The Butler County press. [volume], April 16, 1937, Image 1

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

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i
Only Owners of Big Four Gain
By Huge Increase in Cigarette
Output, Sen.
Washington, D. C. (ILNS)—In a
magnificent speech in the senate the
last day of March, Senator Robert F.
Wagner, purely as an incident to his
main subject, gave about the most
scathing presentation of the tactics
of the Big Four tobacco companies
that has been offered in many a day.
Before reaching the part quoted
below, Senator Wagner had nailed
responsibility for sit-down strikes to
the doors of the federal courts, par
ticularly the supreme court, and the
big industrial corporations. He had
told of the enormous increase in in
dustrial output per worker saying
that, taking industry as a whole, four
men today accomplish as much as five
men in 1929. Then:
"Machinery has always offered two
alternative prospects to .the worker.
Placed at the service of the masses of
the people, it opens the way to un
limited plenty and social security. If
made an instrument for the exploita
tion of the masses, it means deep hu
man suffering accompanied by an un
challenged and irresponsible pluto
cracy.
Points to Tobacco Industry
"Which of these two alternatives is
to prevail in America rests upon
equality of bargaining power. It is
very easy to mistake the volume of
talk for the volume of accomplish
ment.
"It is easy to fall into the delusion,
because of much discussion and a few
dramatic experiences, that the mon
opoly of capital has been succeeded
by a monopoly of labor. Let us look
at the facts. They will demonstrate
"An ideal illustration is afforded by
the tobacco industry, which is manned
largely by unorganized workers
Nineteen hundred and thirty-six was
indeed a banner year for that indus
try. The annual return on invested
capictal surpassed that of 1929. Profits
increased by 26 per cent over those of
1935.
Big Production Increase
"At the present rate, 153,000,000
cigars and cigarettes are manufac
tured annually for every 100,000,000
that were made in the period of 1923
-25.
"But, despite this huge increase
of 53 per cent in production, there
are now only 61 workers in the
industry for every 100 employed
in that earlier period.
"Has the employed tobacco worker
of today benefited by this amazing
technological advance? On the con
trary, the average full time employe
is receiving a wage 20 per cent below
the 1923-25 level.
Classes Which Have Joinec
Workers' Education Project
New York City.—Nineteen organi
zations have added classes or estab
lished an educational program in co
operation with the Workers' Educa
tion Project during the last month
Ten of these were new labor organ
izations representing large and ac
tive trade unions. Twenty-nine new
classes were started. A full repor
of new classes and programs pending
has been distributed.
The new headquarters of the proj
ect has provided adequate space for
numerous committee meetings and
conferences. The library is being
used by many teachers for prepara
tion for classes. The in-service train
ing of teachers has become a more
definite program and is already hav
ing some effect on the standards of
work. Teachers have been supplied
with various teaching aids and ma
terials. The schedule of classes is
now revised and mailed each month
A general statement about the pro
ect has received a wide mailing and
other publicity has aided recruiting in
local centers.
Wagner Shows
Only the Owners Gain
"Has the consumer benefited? On
the contrary, he is paying the same
old price for his smoke, or a little
more.
"Who has gained?
"The owners, and the owners alone,"
Thus were the Big Four set apart
from the unionized part of the indus
try, which operates on progressive
lines, in agreement with the union of
workers in the industry. The United
State senate never has witnessed a
more biting denunciation of the mak
ers of non-union cigarettes.
BLAMES COMPANY
AND POLICE
'or Fatal Riot in Shipyard
Strike
Philadelphia (ILNS)—The Dela
ware county committee for civil lib
erties, composed of 38 prominent cit
izens of the community, has issued
a report placing the blame for a
fatal strike squarely on company
guards and the local police force.
The riot took place December 11,
1936, at the Chester yard of the Sun
Shipbuilding & Drydock Co., one of
the properties of the Pew family, sec
ond only to the Mellons in hereditary
control of the public affairs of Penn
sylvania. The committee hired i
trained investigator, Carl F. Will, to
investigate the matter. He inter
viewed John G. Pew, president of the
company, other company officials, po
lice, union leaders, strikers, non
strikers, business men everyone
After two months of work, the com
mittee reported in part as follows:
'Evidence which he (the investiga
tor) has collected points to the con
clusion that this riot was precipitated
by a concerted attack made upon a
peaceful picket line by an army of
workers organized and led by persons
in the employ of the Sun Shipbuilding
& Drydock Co.
"It indicates further that the police
of the city of Chester participated in
the prearranged attack."
On the morning of the row, several
hundred strikebreakers trailed into
the plant after fire apparatus which
had been summoned by an alarm
turned in near the gate, charged by
many to be a false alarm. From this
vantage point, the strikebreakers, led
by minor company officials, directly
attacked the picket line. A huge
force of police on hand made no ef
fort to stop this attack but on the
contrary, threw tear gas and sicken
ing gas bombs into the picket lines
One man died of his injuries and many
were hurt.
It is considered significant that the
chief of police conferred with the
president of the company the night
before the row.
The Accident Racket
While a long suffering group of in
dustrialists and their employes are
steadily concentrating their forces for
a campaign to rid modern industry of
Old Man Accident, Industrial Enemy
No. 1 and the members of his cruel
gang, it is hard to put the finger
on him.
Like the brain of any racket, Old
Man Accident is elusive. He appears
simultaneously in many places and in
many forms, and the thoughtless and
careless are his easy prey. He may
never be rubbed out but his power
will be curbed when his gang is cor
ralled and exterminated. That is the
job of the safety advocates in every
plant, mill, workshop and factory in
Ohio.
If you desire to do something for a
worthwhile cause, spread the gospel
about the union label!
GET THAT TRACTOR IN SHAPE NOW!
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minute but get busy on that Tractor now.
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GET ALL YOUR TRACTOR, TRUCK and AUTO PARTS at
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I
1 1' -L i
THE BUTLER COUNTY PRESS.
VOL. XXXVII. No. 2 HAMILTON, OHIO, FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 1937 ONE DOLLAR PER YEAR
MOST 8&
SP&ING DBAa—
PAN McSfcATMiON
(CopyrlRhf, W. N. U.)
Sit-Downs
Lansing, Mich. (ILNS)—Walter P.
Chrysler and John L. Lewis have
signed a peace treaty running to
March 31, 1938. This settles the
Chrysler sit-down strike. Governor
Murphy, a few hours later, announc
ed that the strike at the Reo plant,
also a sit-down, which had been in
progress 28 days, had been settled in
a 3-hour conference with the Chrys
ler agreement as a basis. The ele
ments of this agreement are as fol
lows:
The Chrysler Corporation agrees to
bargain with the United Automobile
Workers of America as the agency
for all its members not to interfere,
discriminate or in any way obstruct
or discourage membership in the
union, and not to "aid, promote or
finance" any organization or group
like a company union.
The union agrees not to solicit mem
bership on the corporation's plant or
time, and to use no coercion or intim
idation. It will neither cause nor al
low any member of the union to take
part in any stoppage of work during
the term of the agreement.
Court Proceedings Dismissed
Negotiations will be resumed at
once on all supplementary matters,
and those not covered by the main
agreement. All court proceedings are
SHORTS
The Federal Reserve Board is tak
ing measures which it hopes will end
the sit-down strike of the big banks
and insurance companies which are
demanding higher interest rates.
The utilities' sit-down strike against
the Wheeler holding company act
shows signs of disintegrating. Quite
a number of the companies have aban
doned the strike, and registered with
the SEC for employment. Another
discouragement to these sit-downers is
that the supreme court has refused
them an injunction against the TVA
speed-up.
President Roosevelt has asked that
the CCC be made a permanent insti
tution. The CCC is one institution of
the New Deal which the bitterest re
actionaries hesitate to challenge. It
is an annual investment in the young
manhood of the nation, and should g©
on as long as the nation lasts.
Let's Be Nimble*
Nimble hands and nimble feet are
essential to safety, but nimble wits
count for more fofP1 either. Think!
Which Is Which
ft
Ended
Companies Agree to Bargain With Union As
Agency for All Its Members—Ford Next Ob
jective of Organization Drive.
in
and Reo Automobile Plant
to be dismissed. Men are to be put
back at work as fast as possible, with
no discrimination against strikers.
Foremen, time keepers, plant pro
tection men and confidential salaried
employes are not included in the ar
gument.
From 65,000 to 85,000 men lire cov
ered by this agreement. The Reo set
tlement covers about 3,000 more.
The Ford plant is the next objective
of the CIO and the United Automo
bile Workers. Ford has said that he
will not recognize "any union." Lewis
answers that the Ford plant will be
well organized before Ford is asked
to confer.
Murphy's Work Praised
A very large part of the credit for
the settlement belongs to Governor
Frank Murphy, and this is freely ac
knowledged in a statement by Mr.
Chrysler:
"I wish to express my appreciation
to the governor for his good offices.
He has been tireless, patient and re
sourceful in his efforts to reconcile
different points of view, and I have
no hesitancy in saying that he has
done a great job.
"1 have enjoyed meeting Mr. Lewis
He contributed a great deal to the
successful outcome of these negotia
tions."
Truck Drivers' Strike
In Wilmington Is Ended
Wilmington, Del. (ILNS)—The 24
day strike of truck drivers and help
ers, which brought a short general
strike, was ended in an agreement for
a 15-day truce, during which nego
tiations for contracts will be con
ducted.
Sixty-nine companies which operate
trucks signed the agreement under
which the employers recognize Local
107, International Brotherhood of
Teamsters, Chauffeurs and Helpers of
America as the bargaining agent for
the strikers.
Agreement came when Thomas
O'Brien, international vice president
of the union, approved elimination of
clotted-shop demands.
Boston Printers
Win Pay Increase
Boston (ILNNS)—Members of Bos
ton Typographical Union No. 13 went
on a five-day week on April l,_with
an increase in hourly wages of 9 1-3
cents, as provided in an agreement
signed with the Publishers' Associa
tion of Boston. The agreement also
carries the stipulation that time and
one-half shall be paid for overtime
The work week is now 37 & hours.
SPRING
has come
PA-m£r
5l£Ds kndw
Ni
Chrysler
5
Marshall Lobbies
For Manufacturers
Columbus, Ohio (OLNS)—Included
in a list of 101 lobbyists who had
registered with Secretary of State
William J. Kennedy by March 30 is
the name of L. L. Marshall, former
senator from Cuyahoga county.
He is listed as representing the Ohio
Manufacturers Association. It will be
remembered that while serving in the
senate, Mr. Marshall offered an
amendment to the proposed old age
pension law being considered at that
time, which compelled advocates to
bring about defeat of the bill, and sub
mit the proposal to a referendum in
the 1933 election.
rift..* -a,
$
fkim
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HALIFAX LABOR
Organizes Exploited Fish
Handlers
Halifax, N. S. (ILNS)—The Hali
fax District Trades and Labor Coun
cil, affiliated with the A. F. of L., is
exceptionally active in organization.
Within one week, organization was
made of the Fish Handlers' Associa
tion, and an application for a char
ter as a union was in the hands of
the organization committee of the dis
trict council.
The formation of the Fish Handlers'
Association with a membership in ex
cess of 250, marks the first successful
effort to weld the employes of whole
sale, manufacturing and retail fish
firms and plants together, anywhere
in the maritime provinces, which is,
essentially, fish producing and curing
territory. The News Vendors' Union
has been organized by the council
with virtually all the persons engaged
in the selling of newspapers and mag
azines in the Halifax zone, partici
pating, and the Laborers' Union has
been reorganized. This union func
tioned some years ago, but has been
inactive for several years.
The need for a Fish Handlers' Union
at many ports in the maritme prov
inces has been glaringly evident. At
St. John, N. B., fish producers have
been paying as low as 7 cents an hour,
and one curer paid a full grown man
with a family only $3 a week for nine
hours each week day of hard work in
a fish plant. The maximum wage per
hour in the St. John fish plants has
been 25 cents an hour, with the aver
age wage about 20 cents per hour for
nine hour working day.
If You Want the Biggest
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i n
Qu
a
Hershey Mob Uses Violence
To Oust Sit-Down Strikers
Hei'shey, Pa. (ILNS)—Two or three
thousand farmers and non-union
workers smashed the sit-down strike
at the Hershey Chocolate Works with
blackjacks, pick handles and bull
whips. The sit-downers numbered
about 500. Of these, 23 were sent to
hospital, almost all the rest were
beaten to some extent, and union or
ganizers were run out of town.
The farmers took a hand because
the strike had closed the market for
their milk.
Authorities made no attempt to pro
tect the strikers. No local police were
on hand, and state police did not ar
rive till the eviction, which took about
20 minutes, was over.
Mf-h
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NOW
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$137.50
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PhiXde.binet NOW
*125
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