The Butler County press. [volume], November 07, 1919, Image 1

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

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VOL. XIX. No. 29.
mm
By Collective Bargaining
Limit Power of
Employers
Lyon, France.—Collective bargain
ing checks the absolutism and autoc
racy of the employer and is the first
step ol the workers toward democracy
in industry declared the convention of
the French federation of labor in its
emphatic rejection of a "left wing"
plan to ignore collective agreements.
"Every manifestation of the work
ing class leads to collective bargain
ing," declared the convention. "It is
a mistake to regard collective bar
gaining as a mere joint action of the
workers. Collective contracts, whethsr
they are limited to a single establish
ment or include an entire labor organi
zation, possess a high value. They
limit the authority of the employer.
Thej establish new industrial rela
tions upon a basis which encourages
effort without deadening energy.
"Although the collective contract
may not immediately secure the recog
nition of all of labor's demands, it
doe= diminish the employers' absolut
ism by introducing into their estab
lishments an organization not subject
to employer control and whose object
is the emancipation of the workers—
the trade union."
In declaring for industrial nation
alization, under the control of the pro
ducers and consumers, of the "major
functions of modern soeiety," the con
vention declared:
"Recognizing the incapacity of po
litical organisms and the constituent
impotcncy of governmental power over
industry, it is not our intention either
to augment the attributes of the state
to a system whicii subjects basic in
or reinforce them, nor to have recourse
dustries to political management, with
its irresponsibility and its inherent
waste and its reduction of productive
forces to a sort of fiscal monopoly.
The known deplorable results of the
past, and which continue to manifest
themselves even now, are a sufficient
condemnation of this system.
"By nationalization we understand
the management of national property
by the interested parties themselves—
producers and consumers, associated.'
The following Theatres employ
only members of the Theatrical
Stage Employes.
JEWEL THEATRE
JEFFERSON THEATRE
GRAND THEATRE
I YRIC THEATRE
EAGLE THEATRE
All other Theatres do not employ
Union Men
Union men are requested to pa
tronize only those displaying their
emblem
Look for their Emblem. 4 lltf
i
AT
For Every Member of the Family
DRESS SHOES,
WORK SHOES,
SCHOOL SHOES
Are Industrial Evil,, De
clar Catholic Reverend
New York.—The charge made by
r.teel interests that collective bargain
ing leads to the so-called "closed
shop," and that this lessens produc
tion, was answered by Rev. Dr. Ryan,
of the Catholic university, Washing
ton, in a speech in this city. For ar
gument, he assumed this was true, and
asked if this is a worse evil than *"0
l?ave the workers at the mercy of
their employers.
The speaker defended the unions'
right to insist on collective bargain
ing, and he recorded a sharp dissent
from Judge Gary's views as express
ed. before the senate investigating
committee. The steel official's refusal
to arbitrate "mnral principles" wai
declared to be "clearly indefensible."
Judge Gary strives to evade the
criticism that he refuses to employes
the right to organize by saying that
they may join unions if they like, but
that he will not deal with their organ
isation," said the speaker. "Thi s is
fi'ppant and cruel. He knows very
well that a union which is not permit
ted to bargain wifcn employers is about
as effective and -seful for labor as a
sewing circle or a tea party.
"Recognition of the right of collec
tive bargaining and more production
are two things that are essential to
better industrial relations. Other
things that are needed are the partici
pation of labor in industrial manage
ment and a share in the surplus pro
fits Both of these latter suggestions
will tend to increased production and
until these ends are attained labor w:ll
commit industrial suicide if it gives
up the policy of collective bargaining
through the unions."
Rock Heap For Gougers
Suggested by California
Congressman
Washington.—At a meeting of co
ops. employed in the war department
Congressman Kahn of California ex
pressed little paticnce with present
moves against the profiteer. The
western law-maker would solve the
problem by putting 'em on the rock
pile.
Reports showed that these employes
are dealing old H. C. of L. some hard
wallops, and save from 25 to 50 per
cent on their purchases. There are
700 members in this movement. The
war department furnishes a storeroom
rent free. A complete line of grocer
ies, shoes and clothing is handled and
a made-to-order department for men'j
and women's suits is maintained.
Prices are wholesale prices plus the
wages paid clerks.
At the meeting an official of the
quartermaster's department of the
army stated that lazor-blades are re
tailed by merchants for $1 a dozen and
the quartemaster's commissary sells
them for 30 cents a dozen. Other in
stances of economy through co-opera
tior. were cited.
hoes
Pri
Second Floor J8
Vfeffe SHOE STORE
Walk the Flight and Buy Your Shoes for Less
s
-3riisf-.
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With the greatest coal strike in the
history of the country now on and
with the capitalistic press—which is
always looking to the interests of the
profiteers and always antagonistic to
the best interests of the working
man—distorting the real facts and
stimulating public sentiment against
the miners, it is up to the labor press
to give the real facts and reasons for
the strike. Many of the public, mis
understanding the situation, blame the
miners alone for what will be a calam
ity should the strike continue any
length of time. While at the same
time the operators, rolling in the
wealth gained from the huge war pro
fits, lay back and laugh. The follow
ing is the real reason for the strike
and should be read carefully and
thought over.
Two yoars ago a new scale was
regotiated with the operators, the
miners voluntarily agreeing that the
contract should "remain in effect dur
ing the continuation of the war," this
being the only definite date set for the
contract to expire. However, a year
ago living prices had mounted to such
a point that Fuel Administrator Gar
field was asked if he could not in
crease the pay of the miners. This
was refused, and the miners contin
ued at work, strictly observing their
agreement.
During the past year living prices
have risen steadily, and the miners,
at the Cleveland convention, decided
a new scale should be negotiated,
failing in which they would go out.
At the joint conference between rep
resentatives of the miners and the
operators, the latter positively refus
ed to entertain any proposition look
ing to an increase in wages, claiming
the war was not over, as the senate
had not ratified the peace treaty, and
the old agreement remains in force.
This means that if the senate fails
to ratify the treaty the old contract
would remain in force indefinitely. No
basis for an amicable adjustment was
offered by the operators. They sim
ply said they would consider no prop
osition looking to the opening of the
scale, and that settled it.
The miners are asking for a 60 per
cent increase in wages and a six-hour
day. State and government statistics
for the years from 1913 to 1919 show
that the average incomes of the mine
workers in these four states for all of
those years was approximately as
follows: Illinois, $800 to $850 In
diana, $800 Ohio, $700 western
Pennsylvania, $700. It will be noted
these figures include the year 1918,
'uring which time a record was estab
lished, more hours being worked and
more coal produced than in any other
ear in the history of mining.
In the opinion of the miners there
is no good reason why the increase
in the cost of production resulting
irom an increase in wages or shorter
hours of employment should be en
tirely borne by the public. They be
lieve that the coal operators can pay
an increase to the mine workers out
of the profits they have enjoyed dur
ing the war and which they now enjoy.
The report of the investigation
made by the Federal Trade Commis
sion shows that the bituminous coal
operators made a clear, net profit of
from 50 cents to $1 per ton. This is
remarkable when the public takes into
consideration the fact that prior to the
war many bituminous coal operators
operated upon a net profit of less than
L0 cents per ton. It is a matter of
common knowledge that coal opera
tors during the war made fabulous
*ums of money and that many indi
vidual coal operators became million
aires.
While the operators were acquiring
these huge fortunes out of the profits
coal consumers were forced to pay for
fuel during the war, more than 60,000
While Employers Roll in War Profits
Public (Misunderstanding Situa
tion, Would Condemn Miners
Operators Would Use "Agreement
For Duration of War" to Com=
pel Workers to Dig at
Starvation Waees
miners were in the front line trenches
fighting, suffering, dying in order that
democracy might be preserved in this
country.
During the period when .:r coun
try was engaged in war an! the coal
operators were making huge war
profits, the miners responde I iu every
call the nation made upon them. They
increased production from live hun
dred million tons (in 1915 and 1916)
to six hundred and eighty-five million
tons in 1918. They mined the coal the
country needed to manufacture muni
tions and war supplies, to transport
our troops across the seas, and to
ship the food they needed for the win
ninig of the war.
It must be understood that the
profits of the operators have been
greatly increased since the signing of
the armistice, as the price of coal has
dvanced at the mines. The miners
re not demanding that this profit
be shared with them. They are sim
ply asking for a living wage, and $700
a year is not considered sufficient to
raise a family in accordance with
American ideals and standards.
FAMILY NEEDS
Of Government Workers Is
$2200, Says Chief of La
bor Statistics
The cost of the same standard of
living for a single woman, as ascer
tained by the Bureau of Labor Statis
tics, is $1083 a pear for a single man
$1000. Dr. Meeker itemizes the fam
ily budget as follows:
Food $773.93
Clothing-
Husband $121.16
Wife 166.46
Boy (11 yrs.) 96.60
Girl (5 yrs.) 82.50
Boy (2 yrs.) 47.00
Boy (2 yrs.) 47.00 513.72
Housing, fuel and light 428.00
Miscellaneous 546.82
Total $2,262.47
That this is actually an irreducible
minimum is urged by officers of the
National Federation of Federal Em
ployees, who cite such items in the
budget as an allowance of a quart and
one-fourth of milk per day for three
little children 1% pairs of shoes per
year for the father of the family, and
one winter union suit each per year for
father and mother. Other items in
the budget are similarly meager as to
quantity.
The cost of the budget* Dr. Meeker
states, is based upon the actual price
of food, clothing, rent and fuel in
Washington at the present time as as
certained by several agents of the Bu
reau of Labor Statistics who made
separate shopping tours of the city,
covering all the representative stores.
"Can't Strike" Plan
Strongly Opposed By Gom
pers and Stone.
Washington.—"Suffer little children
to come unto me" scornfully declared
President Gompers before the senate
mi
the
Washington.—For the use of
Joint Congressional Commission on
Reclassification of Civil Service Sal
aries, Dr. Royal Meeker, S. com
missioner of labor statistician, has
compiled a family budget showing the
minimum cost of a "health and de
cency standard of living" in Washing
ton for the typical family of five. The
total cost of this budget, Dr. Meek
er's figures show, is a little more than
$2200 per year.
President Gompers used every i
pon in his oratorical arsenal aguin.5i
this proposal ami recounted the nu
merous failures of law makers vo
shackle workers to their
HAMILTON, OHIO, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7,1919. 75 CENTS PER YEAR
interstate commerce committee in op
posing that portion of the Cummins
railroad bill which would prohibit
strikes of railroad employes.
The bill would compel employes to
accept any decision of five men ap
pointed by the president, and in the
selection of which the workers would
have no choice. If they rejected the
decision and suspended work to en
force equitable conditions they would
be subject to fine and imprisonment.
oft*
jobs.
While
the trade unionist pleaded with the
committee t«» reject this unconstitu
tional and un-Ameriran bill, he did
not confine his efforts to this method,
but warned the senators that instead
of stopping strikes they would de
velop lawbreakers and that "I would
have no more hesitancy about partici
pating in a
striiv.* after its pas.-a-e
than I do now."
"The labor movement," continued
President Gompers, "deplores strikes
llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
I w
Young Men's Suits
Many waist seam and belted
models, with slash pockets, for
young $19 85
men
SHOES
You'll find that buying your shoes here
will cultivate a habit of shoe economy. We
deal in real money-saving qualities. If
you're thinking of buying shoes now, and
haven't been a customer of ours, just come
here and let us show you how we help a
man get the right shoes for his feet, and
pay the right price for them. That's our
business. Take a look in our windows
you'll see a wonderful demonstration oi
value giving.
BOSTONIAN SHOES AT—
$7,35, $8.35,
MEN'S TAN DRESS SHOES,
SPECIAL
BOYS' TAN HI TOPS,
Sizes 1 to 6
BOYS' DRESS SHOES, Tan
or Black, English or Blucher
Winter Underwear
$1.47
Weight Union Suits....
Men's Heavy Ribbed Q»7
Fleeced Union Suits.... v
1
Men's Wool Process Union Suits
$2.50
values
Chalmers' Ribbed
Union Suits
High Rock Fleece
lined Union Suits.,
Boys' Ribbed Fleeced
Union Suits
Men's Ribbed Fleeced
Shirts or Drawers
High Rock Fleeced Shirts
Draw
ers
Wool Shirts or
Drawers
Wool and Cotton
Medium Union Suit
$1.97
$2.47
$2.47
$1.23
97c
UNION
I
ts and
$1.23
$1.87
$2.47
THE W
STORE
Ri .D TRI :\K
and only uses them as a last resort,
for they kr.ow the suffering that fol
lows strikes. But I tell you in all
candor that the American worker will
not surrender his right to quit his em
ployment as a last resort to adjust
grievances and I would hate to live
one minute after that right was taken
from him."
President Stone of the Brotherhood
of Locomotive Engineers told the
committee the bill was the most reac
tionary of all the railroad legislation
so far proposed.
"It is dangerous," he said, "because
it is clothed in progressive phrases.
It is solely in the interest of capital.
It not only denies workers the right
to strike, but it denies them a voice
in the selection of the final arbiter1
who will pass upon their demands."
Glenn L. Plumb said: "Strikes ar
symptoms of social disorder-, aot
causes. You propose to treat the
symptom- am k\ -oeiai fY'.t-r
rage
Oh:
Frienc
ce this
i.auy JaijG—Have
ifish water, Janet.
Janet—No, mum.
i the water 1 gave 'em
e t,—Edinburgh Scotching t:.
BROADER ASSORTMENTS AND GREATER BARGAINS THAN EVER.
Notwithstanding curtailed productions and the advance in cost of materials
and labor, we will place on sale tomorrow 250 Men's and Young Men's Suits
and Overcoats at
$2985
Labor costs alone have advanced 50' to 75', since this clothing was
made—and many of the fabrics have doubled in price.
Young Men's Suits
Snappy models and patterns,
.45
$5.35
$3.85
$3.85
K
"Onl
for
young men, Fizes A
32 to 38
Flannel Shirts
i'ome in green, brown, tan, gray
blue and heather mixture at—
$1.97, $2.75, $3.47
$4.23, $4.97, $5.47
Sweater Coats
Jerseys, Pull Overs, Jumbo
Knit, Worsted and Cardigan
Jackets at—
$1.47, $2.47, $3.47
$4.47, $5.47, $6.97
$8.97
$11.17, $12.97
SPECIAL BOYS' PULL OVERS
In Cardinal, Green, Tobacco
Brown and Oxford d»r Mn
Purple
iMIllUllllIlilillllllillllllilllillillllilllillillllllllllilllUllimUUUllUllUllUUUUUUllllllliUililillifUl
TI
7* 77F
Clergymen Urged to Organize
and Strike
New York.—A nation-wide strike
of Baptist clergymen, unless they are
granted higher salaries, was advocate i
in a statement issued here by Charles
A. McAlpine, a member of the na
tional committee of Northern Baptist
laymen.
"If I were still a pastor and my sal
ary was not more than $500 per an
num, which is the amount received b
the verage clergyman in our denomi
nation, I'd organize a union of minis
ters," said Mr. McAlpine, who pre
dicted there would be a shortage cJ
clergymen soon unless ministers are
better compensated than "milkmen,
w i m:i w cleaners .md day laborers."
pp8"? •P*"}
K. OF C. TO GIVE PLAY
Owing many demands by those
v. no wer tmable to see the "Seven
ys to Baidpate," the Knights
'lumbu'3 will present the same cast
local favorites for two nights, Su
••ay and Monday, November 16 ai: 1
IT.
iti
En
A K N O
at th. Hiirh School Auditorium.
T.-:e play i ly given was pr
meed tm of the season an i
i- u.i: again tim
j-.vr -m jmmum v.
fcs Ift
K r.
.irrel lays i.
1
llllllllllllllllllllllillllllllllllllllllllllllHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIlIIIIIIHIIIIIIillllHIIIIHIil!!!!!,
st
coid winter. Do you By buyir _•
V\ ir Savings Stamps and investim
Treasury Thrift" IN
QUIRE AT Till-: i- !KT NATIONAL
LANK.
Young Men's Overcoats
full belted and
Waist seam,
half-belted
models
$8.47, $11.47, $13.47
$27.45
BOYS' WOOL MACKINAWS 1
MOTHERS and their boys who appre
date quality Mackinaws at exceptionally SEE
low prices will respond to this announce
ment. Here are all-wool garments made SEE
in the latest style, with a wealth of r=
warmth. These Mackinaws have extra SEE
large pockets, extra wide belts, convertible EE
collars all seams are taped, insuring ser- EE
vice and value at—
FEATURE VALUES IN BOYS' WINTER SUITS
The largest business we have ever s=
done in our Boys' Suit department is the SEE
popular answer to our qualities and val- s=
ues. Mothers will find a wonderful selec- SE5
tion featured at—
$5.47, $7.97, $9.97
SATURDAY FLYER
50 DOZ. KHAKI SHIRTS, made
with two pockets Victor Shirts,
Union made, slightly imperfect.
Sizes 14 to IS. worth d»*| JO
$3.00 SPECIAL
Silk Striped Madras
Shirts
You know how fine Madras is for
a good, substantial shirt it's
the kind of stuff that wears silk
stripes have been woven into it,
makes it wonderfully good look
ing. Q7
They're
Other
Shirts at
N'S ST
2-46 HIGH SST.
$1.47 "$7.47 S
UNION
CLERKS
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•t
ijr«
V5 S
AVIS'f'S 5TA.-(?I
ISlUr.t RY THI
UNiTLD STATES
GOVT. RXMtNT
I
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