davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-02-11
MEN. TO COVER UP
Rush to Press With Excuses for
 Poor Quality and Promise Lower Prices at Once.

Even though the city and prosecuting
 authorities are power1ess to protect the buying public from the grasping coal dealers, the blast given the coal men ir1
 The LABOR NEWS last week has had some effect. The coal men admit that the material they have supplied their
 customers Is of an inferior grade and promise immediate lower prices. To make that good and keep the populace quiet they have dropped the price to $15.50 ton dumped on the sidewalk, reduction of $2 ton from the charges they made for the worthless slate they foisted on the trade. .>.
 A regular avalanche of complaints was received by THE LABOR NEWS since the expose of conditions in coal in and about New Haven. They are all alike-slate instead of coal having been delivered and at unheard of prices. The complaints are general about nearly all coal dealers and to print them all would require a special edition of the paper and the task to single out the most offending dealers would be almost futile because nearly all the coal men of the city are complained of.
 In order to bring the matter out off1c- ially, however THE LABOR NEWS SOuRul dIuCIHIdll1C dIlu John w. Murphy responded. He wait ed both the corporation counsel and the city attorneys but found, as THE LA BOR NEWS had found previously that the aldermen could do nothing but per haps have an investigation that wouldn't lead anywhere. The hope of an ordin- ance stipulating the quality of coal was also killed by the corporation counsel who declared that coal being a mineral would perhaps have to be graded as gold Is officially by carats and how such a bill could be drawn that would hold in New Haven he confessed he. couldn't see.
 The coal men, however, rushed to the public daily press, (which wou1dn't print anything about their doings) with their excuses They blamed the quality of the coal on the independent" producers with whom they said they were forced this year to deal and blamed the gov ernment for so forcing them by the governments re-routing coal during the war.
 One dealer, w. A. Warner, was quoted as saying that New Haven had been particularly fortunate in its coal supply. There has always been some coal here, he said, and while he didn't doubt that the quality had been poor, he looked for better coal and lower prices soon. Others too blame the "independent" dealer, who is no more nor less than a speculator who when the regular contracts for this region were sold, got the retailers in their grip and undoubtedly gave them squeezing.
 At any rate the expose by THE LA BOR NEWS had some results. It drove the dealers to explaining and promising better coal in the future. It's up to the consumer now to see to 1t that the promise is kept.
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-02-11
CROWDS PROTEST PROPOSED REPEAL
 OF SUNDAY LAWS
Efforts to Block Movies and Re creation Prove Boomerang.
 Other Legislative Matters of the Week.
Especial to The Labor News.)

Hartford, Feb. 11.-Where the spon- sors of the bills that would repeal the Sunday moving picture and Sunday recreation laws, got the idea that any one but little coterie of "Holier-than- thou fanatics" wants such action Is a mystery to the legislative committee on the judiciary which held hearing on the bills yesterday. Such an outpouring against proposed legislation has seldom if ever been seen at the Capitol. There were churchrnen, lawyers, school and college professors, laymen, l legislators themselves, moving picture, and athletic event promoters and when they all got through there was little of comfort left for the few who had supported the measures.
 The bills were the first up for hear ing in which Organized Labor and the worker generally are .vitally interested and they were therefore vigorously op- posed by I. M. Ornburn, secretary of the Connecticut Federation of Labor. T represent 60O0O organized workers i'll Connecticut" Mr. Ornburn said, "and we believe in the rule of the majority. In this case the majority is overwhelm- ingly III favor of having Sunday moving picture shows and liberal Sunday recrea- tion laws and therefore protest in their name against any repeal of the exist ing 1aws.''
 Aside from the big crowd present that packed the old senate chamber hum dreds of telegrams and written pro- tests from all parts of the state were filed with the committee. The principal advocates of the repeal were George L. Fox of New Haven, whose opposition to all liberal laws, especially those for the advancement of the school system, Is well known; and Martin D. Knee land of the Lords Day League of New England. Mr. Fox, who runs private tutoring school in New Haven, declared the moving picture detriment instead of benefit i1lasmuch as it detracted in terest from the classics, which he thought should be enough amusement for anyone on Sunday as 1t was for him. The movies are not educational either, he said, and should be restricted even more on week days.
 Both he and MT. Knee1and charged that the movies and Sunday baseball were commercia1izing and demoralizing the Sabbath. Senator Bakewell, pro- lessor at Yale, took issue with MT. Fox
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The Connecticut labor news., 1921-02-11
RAILROAD WAGES
 BOARD DECIDES IN
 FAVOR OF UNIONS
Refuses to Abrogate National Agreement as Rail Managers
 Desired.

Chicago, Feb. 11.-Organized Labor, especially the railroad crafts won sig nal victory here yesterday when the Federal Railroad Labor Board denied the request of the American Associa- ton of Railway Executives for imme- diate abrogation of the national wage agreements with the brotherhoods and establishment of new basic rate for unskilled labor predicated on local con- ditions. The decision came before B. M. Jewell, president of the railway en- p1oyes department of the American Fed eration of Labor, had started his reply to the statement made for the railway executives last week by w. w. Alter bury of the Pennsylvania railroad.
 The board held that it had no juris- diction over questions involving expense of operation and suggested that neither the roads nor the union interrupt the hearing on standard rules aid working conditions with further unwarranted demands"
 Mr. Jewe1l's' statement charges that the request for immediate abrogation of the national working agreements were part of conspiracy to disrupt unionism.
 In announcing the decision of the board, Chairman R. M. Barton, review GU tIlS pOWGIS Ol lIlc DOdIu lllC transportation act of February 28,. 1920. He said the act imposed upon the board the duty of deciding disputes between carriers and employees of what shall constitute just and reasonable wages, salaries and standards of working con- ditions.
 The present heading separated, by agreement, rules and working conditions from wages. The decision on wages was rendered last July, Judge Barton said, and the rules hearing convened on January 10. "The board assumed as the basis of this decision the continu- ance in full force and effect of the rules, working conditions and agree ments enforced under the authority of the United States railroad administra- tion," Judge Barton said. He made an exception of any mutual agreement be- tween carriers and employees and de- c1arcd 1t was the boards desire to rem der decision at the earliest possible date.
 The ruling of yesterday held that all questions involving expense of opera ton were outside the jurisdiction of the labor board. If any of these rules and working conditions are unjust and
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The Connecticut labor news., 1921-02-11
OPEN SHOPPERS
 ASK LABOR NEWS
 TO JOIN WITH THEM
Invitation Discloses Apparent h. tent to "White-List" Those
 Outside Fold.

THE LABOR NEWS this week re- ceived an invitation to join the "Open Shop" movement in New Haven, which invitation was rejected without regret. Whether 1t was a compliment or the packers of the "open shop" were trying to kid The Labor News or themselves, The Labor News doesn't know or care It reprints the invitation solely to show up the purposes of the Open Shop crowd which apparently is to establish a blacklist" or perhaps they would call in with them. The limit for joining was 12:30 o'clock last Monday, so The Labor News expects it is now on the "open shop" unfair list. The invitation follows:
 February 5th, 1921. Conn. Labor News
 '286 York St, City. Dear Sirs:
 Il had hoped by this time that every electrician, plumber, painter, contractor and printer would realize the signif- canoe of the Open Shop list that will close positively at 12:30 Monday noon. This will be the first authentic Open Shop list that New Haven has ever had the pleasure of seeing. The Open Shop Council sOiH use it's inflnenee to see thaf bnSfteSS iS done zeffh the ndHtes Hdt appear on this list
 We appreciate and know your sym pathy with the Open Shop movement and the fact that most of you are oper- ating on the Open Shop basis but we do not feel justified in placing your name on the list without your written permission.
 Therefore to insure yourself of be- ing on this list, kindly get in touch with MT. Si1kman, Col. 2538 before 12:30 Monday noon and designate your will Hgness to take part in this important
 ? and receive the support of this ement.
 . Cordially yours, gu "A. C. GILBERT, .eir President. | pus Branch, National Metal Trades | f sso."
 | ] A invitation is on the stationary of I C Gilbert and took much for grant 10 The Labor News attitude.
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-02-11

New Haven the Tuesday of which undoubtedly expected the the financial establish open shop workers regardless of whether conditions such reduction the workers those of the Builders and that of the of the Carpenters builders part another column through executive board has definitely decided slash from 20 to 9 and the their d voted unanimously to the limit reduction until living conditions have far improved make such a reduction possible and just
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-02-11
Forces Line Up For Wage Reduction Clash When
 Builders and Carpenters Meet Ln Ne1u Hauen
IS THE "OPEN SHOP"
 REALLY AMERICAN

(From the Boston American.)
 Some patriot says "The open shop Is American" Perhaps it IS. Black slavery also was once American"
 But 1t didn't last.
 The open shop means a condi- ton under which workmen with out unions compete with each other on basis of "The devil take the hindmost."
 If that is American" it is not a good thing for America. Dis organized industry, no regulated training of skilled mechanics, no guarantee of employment with decent wages following appren- ticeship-all that means indus trial anarchy, and that is NOT American"
 In certain quarters Is the de- sire to keep labor down, to make 1t humble" and take with grati- tudc what it can get. Do those who prosper realize what they owe to unions? If they don't let them ask the extreme radical agitators. They hate unions and the closed shop more than any capitalist hates them. Strong unions and good wages, bringing peace of mind, are the most dan gerous enemies of extreme radi- calism.
 If gentlemen succeed in estab- fishing their ''open shop" they will find that they have also null tiplied by ten or twenty the strength of extreme radica1ism in this country.
 Take gentle Mir, Gompers with good grace and gratitude. That is the way to postpone MT. Trot- zky.
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-02-11
STRIKE AND PICKET
 ABSOLUTE RIGHTS
 SAYS N. Y. JUSTICE
Injunction Casts Unjust Odium on Workers-Court Must
 Be Fair.

Holding that workers not only have the absolute right to strike, but also the right of 'picketing" to persuade others to strike and to attempt to per suade others from taking their places, Justice Wesley O. Howard, supreme court justice of New York, this week dissolved sweeping injunction granted by lower court against the International Association of Machinists on petition of the Walter A. Wood Company, of Hoosick Falls. The decis- ion is in marked contrast to many re- gently issued against workers.
 Machinists employed by the Wood Company had been on strike several days when the injunction was issued. Had 1t been sustained by the supreme court 1t would have been necessary for the members to abandon their efforts to secure justice from the employer.
 The attitude of courts, Justice How ard says, must be one of absolute lm- partiality and indifference when the ls- sue Is between capital and labor. Any other position would work irreparable injury to one of the parties to dis pute. On this point the justice says:
 Tn an evenly balanced, long-drawn- out labor struggle an endict of the court 1evelled at the strikers, shakes the nor
  the purpose of the injunction, although it is frequently, and perhaps generally, the purpose of the emloyer who seeks 1t.
 "The courts do not take sides in this ceaseless struggle between capital and labor. They stand indifferent. They 1n- tervene on ly when the law is trampled upon. They interpose the arm of auth ority only to restrain those who invade the rights of others.
 "The moral effect of an injunction order in such cases is. tremendous. At once it gives the impression to the com rnunity that the strikers have violated the law. The court seems to have taken a hand in the struggle. This is the lay mans view. The injunction, thus shap- ing public opinion, is often decisive.
 The plea that injunctions can do no harm because they seek to restrain only unlawful acts is dismissed by Justice Howard as specious and vicious.
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-02-11
Foil Attempts to Kill
 Mechanics License Bills

After first being reported favorably and then 'by request" recommitted for another lookover, the proposed ordin- ance for the licensing of journeymen plumbers and electricians in New Haven was reported unfavorably on Monday night to the board of aldermen but in stead of the petitioners being given leave to withdraw as is usual, the bills dent John w. Murphy, who is business agent of the Cigar Makers union and the rumpus is not yet settled.
 The proposed plumbers ordinance has been pending for some months and after due hearing was favorably re- ported. Then the Builders Association of the city pretended to see in 1t move by unionists to restrict the num-
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-02-11

New Haven is finally to get the long delayed, although once started, com fort station. Alderman Peter F. Con- molly, chairman of the committee in charge promises immediate action and that the station will probably be located on the Green, members of the park board and proprietors committee being willing. The location will probably be at the head of Court street with the walk leading in from Church street, partitioning the station and most of the interior running underground.
 The comfort station has lain dormant for more than two years, since church and business interests objected to its being located on the upper Green after work had been started there. Despite
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-02-11
Action Promised at Last on
 Proposed Comfort Station

the clamor~fo such station the alder men have done nothing about it and would probably continue to do so had not the Labor News gotten after some of the members and prepared to bring the matter Up on the floor again.
 At the meeting of the aldermen Mon- day night, President Murphy who was to bring the matter up, sought MT. Connolly and informed him of the in tention. Mir. Connolly got busy, called the committee hurriedly together and decided on action. The site at the head of Court street has long been i'll mind and was tentatively decided upon and Mr. Connolly instructed to get busy on the park board, secure its sanction and proceed with the building.
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-02-11
Resolutions of c. F. of l.. Favor ing Abolishment of Roads and Bridges Levy Adopted Only With Aim of Securing Cheaper Riding for Workers-Hearings on Bills Start Next Week.

Unless the Connecticut Company, formally and officially promises a re- duction III fares from the present 10 cent flat rate and holds out hopes of the rate soon being put back to the nickel or six cent levy, strenuous op- position will be waged before the Legislature against granting the petition of the trolley company for relief from the taxation for roads and bridges over which the lines run. Not only will the organized workers of Connecticut strenuously oppose any such relief but hosts of the unorganized men and women will appear before the commit tees having the subjects in charge and file objections.
 The Connecticut Company i'll its ap- plication to increase the fares until It got them to the present 10 cents limit, declared that it couldn't pay these state and city tax bills at the old five cent or six cent rates. The Chamber of Commerce of the state and cities be- lieved that to be true and went on rec ord as favoring the abolishment of these taxes, and the Connecticut Federation of Labor at its 1919 convention adopted resolutions to that effect also. These resolutions were adopted, however, only after spirited argument and at the close 1t was made plain that the action was taken solely to keep the fares down for the benefit of the worker at large who comprise practically all the patronage of the trolley lines,
 The Connecticut Company is owned. outright by the New Haven road and operated under board of trustees ap- pointed by the Federal Court to divorce the trolleys from the steam road. This has not been done, the trustees say, be- cause reasonable prices cannot be se- cured for the stock, the road, accord ing to its officials being practically bankrupt. They therefore petition for relief from the state tax on the gross receipts, which mean little as for sev- eral years the company has paid no tax of this kind at all but still owes it to the state. Then 1t asks exemption from paying its share for bridges over which the cars pass and which have to be
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-02-11

The carpenters had what was per- haps the most successful convention in the state body's history. It was ad- dressed not only by General President William L. Hutcheson of Indianapolis but by a number of other national body officials all of whom declared that the time has not yet come to accept a re- duction Tn wages and counsel1ed resist ing such reduction to the limit. The convention itself, representing every local council in Connecticut, was unanimous against any reduction at this time or until living prices have been reduced to a point where 1t can be assured they will stay reduced. This the several speakers explained IS not with the idea of fighting 1t out with real situation that 1t Is not labor that is keeping the cost of building up, but solely the price of materials that have not and are not coming down. They see in the reduction of wages scheme an effort to becloud the real reason of high costs and put the brunt on the worker and will therefore go the limit in showing these conditions up
 The convention opened on Monday morning at 10 o'clock with cali to order by John L. Richards, president of the New Haven District Council of Carpenters, in which he bade the dele gates representing every local of car penters in the state welcome to New Haven. He then appointed Delegates Mayer and O'Dell a committee to in troduce John w. Murphy, president of the New Haven board of aldermen and an active member and business agent of the Cigarmakers union, who exttnded the welcome of the city officially. Mr. Murphy in addition to his formal well
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-02-11

New York, Feb. 11.-Robert F. Brin- dell, president of the Building Trades Council, was sentenced to serve from five to 10 years in Sing Sing prison at hard labor as the result of his convic- ton for extortion. Brindell, as he stood before the bar of the supreme court hearing sentence, with a court room full of friends behind him and the cor riders of the criminal courts building black with delegates of various unions he led took the sentence without wine ing.
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-02-11
HOUSE IMMIGRATION
 BILL IS DISAPPROVED
Senate Substitute Proposes, Re striction on Per Cent.
 Basis.

Washington, Feb. IA substitute for the house immigration bill designed to restrict rigidly immigration from European countries, but leaving in status quo the treaty and agreements affecting admissibles from Japan and China as well as the existing regulations between the Americas, was taken up this week by the Senate immigration committee. "a.
 Previously the committee had voted five to four to reject the house bill, un- der which Europeans and Asiatics would have been excluded for one year. The committee probably will approve the substitute after minor amendments and report 1t to the Senate.
 Several sections of the measure, how ever, were still in dispute. One of these was the fixing the number of ad- missibles from any of the affected countries at five per cent. of their citi- zens already residing in the United States.
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-02-11
HERE SOMETHING FOR THE ANTI-LABOR,
 CROWD TO EXPLAIN

New York, Feb. 11.-A blanket indictment naming 2o corpor- ations, all members of the asso- ciation of dealers in masons' building materials, and charging violation of the state antitrust law, was returned late Wednes- day by the supreme court grand jury Investigating the alleged building trust.
 Fifty-six individuals connected with these corporations were in dicted on similar charges last week. The names of the corpor- ations, withheld today, will be made known when counsel for them appear for pleading before the court.
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-02-11

Der who could work and asked z other hearing. It was 9Xs 1z poured out en masse h made general charges agains - Q9 which were vigorously refuted VI x OMeara at>d others. The e1ecrl. 66 bill came afcer and was opposed on 9 same general reasons.
 Both bills were then allowed to lie dormant for about two months although the committee had decided against them. On Monday night they were slipped in among a lot of other unfavorable re- ports but when President Murply's at tention was called to them he had them held up to allow himself and others in terested a chance to look into the reasons why the committee suddenly changed its view.
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-02-11
REJECT NAVAL HOLIDAY.

Washington, Feb. 1.-The Senate committee on naval affairs is almost unanimous against Senator Borah,s plan to suspend naval construction tor period of six months.
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-02-11
.eINTERS RAISE WAGES.

De ooit, Mich, Feb. 11.-CommerciaI shop members of Typographical Union No. IS have secured wage increases through arbitration. The old rate of $44.50 for day work and S47. 50 for nioht work Is increased to $465O and S5l 50
 and will date back to November |. Iasf.
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-02-11
Bosses Declare For "Cut"
 While Union Men Resist H

STATE CONVENTION, ADDRESSED BY NATIONAL OFFICERS UNANIMOUS IN DIFFERENTIATION TO REFUSE TO ACCEPT ANY CHANGE IN RATES UNTIL LIVING COSTS AND COSTS OF MATERIALS MAKE
 SUCH CHANGE POSSIBLE.
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-02-11

Get the habit of asking for the union label, card and button.
The Connecticut labor news., 1921-02-11

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The Connecticut labor news., 1921-02-11

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The Connecticut labor news., 1921-02-11

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The Connecticut labor news., 1921-02-11

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The Connecticut labor news., 1921-02-11

MARTIAL LAW IN ALBANY
 Albany.-Martial law is on here following the shooting at trolley strikers early in the week when attempts were made to move cars and the strikers re- sisted.