Editorial
THE CHARLOTTE LABOR JOURNAL
and dixie farm news
Published at Charlotte, North Carolina
. OLDEST LABOR PUBLICATION IX THE TWO CAROL1NAS ^
B. A. Stalls. Editor and Publisher W. M. Witter, Associate Editor'
Entered as second-class mail matter September 11, 1931, at the
(Poet Office at Charlotte, N. Cn under the Act of Congress of
March 9. 1879. _
Endorsed by Charlotte Typographical Union, Number A»
of Charlotte Central Labor Union and the North Carolina Fed
oration of Labor._____ - --j
News Services: American Federation ofWbar. U.
Carolina Departments of Labor, and Southern Labor I em assoc
-^
TAFT ERRS, BLUFFS AND BUSTS ON TV
‘ Senator Robert A. Taft, of Ohio, lost his temper and a
Office in « stormy “.Meet the Press".elevUion
program over the NBC television network on May 28.
At one point in the program, Senator Taft
irritated that he refused flatly to answer a question and
the moderator announced that the Ohio Republican wo“
be given a “breathing spell” during which to recover his
poise.
The cause of Senator Taft’s mental upset, in full view
cf perhaps millions in the television audience, was a senes
of sharp questions from three newsmen and one news
paperwoman challenging the Senator’, views on foreign
1)0First, Taft said he opposed the Atlantic Pact on the
ground that the United States could not undertake to arm
Europe against the threat of attack by Soviet Russia be
cause it would cost too much. , T j
He also remarked, rather sneeringly, that it ^ dodhtful
whether the European nations receiving «^Htary aajtotanca
from us would really resist a Russian attack and that the
anna we contributed probably would f*H‘"to Sov»et harrfs.
In response to questions, Taft admitted he had f
giving arms to Greece and Turkey when they were threat
ened by Communist attacks and he said these P'W*"]*
were a success. He also said he favored giviqg militat?
aid to the Chinese nationalists at Formosa and to the
democratic forces in Indo-China. ...
Asked to reconcile these contradictory policies, Tart
blustered that aid to Europe would cost too much *nd then
lost his temper and angrily refused to answer further
questions on the subject. He said he had agreed toJV on
the program to atate his opinions but would not enter into
argument or debate on his opinions. ...
After a charitable pause, the program resumed with
Taft smilingly declaring in response to a political question
that there was no such thing as a reactionary or aIJJSf
A little later, he used the term reactionary,
when he was caught up on this contradiction, he blundered
into a definition of what constitutes a reactionary and a
liberal. He said a reactionary is against all change am*,
in fact, wants to go back to the past, while a liberal is open
to reaaanabla changes. i ,
• No one asked Taft what category he belonged to, per
haps because the answer was so obvious.
GOMPERS PEN SALE HELPS UNION FIRM
AFL unions can help a fair-dealing union label company
bv ordering Samuel Gompers Centennial Union I^bel Foun
tain Pens in quantities from S. Buchsbaum & Company,
1737 South Michigan Ave.. Chicago
Samuel Laderman, president of Local 241, ArL ( hemI
cal Workers Union, reports that 600 members employed
by the company are idle because non-union merchandise
is being dumped in the Chicago market.
“Owing to the excellent labor-management relationship
which has existed between our union and S. Buchsbaum
& Company for the last 10 years, we deem it our obliga
tion to help them and the only way we can do that is
through the promotion of our union label, and they are
the only manufacturer so far using our label,” Mr. Lader
man said. , 4 .
In addition, Mr. Laderman said the union is trying to
promote the union label, thereby preserving hard-won
standards, and to commemorate the name of Samuel
Gompers, founder and first president of the AFL born 100
years ago. ,
The pens, 81 each in quantity lots, can be ordered from
the company directly or Mr. Laderman, 1118 S. Michigan
Ave., Chicago 5, 111. y
WORKMEN’S CIRCLE PRAISED BY TRUMAN
President Truman in a special message to the Work
men’s Circle, largest Jewish labor fraternal organization
in the nation, said that the order, “by serving its mem
bers through its programs of fraternal benefits and insur
ance, and through its labor and citizenship activities, has
likewise served the entire community and benefitted the
public welfare.”
President Truman’s greeting was received on the eve of
Ihe gala Madison Square Garden opening of the Work
men’s jpircle 60th Anniversary Convention on May 28. The
sessions of the national gathering wrere attended by dele
gates representing more than 700 branches from some 40
states and Canadian provinces.
AFL President William Green and other AFL leaders
extended greetings.
Mr. Truman said in part:
“Throughout the entire half century of its existence the,
Workmen’s Circle has been an important factor in the
lives of Jewish immigrants in this country. It is particu
larly gratifying to knbw that you have grown from a small
organization to one of more than 70,000 members devoted
to the advancement of the Jewish immigrants as workers
and citizens of the American community.”
*
HOTEL SIR WALTER
ARTHUR E. BUDDENHAGEN,
Manager
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA
Many Persons Do Not
File for Old Age Pensions
Of increasing concern to the j
Social Security Administration is
the fact that many potential
hcneficiaries under the Old-Age
and Survivors Insurance pro
gram are losing benefits because
they fail to file appl'cations
promptly. This statement was
made today by Lone T. Proctor,
manager of the Charlotte Social
Security office.
In a recent study conducted by
the local office, it was disclosed
that more than 11.5 per cent of
living wage earner claimants and
1.5 per cent of survivors claim
ants in the Charlotte area lost
benefits during 1949. he added.
Loses to these persons ranged
from 910.00 to more than 91,000
in total payments. An analysis
of the study indicated that the
chief reasons _>or these losses
were that workers and their fam
ilies were not aware of their full
rights and privileges under the
Social Security Act and, to a
lesser extent, that they had re
ceived erroneous information from
unofficial and unreliable sources.
The Social Secruity Admini
stration has no way of knowing
when a worker retires, whether
the retirement be temporary or
permanent, Mr. iProctor said. In
order to protect his interests the
worker should file a claim for
benefits if he has worked under
Social Security, has reached age
it and, has retired from em
ployment under the law. An em
ployee who is nearing 65 should
contact the Social Security of
fice to find out his status under
the provisions of the Old-Age
and Survivors insurance program.
Retired workers are not the only
persons who are losing benefits
continued the local manager. Sur
vivors of deceased workers are
likewise losing benefits by fail
ing to file their claims promptly.
Benefits are not payable un
less a formal application is filed
by the claimant at a Social Se
curity field office. Benefits that
are lost through delay in filing
cannot be recovered.
Mr. Proctor pointed out that
employers are playing an im
portant part in reducing losses.
As a part of their personnel
relations program, the larger in
dustries are periodically in
forming each of their employees
that he can claim benefits for
any month la which he earns
less than 915.00, provided, of
course, he is 65 years of age and
has worked long enough in cov
ered employment to be fully In
sured. These alert and progres
sive employers are encouraging
survivors of deceased workers
(regardless of a worker’s age at
death) to contact the nearest
social security office in order to
protect their claim rights.
The Charlotte Social Secruity
office is located at 122 East
Third Street. Office hours are
from 9:00 a. m. to 5:00 p. m.,
Monday through Friday. This
office serves the residents of An
son, Cabarrus, Mecklenburg.
Montgomery, Moore, Richmond,
Scotland, Stanly, and Union
counties. Interested persons are
urged to obtain official informa
tion regarding their rights
through this office.
! —
t FLORIDA'S TOM WATSON
DEFEATED
Tampa. Fla.—J. Tom Watson,
former Attorney General of
Florida and supporter of the
Florida Anti-Closed Shop Amend
ment, was roundly defeated in
his race for United States
Congress for the Tampa District.
Tom Watson had made a spec
tacle of himself when he stood
out as an enemy of Organised
labor in Florida for many years.
He sought election to the Con
gress among the field of three
candidates and barely got into
the second primary by virtue of
strategical court action through
which he garnered a questionable
i 100 votes for himself which
placed him in the run-off with
Chester B. McMullin of Clear
water, Florida.
Latest results in the election
on Tuesday, May 23. are Me
Mullin 58,000, Watson 38.000.
GOD’S MINUTES
I have only a minute—
Only sixty seconds in it—
Forced upon me—
Can’t refuse it—
Didn’t seek it—
Didn’t choose it—
But it’s up to me to USE it—
I must suffer if I LOSE it—
Two Vet Training
Extension Orders
A 60-day extension of certain
time limits covering compliance
with veterans’ apprentice-train
ing regulations and .. student
learner regulations that permit
the payment of subminimum
wages under the Fair Labor
Standards Act is announced to
day by the U. S. Labor Depart
ment's Wage and Hour and Pub
lic Contracts Divisions.
These time limits, scheduled
to expire today, are extended to
July 25 in two orders signed by
Administrator Wm. R. McComb
and scheduled for publication to
day in the Federal Register.
In a previous order, effective
January 26, the Administrator
directed that, until May 26, a
written approval by a State
agency authorised under the
Servicemen's Readjustment Act
of 1944 as amended (the G. I.
Bill of Rights), of a training
program and an " apprentice
training agreement on the basis
of which a veteran is eligible to
receive a subsistence allowance,
would constitute a temporary
certificate authorising the em
ployment of the veteran at wage
rates between 40 cents and Vs
cents an hour. The order further
provided that at the earliest pos
sible date within this period the
employer of such veteran, if
subject to the Wage-Hour Law.
should file a copy of the ap
proved program and agreement
with the Administrator.
McComb advised Secretary of
Labor Maurice J. Tobin that the
extension of time to July 25 is
necessary for Iwo reasons. First,
to prevent possible curtailment
of opportunities for employment.
Second, to give employers sub
ject to the order more time in
which to file their programs and
agreements. After July 25, he
said, those employers who have
not so filed will be deemed to
be in violation of the minimum
wage provision of the law and
will be required . to pay their
veteran apprentices 75 cents an
hour. He added that no part of
a subsistence allowance granted
such veterans by the Veterans
Administration may be consider
ed as wages from the employer.
The Administrator’s order ap
plies only to those apprentice
training courses requiring two
years or more training in ac
cordance with the G. I. Bill. It
dos not apply to vocational re
habilitation programs for dis
abled veterans administered by
the Veterans Administration nor
to veterans employed in on-the
job training programs of less
than two years. Authority to
employ veterans under the latter
programs must be obtained by
making application to the Wage
and Hour Division in accordance
with existing learner, or student
learner. regulations.
The student-learner regulations
were revised last January 25.
The revision provided that under
certain specified conditions. the
written approval of the employ
ment of a student-learner under
a co-operative work-study pro
gram, trade school, or other type
of cooperative vocational train
ing program by a State Commis
sioner of Education or a local
Board of Education shall consti
tute a temporary certificate
authorizing the employment of
I the student-learner under such
program at wage rates less than
75 cents an hour but not less
than 56^4 cents an hour until
May 25.
McComb said that vocational
training programs in general
have complied with the regula
tions and that the temporary
exemption is now extended only
to allow more time for the Di
visions to study the programs
in a few large cities.
Are you listening to Frank
Edwards? ■
Imf WM*t H«lp
• Fra|iU RipiWtei
_By Will Barnorri, LLB._
AJ-m » -
HWy « rOTiff
Mb into the Affairs
WUL «V-L.—*
nn momts wuopaiei r
Despite parental objections, a co
ed ran aO with a garage mechanic
and gel married. She soon found
out that married life wasn't as
pleasant as she had expected, and
in three weeks die bad moved hack
home. Bar husband thereupon sued
her father foe alienation of affec
\ » Trir
should a girl hook advice," Cx
dtinwd His Honor, “il not from her
own parents?'' ^
• e •
Does It Help to Say You're Sorry—
^^s eeoe ^P^^^w^eY^^w^p Y
A men end his wife began argu
ing about household expenses one
evening, and the fight waxed hot
ter and hotter. Finally the wife
seised a gun and fired. The bullet
missed her husband, flew out the
window, and felled the man next
door, injuring him fatally. The
woman was arrested and brought
to trial on a homicide charge. In an
effort to minimise her guilt, the
woman told the court that she had
apologised to the neighbor’s widow
—and even offered to pay the fu
neral expenses. But the court ruled
out this “irrelevant” evidence and
found the woman guilty as charged.
The Judge said that repentant words
don’t help at aU—after the criminal
deed is done
a e a
May • School Superintendent
Be Filed H Invoked In e Scandal?
A school superintendent in a cer
tain town was indicted on a charge
of immorality. Without waiting to
see if he would be found guilty, the
school board removed the man
from his position. He promptly
challenged the validity of this
move, on the ground that a person
should be considered innocent until
found guilty. However, the court
upheld the board’s action. The
Judge said that the scandal alone,
whether Justified or not, was enough
to impair the superintendent's use
! fulness to the community. “Not
1 only a good character,’’ said the
j judge, “but also a good reputation
1 is essentia] in such a position.’*
• • •
May You Denounce
An Auto Dealer
ror jeuing Lemons r
A woman bought a car from a
dealer. Although the car worked all
right, she soon decided that she
didn’t like it One morning, the
woman bung several lemons an the
sides of the vehicle, along with
signs warning the public against
buying other ‘lemons” from this
particular dealer. Soon the man
filed suit for • stop-order. At the
bearing the woman insisted that
she couldn't bo prevented from
speaking her mind, but the court
ordered ber to cease her campaign.
While admitting some Judicial dis
agreement on the point. His Honor
decided that he should stop the
woman's deliberate attack on the
dealer’s business.
• • •
Ouster proceedings were filed
against a certain Judge, on grounds
of "habitual drunkenness." ft
seems that His Honor would go on
an all-day spree once a month, and
often had to be helped home. At the
hearing be said his drinking wasn't
“habitual" — because be often
stayed sober for weeks at a time!
But the court ruled that be wasn't
fit for his Job. The court said that
drunkenness is a habit when it hap
pens this often—even though there
may be intervals of sobriety!
LABOR produces all our goods,
And delivers them everywhere;
Labor services all our needs
And demands an honest share.
1 THE REFINER’S FIRE
He sat by a fire of seven fold
boat,
| As watched by the precious
ore, ’ i
And closer he bent with a search
ing gate
As he heated it more and more
He knew He had ore that could
stand the test,
And He wanted the finest gold
To mold as a crown for the King
to wear,
Set with gems with a price un
told.
So He laid our gold in the burn
ing fire,
Though we fain would have said
Him "Nay,"
And He watched the dross that
! we had not seen,
And it melted and passed away.
And the gold grew brighter and
yet more bright,
But our eyes were so dim with
tears,
We saw but the fire—not the.
Master’s hand—
And questioned with anxious
! fears.
Yet our gold shown out with a
richer glow.
As it mirrored a Form above.
That bent o'er the lire, though
unseen by us,
With a look of Ineffable love.
Can we think that it pleases His.
loving heart
To cause us a moment’s pain
Ah, no! but He saw through the
present cross
The bliss of eternal gain.
So He waited there with a watch-\
ful aye.
With a love that ii strong and
sura.
And His gold did not suffer a hit
more heat
Than we needed to make it pure.1
—Copied. :
THE BEST SERMONS
I'd rather see • sermon than to
hear one any day.
I’d rather one would walk with1
me than merely tell the way.
The eye's a better pupil and more
willing than the ear.
Oft counsel is confusing, but ex*
ample's always clear.
The best of all the preachers are
the men who love their creeds;
For to see good put in action is
what everybody needs.
I can learn the lesson sooner if 1
can see it done.
I can watch you in action, but
your tongue too fast may run.
The lectures you deliver may be
very wise and true:
But I’d rather get the matter by
seeing what you do.
I may misunderstand you and the
high advice you give;
But there is no misunderstanding
how you act and live.
1
All travelers will witness that
the best of guides today
Are not the ones that tell them,
but the ones that show the
way.
A good man teaches many; folks
believe what they behold.
One deed of kindness noticed is
worth forty that are told.
Who stands with men of honor
learns to hold his honor dear;
For right living speaks a lan
guage which to everyone is
clear.
Tho’ an able speaker claims some
with his eloquence, I say.
I'd rather see a sermon than hear
one any day.
—Sent in.
NIGHT AND LIGHT
By Leslie C. Rasher
Sin’s mantle blacken out hope’s
flow,
And death reigns on a throne of
woe;
Despair’s dark flag, in night un
furled,
Casts deeper shades o’er a grave
yard world;
Souls vainly search where light
has been,
Whlie stygian gloom enwraps the
There’s a Warrior leaving the
realms sublime.
He is making His way to the
world of time;
A kingly crown is on His head.
And He Carries a banner, *tis
blood-stained, red;
Sin, death and hell can hold no
sway
.When the King of the skies is on
His way! *
It is Light!
Are you listening to Frank
Edwards’ radio broadcasts?
BAKERY WORKERS WIN
MERITA
Atlanta, Ga.—The Bakery and
Confectionery Workers’ Interna
tional Union of America an
nounces the winning of several
NLRB elections and the organi
sation of several shops without
the aid of the National Labor
Relations Board.
Vice President Amos W. Miller,
Chattanooga, Tennessee, reported
to J. L. Rhodes, Southern Di
rector of Organisation, Ameri
can Federation of Labor, that a
project to organise the Ameri
can Bakeries plants at several
cities in the South has been sig
nally successful. Elections have
been won in Florence, South Car
olina, High Point North Caro
lina. and Jacksonville, Florida.
The combined vote in all these
elections was an overwhelming
union sentiment vote. la the
Florence, South Carolina, plant
a Union Shop election was held
and the employes voted 127 to
1 to authorise the establishment
of a Union Shop in the plant.
Vice President Miller stated
that Stewart’s Potato Chip Com
pany at Chattanooga, Tennessee,
Butter Kru*t Bakery at Tanr.pa,
Florida, and Lloyd Bakery at An
niston, Alabama, had been or
ganized. Although these plants
do not come under the jurisdic
tion of the National Labor Re
lations Board, they nevei^he
less, are now operating an' or
ganized plants.
The Bakery and Confectionery
Worker’s International Union of
America is continuing its organ
izing activities Among the Amer
ican Bakeries plants and expects
to be in a position to represent
all the employes of this company
in its national chain of bakeries.
N. C. DEPARTMENT OF
MOTOR VEHICLES
RALEIQH, N. C.—Driver's li
cense examiners of the Depart
ment of Motor Vehicles are
faced with the problem of is
suing approximately 110,000 li
censes to drivers in North Caro
lina during the next month and
a half, Department officials
pointed out today.
More than 46,000 of this num
ber will go to drivers of for hire
vehicles, while an estimated 70,
000 will be issued to drivers of
private cars. The Department
began issuing licenses to chauf
feurs two weeks early this year
in an effort to avoid a last min
ute rush when the June 30 dead
line arrives, but so far persons
in this group have been slow to
report for renewal of their li
censes.
Previously issuance of chauffeur’s
licenses has begun on May 15,
but the date for obtaining 1950
51 licenses this year was moved
back to May 1. More than 40,
000 licenses were issued to driv
ers of for hire vehicles in 1949
50 and a larger number of ap
plications are expected for the
next fiscal year.
Drivers whose last names be
gin with N. O. P or Q also must
obtain renewals of their licenses
by June 30. Approximately- 180,
000 persons are included in the
N through Q category. Only
110,000 have obtained their new
licenses to date. Issuance began
on January 1. Persons whose
surnames begin with R, S or T
will get their new licenses be
ginning July 1.
• "TshSo*
Ik