other people since the
world began. 1
As yet, this revolution the Industrial Revolution —
has hardly begun in other great areas.
For two-thirds of the human race, the amount of
food, clothing anJ shelter they are able to get with their
best labors is never more than just enough to live on.
In the modern world that can’t last.
Right now the people of many nations are faced
with a choice — between dictatorship and a free econ
omy.
And they are taking a long look, at us.
At the prom,sc of individual reward that has stimu
la ted American invention and business enterprise.
At American technical progress, which has made
mechanical energy perform miracles of mass produc
tion, reflected in constantly lower costs—and in the
long run, lower prices.
At American workers—free to organize, to bargain
collectively with their employers, to choose their jobs
and to change them at will—with no ceilings on ad
vancement and constantly increasing real wages for
shorter working hours.
If we continue to make that system work—if we
constantly turn out more for every hour we put in—if
we keep on creating more wealth for all of us and more
jobs for more people—then other nations will follow
us.
Let’s make our free, dy namic American sy stem run
so well at home that others will want to follow our
example.
If we do that, we will give new hope to millions
everywhere.
THE BETTCR WE PRODUCE
THE BETTER WE LIVE
Approved Jor the PUBLIC POLICY COMMITTEE oj The Advertising Council by
representatives oj Management, Labor and the Pu&t’c
IVANS CL A IK, Executive Director,
Twentieth Century Fund
PAUt G HOFFMAN, Formerly PreiiJenl,
Sljdebolier Corporal,an
EORJS SXIStfCIN, Econoftikt,
American Fedfera!.on of Labor
Published in the Public Interest by:
H. A. STALLS PRINTING CO. 1,8 E-S,XTH ST- charlotte, n c.
•_ - . f
r1
FREE
Send for this
interesting
booklet
today!
la worJt and pictvnt H tmlh you
— How our U. S. Economic System started
—Why Americans enjoy the world's highest standard
of living
—How mass production began
—How we have been able to raise wages and shorten
working hours
—Why the mainspring of our system is productivity
—Why we take progress for granted
—How a still better living can be had for all
MAIL THE COUPON to Public Policy Com
ml tree, The Advertising Council, Inc., 25 West
45th St., New York 19, N. Y.
NAME____
ADOS ESS___