davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1920-06-12
5000 WORTH OF COUPONS

5000 WORTH OF COUPONS.
One Pound Pet Coffee.
Pair Side Combs.
Box Writing Paper.
Box Toilet Soap.
Fancy Apron.
Half-dozen Glasses.
$ra.oe WORTH OF COUPONS.
Centre Piece
Three Turkish Wash Cloths.
Whisk Broom.
Water Set-Four Glasses and Pitcher.
Box of Handkercliefs.
Tool Chest
Granite Dish Pan.
One Pound Pet Coffee.
Two Tickets to Movies.
$4,000 WORTH OF COUPONS.
Four Bath Towels.
Half-dozen Thin Blown Tumblors.
Half-dozen Cups and Saucers.
One Pair Boot Silk Hose.
Half-dozen Copies of Sheet Music,
Box Writing Paper.
Collar.
Neck Tie
$1,000 WORTH OF COUPONS.
Two Pairs Boot Silk Hose.
Coal Scuttle. ~
Girls MILDLY Tie. me
Half-dozen Cups and Saucers.
Gcntlcman's Scarf.
Shovel
Pick Axe.
Axe. "'>
Rake.
Set of Gavels. -. 49,
-@Sss2Na
10000 WORTH OF COUPONS.
Paul Lawrence Dunbar's Works
Detachable Umbrella
Chocolate Set
Carving Set.
Black Sateen Underskirt.
Lady's Umbrella.
Fountain Pen.
Pair Silk Hose
Bottle of Perfume or Toilet Water.
Pair Oriental Beads.
Three Pairs Gentleman's Hose.
Pair Shades. .>t'ET'.~
Door Mat
I1alf-d dozen Knives and Forks.
l1alf-dozen Spoons.
Pocket Knife
Scarf Pin
Hat Pin.
Bed Room Slippers.
Serving Tray. -.
Flair Ornament.
Box of Best Chocolates.
The Connecticut labor press., 1920-07-03
EVEN THE DEAD NOT SAFE FROM
THE VZLLLFICA TON OF LABOR

sacred from attack by
order further the sentiment
against Organized Labor.
Sokoowsky organizer for American Federation
Of Labor and working in conjunction with
ton of Labor murdered New Haven his home myste
manner, early last Saturday
SOkoowky Connecticut by the A F. OF L. to assist
the branch the foreign born strikers of the Maui
Valley falling the hands Of radical bent
nsgatng disorder violence He chosen for this task
adjustment his ability speak
five which had him almost invaluable
izer of this class of workers.
peaceful His personal record above
He made excellent
graduate Russian college he enjoyed
the friendship OF all the Labor the
he contact.
On the day following agita
tor of the daily his movements
for which there
charged with Living with said to be
intimated that liason with another
responsible for his murder, presumably by his wife.
his relations with
the strike being investigated by the police and
nmaed that he had been double crossng the strikers he
that he a traitor to their
There foundation for the nsmations made and the
from the facts their
the deductions which they printed In the first place
night and day offset violence and bring about
peaceful settlement of bad strike hardly be termed
taor.' ;,At G&sM8
Secondly mystery his The
trips automobile
Secretary of the Connecticut Federation from
and Waterbury, and representatives of the
daily press informed of that fact at the start.
The with whom he lived his wife There
otherwise daughter five lived
their behavior had always been exemplary
evidence that Sokolowsky avoided ason with
another rather than carried that
luey honest husband and father.
his loyalty there could be question: He the best
had working with under similar conditions
Secretary referring wish
working for who would evidence the sort OF dis
loyalty that Sokoowsky showed"
However poor sokolowsky guilty unforgvable
Labor "agtator the opposing
would it, and quite within the ethics of dirty
na that his character should be blackened much possible
The Connecticut labor press., 1920-07-03

Burleson, Yes Burleson, Demands
Fair Play for Unions.

The surprise of the hour is Postmas-
ter General Burleson's statement to the
effect that labor must get a square deal
at the Democratic National convention.
Mr.. Burleson said this while on his way
to San Francisco, and added there must
be no pussy-footing at the convention
Legislation which denies working men
the right to STRIKE" he said, "is wrong
and should be repealed" If Mr.. Burle-
son is correctly quoted, we are at a
loss to know as to what has come over
him, as wasn't it this same Bur1eson
who urged Congress to pass bill which
would deprive postal employees who are
members of labor unions from sharing
in retirement beEehts And wasn't it
the same Burleson who, during his adj
ministration as wire director refused
to listen to demands of telephone en-
ployes. In fact there has been more
anti-labor demonstration laid at the
door of the postmaster generals office
than all previous officials put together
1t may be that Mr. Burleson has expert
enced a change of heart, and if so, all
we'll and good, and Labor will forget
the past if he intends to be good in the
future. However, his sudden attitude
favorable to labor is some SURPRISE
The Connecticut labor press., 1920-07-03
HOW TO BUST UNIONS.
Legislate Members Out of Jobs as
Was Done to Bar
tenders.

A surprising fact is that the most
thoroughly organized labor union in
this country is composed of men who by
the laws of the United States are de-
barred from following their calling.
Still, another surprising fact is that
this union is composed of men who are
intensely American in thought and
action and who, although not numeri-
cally strong, furnished over 5000 men,
all volunteers, who saw active service
in France during the late worlds war.
This remarkable body of men is the
New York Bartenders Union and its
membership is composed almost entirely
of American born citizens, for no
foreign-born person can become a mem
Der until he has taken out his final pa
pers of naturalization, and who in ad-
dition to the oath of allegiance in the
court has taken another before the
union; swearing loyalty to the United
States and its institutions, and obedi-
ence to its laws.
This union still holds its charter, not
because it thinks that John Barley
corn will return, but because there are
certain provisions in the charter, such
as sick benefits, burial funds, etc, that
can be easily carried out by the mem
bers who are dispensing soda water and
light drinks as would be possible if
they were making high-balls and mixing
cocktails.
The Connecticut labor press., 1920-07-03
RULE BY ABUSE.
Attack on Marshall Shows Where
Prohibitionists Really Stand.

THE attack of Wayne B. Wheeler
upon Vice-President Marshall because
of the latter's statement concerning the
Senate vote on the dry amendment
again illustrates the growing tendency
of certain class of reformers to rule
by abuse" says the Chicago Tribune.
Mr.. Wheeler, who is general coun-
sci of the Anti-Saloon League took ex-
ception to Mr. Marshal1's reported
statement that the Senate would not
have approved prohibition if it had
voted behind closed doors. If Mr. Mar
shall made the statement, as we assume
he did, he undoubtedly made it as
statement of what he honestly believed
to be fact.
But Mr.. Wheeler rises in his wrath
and denounces the vice-president as one
who insults the Senate and proves HIM
self traitor to the convictions with
which he entered public life. The fact
that Mr.. Marshall expressed an honest
opinion apparently means nothing to
is contrary to his own. 1t serves only
as an excuse for TRADE of abuse.
I'VE have had too much such abuse
1t is the stock in trade of noisy reform
ers. No one seeks to force Mr. Wheel
er to concur in Mr. Marshalrs opinion.
By what right does Mr.. Wheeler seek
to force his own opinion on the world !?
In the essentials of form, if not in
effect, such abuse is the same whether
it comes from the mouth of the gen.
eral counsel of the Anti-Saloon League
or the mouth of a soap box radical
dictatorship of the abusariat will be
as bad as dictatorship of the proletar-
at."-Cincinnati Chronicle.
The Connecticut labor press., 1920-07-03
GOT ANOTHER THINK.
Figures Upset Hopes That Organ
lied Labor Is In Slump.

The talk one hears at certain times
and places would indicate that certain
thoughtless individuals seem to think
that organized labor has taken decided
slump and is falling back.
You hear this among some business
men-the unthinking kind-and among
politicians-who rarely think.
Perhaps so.
But note we'll these figures:
Average paidup membership in unions
affiliated iii the American Federation of
Labor, for the year ending April 80,
-4,O78,74O
Increase over 1919-818,672.
Net gain-25 per cent
The gain in 1919 was 10 per cent.
In 1918 it was IS per cent. In 1917 it
was IA per cent
- Since 1o17-when America went to
wharf.-the A. F. of L. membership has
jumped from 2,O72,7O2 to 4,O78, 740
Ninety-six per cent!
Counting five to a family-and work
ers' families run high-A. F. of L.
membership today represents 20,393,700
human beings, mostly in the United
States more than one-sixth of our
total population.
Only one union reports s1ump-the
brewery workers.
The Connecticut labor press., 1920-07-03
OUTLAW STRIKES FOMEN7ED BY
PUSSYFOO7ING AT WASHINGTON

behind railroad strike said Attor
General Palmer He afrm that the Outlaw strike the
of W. w leadership and the working out of Communists
He either frgets Intentionally oveoOks the latest
reports which indicate that SO cent of the who quit work
working Matthew Wol
Federation of Labor It all tommyrot to
O written
Dutch anarchist Bolshev representative
in that absurd
the of Archduke Ferdinand
the Great World War
for hundred profiteers to
unionm trial and that if uniOnsm
cannot Value
be factor the task Of doing the country work and pro
wealth, the verdict will against
1914 while have been rising 100 cent
wtchmen about SO cent In nearly
their demands before the Railroad Ad
Last fall
without official sanction Taey induced to
of President Wilson that they would have
the OF Congress
whatever President Wilson's request for help
General Palmer became profse his
prolific promises bring down the cost Of living but prices kept
rising instead of decreasing.
The Connecticut labor press., 1920-07-03
PAY OF MINERS
HARDLY AVERAGES
$500 A MONTH
Coal Commission Gets Some Facts
That Causes It to
Think.

Scranton, Pa, July 2.-Working the
maximum number of days year under
the present wage scale, the highest-Daid
expert miners in the Pennsylvania an
thracite fields can earn only little more
than 500 month, or an amount gross
" insufficient for a family to enjoy
even the barest necessities of life, &C
cording to the address given before
President Wilson's anthracite coal
commission by Thomas Kennedy, pres
ident of District No. of the United
Mine Workers.
Taking the highest inside day rates., -
said the miners spokesman, namely the
$4.o2 paid to the company miner, we
find that for year of 273 working
days-the number afforded by the op-
orators in 1o19-the man receiving that
rate would secure in annual earnings
$1,261.26, which is wage insufficient
for a family to exist upon, much less
to live on with any degree of comfort
1--WE submit that the day men in the
anthracite region are compelled to work
overtime and to seek overtime, because
their day rates for an eight-hour day,
working at every opportunity offered by
the colliery, are insufficient to maintain
them and their families. Consequently
they must resort to overtime in order to
make enough money on which to live,
or exc out an existence.
1--WE contend that the anthracite in
dustry owes to its employees enough
wages for an eight hour day, which is
the basic day in the industry, to enable
the workers to live according to the
American standards of living, and in
addition to be able to save money for
future needs when they will be unable
to follow their work on account of old
age or other causes"
Mr.. Kennedy submitted to the COM
mission a detailed explanation of the
workers demands, which provide chief
ly for placing the anthracite workers on
a wage parity with those in the btu
minous fields, extension of the eight
hour day to all classes of employees, i'm
provements of conditions in the indus
try, and recognition of the United Mine
Workers as party to the wage agree
ment
The Connecticut labor press., 1920-07-03
A. F. OF |. WILL ASSIST
TELEPHONE OPERATORS
Bell Company Gets Drubbing at
= Convention for Anti
Policy.

The Bell Telephone Company came
in for some severe handling in a reso-
luton presented at the Montreal con-
vention of the A. F. of L., which asked
the federation to wage strong fight
against the oppressive anti-labor policy
of the company and its associated COM
panies. That resolution told of the at
titude adopted by the Bell company
towards unionism of phone operators
and dwelt at length on the rights of
the women engaged in this industry.
The question of low wages was also
dealt with in the resolution and imme-
date action urged by the convention.
The convention went on record as
recognizing the resolution and as re-
suit, immediate steps will be taken to
unionize all telephone workers, Organ
izers from central and federated bodies
will start out at once TO inaugurate a
campaign to form the telephone en-
ployes into union and thus combat
the policy of the company as alleged in
the resolution adopted.
The Connecticut labor press., 1920-07-03
SHOE men FACE
LOCKOUT OR WORK
FOR LONGER HOURS
Haverhill Employers Threaten
Drastic Action Unless
oBeyed.

Haverhill, Mass, July 2.-Haverhill
shoe workers, members of the Shoe
Workers Protective Union, have voted
so1idly to refuse the offer of the newly
re-organized Haverhill Shoe Manufac-
turers' Association, which the leaders
claim means a considerable reduction in
wages and longer working hours. The
agreement presented by the manufac-
turers' association week ago contains
many other clauses which are not fav-
ored by the members of the various
unions. A lockout by the manufacture
ers is predicted as a result of the action
OF the workers in turning down the
offer.
At the meeting with union leaders last
week committee of the manufacture
ers announced that the latter had en-
tered into an agreement, which was
legally binding, not to stand by the
proposition as drawn up. In opening
sentatives announced that no cut in
prices or increase in working hours
would be embodied in the proposition.
When the officials of the various unions
scrutinized the proposition they found
more than one joker.
The unions were given until today
to consider the proposition. Every
local union affiliated with the Shoe
Workers Protective Union has voted
against acceptance of the offer
Lynn shoeworkers are watching de-
velopments in Haverhil1 The Allied
Shoe Workers Union has large mem
bership in the shoe city in the upper
part of the county and it is said that
these members would be affected by any
action which may be taken against the
Shoe Workers Protective Union to the
extent that the members of the former
organization would automatically be
thrown out of work
The Connecticut labor press., 1920-07-03
TO UNIONIZE STENOGS
AND OFFICE WORKERS
A. F. of L. Starts to Fill a Long
Felt Need.

During the sessions of the American
Federation of Labor convention in
Montreal it was proposed and finally
decided to conduct drive for the or
ganization of 100000 stenographers
and Office workers in the United States.
The executive council of the fedora
ton will be in direct charge of the
drive, which represents an effort to
bring into the ranks of organized labor,
both male and female office workers.
An international union, with complete
autonomy in the labor movement, is to
be chartered as soon as the total men,
bership of the local unions reaches
10000, the convention ordered.
The Connecticut labor press., 1920-07-03
NATION FACES A
FUEL FAMINE OF
GRAVEST DANGER
Inefficiency of Railroads to
Handle Traffic Claimed
to Be Cause.

Thanks to the inefficiency of private
operation of the railroads, the nation
faces a serious fuel famine next win
ter. The Interstate Commerce Com
mission has attempted to forestall this
menace by placing an embargo against
all commodity shipments and giving
priority to fuel consigned to New Eng
land ports for transshipment by water
to domestic destinations In other
words, coal will not be exported until
home needs are met.
The railroad situation becomes more
serious each day. After a month of
effort, the railroad officials announce
that there is no Improvement and that
the most rigorous policing" is required
if peril is to be passed. The railroads
are running millions of dollars behind
in operating income, and for April the
nearly $1OO,OOO,OOO deficit. The roads
that have so far reported incurred a
deficit of more than ST., 100000 in April,
and this sum will be increased when
the full returns are in In April, 1919,
under federal control, in. spite of, let
down of transportation following the
signing of the armistice, the railroads
returned a net profit of $200O0,O0O
These figures bear out statement re-
Gently made by Mr.. Woolley, of the In
terstate Commerce Commission, that the
railroads under private control would
cost the people each year $lOO,O00,0O0
more than during the two years of fed
era1 administration.
The public is paying dearly for pri-
vate manipulation, but, what is more
serious, it is not getting service. We
are facing real suffering and perhaps
business paralysis because the boosted
genius of railway managers mas been
tried and found wanting
All of which confirms a generally
held opinion that the government will
be forced to again take over the rail-
roads and operate them outright in the
interest of the public If and when this
happens, it will definitely mark the date
on which private control of transporta-
ton passed out of the thought of the
American people.
The people were fooled by the railway
managers and their propagandists when
congress was bungling the railroad
situation, but it is not possible to fool
them all the time. It is apparent now
that the railroads have miserably failed
at crucial period, and it is inconceiv-
able that any material number of in
telligent men and women will demand
the perpetuation of a system that is
fraught with so much of danger to the
republic,
The Connecticut labor press., 1920-07-03
PROVE EFFICIENCY.
Railroad Performance Under Pri-
vate Ownership Is Sure
Some Proof.

We have been told by the senate, by
newspapers, by speakers and by large
advertisements that private management
of the railroads would be a thousand
times more efficient than under govern
ment control. 1t took less than three
months for the private managers to
get the roads into a hopeless jam from
which the interstate commerce commits
sion is now trying to extricate them.
The railroad managers claim their
troubles are due to a shortage of cars,
yet when the commission took charge
week or two ago there were $1,000
cars on sidings and terminals which the
private managers were helpless to move.
If they had $1,000 more cars the jam
would have been that much worse.
Through the kindness of the senate,
the people of the country will be called
upon to pay about five billion dollars
additional each year for the efficient"
private management, which makes our
transportation system cost more than
the late war
The Connecticut labor press., 1920-07-03
FOOD COSTS INCREASE.
But Employers Can't See It, Nor
Raise in Wages
Either.

1t was not required of the Bureau of
Labor statistics to go into details to
convinGS. the average American that the
cost of food has not been measurably
lowered during the past few months.
He knew that without the aid of a ma
tional survey. When he goes to the
butcher or the grocer, he is compelled
to pay more for his purchases, and he is
impatient with glib prophets of better
day.
Nevertheless, for the sake of accur-
acy, it is important that a federal de-
partment has, by carefully conducted
investigation, established that during the
month of May the average cost of Is
index articles increased three per cent.
1t is equally important to know that
during the past three months the up
ward climb has been per cent 1t is
just as important and interesting to
know that since 1913 many of the
staple articles of food have jumped in
price from IFS to 500 per cent.
Last summer, when the railway
workers appealed to the government for
highe rwages or lower costs of living,
they were given solemn promise that
every effort would be made to give
them relief. Since then, from time to
time, Attorney General Palmer has
stated that prices have been falling, and
the other day he had the hardihood to
say that a great burden had been taken
from the backs of consumers.
Now along comes another govern
ment agency with facts and figures to
prove that the burden, instead of being
less, is even more, and with it the dis
quoting assurance that there is no
reason to hope for relief in the irnme-
diate future. Everything points to just
a contrary result. Decreased produc-
ton of food, demoralized transporta-
ton and the Unsuitable greed of prof.
teers will combine to add to the bur-
dens of harassed consumers.
England and France have tackled the
problem of high food costs and are
making measurable Roadway in check
ing the upward tendency. In America
the question is disregarded by congress
and is made a subject for jest by adj
ministration heads Mr.. Palmer at
tempts to exercise the evil with fine
speeches. He seems to be 1aboring I'M
der the delusion that our troubles are
Observation-Disclosures we are suffering
with state of mind" that can be cor
rected by diverting our thoughts into
other channels.
But there is something so real and
tangible in ascending price levels that
the average consumer is not convinced
by Mr.. Palmer's platitudes or his OBJ
jurgations against prohteers. The latter
mind them not in the least. They con-
tinue to mark up prices, until the break
ing point has almost been reached.
The Connecticut labor press., 1920-07-03
GOMPERS RADICAL.
But In Way No One Need Fear,
Says New York Globe.

Those who fear a radical tag on the
American Federation of Labor more
than they fear dynamite or poison will
be treasured by President Gompers
In his Montreal speech he repudiated
radlcallsm. Il do not know any body
of men that is so out of harmony with
the so-called 'Internationale' as the
American Federation of Labor" Labor
must hold itself in leash and use its
power with moderation" 1t will thus
best serve its own interests. This is
Gompers' verdict, rendered on the eve
of his departure for Chicago to present
the political demands of labor before
Republican leaders.
And apparently labor Endorses this
position. Despite acknowledged unrest,
despite the outlaw" strike, despite the
familiar whispers that the old man had
lost his grip and must give way before
younger and less conservative leaders,
Gompers departed from the American
Federation of Labor convention with
his power apparently unquestioned and
his moderate philosophy accepted.
The situation would be difficult of
comprehension were we familiar with
certain speeches of Gompers, speeches
only. Fortunately we can compare
these statements with others somewhat
different, and with his deeds. Such
comparison goes far toward explain
ing his persistence in power. Labor has
radical elements, even elements bent on
unseating Gompers but their appeal can
only be to the interests of labor. These
interests Gompers has studied with
scrupulous care and served with abil
ity. In. action he has been sufficiently
radical to appear as the consistent
champion of workers economic better
ment. If he cannot approve strike
as in the case of the recent OUTLAWS"
he can explain it sympathetically. He
is willing to sustain a defense of the
right to strike regardless of logical
consequences. He will fight for the
closed shop beyond the last ditch. And
this is what labor chiefly demands. If
its leaders can make the present econ
omic system bend to their will, the
burden of proof is all on the radicals.
The latter may argue for a new econ
omic system such as Gompers wildly
opposes. Labor looks not to economic
systems, but to immediate results
Gompers seems to be getting these. He
has on his side the radicalism of mater
ial achevements.-New York Globe.