The Butler County press. [volume], October 15, 1937, Image 1

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Denver, Colo.—Indisputable figures
as to the value of trade unionism in
increasing wages and reducing hours
were presented by the executive coun
cil of the American Federation of La
bor to the annual convention of the
federation in session here.
The figures revealed that in the
short period of six months during the
present year trade unions won from
reluctant employers increases in pay
totaling more than twice the amount
that employers had granted in the
preceding two years.
With regard to the work week the
council reported that the drive of
long hour employers has been mate
rially checked by the unions with the
result that the average hours have
been reduced to 40% per week, which
was described as "a gain of one-half
hour's leisure.
Unions Push Up Earnings
"Records of wages in the first half
of 1937," the council's report said,
"are striking evidence that workers
must depend on union organization to
increase their income.
"So far reaching has been the ef
fect of the organizing drive this year
that average hourly earnings in all
recorded industries rose from 59 cents
in December, 1936, to 64 cents in June,
1937, according to figures calculated
from labor department records.
This is an average gain for all
workers of 5 cents an hour or more
than $2.00 per week. In the previous
two years, hourly earnings rose only
2% cents—from 56% cents in De
cember, 1934 to 59 cents in December
1936.
"Thus workers won for, themselves
in six minium organization
BUSINESS
RACKETEERS
Responsible For Crime In
Low Places
Washington, D. C. (ILNS)—In a
ringing address to the International
Association for Identification in this
city, Rev. Edmund A. Walsh, noted
educator, economist and vice president
of Georgetown University, declared
that business and bank racketeers at
the top of the social heap were largely
responsible for the thugs and racket
eers at the bottom.
"The public greed of licensed money
changers," said Father Walsh, "of
certain unscrupulous bankers and le
gaily incorporated buccaneers pro
vided, alas, the evil example for the
criminal whose methods lacked only
legality and the comfort of a re
spectable name. The former plun
dered through legal loop-holes, the
latter at the point of a sawed-off shot
fiun. Both had the same objective
other people's money—though they
stalked their prey by different paths
"When greed in high places oper
ated through bucket shops, fraudulent
investment trusts, price pegging, rig
•ging the market, closed pools, short
selling and the dumping of worthless
securities on unsuspecting clients,
crime in low places retaliated with
racketeering, assassination, kidnap
ing, extortion, bootlegging, corrup
tion of public officials, suborning of
juries and by mobilizing a flock of un
scrupulous criminal lawyers skilled in
paralyzing the nerves of judges, wit
n,sses and public prosecutors.
"I do not palliate the guilt of the
underworld. I am but analyzing the
genesis of much of the crime that has
shocked the community these latter
years. Criminals were created by the
examples and opportunity flaunted in
their very faces. They determined to
s- v VI,
Unions Are the Main Factor
In Wages and Hours Fight
A. F. of L. Executive Council Tells Denver Convention
During Six Months in 1937 Organized Labor Gained
Twice As Much in Wage Increases as Private Industry
Has Granted in Two Years, and Also Won Definite
Reduction in the Length of the Work Week.
twice as' great a gain as private in
dustry had given them in two years.
At no other time since depression, ex
cept the first four months of NRA,
have such large gains been made.
Long Hours Checked
"Union organization has also been
effective in shortening work hours this
year by half an hour per week. There
has been a tendency during recovery
from depression, for employers to
lengthen hours as production in
creases.
"Particularly striking was the in
crease in hours which followed the
termination of NRA, when in 6 months
two hours were added to the average
work week, in industry generally,
raising it from 37% to 39% hours.
'Until the organizing drive this
spring, employers continued to
lengthen the work week so that by
January, 1937, the average was 41
houi*s.
'This increase was checked by
union action in the first half year, and
by June, 1937, hours were reduced to
40% per week, a gain of one-half
hours' leisure. This contrasts sharply
with last year when one hour was
added to the work week during the
same period.
40-Hour Week Drive Urged
'These figures show clearly, how
ever, that even the 40-hour week is
not yet won in industry generally.
Since the average week is 40% hours,
probably more than half the wage and
small salaried workers in the United
States still work over 40 hours a week
Only by strong organization can we
prevent further increases and work to
ward a universal work week of 40
hours and less."
have their share in the prevailing orgy
of extravagance."
Dr. Walsh estimated the cost of law
enforcement in this country at 15 bil
lion dollars a year, and said that de
spite this outlay, racketeering prob
ably cost another 18 billions.
Boycott Japanese Goods
Union Label Trades Ask
Denver (ILNS)—The union label
trades department, American Fedet
ation of Labor, in thirtieth conven
tion here, urged the federation to sup
port a boycott on all Japanese-manu
factured goods.
The report of the department's
executive board presented a record
of outstanding achievement in pro
moting interest in union label goods
and services. The report showed that
one of the most effective methods of
operation has been the organization
of women's auxiliaries.
The union label week idea is
spreading, as evidenced by labor week
proclamations by the governors of
Texas and Utah and label weeks in
sixteen large cities in eleven other
states.
A national advertising campaign is
planned for December this year.
"Every means of publicizing the
union label will be utilized during
this drive," the report said. Radio,
newspaper advertising, public gather
ings and house-to-house visits will
impress upon Christmas shopper the
reason for buying union label prod
uct.
CIO CHARTERS
INLAND BOATMEN
Washington, D. C. (ILNS)—The
CIO announced here that a local un
ion charter has been issued to the
Inland Boatmen's Union of the Pa
cific with 10,000 members. The pres
ident of the union is C. W. Beal, of
San Francisco.
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1
Denver, Colo.—A highly encourag
ing account of the achievements of
the American Federation of Labor
in organizing hitherto unorganized
workers was presented by the execu
tive council of the A. F. of L. to the
federation's annual convention here.
Pointing out that following the
decision of the supreme court of the
United States holding the national
labor relations act constitutional,
workers everywhere, relieved of the
"fear of discrimination and perse
cution" which was widespread be
fore the supreme court's ruling,
"showed both a willingness and a
determination to become organized,"
the executive council's report con
tinued:
Progress in Unorganized Industries
"As a consequence of these develop
ments the organizing staff of the
American Federation of Labor has
been very greatly increased. These
organizers are carrying on a syste
matic campaign of organization in
every state, city and community
throughout the entire country.
"Great progress has been made in
heretofore unorganized fields such as
cement, aluminum, flour and cereal
milling, agriculture, packing houses
and canneries, white collar groups,
and other miscellaneous industries.
Affiliated Unions March Forward
"In addition, national and interna
tional unions affiliated with the
American Federation of Labor have
inaugurated and carried forward most
successful organizing campaigns. As
a result of this joint co-ordinated or
ganizing work carried forward by
national and international unions and
the American Federation of Labor,
approximately a million new members
have been added to' the American Fed
oration of Labor.
"All of these are dues-paying
members, men and women who show
their determination to become organ
ized through the payment of initiation
fees and monthly dues.
Organizing Campaign Will Be
Continued
"It is the firm and determined pur
pose of the American Federation of
Labor to organize the unorganized
workers who desire to become organ
ized and associated with an organiza
tion such as the American Federation
of Labor which for more than half a
century has championed the principles
of collective bargaining, of freedom
to organize and to strike, and to use
every honorable and legal means in
the promotion of strikes for high
wages and improved conditions of em
ployment.
*',"5- ". '.
rilE BUTLER COUNTY PRESS.
VOL. XXXVII. No. 28 HAMILTON, OHIO, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1937 ONE DOLLAR PER YEAR
sffi-
Organization Campaign Has
Million New Members to
Executive Council Tells Denver Convention Great Prog
ress Has Been Made in Heretofore Unorganized Fields
and That "No Force Will Stop This Onward March of
The American Federation of Labor to Organize and
Unorganized of the Nation" Recommends Continu
ance of Assessment of One Cent Per Month per Member
4
If Columbus Should Come Back
HM-M THIS PLACE SURE
HAS CHANGED SINCE THE
LAST TIME WAS MERE—
"It is the fixed and determined
purpose of the executive council to go
on and on in support of campaigns
launched by the American Federation
of Labor and of national and interna
tional unions affiliated with it for the
purpose of organizing the unorganized
workers of the nation.
Victory Is Certain
WOKJDER. WHATEVER BECAME
OF THOSE PEACEFUL
INDIANS
"We are confident we will win in
this great contest. We are sure the
workers of the nation will turn to a
responsible organization such as the
American Federation of Labor, firmly
established for more than half a cen
tury in the economic and industrial
life of the nation.
"The fighting spirit of the officers
and members of the American Federa
tion of Labor has been aroused as
never before. The word defeat cannot
be found in the vocabulary of those
who fight and serve the American
Federation of Labor. Our efforts to
organize will be increased, our organ
izing staff will carry on a militant
and aggressive organizing campaign
Central Bodies Assist
"Our state federations of labor and
city central bodies, purged of those
who would transform them into agen
cies of a dual, rival organization
united in a common purpose and estab
lished upon a sound and solid Ameri
can Federation of Labor basis, will
take such action as may be necessary
in order to protect and advance the
interests of the officers and members
of the American Federation of Labor
"We are going forward, determined
to win. No force will stop this on
ward march of the American Federa
tion of Labor to organize the unor
ganized of the nation.
Continuance of Special Assessment
Urged
"In order to continue the aggres
sive, militant organizing campaign
which is now being carried on by th
American Federation of Labor, the
council recommends that the conven
tion authorize the continuance of the
assessment of one cent per member
per month, which was endorsed and
approved by the conference of repre
sentatives of national and interna
tional unions which was held in Cin
cinnati, May 24-25, 1937.
"With the financial income to the
American Federation of Labor which
will flow from the payment of this one
cent assessment we can not only con
tinue but increase and accelerate the
organizing campaign which has been
so successfully caried on during th
past year. The council regards this
question as of tremendous importance
We urge favorable action upon it by
the convention*
v
.'•"'*
-V
v"
Added
A. F.
L.
of
TENANT FARMERS VOTE CIO
Memphis, Tenn. (ILNS)—The
Southern Tenant Farmers' Union, in
convention here, voted to join the
United Cannery, Agricultural, Pack
ing and Allied Workers of America, a
CIO affiliate. Delegates represented
unions in Tennessee, Mississippi, Ar
kansa, Texa, Oklahoma, North Car
olina and Missouri. The convention
declared for minimum cotton pay of
$1 per 100 pound.
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BUILDINGTRADES
Department Elects New
Heads
Denver (ILNS)—New officers were
elected at the 31st annual convention
of the building trades department,
American Federation of Labor, held
here prior to the A. F. of L. conven
tion.
Joseph A. Mclnerney, New York,
of the International Association of
Marble, Stone and Slate Polishers,
Rubbers and Sawyers, Tile and Mar
ble Setters Helpers and Terrazzo
Helpers, was elected president to suc
ceed J. W. Williams.
Herbert Rivers, Kansas City, of the
International Hod Carriers, Building
and Common Laborers' Union, was
elected secretary-treasurer to succeed
M. J. McDonough.
President William Green, of the A.
F. of L., addressed the convention,
making a vigorous attack on the CIO,
in words that forecast his opening
speech at the A. F. of L. convention.
The report of Dr. John A. Lapp,
referee in charge of settling jurisdic
tional disputes, was accepted with
some slight changes and he was
praised for his work. In a short ad
dress, Dr. Lapp said the work of the
last year had been experimental and
that in setting the contentious ques
tions involving jurisdiction over dis
puted work by the various trades, he
had the whole-hearted co-operation of
all the unions.
Retiring President Williams warned
the unions against allowing the juris
dictional machinery to break down
for, he said, if the unions could
not settle their jurisdictional quarrels
with the assistance of a man lik,
Dr. Lapp as arbiter, the government
would surely intervene and appoint
an administrator to handle the ju
risdictional questions and then the
unions would find themselves regu
lated strictly by an administrator who
would not be a labor representative.
BOSTON C. L. U. MOVES OFFICE
Boston (ILNS)—After 33 years in
the south end of Boston, the Boston
Central Labor Union moved its offices
and meeting rooms to a midtown loca
tion. This is at 120 Boylston street,
the space taken being on the sixth
floor of the Walker building.
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