The Butler County press. [volume], January 10, 1919, Image 1

About The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946

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No.
Nicholas Van Der Pyl To Ad
dress Manufacturers' As
sociation Of This City
January 22nd.
Wffl Explain Work On U. S.
Employment Service.
This war was won by the working
men at home as well as by the boys at
the front. Every man and woman en
gaged in a useful occupation, and all
sticking to their jobs day after day
until the war was won was the object
for which the United States Employ
ment Service was organized. The day
of private labor recruiting is over.
The private employment agency with
its fees and its encouragement of
labor turnover is at the end of its
Career. The United States Employ
ment Service, under the direction of
Hon. John B. Densmore, is revolution
izing the employment situation of this
country,
"Win the War" was the slogan of
this Service. No man idle, no man
idling, and regulation is what the De
partment of Labor's system is work
ing to bring about. Production, not
profit, is every man's duty today.
Mr. Nicholas Van Der Pyl, who will
tell about the great work of the U. S.
Employment Service, will speak here
in this city—before the Manufacturers
A&soiation on January 22 at 8 o'clock.
H© has for many years been prominent
as a lecturer and writer on industrial
problems, and is one of several indus
trial research experts who have been
selected by the Information and Ed
ucation Service of the Department of
Labor to visit cities where Govern
ment contracts are being filled.
Since the first of July, Mr. Van Der
Pyl has been in the field, explaining
the Employment Service. Letters of
appreciation from Pennsylvania, Ohio,
Illinois, Michigan, Iowa and Virginia
received by the Department of Labor
show how valuable this work is,
Mr. Van Der Pyl was born in Boston
and started in as .a boy in the printing
business. From that point he broke
into the newspaper work, put himself
through college, and has been connect
ed ever since with newspaper work,
serving as editorial writer for the
Boston "Herald" for a number of
years. He has made a thorough study
of social and industrial movements,
writing and lecturing on these sub
jects, In this connection, he has
(jome into personal contact with leadr
ers in industrial affairs. He is an
eloquent speaker and has a lively
sense o£ humor.
CARL "llliMKLHl
Retiring President of Eagles'
Presented With Diamond
New Officers Installled. Mem
bership Campaign Launched,
Butler Aerie No. 40'/, P. O. E. on
Monday night installed the officers
for this year. James Brannon acted
us installing officer. Owing to pres
ident-elect Chas. Fath being absent,
vice president, Lou J, Witman filled
the president's chair,
The officers installed were: Worthy
Vice President, Lou J. Wittman wor
thy chaplain, Charles Berk recording
Secretary Harry W. Hetterich fin
ancial secretary, William Wilmer
treasurer, Henry E. Yordy inside
guard, Harley Sanks outside guard
Brown Hughes trustee, Frank Weg
man Aerie Physicians, Dr. Henry
Krone and Dr. C. F. Hull,
Immediately after the installation
of officers, Ben Hilbert, in a neat
Speech presented retiring ^president
@arl Lehmkuhl, with a handsome
diamond studded EagJe ring. Mr
k-ehmkuh! thanked the members of the
Aerie for the gift after which he pre
sented to Mr. Hilbert a beautiful pair
pf Eagle emblemed cuff buttons in re
cognition of service rendered during
Jlfr.
Lehmkuhl's administration. Fred
Qradolph presented the cuff buttons.
Butler Aerie also decided at this
teSMMfcSl
meeting to inaugurate a membership
campaign for 60 days at a reduced
rate for initiation. The worthy pres
ident was authorized to appoint a cam
paign committee which will report a
plan of campaign at the next meeting.
The worthy president was also author
ized to appoint a committee to ar
range for the annual memorial ser
vices which will be held in February.
New Trial
For Mooney
Urged By A. F. of L. Ex
ecutive Council.
New York,—At a meeting of the
A. F. of L. executive council in this
city the following resolution was
adopted:
"Having before us the letter of Mr.
E. \r. Nckels, secretary of the Chica
go federation of labor, under date
of December 22, 1918, with reference
to labor convention of congress it
Chicago, January 14, 1919, to deal
with the Mooney case, the execut'/e
court*iI declares: That the American
Federation of Labor in convention has
lealt forcibly and thoroughly with the
sublet matter, urging a new trial ior
?.iooney, and that accordance w*:n
that action the executive council is
faithfully carried «ut the instruHi »»s
of the (onv.ntion and will eontmu.
the ful'..«**fent c.i its ability to urge
and
ins-vi
upon a new and fair tml
for Mooney and that the labor move
ment therefore being properly
recorded with reference to the same
the executive council has no authority
to deal with the subject in any other
way than it is doing as per the action
of the convention. Also that as far
as general or sympathetic strikes are
concerned, all parties are reminded
that the authority for ordering strikes
rests absolutely and entirely with the
international unions, whose rules gov
erning the same must be respected.
There is not vested in the executive
council of the American Federation of
Labor or any body or group, other
than the international unions, the au
thority to call strikes, general or
local.
"That the Chicago federation of
labor be advised as per above."
to to to
Workers Fight
Not Over
Warning Issued By President
Bryan of United Leather
Workers.
Kansas City, Mo.,—President Bryan
of the United Leather Workers' Inter
national union, warns members of
that organization that the millen
nium is not just over the hill, even
though the kaiser has been defeated.
"A victory for industrial democracy
would bestow greater benefits than all
other victories comhined," writes the
trade unionist if* the Leather Workers'
Journal.
"While democracy in government Is
a step in the right direction, it is only
a step in the direction of true democ
racy no peoples are free where the
many are dependent upon the few for
their daily bread industry should
bring its own reward for its face val
ue, not a limit reward to the degree
some autoci'at might in charity feel
disposed to distribute as a wage to
those who produce alb
"But the wage earners should not
become inflated or deceived with an
idea that they are coming into their
own, unless they fully realize what is
necessary on their part to gather the
fruits of victory. The employers are
no more generous, or has true democ
racy overtaken them, they will be just
as exacting in the future as they have
been in the past it remains for the
wage earners to impress upon the
employers the fact that they have de
cided to take a hand in the division
of the proceeds and will not acoept
one cent less than a full return
PE3 to to
These are the days when all the
nations of the world are at school
wrestling with the three R's: Re
adjustment, Reconstruction and Re
habitation.
New York,— A delegation repre
senting the American Federation of
Labor set sail for Paris Wednesday
to attend an International Labor Con
gress to take place at the same time
and place as the peace congress. This
is the first definite announcemnt of
the calling of the labor congress.
The member's of this delegation are:
Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation of Labor
James Duncan, president of the
Granite Cutters' International Associ
ation
John R. Alpine, president of the
United Association of Plumbeis and
Steam fitters
Frank Duffy, secretary of the Unit
ed Brotherhood of Carpenters and
Joiners of America, and
William Green, secretary-treasurer
of the United Mine Workers of Amer
ica
Calling for the International Con
gress of Labor has been left in the
hands of President Gompers, as de
cided at the Inter-Allied labor confer
ence held in London on September 17
and 18. President Gompers has de
ferred calling of the meeting, pending
developments in the international sit
uation.
The decision to call the conference
together was made at a session here
in the Hotel Continental of the Ex
ecutive Council of the American Fed
ration of Labor, and accordingly
President Gompers has cabled instruc
tions to affilliated bodies in Europe
asking them to send delegates. It
is understood that the conference will
not seat delegates from the Central
Powers.
The first session will be an infor
mal gathering in Paris at which de
tails for the formal gathering will
be decided upon.
The Executive Council was called
into special session by President
Gompers to take up several questions
that have come up through the end
ing of the war, and, not the least of
these, to discuss matters of policy
in meeting situations that may arise
through any attempt on the part of
employers to lower the present wage
standard or increase the working
hours. s,
Calling of the international labor
congress, to meet concurrently with
the Peace Congress, has been upper
most in the mind of American labor
ever since the beginning of the war.
The matter was first broached at the
annual convention o^f the American
Federation of Labor, held in Phila
delphia in November, 1914. The Ex
ecutive Council at the following con
vention, held in San Francisco, in 1915
reported a comprehensive plan for the
convocation of such a world congress,
which was approved.
This plan was transmitted to the
labor movement of all countries. Re
plies were received from many con
curring in the suggestion. However,
Carl Legien, President of the Fed
eration of Trades Unions of Germany
wrote that in his judgment such a
movement would be of doubtful pra
tiability, and the British labor move
ment withheld endorsement.
For these reasons the Baltimore
(1916) convention adopted as a sup
plement to the first proposition, that
the labor movements of the various
countries should prevail upon their
national governments to include re
presentatives of Labor in the national
delegation which would participate in
the World Peace Congress.
These demands are in accord with
the fundamental principles of dem
ocracy which is the basic issue in
volved in the war. The labor move
ment holds that the government
should be the agency by which the
will of the people is expressed, rather
than the agency for controlling them.
Labor took the position that be
cause of their response in defense of
principles of freedom, the people have
earned the right to wipe out all ves
tiges of the old idea that the govern
President Gompers Heads U.
Delegation Which Set Sail
For France On Wednesday
Reconstruction Plans Outlined In
elude Protection Of Children And
Eight-Hour Workday.
ment belongs to or constitutes a
"governing class." In determining
issues that will vitally affect the lives
and welfare of millions of wageearn
ers, it declared, justice requires that
they should have direct representation
in the agency authorized to make
such decisions.
The Buffalo (1917) Convention
declared that the following essen
tially fundamental principles must
underlie any peace treaty acceptable
to them:
1. A league of the free people of
the world in a common convenant for
genuine and practical co-operation to
secure justice and therefore peace in
relations between nations.
2. No political or economic re
strictions meant to benefit some na
tions and to cripple or embarrass
others.
3. Xo indemnities or reprisals
based upon vindictive purposes or de
liberate desire to injure, but to right
manifest wrongs.
4. Recognition Of the rights of
small nations and of the principle, "No
people must be forced under sover­
By Frank E. Wolfe.
Of tlu American Alliance
and Democracy.
"What will labor do now that the
war has ended?"
This oft-repeated question is being
answered all over the United States
by what labor is doing.
First of all Labor is standing firm
on the ground which it has gained by
its long years of endeavor brought to
a climax by the patriotic demands of
the war.
Labor stood unwavering in its fealty
to the principles of political democracy
during the war for freedom of the op
pressed people of Europe.
Now it stands equally firm for its
own economic freedom at home.
The membership of the American
Federation of Labor has increased
by about one million during the period
of the war. Organizers everywhere
report unparalled success. The hour
has struck for the complete and final
overthrow of the opponents of collec
tive bargaining. Their day has passed.
Reports of progress are universal.
Organized labor is making a stand
"Bawled Out"
Arc N. Y. Boat Owners By
War Labor Board.
New York—Because associations
representing harbor boat owners re
fused to submit to arbitration a dis
pute with their employes regarding
pay and working hours was rebuked
by the national war labor board, which
overruled their claim that the New
York harbor wage adjustment board,
created under an agreement with their
men, had gone out of existance with
the signing of the armistice.
The war labor board dismissed the
contention of the employers that its
functions ceased with the signing of
the armistice. The secondary plea of
the boat owners that the wage ad
justment board had been dissolved by
resignation of some of itsmembers
was denied, and advised that immedi
ate steps be taken to fill the vacancies
Consequently, they stated, both em
ployers and employes were bound by
their agreement of May last to sub
mit throughout the war all differences
What Will Labor Do
What More Can It Do!
for Labor
eignty under which it does riot wish
to live".
5. No territorial changes or ad
justment of power except in further
ance of the welfare of the peoples
affected and in furtherance of world
peace.
In addition to these has ic principles
which are based upon declarations of
President Wilson, the Executive
Council proposed to the last conven
tion, held in St. Paul in June, 1918,
that there shall be incorporated in
the treaty that shall constitute the
guide of nations after the war, the
following declarations, fundamental to
the best interests of all nations and
of vital importance to wage-earners:
1. No article or commodity shall be
shipped or delivered in international
commerce in the production of which
children under the age of sixteen
have been employed or permitted to
work.
It shall he declared that the
basic workday in industry and com
merce shall not exceed eight hours.
3. Involuntary servitude shall not
exist as a punishment for crime where
of the party shall have been duly
con v icted.
i. Establishment of trial by jury.
These propositions were unani
imously endorsed hv the St. Paul
convention.
at important points for shorter hours
and no overtime in order liiat there
may be more jobs for returning sold
iers. This action bids fair to spread
all over the country.
Labor has given warning through
its acknowledged spokesmen that there
will be no backward step. Wage re
ductions will not be permitted. A
relative wage is the demand of the
workers. Revisions upward in the
scale are reported from many sections.
JThere are other things upon which
labor will insist. Children must come
out of the factories and go back into
the schools. American women must
not be submitted to the indignity of
being classed as "squaw workers."
Women in industry must have every
protection and must have equal wages
wjth men workers.
Labor offered every support to the
nation during the war. It yielded
many points on the plea of winning
the war for freedom it co-operated
with the employers everywhere in
patriotic war work and now labor
stand for its rights, firm in its con
victions, steadfast in its purposes, in
vincible in unity and fearless in the
knowledge that it stands four square
with the principles of right and
justice.
to the wage adjustment board, citing,
in emphasizing the urgency of such
action, "the necessity of food being
shipped to Europe for the civilian pop
ulations and for our foi-ces under arms
across the sea."
Previous to the reading of the de
cision by Mr. Taft, the boat owners
announced that they were willing to
arbitrate the wage question, but not
before the wage adjustment board,
which they considered "without au
thority." A basic eight-hour day,
they asserted, was impracticable for
harbor craft.
The owners' delegates left the con
ference without any intimation as to
whether their attitude had been
changed by the war labor board's
decree.
Unless the expressed determination
of the boat owners is modified and
they agree to conform to the action
of the joint chairman of the war
labor board a strike of the harbor
workers is apparently inevitable. To
force such action at the present time
would seriously hamper the shipment
of necessary supplies to Europe to re
lieve the food shortage there.
to to to
Buy Thrift Stamps and help.
HAMILTON, OHIO, FRIDAY* JANUARY 10, 1919. 75 CENTS PER YEAR
Richmond. Va., -Secretary John B.
Andrews, of the American Association
for Labor Legislation, in an address
on labor on the peace treaty at the
twelfth annual session, held jointly
with the American Economic associa
tion, Said:
"A positive movement regulating
world activities is essential if we are
to have an effective or permanent
democratic peace," declared Dr. An
drews, in commending on existing
labor treaties secured by the Associa
tion for Labor Legislation between
European countries. "As the burden
of the war became more apparent to
the group whose members always
bear its greatest cost in lives and
physical suffering, the position of la
bor in national and international poli
tics is likely to assume increasing
importance. Demands for protective
labor regulations, which shall create
minimum standards of labor condi
tions, below which no employe shall be
permitted to work, are iikely to be
come more and more pressing. These
developments may yet become increas
ingly important factors in tii- determ
ination of peace terms."
Whether th.- p:.ace treaty itself, or
by means of a iater convention in
spired or arranged by the peace dele
gates, or otherwise, according to l»r.
Andrews, the demaa for interna
tional standards of labor protection
must be met.
"Those who ha\e been given -pecia!
attention to the possibilities of sharp
commercial competition after the war,
and have considered dangers of un
derselling and dumping of foreign pro
ducts made by cheap labor", he said,
will of course, t:o? overlook the rare
Child Labor
Tax.
FAVORED BY UNITED
STATES SENATE.
Washington,—The senate has ap
proved a bill assessing a tax of 10 pet
cent on child labor by a vote of 50 to
12. The minority vote was cast by
southern democrats. The new amend
ment was drawn after the decision of
the supreme court invalidating the
previous law and has the approval of
the president. It provides that those
who employ child labor "shall pay for
each taxable year, in addition to all
other taxes imposed by law, and excise
tax equivalent to 10 per centum of the
entire net profits received or accrued
for such year from the sale of the pro
ducts of such labor." The labor of
children is prohibited in certain in
dustries under 16 years and in others
as low as 14. The action of the sen
ate is apparently a disapproval of the
nullification by the supreme court of
the previous child labor law.
Senator Lenroot, in speaking on the
amendment, said: "Take away the
incentive of profit and the practice
will be abandoned." He read from
President Wilson's address urging
that taxation be utilized to stamp out
profiteering and said his recommenda
tion was being followed. This is one
method of reaching the profiteers.
The amount of revenue resulting from
the amendment may be nominal. The
The main purpose of this legislation
is to stop a very great evil and throw
around the children a protection that
will insure us of a more vigorous and
healthy progeny.
No Relief In
Sight.
From Excessive Prices In
Food Stuffs.
Washington,—Retail prices of food
for the United States increased 1 per
cent from October 15 to November 15,
and 18 per cent in the year from Nov
ember, 1917, to November 1918, ac
cording to reports received from re-
LABOR STANDARDS
Must Be Protected. Warns Secre
tary Andrews of A. A. for L. Li
cost
of
Lamb,
t'KHErv STATV5
WVXH.SMi.KT
opportunity for regulation offered
through international treaties. It is
felt that particular nations should not
be permitted to demoralize the mar
kets of other Countries that are striv
ing to uphold decent business stand
ards
"II is well, however, not to forget
that one of the important factors in
production is labor." he continued.
abor is entitled to at least equal
nsideration with credit and raw
material in any plan for industrial
md international peace. If, under the
circumstances which have developed
it the world war, an apparent effort
made to belittle or even to postpone
the just claims of labor now more
strongly organized economically, and
to a rapidly increasing degree politi
cally throughout the western world,
there will be serious unrest.
"Labor in Europe has learned, at its
own
and to the loss of efficiency
its
respective governments, that
war endangers every legal safe-guard
thrown about labor," he concluded.
"Even in this country, where we had
been warned by the earlier experience
Europe, it was only by the most en
ivfetic and united efforts that protec
ive labor standards were for the most
art maintained during our eighteen
months' participation in the struggle.
"Does tins not suggest that if the
workers of nany industrial nations
me to have a common interest in
ti maintenance of international pro
tective labor standards, their interests
will form an additional bulwark op
posed to the plunging of the world
into war? We can't stand still. We
can't go back. We should, and must,
forward."
tail alfiv by the United States
Hatvau of Labor Statistics.
In the \ear ended November, 191
pork chops advanced 26 per cent
roast rib and sirloin steak 28 per cent,
round steak, chuck steak and plate
beef 30 per cent, while in the month
ended November 15 pork chops de
creased in price 5 per cent, chuck
ists 2 per cent, sirloin steak, round
ak, rib roast and plate beef, 1 pet
it each.
cor?) meal, potatoes, onions
and beans also declined in price dur
ing the month ended November 1".
Rice, which increased 23 per cent since
November 1917, shows no increase in
price for the month ended October,
1918. Lard, Bread and flour also re
mained at the same level as in Octo
ber. The greatst advances during
November, 1918, were in eggs, the in
crease being 16 per cent cheese. 5 per
cent and milk, 4 per cent.
MANUFACTURERS
Of Kentucky To Take Hand
In Politics.
Louisville, Ky.,—The Kentucky
Manufacturers association has ad
dressed a circular letter to every in
dustrial concern in Kentucky, asking
them to take a more active part in the
political affairs, particularly during
the primary and state elections next
year, declaring that mature consider
ation will assure the placing of com
petent men in every office to be filled.
The letter points out that it is a fun
damental of good citizenship and bus
iness to take a constructive interest
in the selection of candidates for poli
tical office.
to k Us
The Division of Counciliation of the
U S. Department of Labor handled
1,217 cases during the year and adjust
ed 865. The mediators were unable
to arrange an adjustment in only 71
instances 208 cases were pending at
the end of the fiscal year. 66 had been
referred for final adjudication to the
National War Labor Board, and seven
were reported "Unclassified.' The
number of workmen directly affected
in these cases was 1,041,342, and in
directly, 1,315,657. In 1917, 378
cases were handled, and in 1916, 83.
to to to
Buy thrift Stamps and heip.