davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-03-04
DAVIS SUCCEEDS W. B. WILSON AS
 LABOR SECRETARY
Outgoing Official at Big Recep- tion Warns Unions of Attacks
 on Them.

James J. Davis of Pittsburgh, a former steel worker and now head of the Moose, was among those appointed to President Harding's cabinet after the inauguration today. Davis was officially named late yesterday while President Harding was en route from Marion to Washington. While rated as an organ ized labor man Davis was not the choice of Labor generally Labor preferred James L. Duncan, first vice-president of the American Federation of Labor, and urged his appointment as far as urging could be properly done. Harding, how ever, stuck by Davis, who was urged by other interests as well as friends in the labor movement and he is now appoint ed
 Davis therefore becomes the second secretary of labor, succeeding William B. Wilson, who first occupied the office created under President Wilson. Sec retary Wilson was an out and out Labor man and endeared himself to all work CTS interests.
 Mir. Wilson made his last address be- fore organized labor at a reception given i'll his honor in Washington on the eve of his retirement from office. President Gompers, Secretary Morrison and oth- CT members of the A. F. of L. execu- tive council, together with other trade union executives joined in praising the trade unionist's administration of an office that is so entwined in the life of the American people, and especially the wage earners.
 In replying to the kindly sentiments, the guest stated that for several years there has been a campaign waged to de- stroy the department of labor, carried on under the guise of attempts to estab- fish a department of welfare. He said that the advocates of this plan did not dare openly attack the department of labor but hoped to cut it to pieces by transferring bureaus now under its jurisdiction to the new department. He said the women's bureau, the children's s bureau and other branches of the de- partment have been included in the ten tative draft of the new scheme, which would leave the department of labor only the conciliation division and the bureau of labor statistics. The retiring official was presented a gold watch.
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-03-04
GAS CO.'S METER CHARGE
 GETS SEVERE DRUBBlNC
Practically Entire State Protests Before Legislative Committee While Company Officials Try to Excuse Levy-Some Caustic Comments Fly When Higher Rate Is Threatened.

Deliberately threatening an increase in rates fof gas if the legislature passes the bill now pending which would pro- hibit gas companies from continuing the meter service charge, representatives of the New Haven Gas Light and other gas light companies about the state ap- peared before the committee on the judiciary this week and tried to excuse the charges they already have placed in effect. Their excuses might have fallen on some receptive ears in the commit tee but they didn't fit at all with the l1ordes of gas consumers about the state who were present to protest and protested vigorously, even to the extent of limiting that the gas companies were nothing more or less than thieves and robbers.
 The hearing opened last. Friday aft ernoon when such a crowd appeared to denounce the charges and support the bill prohibiting them that the committee was compelled to stage another hearing on Tuesday. Those i'll favor of the bill naturally had the first opportunity and took it so strongly that the committee didn't have time to hear the opponents until the second hearing and wouldn't have had then had 1t not called a halt 10 CTOWu lIldC SC1ll WdHlGu CO DS U against the meter charges. Organized Labor officially and unoffcialy joined the protest of large and small consumers all over the state and if the committee doesn't approve the bill 1t will be sole ly because it is absolutely deaf to the voice of public opinion. Of course the great daily papers" didn't tell all of what went on at the hearings, from the peoples side, but they did religious1y, as usual, publish the explanations of the gas companies in full and with twist intended to impress the public that such a charge was really necessary, despite the continuous eight per cent. and more dividends paid by the companies.
 Summarized the meter charge was de- nounced for the following reasons:
 l. The service charge penalizes the small consumer.
 2. The meter is part or the company s stock and does not warrant an addition al charge.
 5. The charge was a Successful raid'' on the pocketbook of the public.
 4. That the public expects the Gen. era1 Assembly to give the consumers relief.
 5. That the state must protect the public from rapacious assaults"
 6. That the service charge was mere ly method employed to raise more revenue.
 Representative Sisisby of Enfield de- clared that the public utilities commits
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-03-04
HAD OFFERS OF OVER A MILLION
 WHISKEY GRAFT
Dry Agent Mccarthy Also Tells of Death Threats as Well
 as BribeS.

Boston, March 4-Challenging mil lionaire rum distributors, affuent boot leggers, motor rum runners and pocket peddlers" whom he collectively describes as the dirty curs," to do their worst by getting his job or his life, William J Mccarthy, supervising prohibition en- fOrcement agent for New England, this week laid bare one of the most astound- ing series of bribery plots ever recorded i'll the annals of New England.
 Here is McCarthy's own story of how he has been sought to keep out of the way" for great sums of money, how he has been importuned to acquiesce in the stupendous program of would-be traf- fickers in liquor, and how he has fought with his back to the wall to maintain the integrity of his office:
 II was offered $1O0,OO0 for 10 weeks, if I would make believe be sick and stay out of the district.
 II was offered later $1OOOO per week for each week If 1 would get out of New England early last spring.
 'I was offered $15,000 per month if I would take my agents away from the New York line and send all my agents to Maine, New Hampshire and Yer mont on special work, so that liquor might come into the territory
 Tells of Bribe Attempts
 "On various large cases involving criminal and large civil liabilities I have been OtferSd enormous sums of money to let defendants go and close my eyes on violations.
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-03-04
SCHEME TO CENSOR MOVIES
 TO BE VIGOROUSLY FOUGHT
State Rising Up En Masse Against "Holier Than Thou" Who Seek Further to Restrict Per sonal Liberties-Gompers Op- poses Measures.

That old bugaboO, censorship of the movies by state commissions has crop ped up again and a bill now pending before the legislature a few fanatics who want to be judge and jury of their fellow men seek the appointment of an expensive board of censors to regulate and decide upon what picture Is or is not proper for others to see. They are rot going to get away with 1t, however, for aside from the theater men who are vitally interested, of course, the average playgoer has added his voice in protest and when the bill comes up for hearing will be there to fight for his rights of freedom, which are rapidly being taken from him by national and state regulation.
 Organized Labor, from President Gompers down is strictly against this form of state censorship, MT. Gompers declaring this week that movements for state supervision of movies were a dangerous because oppressive in prin- ciple. "I hope the legislatures will demonstrate a better understanding of our time than to add one more to an already too long list of coercive and re- pressive measures already on the statute books" said MT. Gompers. Tt is re- grettable that advocates of government tai mOtiOn-plCture censorship aga1n are active in the endeavOr to place one more restriction upon the exercise of freedom of expression. l trust they will not be successful 1 am aware of all the argu- ments used by those who propose cen sorship ard l am aware that a great many pictures are produced winch might better be left unproduced.
 But there must somewhere be an end to restriction, to censorship, to the eN- ercise of the arbitrary judgment of few over the doings of the masses, or we shall lose our democratic character entirely and become a nation of sub ects. Rather than accept the thou sholt not or WhOSoever may be able to control censorship, the American people will prefer to deliver their own verdict in person and in their own way This is rot the land of thou shalt not this is not the home of 'verbOten,' and nay 1t never be-"
 This movie censorship scheme is noth- ing more nor less than a plan to crSate expensive jobs for a few of "Gds chosen" who want to set them' ID as their brothers keeper. w once and succeeded in New Y: until the wise and honest la. -Iayor William J. Gaynor put an end to it by a veto after the board of aldermen had adopted the ordinance. His req >, sound then are just as sourT now, and can we'll be used by the theater-goer when he appears at Hartford to aid in knocking out the nefarious scheme here. Mayor Gaynor's message of veto was as follows:
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-03-04
TRADES COUNCIL REFUSES SANCTION
 RADICAL MEETING
Also Discusses Printers Situation and Gives Support to
 Label.

Deciding ernphatically not to align it. self with any organization that might even be suspected of ultra-radical ten dencies or Sovietism, the New Haven Trades Council, at its meeting last night declined to sponsor a debate on the merits of renewing trade with Soviet Russia as requested by an or ganization in New York. The Trades Council a few weeks ago, by request did authorize a mass meeting for the discussion of this question and while the mass meeting was proper III every respect the Trades Council believed 1t had gone far enough until the govern ment took some action, so refused to sponsor another meeting or debate.
 Reports were made by delegates of the Typographical Union that certain printeYs, especially Frank A. VanDyck, former secretary of the union, were making strenuous campaign to have the union label cut off from all print ing hereabouts. Several specific at cited and the delegates were instructed to carry the word back to their unions and fraternities and endeavor to coun- teract the campaign.
 The scheme started several meetings ago to compel attendance of elected delegates, while working we'll, showed up several consistent absentees. The secretary was instructed to notify their unions to compel their attendance or elect others III their stead.
 John L. Richards, delegate from the Carpenters, and a member of the board of trustees, resigned to devote his en- tire time to the state carpenters confer ence of which he was recently elected first vice-president His place as dele gate was filled by J. E. Snow and on the board of trustees by Harold Mars den
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-03-04
REVIVE U. 5. SUIT ON
 CONTRACT LABOR LAW
International Silver Company Must Go Into Court on Importa-
 tion of Canadians Charge.

The action of the United States against the International Silver Com pany of Meriden charging violation of the "contract labor law" which appear ed to have been ended some time ago by the decision of Judge Garv1n in the United States court which sustained demurrer to the complaint, Is brought to life again by reversal of his decis- ion by the circuit court of appeals of the second district
 The silver company was alleged to have contracted with a father and son, residents of Springhill, N. S., and sub jects of Great Britain, to come to Mer- iden to work for the company, and to hold a place open for the wife of the older man. The demurrer, which was sustained and later overru1ed by the reversal of the decision, claimed that tht case did not come under the provisions of the contract labor law.
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-03-04

That a fight between the building trades and the contractors, not only in Connecticut but all over the country, is pending to establish the open shop and cut wages, Is now practically certain At confab being held in Chicago un- der the auspices of the National Fed eration of Construction Industries which opened yesterday, plans are be- ing made by the contractors to force the ''open shop" and wage cuts on the workers. The conference Is being at tended by H. Wales Lines of Meriden, as delegate of the State Chamber of Commerce, and Harry A. Leonard of New Haven, as delegate from the New ..avcn Chambc and the new Builders Exchange. While rfot holding a na- tiona1 convention the building trades unions everywhere about the country the preparing to mtet any attempt of the bosses to disrupt the unions and Cut wages at this time, so 1t is almost certain fight is coming.
 The aim of the national meeting of bosses, as we'll as that of the state or ganization Is frankly to cut building costs by cutting the workers wages, which through their propaganda in the press, they claim IS almost entirely for high building costs. The directors of the state association are holding an- other meeting here this afternoon, in quarters established i'll the Benedict building and are going over the wage question. While the association can boast of a large number of members, some of the largest contracting firms doing work in Connecticut have as yet had nothing to do with it, and accord ing to reports, some of them will not. n11fc l. abouts, also declare they will stick to their union agreements.
 At the meeting last week the directors decided to establish two classes in their organization, one where group of con- tractors can be brought together and act as a unit and the other where only individual contractors can be gathered in. Dues were fixed at SIS each.
 The agreements with most of the building trades unions hereabouts ex- pire next month and 1t Is anticipated that when the committees approach the bosses with the request for renewals as heretofore, they will be refused. The usual procedure, of calling for confer ence and discussion, will be followed by the unions and If again refused they will settle back and wait for the move of the contractors but in the meantime will nave prepared 10 meet II. ne inter- est expressed by union men everywhere about the state in the movement to re- sist the arbitrary plans of the contract ors, is surprising even to the officers of the State Building Trades Council un- der whose auspices the convention will be held Not only are organizations affiliated with the State Council to send delegates but many who are not affili- ated have also elected representatives and therefore united front will be pre- sented If war Is declared on the unions
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-03-04
Rail.Oay Shop Men
 Cut, May Strike

A cut of working forces in the railroad shops here, amounting to 75 per cent. of those employed at present, and which will take effect Monday and which will be followed by $1 per day reduction in the wages of the clerical forces in both Yellow and Moeller buildings, was the word that greeted the railroad workers today and caused corsid- erable strike talk immediately. The reduction in working forces in the shop will leave but about 300 men employed here, previous reductions i'll number having cut them down to a little more than 1000. The shop forces look upon the move as drive against the unions instead of money saving scheme and will act promptly on the situation.
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-03-04
PRINTERS GETTING READY FOR BATTLE
 + ONE IS COMING
Will, However, Make Fight in Open, Not as Van Dyck, Fit
 As, Are Doing.

Printers throughout the state and of New Haven especially are becoming active in combating the efforts of the "open shop" group of proprietors, and are now taking steps Ill agitation for the Allied Printing Trades Council union label and will wage a battle not, as the proprietors are doing, in offices and instigating anti-union spirit among their employees, but will come out in the open as they always have done. to do their fighting.
 At the, meeting of New Haven Typo graphical Union, No. AZ, last Sunday in Trades Council hall, the matter of the label being left off printing where members were given to understand it should have appeared, was brought forcibly to the attention of the mem bership, and after much debate com mittee was appointed to interview the users of printed matter and ask that it bear the label
 One firm in particular in New Haven, Van Dyck & Co.,, of Olive street, 1t was reported to the meeting, had issued orders through MT. Van Dyck that in the future the union label was to be left off all jobs printed in that estab- lishment. In the eight hour strike of some 16 years ago this same Van Dyck was then the secretary of No. AZ and his actions at this time are hard for some of the members of the local union to understand
 Van Dyck, it , is reported on good authority, is now very much opposed to the A hour week and minimum scale ef any thing nlare >|l2s:r ,S3Fl par week of AS hours. It is also reported that Van Dyck has made the statement that the printers want trouble and that the Typothetae is ready and willing to give 1t to them.
 There is no truth i'll the statement that the printers of New Haven want
 (Continued on Eighth page.)
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-03-04

Tn line with a combined policy adopt ed by all the railroads of the east, the New Haven road has called confer ence of representatives of the unskllled laborers on the New Haven and Gen. tral New England roads to discuss a reduction in wages that the roads in tend to put into effect on April 3. The conference will be held on March II at 10 30 o'clock in this city and will be attended by delegates of the workers from all over the systems.
 In calling the conference the road posted notices which read:
 There have been marked changes in conditions since the effective date of the rates now paid and these changed conditions justify and require reduc- tions in the existing rates.'
 The employees who will be affected are:
 All common labor, such as stations, platforms, warehouse, transfers, docks,
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-03-04
ANTI-PROFITEERINC
 ACT IS NOT LEGAL

Washington, March 1.-The supreme court this week held unconstitutional the sections of the Lever act under which the government stopped the coal strike of 1919 and subsequently, launched its campaign to reduce the cost of 1iv- ing by prosecuting alleged hoarders of and profiteers in foodstuffs and other necessities.
 Tl%e- cotar'e sopizion. --vs2s rendered specifically in an appeal by the govern ment from a decree in lower courts quashing an indictment against an al legged profteer in sugar, but 1t was sweeping in its terms and will have the effect of ending all prosecutions instituted by the department of justice in its cost of living campaign.
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-03-04
STAMFORD MECHANICS
 REFUSE WAGE CUT

Stamford, March 4.-Refusing to ac- cept a cut of 20 per cent. in wages, mechanics in the building trades here decided that they would not work, and their staying away from operations would be termed a ''vacation.'
 At union headquarters it was stated that the plumbers, carpenters, painters and others would take contracts them selves and so cut the, cost of construc- ton, claiming that the contractors have been figuring from 20 to 40 per cent extra on jobs and charging it up to wages.
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-03-04
MORE EVIDENCE OF
 BOSS BUILDING GRAFT

New York, March 1.-Two indict- ments containing names of nearly 50 corporations aud individuals included in the membership of the Marble Con- tractors Association were returned yes terday by the January grand jury. Vio- lation of the state antitrust law was charged. The identities of the persons named in the indictments were not dis closed, this information being withheld until either they are arrested or appear in court next Wednesday.
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-03-04
ASKS INVESTIGATION
 OF NEW ENGLAND ROADS

Boston, March 1.-The Boston cham Der of commerce by action of its board of directors has called upon the inter state commerce commission to inves- tigate the New England railroads and say whether they are being operated efficiently and economically and whether the proposed further increase of 10 per cent. in freight and passenger rates would be fair and reasonable
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-03-04
STRIKE FOLLOWS WAGE
 CUT AT PECK BROS

The whole corps of belters and strap pers employed at Peck Brothers went out this week when an arbitrary wage cut of 10 cents an hour was announced by the company. This is the second trouble the workers have had with the company in year, about year ago having been on strike for wage in crease which they won after fight. The workers now believe the company is simply getting back at them as there seems to be no lack of orders at the factory necessitating a wage cut
 Advertisements appeared in the daily papers for men to replace the strikers and a number of men fell for them un- til they reached the factory and learned that a strike was on. As result the strikers places have not yet been filled.
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-03-04

Wnsted, March 4.-The William L. Gilbert Clock Company has started in creased production, changing the work ing schedule from 30 hours a week to 40 hours a week.
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-03-04
McCg RTHY BRIBE
 STORIES UNFOUNDED

Bos ,rch i.-The federal grand juEy rel ,.a veo,erday that it had no eBourd " for believing that any 'tte' T, hac s1, male to bribe or cor
 ,ttiy influelS -, nm J. Mccarthy supervising pn officer for this district or ary 1ents in the dis charge |, IT
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-03-04
CHANGE IN M
 BC-G CARD

A change has been ma he Moose card since our sporting went to press which substitutes lall of Bridgeport in place of Yo 5s 'Leary of Waterbury in the prelimiis put.
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-03-04

The prudent housewife will safe guard the health of her household by always patronizing the union label, card and button
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-03-04
Fight Now Almost Certain as
 Bosses Line up Against Men

CONVENTION OF DELEGATES HERE NEXT TO BE ONE OF MOST IMPORTANT MOVES COUNTRY WIDE EFFORT TO PREVENT DISRUPTION OF UNIONS
 FRANK P WALSH LABOR
 BOARD ADVISE MEN
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-03-04

Continued on Fifth Page.)
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-03-04

(Continued on Eighth Page.)
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-03-04

(C0n,inued on Fifth Page.)
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-03-04

Repeating wartime laws as his almost last official act. If mem ory serves right he asked Con- gress for that chance two years ago.