Newspapers / The Charlotte Labor Journal … / Jan. 18, 1951, edition 1 / Page 1
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Sales Tax Needless, Woll Tells Truman NEW YORK.—The government doesn’t need a sales tax to meet defense expenses. The tax policy of the country is already working undue hardship on taxpayers in the low income groups. These points were set out by AFL Vice President Matthew Woll, chairman AFL Committee on Taxation, in letters to Presi dent Truman, Secretary of Treas ury John W. Snyder, Sen. George and Rep. Doughton, chairman of Senate Finance and House Ways j and Means Committees. “Members of our organization feel strongly that the over all di rection of tax policy at all levels of government since World War II has combined with other eco nomic factors to work to the dis advantage of taxpayers in the low income group,” Mr. Woll told Mr. Truman. He told Mr. Snyaer: “We sincerely hope that press reports that you are considering adoption of any type of addi tional taxes on consumers, either through a federal saies tax or a manufacturer’s excise tax, are untrue.” Copies of this letter went to Sen. George and Rep. Doughton. Mr. Woll said also: “Members of the American Federation of Labor are aware that the need for increased tax revenue to finance the defense program must involve greater sacrifice on the part of all sec tions of the American people. Howevef, up to this point we feel that unnecessary sacrifice in the tax field has been demanded at the expense of the standard of living of millions of low income workers. “Specifically ^ believe this discrimination has resulted from the following developments: "1. War-imposed ‘emergency* excise taxes have been retained and extended. “2. State and locally imposed taxes on consumption and sales have been increased. “3. Federal income tax legis lation has given preferred status to family income above $5,000 level because of split income pro vision. “4. The estate and gift tax laws have "been made virtually ineffective *as substantial revenue producers through amendment. “5. Few, if any, of the propos als made by the Treasury or in Congress to close up tax loop holes that would result in sub stantial revenue increases have been enacted into law. “6. Increase in cost of living of from 36 per cent to 40 per cent since the high point of war imposed taxation was reached in 1945 combine with first bracket personal income tax rates to de press living standards, particu larly in the income groups below $3,000. “It is our considered opinion that all additional revenue re quired at thU time can be raised through continued dependence on equitably imposed taxes on in come — personal and corporate, through revision of taxes — es tates and gifts, and through clos ing all loop-holes in existing leg islation without the necessity of recourse to sales taxes. “Moreover, in the framing of necessary tax measures we are satisfied that the prime objec tives of raising revenue and checking inflation can be achieved without depressing the living standards of any section of the American people below the level of decency. In our opinion, this is being done at the present time, when the combined impact of fed eral, state and local tax systems together with current high prices is taken into account.” Richer Taxes Favored “Pay-as-we-go” taxes to fi nance oar rearmament program are favored by more than 90 per cent of the executives of manu facturing companies who answered a questionnaire sent recently to 1,000 companies. The majority advised increases in corporation taxes, personal income taxes. COMMUNISM IS TREASON WAKE UP AMERICA! By J. EDGAR HOOVER. Director. F. B. L Mr. Hoover addressing the Re tail Clerks International Associa tion in New York City, had the following to say about the ‘•Reds": “The times demand candid and forthright words. Communists have been and are today at work within the very gates of America. There are few walks in American life which they do not traverse. Their allegiance is to Moscow; their hopes are spurred by the writings of Marx and Lenin, not Jefferson, Madison and Lincoln; their enthusiasm is whetted by expediency and deceit, not toler ance and brotherhood. Atheist materialism is their idol; the de struction of the God of our fath ers their goal. Wherever they may be, they have in common one diabolic ambition; to weaken 'and to eventually destroy Amer ican democracy by stealth and cunning. Theirs is an organiza tion built and supported by dis honor, deceit and tryanny and a deliberate policy of falsehood. They know that as long as the ideals of corpmon endeavor, mu tual respect and tolerance remain alive they can never bring to fruition the Communist World revolution. That is why Com munist consider Amerfea their Number Ode Enemy. A strong America, materially and spirit ually, is a constant beacon of light, buoying the hopes and as pirations of millions of men, women, and children crushed un der the” yoke of Communist tyr anny which today control* the destinies of one-third of the peo ples of the world.” “The thought of a Soviet Un ited States ia at once revolting to every right thinlting Ameri can. We have seen the Com munist at work and have ob served the application of their principles sufficfcntly to know what would happen here *if they succeeded in the attainment of their objectives. If every Ameri can faced the reality of what the fulfillment of the Communist ob jective would mean to him —- he would be inspired to work hard er to protect and preserve the individual liberty and freedom which is part and parcel of our American way of life." “The struggle for the preser vation of our freedom places a duty on every man, woman, and child in the Nation to do his bit in order that this Government of the people, for the people, and by the people shall continue to flourish. If each of us does his duty, the outcome is certain. Al mighty God, The Snpreme Archi tect, will give us strength, wis dom, and guidance to triumph against the onrush of Red Fas cism and Atheistic Communism.” Too, Too Funny “Now, I want everyone to write me a short description of the funnist thing they ever saw,” the teacher said to her class. After five minutes she saw that one of her pupils had put down his pencil and had apparently completed hie composition. “Surely, you haven't finished already?” she asked. “Oh, yes, I have miss,” was the answer. “The funniest thing I ever saw was too funny for words.” The majority of those who cam' •o America started poor, with man? >bstaeles to overcome. But they started free! They, found large personal rewards for all who eon tribute to expanding the total of goods and services. “Fi«t love is only • little fool ishness and a lot of curiosity." — George Bernard Shaw. POLIO—A GROWING SHADOW SHOWN JN 3-YEA* PBUOOS *McMh| 1950 o«rt«*o<nt of 30JD00 com J The chart above reveals polio’s ever-increasing throat to the American people and the enormouo cost of patient care borne by the National Foundation for Infantile Faralyels. This year, the forward march of polio presenta an especially urgent problem to the March of Dimes: the purchasing value of the dollar has shrunk to 59 cents In compari son with pre-war days, while polio cases havs nearly quadruoled. Rhodes Outlines Plans For Southern Labor The year 1951 arrives with prospects of great responsibilities for the American Workers. Number one project for the American workers will be to sup port and co-operate wholeheart edly with our Government in the severe crisis in which we will exist. It will be the individual duty of the American working men and women to lend their skills training and capabilities toward production of more and more materials for the use of ouf country. Organised labor as such is a part of ail communities. It is a power for good in areas where the Organised labor movement exists. No greater force has ever been devised for the pre servation of the freedom of the people than the American labor movement. The American Feder ation of Labor has long fought subversive, totalitarian. move ments in this country. They were one of the first groups of the Nation to sense the irrespon sibility and destructiveness of the communist movement in the ! world. The American Federation of Labor did not sit idly by with out taking drastic steps to ex pose the communist movement and to close the door to them in the American Federation of La bor. In 1951, the American labor movement faces a new kind of i crisis at home; a crisis whereby those unfriendly to the working man’s aims and purposes have deluged the country frith anti labor propaganda until the crisis in which labor now exists at home is one which may determine whether or not there will be a ' free trade union movement in j America. Anti-labor legislation may eliminate our free existence.! Unfair employers have poured into the channels of education through unfriendly newspapers, columnists in newspapers and commentators on radios, infiltra tion of so-called educational ma terial into public schools, and in devious other means, attempt ed to undermine the American labor movement through the un suspecting. Nineteen hundred and fifty-one will demand of the American la bor movement, officers of local unions, central bodies and state federations of labor, greater at tention to educational matters within the local unions Organ ised labor's strength has never been built on numerical strength alone. Many times in the black days in the history of the labor movement, small minority groups of labor have won momentous battles by education and teach ings that would tend to acquaint the public with the problems of the minority group. “ Educate and Organise” might be the slogan for 1951 in order te entry to the workers both or ganised and unorganised, the J. LEW RHODES Southern Director of Organisa tion, American Federation of La or, Atlanta, Georgia. necessary information to keep them on a sound, solid basis in order to offset the avalanche of untrue, unfair and unjustifiable propaganda disseminated by our enemies. Our sincere hope is that 1951 will see a turn in the tide toward reaction and that each and every member of our unions shall have and enjoy a full year of profit able employment. May we see a return to peaceful existence and safe return of our Service men and women. J. LEW RHODES, .Southern Director of Organiza tion, American Federation of Labor. CITIZENS NATIONAL ne-Elects Officers Concord (Special) — Oficer* and directors of Cit.zens National bank were re-elected at the an nual meeting of stockholders as the group heard that “The bank had one of its most satisfactory 1 years since it was organized j nearly <16 years ago.” ' Dr. T. N. Spencer, president, in his annuaj report to the stock-; holders, called attention to pay ment of dividends amounting to $8 per share during the year. A f 4 ; per .share dividend, was paid on June 30 and a like amount on December HO—a total of |8,000 in dividends for the year. Dr. Spencer also pointed out that on December 30, $100,000 j was transferred from the undi vided profits account to surplus. Capital accounts of the bank are now: capital stock, $100,000; sur plus $300,000; undivided profits $80,000; and reserves, $M,468. > The latest financial statement of the bank shows deposits ef $*,711,693.46. A Louisiana manufacturer pro duces dehydrated candy for cattle, made from blackstrap molasses and cottonseed bulls. Said to be Almost as nutritious as corn, 40 per cent cheaper. [Machinists Union Votes To Return To A. F. of L. Uncle Sam Needs Labor’s Expert Help For 1J-20 Year Rglt Again, t Commies WASHINGTON — Because Moscow’s, war against the free world may last 10 or 20 years— Because we face a long period of sacrifice and hard work on the home front— It is essential that we or ganize our enort so that those free and voluntary in stitutions which are our greatest strengtn may be hreserved and may serve us now. Thus the AFL Labor's Month ly Survey pinpoints the problem of making full use of our or ganized labor and other volun tary movements in this country for however long it is necessary to remain mobilized to defeat communist aggression. The discuss;on is in the cur rent issue of the Survey which ap peared just before President Tru man’s State of the Union mes sage and in advance of the gov ernment conference with labor and industry leaders on wage stabilization. The Survey said in part: The dynamic quality of our economy which has its roots in free alert citizens has made America the most productive country in the world. This will be our basic weapon in lighting an enemy that hopes to force its tyrannical controls on all nations, and to eliminate self-government throughout the world. The peo ple know how grave the situation is. If labor, management and farmers are consulted, and given the facts to make clear their duties and responsibilities, they will do their part. A self-governing country can not mobilize its full powers with out voluntary organisation through which to channel the joint ef forts of its free citizens who are responsible for economic life —• whether they are management, labor, farmers, bankers or con sumers. We are fortunate that depend able voluntary organizations al ready exist in these groups; it re mains only to co-ordinate them under the Defense Administra tion so that a united effort wilt result—to get out defense equip ment with all speed and to main tain the life and welfare ot our nation. Such co-ordination can easily be accomplished, as AFL Presi dent Green has suggested. He proposes that defense authorities consult with joint committees composed of representatives from management, labor, farm and other organisations, and that these committees be responsible < 1 > to co-operate in formulating defense policies (2) to mobilize their membership for compliance and maximum effort. By providing for such joint committees at national, industry and plant levels and by arrang ing for periodic meetings with factual information on develop ments and reports on compliance, this voluntary organization could become the basic force for effec tive action on the home front in the years ahead. Free men will find the best way when they have the facts before them and an or ganisation through which they can participate. So far the administration hat failed to make full nse of organ ized labor's advice, experience and willingness to help. Account dom'd It was his first experience as a shop assistant. “Have you an Recount here, ma'am?* he asked, after booking a customer’s order. “No!" was the reply, "but I would like to see the manager* The assistant walked cross to where the manager stood. "A lady of no account to see yon, »ir,” he said. Acting in the interest of labor unity, members of the International Association of Machinists have voted by more than 3 1*2 to one to reaffiliate with the American Federa tion of Labor, I AM President A1 Hayes and I AM General becretary-Treasurer Enc Peterson announced last week. At the same time, Mr. Peter- | ----- son presented to AFL Secretary Treasurer George Meany, the IAM’s check for $15,135 in pay* ROBERT T. GREASEY SWORN IN AS ASST. LABOR SECY WASHINGTON, D. C. — Rob ert T. Creasey was sworn in as Assistant Secretary of Labor October 3 in the office of Secre tary Maurice J. Tobin. The oath of office was administered by Supreme Court Justice Tom C. Clark, who, like Creaaey, come* from Texas. Present were Sec retary Tobin, many Labor De partment and other governmental officials, and Mr*. Creasey. The new Assistant Secretary was president of the Long Lines division (Bell Telephone System) of the Communications Workers of America (Congress of Indus trial Organisations) and suc ceeds John W. Gibson, who re signed from the U. S. Labor De partment August 31. Born in Hobart, Okla., May 17, 1912, Creasey's family moved to Dallas, Tex., when Jif was three months old. The Texas metro polis has since been his home. Creasey has been active in the labor movement since 1936, when he helped form a union of em ployees of the Long Lines De partment of American Telephone and Telegraph Co. He has held a number of offices in that union, ini lading chief negotiator, vice president, and president. During the war Creasey served as labor member of tripartitie panels in rases involving the telephone in dustry under the wage stabilisa tion program. One friend is worth a hundred relatives. Fate gives us rela tives; we choose our own friends. —Ruth S. Jacobs. JOIN 'MARCH OF DIMES ! ment of the union's per capita tax for January. William Green, president of tha AFL, welcomed the reaffiliatioit of the Machinists and hailed it at a “great advance for the entire labor movement" “The rea(filiation of the Ma chinists means the elimination of local jurisdictional controversies and the substitution for friction of good will, co-operation and the spirit of unity. It wall serve to strengthen and promote the in fluence of the organized labor movement not only in the United States but throughout the world." In his letter of transmittal, presented with the IAM per capi ta check, Mr. Peterson wrote: “I am pleased to advise that in the recent IAM referendum on the question of re-affiliation with the American Federation of La bor, a majority of mce than three and one-half to one of the members voting, approved the recommendation of our Executive Council that our Association re affilate with the American Fed eration of Labor on the basis ef the agreement reached at the con ference held in Miami Beach, Florida, February, 1960, between a committee of International As sociation of Machinists’ Executive Council and the Executive Council of the American Federation of Labor and 'later confirmed in President William Green’s letter t»f June 28, 1960, to IAM Presi dent A. J. Hayes.” A tabulated report of the ref erendum results will be published in the February iasue of the Monthly Journal. The agreement with the AFL, which forms the basis of the lAH’s reaffiliation covers these five points: 1—That IAM will enjoy the same jurisdiction enjoyed, prior to its disaffiliation. 2— The IAM will be accorded the same rights, privileges and considerations as. are accorded all other affiliated organisations. 3— The letter granting juris diction to the Operating Engi neers over certain work in con nection with trial runs on ship* has been withdrawn and a copy of the letter has been furnished the 1AM. 4 — The Building Trades De partment has again been notified by letter that it does not have authority to render decisions in jurisdictional disputes affecting an organization not affiliated with the Building Trades Department and the IAM has been furnished a copy of this letter. 5—In the event the Building Trades Department or any coun cil, thereof renders a decision in a jurisdictional dispute in viola tion of the directive of the API* then the President of the AFL will notify all interested or af fected parties that the Building Trades Department or its local councils do not possess authority to render such a decision and therefore such decision is to be disregarded. In recommending1 reaffiliation to the membership. President Hayes and the IAM Executive Council pointed out: “We must look not at our per sonal opinions and differences we may have had in local points or territories, but consider the over all future hopes of the entire Trade Union Movement. The forces of reaction are well united. The future welfare of every wage earner depend likewise to a large degree on eventually uniting the Trade Union Movement that we may effectively cope with our opposition. Our reaffiliation is, in our opinion, a constructive way to work for unity of*he entire labor movement. We pledge full support of the program to achieve complete unity with all segments of the American labor move ment."
The Charlotte Labor Journal and Dixie Farm News (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Jan. 18, 1951, edition 1
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