The Butler County press. [volume], June 02, 1922, Image 1

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

Image provided by: Ohio History Connection, Columbus, OH

                
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VOL. XXII. No. 7
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. "Busi
ness institutions do not incorporate to
increase their responsibility or liabili
ties, but always for the purpose of
limiting the same," says P. M. Dra
per, secretary-treasurer of the Trades
and Labor Congress of Canada, writ
ing in Canadian Congress Journal
against the incorporation of trade
unions.
"The ground always urged is that
'unions should be incorporated and
become amenable to the law, just like
an employer, a partnership or any
corporate body is.'
"The short and simple answer is
that trade unions, whether incorpor
ated or unincorporated, are and al
ways have been subject to the law with
no privileges that an employer, a part
nership or a corporate body have, but
with many disabilities that these have
not.
"Incorporation of trade unions
would restrict their activities to such
as the courts dccided to be good for
them, and would place with the courts
the power to interpret their constitu
tions and would further establish a
property right for each suspended
member, as was recently attempted by
the Canadian Brotherhood of Railroad
Employes in the case against the
Trades and Labor Congress of Canada
for suspension. It would give power
to the courts to dissolve trade unions
for the supposed infractions of the
purposes for which they were incor*
porated and in every way would serve
as a deterrant to their growth and
useful development.
"For the benefit of those who do
not understand labor's rather chilly
aloofness toward the law and judges,
let me point out some of the reasons:
"The employer is held responsible
for the acts of his agent only when
the agent is acting within the scope
of his authority. The union has, for
one reason of other, been mulcted in
damages for absolutely unauthorized
acts of members, even where those
acts have been committed without the
knowledge or consent of the union.
"Organized employers who conspir
ed together to drive a competitor into
the ground—to ruin him—and have
succeeded, were held within the law.
AID TO LABOR OPPONENTS
WOULD BE TRADE UNION INCORPORATION WITH
NO BENEFIT WHATEVER TO WORKERS'
ORGANIZED MASSES, WRITES
CANADIAN LABOR LEADER
As It Is Now Courts Grant Injunctions So Wide That
Toilers Tremble for Fear They Might
Violate Decrees
Buy a Sonora Now
In order to make room for
our summer furniture, we are
offering our entire stock of
S-O-N-O-R-A. Phonographs
at greatly reduced prices.
The Sale
Starts Today
TROVATORE
Was $125
Now $100
NOCTURNE
Was $160
Now $150
With 10 With 15 With 18
Double Face Records Double Face Records Double Face Records
BABY GRAND
Was $235
Now $200
With 20
Double Face Records
y
Union members agreeing together, for
even less drastic objects, have been En
joined and punished in damages by
the same courts.
"The courts have frequently, driven
through acts of parliament to help
the employer and to find a way to
give judgment against the men.
"The courts have granted injunc
tions so wide in their terms as to
leave it questionable whether the men
could breathe without violating the
injunction.
"It is the beneficiaries of the above
system who urge unions to place their
confidence in the law."
FINANCIAL TRICK
Is the Term "Without Par
Value"
Washington.—The purpose of the
well-known financial term, "without
par valtie" permits financial jugglery,
according to Senator Jones, of New
Mexico.
In discussing a well-known paint
concern of Cleveland, Ohio, that has
absorbed 17 other concerns, Mr. Jones
said:
"I observe that the concern has
adopted the modern device of issuing
shares without any par value. So far
as I am able to learn about that, the
purpose is to cover up the question
of the earnings, which it may make,
or the valuation of the stock. We
know nothing, from the fact of it
having no par value, as to how much
money is intended to be put into it,
whether it is all water or whether it
has some real substance in it. The
public is left entirely in the dark.
"It would seem to be a very con
venient device for a concern intend
ing to monopolize various institutions
and industries."
MILL MEN WANT MORE
Everett, Wash.—Employers at the
Ferry-Baker mill suspended work to
enforce a wage increase of $1 a day.
The basic rate is now $3, which makes
a decent living out of the question,
these workers declare.
MINUET
Was $215
Now $175
ELITE
Was $300
Now $265
With 25
Double Face Records
Come Early To Secure Finish Desired
K-R-E-B-S
MUSIC DEPARTMENT
(Copyright)
Ruling of Court
is
One feature of the United States
supreme court's recent annullment of
the federal child labor law is its fail
ure to make a single reference to Sec.
8, Art. 1, of the federal constitution,
which empowers congress to provide
for the "general welfare of the United
States." The title of the child labor
law is to provide revenue "and for
other purposes."
The court, however, was alarmed
lest the so-called states rights (tenth)
amendment to the constitution would
be violated.
If the court's conclusions were given
minute study and wide circulation by
the workers, other propaganda would
hardly be necessary to indicate the
court's disregard for human welfare
as against profits.
The court found fault with congress
for penalizing, rather than taxing, em
ployers of child labor, though acknow
ledgement is made that it "is some
times difficult to define the difference."
Objection is also made to what ap
pears to be the clear intention of con
gress to tax child labor products out
of existence.
Cautious reference is made to sev
eral decisions which are in direct oppo
sition to the court's present reasoning.
The state bank law, which levies
a 10 per cent tax on these banks, was
upheld by the supreme court. Con
gress, the court ruled, can tax these
banks out of existence to secure "a
sound and uniform currency."
PRIMARY LAWS
In Great Danger, Says Con
gressman Frear
Agitation For Their Repeal
Strongly Backed By
Special Privilege
Washington.—Centralized power in
the hands of a few men have replaced
the railroads, which controlled poli
tics 40 years ago, said Congressman
Frear, of Wisconsin, in a speech on
attempts to repeal primary laws.
"Evolution in business methods has
centralized power since the advent of
the primary until today a handful of
men control the wealth and large
business of the country," feaid the
Wisconsin lawmaker.
"As the railways of the land first
joined hands in a common cause 40
years or more ago when scrutinizing
candidates in municipal, state and na
tional legislative bodies, including
'safe' executives, so today these mod
ern, vast moneyed interests of the
country that control the magazines
and great metropolitan journals would
reach out to seize the same political
control once exercised by the railways
before the enactment of the primary.
"Tax reduction or tax shifting, can
cellation of foreign debts, thereby en
hancing private holdings aggregating
billions of dollars, appropriations for
railways, for shipping and countless
other special privileges and projects
cannot be so easily manipulated when
the record is carried back to the peo
ple under the primary," said the
speaker.
"Money is 'now in politics to re
K THE BUTLER COUNTY PRESS.
Alt Kff
GOOP'fifr
HAMILTON, OHIO, FRIDAY, JUNE 2,1922
This ts a Wonderful Age
MAMMON BEFORE CHILDREN
RECENT DECISION OF UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT INDI
CATES TRIBUNAL'S DISREGARD FOR HUMAN
WELFARE AS AGAINST PROFITS
Indictment of Self While at Same Time is Defense Of
Organized Labor's Opposition to Its Veto Policy
Chief Justice Taft approves this
decision, but outlaws a child labor law
that can be defended under the "gen
eral welfare" cause of the constitution
to provide for sound manhood and wo
manhood.
In the yellow oleomargarine tax the
supreme court upheld congress when
it raised the tax from 2 cents a pound
to 10 cents a pound. The purpose of
the oleo tax is as clear as the child
labor tax of 10 per cent of the em
ployer's profits when children under
14 are employed.
If child labor comes under the states
rights clause of the constitution, who
will say that this does not also apply
to the manufacture of oleomargarine?
To a layman it would appear
strange that if congress can tax a
state product known as oleo out of
existence, why the states rights doc
trine should be applied to the child
labor law. This thin ice is passed
over rapidly by the supreme court,
which almost flippantly claims that
neither the state bank nor the oleo tax
showed on their face "the detailed
specifications of a regulation of a
state commerce."
The court, unfortunately, failed to
state that the enforcement of a state
bank tax and an oleo tax does not call
for "the detailed specifications" that
are necessary to circumvent exploit
ers of child labor.
These "detailed specifications" so
objectionable to the court, have found
in the narcotic drug act, which is a
marvel of red tape. In upholding this
main, and great moneyed interests
will strenuously urge their choice of
candidates, according to recent polit
ical history, when over $1,000,000 was
expended for the candidacy of one
man for president. Repudiated be
cause of excessive expenditures ex
posed in senate hearings these power
ful influences then transferred support
to other candidates and made the en
actment of a general sales tax a ten
tative promise by both great political
parties.
"Only one course is now open to
give the ijiew power full sway, to-wit:
Repeal of the primary and taking
from the people the direct right they
now possess of protecting their own
interests against private interests
that never sleep. Railways formerly
controlled legislatures, but today a
few powerful combinations of capital
control practically all the railways,
the shipping, the great banking inter
ests, and are of immeasurably greater
influence than all other interests com
bined. That power is not limited to
state boundary lines.
"A repeal of the primary may seem
improbable, but those advocating the
old caucus and convention system long
ago learned that constant reiteration
of hypocritical professions and propo
sitions, like vice, is first rejected, then
pitied, then embraced."
RAIL PROFITS GO UP.
New York.—The March, 1922, re
port of the New York Central rail
road to the interstate commerce com
mission shows a net railroad operat
ing income of $4,555,930, after taxes
and rents. This is an increase of
$1,482,984, compared with March,
1921,
law the supreme court declared that
even if the purpose of the act was
other than taxation, and did not show
on the face of the act, the law is
legal.
Or, in other words, if congress
wants to tax an evil out of existence,
without saying so, it has the approval
of the court.
In the child labor act the supreme
court expounds at length on the
workings of the act. It seems to sud
denly discover that congress wanted
to penalize child labor. The court
then thunders:
"In bhe light of these features of
the act, a court must be blind not to
see that the so-called tax is imposed
to stop the employment of children
within the age limits prescribed. All
others can see and understand this.
How can we properly shut our minds
to it?"
According to this reasoning the
present supreme court would annul
the attempt to outlaw narcotics be
cause that purpose was concealed in
the drug tax.
This child labor decison is almost
oozy in its weakness and palpable de
termination to protect profits from
child labor.
Its other features are contradictions,
uncertainty, apology, absence of con
viction, and a hurried desire to get
out of awkward places.
The decision is both an indictment
of the court and a defense of organiz
ed labor's opposition to the court's
veto policy.
PRUSSIANISM DEAD
Except in Industry, Says
Lawmaker
Washington—After defeating Prus
sianism abroad, American soldiers
have returned to find industry Prus
sianized at home, said Congressman
Huddleston in a speech in the house
on the miners' strike.
"The operators are not interested in
details of wages and working condi
tions. They want to destroy the union.
The charge that the operators are
aiming at the destruction of the min
ers' organization is proven: First, by
their refusal to negotiate touching
wages and conditions second, by the
unanimous support they are receiving
from the 'open shoppers,' such sup
port obviously having a union-hating
basis third, by the propaganda issued
by the operators, which is aimed at
union practices, such as the 'check
off,' and is almost wholly devoted to
trying to show the Miners' union to
be an oppressive, dictatorial and even
lawless organization."
Congressman Huddleston showed
that the reason coal owners refuse to
sign a central competitive field con
tract, similar to the last 25 years, is
because they want to place this field
upon the same basis of wages and con
ditions as the non-union fields.
"On the other hand, it is to the in
terest of the mine workers to include
the entire field in a single working
agreement, for if separate agi-eements
are made in the various mining dis
tricts, each district may be played off
against the other just as the non
union West Virginia field is played
against the unionized central competi
tive field," he said.
Washington. "Sheer deception"
and the "colossal affrontery of big
business," said President Gompers in
a statement following an announce
ment by Judge Gary at the white
house after a dinner given by the
president to leading employers in the
steel industry.
'Judge Gary says that 'all favored
the abolition of the 12-hour day, if
and when practicable,' a statement
which means absolutely nothing," said
President Gompers.
"If the white house conference was
called to discuss the 12-hour day I am
unable to see where any progress was
made. We may take the conference
as being something of an indication
of the public condemnation of steel
trust practices, but it is difficult to
see any sincerity in the 'if arid when
practicable' formula.
'The excuse that foreign-born work
men oppose the eight-hour day be
cause it reduces their earnings is not
an alibi for the steel industry. It is
unfounded, but even if true would be
additional condemnation of the prac
tices in that industry. The produc
tion of steel can and must be placed
on a basis where it affords an Amer
ican standard of living with an Amer
ican work day of eight hours. The
steel trust has a reserve fund of
$500,000,000 in undivided surplus,
which indicates its profit-making
powers.
"The meaning of Judge Gary's
statement is that the steel industry
intends to abolish the inhuman 12-hour
work day when it irKs ready and not
before.
'The naming of an investigating
committee to inquire into the question
VERY PRETTY
Judge Gary's Talks on 12
Hour Day Are Sweet
Washin.L'ton. -The 1L.'-hour day in
the steel industry was discussed by
nearly half a hundred steel company
executives, who were President Har
ding's guests at the white house.
The steel men authorized Judge
Gary to appoint a committee live to
investigate and report their .onclu
sions to the industry. After the
meeting -Judge Gary announced that
every one present "favored abolition
of the 12-hour day if and when mak
ing public."
TWELVE-HOUR DAY
SIGNALLY HONORED BY USE OF WHITE HOUSE
AS ROSTRUM FOR ITS DEFENSE BY
STEEL TRUST'S HEAD
Smooth Sayings of Judge Gary Only Mean That Long Day
Will Be Abolished When Trust Gets
Good and Ready
ide
o e
In announcing the result
president's conference with
men, George B. Christian, S
tary, said that the president
ed to the steel executives 'that he had
discussed the matter with individual
heads and found much favorable sen
timent, but there is a conviction that
the abolition is impracticable without
substantially unanimous action by all
the employing forces in the iron and
steel industries, hence the dinner and
the attending opportunity to discuss
the proposal amid free and frank ex
pression on a question of such import
ance to industrial America."
k- teei
secre
\plain-
In his report to the steel trust
stockholders, on April 17 last, Judge
Gary referred to a report, several
years ago, by a committee of five
stockholders who stated that they
would like to see the 12-hour day done
away with, but they realized it would
not be practicable or possible "for any
one employer or any number of em
ployers to inaugurate a shorter hour
system unless a similar policy should
be adopted by all employers in the
same industry."
Despite Judge Gary's reference to
this report, that the thing "could not
be done," he told the stockholders
that between October, 1920, and
March, 1922, "wre reduced the 12-hour
men from 32 per cent of the work
men to 14 per cent."
HINDU SEAMEN
Washington. Continuous protests
by organized seamen against the em
ployment of Orientals on American
ships is recalled by cable reports of
the disaster to the British steamer
Egypt, off the coast of France. This
was ample time for skilled seamen to
swing the lifeboats free from the
sinking ship and rescue the passen
gers, but the Hindu crew rushed for
the lifeboats to save themselves
About 100 men, women and children
were drowned.
Representatives of organized sea
men are calling the attention of mem
bers of congress to this situation, and
are asking them what kind of Amer
icanism permits the employment of
Hindus and other Orientals on ves
seJs owned by the United States ship
ping board.
Tws.s.r
WAV. S*VWi% STAMPS
hjucu *. TM1
UNITED STATUS
GOVERNMENT
ONE DOLLAR PER YEAR
of the work day under the auspices
of the iron and steel institute is ad
ditional deception.
"It is typical of the present day
colossal affrontery of big business that
it should use the white house itself
as a rostrum from which to give to
the country the latest example of cyn
ical deception, more emphatically and
perhaps more fitly described as what
the American people are accumstomed
to call 'bunk.'
NOT MANY CLIMB
But Six Per Cent of Railway
Firemen Graduate
Cleveland, Ohio. Few locomotive
firemen ever win a place on the right
side of the cab, and but six in every
100 ever get placed in the passenger
ervice according to the press infor
mation service of the Brotherhood of
Locomotive Engineers.
"The training, skill and physical
perfection required of an engineer is
uch that the great majority of engine
wipers, hostlers and firemen who
pend years of labor preparing for the
opportunity to grasp the throttle fall
by the wayside in the thorough elimi
nation of the less fit.
'Even after rejecting all who can
not measure up to the strictest tests
for height, perfect vision, heart action,
blood pressure, etc., 17 per cent of
the firement who aspire to become en
gineers are rejected at the end of
three years because their eyesight be
comes impaired by the fierce glare of
a grate of coals throwing off 2,800
degrees if heai.
"An additional 7(5 per cent do not
exhibit the temperament and natural
ability required of an engineer, so
that only 17 out of every 100 candi
lates ever win a place on the right
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Values All si/
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218 S. THIRD