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fpr Tp!" *r^- MR MERCHANT Hintoitthe AS oc cured to you that this paper goes homes of the beat paid working men in Dulutb and surrounding territory? It carefully perused by every adult mem ber of the household. There is no better ad* rertising medium anywhere. VOL, 20. No. 14. Indianapolis, Ind., Dec. 1.— Alexander Howat, former presi dent of the United Mine Workers *«Kof America, District 14, is in jail at Columbus, Kan., for one reason and he was removed from office as president by John L. Lewis, international president, for an entirely different reason, accord ing to au article appearing in the current issue of the United Mine OUSTED FROM OFFICE FOR ONE REASON BUM. FDR ANOTHER Officers of United Mine Workers Tell Why Howat and Asso ciates Were Removed Rot Square With Cause. Workers Journal, official publi cation of the international union. The Journal says: Only Kick I'p Dust. "Some of those men who are in open rebellion against the laws of the union are spreading the word that tfte autonomy of District 14 was suspend ed by the international organization and the officers of that district rer moved from office because those dis trict officials werel making: a fight against the Kansas industrial court law. ••.Nothing could be farther- from the truth and, of course, those who make such statements know they are un true. It is only an attempt on their part to kick up a lot of dust to hide their illegal and indefensible conduct in violating the fundamental lawS of the union and the basic provisions nf their agreement with the qoal op erators of that district. There is nothing else to it. Union Law Breakers "These district officers were not re moved from office because of their fight against the \Kansas industrial court law. They were removed be cause they refused to obey the laws of their own union and the decision of their own international union. They called strikes that were violations of the joint agreement*^ "The international union directed' them to put the striking miners back at work and then take up the griev ances in the regular way, as pro vided by the joint agreement. They refused to do this, but defied the in ternational officers and international union. Then the international con vention. the highest authority in the organization, decided by ail over whelming vote that they should put the striking miners back at work. Still they refused and defied the con vention. "For that reason, and that reason alone, they were removed from of fice and the autohonTy of District 14 Was suspended. The Kansas indus trial court was not involved in the case In any manner whatever, al „jT*iiough some of these men have at tempted to hide behind their awn shadows and make the people believe that they were being persecuted be cause they were fighting the Kansas industrial court law. Never Fought Kansas law. "The bald fact Is that the officers of District 14 never have fought the Kansas industrial court law. They have fought the court, but they have not, even up to this hour, made any attack upon the law creating- the court nor have they made any effort what ever to have the Kansas Industrial court law set aside or repealed. "Throughout all of their dramatics and heroics they have merely de nounced and defied the Kansas in dustrial court and then paraded be fore the public, with the spotlight turned on. beating their breasts and shouting, 'I am a. hero.' It was a clear case of playing to the grand stand, all of which was at the ex pense of the Kansas miners and the good name of the union. Validity Not Tested. "Sometimes the thought arises that perhaps the officers of District 14 were not as anxious to have the Kan sas industrial court law knocked out as they appeared to be from their declarations. As above stated, they never made any effort to have the law wiped out. "They violated the industrial court numerous times and had them selves arrested, but in no case did they start ahy proceedings that could test the constitutionality of the law Uself. And .when the international union offered to co-operate with and assist Alexander Howat to make, a full legal test of the law Howat did not accept the offer of assistance. "Sincerity of purpose would have prompted him to accept the help of the international union, instead of incompletely ignoring the offer. Just v| wfcy he ignored the offer, no one ex cept Howat himself knows. "Recent developments,.. however, would seem to indicate 'that he had a burning desire to go to jail instead, and thus attain the self-imposed dis tinction of being a martyr with' the limelight shining brightly upon 'him. indulge in Deception* "Howat and those who support him are indulging in bare-faced deception of the membership when they make ^^the statement that the officers of tT District 14 were removed from office because of their activities against the Kansas industrial court. The Kansas Industrial court law1 had nothing to (Continued on page 2.) "Neither Howat nor hie associates ever attempted to test validity of Kansas anti-strike law in the courts. "They have fought the industrial court, but they have not, even up to this hour, made any attack upon the (aw creating the court, "The International union has of fered to assist Howat to make a full legal test of the law, but he did not accept the offer of assistance. "The convention of the United Mine Workers ordered Howat and his asociates to live up to their agree ment with the mine owners...„They refused to abide by the decision uf the convention and the law of the International union.....For In a speech before the state cham ber of commerce he said he denounced "invisible government" 10 years ago, but how another "invisible govern ment" has appeared. "This new assailant of ordered lib erty and American institutions is the close and closed corporations of those men who have made themselves mas ters of labor unions," he said. in his most flowery style, Bever idge reeled off his. citizens alliance speech to the delight of business men who like to hear organized labor and its struggles for improved, working conditions listed with organized capi talists, whose goal is profits. John J. Cornwell, former governor of West "Virginia, followed. He pic tured the dangers if the government takes over the coal mines of West Virginia. No one in that state is ser iously advocating this plan, but Corn well's speech "went big," just the same. His reference to "Americani zation" is the same tepid stuff he dealt in while governor of West Virgini^ when he save gunmen and anti-union coal owners a free hand. WOOL TRADE ADVANCES WHILE STEEL DECLINES WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.—-In com paring employment figures of Octo ber, 1921, with those in October, 1920, the bureau of labor statistics reports that in eight of the industries employ ment increased and in the remaining six less employment was recorded. The largest Increase, 62.5 per cent, is in the woolen industry. Men's ready made clothing increased 30.5 per cent. The iron and steel industry shows the largest decrease in employment, 37.8 per cent. The Board of Arbitration appointed to hear the dispute between the Cana dian 'National Railways and certain of its employes respecting a reduction of wages has rendered an award that is interesting in that it takes the posi tion that cost of living shall have first consideration in the adjustment of wages, and that when reductions are made they shall bear due relation to the amount that will remain for each class of workers. 1 NO ROOM HERE FOR SECT! MINERS' CHIEFS 6IVE FACTS III HOWAT CASE that reason, ind that alone, they were removed From office." BEVERID9E WITH ANTI-UNIONISTS Now and Flowery Warwick Ap pears on Stage to Lead Hosts of Op Shoppers. NEW YORK Dec. 1.—The latest addition to the anti-union forces is Alfred J. Beveridge, former United States' senator from Indiana. The ex-lawmaker has posed ars a "liberal," but his" speech shows how easy this brand of "liberalism" Blips into, reac tion's camp. This Is completely at odds with the position of American railroad' owners, who insist that the poorest paid workers shall sus tain the biggest, cuts* and who were recently sustained by the United States Railroad Labor Board, which established, wages for certain railroad workers averaging not more than $9.60 a week. •. The Canadian board made its award UNION SMASHERS BRING GRIEF TO GARMENT TRADES Manufacturers Who Broke Trade Agreements Now Busy Ex plaining to Public. NEW YORK, Dec. 1.—Organized cloak manufacturers have been out generaled in an effort to smash the International Ladies' Garment Work ers' union. The bosses broke their contract and would establish piece work, wage reductions and the long work week. As a result, 60,000 em ployes suspended work following a ,-referendum vote of 38,672 to 162. The broken agreement cannot be answered by the employers, who are making strenuous efforts to stem the tide against them. They first at tempted to conceal Iheir purpose by claims that their success would mean lower prices for women's cloaks, but the unionists destroyed this alibi, by showing the small labor cost in these garments. The bosses then insisted that the uniou interferes with greater productivity, but again the, uniOn put the employers on the defensive by showing that the joint production commission, created under the agree ment, was considering this 'question, and that before its report was made the employers precipitated the present, situation. The employers talk about "art hon est day's work," which is referred to by President Schlesinger of. the gar ment workers as a "commonplace truism that can be applied in every industrial dispute,'' "The union will not allow the issue to be sidetracked in such uncere monious manner," said the •wprkers' representative. "The union 'insists upon the full performance of the ex isting agreement, not for the.enforce ment of a mere technical right, but as a matter of vital practical concern. In the 11 years of contractur&l*8eai^ ings between the employers' associa tion and out -v?- 1 union, the' employers have four times openly repudiated their agreement with the workers." To prove the union-smashing pur pose of the employers, attention is. called to this public, statement by them, on October 31: "There Will be no conference, no negotiation. The manufacturers have decided it. ft? (V We are turning the tables. That's all. Now we are the doctors." The broken agreement cannot be answered by the employers, and the union is driving this point home. COMMUNISTS AID Boston "Reds" Give Aid, Com fort and Support to Enemies of Printing Trades. BOSTON, Dec. 1.—The Typograph ical union is circulating an answer to the local typothetae, which has printed an attack on officers of the Boston Typographical union and the International Typographical union. The article circulated -, by the ty pothetae is reprinted froiji the Work ers* Challenge, organ of the commun ist party, and attacks the union ex ecutives because they insisted on con tract observance in this city. In its reply the local union says: "such propaganda on the part of the typothetfre is significant Have their leaders joined hands with 'Big Bill' Haywood and the Moscow interna tional?" on the assumption.. that employes earning $125 a month and -more- are able to stand a cut. Of approximately 12% per cent, but that the reduction should' be less in the case of lower paid workers. Chairman (Rey.j^ Byron Stauffer and Harold Fisher, Representing the men, signed the. report, to which George D. KeHey, ^Representing the Canadian National, dissented, and sub mitted a minority report. The effect of the-award was to sus tain the proposed reduction in the case of employed deceiving $125 or more per month fpd to suggest a sliding-scale reduction in the case of Other employes., on the following basis: Employ^ receiving $80 per month,,$5 employes receiving $81 to $95 per month, {J&.60 employes re ceiving $96 to $»6 per month, $10. This baais is siml|ir to that put into effect "in. the Toronto, accounting,de partment of thje Canadian National, While the award is not binding upon __ 4MERICAN LABOR WILL NOT BE OUTLAWED OR ENSLAVED DULUTH ANDSUPERIOR ^/-CEMBER 3,1921. ROCKET'S "UNION" MEETS PREDICTED FATE DENVER, Jiec. 1.—The 1»14 miners' strike in southern Colo* radowas followed by a company "union," approved by John D. Rockefeller, jr., and balled by President \Velbprn of the: Colo rado Fuel and Iron company as Industrial democracy.' The com pany is a Rockefeller unit, .. Tons of valuable white! paper was used to explain the new sys tem that woidd end strikes'.. Hard headed trade unionists were called cynics and joy killers when they predicted failure of the new "union," but their prophecy has been fulfilled. The company has reduced wages 30 per cent, In violation of an award by the government's bitum inous coal commission, and in violation of the state Industrial law Hhich provides that SO days' notice must be given before wages ire reduced or workers strike. The commission took no action against the company and the coal miners suspended work. The com pany "union" has been forgotten and martial law proclaimed, as in the days of Imdlow. The commission will appreciate information whereby ft can: jail these workers without being cen sured for not taklng actioiL afirainst the company, when itvkrfated the 'law. BURDEN OF WAR Business Has Wos Long aged Fight for Repeal of Excess Profits Tax. WASHINGTON, Dec* l.~BIg busi ness has won. its fight for repeal Of the excess profits tax, arid after this year the merry game of gouging wilt be clear velvet without contributions to the treasury department. For months the people, have been told that this tax is a-check on busi ness initiative, and men: who pose as leaders of the nation have joined in the confusing hxibb^b, ignoring the law, wliich provides a tax not on nor mal profits, or large profits, but on "excess profits.'' Section 312 of the law says: "That the excess profits credit shall consist of a Specific exemption of $3,000, plus an amount of credit equal: to 8 per cent of the invested capital for the taxable year." This means that after a business man pays salaries to himself and as sociate managers, wage's to his. em-, ployes. interest on his bonds, seta aside substantial sum for deprecia tion of plant, provides' for a sinking fund to care for outstanding, indebt edness, etc., he may then set aside: $3,000 of- his profits, and then an additional amount equal to 8 per cent of his invested capital. Then and not till, then are his prof its subject to an 8 per cent tax under the excess profits tax. Even under these conditions the capitalist can corfceal large amounts through a ruling that he may inven tory his plant at the present market price rather than the original cost. The treasury department estimates that the, excess profits for 1920 will amount to 8850,000,000, and that this year's tax will total about one-half of that amount. These vast sums will be increased beyond computation in the coming days of prosperity, but no portion of them will assist in paying the nation's debts. The repeal of this law will put an added war tax burden on thq com mon people, who are being called up on. to pay the staggering war debt/ either party, the,, comment- contained in the verdict is important in that it takes a position completely reversing railroad practice pn' this continent. Dealing with the proposed general reduction, the award drew attention to the fact«that cleaners woTtld earn $19.20 per 'week, \khd: ashpltmen,fire builders and coalmen, .$20.64' per'week. and said: "The board thinks that. even with the re duqed cost of Jiving, it is almpst impossible for the average family to live on. these wages. AU of these employes, .are 'little inbre than unskilled labor,: igi (a. sente. It is not necessary .for these. .empiloyes to go through avlbng'^ini^. but most'of them ^e ^a^nployerf, and we think that their .positions require from them a cpn4de?4^fe amount of intelligence. andv reliability. "It would not be naerely decent treatment, .'but good: 'bustnese, to see '.that theser p^wnrisiiwit cm ployes wage* whlcti wlllmalce' them contested and, willing." Referring'to sleeping, dining, ahd tfK v11*5• SICK REFUSES fuse to Permit 6overnment to Examine CHICAGO, Dec. 1.—The coal in dustry is sick and refuses to let the doctor make an examination, eaid John Brophy in an address before the public ownership league. The speaker is president of coal miners' district No. 2 (central Penn sylvania). He is also chairman, of the nationalization research com mittee of the United Mine. Workers of America, which has declared {or the nationalization of mines. The address was a challenge to coal owners. The unionist charged these business men with profiteering and Quoted their own figures to prove it. He charged them with waste and inefficiency, and quoted government officials and coal owners to prove it. He charged them with producing coal for the stock market and not for use, and presented statements by stock brokers to prove it. Despite this array of facts the speaker said that the miners do not ask for a verdict from the public until every source of information is available. "When the miners ask that all the facts, be put at your disposal, the op erators start a publicity campaign against facts- through paid advertise ments in' the newspapers. "What facts are needed? First, facts are needed on costs and profits. The federal trade commission started to' collect this data. Iir 1920 congress asked the commission to investigate and report the cost of mining coal, and $150,000 was appropriated for the job. The national coal association asked for an injunction, stopping the investigation. The -Injunction w^ -granted because mining coal was not interstate commerce. "We miners stand for nationaliza tion of the coal industry and as a, first step we ask the co-operation of the American people in securing a centralized continuous and compul sory fact-finding agency. In de manding this I am talking as an American citizen. It is in the in terest of the' great class of American^ coal consumers that as a representa tive of the-United Mine Workers of America I ask you to urge congress to pass immediate legislation for a fact-finding agency." ONLY MAKE $200 Washington Investigation Show Up Profiteering Among Milk Distributors. WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.—Pity the poor milk dealer—not the little fel low with one or two cows, but the concern that deals in this commod ity by the carload. The manager of one of these con cerns in the nation's capitol told a congressional milk investigating committee, that he has made a prdfit of 1200 every day for the last nine months. His total, profit during that period was 138,900. This does not include' annual salaries aggregating $37,000 which his family draws out of the business and of which he re ceives $18,000. Five of his sons are on the payroll and two of them are paid. $10,000 a year. parlor ear employes, the repdrt Sug gested that "if the management and the employes will seriously undertake the pioneer reform of abolishing grat uities this board wlll.be glad to offer a supplementary report." The award recommended that the maximum decrease for hourly- paid men. such as loaders, freight'-fauckers or porters, locomotive cleanWs, ash pitmen, firebuildrs and coalmen be. not greater than 10 per cent of the wages pald before the reductions. Stenographers and sleeping,/Jp|inlng and parlor car. employes ,are not af-' fected by the recommendatioh- fbr re 4yctiong for monthly pald| employes getting $125 or less. r. "We can not believe' that the fixing of wages should bd left en tirely to the hard and fast law of supply and demand,"1 the %jnr& elates. 'This implies struggle, with possible strikes and lock out®." "This board woU|d not be prepared a* »Iraar* to. iadone the grpicipljr of The city of Duluth is abundantly able to finance and build public heating systems that will supply the needs of every dwelling and business block at cost. Fuel in Duluth is a big item in cost of living, Wood, once the poor man's fuel, is now on the luxury list. Homes must be heated for nine months every year. Heating pipes are only laid be neath the surface* of the ground. There is no serious problem of con struction involved. It is more simple than gas and water construction. The cream of the heating business is in the heart of the city. No one would want to build plants in other sections which would bring ia nomi nal returns. The city incinerator and private power plants are equipped now to sell steam to city as we now buy gas* SUPREME COURT Declares Rockefeller and Du POnt Must Pay Millions Into U. S. Treasury. WASHINGTON •^^%v:r-:v:^.'-.^?-'- '.:'•"'/i'flflpi W|p^:'^qPSP'^ W Dec!. 1,—stock divi dends are taxable when there is a reorganization and this stock extends to the new company, rules the United States supreme court. The decision means that John D. Rockefeller and Edith Hale Hark* ness must pay the government $16, 000,000 and theDiipont Powder com pany must turn in about $24,000, 000. Stfcck dividends means that the capital stock of a concern is increased when profits are so large that they may attract attention. Instead of receiving these excessive profits the stockholder is given additional stock upon which he pays no income. This practice has been upheld by- the United States supreme court. 1 ".The scheme has been enlarged to Include reorganizations, but the court now holds that stock dividends, when issued in this manner, shall be classed as income, atid are subject to the in come tax. The amount of money the defen dants are called upon to pay the gov ernment will give some idea of profits, that have been made during the past few years. STOPPED WORK TO KILL RAT INJURED AND WAS REFUSED COMPENSATION Albany, N. Y., Dec. 1.—The state -workmen's compensation commission reports a queer compensation case, wherein a worker engaged in mov ing a house chased a rat from under the building. In attempting to kill the rat with a piece of board a sliver pierced the hand of the worker and blood poisoning developed. In reject ing a claim for compensation it was ruled that if the worker was employed to hunt rats and wans injured, he would be compensated, but not under pres ent conditions. a minimum wage. It does think that the railways of the country, and more especially, perhaps, the government railroad owned by the people of Cana da, in fixing wages, must have some regard to the minimum cost of living under frugal but decent conditions." While remarkable in many respects, -the award was none the less of a ju dicial and impartial nature. It assert ed that, unpleasant though it might be, railway employes should not be exempt from making theirrcontribu tion to the lowered, cost of living. On the other hand,- it stated that the board was not greatly impressed with the statement made regarding the fi nancial condition of the Canadian National. "The board," the award says on this ponlt, "is not interested In the causes of the deficit, for which the employes can not be held responsible." Statements made by leaders of the men indicate that they will be willing to^accept ftnd -abide by the iward* Mr Jit MR WORKINCMAN THIS ir your paper. It publt*he» matter pertaining to yttur life and welfare. It wants and need* your support. It canobt exjst~ without it Ymr cause would be jtoeale indeed without a labor -paper to champifiii it^ Become -a reader and a subscriber. Private Company Must Not Be Granted Right to Pick Cream of Business and Neglect Other Sections of City. CITY FULLY ABLE TO BUILD HEATING PLANT FIVE CENTS. AND GIVE HEAT TO ALL AT COST The city commissioners are ad vised to go slow in granting a franchise to certain private parties for a central heating plant. They will undoubtedly give the matter careful consider ation before taking any action, which of course in any event will be finally passed upon by the people. None want to stand in the way of city progress, but this is no way to advance the interests of all., We Need a Plant. Duluth needs a public heating plant as much as it needs anything in the world. No item in the cost of living except food approaches that of the cost of fuel. Even cordwood. once the poor man's boon, is now on the luxury list. Fuel for heating is used in nearly every home for the greater part of nine months a year. Rent, clothing, food and fuel conr stitute the chief items in a family budget. A local government' has no power to regulate the .rice of any such articles. The state and federal governments have not assumed- any power to regulate prices, except in time of war, and we are to have no more war. let us hope. Cannot Hit Rents. A city can do much to influence rent through taxation and we have not reached the time yet when it would be regarded as good city busi ness to build homes. In some foreign cities that is being done by the mu nicipalities. In America we are learn ing how to build homes much better through the medium of co-opetative building and loan associations, With regard to clothing and food there is little opportunity lor ..relief -from' high prices through, any agencies the city might set up. Our climate seems to be too unseasonable to as sure success to city markets. We are not disposed to open city-owned stores for the sale of clothing and food. It is not desirable. The workers are in a measure helping to solve the prob lem for themselves by organizing co operative stores. Heating at Cost. When it comes to heating, it is like light and air and water. In Du luth we have farmed out the privi lege of serving the people with but 6ne of such necessities of comfort,and and life. We give the. people water and gas at cost. We permit a pri vate company to make a profit in supplying us with electric light, and as that company has been very fair with the people it has continued to do business without interruption in spite of the fact that the sentiment here is in favor of municipal owner ship. Duluth needs a public heating plant or plants. On account of the topog raphy of the city the unit system of heating would seem the most practta* able, just as was recommended by Commissioner Merritt some years ago with regards to the electric lighting system. It Would Be Folly. Would it not be folly to grant to private parties a franchise to supply the central portion of the city to take the cream of the business, and to permit the rest of the folks in other sections to look on with envy while they are being denied such a luxury? The proposed franchise extends from Third avenue east to Seventh avenue .west and up the hill to Third street. It can be depended upon if the people living below Third street in the cen tral portion of the city enjoy the con venience of a public heating plant a demand will be made from other sec tions for the same convenience. What company would want to take the responsibility and the risk of fur nishing heat to the lean sections of the city? To grant such a franchise as is asked for at this time would be but another municipal blunder which we would live to regret. It is true 'the central plant could be pur chased at amy time, hut if such were done we would be forced to. pay for valuation, going value, good will and a lot of other trash. There is nothing doing.. Will Not Reduce Rents. is one foolish enotigh^to believe that the granting of the franchise would result in reducing office rents in the public buildings down town? In the upper .section of the district it would result in increasing rent. We know, of a private boarding house where it ia necessary to employ a man to take care of the .furnace. v, would not be nededjSarjr when heat ia to be supplied by a private company: The landlord would soon find it out and he would only exact that much more In rent, that Is if we are to judge by his habit .\v,- The installation of pttblic -heat ing system in Duluth, one that would extend from Xikke|ide to. New Duluth is no physical o£? financial problem. It would: pay for Itself in twenty-five years. It is not'necessary to lay steam pipes afe deep In the. ground as water and ga» pipes. Nffoere ft fr-j 1 Si IPS?* f: .fit 1 His services will' bev very (Continued on page *,*