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£1j ls£f: i 'j .,?* VOL. XXIV: No. 6 By International Labor News Service. Washington, D. C. "Industry must organize for service, for con structive effort, for orderly continu ity, for justice to all who participate." In the spirit of the foregoing ex tract from the report of the executive council of the American Federation of Labor adopted at the federation's 1923 convention, the American Con struction Council has issued a warn ing against "irresponsible groups" in the building industry which are blamed for a large percentage of in ferior construction. Poor construc tion and inferior materials make for higher rents, the warning says. The American Construction Coun cil, which represents all elements in the building industry, is a conscious attempt of the industry to regulate itself. Believing that the ills^of the building industry should be cured, its abuses eliminated, not by govern mental and court action but by vol untary work of the industry itself, the council proposes to wage war on inferior construction. Warns of Two Evils Elimination of bad construction and unsound financing in the industry will be a big step forward, the coun cil believes and with this in mind, its president, Franklin D. Roosevelt, warns against these evils in the fol lowing statement: "One very serious situation con fronting the country requires special attention. A large percentage of present-day building construction throughout the country is distinctly inferior in quality and unsound in financing. Thousands of such struc tures, now under way or recently erected, especially in housing, are subject to such rapid deterioration that within ten years' time, some times less, they will be practically valueless. "This rapid depreciation, coupled with unsound methods of promotion must entail enormous loss of the prin cipal investment, besides entailing serious expense and heavy additional burdens for repairs and maintenance after a few years. A still further burden is added by the higher rates of insurance due to the use of inferior materials and poor construction. All these make for higher rents. "This situation results from the activities of irresponsible groups found in every element of the indus i i I W I 4, 211 High Street V *f $ o. 't .„ :^u^A,I\ •*f/^*ri •A-,-'r* ,. 'i4 li Alkiti()lk*SM*jLtS*&*ulab v'\ 1 Building Council Warns of Inferior Construction As Maker of High Rents i^.JSiELx try. Faulty engineering, unreliable architects, inexperienced and incom petent contractors, inferior grades of materials, poor mechanics, inade quate and poor inspection, and other bad factors, too frequently enter into building work. These have serious effects but no more serious than un sound financing. Hits Unsound Financing "Mortgage bonds are issued on speculative buildings. Many such is sues are based on improper security and fictitious statements of-earnings at abnormal interest rates. They find buyers because of the general igno rance existing in many quarters as to the requirements for good real estate securities. Such purchasers are us ually those who can least afford to be victimized. Every element of the in dustry must bear its proportionate share of the blame for the vicious practices not infrequently found building projects today, and for per mitting practices within its ranks that do not measure up to proper stand ards. "To further the interests of the business of building and a general adoption of the principles of better building, the council has appointed a special and fully representative committee of men vitally interested in the desirable ends to be gained. This committee will make a survey of conditions and recommend correc tives where deemed necessary." BOX HOARD IN DUSTRY ADOPTS 8-HOUR DAY Washington. Announcement is made that representatives of the box board industry, at a conference here, have agreed to institute the eight hour day and eliminate Sunday work- The conference was called by Secre tary of Labor Davis, who told these business men that legislation would outlaw the long work day if they do not act. The cabinet official read letter from President Coolidge, wli expressed the hope that "you may find a method to abolish the alternating week of 11-hour and 13-hour shifts. "I believe," said the president, "that in the long run it will be found more satisfactory to have the usual hours which now prevail in industry, and the usual cessation of work on Sun day." OPENING DAY Saturday, May 24 In the reorganization of the Red Trunk, now known as THE MARTLEY CO., we are going to follow the same policy of giving the same good, reliable stuff ^t a price that if fair and square. Our motto will be, "Better Merchandise for Less Money." EVERYTHING IN MEN'S AND BOYS' FURNISHINGS, HATS, CAPS AND PANTS We invite you and shall expect you tomorrow HLTTER FOR LESS formerly The RED TRUNK ROBT. A. FALLERT, Vice-President £dJkJgfota+&&*\&^ 4«i-Jl «f ,/. ..-I.1' .• ...... i -a&aJ^k.kqi »&iAi!i»i*s$p»At»5A: ».5*«»'- #4- ~'r r^t',^ V^N "*4—! '-""'wV T"! t^i'^HiK^f S* '. j.-" V %"**'. v^'^Y.'C' A BUMCH OP LAME. DUCKS, WHO VOTED FOR NE.WBE.RRY AriD THE. CUMM!rt§-£sCK LAW,| CIOININQ THEIR i Rentschler Building ij^n., 4r Tf^y THE BUTLER COUNTY PRESS. HAMILTON, OHIO, FRIDAY, MAY 23, 1924 NEWS OF THE MONTH By Courtesy of the American Federationist mrnrn FLOCK' First Full Story of Big Mexican Oil Strike-American Influence Shapes Policy of British Aguila Company Granting of the demands would place El Aguila on a par with other companies regarding terms of em ployment. Union Tried Vainly to Make Agreement Two months of negotiation preced ed the strike, which went into effect on March 3. After the union failed to succeed in the effort to negotiate with the company, the mediation of the governor of the state of Tamaul ipas was accepted. This effort failed The resort to the strike is sanctioned by the Mexican constitution. The workmen, however, took pos session of the refinery, not in order to hold and operate the property, but to protect it. There also was the fear that disorders might ensue which would be attributed to the union and this the union wanted to prevent This action gave rise to lurid reports about the seizure of the property The procedure, however, was unlaw ful and President Obregon at once ordered that the property be returned «. «Wj" ,. JST-V r^t '""r I.^^*. nil •»TTi i ^fiBM pWipi .# o« HOLDING HISOWM ooT'ji 1 ". '^k- P-C v CflpP108 v_ TM& BLOC-ADE Washington, D. C.—For the firsthand the union guard disarmed. time it is possible to tell the com pete story of the strike of oil work rs employed by El Aguila Petro eum Co., Ltd., at Tampico, Mexico, which American labor has been asked o support. Information now in possession of he Pan American Federation of La or indicates two main facts: The employment policy of El \guila, a British concern usually known as the Cowdray property, is lominated from New York by the American officials of the American \ssociation of Petroleum Producers. The company, apparently upon the tdvice of this organization, has de lined to negotiate with the workers. No Strike Against Other Oil Companies Certain other facts, less striking, but perhaps of equal importance are hese: The company objected to negotiat ng with representatives of the Mexi an Federation of Labor, but refused lo withdraw petroleum association representatives from their own dele gation. There is no strike against any ther company in Tampico and no other strike is contemplated. There are indications that the American companies in the petro leum association want the strike to ontinue against El Aguila and urge El^ Aguila to resist the demands, so that El Aguila may be forced finally to abandon production, to the ad vantage of the other companies. The union, as well as El Aguila Company, then requested the media tion of the department of industry, commerce and labor. Due to the fact. that Manager Jacobson, of El Aguila Company, was absent from the city at that time, the conferences did not begin until March 11. They were held in^he City of Mexico. The pro ject previously presented by the gov ernor of Tamaulipas was adopted as basis for the conferences. El Augife's representatives assured the mediators that they were ready to accept these principles and were in accord with the workmen's requests but that they cquld not accept them due to the fact that the American As sociation of Petroleum Producers pre sided over in New York by Mr. Guy Stevens, and of which El Aguilaa is a member, prevented the company from taking into consideration some of the workmen's demands. Outsiders Among Firm's Repre sentatives The company was represented at the conferences by Manager Jacob sen, Mr. Van Zollen, manager of the Dutch Company, "La Corona," and by Mr. Tompkins, of the American Association of Petroleum Producers of New York. The workers were represented by some of their fellow workmen of the refinery and by Rey i/aldo Cervantes Torres, secretary of the Mexican Federation of Labor. While the conference was in har monious progress the representatives of El Aguila stated that they could not continue the negotiations while Secretary Torres, who is not employ ed by the company, continued as rep resentative of the workmen, pursu ant to instructions received by the company from the Producers' Asso ciation. As the union refused to yield the right to be represented by persons of their own choice, and since Mr. Tompkins was also not employed by El Aguila Company but repre sented an outside institution, the con ferences came to an end on March 16.f Since then the Aguila Company has" refused to resume the conferences. Company Not Free Agent, Says Statement The department of industry, com merce and labor issued the following statement on April 24th: "This department's view is to the effect that El^guila's representatives are under an influence which does not permit them an independent and defi nite discussion of the points at issue, and from this has resulted their vacil lations and hesitations to discuss -s: 4 V By International Labor News Service. Washington, D. openly and categorically the ground which the company is willing to yield, thus marking a field of action for the company and the workmen." The Mexico City newspaper, "Ex celsior," published in its issue of April 25 a statement from a repre sentative of the Mexican Federation of Labor. It reads as follows: "We are not so stupid as to de clare a general strike, for that would only satisfy the wishes of El Aguila Company. However, if it insists in its present attitude, the Aguila con cern will be the only sufferer. We readily understand the game now be ing played by the American Produc ers Association with the company, The association is trying to ruin the company by encouraging it with its support to reject the workmen's de mands, without taking into account that the action of the workmen will be directed solely against El Aguila Company. No General Strike, Labor Man Declares "The company, under the influence of the Producers' Association, has re fused to settle the conflict and has striven only to aggravate it, in the belief that we will declare a general \jr~ r..y-^T-^., C. "Company unions" are wholly the creation of the employer and in no sense represent the workers, Representative George Huddleston, of Alabama, told the house in a vigorous attack on the opponents of the Howell-Barkley rail road labor bill. Mr. Huddleston char acterized "company unions" in a few pitiless words, saying: "The 'company unions,' 'system unions,' and 'shop unions,' are so called labor organizations which were organized with the permission and under the fostering care of the em ployer. In most cases they are under the employer's control, do his bidding, and are intended for no other purpose than to be used as a club to fight the regular organizations. "In the case of the Pennsylvania system's unions the members pay no dues. Their sole function consists in voting for their officials upon ballots upon which each voter must sign his name and which are counted by com pany officials. It is said that the union officers elected in this way are usually those dictated by the com $?' Announcing The Opening of Our Radio Sets s i strike which will affect the interests of other petroleum companies but nothing of this will happen. "The boycott for El Aguila Com pany products will extend throughout the continent, and will affect its mar kets in North, Central and South America." DeForest Radio Sets E A O U S De Forest D-10 Reflex With- 4 Tubes, $176.00 Introductory v Regarding reports of the interven tion of high officials of El Aguila Company in the recent rebellion, the Mexican government has ordered an investigation which has not yet been concluded. The only result known up to this time is the expulsion of a high official of El Aguila Company resid ing at Puerto, Mexico. INCREASED ACCI DENTS COSTLY TO EMPLOYERS Madison, Wis.—The increased num ber of industrial accidents in this state has forced the Wisconsin compensa tion board tu order a 15 per cent increase in compensation insurance rates. The board points out that reduction in insurance costs is possible if em ployers will make greater effort along safety lines. Offer $100.00 NO OUTSIDE AERIAL NECESSARY —De Forest Auidion Tubes Now $5.00--- K-R-E-B-S Hamilton's Exclusive De Forest Representative i' V'- ,• s 1 *. u I- -r ONE DOLLAR PER YEAR "Company Unions" Denounced In House as Club to. Fight Real Labor Organizations pany. "The union members hold no meet ings, and their uifion's existence is merely colorable. The company pays the expenses and transportation of the officers of the union and any com pensation which they may receive. The company even pays rent for the offices which the union officials oc cupy. Of course, such a union is merely an arm of the company. It represents the company and in no sense can express the sentiments of the employees. "The company union men,who prob ably number fro#h 150,000 to 300,000 •nominal members, have been told to protest against the Barkley bill on the ground that it would force them under the control of the regular or ganizations. This is wholly untrue. They will be left to continue their separate existence, nominal and fugi tive though it may be. They can go on negotiating with their employers and accepting employer dictation as they are forced to do. There is noth ing in the Barkley bill to prevent this." i-V* fV v' kt :. u *w£ -, ._ mm $ *V- ft .'•- -?V A •1 r,