The Daily Worker Newspaper, September 17, 1926, Page 5

b News and Comment Labor. Education Labor and Government Trade Union Politics AUTO WORKERS’ UNION MEETS IN DETROIT, MICH, Organize Unorganized Is Big Problem DETROIT, Mich., Sept. 15.—The-or- ganization of the vast mass of unor- ganized workers in the automobile in- dustry is the task that the incoming general officers of the Auto Workers’ Union will have, according to instruc- tions given delegates to the Auto Workers’ Union convention that has been opened here by their locals. Each of the delegates coming to the convention has a plan as to how to organize the workers in this impor- tant industry. Delegates from many locals come with instructions to work for the affiliation of the Auto Work- ers’ Union to the American Federation of Labor and plan their organizing drives in co-operation and conjunction with the metal trades department of the American Federation of Labor, There are about 5,000,000 workers in the automobile industry. New York has the strongest local. Detroit is next. Detroit membership is con- stantly increasing. Any worker that seeks to join the Auto Workers’ Union should communicate with the general office, 4620 Beaubien street, Detroit, Mich. Telegraphers Thrown Out of Work by New | Machine Cable Device The new Permalloy cable between New York and London is another triumph in eliminating human opera- tors from the telegraph and cable service, it appears from the announce- ment of the Chicago division of the Western Union Telegraph Co. “The unheard-of speed of 2,500 letters per minute, about five times faster than any long distance submarine cable of the old type, is attainable over this circuit,” City Superintendent Herbert Brown declares. Detroit Auto Workers Want to Join A. F. of L. DETROIT, Mich., Sept. 15.—Local 127 of the United Auto, Aircraft and Vehicle Workers of America at their last meeting adopted a number of resolutions signifying their desire for affiliation with the American Federa- tion of Labor and calling on the na- tional convention of the American Federation of Labor which will be held in Detroit starting October 15 to launch an active organization cam- paign in’the automobile industry, The Detroit union signifies its willingness to enter into negotiations with the metal trades department of the American Federation of Labor with the intention of affiliating itself with the American Federation of Labor. Some of the slogans that the De- troit union points out should be used in the organizing campaign which they urge the American Federation of Labor to conduct are: “Against wage cuts,” “For an increase in wages,” “For a general improvement of work- ing conditions,” “Establish the 8-hour day and the 44-hour week.” CHICAGO—(FP)— Two test cases ‘by the Chicago building trades coun- cil ended victoriously when the un- fons went back to work on the down- town skyscrapers. They returned mi- nus the nonunion craftsmen that had ‘been employed in violation of ithe council's interpretation of the con- ‘tracts. | BUILDING TRADE UNIONS NEED W Activities Policies and Programs The Trade Union Press Strikes—Injunctions Labor and Imperialism UNITED ACTION TO FIGHT THE RENEWED OPEN SHOP CAMPAIGN By ARNE SWABECK. : The Chicago building trades workers have won a victory. The an- nouncement came just before Labor Day that two big construction jobs now i C ANER under wey, the De Wolfe building and the Jewelers’ building, were ready UNION DEMANDS to finish these jobs with union labor. The jobs had been struck on August 23 and 28, respectively, sand’ the announced settlement shows that the so- called “citizens’ committee”to enforce+— THE™DAILY WORKER ea is —SES ———_ SESE eS ————————————— rage Fivé GENERAL MOTORS COMPANY RULES FLINT ELECTION City Must Build Sewer for Fisher Body Plant By R. BAKER. (Special to The Dally Worker) SLINT, Mich. Sept. 15.—In Flint, IV Mich., are located several large plants 3 of the General Motors Corporation. Up at Paradise things were booming. All the men were back The biggest of these is the new Fisher |at work—even the blacklisted ones, at a dollar a day more, and Body plant, well known for its speed-} with another rige promised; a good driller was worth just about Ol Upton Sinclair (Copyright, 1926, by Upton Sinclair) the Landis award failed in“its preten- tious promise to furnish enéugh scabs to replace the strikers; Must Look Ah This means a further setback to the “citizens’ committee” which’ has sut- fered many reverses sifce the memorable day of the mighty demon- Stration against the ‘Landis award on April 30, 1922. But it°is also well to remember that with the slackening of the building boom, the powers of this “open shop” outfit may’again increase while the most completes solidarity of the building trades: workers-will be necessary to maintain their® gains made. at The Chicago Building“Trades Coun- ef] has at last begun to function, Dur- ing the critical days following the is- suing of the Landis «award it failed completely. The» majority of the smaller trades became pledged to the Landis award, while the Building Trades Council ceased all functions. For a considerable period it even held no meetings, An Open Shop Move. The Landis award was the first gun in the determined campaign of the bankers and manufacturers to com- pletely crush the building trades unions. The so-called “citizens’ com- mittee” became organized immediate- ly thereafter and inaugurated its pol- fey of bringing scabs to the city and Placing them on the jobs under gun- men and police protection. When the council failed, the rank and file of the local unions demanded action. The Building Trades publicity committee was, organized, composed of delegates directly. from the local unions, The publicity committee im- mediately sounded a note of unity, against the attempt, to smash the unions and demanded, to maintain the right of sympathetic strike. The pro- gressive elements took. the leader- ship and a splendid demonstration was organized at which 140,000 workers turned out in parade against the Lan- dis award. “Interriational Officers’ Reorganize Council. Later the international officials of atl the building trades unions came to Chicago, but with one exception could recommend nothing but © compliance with the Landis award. They came to Chicago a second time and finally succeeded in reorganizing the Build- ing Trades Council; However, with the’ carpenters still outside and the bricklayers, under the control of Pete Shaughnessey, the carpenters and building laborers even later signed an agreement. identical with the Landis award containing the clauses of: 1. No restriction of use of any raw or manufactured material except prison made. 2. That no union men have the right to stop work individually or col- lectively because of nonunion men of other trades being employed, Progressives Led Struggle. The progressives continued to de- mand a united fight against the “citi- zens’ committee” based on the slogans of “closed shop,” no use of non-union material and a uniform agreement for all trades to expire at the same time. Only the building boom existing ever since the Landis award’ prevented the success of the union-smashing endeav- ors of the “citizens’ committee.” Thus summer several trades entered into new agreements with only the garpenters and the marblé setters re- taining the “closed shop,” while other trades, for instance the carpenters and structural iron workers having been promised wage increases to take et- fect) October ist. The Irdn League in agreement with the various émploy- ers’ associations, fought for-this- post- U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTS ATTACK © AGAINST COMPENSATION LAW'FOR INJURED WORKERS OF AUSTRALIA WASHINGTON, Sept. 15. — In the United States Daily for Sept. 7, ap- peared the first instalment, three col- umns loxg, of a hostile report on the new WOl~sen's compensation law of New Souch Wal This report, quot- ing the statute enacted by the labor goverxinent of that Australian state, emphasizes the claims made by busi- hess men and conservative politicians that it will be a heavy burden upon industry. The report comes from the American in Sydney, and was given out by the state department. Employers Oppose Laws. The labor government in New South Wales has adopted a forty-four hour aot, against which the employers raised a similar outcry, and on July 1 its second measure, which provides government insurance, paid for by the employers, against industrial ac- its and industrial diseases, took A refusal by the private in- companies to write the in- Under the new ia&w,0an injured worker, in case of total or partial incapacity, will be pafa two-thirds of his weekly earnings, but. not more ‘than $15 nor less than $10 a week. In addition, if he is married his wife will get $6 a week, and for each child he will get $2 a week. He will also be provided with medical and surgi- cal attendance, to an amount not more than $250, If a worker is kill- ed while on the way to work, his de- pendents will collect compensation as tho he had been killed while at work, U, 8, Government Fights Labor, The state department “information* which it has made public says that “certain labor elements” backed this measure and the 44-hour law in or- der to gain 4 ved conditions “whatever the toll that,such legisla- tion might nef ete that the workers nee re unemploy- ment because e cannot pay tte satcrtane lens ponement of wage increase. Evi- dently the employers are preparing for a fight, but postponing the date to gain further strength, expecting that a slackening season may weaken the unions, Boom Slackens, The building boom is now slacken- ing. All authorities agree that a pe- riod of the former normal demands for buildings have been reached. In Chicago during the first four months of the year there was a drop of 5 per cent in building compared to the same Period the year before. July and August show a further falling off particularly in residential buildings both from previous months this year and from the same months last year. This is the estimate made by the “Engineering News Record” which is generally quite reliable, de- spite attempts of juggling with fig- A44-HOUR WEEK N. Y. Union Decides to Fight At @ mass meeting attended by 1,500 members of the Window Cleaners Protective Union Local 8, decided un- animously on the following demands to be presented to the bosses’ associa- tion: That 44 hours shall constitute a week's work. “Wages, $44.00. Every company must have their men insured from possible accidents. No boss shall compel men to per- form dangerous jobs, or to discharge them for declining to do such work, Pay For Ralny Days, Pay for raihy days and for eight legal holidays. No discharge after two weeks of ures being made by some so-called au- thorities, Bosses Hopeful, Undoubtedly the bosses are eager to regain the opportunities which at one time were offered by the situation created by the Landis award. The bankers and the industrial capitalists are not only their solid supporters, but even taking over the direction of the fight. The important question is: “Do they feel themselves strong enuf by October ist or will they seek a further postponement?” There can be no doubt that they are looking for a complete showdown. Even during the time of this recent strike, machine. guns were mounted in the De Wolfe building structure, while heavy cars were manned by thugs and gunmen. Unity of Action Urgent. The very life of the building trades unions makes necessary that the is- sue of the closed shop be put squarely and that the greatest amount of unity of action be established amongst the various trades. Much precious time has been lost. The time of the build- ing boom should have been the real opportunnity to make all Chicago building jobs union jobs and it is to be hoped that the Building Trades Council does not permit any further delay. The fight cannot be avoided, and it is necessary to establish the solidarity required. The building trades unions must insist upon uniform agreements with the right to sympathetic strikes, the elimination of nonunion made ma- terial and the agreements to expire at the same time together with the or- ganization of the men employed in the building material manufacturing shops. Why not a small bundie of The DAILY WORKER sent to you regular. ly to take to your trade union meeting? employment, unless good reasons have been found. . Determined To Fight, Window Cleaners of Greater New York are determined to fight till all these demands are granted. During the month of September, union meet- ings will be held every week on Thurs- day 7:30 p. m. No Strike, But Judge Issues Injunction to Forbid Union Campaign By ART SHIELDS, Federated Press. NEW YORK, Sept. 15. — Supreme Court Justice» James A. Dunne goes other injunction; judges one better. Dunne does not wait till the workers go on strike, but issues his writs against peaceful, union appeals. His temporary restraining order in be- half of the PakIt-Rite Paper Box com- pany of Brooklyn forbids the Paper Box Makers’ Union “from endeavoring to persuade empleyes of the plaintiff to join the defendant union.” There is no-strike at this big plant, but the union fs‘distributing circulars telling ‘of’ the‘advantages of the 44- hour ‘week, of higher wages and the protection of a union, 5 George Powers, organizer for the union, laid the.gmazing open shop or- der of the justice before the American Civil Liberties Wnion which is having a legal analysis tiade of it. He pointed out that the injunction goes further even than the “yellow dog” injunc- tions of West’ Virginia and other places forbidding a union from persuad- ing men from’ breaking inividual contracts of -employment, For the paper box firm has no such contracts with its employes. RAIL UNIONS’ STRENGTH REASON WHY ARBITRATION MAY GIVE MEN “SOMETHING,” EXECUTIVES ADMIT By LELAND OLDS, Federated Press. A general advance in the wages of railroad employes will not surprise many railroad executives, according to an obviously, inspired note in the New York Times financial section. They feel, says the Times, “that the strength of the unions and the prosperity of the carriers will force the granting of something.” Here is admitted that the mere justice of the demand for a better living standard does not determine the decision of arbitration boards. The execu- tives, according to the Times, hold¢———————____________ up system. A new sewer was needed for this plant, which was to cost $220,- 000, The General Motors Corporation decided that the town of Flint should his weight in gold. Here too came the “four minute men,” and were listened to gladly; the oil workers were patriotic, and would have enlisted to a man, but they were needed on this job—there pay for it, Much to their surprise, |Wa8 nothing more important than cil, and the way for them % when the question was voted on in|Serve their country was to keep the stuff flowing, and watch out August it was rejected by 812 to 716.|for fires, and for obstructions dropped into the wells, and other Seek to Change Vote, General Motors immediately set its machinery into motion in order to re- vise this decision, A new vote was set for September. The writer pre- dicted in The DAILY WORKER that the second vote for the sewer pro- acts of vandalism by enemy agents. Paul was back as Dad’s boss builder. But then came the first draft, and Paul had one of the lucky numbers. Dad offered to get him exempted, for obviously there had to be shacks to house the men who were to drill and operate the news wells. Dad had power to arrange matters—you can understand that gram would carry because the major-| When you learn that the chairman of the exemption board was ity of the voters are employed by the | Mr. Carey, the rancher who had accepted money from Dad to get General Motors Corporation. Lay Down Law. The Flint Daily Journal, controlled by General Motors, carried front page articles urging favorable action on the issue. Special meetings of busi- ness men were called. The law was laid down to them, In one of the largest hotels free coffee and sand- wiches were served along with speeches by hirelings of the General Motor Corporation. All factories is- sued special shop bulletins dealing with the sewer question. On voting day all shops closed one hour earlier. The extra number of street cars neces- sary to take the workers home was held back in the car barns, and in their place a fleet of brand new Buicks and Chevrolets appeared displaying the sign: “Vote Yes; Car to Polling Place and Home.” Naturally the workers, who were standing on the coreers waiting for street cars, boarded these, Voting System “Elastic.” The system of voting was very “elastic.” In spite of the fact that only taxpayers have the right to vote on such a question, democracy on this occasion took the form of any citizen residing in Flint for over three months being allowed to vote at any of the six polling stations. No registration was required. Many company hire- lings voted “yes” at all six places. These facts easily explain the rela- tively immense vote cast. The vote was 7,526 yes, and 1,205 no. Political:Sharps Turn to Watch Results in Maine, Barometer State (Special to The Dally Worker) AUGUSTA, Me., Sept. 15.—With the announcement that election returns in this “barometer state” showed the re-election of Governor Ralph 0. Brewster, republican, by 18,000 votes over Mayor Ernest L. McLean, Augusta democrat, political sharps of the nation turned to see what the mercury revealed. They found that the republican ma- jority was considerably less than_it was two years ago, but compared well, from a republican viewpoint, for an “off year.” Democrats had reduced the republican majority, but not as much as they hoped. Rabid American Legion Leader Denounces All U. S. Peace Advocates wage increases unjustified but that the strength of the unions will help to influence the arbitration board. The executives apparently have a pretty good idea of the coming in- creases. They tell the Times that they expect an addition of at least $100,000,000 to the railroad payrotis. This would mean a little over $1 a week in the average railroad worker's wage. Record Profits in 1926, Each month's figures add to the cer- tainty that 1926 will show record rail- road profits. The Wall Street Jour- nal’s estimates of the 1926 earnings of 40 leading carriers show that only 3 expect to earn less than in 1925. Ac- tual results for the 12 months ended July 31, 1926 show only 7 of the 40 roads, behind the full year 1925. A majority show considerable gains in stockholders’ profits. The actual earnings on common stock in 1925, in the 12 months end- ing last July, and the estimated re- sults in 1926 for 15 important rail- roads are: 12Mo, Esti- Railroad Year to Aug. mated 1926 1926 1926 % % % Baltimore & Ohio... 12.1 15.0 16.0 Chesapeake & Ohio 21.3 20.5 22.0 New York Central. 12.7 13.4 18.6 Nickel Plate»... 22.0 14.0 22.0 Job at the last moment.| BUILD THE DAILY WITH A SUB. Great Northern .«.. 86 8.8 8.8 Santa Fe .. » 17.2 20.3 21,0 Southern Pacific ... 10.2 11.7 12.5 Union Pacific 154 16.9 16.5 In many, instances the 1926 return is reckoned on larger outstanding cap- italization than 1925. The increase in actual profit is, therefore larger than the percentage figures indicate, Reiteration by the Wall Street Jour- nal of the statement that reduction in operating expenses is swelling Balti- more and Ohio. profits emphasizes the Justice of the B. & O, shopmen's de- mand for jacreases long overdue. The profits of thi leader in shop co-op- eration are running a third larger than in the same period of 1925. For seven months,the stockholders’ return is $6,507,800 ahead of 1925, the gain being equivalent to $4.28 a share, In July the ratio of B, & O, expenses to receipts was down to 68,8 per cent compared with 72.6 per cent a year ago. This means that the profit bag is getting 31.2 per cent of each dollar paid for B. & O, railroad service com- pared with 27.4 per cent in July 1925. MADISON, Wis.—(FP)—Three prob- facing organized labor were stressed by Sec’y. Frank Morrison, American Federation of Labor, in an address to Madison unions on Labor Day. These were the company union, the fos ‘by privilege of the Mus- solipi-dictatorship idea as a substitute for congress, and the injunction judge. Sl eseeepeentetierecncn BOSTON—(FP)—Upholstery work- ers local 37 i# suing for an injunction against Kay Parlor Upholstering Cg, to enforce tHe contract clause that SPRINGFIELD, Ill, Sept. 15, — America, be prepared to defend your- self against all enemies! This was the appeal voiced today by John R. McQuigg, national com- mander of the American Legion, in an address before the convention of the American Legion, department of Illi- nois, holding its closing sessions to- day. The American people have no pa- tience with those well-meaning but misguided people who even now are making strenuous efforts to palsy the arm of America and deprive us of the small defense we now have,” McQuigg declared. One Killed, Dozen Hurt as M. P. Limited the road built for the drilling. But Paul said no, there were mar- ried men with families who knew as much about building houses as he did, so Pau] would do his share in the field. Paul and Bunny were friends again, and had no end of argu- ments. Paul wasn’t nearly as keen for the war as Bunny thought he ought to be; he agreed that we had to win, since we were in, but he wasn’t sure it was necessary for us to be in, so Bunny had to retell the arguments he heard from the orators at school. That made lively times at the Rascum cabin—because, strange as it may seem, Ruth was taking exactly the same attitude to the war as Grandma, whom Ruth had never met. Ruth declared that all wars were wicked, and she would never have anything to do with one. But of course you could see what she really meant, she didn’t want Paul taken away and killed! When Paul read his number in the first draft-list, Ruth became quite frantic, and there was nothing that would pacify her. She clung to Paul. vowing he should not go, she would die of grief if he did; when she realized that he was actually going, she went about her work, pale and silent. ) Paul went away to a training-camp, and after that paleness and silence became the dominant notes of Ruth’s character. She went back to her father’s home to stay at night, which meant that on Sunday’s she had to go to church with them, and sit and bite her lips while Eli preached. For Eli was a prophet after the old testament model, calling down judgment upon the enemies of the Lord, smiting them hip and thigh, leaving not one alive, not even the little ones, the “spawns of the devil.” Eli, being a preacher, did not have to do this killing himself; he, was exempt, and so was his sister Mee]ie who solved the war problem for her- self by marrying a young derrick man and getting Dad to make him a foreman and have him kept at home. Meelie, who was a chatter-box and a fresh young thing, said to Bunny that Ruth * ought to find herself a husband instead of mourning over Paul; . maybe the day would come when Bunny would want to be ex- empted and they might both solve the problem at the same time! v That was a feverish summer in Bunny’s life, between the war and his raptures with Eunice. He spent a great deal of time at Beach City, because he had the excuse of the military work, and because the gir] was so imperious in her demands. Indeed the first rift in their happiness came because he would persist in pay- ing visits to Paradise, where Eunice could not very well come. She took up Bertie’s phrage that Bunny was a “little oil gnome.” “What do you want with so much money?” she would argue. “My God, let me get some from Papa, if you need it!” Tommy Hoyt, it seems, had made a huge killing, buying old hulks down at the harbor just before the country entered the war; it was re- ported he had cleared a cool three million. There had been a lot about it in the papers—all very complimentary since that was everybody’s dream of glory. How could Bunny explain that it wasn’t the money, but the fact that the country had to have oil, and he wanted to do his share; what kind of preternatural solemnity was that for a youth of eighteen? He put the blame on Dad, who wasn’t very well and needed his son; and so it became an issue, which did Bunny care for most, his Dad or his sweetheart? Eunice would grab him by the shoulders and shake him; she had to have someone to take her to a dance, and if he went off and buried himself in the desert she would get another fellow. She was insatiable, ravenous for pleasure; she never knew when to stop, whatever it might be. “One dance more! Just one!” she would plead; and then it would be one kiss more, or one drink. She was always pleading with Bunny to drink, and having her feelings hurt because he refused. How could he count his promise to his father more than his promise to be her pal? And how could she take him out with her crowd if he played the part of a skeleton at a feast? Not for long was she content to lose themselves in the sand- dunes, and share their secret with the moon. Eunice loved the bright lights, the free and conspicuous spending of Pap’s sudden wealth. They would drive to Angel City where in fashionable hotels were palatial dining-rooms, with jazz-orchestras, and crowds of revellers, celebrating new contracts and new financial coups. The rooms were decorated with flags of all the allies, and the men wore the uniforms of all the services. This was what the — war meant to Eunice, to be in this shining company, and stand ©* — up while the orchestra played the “Star Spangled Banner,” and after that to dance all night while it played, “Kiss me, honey- baby,” or “Toodle-ums too,” or whatever amorous cajolement Hurtles Track McONEE; Ark., Sept. 15.—One man was killed and a dozen persons hurt, seriously, when tne Missouri Pa- cific’s Sunshine Special, St. Louis to New Orleans, wrecked here, George Tushing, engineer of the train, of Mc- Ghee, was killed. The wreck was caused by a broken rail, decording to information at the office of the yardmaster here, The engine, mail car ans one passenger coach left the rails. Bushing’s fireman had both legs |#ir with regular programs. broken and is in a local hospital. ‘All | broadcasting on @ 491.5 wave length the passengers injured were in the |{rom the Municipal Pler. one coach that left the ratls, but none of them was injured seriously, it was velleved, 105, mines Marine Pilot Killed orton of the marine corps, oad eae Sept, 15. — Lieut. | Little fWntly “killed today when a|Jimm ‘plane he was piloting fell into the be Pe the saxophone might present. She was an aggressive little dancer. clinging to her partner, her body fitted into his as if it had been + moulded there. Bunny would not have thought it quite decent # to behave like that in public, but it was the mood of the time, >“ and no one paid any attention to them, especially after the hours ~ had passed and the drinks had taken effect. (To Be Continued) No matter what your ailment, for Expert Diagnosis and Quick Results Dr. J. J. Scholtes, D. C. 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