Newspapers / The Charlotte Labor Journal … / Feb. 8, 1951, edition 1 / Page 1
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f CAPITAL REPORTER jl s&aJJ s&Ast+isn&U* * RALEIGH, N. C.—North Caro lina’s famed 30th Division of the National Guard can expect a tap on the shoulder from Uncle Sam by October 1, according to a re port here. Most of the Guardsmen here about had breathed a little easier when they heard a Tennessee combat team of the 30th had beea e ailed up. They figured that meant the division as a whole would be well down the list. Your Capital Reporter hears via the grapevine, however, that the 30th is high on the list and can expect a call to active duty before the football season gets out of its diapers. Other Washington gleanings via Raleigh: Deferments for married men will soon end. The entire defer ment policy will be spelled out more clearly when governmnt, , leaders set the balance between ’ industrial and military neds for .skilled personnel. Federal income tax wtu oe upped on individuals by 1 to 15 per cent effective in the last! three months of 1950 and for all of 1951. This means the indi vidual — or little — taxpayer will be hit first, since excise and ex cess profit taxes will not come until after the November elec tions, if at all. Edwin GDI, commissioner of revenue until lie backed the loser - Charley Johnson In the last gov ernor’s race. Is slated for the Job of U. S. Collector ef Internal Revenue for North Carolina The present Uolfecter-Gharles Hv_ RiNHlT0" **P**»& hi » tire soon. GiQ is expected to be named to the federal post, with headquarters in Greensboro, be fore the end of the year. Gill was in Raleigh last week, reportedly lining up support for Job. Here’s some behind the scenes dope on Governor Scott’s second visit with Oscar Chapman, sec retary of interior, Tuesday in Washington. As you know, the governor took along a delegation of some 19 State officials and other big shts to meet with Chapman, the State’s senators and congression al delegation to get a picture of North Carolina’s power potential. Governor Scott has been hol lering about a shortage of power . in the State for some time now. Two weeks ago, on his first vis it with Secretary of Interior Chapman, the governor found out that North Carolina was behind other states—even those of the South—in power output. This has has resulted, he was told, in the State being bypassed by indus - tries seeking a new home. The story goes that Kerr Scott hit the ceiling when he learned this from federal officials. He You can expect a good fight in the 1961 General Assembly over the sales tax. “It looks to me like out job Is to ley and keep the services we’re giving without boosting taxes,” one legislator put it. He claimed that this might be accomplished by changing the sales tax setup. It is now 3 per cent with some 16 exemptions. The new suggestion is a straight 2 per cent sales tax on everything. I This, he opined, would make the tax easier to collect and "fair to all." This legislator claimed such a move would bring more income to the tSate. too. He asid so much of the current sales tax is practically uncollectable because of merchants handling some taxable goods and some un taxable goods. "Yu just can't collect all the proper tax from a place like that," he said. Anyway, it ought to be a good scrap. . North Carolina’s building pro gram might take a turn for the worse. Six month’s ago the Gov J AFL COUNCIL RAPS FAILURE OF U. S. HOUSING POLICY Miami. Fla.—The AFL execu tive council critiied the failures of the federal government to carry out an adequate housing policy for the defense emergency and elected Musicians President James C. Petrillo as 13th vice president at its midwinter ses sion. Mr. Petrillo succeeded to the seat held by the late Joseph N. Webber, president emeritus of the musiciaffs. who had held the post 25 years. Mr. Webber died last December. Mr. Petrillo, presi dent of the musicians since Mi. Weber’s retirement In 1940, took his seat on the council January 23. The council said in its state ment on defense housing policy that "unfortunately, the policies of the federal government de veloped since the Korean out break have not been following principles" that recognised the needs of the situation. Government housing policies, the council said, have not fully recognised that: 1. We entered defense mobili sation with acute housing short age. 2. We must make certain that whatever housing is built must meet most acute needs. 3. Cutbacks should be applied with least disturbing effect on or ganisation of building industry. 4. la particular restrictions should not be applied which would lead to extensive periods of unemployment for buildtof trades workers. basis c& very little fc»» officials 800,000-880,000 units i* „ 8. gram 1961. 6, Many steps have been ill advised such as cutting the lew rent public housing program while no effective limitations have been placed on luxury housing. 7. Credit restrictions have cut off low and middle income fami lies from opportunity to pur chase new homes. 8. Housing and Home Finance Agency has failed completely to meet responsibility to meet na tion’s acute housing requirements. The council urged the federal government to eliminate these shortcomings, call in the AFL building trades unions and work out an over-all program to get houses built where they are need ed at rents workers can afford to pay. KEENAN PICKED AS ‘CONSULTANT Washington.—That labor voice in the National Production Au thority is not going to be at the Operation or policy-making level but as “consultant.” NPA Administrator William H. Harrison appointed Joseph Keen an of the AFL and Ted Silvey of the CIO “as speeial consultants to advise in the selecting of staff personnel.” Mr. Keenan served as vice chairman of the War Production Board during World War II and after the war was labor advisor to Gen. Lucius D. Clay, military governor of Germany. He con tinues active in the AFL, having recently been named Secretary of the AFL Building Trades. Good Stuff Butler: "Did the muter smack his lips after drinking that fine old whiskey I * served him yesterday?* Maid: “No sir. He smacked mine.” ernor told thre boys to go ahead and let their contracts so they could get on with the building. Being human, they put it off for I a while—nobody else foresaw the Korean situation either—now it looks like it might mean patting off for a good long while higher prices and material short* ages hafrf developed. AERIAL VIEW OF GASTONIA, N. C. - 1951 (Harley Ferguson, Photographer, Gastonia, N. C.) A5 I UNI A An aerial view of Gastonia’s business district. Gastonia was a cro* ss-road village of 238 people in 1880. Population of Greater Gastonia now is 40,000. All photos courtesy Gastonia Chamber of Commerce. Th« Center of the South’s Grout Textile Industry wiuun a xuty-miie radius drawn with Gastonia, North Carolina as a ranter there are more textile apindka than in all of New Stoff* lead. This fact alone would estab lish Gastonia as the center of the Sooth's meat textile industry But there are other noteworthy facts about Gaston County's textile manulacuriag which give it ad ditional claims for preeminence. Gaston County has one hundred and thirty-fhre textile manufactur ing plants; twenty-seven thousand people are normally employed in the county's textile industry; over five per cent of the nation’s spin dles, one million, two hundred and thirty-one thousand, to be exact, are in operation within the county, and almost one-half million bales of cotton are consumed annually. Of course the people in Gaston County are justly proud of its pre eminence as a textile manufactur ing center and they point to the industrial background acquired in a century of textile manufacturing as one of the secrets of the indus try's success in the community. It was in 1846 that the first j cotton mill began operations—in ! fact, there were two mills built j practically at the same time. Thej descendants of these pioneers are the same people who are to be found in the mills in 1990 some of them as owners and managers, others as operatives, working to gether as a tram for their mutual benefit. Unmistakably the first cotton mills were established here because of the water power which was available before the days of elec tricity and the steam plant. Once the industry was established it has grown successfully down through the generations because of the "know-how” acquired in these by-gone days. Because of the preeminence of Hnxtnnin anil riaafnn Pnnntv’s 4>ov_ tile manufacturing, other manu* factured products have been to a great extent eclipsed. Because of the automobiles made in Detroit the public usually overlooks the fact that Detroit manufactures large quantities of clothing, drugs, adding machines, coin machines, railroad cars, and tobacco goods. In Gastonia there are produced large quantities of machinery, mo tor oil filters, belting, brushes, business forms, and electrical equipment. There are about seventy-five machinery manufacturers and ma chine shops—the shops servicing the textile industry, and the manu facturers making machinery which is sold all over the world, par ticularly where there are textile manufacturing plants. This ma chinery industry has also develop ed a "know-how0 which is sassutial to its successful operation in this and future generations. These peo ple who operate the machine shops, beesuse of their experience and in genuity, are constantly on the alert to imprpore the machinery situa ments, so to speak, are contribut ing no little to the mechanical per fection of the textile industry. With annual pay rolls in Gas tonia of approximately 980 million, one would also expect strong financial institutions and a healthy volume of trade. The last official j figures gave the county retail sales1 of 959.525,000 and bank assets are 949 million. There are a number of Building and Loan associations, active and progressive, which have contributed very materially to the home-building and home-owning campaign. But manufacturing, financial progress and pay rolls are not all there is to life, nor are brick and mortar aU there is to happy living. Gaston county’s pupblic school system is the largest unit in the state, according to the latest pub lished statistics, and it is believed also that more children participate: in the lunchroom program here than in any other county. In ad dition Ufcthe highly efficient public school* there are at Behnont, Sacred Heart Academy for Girls and Belmonf Abbey for Boys, two fine junior colleges. Also in Gas tonia ia the Evans College of Com merce with a large enrollment of boys and girls preparing themselves to enter the business world. Gastonia’s first four churches were built between 1876 and 1884. j The original membership of these, fou** churches was 134. These self sane churchea at the present tithe have a membership of approximat ely five thousand, and in addition1 there are 66 other churchea in. Greater Gastonia representing 12’ denominations where multiplied thousands of people worship regu larly. Gaston County, although not one of the state's prime agricultural counties, and not In the lucrative tobacco section, stilt has made some notable advancements in its agri culture. The County Farm Agent apd his assistants havs brought about some enviable records m dairy and beef cattle production and in diversified farming gener al". Gaston County'S indnstirsl papulation needs much larger pro duction of dairy ancf poultry pro. ducts, together with mors truck farming, and these farm agents have made important strides to bring afxmt that better balance. In the matter of health, import ant addition# are’ being made at this time to Gaston county’s hos pital facilities, and when the pres Meany Asks That TV Channels Be Assigned For Public Education WASHINGTON. —The interest of labor end the interest of the broader community are for H* most part' identical. It is essen tial in these days and in the days ahead that oar common interests should be emphasised and the basis of our differences be under stood.” AFL Secretary - Treasurer George Meany stated tnat prem ise in a formal statement to the Federal Communications Commis sion. He urged that the FCC adopt the stand of educators who requested the reservation of a specific percentage of television channels for the exclusive use of education. “We want our children to learn something more from television than singing commercials,* Mr. Meany said. He traced the efforts of organ ised labor for better educational facilities and reported on the present broad program of educa tional activities conducted by AFL unions, including ownership and operation of radio stations. - WCFL, the radio outlet of the Chicago Federation of Labor, has filed an application with FCC for a television channel. “Union, as well as management believe that educating is vital to the workers,” Mr. Meany said. “A better educated worker is a more productive one. ,He learns more in a short time, performs his tasks better and fulfills a wid er role in the general community. Furthermore, in time of national emergency when skilled laborers are at a premium, it . is import ant that a high educational level be maintained so that a fall sup piv of skilled workers is avail able. \ “Through the development of radio and television, jthe possi bilities for providing 'educational services and information for mil lions of people have been tremen dously expanded. Through their morn efficient utilisation, infor mation can be taken, directly in to the homos of shut-ins, into schools and collages, to the young, to the old, to the housewives and ent construction shall have bean completed the county will have, including the tf. C. Orthopaedic hospital, approximately 400 beds. These improved Hospital facilities have also vastly improved the ntedfcal services which are avail to the many millions who, in th« ordinary roman of events, would not be able to take advantage 1 of the facilities offered by ouc educational institution!. “We believe it to be essential at this time, to insure the most effective Use of television by the publk. The initiative and re sourcefulness that commercial or ganisations have demonstratd in developing television merit gen eral approval. However, we feel that commercial interests, as well as public interests, will be further served if outlets are reserved for non-commercial purposes. “Insofar as existing television frequencies are concerned, it seems to us that the commission has an obligation to insure in creased utilisation of frequencies for the public good. Certainly, up to this point, the use of tele vision for general educational aad community programs has been, to say the least, rather limited. “It is important for members of labor organisations to obtain information regarding the prob lems, conditions of work and view point of farmers, businessmen housewives and governmental and professional leaders. It is no less important that members of such groups should have the op portunity to learn of the exper iences, problems and conditions of work and aspirations of the 16 million members of organised labor. “The interests of labor and the interests of the broader commu nity are for the most part identi cal. It is essential in these days and in the days ahead that our common interests should be em phasised and the basis of our dif ferences be understood. “Radio and television have made some contribution to estab lishing a common basis W under standing. "The history of the last 25 years, however, has shown that radio has not played the great role educationally that was ex pected of it. Television, offers even broader areas of appeal and possibilities of utilization m de veloping educational programs. Indeed, there is is the real pos sibility that radio and television may be used to supplement each other for educational purposes. It is that hope that impels us to urge, that the maximum possible provision for the use of televi sion in education be made by your commission.” Truman Pledges Voluntary Method On Manpower Use WASHINGTON. — President Truman pledged that the govern* ment’s manpower mobilization policy “will be based primrail/ policy “will be based primarily He said controls will be used “when and to the extent needed to assure successful execution of the mobilization program.” Secretary of Labor Maurice J. Tobin, who has been consulting with AFL and other labor lead* ers on this vital issue, and De* fense Mobilizer Charles E. Wil son joined in approving Mr. Tru man’s statement on manpower. Mr. Truman said in part: Recruitment, placement, distri bution, training and utilization of the civilian labor force (includ ing government employes) will be based primarily upon voluntary measures for manpower mobili zation. This policy will be carried out through such measures as: (1) Providing appropriate em ployment information to guide workers to jobs in which they can make their maximum contribu tion; (2) Developing recruitment and rehabilitation activities need ed to expand the labor force; (3) Training persons to meet civilian manpower requirement* and providing appropriate place-' ment services; (4) Providing assistance to employers in promoting mum utilisation of the labor force, including women, physi cally handicapped, older workers and minority groups; (6) Providing adequate hous ing and community services; and (6) Assisting workers to ar range for their transfer to es sential jobs In other arena. Governmental manpower con trols will he need when and to the extent needed to assure suc cessful execution of the mobiliza tion program. Such controls wilt apply to employers, to workers, or to both. They will include: (1) Restricting indiscriminate labor turnover through control of separations; (2) Giving effect to manpow er allocations by placing em ployment ceilings on employers with respect to the total number in particular skills; (3) Controlling of employer hiring, and (4) Enforcing adherence to utilization standards, including full use of women, handicapped workers and minority groups. All manpower programs will be geared to the needs and prob lems of specific geographical areas. ..> '■ ■ CARE OFFERS HELP FOR KOREAN PEOPLE New York. — The CARE-for Korea Committee is sponsoring an appeal for funds to send the familiar CARE food and textile packages to the people of Ko rea in the name of the American people. AFL President William Green and AFL Vice President Matthew Woll, president of Labor League for Human Rights, a member agency of CARE, are members of the CARE-for-Kores Commit tee. 'me parcels, selected to mi spe cific Korean shortages are: Food, underwear and socks, woolen suit inf, $10 each; woolen blanket, cotton textiles, $7 each; knitting wool, $13. I Distribution to destitute fami lies will be made by CARE rep resentatives on the basis of greatest need. Though donor* may specify the kind of package they want to send, it is hoped the majority of orders will bq undesignated, so that supplies can best be balanced againat the various needs. Contributions in any amount should be sent to the AFL Rep resentative, CARE - for • Korea Committee, 20 Broad St, New 6, N. Y. Sums less than the coat of a complete package will be pooled. All donors will CARE r« tions are
The Charlotte Labor Journal and Dixie Farm News (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Feb. 8, 1951, edition 1
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