The Connecticut labor news., November 24, 1923, Page Four, Image 4

About The Connecticut labor news. (New Haven, Conn.) 1921-1925

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Four
LABOR (Connecticut) NEWS
Published Weekly by The Ornburn Press, Inc.
286-288 York Street, Telephone Colony 1082 New Haven, Conn.
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
Presenting to the workers and the public the facts concerning matters
affecting labor and the wage earner's interests at large. Constructive in
policy and non-partisan in politics. Free from domination by any interests
or factions, either within the labor movement or without.
An exponent of justice to all, a 'square deal to employer and employee
ftlike, with a desire to serve the best principles of trade unionism and at the
tame time create a better understanding and co-operation between capital
and labor.
The Labor News is in no sense responsible for any article which appears
except unsigned articles in editorial column. AH other pages are devoted
to news and contributions, and may often describe or advocate matters
Opposed to The Labor News and its policy. The publication of a signed
or news article must not be construed yi any sense an endorsement of it.
Entered as second class matter December 2, 1916, at the postofHce at
New Haven, Conn., under act of March 3, 1879.
Three Cents per Copy
$1.50 per Year
NEW HAVEN, CONN.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1923
A NEW LABOR POLIGY
President Gompers of the A. F. of L. made a remarkable utter
ance in the course of an interview printed in the Washington Star
last week. He declared that if 'we are to escape the pitfalls of state
, socialism, authority in industrial matters must be vested in an econ
omic congress of representatives chosen by industrial groups.
According to Mr. Gompers, since our government was created
we have developed a tremendous industrial organization, which has
revolutionized society. Governmental attempts to regulate this vast
machinery, as well as the interference of politicians, tends only to
lead into the blind alley of state socialism.
Mr. Gompers advocacy of representative industrial democra
cy is far-reaching in its implications; it sounds like the declaration of
a new policy for American organized labor. Hitherto the traditional
trade union policy has been confined to attempts to secure better wa
eres. shorter hours of - work and improved working conditions, al
though efforts in this direction may not have permanently increased
the purchasing power of wages or have tended to alter the prevailing
capital-labor relationship.
What Mr. Gompers now proclaims is in the nature of a reor
ganization of industry, vesting control in the economic groups en
gaged in the various industries. The Plumb Plan, for instance, would
retire non-productive capital from active management of the rail
roads and give- interest-bearing bonds to capitalists in return for
every honest dollar invested. There would be a tripartite control of
the railroad industry, authority being vested in a body representing
the public the technicians and the railroad workers. While the Plumb
Plan is not mentioned in the excerpt from Mr. Gompers' interview
fhjif wp hav sfn. th views of the President of the A. F". rf L. seem
.in line with those advocated by the late Gene Plumb.
(BY THE CHILDREN OF AMERICA IN FIELDS AND FACTO
RIES AND WORKSHOPS ASSEMBLED)
Whereas, We children of America, are declared to have been
born free and equal; and
Whereas, We are yet in bondage in this land of the free; are
forced to toil the long day. or the long night, with no control over the
conditions of labor, as to health or safety or hours or wages, and
with no rights to the rewards of our service; therefore, be it
Resolved, ( 1 ) That childhood is endowed with certain inherent
and inalienable rights, among which are freedom from toil for daily
bread; the right to play and to dream; the right to the normal sleep
of the night season; the right to an education, that we may have
equality of opportunity for developing, all that there is. in us of mind
and heart. '
Resolved, (2) That we declare ourselves to be helpless and de
pendent; that we are and of right ought to be dependent, and that we
hereby present the appeal of our helplessness that we may be pro
tected in the enjoyment of the rights of childhood.
Resolved, .(3). That we demand the restoration of our rights
by the abolition of child labor in America.
In the name of 1,000,000 American children, the National
Child Labor Committee issues' this appeal.
To set a million free. That is a goal worthy of every man and
woman in the catering industry or any other industry which employ
men and women at wages. You may have enjoyed a real childhood.
and again you may have been unfortunate and forced into shop, mill
or mine when you should have been given an opportunity of attend
ing school. Whatever. your fortune when of school age, you are will
ing no doubt to help make the children of today enjoy a better time
and receive chances which did not come your wav. Your Senator
and Representative in Congress, need to be informed of your atti
tude, and that without delay, for Congress will meet soon and when
it does congregate, the people have a right to expect something in
the form of legislation that will remove the Child Labor abuse for
once and all time. Would you give, a nickel to save the boys and
girls of school age from a life of servitude such as' even slaves were
not forced into before the Civil War? That is about what it will
cost you to write your Senator and Congressmen and tell them that
Child Labor must cease.
Make it now, do not wait until tomorrow. The Mixer and Ser
ver. .
A FIVE-DAY WEEK
One way of tiding workers over periodic periods of unemploy
ment is. the plan of the Amalgamated Clothiers of Chicago, who have
made arrangements with employers to have jobless workers draw a
stipulated sum of money from a common fund during times of forced
idleness. Another method would be to so regulate production and
i. t 1 . x-wr 1 ft. 1 ifA Ain .i .1 1
iaaies uarmcni w oncers union, numbering uu.uuu wun uus ena
in view, is negotiating for a five-day, forty-hour week at the expira
tion of the present contract.
The General Executive Board at Chicago has given all the joint
boards, the various centres, the sanction to undertake the movement
of the five-day week. The cities affected will include Chicago Cleve
land, Boston, Montreal and Baltimore. Thirty thousand dress
makers won the five-day week in 1919, and at the-Chicago meeting
it was decided to extend the shorter-work week to the entire industry
as soon as possible. The present work week calls for forty-four
hours, five days of eight" hours and four day on Saturday.
The same plan would be feasible in a number of other indus
tries. The present unsystematic practice of working at top speed dur
ing certain seasons of the year, only to lay off men and have the ma
chinery lie idle during other seasons, is costly and wasteful to the in
dustry and imposes hardships on employees. A more systematic
legulation of production and a five-day week on an eight-hour basis
would benefit employers and employees alike.
UNIONS ARE JUSTIFIED IN OUSTING
COMMUNISTS
The expulsion of a communist from the convention of the A.
F. of L. at Portland has offended the intelligentsia, sentimentalists,
and other eishv folk.
These elements look upon the trade union movement as a sort
of free grazing for every ism and wil-o-the-wisp theory.
To them the trade union is merely, a convenience. It's prin
cipal mission is to serve as a clearing house and meal ticket for every
one who bounces into town with a bundle of press notices from the
last stop, the usual attack on the A. F. of L. and a "scientific and
comprehensive program" for economic salvation.
And when the tale is unfolded to trade unionists they are sup
posed to gape in awe at the wondrous man.
The nerve of this element passeth understanding.
Take the case of the one expelled at Portland. He openly pro
fessed his faith in communism and his opposition to trade unionism.
It takes copper-lined nerve to publicly announce one's dislike
of an institution and at the same time fight to maintain membership
in that institution that it may be wrecked.
This is the policy of revolutionsts arid their lilly-fingered, paper
doll lieutenants whp howl when the unions take drastic action against
the "bores."
Organized labor is calling a halt on having their unions made
the roosting place for revolutionists, wobblies, and other disguised
detectives.
Revolutionists have no place in the trade unions. They have
nothing in common with organized labor.
Their philosophy, their methods, and their goal are as opposite
from the unions as the poles.
They believe in revolution ; the unions in law.
They believe in mass strike to inaugurate their revolution ; the
unions in orderly procedure to improve working and social condi
tions. They believe in one union in an industry drilled and disciplined,
that government may be overthrown; the unions work within the law,
rather than continually challenging government.
They, like all other autocrats, believe in rulership from above ;
the union believe in popular control and the widest diffusion of dem
ocratic ideals.
They say their autocratic rule will end "when the revolution is
established" ; the unions reply that no group in history Has ever sur
rendered power voluntarily, and that working-class autocracy is as
vicious as aristocratic autocracy.
Their movement is distinctly political to overthrow the state
though they wear a thin economic veneer; the unions are economic
and are neither political nor revolutionary.
These are outstanding differences between the-trade unionist
and the revolutionist which the latter cannot hide by oratorical clap
trap or frenzied appeals to passion, prejudice, and hate.
GREAT IS LABOR'S DESTINY
By CHESTER M. WRIGHT
Editor, International Labor News Service.
No. 8
Most troubles in industry happen because one side is
boss. There comes a point when one side can "lay down the
law." One side can issue an edict, an imperial decree.
Imperial decrees always make trouble. The injunction,
as used in industrial disputes, is just a form of imperial decree, '
with the judge as emperor.
Lawyers would have a different .way of saying this, but
lawyers are still talking the lingo they learned decades ago
when court records were written by men who got paid by the
word and who therefore invented many awesome but useless
words. . ,
When the boss of a big plant says, "that's my decision
and that's final, he's just a little edition of an emperor.
Only a few political emperors areft in the world. Busi
ness for them is poor. 1
Political democracy has put the emperor business on the
bum. v !' ,
Labor looks toward the building of an industrial democ
racy to put industrial emperors on the bum. This will be good
even for the emperors. J;
In the beginning it was a fight for a chance to be heard.
Now it is a great struggle to build a new structure in the great
and marvelous industrial world.
Truly the mission of labor is great and glorious. It out
shines in brilliance, responsibility, opportunity and purpose
anything that we know of in the world today.
. Compare the labor movement building new and greater
freedom with rusty statesmen gabbing away with fourteenth
century thoughts in their minds and medieval chains of tradi
tion around their necks.
Labor's destiny is tremendous. It is the great leader of
our day!
COAL OWNERS
BENEFIT BY MINE
. BRIDGEPORT .
WAFE BOOST orss Guide
Philadelphia, Nov. 24. Anthracite
coal owners are adding: to their re
cent miners' wage increase and pass
ing the total amount on the public,
Governor Pinchot informed the
American Academy of Political and
Social Science. He said that all the
anthracite in America is found in this
state, and that 10 railroad companies
produce about three-fourths of it.
"It is commonly believed that finan
cial relations exist between these 10
railroad companies and some of the
so-called independent operators," said
Governor Pinchot.
"In my opinion the whole combina
tion is a hard-boiled monopoly whose
prime interest in the public is that it
shall consume their coal at their price.
I share the common belief that the
railroad interests which so ' largely
control anthracite from the mine to
the coal bin help themselves to abuii:
dant profits as operators, take more
profit as wholesalers, take still more
in transportation, and in some cases
take all they can get as retailers be
sides.
The governor said that 58 cents per
ton is the maximum average increase
in labor cost on domestic sizes due
to the 10 per cent, wage increase to
the miners. Coal owners advanced
their price as much as. 90 cents a ton,
or 30 cents more than the. average
added cost, and a few added more 1
than $1 per ton, he said.
The cost of mining a ton of coal is
$4.40, and anthracite mined for $7.26
actually costs the consumer $15, said
J. J. Walshsecretary of the state de
partment of mines, another speaker
before the academy.
The state tax, which has aroused
the criticism of other states, actually
adds only nine cents to the cost 01
each ton of coal, Walsh added. ,
BANKS
First National Bank, The. '
Mechanics and Farmers Bank.
Bridgeport Savings Bank.
City Savings Bank.
West Side Bank. The.
Letter Carriers Snub
Alleged Unionists
Washington, Nov. 24. A group of
postal clerks who are outside the
trade union movement were handed a
sharp snub by the convention of the
National Association of Letter Car
riers at Providence, when the dual or
ganization forwarded greetings to the
bona fide unionists.
The isolates have repeatedly con
demne dthe A. E. of L., with whom
the letter carriers are affiliated, and
the latter refused "to exchange greet
ings. Instead, they forwarded their
fraternal well wishes to the National
Association of Postal Clerks, also
affiliated to the A. F. of L.
Letter carriers reminded their co
workers that the A. F. of L. has been
of much assistance to them, and that
while they and other trade union civil
service employes are aided by the
A. F. of L., the isolates are attempt
ing to curry favor with certain gov
ernment officials by condemning the
trade union movement.
"If these postal clerks want to ex
change fraternal greetings with us',
they should go where they belong, to
the A. F. of L.," declared the letter
carriers.
BRITISH MINER
LAUDS UNITED STATES
TRADE UNIONISM
A QUESTION.
U. S. Capital In Canada
Toronto, Ontario, Nov. 24. While
Canadian wage workers are urged to
maintain trade unions, separate from
workers in the United States, capital
ists from the latter country continue
to invest in the Dominion, according
to figures issued by the Dominion bu
reau of statistics.
It is shown that the ownership of
Canadian coal mines in 1920 had a
stock value of approximately $139,-
000,000, ana ot this 2o,ooo,ooo was
held in the United States.
In the coal fields of British Colum
bia United States holdings represent
$17,000,000 .Great Britains $13,000,000
and Canada s $0,000,00.
Dear Mr. Editor :
Can vou tell me what it means?
the daily press the most loudly mention
ed subject, after divorce cases and Vol
stead violations, seems to be about re
ductions of income taxes and the great
benefit that will result for the man of
moderate salary.
A New York paper says: "Tha pub
lic doesn't overlook anything so real and
beautiful as money in the pocket. Is
that to insinuate that the "public" is go
ing to vote for the party which is
cleaiming to offer such wonderful legislation
Again, I read that the proposed cut
Washington, Nov. . 24. British la
bor and liberal newspapers received
at A. F. of L. headquarters indicate
that Frank HodfeS, secretary of the
Miners' Federation of - Great Britain
and fraternal delegate to the A. F. of
L. convention at Portland from the
British Trade Union Congress, is pro
foundly impressed by the American
trade union movement.
Writing to British newspapers from
this side, Mr. Hodges expresses the
same admiration for American' trade
unionism that he did at the Portland
convention, where he declared that
British trade unionists would hence
forth insist on a minimum wage, as is
done in America.
In Reynolds News, just received at
A. F. of L. headquarters, Mr. Hodges
declares that the United States is
prosperous because the trade unions
have, resisted wage reductions and
therefore retained their living stand
ards. He is enthusiastic over the suc
cess of the United Mine Workers of
America.
"Prosperity abounds, as compared
with Europe. The standard of living
among the workers is the highest I
have ever seen," he writes. "Yet with
In all this, only 15 per cent, of the prod
ucts of the United States is exported.
What a contrast between this and our
own country.
"The United States is prosperous
because of high wages. Great Britain
is in poverty because of low wages."
Canal Makes Record
Washington, Nov. 24. For the fis
cal year ending last June, the Panama
canal did a record-breaking business,
says Governor Morrow in his annual
in taxes will begin at incomes of $4,000 report. JThe canal netted a profit of
and the saving to the man of $5,000
yearly wage will be $29.75. How many
of the great majority of workers will
be interested in the reduction on $5,000
a year and how many of us would be
grudge the $2 .75 if we had the rest of
the five?
CURIOUS QUEER.
$ip,o63,88o from all sources, exclud
ing the Panama Railway Steamship
line ,as compared with $9,201,613 in
the fiscal year 1922. Traffic opera
tions increased on a scale that has
brought the waterway to a point of
"rapidly overhauling the Suez canal,"
said Governor Morrow.
LABOR SECRETARY
WOULD ANNUL ALL
ALIEN ENTRY LISTS
Deport All Who Fail to Become
Citizens and Protect Other
Workers, His Idea.
Annual registration of all aliens in
the United States as long as they re
main unnaturalized, was proposed by
r-dward J. Henning, assistant secre
tary of labor, speaking before the
New York Academy of Political Sci
ence in the Hotel Astor. Without
this enrollment, Mr. Henning said,
enforcement of immigration laws vir
tually is impossible.
Mr. Henning advocated legislation
compelling aliens who do not become
citizens after a' certain period to re
turn to their own countries. He rec
ommended permanent exclusion of
all non-naturalizable immigrants, the
selection of aliens on a basis of actual
needs of this country and the depor
tation of immigration lawbreakers re
gardless of the time they have been
in the United States.
The elimination of present conflicts
in authority due to piecemeal legisla
tion is essential, Mr. Henning con
tended. Among the measures helping
to defeat immigration laws, he said,
is the Seamen s Act, under the terms
of which Orientals on shore leave
deposit the required $500 bond and
are seen no more. Jrle said 100,000
undesirables or barred immigrants
enter the unitea states everv vear
because 01 legal confusion.
jviagnus W. Alexander, managing
director of the National Industrial
Conference Board, said American in
dustry will welcome an immigration
program based on broad humanitar
ian grounds, but that the United
States cannot, for the present, close
its doors to immigration, since the
existence of the country is dependent
upon the operation and steady de
velopment of its industries and the
crux of industrial operation is ade
quate labor.
"Looking broadly at the problem,"
Mr. Alexander said, "we must bear in
mind that we shall in time approach
the saturation point in the need for
and the assimilability of immigration.
The statement would seem warranted
therefore that the United States for
her justifiable protection, must pro
gressively restrict immigration at this
saturation point is approached and
the available supply of the country's
point is approached and the available
supply of the country's resources per
capita of population diminishes.
"The time will come when, as a
matter of self-preservation," the
United States must be reserved for
the benefit" of her own residents
America for Americans and may
even have to direct a surplus popula
tion into other countries."
Mr. Alexander proposed extension
of the present per centum limit act
expiring next June for a few years,
with certain administrative changes
to remove injustices and facilitate its
operation; the appointment of an in
vestigatory committee to report with
in a year on certain phases of the
acts and determination of the na
tion's immigration needs through
broader and better knowledge of the
primary and collateral factors' in the
immigration problem.
CLOTHIERS
Cesor Misch, Main, Golden Hill and
Middlp St
The Modern Clothes Shop, 1290 Main
Joseph Miller, Cor. Fairfield Ave. and
CONFECTIONERS
The Paradice, opp. Stratfield Hotel.
DEPARTMENT STORES
Bernstein & Brown's Department
1354 jviain St.
FLORTSTR
Hawkins, Florist, Theatre Bldg.
FURNITURE
H. E. Katz, 1404 Main St.
GENTS FURNISHINGS
Banner Store, 1339-1341 Main St.
C. J. Collins Co., 81 Fairfield Ave.
FURNITURE '
George B. Clark, 1052-1073 Broad St.
Hadley Co.. The, Broad and John Sta.
JEWELERS
G. W. Fairchild. & Son, Inc., 997 Main St.
M- J- Beuchler & Son. Inc.. 48 Fairfield Ave.
MILLINERS
Neuhoff's, 1 105 Main StT
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Joseph Kraus, 99 Fairfield Ave.
RESTAURANTS "
Republic Restaurant, 174 Fairfield Ave.
t
For reliable Watches, Diamonds,
Jewelry of every description, Cat
Glass, Silverware, Clocks, Toilet
and Manicuring Sets, Rosaries and
Pearl Necklaces at very attractive
prices see
M. J. Buechler & Sons,
INC.
48 FAIRFIELD A'C'E.
. Onen a dharpc account witH n
THE HADLEY CO.
FURNITURE & CARPET STORE
Broad and John Streets.
Bridgeport, Conn.
CASH OF CREDIT.
G. W. Fairchild & Sons,
INC.
One of the Finest, Largest arvfl
Most Complete -Jewery Establish
ments in New England, carrying De
pendable Merchandise Only at pries
Within the Reach of AIL
Established 1865.
997 MAIN ST. Arcade Corner
Bridgeport, Conn.
The Store That SavesYou Money
1
Broad SiSS BrtcfeportConJ
1
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TOY LAND BECKONS!
Clark's Toyland is ready and
is replete with all the things
for the vouner folks at Holi
day time Wagons, Autos,
I Jviecnanical loys, Juvenile
Furniture and all the. nthtr
favorites in a cralaxv too
comolete to ennmptate Our
prices, however, will be the
most pleasing part of your
visit to Toyland plus the
Easy Credit Terms.
THE. ORNBURN PRESS, Inc.
284- 286 YORK ST., New Haven
Publishers of The Connecticut Labor News
Printers to all Organizations and Societies " '
THE EAR
OF THE PUBLIC
Is Waiting For Your Message
- The telephone is at your elbow and
over the telephone you always get a
hearing. "
. How much of your tralever's time is
spent in selling? While he is on a train
or waiting in someone's outer office he
might be talking to the customer by
TOLL LINE and making another sale.
One merchant estimates that 6 of a
salesman's time is spent traveling that
10 of his time goes to actual selling.
The balance is lost in waiting. He sells
only when the other man is listening.
The loss of time in sales work costs
the merchants millions of dollars an
nually. If you placed an order today
and shipment was made tomorrow, by
how many dollars would it increase your
turnover?
THE SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND
TELEPHONE COMPANY