davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1919-04-18
America Must Take Further SaCri-
flee If 1t Would Prevent
World Disaster

conspicuous employer and business
man.
The lists Of the doomed were pre-
pared They were to be shot with
out delay or formalities.
Then the Soviet Republic of Hol-
land was to be proclaimed.
The arming of the proletariat
force was easy. Military service is
universal and each soldier when he
leaves the army is allowed to carry
his rifle home with him. But ordi-
narily he has no ammunition, and on
this occasion the revolutionists were
found to have full supplies of am
munition-made in Germany.
All Eyes on Germany
The signal that was awaited was
the triumph of the Spartacans in
Berlin.
When news Of this program leaked
into the hands of the government it
started in to dlsarm the workingmen
and to investigate the army. 1t came
upon the astounding fact that about
one-haH the army was already Boil
shevist. Therefore, it demobilized
and disarmed 250,000 men,
In spite of all these precautions
there would have been a Bolshevist
revolution in Holland and civil war if
it had not been for two things.
First, the Spartacus movement in
Berlin, for which the leaders in Hol-
land were waiting, did not prove a
success.
Second, and, what was equally as
important, there arrived from the
United States just at that critical
time supply of food that enabled
the government to increase the fooc
allowance.
With increased food allowances the
danger was deemed to have passed
To anyone that knows the people
of Holland it would be impossible tc
exaggerate the warning of this in
cident.
Ordinarily among the most quite
orderly and reasonable of people
when they were beset with hunger
and could see nothing of hope before
them, they prepared bloody revo
luton and made up list of their fel
low citizens that they purposed t.
slaughter.
Attitude of Socialists
We ought also to note that while
organized labor and the moderat,
Socialist had nc part in the plan
men in Holland generally believe tina
if it had succeeded organized labor ant
the moderate Socialists whould hav'
been compelled to join it.
If these things can happen in Hol
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1919-04-18

and he filings a mass of figures at the
postal chief to prove his point. Mr.
Mackay says "it is absolutely unnec-
essary" to raise telegraph rates ex-
cept that Mr.. Burleson has agreed to
pay the Western Union more than he
should have agreed to and in order to
realize that amount he has to raise
the rates, !"
If Mr. Burleson will return our
lines to US at once" continues the
Postal man, I'VE will carry on the tele-
graph business at the old rates" Mr..
Mackay also says that the Western
Union is not administered carefully
and economically.
But Western Union is saying moth
ing. It is too busy raking in the shek-
els and victimizing members of the
Commercial Telegraphers' union
"a "a Pa
SIGN TWO-PLATOON BILL.
Nashvih.. Tenn.-The governor has
signed the two-platoon bill, recently
passed by the state gislatu"c, at
the requeet of city firemen. rne
trade unicn movement supuorte the
measure.
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1919-04-18

st. Paul, inn.,-Because the Min
nesota state federation of labor urged
the passage of workmen's compen-
sation law managed by the state, pri-
vate insurance companies claimed that
this is the first step to ''put the state
into business" and that the state will
eventually destroy private initia-
tive"
This claim was answered by Hon.
Asher Howard in a speech before the
house of representatives, in which
he said:
"This bill simply permits the state
of Minnesota to spread this tax over
the industries of the state in fair
and equitable manner in order that
sufficient funds (and no more) may be
collected to pay the benefits the in
jured Minnesota workmen are entitl-
ed to, and if it cannot be justified
wholly on the theory of taxation it
cannot be justified at ALL
''There are some activities which
properly belong to the state and this
is one of them. The state of Mime
sofa went much farther in interfering
with private business when it estab
lishsd the binder twine and farm
machinery plant in the state peniten-
tiary and when it took over the weigh
ing and inspection of grain than it
goes here. When the federal govern
ment established farm loan bank
system it took one-third of the reven-
ue away from many country banks.
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1919-04-18

Smith, Friday night in a telegram
from Fred Hewitt, member of the
war labor board, in which he said
that the award was one of the best
made by the board
A SPECIAL meeting of the machinists
has been called for Saturday when
detailed report of the War Labor
Board will be read The reason for
the meeting being called at this time
is to give those who work at night
also an opportunity to attend and
hear the report read. The report in
full will be published in next weeks
issue of The Press.
One thing that stood out plainly
in the little controversy between the
Hooven company and the machinists
it employees, was the friendly feeling
existing between the two parties,
While there was difference of
opinion as to hours and wages yet at
no time was there any display of bit
terness or antagonism.
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1919-04-18

BY CHARLES EDWARD RUSSELL
Written Especially for the American
Alliance for Labor and Democracy
Article d.
The case of Holland gives US good
SOLDERING lesson in what the United
States can do and ought to do to save
civilization.
For fifteen months before the ar
mistice there had been practically no
meat to be had in Holland except
horse meat and very small quantities
of that There was not a scrap of
bacon, pork or mutton.
Of bread there was an allowance of
200 grammes for each person a day,
That means peace of bread not
much larger than an ordinary roll.
Of fats of all kinds, including but
ter mo person could have more than
one-half pound in ten days.
Of milk, the allowance was one
tenth of litre a day, or about a
small glassful. But even this was very
uncertain.
Slow Starvation of Nation
Under these conditions Holland
slowly starved. The entire popula-
tion became noticeably gaunt and hol-
low-eyed
Disease, especially consumption,
began to fill the churchyards with
new graves. Consumption amounted
almost to an epidemic.
There was little coal. No house
hold was allowed to have a fire in
more than one room. Most of the
factories ceased to operate, or ran on
part time.
The government was able to keep
the railroads IN operation on greatly
reduced schedules by communicating
the coal that came from Hollands
one deposit. But this was poor in
quality and small in quantity.
hdlitSI LIldb see RIOdI pOPuihtAOito
in acute distress some of the factories
that closed, continued SO long as they
could pay their employees. Never
theless, the suffering was great and
widespread.
Among these unfortunate people
the Bolshevik propaganda began and
was carried 70 astonishing lengths.
The world never knew at the time
how close Holland was coming to a
terrible confiagration.
A Bolshevik uprising was planned
exactly like the Spartacus revolt in
Berlin and to be timed by it. Thous-
ands upon thousands of distressed
workingmen were armed and sup
pliei with ammunition. At a given
signal they were to arise, seize the
government and put 20 death every
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1919-04-18

When it established the parcel post
system it interfered with private
bus ness as conducted by the express
companies.
"And when you ask me why the
state of Minnesota, if it is to render
the people of the state the services
required under this act, is not equally
justified in taking over the grain and
milling business, | reply:
That when your state enters the
grain and milling business it is deal
ing with wheat and -four. Here you
are dealing with human flesh and
blood-with the tears of little children
ant the sobs of the widow at the
grave of the husband and father
whose life was crushed out in order
that civilization might enjoy the ne
cess aries and comforts and luxuries
of life.
In the one case you are dealing
with business problem. Here you
are oealing with humanitarian prob
Ter that touches every heart that
beats in sympathy with suffering,
gref-stricken humanity.
"And it is just as right and proper
that companies organized for profit
should be permitted to collect $780,
100000 for Red Cross purposes, and
turn $6O,oO0,OOO over to those the
fund was intended to benefit, as it
is that insurance companies organ
lied for profit should do that thing
in this field.
Every dollar collected from en-
plcyers Qess the actual cost of ad-
ministering the fund.- should be pass
ed OH to the injured workmen or those
dependent on the killed
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1919-04-18

He is loyal to them only
SO long as they sell him what he
wants at the lowest market rate?
Efficiency Never to be missed in
any lecture of discourse on profit
sharing. This term points to push,
grind, and hurry to the exhaustion of
the employe, despite its admitted
legitimacy up to the point of physical
abilities.
"Profts-Is the withholding of or
10 per cent from the employees pay
envelope during the year and return
ing il to him at an appointed annual
date, sharing of profits or mere
restitution of withheld earnings ?"
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1919-04-18
Same Danger Faces Five Other
Nations, Says Russell In Fourth
Article On European
Conditions.

land they can happen in any other
country in Europe. Literally any
other country. They most assuredly
win happen unless something is done
to eliminate the conditions that cause
them.
Practically the whole proletarian
Holland stands for the League of
Nations. No one knows what might
happen if that hope should be dis
appointed.
Hope and food The United States
can supply both and save the world
from the imminent threat of chaos.
Because what almost happened in
Holland is the thing that may actual
ly happen in at leas. Eve other coun-
tries
And what ought most to compel
US to stop and think is the fact that
the actual living conditions in Hol-
land that brought about this crisis
We're not so bad as they are today in
nearly all these five.
Also, | would like to suggest one
other thought:
What Bolshe ism is and what it
means we can see from its work in
Russia.
But Russia, we say, will eventually
pull itself together, escape from the
madness that now threatens it and
win back to suficiency and order.
No doubt, but it will win back only
through the help of other nations.
Suppose all ether nations were in
the state that Russia is in
A Ea IA
ASPIRATION OF THE LABEL
The aspiration of the union label
knows no bounds. It's ambition is to
redeem wcrld Nothing in the whole
realm of rnionized labor is capable
of such effective and continuous util-
ity. Other agencies have varying de-
grees poteItiality, and are intermit-
tent in effectiveness. Unhappily, they
sometimes fail to win public sym
pathy, translate indifference into an
tagonism, intensity the suspicion of
employers, and energize auction pens
into a malevolent assault upon the
labor movement.
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1919-04-18
DISASTER TO NATION AvERTED BY TIMELY SHIPL0ADS
OF FOOD FROM UNITED STATES
State Workmen's Compensation Differs From
Usual Business"

st. Paul, Minn,-The State senate
has defeated the bill to create state
controlled workmen's compensation
fund.
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1919-08-08
The Plumb Plan

No plan will solve the railroad
problem which does not make pub
lie service instead of private profit
the dominating factor in railroad
operation. The Plumb Plan, labor's
plan for the disposition of the rail
roads, takes private profit out or
the railroad industry. 1t provides
the impulse for personal effort by
paying a dividend for increase in ef-
ficiency; and this is shared equally
by the public and the employees. 1t
provides for every employee the op-
portunity to increase his earnings
by increasing his service to the pub
lie, instead of the old system where
by property owners who were not in
any way connected with the phys
ical operation of the railroads, in
creasing their profits at the expense
of public service.
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1919-08-08
Belgian Second Vice

NJ Mertens, the Belgian leader,
was elected Second Vice-President.
Mr.. Gompers declared later that
Americans might accept office in
the new organization when the
South American membership be-
comes better organized.
The contest over national repre-
sentation and democratic control of
future international trades union
congresses resulted in compro-
mise, which provided that each
country should have one vote for
$4,000 members; two votes for
members; three votes for
100000 members, and an addi-
tional vote for each 100000 mem
bers above the first 100000.
Countries having less than 100000
members would be entitled to one
vote.
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1919-08-08
STREET CAR MEN
GET INCREASE

Members of the Street Car Men
Union employed on the Seattle
municipal street railway have won
a quiet but aggressive fight for an
increase in wages. After several
weeks negotiations with the city
authorities, a compromise agree
ment has been reached which makes
the wages of motormen and con
ductors IS and $3.50 for eight hours
with time and a half for overtime,
and a bonus of five per cent for
those who work for the city year.
This agreement, which became ef-
fective August 1. was recommended
by the superintendent of the public
utilities department, and the men,
bers of the City Council agreed to
ratify it.
While the Street Car Men did not
get everything they asked for, they
have gained considerable advan-
tage. When their original demands
were flatly rejected by the City,
some of the radicals in the Union
proposed retaliatory measures. The
conservative leaders, however. per
sisteutly kept after the city officials
until the rights of the men were
recognized. AS a result of the fair
dealing of the Street Car Men and
their insistence on principle they
believe to be right, organized labor
has gained a distinct advantage
distinct advantage at the City HaH.
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1919-08-08
THE SHlPYARD MEN
EXPECT INCREASE

DEVELOPMENTS at the coastwide
shipyard wage conference in San
Francisco indicate that there is
reason to believe that the negotia-
tions will terminate successfully
from the standpoint of the union
men. Those participating in the
conference are the shipyard owners
of the entire Pacific Coast, heads Of
the International Unions of the
Metal Trades, and the Policy Com
mittee of the Pacific Coast Metal
Trades District Council. The con-
ference took a recess last week to
enable the union representatives
and shipyard owners to get together
and settle local troubles in Los An
geles and Tacoma, which were de-
laying the work of the Conference.
A favorable circumstance in con-
nection with the Shipyard Confer
ence is the support being given the
Pacific Coast Metal Trades District
Council by the international officers
of the Metal Trades Unions. They
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1919-08-08
THE L.L.L.L. CON
FAILS TO MEET

The Union Record, of Wednes-
day, says:
The convention of L. L. L. L.
delegates, scheduled to be held in
Hoquiam this week failed to ma
terialize, according to telephone
messages received Wednesday
morning by Secretary NorIand, of
the International Tfmberworkers'
Union. Members of organized la
Dor at the Grays Harbor town ridi-
culed the Four-L organization to
such an extent that workers be-
longing 10 it failed to appear and.
the convention met, only to ad-
jourH.
No reply has yet been received to
the challenge issued some months
ago by President William short. Of
the State Federation of Labor. in
which he offered to discuss the.
Four-L organization and its alleged
benefits to the working man with
any speaker the boss-gontrolled So
ciety might select
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1919-08-08
LABOR CONGRESS
ELECTS OFFICERS

AMSTERDAM, Friday, Aug. Il
w. A. Appleton, Secretary of the
General Federation of Trade Unions
of Great Britain who today was
elected President of the Intorna-
tional Trade Union Federation, was
proposed for the office by Samuel
Gompers, President of the Amer
lean Federation of Labor.
Leon JouhauX, French labor
leader, was chosen First Vice
President. Carl Legien, German,
who was chosen Second Vice-Presi-
dent, declined, as he said the meet
ing appeared to despise the Ger
mans. The Austrians also refused
to participate as office holders.
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1919-08-08
Make Get Together Effort

SAN FRANCISCO. Aug. EFF
forts to span the breach between
maximum wage offers of the en-
ployers and minimum demands of
the workers were made at the con-
ference here today of representa-
tives of the shipbuilders and ship
building employees of the Pacific
Coast and international officers of
Shipbuilding crafts. Published re-
ports that the employees had de
manded 81 a day raise for journey
men, which was refused by the en-
ployers, were denied by James
OConnell, Chairman of the Metal
Trades Department of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor, who is a
delegate at the conference.
The meeting today was a contin-
uation of conferences that have
been progressing for three weeks
According to O'Connell,. . it was eX-
pected that the conferences would
end this week.
The conference is endeavoring to
fix a satisfactory wage scale for the
125.O0O shipyard workers on the
Pacific Coast.
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1919-08-08
HIGHER WAGE
DEMAND MADE
BY 100000
RAILWAYMEN

WASHINGTON, Aus. 6.-Repre-
of IA different railroad
unions now have joined in a COM
to Director General
Hines asking immediate increase in
wages. This is the first instance on
record in which all the railroad
unions representing 100000 en-
ployees, have acted as a unit. Mr.
Hines said he had not had time to
the communication, but it
seemed a formal presentation of
wage demands already made public.
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1919-08-08
Gompers Accepts Proposition

Mr.. Gompers, for the American
delegation, accepted the proposition
subject to the approval of the
unions he represented.
1t was the expectation that un-
der this system the votes would be
distributed as follows: America,
8 votes; Belgium, >; Bohemia, l.;
Denmark, ?; Germany, 10; Great
Britain, IL; France, 4 Austria and
Holland, votes eAch; Luxembourg,
Norway, Spain, Sweden and Switz-
erland, l vote each.
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1919-08-08
The Railroads Before the War

demand for transportation.
The Railroads Before the War
The interests working to secure
return of the railroads to private
control are not dwelling on the fact
that before the Government assumed
control $4,000 miles of road, or one
sixth of the total mileage, were op-
Grated by the courts because of re-
ceiverships. During the 20-year
period preceding Government con-
troll operating corporations repre-
senting about As per cent of the to-
tai railroad properties had been ad-
judged insolvent and placed in re-
ceiyership.
Plans for private ownership and
contrOl-operation for private prof
it and not for service-are based on
the assumed right of security hold
crs to receive financial returns on
these ever-increasing investment
accounts. Some of them ask Gov
ernmental guarantees of dividends
The plan sponsored by the United
States Chamber of Commerce does
acknowledge the injustice of such
system by providing that returns
of per cent shall be paid only on
the aggregate fair value of the
property of the roads" But it goes
on to say that this fair value"
shall be determined by the valua-
tions now being made by the Inter
state Commerce Commission. Until
the completion of the valuations,
the property investment accounts of
the railroads are to be used as the
fair value.
The Chamber of Commerce over
looks the fact that it has taken the
Interstate Commerce Commission
six years to complete valuations on
1000 miles of road, and these val
uations only up to 1914, while there
are approximately $4,000 miles of
railroad in the country. They for
get to estimate how long the over
burdened property investment ac-
counts would have to be used as a
basis for fair value.
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1919-08-08

Executive Board consider a dispute
of sufficient importance, they shall
refer same in writing to the Central
Labor Councils and District Boards.
Should a majority of the Central La
Dor Councils and District Boards
vote in favor, the General Executive
Board shall be empowered to call a
strike of all affiliated bodies.
Clause 81. Nothing in the pre-
vious clauses shall prevent any Cen
trail Labor Council or District Board
from calling a strike in their own
district or industry, provided, how
ever, that any Council or Board
calling a strike without the consent
of the General Executive Board, does
so on its own responsibility.
Clause 3S. Whenever a strike in
Continued on Page FOurl
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1919-08-08
Will Prosecute, If

TACOMA, Aug. 5.-Following a
raise in the price of milk by four
Tacoma dairies, Prosecuting Attor-
ney w. d. Askren announced that
he will prosecute the case under
State laws if he can get evidence Of
collusion to effect an advance. Milk
went up from 1212 to is cents a
quart.
Milk retailers, at a meeting Sat
urday evening, characterized the
State law forbidding dairymen to
arrange between themselves to fix
the price of milk to consumers as a
fool statute.
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1919-08-08
'By b. N. Jewell. Acting President
Railway Employees Department,
A +. of L.

Railway Employees Department,
a. y. of L.
The organized railway workers of
America are in a very responsible
position with regard to the future
OF their industry. II is theirs to
recognize that they must take a.
hand in the solution of our rail-
road problem to the fullest extent
consistent with industrial as we'll
as with political democracy. Unless
they do so it is certain that this
problem Will be but partially solved
and then only with Difference to the
so-called private interests concern
ed. The basic labor, management.
and public interests, which in real
ity are the piers upon which the
railway industry bridge mast firm
ly rest, viii be but indiffereutly con-
sidered. Economically speaking.
therefore it is right and proper
that the American railway workers
as class should assume an appro-
pirate measure of responsibility
for the conduct of the railway en-
terprises in all its phases. This
opportunity has been persistently
denied them in the past. Now, how
ever by the Advancement of the
Plumb Plan, the employees have fl
nally taken the initial step in the
process, which will eventually result
in delegating to them their full
share in the responsibility in the
entire operation of this important
industry.
Public Service Is Test
The employees, however, while in
sisting upon plan fer controlling
the railways based only on the vital
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1919-08-08
EVERETT CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL
HOLDS AN INTERESTING SESSION
Wednesday, Aug. G, 1919.

Wednesday, Aug. D, 1919.
Council called to order by Presi-
dent Moncur at p. m.
The question of boycotting Cali
fornia products on account of fail
ure of that State to give Tom Moo
ney fair and impartial tNal came
up on receipt of letter from the
defense league in San Francisco in
answer to an inquiry from the
Council. The matter was laid over
for a week.
A report of the proceedings in
full of the organization meeting of
the Triple Alliance was read and
after considerable discussion filed.
A copy of the One Big Union con-
stitution was read and filed. The
constitution was ordered printed in
the Labor Journal. The constitu-
ton follows: