North Carolina Newspapers

Devoted to the Interests of the A. F« of L» and the Working Man CHARLOTTE LABOR JOURNAL State-wide Labor Weekly, Presenting Labor News and Views Without Fear and Without Favor Dedicated to the Continned Industrial Growth of North Carolina VOL. XIX. NO. 46 CHARLOTTE, N. C„ THURSDAY. MARCH 2.1. 1*50 Subscription Price $2.00 V Meany Blasts T-H On New Broadcast Washington. — AFL Secretary Treasurer George Meany said that the coal strike “proved that the Taft-Hartiey Act is a completely ineffective instrument in national emergency disputes.” “When the real test came, the injunction procedures of T-H col lapsed and the law was exposed as an empty, futile und useless public protector,” Mr. Meany said. The AFL official was interview ed by Philip Pearl, AFL publicity director, on the opening program of a new series of radio broadcasts over the American Broadcasting System. Entitled “As We Sc* It,” the programs will be conducted by Mr, Pearl from Washington at 10:45 p. m. each Tuesday. They will be heard over 130 ABC sta tions on time made available as a public service. Appearing with Mr. Meany on the first program. Sen. Wayne' Morse advocated repeal of the Taft-Hartley law and enactment of a statute fair to labor and man agement and one wcich really pro tects the public inteiest Senate Morse endorsed Presi dent Truman’s proposal for crea tion of a national commission to study conditions in the coal in dustry in an effort to eliminate the causes of recurrent labor strife. Mr. Pearl pointed out that the United Mine Workers are not now a part of the AFL. “The unions which are affiliated with the AFL have made a re markable record for sustained pro duction during the past year with not a single major strike to mar their record,” Mr. Pearl said. Mr. Meany said that the main lesson of the coal strike is that “real i iHaMfre \iifi‘ipJii the only way to settle labur-utsiMige raent disputes.” “Once reliance upon the !Mp Hartley law was set aside and re liance placed on real, honest to goodaess collective bargaining the whole dispute which threatened the economic welfare of the entire country was settled in no time,” ho said. “The public should learn that there is no cure-all for strikes and disputes; that old-fashioned collective bargaining is the only wsy to find a fair solution, ac ceptable to both sides.” $17 to $1 Washington. —Business spends $17 to labor’s $1 to influence na tional legislation. Tell that to the next guy who screams that labor “spends a for tune lobbying.” The figures were given by the top expert on lobbying, Rep. Frank Buchanan, who heads a special House committee investigating lob bying. He said his committee does not plan now to investigate labor or business lobbying. When reporters kept pressing him on organised labor’s activities in behalf of legislation and how much money is spent, Mr. Buchan an said: * “In 1949, business reported that it spent $8,500,000 to influence leg islation before Congress and labor spent $500,000.” Aids Victory Building Service Wage GainsNoted BY DAN SMITH Chicago Correspondent for AFIiNfwtSerrke Chicago. — William L. McFet ridge. president of the Building Service Employes International Union, was honored by nearlyT^OOO persons At a dinner in Chicago’s Palmer Honse. celebrating his elec tion to the Executive Council of the American Federation of Labor. At the speakers’ table were the presidents of the city, state and American Federations of Labor; the mayor, the state's attorney, the officersaof the county board and the park board, and a long list of leaders in political and business life. Among the diners, and in some of the speakers’ seats, were the janitprs, the window washers and the elevator operators whom Mr. McFetridge led from, poverty to dignity and security, and from whom he derives his strength. “In nominating Bill McFet ridge to the Executive Council, the American Federation of Labor has honored Chicago,” Martin H. Ken nelly, mayor of the city, told the gathering. He paid tribute to Mc Fetridge for his work as a mem ber of the board of commissioners of the Chicago Park District for the last 5 years. “I’ve had a note on my desk to e»N Bill McFetridge and ask him if he would accept reappoint ment for another 5 years," said Kennelly. “That’s one memo 111 tear up in the morning. I know by his smiling countenance that jhe will accept, not because he is a Democrat, but because he is a real man.” Kennelly and other speakers re ferred jokingly to the fact that McFetridge supported Thomas E. Dewey for President in the last election. McFetridge always has used a mind of his own in political matters. William Green, AFL president, cited two examples showing how the BSEIU has improved the work ers’ status. One was the history of a local union in St. Louis in which window washers’ wages have risen from 45 cents an hour in 1937 to $1.60. The other was the Chicago office building employes’ local, in which the wages of jaintresses since 1938 have been raised from ‘itl {*pnfc.fi to Si OR Green mentioned the activity of the Chicago flat janitors’ local in providing scholarships to North western University for children of the union’s members. McFetridge himself, replying to the numerous congratulatory addresses, said it is to the credit of the whole labor movement that it has fought tra ditionally for the best possible edu cation for the children of workers. In addition to his numerous ac tivities in labor’s behalf, IfcFet ridge also is vice president of the park board, a director of the Bank of Rogers Park, and director of the Hektoen Insttute, a charitable agency. He introduced the diners to his wifie and his two daughters, Bar bara and Dorothy. Only member of his family missing was his moth er, now in California. “When I called her up, I had some trouble explaining to hfcr that I had just been elected a vice presi dent of the American Federation of Labor,** McFetridge related. “When I finally put it across, she said: “Willie, I didn’t know you were looking for another job.' " Among thoae who spoke at the dinner were Dave Beck, vice presi dent of the teamsters’ internation al; John S. Boyle, state’s attorney af Cook County; Richard J. Daley, ue director and representative of Gov mi; James H. Cutely, president, Chicago Park District; William A. Lee president Chicago Federation of Labor, and Illinois State Federation of Labor. Tbs AFL supports the American New AFL V.P McFETRIDGE UNION WINS CRUCIAL TEST Chietio. — The AFL Building Service Employes Union Local 372 won a crucial election in the Wie boldt Stores, Inc., on March 2, which may lead to a winning as sault on the big State Street Stores, almost all unorganised and an antiunion blockade to higher wages for department store work ers. The union, whose international president is AFL Vice President William L. McFitridge, was assist ed in its triumphant campaign by William A. Lee, president Chicago Federation of Labor; Vic Barnes, newscaster for the federation’s radio station WCFL, and the Fede ration News. Local 372 President Harold Fitsgerald gave them credit for helping achieve the victory. , “This victory is the best gift the Chicago Federation of Labor can give to Bill Fitridge at the testimonial dinner,” Mr. Lee said 1n commenting on the result The McFetridge testimonial was held March 4. Local 372 won bargaining rights for 3,500 workers in ( Chicago and Evanston outlets of Wieholdt Stores by gaining 1,541 votes to 1,027 votes for the “independent” union. Local 372 said that the depart ment stores are the last strong holds of non-union, low wage work ing areas. It said that AFL union ism in the department store field will greatly strengthen labor’s drive for reasonable standards of wages and working conditions. Com* to tho Show! In Philly, May 6 Washington.—Come to the show! The fifth AFL Union Industries show. “You’ll get a kick out of It,” the AFL Union Label Trades De partment says. * The show opens May 6 and runs through May 13 in PhUly’s Mg Con vention Hah—scene of gnat politi cal conventions and hibitions, displays and There will be 1 1-2 miles of bril lian displays of high-quality union made products and exciting itrations of efficient union Music, contests, display of U. S. Armed ATTEND THE 5TH AFL UNION INDUSTRIES SHOW MAY 6-13 upm»— ADMISSION FREE CONVENTION HAIL PHILADELPHIA Si THE WORLDS GREATEST LABOR MANAGEMENT SHOW Yov’U Get A Big Kick Oat Of It! It is the only one of its kind and is scheduled Hay 6-13 at Convention Hall in Philadelphia. We want to make it the biggest and best ever held. In order that it will be the sensational success that other one has been, we appeal to all national and international unions of the Americn Fed eration of Labor to participate in this unique labor-manage ment exhibition. Good relations—oo-operation between labor and manage ment—is one of the worthy goals of our Union Industries Shows. Public good will of American consumers is another objectiwe. We anticipate that half a million people will see this spectacular AFL-union event. Admission is free and valuable prises will be given away. — Over one and a half running mites of brilliant displays of hi-quality, union-made products and exciting demonstra tions of efficient union services—marvels of union worker’s techniques—will be seen in the huge auditoriums of famous Convention Hall. It will be a grand and glorious feeling for all Americans who take pride in our system of free enterprise to witness the human element—the expert craftsmanship—which is emphasized in addition to commercial values at our now famous Show. "*'• Visitors will also get a big kick out of the music, the contests, the entertainment and U.S. armed forces’ displays in addition to the gorgeous exhibits during the 8-day, action packed, round-up of union-made-in-America merchandise and union services. Let’s prove to the world that they are tops! For information about the great Show all America is Enflriny about, write to: Matthew Woll, Director, Union Industries Show, American Federation of Labor Building, Washington 1. D. C. HOLD OH TO YOUR 50CIAL SECURITY CARD VU MV ICED IT AT ONCE U/UCU vm I START WORK ON A NEW JOttH WHtN lUUfURxisocm.gcmaiywgHn f~or .More In?or mutton Your Union ‘•octal Sccc'ftu LO*yryi;ttC£ ote Social Secunuj OffiC£ • Frank Graham’s Record Among Nation’s Highest PRANK PORTER GRAHAM United States Senator from North Carolina Unions Holp Hold Off Business Drop Washington. — The high-wage policy of American labor helped check a business redbssion in the United States last year, according to an article in the current issue of The American Federationist. The article was written by George T. Brown, research director of the Plumbers and Fitters Union. It was based on President Truman’s recent economic report to Con gress. The presidential report showed, according to Mr. Brown, that a postwar recession in the United States was halted in mid-1949. To ward the end ef the year, industrial production, construction,, employ ment and sales began to ipch slow ly upward. Specifically, wages were kept on a relatively even heel, Mr. Brown said this report tells a “dramatic story, a story in which organised labor played a major role ... , This quick end of what could have become a full-sised de pression occurred principally be cause thu historical rush to wage cutting did not take place.” “Organised labor,” lie said, “was the bulwark behind which the wage-earners of the nation defeat ed their standard of living. As a consequence of this show of strength, thu vast number of the employed wage-earners continued! to buy,” Mr. Brown said not only Ameri ca, but most of Europe, will bene fit from the fact that American purchasing power cushioned a pos sible depression. “Had there not been solid re sistance to wage cuts,” he 'warn ed, “the pattern of life not only in America, but in the rest of the world would n°w fee on its way to a debacle that would be more pleas ing to Moscow than to any capital in the ftee world.” Mr.. Brown cautioned labor that tfitfr job is not finished; that “the future well-being of organised workers — and therefore of all American wage-earners — lies in more efficient work and better collective bargaining.” He pointed out that increased efficiency must result in “wage increases and therefore increased purchasing power,” adding: “To inpure that increased produc tivity will be passed on to wage earners in significant amounts, ef ficient and intelligent collective bargaining is necessary.” BAN STANDS Washington. — The Supreme Court refused for a second time to interfere with a court ruling that hiring halls for seamen as now con ducted were illegal under the Taft. Hartley law. Seamen’s unions have indicated that they will defy any attempt to abolish the hiring hall procedure for employing ship crews. Ihe AFL is working for repeal of the Taft Hartley law and its prohibitions on hiring halls, closed aid union shops. » TAKES NEW OFFICES San Francisco.—The California State Federation of Labor and the California Labor aLague for Po litical Education opened new of fices at 810 David Howes Build ing, 895 Market Street, San Fran cises 3, California. Charlotte - reared Frank Porter Graham,. U. S. Sena tor from North Carolina, who is seeking re-election to suc ceed himself against two other opponents, has an im pressive record in the U. S. Senate considering the brief period he has been there and also his record as a citizen of our commonwealth is per haps unequaled by any other native son. Bom Fayetteville, N. C., Oc tober 14, 1886, eon of Alexander and Katherine (Sloan) Graham. Hia father, a native of Fayette ville, served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War, la called father of the graded school system in Nofth Carolina, was founder of the public schools of Fayetteville, and head of the schools at Charlotte from 1888 to mi. The son graduated from the Charlotte High School, and from the University of North Carolina (A. B. 1909). He spent an addi tional year in the Law School of the University of North Carolina and received his license to prac tice from the State Supreme Court in 1910. He taught in the Raleigh High School for two years, then returned to the Uni versity as Secretary of its Y. M. C. A. where in 1914 he was ap pointed instructor in history. la 1916 he took his master’s degree at Columbia University. When the tMMff' WNBs* in tend the World War, tk. Gra ham enlisted as a private in- the Marine Corps and rose to Mm rank of first lieutenant before he was mustered out in July, 1019. He returned to the University of North Carolina ns Assistant Professor of History and for eae year held the position of Dean of Students. In 1921 he eras made Associate Professor and the fol lowing year was spent in graduate study at the University of Chica go, when he won the two-year Amherst Memorial Fellowship. After a year in Washington, D. C„ studying at Brookings Insti tute and the library of Congress, he went abroad to pursue research at the British museum and the London School of Economies and to sttend sessions for the Lssgue of Notions in Geneva. He re turned to North Carolina in 19S>. and two years later became a full professor. In June, 1989, he was elected ns the eleventh President of the University of North Can tina. The following colleges versities have conferred degrees upon Senator Columbia University .. Catawba College . Davidson College - Birmingham-Southern Duke University William and Mary— Wake Forest College Temple University ..... Amherst College .. Harvard University . Princeton University University of Louisville Dartmouth College - He was married July 21, to Marian Drane, daughter si Reverend Robert Brent Drane of Edenton, North Carolina. Among his activities haw the following: SllliSlilllll U Vice-Chairman of tho Coosum era Board of tho National Recov ery Administration and in the fall of 1934 was appointed Chair man of the National Advisor/ Council to the Cabinet Committee on Economic Security. Twice President ef the North Carolina Conference of Social Service which prepared and spew sored the first workman’s com pensation act in North Carolina, still considered the hast In the Southern States. Founded tho Cfttaeue Library Movement, the first In tho United (Cm*M On Pa«e «