davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The labor standard., 1918-09-01
INDUSTRIAL PEONAGE
 IN THE SOUTH
National War Labor Board Members Mortified at Virtual Slavery Found in Southern z Town -" Old Time Russia Tactics "

WASHINGTON - A condition if industrial peonage in the United States is barred by the National War Labor Board in it's decision for labor and against she Sloss Sheffield Steel and Iron Company, with mines and fur naces in Russelville, Ala.
 Members of the board were mortified lat tie conditions discovered in that American A town. Industrial slavery equal to the agricultural peonage of old-time Russia," said one officer of the board.
 The company was charging it's em- ployes 20 per cent. discount for cash ing. it's own pay checks, charging each employe $1 month for physi- cians' care, 50 cents a month school fee, $1.25 month insurance, and forcing it's employees to buy all provi- sions and supplies at the company store.
 As a result it was not uncommon for an employe to receive less than $1 in his semi-monthly pay envelope. Pay ran from $1.85 to $4.25 ten-hour day, with the bulk of the employees re- ceivipg about $2 or little more.
 The company. was also in agreement with other iron and mining companies by which no employe who left one com- pany would be hired by another with out showing permit from the former company. In this way an employe in debt to one company could never shift his employment to another, no mat ter how advantageous it might be to him.
 The War Labor Board shas abolished all these conditions by applying it's basic principles as outlined by the President for it's guidance. It has ordered flat increase of $2 day to all employees, the abolition of the per- init system, the eight-hour day, with time and a half for overtime; that the insurance fee be made optional; and that orders for money due on wages be cashed at their face value This award will make it possible for the workers to get enough money to trade at other than company stores and secure cheaper prices on necessi- ties.
 The lowest wage allowed under. the award is $3.69 for a ten-hour day.
 The award is made applicable to the Sheffield Iron Corporation and the Sewanee Iron Company also, thus em- bracing the entire district.
The labor standard., 1918-09-01
Bridgeport Wage Award
 May Affect Hartford

HARTFORD-That eight hours may soon be the basic day in the Colt Patent Firearms Mfg. Co.,, was indi- cated when the shoR committee which recently made demands received a telegram from representatives of the War Labor Board asking if the same terms granted to the Bridgeport war workers would be satisfactory here. The eight-hour day was constituent part of the Bridgeport adjustment wit ,-lnite understanding regard wage schedules and bonuses. The 7 en demanded 25 per cent. increase in wages, 121a per cent. to take the place of the 12h per cent. bonus now paid. The increase now establishes the bonus as part of the wage scale. The bonus idea is giving much dissatisfaction as it is only paid at the pleasure of the company and can be withdrawn at any time.
The labor standard., 1918-09-01
Screw Go. Employees Want 8-HOur Day

EARTHQUAKES employees of the Hartford Machine Screw Go. have within the last two months organized their shop and last week the shop committee presented demands for the basic eight-hour day, time and one half for overtime and double time for Sundays and all holidays. The matter is still pending, but it is expected that these conditions will be put into effect shortly by this concern, along with rates of pay that will equal the rates that will be in effect in Bridgeport after the National War Labor Board makes a decision.
The labor standard., 1918-09-01
WAGE INCREASES
 FOR G. E. WORKERS
National War Labor Board Awards Increases in Wage Scale Ranging From 10 to 20 Per Cent.

WASHINGTON-Increases in the wage scale ranging from ten to twenty per cent. were announced by the National War Labor Board this after noon, in making public it's decision in the case of the Schenectady and Pitts field plants of the General Electric Company.
 The present bonus system is abol- ished and equal pay for equal work granted men and women, with a mini mum wage for unskilled and semi unskilled labor. At Pittsfeld the in dividual contract system is abolished and shop committee instituted for the adjustment of future disputes.
 The decision affects about 10000 workers, according to the statement. In abolishing the bonus system, the board ruled that the bonuses formerly paid by the company should hence forth be paid as wages.
 In addition, the workers at the Pitts field plant are granted an increase of 20 per cent. with per cent. additional for night workers.
 A minimum wage of thirty cents an hour for adult women workers with six months experience is set at this plant, and scrub women at the Schen- ectady plant are given $10.50 a week minimum.
The labor standard., 1918-09-01
GOVERNMENT WILL NOT ESTABLISH
 MINIMUM WAGE
Each Wage Demand Will Be Considered by War Labor Board as Individual Case = No Sweeping Blanket Ruling

WASHINGTON National War Labor Board announces that no na- tion- wide minimum wage will be es- tablished, but that each wage demand will be considered as an individual case, instead of making blanket ruling without regard for living costs and other varying factors.
 The boards declaration marks the end of a lengthy discussion of the question of establishing fixed min imum to be paid every workman in the United States. It. reafirms, how ever, the principle that the worker is entitled to a wage sufficient to sus- tain himself and his family in health and reasonable comfort, and restates the purpose of the board to apply the principle in each of the cases to come before it for decision.
 "This war;" it is stated, "is not only a war of arms, but also war of work shops; competition in the quan- titative production and distribution of munitions and war supplies; contest in industrial resourcefulness and energy.
 "The period of the war is not a normal period of industrial expansion from which the employer should ex- pect unusual profits or the employees abnormal wages; that it is an inter regnum in which industry is pursued only for common cause and common ends"
 The board invites the attention of capitalists and workers ''to the wis dom of composing their differences upon the basis of the principles and policies of the board as approved and promulgated by the president"
The labor standard., 1918-09-01
COLT WORKMAN
 DISCHARGED FOR
 WRITING LETTERS
Informed Labor Bureau at Wash
 ingtan, Also Congressman
 LcA9tgan That Conditions at Factory Should be Investigated

Frank s. Cushman has been dis charged from the employ of the Colts Patent Firearms Manufacturing Com pany. for which he was an inspector of automatic 45's under. Superinten- dent Chapman in the "saw tooth'' building HeIs city marshal and ac- tive in democratic politics. He said last evening that the discharge fol- lowed the sending by him of letter to Congressman Augustine Lonergan and one to the labor bureau at Wash inaton in regard to certain matters at the plant.
 lMr. Cushman had been with the coSmpany two years, going to it from the Hitchcock & Curtis Knitting Com rIany, and his letters dealt with work at the factory. MT. Lonergan acknowl- -hdged the receipt of the letter to him. No acknowledgement had arrived from fhe labor bureau.
 lf MT. Cushman says that he was dis lcharged Saturday, August 3, or two days after the regular weekly pay day. He was called from his bench k~- MT. Chapman's office and was in te1rogated in regard to his letters and these, he said, he had sent. He was asked for copy of the letters and |he told MT. Chapman that he had no kopy. He made synopsis of the let (ters which were similar in their con- tents. Having given this in, he re- turned to his bench and in few min utes, he was alled again and the dis charge followld, without explanation.
 As to the contents of the letters, Mir. Cushman says:--
 q wrote there were things in the plant that should be Investigated. In my opinion the shop managers were not turning out the amount possible. I believe it was my duty 70 the gov- ernment to give this information. Sometime ago the plant was turning out excellent work and in large amount For several months so many things happened that I became suspi- cious. I expect now that the govern ment will make an investigation. If am called on have bit of evil dence that will interest governm ent officials.
 "I am son of Grand Army man and my son is in the navy and I have two nephews in the navy. There is natriotism in the family and I was
 ing my duty to the army by giving
 information and would have been
 acker if Ishad not"
The labor standard., 1918-09-01
CONCESSIONS MADE 28,OOO BETHLEHEM
 STEEL WORKERS
Right to Organize Definitely Given by War Board - Basic Eight-Hour Day and Wage Increase Go Into Effect

WASHINGTON-T National War Labor Board, through it's joint chair.
 man, w. H. Taft and Frank P. Walsh
 announced it's decision in the dispute
 between the Bethlehem Steel company and it's employees, granting important concessions which affect approxima- tely 28,OOO workers. The decision in many respects is one of the most inn portant in the history of the body stating that "it appears beyond doubt that the dissatisfaction among the employees of the company is hav- ing a serious detrimental effect upon the production of war materials abso- lutely necessary to the success of the expeditionary forces"
 By the terms of the decision, the workers are given the right to organ ize and to bargain collectively, and revision or complete elimination of the bonus system now in operation at the plant, the source of much of the dis satisfaction among the workers, is ordered. The decision grants the revi- sion of piece work rates and the es- tablishment of a designated, guaran- teed minimum hourly wage rate for about 5000 machine shop workers in conformity with one of the scales now being applied by the war and navy departments, applies the basic eight hour day with payment of time and half for all overtime and double time on Sundays and holidays, and provides for just overtime payment to piece workers; calls upon the com pany to pay men and women alike when performing the same work, and to allot women no tasks dispropor- tionate to their strength.
 The decision also provides that piece-work rates shall be revised by the plant management, cooperating with committees of the workers and representatives of the ordnance de- partment, and that permanent local board of mediation and conciliation, consisting of six members, three chosen by the company and three by the workers, be established to effect agreements on future disputed points and questions not settled by the award. This board is to be presided over by a chairman to be selected by and the decision, and is charged with in vestigation of all charges of discrimi- nation against union men.
 Specific wage increases are granted 44O electrical workers who made an issue of their wage rates. First class electricians are granted sixty seven and one-half cents an hour, second-class electricians sixty-two and one-half cents an hour, and help- CTS forty cents an hour. Wages for other workers will be fixed through the system of bargaining and cooper ation between the company and the men.
The labor standard., 1918-09-01
LABOR PAPERS
 INVERTED THE
 GREATEST CRIME
Several Hundred Instantaneously Entered the Fray to Prevent the Rampages of the Child Labor Baiters

CINCINNATI = The Chronicle in discussing the attempted crime against the children in this country, says:
 "The United States had not entered into the world conflict more than a few weeks before there were ennis saries in our midst who would have committed a greater crime against the children of the United States than have the Hun hordes in Europe com mitted against the devastated coun- tries that have felt their scorching and devastating breath.
 Oily Tongued Enemies
 "Some governors, some legislatures and legislators listened to the oily tongues of the enemies of the land, and, under the plea of patriotism and loyalty, inaugurated processes by which old-established laws having to do with the conservation of child life should be trampled under the heel of profiteering and profteers. They met their Armageddon!
 Labor Papers Alert
 "Without single exception the sev- eral hundred labor papers throughout this broad land instantaneously gird- ed their loins and entered the fray to prevent the rampages of the child labor baiters.
 Those labor papers, representing as they did, the loyal element of labor, that element which has done so much to assimilate and educate the millions of foreign-born men and women into a great "melting pot" of better citi zenship, threw down the gauntlet to the American kaisers, and defied them to abrogate the child-labor laws upon the statutes of the several states.
 .'You Shall Not Pass''
 "'At the peril of your life, you shall not pass!' was the rallyirig cry from east to west and from north to south. We will go into this world conflict, and, when we do, the bone and sinew of the land will bring democracy for all the world; but you shall not take our children and grind their bones into shot and shell; you shall not rob them of the heritage for which we go to war; you shall not stunt their souls, their intellects, their right to sun- shine, by compelling our children to enter the jaws of living he'll"
 "Thus, fguratively speaking, did the bona fide labor press of the United States hurl into the camp of the kais-
The labor standard., 1918-09-01
critics the def: ~ You shall not pass to massacre our children"
An Unspeakable Crime

to massacre our children"
 An Unspeakable Crime
 "Unspeakable haze been the crimes committed by the Huns against the devastated countries of Europe. And yet, under the guise of patriotism and necessity, therei were men high in the official world in the United States who would have, in one fell swoop, made the greatest republic on earth a shambles that would make even those of devastated Belgium appear as elysium.
 Organized labor stood as a rock, and the labor press unbuckled it's sword, hardened its muscles, and let it be known that if they were going to fight the battles for a world democ- racy their children should not be spitted upon the bayonets of the dol lar-seeking dollar idolaters.
 And thus, through the labor press of the land, was there averted even greater crime against child hood that has been the portion of those who have felt the hand of rapine and murder in devastated Europe.
 Will Make History
 "When historians finally write and record the events of this world war, they will not have made that record complete until they write down how it was that the labor press prevented the sacrifice of millions of children before the United States had really entered the, world fray.
 'With the espionage act in working order, those who vociferously voiced the thought of the murderous element of Europe subsided, and today, after a little over one year in the war, it is to be doubted if one of those Hun agents, occupying official positions, would dare to advocate the placing of little children in the cannon's mouth 1"One year ago they advocated that very thing" a
The labor standard., 1918-09-01

Make every day a thrift day and help your Government end the war days.
The labor standard., 1918-09-01

Remember! the men in our Army and Navy do not expect luxuries. Should we at home expect them? Buy necessities and War Savings Stamps.
The labor standard., 1918-09-01

3 Every individual must look this thrift question squarely in the face. If he does not meet the issue fully and promptly, he is not doing all that he can to win the war.
The labor standard., 1918-09-01
\ LABOR PAPER is a
 far better advertising

medium than any or dinary newspaper in com parisOn with circulation. A Labor Paper, for exam pie, having 2,OOO subscrib- CTS, is of more value to the business man who ad- vertises in it than Ordi- nary papers with 10000 subscribers. s.-Printers Ink. =. =. =.
The labor standard., 1918-09-01
JULIUS ADDRESSES
 NEW LONDON MEN

NEW LONDON - Superintendent Julius Stremlau of the new Govern ment employment office here has been speaking to the workingmen in the vicinity and made great hit in talks to the men employed at the Groton Iron Works and New London Ship and Engine Building Company.
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-04
MILFORD NEWS ITEMS.

Special Correspondence of Every Evening
Milford, Feb. 4.-Miss Clara Daniels of
Wilmington was weekend visitor in
Milford
Miss Ann Davidson of Wilmington Is
srepding few DAYS with relatives here
George S. Robinson Of Wilmington was
. guest OF Mr. and Mrs. George II. Bay
1un over the weekend
Fedderson Harrington, who /. ms-
cAinist's mate, y. 5 Navy, stationed in
Philadelphia, is spending few days with
bis parents here.
Mslor w. Z. Lank. Captain James W.
Cannon, Harry X. Pettvjohn and Robert
Thomas, sll located at Camp Dix. spent
the weekend with relatives in Milford.
Many persons Of Milford and vicinity
hsve taken advantage of the heavy snow
and have brought out their sleighs and
snjoved the sport.
''Smileage Week" will be observed in
Milford, as in the rest OF the country tins
week The Milford Fire Co have under
tsken the selling OF the "Smileage Books"
N this town and 1t is expected that the
citizens OF Milford will do their share.
The first regular meeting of the Law
and Order League of Milford viii be held
this evening in the Milford New Century
Club Tbs league, formed for the better
ment of town IN every respect, was
organized short time ago and Is non
partisan.
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-04
This Will Interest
Stomach Sufferers
Says indigestion comes from an
excess Of hydI ochloric
acid.

a well-known authority states that
stomach trouble and indigestion is nearly
always due to acidity-acid stomach =
and not. as most folks believe, from q
lack Of digestive juices. He states TINT
an excess Of hydrochloric acid in the
stomach retards digestion and starts food
fermentation, then our meals sour like
garbage in 3 can, forming acrid fluids
and gases, which initiate the stomach like
a toy balloon We then get that heavy
luInpy feeling in the chest, We eructate
sour food, bclch gas, or have heartburn,
flatulence, waterbrash or nausea
He tells us to lay aside all digestive
aids and instead, get from any pharmacy
four ounces Of Jad Salts and take a table
spoonful in glass of water before break
fast while it is efferycscing, and further
more, TO continue this for one week. While
relief follows the first dose, it IS import
ant TO neutraIize the acidity. remove
the gas-mak1ng mass, start the liver,
stimulate the kidneys and thus promote
q free flow Of pure digestive juices.
Jad Salts is inexpensive and is made
from the acid Of grapes and lemon juice,
combined with lithia and sodium phos-
phate This harmless salts ls used by
thousands of peonle for stomach trouble
with excellent results
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-04
NEWS OF A DAY
DOWN DELAWARE
Barn Near Laurel Burned I'm
posing Loss of S. $500. With
Only 81, 900 of Insurance
FARMERS OPENING ROADS
Funeral of Mrs. Ell; r. Sharp, at
Milford. Yesterday Afternoon,
Was Largely Attended.

Special Cores spondence OF Every Evening
Milford. Feb 4.-The funeral of Mrs.
Sarah Sharp. wife of Eli r. Sharp of
Iewcs, was held here Yesterday afternoon
at the home Of her daughter. Mrs. S. NJ.
Tuutt The services were conducted by
Rev. Il. X Stephenson. pastor Of Armorv
VI. +. Church of Milford and Rev. O. f..
Jones Of the NJ. L. Church Of Lewes.
Interrncnt was made in Odd Fellow S
cemetery here.
Mrs Sharp, who was 81 wears of age,
died early Friday morning at the Windsor
Hotel here. where she and Mr.. Sharp were
spcnding the winter Death was caused
bv heart trouble and other complications.
Besides her husband and Mrs. Truitt she
is survived bv one son, II. Rodney Sharp
OF Wilmington. and another daughter,
Miss MAY Sharp of Lewes.
Among the out-of-town people who
attended the funersl were p. s. du Pont,
". ". Laird and Leland Brown of VIII
nington, DR.. Samuel Chiles Mitchell.
president of Delaware College of Newark
7. T. Brown OF Burlington, n. j., snd s.
number from Lewes.
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-04
SUSSEX COUNTY NOTES.
Special Correspondents Of Every Evenins

Special Correspondence OF Every Evening
I,ewes, Feb. REV Charles H. B.
Turner OF st. Peters Church, left last
week for Texas. where he viii spend the
remainder Of the winter.
Thomas r. Duffel returned last week
from a Philadelphia hospital, where he
has been operated on for an enlarged
gland III the neck
The stork visited the home OF Mr. and
Mr. idwin NJ Edgens, last week, and
lef, a baby girl. MIR. Edgens, who IS
stationed AT Camp Dix, came home on a
three -days furlough.
LOUIS A. Bunel has been appointed
engineer at the power plant here.
Captain Fred c. Lubker Is Ill st his
bonnie herr with pneumonia.
John T Arterbridge has been employed
AZ sexton at the Methodist Episcopal
Captain Purnell OF the Ocean City
Coast Gustrd station made 6 business
TIP 70 Deves, last week.
CspisIn John Z. Price Is spending a
few weeks with ms son, William Z. Price,
n Philadelphis.
Miss Roberta A. Marshall Is visiting In
Wilmington and Philadelphia.
Chsrlee III. Webb, who has been III
GeorgetoVn Feb. 4.-Gangs of men
sye opening the roads throughout Sussex
county, so that farmers may get to town
and the mail carriers cover their routes
The snow in many sections is IS inches
deep.
Slipping on Al ICY pavement, Wesley
wilkins Is suffering from severe sprain
Il the shoulder.
Town Council Of Glendale has elected
John Wilson assessCY
A branch Of the Red Gross has been
formed Ia Gumboro, with membership
s %.
Officers of Roxana Epworth League
have been elected as follows: President,
Edgar Bennett: ice-presidents. Mrs.
|. B. Lockwood. Miss Nettie WiICis.
Mrs Nellie Derrickson, Russell West;
secretary, Mrs o. II. Connolly; treasurer,
Mise Allie lockwood.
A horse belonging to Alfred Warning
son became frightened, Saturday, while
hitched to sleigh and made Wild dash
down King street, dumping the occupants
into g snow bank. The animal severely
nurt one Of its legs by getting il caught
over the CT, bar Of the carriage
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-04

farming implements and provender and a
new automobile were destroyed when the
barn Of William B. Gordy, a farmer on the
outskirts of Laurel, was destroyed by fire,
believed to have been caused by an in
cendiary. Mr. Gordy's loss will exceed
So, 700 with only 81 COO insurance.
The burned barn was only recently
completed, replacing one that had been
destroyed by fire. Two years ago Mr.
Gordy's home was destroyed by fire. Mrs.
Gordy is in a Philadelphia ho spital under
treatme Mt
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-04
CAUSES OF DRAFT TROUBLE.
Special Correspondents OF Every Evening

Special Correspondence OF Every Evening
Dover, Feb. 4.-Because of the ap-
parent misunderstanding by many people
In reading the list OF delinquent regis
trants, who failed to return their ques-
tionnaires to the Kent County Exemption
Board, In which list are several who are
In the service of the United States and
others who are located elsewhere, the
local Exemption Board desires it made
plain that according 20 thei- orders all
questionnaires which have not been re-
turned or returned non est, are marked
delinquent, not withstanding some Of such
registrants might be In the service. Those
who are In the service and who should
rather be on the honor roll of the State
than on the delinquent list, should be re-
ported to the board by the superior officer
under whom they are in the service.
Another confusion among some families
has come from the fact that there are fire.
quently several persons with the same
name. these being distinguished only by
the families themselves on appearing be
fore the board and explaining the certain
family to which the registrant belongs.