Newspapers / The Charlotte Labor Journal … / Sept. 27, 1951, edition 1 / Page 1
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I'-,..' LLPE Head Outlines New Voting Policy AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR NOT IN POCKET OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, SAYS McDEVITT SAN FRANCISCO (LPA)—“The impression is prevalent' that LLPE will support the Democrats no. matter what they do. That definitely is not so.” That is what James L. McDevitt, newly named director of Labor’s League for Political Education, declared at a news conference September 18, immediately after accepting the $20,000 a year job as head of the AFL political arm. Candidates who want labor support will get it only by voting for labor, McDevitt made clear. McDevitt shied at indicating whom AFL will support for pres ident in 1962. He said the AFL was “interested” in learning Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower’s stand on labor and labor issues. “Many of our people,” he added, “have hind words for Gov. Earl Warren of California. They believe he is a liberal.” (Warren addressed the AFL convention). Harold E. Stassen. said McDevitt, will be a “figure” in the election although not a candidate. Gov. Thomas E. Dewey of New York, he said, “hasn’t a chance,” and Sen. Rob ert A. Taft (R., Ohio) has no hope of AFL support. There was no mention of President Truman at the conference. . McDevitt, a plasterer by trade, has been president of the Penn sylvania Federation of Labor since 1938. He succeeds hi the LLPE job Joseph D. Keenan, now secre tary-treasurer of the AFL Buue rag Trades Department. McDevitt announced the 107 presidents of AFL unions would meet with him in Washington in November to map the contribution campaign for LLPE. In previous years the AFL has asked for vol untary contributions of $2 each from members. This year the i sum asked will be |1. The AFL also plans to increase its per cap-j ita levy from 3 cents to 4 cents. On the basis of 8 million mem bers, that’s an addition of $1 mil-1 lion to' the AFL treasury. LLPE’s executive committee, made up of top AFL leaders, warned against over emphasizing united labor support for a candi date, pointing out that in some instances during the 1950 cam paign “our enemies went to great extremes to see that the candidate we supported was labeled as a labor candidate to the exclusion and resentment of his other po tential supporters.” “United action by all anions in! support of the same candidate obviously is desirable,” the com- j m it tee continued. "However, un ity in action rather than unity on the letterhead is what’s import ant. If anything, in 1950 too much emphasis was placed on having all branches of labor publicly list ed as sponsoring every pamphlet or billboard under some such ti tle as United Labor Political Committee. “In some instances that only played into the hands of our en emies, who pointed to our own publicity and said: ‘See, the labor bosses have teamed up to purge me.” "We shduld try to avoid letting our enemies make labor, as such, the issue. If our enemies can, they will try to divert the voter atten tion from their pwn bad records.” The tactics of 1950, It also warned, “should serve as a pre view of what we can expect m 1952, only on an even larger and more vicious scale.” It pointed out that reactionary, anti-labor candidates after their defeat in 1948 decided not to discuss is sues but to rely on “huge expendi tures of money, character assassi nation and outright misrepresen tation.” Federal Security Administrator Oscar R. Ewing, addressing tne convention Sept 19, assailed irre sponsible critics—"kibitxers,” he called them—of the administra tion. “There is a great difference,” Building Rises During August DROP MORE THAN HALF j OVER AUGUST, 1950, BUT $800,009 ABOVE JULY THIS YEAR. RALEIGH. Sept 29. — New housing and non-residential building permits valued at $8, 926,022 were issued in 04 North Carolina citiee and towns dur ing August, the State Depart ment of Labor reported todiy. The August figure was about $800,000 above the total for the previous month, said Labor De partment statistician C. H. Pritch ard. However, it was less than half as large as the more than $18 million in building which was authorized in August a year ago. Permits for construction of new housing totaled $3,864,606 last month, yhich was only slightly higher than the July housing! total, Pritchard said. These in cluded 469 single- family dwell ing units. N onresidential building author* ized during August amounted to $3,868,462—a half-million dollars higher than the non-residential figure for July. Permits were is sued for 43 stores, six workshop buildings, three school buildings, one public building, nine office buildings, five institutional build ings, 85 private garages, four commercial garages, five churches, two recreation buildings, and 21 miscellaneous structures. Additions, alterations and re pairs authorized in August amounted to $1,193,052. This amount, which was slightly high er than the July figure, was about equally divided between residen tial and commercial addition, alte ration and repair jobs. Three cities reported more than $1 million in building permits last month. These were Raleigh 11,917,745, Charlotte $1,090,005, and Rocky Mount $1,009,188. Greensboro reported $702,678. All other cities and towns were below n half-million dollars. ■ ANOTHER EXAMPLE TO TAXES “RUINING* CORPORATIONS Chicago (LPA) — Montgomery Ward,* mail order house, made more money in the first six months of 1951 than in the first half of 1950, despite: (1) a drop in sales; (2) increased taxecs. That isn't • all. Despite “ruin ous taxes,” it increased assets by $60 million; its earned surplus climbed $45 million; and its working capital went from $477, 664,343 to $522,939,391. Net ; profits (profits after taxes) for the first half of 1941 were $25, 1353,178, against $22,887,617 the first half of 1950, although sales ! dropped 0.7 per cent and federal income taxes climbed from $20, 100,000 to $23,960,000. The Electric Boat Co. also fared well, despite “ruinous taxes.” Its net profits of $1,200, 000 for the first six months of 1951 almost equalled the $1,396, 941 pro ({Vs for the entire year of 1980. COMPARING U. S. AND SOVIET POLICIES There are people in the United States who like to assert that this country has been baffled and be wildered at every international conference and that, as a result, our foreign policy has been blun dering and bouncing from one set back to another. * There may be some element of truth in the allegations but it might be useful to compare the results that have attended the foreign policy of Soviqf Russia. At the lad of World War II, the Communist regime had won the admiration of the world for the resolute struggle that it put up against German aggression. By its last-minute participation in the war against Japan, the Rus- j sians.it seemed, made common cause with the free and demo cratic peoples in their effort *to stamp out aggression. The time was ripe for Soviet Russia to make friends with the West and to benefit from this friendship through a long period of paa&fui progress. *Tha rulers in the Kremlin determined to fol low a different course. They promptly utilised aggressive and military measures to encompass the subjugation of neighboring peoples. They followed a course deliberately designed to alienate the West and to isolate Russia from the other nations, of the world. While the Russians had a nat ural advantage for some years due to their p^ponderant mili tary strength, the free nations, un der the leadership of the United States, are now rearming at a rate that the Russians cannot equal. In addition, the free na tions are extending the hand of friendship to the Japanese and German peoples and planning to permit a limited rearmament of these defeated countries in order to bolster their stand against the Soviet Union. Russia/ which has always feared Japanese and German ag gression, thus produces a situa tion in which the other nations of the earth have no choice but to assist in the strengthening of the two nations which the Rus-1 sians consider their natural ere mica. The Rusaians can show, as the gains of their recent diplomacy, some extension of Russian terri tory and hegemony, but it is doubtful If they ean produce many friends. Their relationship with the progressive and civilised areas of democrattc countries has j badly deteriorated. Instead of the sympathy of the West for its sufferings and losses during the war, the Russians have earned the suspicion of mankind and kin dled a world-wide fear that they plan an aggressive campaign to control the earth. This the free world is resolved to contest, even if it means another world war. with many nations arrayed against the Soviet Union. • • e NATIONAL GUARDSMEN IN SERVICE In connection with its plan to ; rotate overseas personnel, with first priority to the men who fought in Korea last winter, the Army has adopted a policy of calling on National Guard divis ions, after four months in Federal service, to supply , individuals as j replacements for overseas service. ) Already, six National Guard di j visions are in Federal service, fat j addition to two regimental com ,bat teams. Two additional divis iions will be called into service early next year. Sometime later in 1952, the ninth Guard division *ill come in W help the Army maintain its strength at the 1, 600,000 level. Two National Guard divisions are on occupation duty in Japan, one from California and one from Oklahoma. Divisions from Penn sylvania, Connecticut and Rhode Island, Alabama and Mississippi and Minnesota and North Dakota are in training. The divisions to go into service next year will come from Ohio gnd Illinois. The combat teams, which usually num ber about 5,000 men, have been called from South Dakota and Tennessee. We doubt if there is general recognition throughout the coun try of the part that the National Guard is playing in our present1 military program. The probabili ty is that the pool will be in- * creased next year, because the pool of the 18-year-olds will be1 one of the smallest in history, due ! to low birth rates during the de pression years of the Thirties. GENERAL MAR8HALL RETIRES The retirement of George Cat lett Marshall as Secretary of De fense removes from public office a man who has served his coun try for many years with unusual intelligence and fidelity. General Marshall was Chief of Staff and organised the largest and most powerful army In our history during World War II. He was largely responsible for tts guidance and played an important role in connection with the co-or dination of the forces fighting Germany, Italy and Japan. Subsequent to the war, General Marshall became Secretary of State, serving for two years. His , notable contribution in this field | was the development of a plan. for the United States to buttress : Europe against Communist en- j croachment by lending economic assistance. The plan is popularly known as the Marshall Plan but its formal title is the European Recovery Program. It has worked with signal success, contributing largely to the present hope of building up sufficient armed strength in Europe to relieve this codntry of some of its burden in 1 connection with preventing the j Russians from running roughshod over Europe. While General Marshall tried j to retire, being anxious to get out of the pressure of public af fairs, he was called back into' service last year, to become Sec retary of Defense. Once again, he made a major contribution to the stabilization of our vital mil itary pogram and, largely because of public confidence in his integ rity and judgment, our rearma ment program, together with the reorganization of the armed serv ices, continued to operate on an even keel. This is the third time that Gen eral Marshall has retired from governmental service to seek rest and relaxation on his farm at Leesburg, Virginia. President Truman, in acknowledging his res ignation, declared that “no man ever has given his country more distinguished and patriotic service than have you." For this, and other reasons, the General is en , titled to his retirement after a j long, active and loyal service in behalf of his country. e e • AIR FORCE PLANS TO SUPPORT TROOPS For many years the strategy of (Continued On Pag* 4) “Wetback” Menace Spreading To Big Industrial Centers WASHINGtON, (LPA)—Thou sands of Mexican “wetbacks”; have invaded the US in the past few months and many are ignor- . inf the usual migrant harvest jobs to move north into jobs in industrial centers. Field agents for the Immigra tion and Naturalisation Service have estimated that at least l'O, 000 “wetbacks” are employed at non-farm jobs in the Chicago area. (“Wetbacks” are Mexicans who enter the U.S. illegally by creasing the Rio Grande.) Immigration officials recently deported 406 illegal Mexicans aft er a four-day check of industrial plants in Chicago and vicinity. |n Detroit, 101 “wetbacks” wefe rounded up in a three-day check. Thousands of others are in New York and some have been caught ag far north as Alaska, officials said. Last year, 579,000 'were ex pelled from the U. S., at govern ment expense, and the number is expected to be greater this year. Congress, however, has rffused to take steps to relieve the prob lem by imposing penalties on em ployers who knowingly hire the illegal migrants. Both the Senate and House killed provisions estab lishing fines and prison sentences for such offenses. Both the AFL and CIO demand- i ed the penalties to protect the jobs, wages and working con* j ditions of American srorkers. “Wetbacks” are hired for ex tremely low pay and cannot com plain because of their illegal stat us. The Mexican government also has demanded the penalties to j protect the legal migrant work- ’ era it furnishes to the U. 8. unaer J the new migrant labor treaty, j Estimates of the number of legal migrants who will be brought into the U. S. this year range from 200,000 to 400,000. The California convention of the AFL National Farm Labor Union charged that “wetbacks” have been employed by soma states, counties and cities on pub lic work projects and again urged that Congress set up penalties for such offenses. The union also ! recommended that AFL unions j ‘“police their ranks” to weed out “wetbacks” in industry. NFLU has led the fight against the ‘Vet bskcka.” 9,700 INCREASE RECORDED IN AUGUST—'INCREASES REPORTED IN TOBACCO, TRADE AND TRANSPORTATION RALEIGH, Industrial employment in North Carolina increased 9,700 during August for a rise of one per cent over the July employment level, the State Denart ment of Labor reported today. part'* RED FEATHER CAMPAIGN IN NEED OF SOLICITORS Mecklenburg's Red Feather Campaign for over Si Red Feather services need* pen as a rolanteer solicitor In this Fall's big drive for lands, which begins October Id. Yonr United Red ^Feather drive is a part of one groat national effort to snpport more than 15,Md local health, recre ation and welfare services. New inetasiens this year are the reactivated USO and oth er volantary health and wel fare services which are now needed becaaae of the defense effort. A great many volunteers are needed to do the Job. Volun teer your time now to yonr RED FEATHER CAMPAIGN ia Charlotte and Mecklenbarg Coanty. i Trusts Close To Defying Controls Lawyers Told New York (LPA) — Economic Stabiliser Eric Johnston has charged that the attitude of the beef and metals industries J towards p rice-la ge controls is close to “deliberate defiance.” Johnston told the American Bar Association September 17 the government does not intend to “enlist an army of snoopers and, secret police ... to spy or set booby traps” for industry in the Ltabilisation program. But, he said, “I want to serve notice right now that we are going to give no quarter to black marketeers.” He revealed the government is planning to use a new tax weap on against price-wage violators. He explained the government now has authority to refuse to allow as deductible expenses any coats paid out in violation of stabilisa tion regulations. In addition, Johnston pointed out that the De fense Production Act carries stiff civil and criminal penalties for violators. He said the tax clause would j Buy U. S. Defense Bonds And Help Armed Forces The following letter has been seat out by President H. H. Ever ett of the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce: “The Bond quota assigned to Mecklenburg county in the cur rent Defense Bond Drive is $800, 000 in Series E, F and G Bonds. The period of the Drive is Sep tember 3 througl) November 13. “R. E. Kerr, County Bond chairman, and his committee, urge; every business and professional' man, industrialist and farm resi-1 dent in the County to give full; support to the Drive to put Meek-1 lenburg over the top. Increased sales of Defense Bonds will act as a deterrent to further inflation: and help meet the upcoming heavy maturities of Government securities. “During the past 18 months, many young men from Mecklen burg county have entered the Armed forces. They will give an j - » important period of their life—’ end their live* if necessary—in the' defenae of oar country. We have a duty to theae young men as well as to our folks here at home to show them that “defense is everybody’s job. “What you can do: “l. Buy extra Bonds. “2. Advertise Bonds in your newspaper and radio advertising. “8. Install the Payroll Savings Plan so that your employes can j buy Bonds regularly on the in* stallment plan. "4. Put up posters in your store or plant. (They are available at the Chamber of Commerce). “5. Sell Bonds to your custom ers. * “Let's back the men in the Armed Forces and build a secure economy at home by buying U. S. Defense Bonds. “CHAMOTTE CHAMBER OF COMMENCE “H. H. EVERETT, Pres.” - m ‘ I | . Hil BdTfest increase came in the tobacco industry, in which stem meriee and redrying plants took on some 12,000 additional wooers as th® fall tobacco processing operations got under way, Pritch ard said. The large seasonal rise brought total employment in stemmeries and redryn<4 plants to 17,800 and in the entire tonne* co industry to 32,600. Employment in retail trade in creased 2.200 to a State-wide to tal of 129,400 due to hiring of extra help for fall clearance sales and back-to-school business. The transportation industry also reg istered an employment gain of 900. Employment in Federal, State and local government agen cies in North Carolina was re ported from Washington, D. C. to be up 900 in August. All branches of the textile in dustry took on additional workers last month with the exception of broad woven fabrics mills,, which dropped 1,100 workers due to few er orders and high ere from the payrolls same reasons. for the Employment increased in near ly all of the durable goods indus tries. Household furniture fac tories reported a drop of 1,500. The lumber and timber industry was down 700 from the July level. Employment in service, industries also dropped 1,000 due to season al factors. Food products de creased 400 because of a seasonal decline in canning. The contract constitution industry reported an employment drop of 700. The average Tar Heel factory worker put in 37.3 hours a week on the job during August, was paid at the rate of $1.17 an hour (down a penny from the July wage), and earned $43.78 for his week’s labor. Most industries re ported no very marked changes in hourly earnings of employes. Highest weekly earnings were re ceived by pulp and paper mill workers, who averaged $77.91 for a workweek of 45.5 hours. Lowest wages were those of variety store employes, who averaged $16.20 for a workweek of 30.5 hours. Va riety stores employed 10,000 workers. PRODUCTION PERILED* BY LACK OF MEDIATORS IN WAGE RISE DISPUTES Washington (LPA) — Lack of sufficient mediators to handle pay demand disputes stemming from rising prices and higher taxes present a grave threat to indus trial oroduction.. That was re vealed September 18 by Clyde M, Mills, veteran chief assistant to Cyrus S. Ching, head of the Fed eral Mediation and Conciliation Servicce. The service, Mills said, is being swamped with requests for in tervention in an unprecedented outbreak of serious dispute* throughout the country which may lead to strikes threatening the rearmament program. Hard-pressed to find regional conciliation commissioners to act in critical cases, Ching will seek Congressional approval of increas ing by one-third the present 200 mediators. Mills said. be used “whenever the stabilisa tion program is threatened by de liberate defiance and w# may be approaching that situation right now with respect to some of the most important items in short supply, such as metals, such a*
The Charlotte Labor Journal and Dixie Farm News (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Sept. 27, 1951, edition 1
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