davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1920-05-14
LabOr'S Non Partisan Activity is
Noted in ReaCtiOnary Camp

mics and elect trade unionists or
known friends of progress.
State committees are being organ
ized through state federations of la
Dor and city committees are being or
ganiZed through city central bodies.
Thousands of local unions have also
elected committees and this number
is constantly increasing.
These committees keep in close
touch with the A. F. of l.. committee,
which is supplying records of SEN
ators and congressman, providing
literature, organizing a national corps
Of four-minute speakers and arrang
ing system for voluntary contribu-
tions of 81 to be handled entirely by
local committees in meeting neces-
sary expenses for halls, local print
ing, etc.
All committees are urging trade
unionists and other friends of prog
ress to take an active part in pri-
maries and to register that they may
qualify to vote. In many localities
the primary choice is equivalent to
an election and the old policy Of
leaving primaries and minor conven-
tions to the agents Of reaction is
abandoned Trade unionists are
awakening to the Importance of the
primaries and in many early local
elections they have wrought political
upheavals this year by entering the
primaries and smashing carefully
prepared states.
There is no part of our political
system that can be ignored by work
ers. Every link in the chain is i'm
portant-the primary, caucuses that
elect to conventions, nominating petit
tions and conventions are all vital.
Not one step can be overlooked if
citizens are to have government Of,
by and for the people"
Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1920-05-14
FARMERS WRONG
SHOULD GO HAND IN HAND
WITH ORGANIZED LABOR
"Big Business" Would Divide Workers
and Farmers and Create DiscOrd
in Order to Promote Their
Own Selfish Purposes

Des Moines, Ia.-If farmers favor
legislation that will stop strikes in
industry, they will play into the
hands of exploiters, declared Editor
Pierce of the Iowa Homestead.
The farm editor called attention to
the recent declaration by the national
farm bureau federation, that strikes
"can no longer be tolerated"
"In the first place." writes Editor
Pierce, "let it be conceded that the
strike is a dangerous weapon, to be
used only as a last resort. But let
it also be clearly understood that,
under present conditions, in the last
resort it is the only weapon which
labor possesses to enforce its rights
to a fair wage and proper living
conditions. Also let it be plain that
the strike is not the weapon of in
dustrial labor alone, but that it is
used by the farmers and every other
group of producers and consumers
in one form or other, for self-pro-
lection.
"The national farm bureau fedora
ton is treading on dangerous ground.
It's resolution is a two-edged sword
that will cut both ways. Today every
profiteering, capitalistic combine in
the United States is applauding the
farm bureaus resolution. 1t will
join with the farmers most gladly in
securing legislation to prevent
strikes. And then it will turn right
around and join just as gladly (or
perhaps even more SOY with organ
lied labor in securing legislation to
prevent collective bargaining by
farmers. Already bill has been in
troduced in congress to place both
farm and labor organizations under
the terms of the antitrust act.
"There was never smoother or
bigger plot planned by the profteer-
ing, conscienceless business interests
of the country than this, and the
farmers organizations that fall into
this trap are playing Wall streets
game to the limit. Again / say the
farm bureau federation is treading
on dangerous ground. 1t is sowing
the wind that will turn whirlwind
against itself, and bring it's splendid
plans for promoting collective bar
gaining in the marketing of farm
products to naught."
Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1920-05-14
COAL MINERS AWAITING THE FEDERAL COURTS
DECISION ON THE LEVER ACT

Indianapolis, Ind.-Bituminous coal
miners all over the country are
awaiting with interest the decision Of
Judge Anderson, Of the Federal court
in this city, on the question Of
whether the indictment returned by
the Federal grand jury against 125
coal operators and officials and mem
bers of the United Mine Workers of
America Tor alleged violations Of the
Lever Law is a valid Indictment. The
question which was argued before
Judge Anderson is regarded by the
coal miners as being one of the most
important to the workers of this
country that ever was presented to a
court, because it involves the right
of the workers to bargain collectively
with their employers; their right to
adopt and follow peaceable means for
the redress Of wrongs; and whether
men may be indicted for an alleged
offense under law which the miners
say is so vague and uncertain as to
make it impossible for them to as
certain the exact offense charged or
what constitutes the offense with
which they may be charged.
Charles Evans Hughes, the eminent
New York lawyer, represented the
miners in the presentation of the case
on its legal merits. He tore into the
Lever Law and pointed out what he
designates as its inherent weak
nesses, and he quoted an endless
number of court decisions to sustain
his contention that law such as the
Lever Law could not be constitution
al, and, if held to be constitutional,
it could not be held to be valid be-
cause of it's vagueness and uncertain
ty Mr.. Hughes pointed out that the
Fifth Amendment to the United States
Constitution says that property shall
not be taken without due process of
law, and that the Sixth Amendment
guarantees that defendant shall be
fully informed as to the offense with
which he is charged. He said that
an indictment under the Lever Law
violates both of these amendments.
One of the most interesting points
raised against the indictment by Mr..
Hughes was that the Lever Law was
unenforceable against persons in the
coal industry so long as the United
States Fuel Administration was in
existence. He said the Lever Law
conferred on the President full au-
thority over and regulation of the
fuel industry during the war. The
Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1920-05-14
Wars Toll is Heavy
On Austrian People

London, England--A dark picture
of Austrian conditions is painted by
w. A. Appleton, president of the
international Federation of Trade
Unions and secretary of the British
General Federation of Trade Unions.
"The International Federation of
Trade Unions must take notice of the
sorrows Of the workmen in any
country" writes Mr.. Appleton. "Aus-
tria at the moment affords a pitiful
example of the consequences of war.
Many of her citizens are suffering
grievously and her little children are
dying for want of nourishment She
has appealed for help, and help is
being sent, but whether it is suf-
ficient, or will arrive in time, is still
a matter for unhappy conjecture.
'It is only when one reaches the
cities that the full extent of the
disaster which has overtaken Aus
tria can be realized. Then it is seen
that the allies have left Austria with
an industrial population but has
stripped her of all that industry
needs in order to operate success
fully.
"She has also been left with great
population of producers, including
pre-war pensioners, unemployed civil
servants and workers in luxury trades
and in such occupations as are pro-
vided by the theaters, the restaurants
and cafes.
"The industrial position of Austria
is indeed a desperate one. Roughly
speaking there are in Vienna itself
2,500,000 people. In the other con-
siderable towns left to Austria there
may not be less than 100000. The
agricultural population is apparently
the smaller, and out of limited and
poor soil it has to produce enough to
maintain the town populations"
Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1920-05-14

hington-Labor's record activ-
ity in applying it's 40-year system Of
non-partisan political action is re-
fiexed in congress.
Out of the entire membership Of
over 500 members in the national law
making body, but nine of these
three in the senate and six in the
house-voted in favor of excluding
organized government employees from
retirement benefits, as provided in
the retirement bill just passed.
But nine law makers were willing
to go on record against a funda-
mental right, after lengthy cam
paign of vituperation and misrep-
resentation against organized labor
that is unequaled in the history of
the American congress. The pur-
pose Of this campaign was to create
public sentiment that would make
possible the passage of antistrike
law and sedition legislation that
could be used to block all agitation
of the workers for better conditions.
These enemies Of labor were in
clover a few months ago and were
acclaimed as patriots" by every
cheap-labor element. Organized la
Dor is now arranging to retire these
enemies to private life, and the pres
ent scheme to postpone anti-strike
legislation until the next congress
will be further amended when the
votes are counted in November With
this reactionary element swept aside,
congress can devote itself to con-
structive legislation.
Reports to the A. F. of l.. national
partisan political campaign COM
mittee indicate widespread deter
mination of labor to defeat its enc
Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1920-05-14
More Freight Costs
Would be FVeIyet"

Washington Additional freight
costs would be "velvet" to the prof
iteers, said President Carter of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen
in urging higher wages before the
railroad labor board. He declared
that if the wages of every railroad
employe were doubled the average
commodity value of each ton of
freight handled by the railroads
would be less than 1 per cent, and if
the proposed plan to increase freight
rates is adopted labor would receive
none of the increase, which would go
to manufacturers and middlemen.
"The freight cost of suit of
clothes from Chicago to Los Angeles,
where it retailed for $50, was 1872
cents in 1914" said President Carter.
"The price of the same suit of clothes
in 1919 was about $50, but the cost
of the freight haul of 2,200 miles to
Los Angeles went up only 5.6 cents.
If the rates of pay of all railroad
employees were advanced so per cent
the additional freight charge would
not be over cents"
Shoes shipped from Boston to Key
West in 1914 at a cost of 4.8 cents
per pair sold for $5. In 1919, when
they sold for $40, the freight rate
was ST. cents a pair. On long dis
tance hauls of $50 to 5000 miles, a
so per cent. wage increase for en-
ployes would involve higher
freight rate amounting to less than
one-ffth of a cent per pound for
beef, or Is cents per barrel of flour,
or 40 cents per ton of bituminous
coal
Typical freight shipments are less
than 800 miles, and on these the in
crease would be only one-third the
amounts noted.
Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1920-05-14
Was Big Biz Patriotic?

New York-The claim that business
must be stimulated by big profits in
war time was handled without gloves
by Congressman Griffin of New York,
who said men risked their lives on the
battle field, while business men were
demanding high prices Gin order to
stimulate them to produce things es-
sential for the conduct of the war"
"The ordinary, time-honored, but
yet revered spirit of patriotism was
to be sufficient to stimulate the me-
chanic, the farmer, the clerk, the
teacher, and the laborer,
"These must skimp themselves out
of meager salaries to buy liberty
bonds; but the great masters of in
dustry, the financiers and big pro-
ducers, must, forsooth, have the en-
couragement of war profits. With
this example before them of pater-
nalistic governmental indulgence,
was it any wonder that all others,
neglected in the beginning, should
strive to come under the patriarchal
cloak? When all were safely shell
tered under this vicious precedent
then labor asserted itself and claimed
the right to enhanced compensation.
"Nor can they be blamed for that.
When they were compelled to pay 16
and 18 cents bottle for milk to keep
life in their babies; 10 cents for s.
cent loaf of bread and double prices
all along the line for meats and vege-
tables, clothing and the necessities of
life, were they far astray from the
equities when they demanded only a
proportional increase in wages?
When the corporate gougers found
that the payment of increased wages
cut deeply into their profits their next
step was to increase their profits"
Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1920-05-14
Anti-Strike Law Upheld

Pittsburg, Kan.-In cunning piece
of word jugglery the Kansas "can't-
strike" law has been upheld by Judge
Curan of the Crawford county district
court. The courts arrangement of
words is shown in this statement:
ga man cannot be compelled to
work, you say. Certainly not. / do
not believe for a moment that any
member of the legislature intended
to make any man work. The purpose
of this act is, in an orderly way, to
give man a chance to work"
When analyzed, this declaration
means that Kansas lawmakers never
intended that workers would be de-
MED the right to quit their employ
ment, but if they do quit the law
makers have provided that they shall
be fined and jailed.
This method of reasoning-or alb
sence of reasoning-runs all through
Judge Curran's decision. The court
rules that the "cant-strike" law does
not violate the federal constitution,
which prohibits involuntary servitude.
The Kansas act does not legalize in
voluntary servitude, said the court,
but the state has never surrendered
any part of its power to safeguard
the health, morals and general well
fare of it's citizens.
According to the courts logic if it
is necessary to handcuff workers to
their jobs that the public's welfare
may be protected, this is not viola
tion of the. federal constitution or the
Kansas bill of rights.
Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1920-05-14
fAV0RS TRUSTS
COURT GOES TWO WAYS THEN
STANDS PAT
United States Supreme Court FavOrs
Trusts and Refuses the Govern
ment's Request to Reopen
Steel Trust Case

Washington = The United States
supreme court has refused the gov
ernments request to reopen the steel
trust case, which was based on
violation of the antitrust law, and
was decided March / last in favor
of the trust.
In asking that this decision be re-
viewed the government practically
charges the court with contradicting
itself on April 26 in the socalled
Reading coal case, which was decided
against mine companies and railroads
The government told the court that
its steel trust opinion apparently
comedies" that this trust violates the
antitrust law and that this criminal
combination is permitted to continue
because, the court holds, mere size
is not a violation of the law; that
dissolution of the trust would be an
injury to the public interest and that
the existence of uneXerted power
is not an OHenSe.
In the Reading coal case the court
took an opposite view and declared:
"That such power, so obtained,
regardless of the use made of it, con-
stitutes menace to and undue re-
straint upon interstate commerce
within the meaning of the antitrust
act, has been frequetly upheld by
this court"
In the Reading case the court dis
solved a holding company which con-
trolled the stock of certain railroads
and mine companies. This holding
company was not producing con-
Germ, but controlled the companies.
1t manipulated the market, directed
shipments of coal and stified normal
competition. It's power was used to
stop the building of railroad that
might eventually develop into COM
petitor.
The government compared this
holding company with the steel
trust, which is likewise a holding
company and does not produce steel
itself but is a combination of units
known as the Carnegie group, the
Morgan group, the Moore and Reed
group, and the Gates and Gary group.
In refusing to reopen the steel
trust case the supreme court gave no
reason and made no comment on the
unusually plain language contained
in the governments brief.
Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1920-05-14
CAN'T ENFORCE LEVER ACT

Louisville, Ky. Federal Judge
Evans has dismissed charges against
three alleged violators of the Lever
food control act on the ground that
the act is too vague and its language
too indefinite.
The accused are not trade union
lists. They are business men, charged
with profteering,. The court declined
to pass upon the constitutionality of
the law, but his ruling has accom-
plished practically the same purpose
as if he held the law invalid as profit
eering prosecutions have been halted.
Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1920-05-14

President created the Fuel Admin
istration and conferred on Fuel Ad-
ministrator Garfield all of the power
and authority which the Lever Act
gave him, and Garfield laid down the
arbitrary rules by which the coal in
dustry was to be governed. Mr..
Hughes said that as long as the coal
industry was thus under the juris-
diction of the Fuel Administration it
could not at the same time be under
the jurisdiction of the courts, because
under such a dual system no man
could tell whether his conduct was
legal or illegal. A court might hold
one way and the Fuel Administration
hold different way. Mr.. Hughes
held that, therefore, the miners and
operators could not be held under an
indictment for their acts committed
while the Fuel Administration was in
operation.
There were numerous other points
in the argument of Mr.. Hughes that
were of extreme interest and i'm
portance. His argument was regard
ed as one of the most brilliant and
able ever made in a court. The
United Mine Workers have been con-
graduated on all sides for their wis
dom in placing their case in the
hands of so able and eminent
lawyer as Mr.. Hughes.
Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1920-05-14
WANT MEXICANS BARRED

Fort Worth, TeXas-There is no la
Dor shortage in the southwest and
Mexican labor imported for this al
legged reason is being used to lower
living standards, say organized oil
workers in resolutions to Secretary
of Labor Wilson, who is asked to in
vestigate methods of cheap-labor en-
ployers in this section.
Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1920-05-14
Pressmen Advance

Pressmen's Home Tenn.-Continued
gains by local affiliates are reported
by officers of the International Print
ing Pressmen and Assistants union.
In the current issue of The American
Pressmen is printed list of nearly
so localities in which wages are in
creased and improved working con-
ditions secured.
Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1920-05-14
BIacksmiths Get Raise

Buffalo, N. Y.-An eight-hour day
agreement has been signed by organ
lied blacksmiths and the Great Lakes
Dredge & Dock company and the
Empire engineering company. Mini
mum rates are 81 an hour for me-
chanics and rs cents for assistants.
Double time will be paid for work
done on Sundays and holidays.
Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1920-05-14
Win Strike

Cincinnati, O.-The Axle Makers
union, affiliated with the International
Brotherhood of Blacksmiths, Drop
Forgers and Helpers, has won a long
strike against the Pollack Steel COM
pany of Carthage, which refused to
sign a union agreement. The work.
ers' solidarity triumphed and the
company signed the agreement, raised
wages and promised to improve work
ing conditions.
Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1920-05-14
Metal Workers Advance

Louisville, Ky.-A 20 per cent wage
increase has been negotiated by or
ganized sheet metal workers. The
new rate is 80 cents an hour. About
95 per cent of the employers have
signed the agreement, which provides
for an arbitration board to adjust
future differences.
Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1920-05-14
BOOkbinders Uniting

Indianapolis, Ind.-The membership
of the International Brotherhood of
Bookbinders has increased SIP since
July, 1918. Of the new members
1880 are women The brotherhood's
present good standing membership
is 25,544.
Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1920-05-14
Telephone Girls Gain

Boston-Telephone girls who are
employed over a stated period by the
New England Telephone & Telegraph
company have secured wage in
creases. Supervisors will be paid $25
week and operators $22.
Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1920-05-14
Iron MOlders Gain

Oklahoma City, Okla.-A 20 per
cent wage increase has been secured
by Iron Molders' union No. 382. Con-
ferences have been held with en-
ployers for over month and at one
stage of the proceedings a strike was
necessary
Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1920-05-14
More for Street Car Men

Cedar Rapids, Iowa-Platform men
employed by the local street car men
have advanced wages 10 cents an
hour. The minimum rate is 45 cents
and the maximum so cents.
Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1920-05-14
Printers Raise Wages

Los Angeles-Printers employed on
newspapers have secured a weekly
bonus of 81. Rates are now $50 for
day work and $42 for night work.
Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1920-05-14
New Rate for Bakers

Yonkers, N. Y.-A new wage agree
ment secured by the Bakers union
calls for minimum weekly rate of
SAC for foremen, SAB for second hands
and $40 for bench men.
Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1920-05-14
Hotel Workers Gain

Missouri, Mot.-Hotel and restau-
rant employees have secured the eight
hour day and double time for Sun
days and holidays.
Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1920-05-14
Firemen Raise Wages

Cincinnati-Stationary firemen en-
ployed in ice plants have raised wages
10 cents an hour. The new rate is
671a cents.
Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1920-05-14

The union label stands for moral
ity, cleanliness, honesty, chivalry
tward woman and protection of the
young.
Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1920-05-14
ROofers Reduce Hours

Joplin, Mo. Organized roofers
have secured contracts which call for
less hours and higher wages.
Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1920-05-14

The union label stands always for
the facts of today, never for a tradi-
tien of yesterday.
Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1920-05-14
Teamsters Raise Wages

Cincinnati, Ohio.-Wage increases
that range from $5 to 81 week have
been secured by the Soft Drink
Drivers union.
Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1920-05-14
WAGE INCREASES
Gains in Wages Made by Organized
Labor Throughout the Nation
Wire Men Gain

Vincennes, Ind.--Electrical workers
have secured the eight-hour day and
substantial wage increases.
Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1920-05-14
LABOR'S PROGRESS
advances Made and Better Conditions
Secured All Over the Country
UphOlsterers Unite

Gary, Ind = Upholsterers in this
city have organized and are out for
a 100 per cent organization.
The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1920-11-19
GRAIN PVlCES SLUMP
ON CHiCAG0 MARKET

Chicago. Noy. IL Noiwtihsiahdin
the severity with which grain prices
have been sla~hed during ~" hast
fortnight new cuts Nrre witnessed
Yesterday. and quotations f"r ail Ger
pal> dropped lower than - anY iiin"
eithin the hist four wears tn" fr'-sil
tnwu.rurn~ Yesterday wer" n"tahi"
.hi.nv ~ the fart ihnt they raine
after y weeks dey'iine ~ more than
20, hn~hrl IN wheat and - al"ut
10 cents h. week hefore NFSterdaY's
e,hack n wheat ranged from -. ="
i, wltb Iis,r~,nhcr delivery blessing nt
81 rs IN xi7TiR. np'uluu "n exchange
Yesterday WIS practically unanimou"
that the unfaNorahlc finRnctai ouil"ok
has hnd hig share iu forcing values
"a shrink 10 surh an "Sira"rdinnrf 10.
Gree rnder norWal conditions grain
,rirs hreaks .Gupl to 'h"~e which hHv"
h..en Witnessed - lste would have I'm
sur,-l Investment. buying cen large
scale Little or y" business ~ this
ind however has apparently deNct
nf...d on the present deriine.