davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1922-08-18

Convinced that the increasing pop
ularity of the cooperative movement
| gives evidences of easy pickings,
The Cooperative Society of Amer
| lea" a fake cooperative is now busy
trying to reap a harvest all over the
country, according to a release re-
ceived from The Cooperative League.
Running true to its old tactics
which got it into court in 1921, this
outfit of stock statesmen which is
cooperative in nothing but name, is
attempting to market its beautifully
engraved securities in New York
City, in New Jersey, Philadelphia
Minneapolis, and other parts of the
country. This in spite of the fact
that the concern has been barred by
the courts from operating in many
states where the authorities are
watchful, and in spite of the fact
that it has been condemned by the
Cooperative League, the national
federation of consumers Cooperative
societies, by the federation of New
York Co-operatives, by the New
York State Department of Farms and
Markets, and by many other genuine
cooperative groups; and that it has
labor by labor declarations in New
York, Chicago and elsewhere.
The disclosures of the past year
may be warning to possible victims
of the C. S. O. A. securities"
In Oct, 1921, a receiver was APP
pointed at the instance of discomfort
ed members of the society in Chi
cago and took possession of the as
sets for the benefit of the members.
1t was then discovered that more
than so per cent of the money re-
ceived from the sale of certificates
of the society had been spent on
commissions. 1t was found that the
principal trustee Of this flake CO.
operative" Harrison Parker, had
made contract with a company
owned by his wife, giving it the eX-
elusive right to sell the certificates
of his company, for a commission.
This commission which was supposed
to represent 20 per cent of the value
of the certificates sold, actually rep
resented an excess of so per cent of
all the cash taken in. In other words
more than half the money secured
to finance the c. S. O. A. was spent
on promotion expenses, through
company owned by the wife of the
head of the C. S. o. A.
Many other examples of double
dealing on the part of this promoter
were disclosed. In order to save as
much as possible of the assets, a
compromise was effected and the
suit dismissed. The retail stores of
the concern were sold out having lost
100000 during the two years Of
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1922-08-18
A SHARE IN THE
CORPORATION
lRv C. A. MOSELY

A worker will do we'll to avoid
buying any stock in the company
which employs him. A man cannot
be worker and a capitalist at the
same time. His real status is de-
termined by the way in which he
earns the greater portion of his liv-
ing. If he receives a few dollars In
interest on his savings deposited in
bank he does not therefor feel
himself a capitalist.
Yet it is suggested to him that
he has stake in the capitalist sys-
tenn if he takes a little stock in the
corporation for which he works.
The great bulk of the stock Of
fered to employes-perhaps all of
it-has no voting power. 1t is mere
ly borrowing of money by the com
pany, the return being called divi-
dend instead of interest.
AS result of being a "stock-
holder" the worker is perhaps asked
to stand a wage cut of, say, S. a
week, to assure himself of a divi-
dend on possibly 5000 worth of stock
which, at per cent, would be $14
He could obtain 3 or per cent on
his money in a savings bank, and be
free to resist a wage cut.
In short, the distribution of stock
to the wage-earner is intended to
give him a capitalistic psychology
without putting him a bit nearer to
being in the capitalist class than he
was before.
He is expected to stand with the
company against the less fortunate
employees, in the hope that he will
fail to see that he is standing against
himself as a wage-earner.
The employee who takes stock in
his corporation finds that his priv
ilege as stockholder is confined to
receiving dividends, while his duty
is to "stand by the company"
| can suggest a way to test your
holder of corporation the right to
the corporation at any time.
your certificate of stock, and ask to
examine the general ledger and the
ledger which is usually marked pri-
vate. See how long your job will
last! You will soon learn whether
you are a capitalist or a worker.
The idea in getting workers to buy
| SIOCk Is 10 CIGdCe ali mag iHdI y
aristocracy of labor. set of en-
ployes, who, installing their real po-
sition. will allow themselves to be
played against their fellow workers,
not only in their own industry but
generally.
1t is something of which every
worker should fight shy. Every class
conscious worker will. He will fol
low George Washington's advice
against entangling alliances. AS Scott
Nearing has pointed out, there are
two ways of getting living-work-
! ing for it and owning it. The wage
/ Garner is working for his living
and he has nothing in common, eco
nomically, with those who merely
own.
Recently the management OF
Krupp's in Germany offered $780,
600 900 marks worth of stock to their
employees. The works council at
Krupp's. after considering the mat
ter, refused to have anything to dc
with it.
Their position was the correct one
Let every American worker take
the same stand and, to that extent al
least, maintain his independence.
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1922-08-18
Liberality by Union
Makes Union Stronger

New York. Aug. 5.-The nterna-
tional Ladies' Garment Workers
union gave striking miners $780,
900, and in answer to one protest
from the tens of thousands of these
workers in this city, Justice, the Of
fetal magazine of the garment work
ers. says:
GAS long as our union will act
in this generous and liberal man
ner, it will endure and keep OH
growing spiritually and materially
1t is because we are generous and
liberal that we are strong. We
give, not because we are charitable.
but because we are actuated by the
spirit of working-class solidarity
This spirit grows stronger every
time we go deeper into our pockets
to aid our fellow workers. 1t makes
for a stronger sense of unity; it
creates a firmer bond of solidarity;
it makes us even invincible against
all possible danger and attack.
"Giving freely, literally, gen.
erously is not an index of weakness,
but a sign of strength, health and an
augury for an even greater and
more promising future"
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1922-08-18
Estimates of Strike
Losses Have No Value

Washington, Aug. 5.-The recent
publication by manufacturers as
sociations of alleged losses by
strikes recalls statement issued by
the government that mot even the
approximate cost of strikes can be
ascertained."
The statement included a review
of the efforts of the United States
bureau of labor statistics to col
lect these statistics, and was writ
ten by Edison L. Whitney in Sep
TENDER, 1920, issue of the Monthly
Labor Review, published by the
United States bureau of labor
statistics.
"The difficulties in compiling
strike statistics are many" says the
statement. There are no complete
or official lists of strikes issued in
this country"
The writer explains at length the
differences in the claims by both
sides during strike times and cites
the steel strike of the previous year
to show the impossibility of arriv-
ing at correct estimates.
"On the first day of the steel
strike, September o." he says, "the
union leaders announced that 279,-
00O men were idle; the next day
the number was given as $4,000;
two days later, as 100000, and on
October 81 as 10000. On the other
hand, the employers denied that over
40 per cent of the above number
actually went out.
"There are several explanations
for these discrepancies. 1t frequent
ly happens that strike by a few
men will affect a large number, as
where a strike of the engineers and
firemen will cause the plant to be
closed because of lack OF power, or
where a strike of workers in certain
earlier processes of production will
cause the mill to be closed because
of lack of material for employees en-
gagged in later processes. In such
cases labor leaders often report the
whole mill as out, while the en-
ployers report those actually on
strike.
"In addition to the difficulty of
stating the number of persons con-
cerned in any large strike, there
is difficulty in correctly stating the
duration of the strike"
The writer again uses the steel
strike to illustrate his point. While
that strike began September %,
1919, and was not officially declared
off until January 8, 1920, "the strike
had practically ended long before
that date" he says.
Attention is also called to the fact
that strikes in seasonal trades are
not actual losses, as they merely
divide the slack season into two
parts.
The increase in wages received by
employees as result of strikes
should also be taken into considera-
ton, it is stated, as should the fact
that strikers often drift into other
callings or do work at home, which
has an economic value.
In referring to the alleged loss
to employers. the writer states that
few explain their method of figur-
ing these losses.
in the absence of strikebreakers,
the loss from fire, destruction and
rioting is uncommon, except in oc-
casional large strikes. These are eX-
penses connected with strikes which
seem to be without corresponding
gain anywhere, but in general their
cost is greatly overestimated.
while it may be possible to get
at the cost of few small strikes,
it does not seem that figures pur-
porting to represent the cost in
money have any value whatever
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1922-08-18
WHEN WILL UNIONISM DIE?

When the lion eats grass like an OK,
And the fish worms swalls the
whale;
When the terrapin knit wooden socks,
And the hare is outrun by the
snail;
When serpents walk upright like
men
And the doodle bugs travel like
frogs;
When grasshoppers feed on the hen,
And feathers are found on the
hogs;
When tom-cats swim in the air,
And elephants roost on trees;
When insects in summer are rare,
And snuff never makes people
sneeze:
When fish creep over dry land,
And mules on bicycles ride;
When foxes lay eggs in the sand,
And women in dress take no pride
When Dutchmen no longer drink beer
And girls get to preaching in time;
When billy goats butt from the rear,
And treason is no longer a crime;
When the humming birds bray like
an ass.
And limburger smells like cologne;
When pillow shares are made of glass
And the hearts of workingmen are
stone;
When ideas grow in jackasses' heads
And wool on the hydraulic ram;
| Then Unionism will be dead,
And the country won't be worth
D..
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1922-08-18
GOLD BRICK SHARPERS INVADE
THE COOPERATIVE MOVEMENT

I their operation Having made a fail
ure of operating stores, the trustees
of the G.. S. o. A. are now trying
their hand" at operating a mail-or-
der business on what they allege to
be cooperative basis.
AS a matter of fact there is not
a single cooperative feature about
the society. The company is not in
corporated but is operating under
an agreement between Harrison Par
ker and two dummy trustees and
Mrs. Parker. Inasmuch as this agree
ment is concealed from prospective
members of the concern, it is well
to expose this amazing document.
Here is what it provides:
All the property, real and personal,
is owned and controlled by three
trustees who hold office until 1910.
| These trustees may sell, mortgage,
or otherwise manipulate the prop
erty as they please, though they are
not under bond and are not liable
to the members for any errors Of
Judgment. The trustees may ap-
point themselves officers and fix
their own salaries. In addition, they
are entitled to four and one-half per
cent of the income Of the business
They may decide in their own dis
cretlon whether the members are to
have dividC<ds or not. The members
have absolutely nothing to say about
who shall be trustees, how long they
shall hold office, they are not pro-
tected by a bond. In short the mem
bers pay the piper"
Needless to say this heads | win
tails you lose' proposition bears no
resemblance whatsoever to the well
known principles of cooperation,
which characterize genuine co-opera-
tives. These principles are as fol-
lows: CD Every member has one
vote, and only one, regardless of the
number of shares he may own. The
members elect and remove their di-
rectors and determine the general
policies Of business. (2) The capital
receives fixed rate of interest at
not more than the current legal rate.
CD Any "profits" earned in the bust
ness are distributed among the men,
bers in proportion to their patronage.
(4) The membership is not limited.
All consumers may join.
The failure to observe these sound
and tested principles Of cooperation
has been responsible for the loss of
millions of dollars by would-be CO.
operators. The public has been vic
tlmized so often by sharpers operat-
ing "gold-brick" co-operatives" that
it is hoped it will soon learn to dis
tinguish between genuine co-opera-
tives organized to eliminate profit,
and stock-selling traps organized for
the profit of few promoters.
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1922-08-18
Tents On Church Lawn,

Canonsburg, Pa, Aug. 5.-Follow-
ing a clash between the Rev. John
J. Hughes and officers of the Pitts
burg coal company over the eviction
of miners from company houses, the
priest notified the strikers that they
could erect tents on the church lawn.
Officials of the company pur-
chased a large tract of land that
the miners intended to use and have
placed signs forbidding trespassing
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1922-08-18
Stick to Strike.

San Bernardino Cal, Aug. s.
Mayor McNabb's unfair attitude to-
ward striking railroad shop men
aroused deep resentment among
these workers, who decided, however,
that their most important work was
to win their strike and not wander
off at this time in an effort to recall
the city official. d
The strikers state that the mayor
called on the government for state
troops after he had conferred with
railroad officials, although he did
not find it necessary to add one man
to the local police force.
The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1922-08-18

Mining dumps of South Africa are
being worked by improved machinery
to recover metals discarded when the
gold was being recovered.
The New York herald., 1922-11-26

in such fields as community service and
service to the Government
Attention has been called to Mr. Lords
note that the book is elementary For
that reason it is of interest not ONLY TO
the young man who is making a choice of
life work but also to the lay reader who
wants to know about the editing and max
ing of newspaper. What is needed to-
day in American journalism is a new gem
GRAFTON of more critical readers of tho
press. OF nothing is it more true than
of the press than the soul of reform is the
reform of the soul.
The lay reader will find Mr. Lords re-
marks about New York newspapers help
full and illuminating-un he be a read
er Of this paper. Possibly Mr.. Lord
thought that THE HERALD was not entitled
to its place in THE SUN He may, on the
other hand. have refrained from praise
because of modesty. But the reader who
wants to know what salaries New York
editors get, how much cable news costs,
when "journalese" becomes literature
where to draw the line between giving
readers what they want and what they
ought to have and how the newspaper has
grown since its cradle days. will find sat
isfactory answers in the book In matters
relating to cradle days of the press Mr..
Lord is not always accurate in the infor-
nation given. The quotations from the
Acto Dirrnd of the ancient Romans have
been shown to be spurious. The printed
news sheets that told of the defeat of the
Spanish Armada have been proved to be
forgeries. But the story of how such
errors originated is too technical tale to
tell here. Mr.. Lord did not trust the right
news sources in these matters He is
right as to the date of the first news
paper to be printed In the English lam
guage-December 2, 1920. (The reason may
be found in the book where credit is given
to J. NJ. L)
The test of the news value of a story n
"Is it interesting?" The book meets the
test. Its style-and incidentally that Of
the modern newspapers illustrated by the
following quotation: Present day writer's
are using whirlwnd sentences and words
in staccato that bit, md scratch and s1-
plode"
The New York herald., 1922-11-26

"HE popular miSconception OF the
Greenwich Village section of New
York city is of an entire locality
given over to what the late lamented Mr..
Gilbert. of the famous firm of Gilbert and
Sullivan, referred to as "Greenery- gallery,
Grosvenor Gallery" young men and women.
Although 1t is happily true that many
poets. painters and other artistically in
clined individuals have recognized the de-
lights of Greenwich Village as a place Of
residence, it is also happily true that the
old established churches are thriving quite
as well the newly established tea rooms
As a matter OF fact the present writer has
visited both tea rooms and churches, so
speaks from first hand knowledge when re-
ferring to the houses of worship.
Let us begin our bries enumeration with
the charming brown stone porticoed Epis-
copalian Church of ST. John the Evangel-
ist at Waverley place and West Eleventh
street, perhaps because It Is Just around
the corner from where we are rafting the
keys Of our typewriter, and perhaps be-
cause 1t Is really in the very heart of
Greenwich Village. The tablet over the
front door bears the date 1856 and states
that this building is memorial to Bishop
Wainwright, who was a noted preacher of
former generation and, incidentally, the
grandfather Of Marie Wainwright, the
actress, who used to play young heroines
but now plays society dowagers.
In Washington Square South, at the cor
ner of Thompson Street, is the Judson Me-
mortal Baptist Church erected, according
to the date over the door, In 1890, and shell
tering under the same roof the First Let
tish Church. During many years the L.
Illuminated cross on the spire was unique
feature Of New York night life, and this
Is said to have been the first church in the
country to employ such device
Washington Square was at one time the
potter's field, and before that was the place
Of public execution. great crowds Journey
ing thither from downtown to witness the
hanging of criminals, whose bones were
buried on the spot. AS the city expanded
and pressed upward, the potter's field was
transferred to Union Square and later to
MaolSon square. (TheSe random remin-
iscences are merely recorded In passing!)
The Washington Square Methodist Epis-
copal Church Is on West Fourth street, be-
tween the Square and Sixth avenue. and
now faces = row of fantastic restaurants,
II obviously being but a step from he
sublime to the ridiculous
st. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church,
with the dafe over. tho norfico 1922 Stopds
at Sixth avenue and Washington place, q
substantial graystone structure, nuns and
priests coming and going, along with artis-
tic temperamentalists. John Philip Sousa
owns q row OF old houses in Washington
place Around the other corner in waver-
~ place George Middleton the playwright,
and Fola La Toilette. his wife. the Sena-
The New York herald., 1922-11-26

tors daughter, lunched and dined every
day at Mrs. Beckwith sin the Basement
Another highly picturesque old Roman
Catholic church is Our Lady of Pompeii,
on Bleecker street, between Downing and
Hancock streets, facing Minetta street.
where the poets and painters have not
quite crowded out the ragpickers Minetta
street. which turns into Minetta lane, was
originally Minetta Brook, favorite SWIM
ming and fishing place when Greenwich
Village was region of great farms and
country houses, reached from Bowling
Green and Wall street by numbering stage
coaches. Even when horse cars running
on tracks were introduced the village re-
manned a popular picnic ground for sum-
mer holidays.
Now the neighborhood is given over al
most wholly to Italians. whose butchers
thoroughfare strangely suggestive of
Naples or Palermo. On Bleecker street is
the modernized edifice of the Presbyterian
Bethlehem Chapel, at which services are
held in English and in Italian
In Christopher street near Sheridan
Square. with its tiny triangle of park. is
ST. Johns Lutheran Church, with a tablet
below the wooden dome giving the dates
1S5S-1SS6. The German tradesmen of the
vicinity assemble here on Sundays in FAM
lily groups of Teutonic appearance if of
American speech.
An interesting little house of worship is
that of St Luke's Chapel Trinity Parish,
on Hudson street, at the corner of Grove
The building is a severely simple one, but
it has recently been painted a brilliant
yellow. so appears much enlivened. The
tablet over the entrance is almost oblit-
Grated by time. On either side and across
the street are rows of very old red brick
cottages, so that one could easily imagine
hoop skirted ladies and stock collared gem
tlemen coming out to go to church.
The North Church (Baptist) with a
cornerstone dated 1881. is on West
Eleventh street, which, oddly enough,
crosses West Fourth street, at which sec
ton once stood the Spencer homestead Thi,
was erected old records attest, by one Gar
rett Gilbert man about town. who later
lost his money and sold the estate to Sem
ator Marcus Spencer, whose name ii re-
ldIHeu lOHS dIteIWdTu, DeCOHlll1S SHOW
place with its flower garden and fruit
orchard, to say nothing of a fish pond.
During the yellow fever epidemic of 1922
the house was occupied by the Post Office
Department, which later moved to Asylum
(now Fourth) and Bank streets. The
Spencer mansion was demolished in 1872,
but Dr. Hall. the Senator's son-in- law,
fho
There is a Jewish synagogue. Congrega-
ton Sarech Amuno at 224 West Fourth
street.
The Charles Street Presby United
Church is situated among old residences,
and the Jane Street Methodist Church is
also within the confines of Greenwich Viii
lage.
am not certain that the three churches
now named come strictly within the "Vil-
The New York herald., 1922-11-26
The Churches of Greenwich Village

lage" classification, but am quite positive
that many "Vilagers" attend the services
at the First Presbyterian Church, at Fifth
avenue and Eleventh street (founded in
1716); at the Church of the Ascension. now
being renovated. at Fifth avenue and Tenth
street (the Rev. Percy Stickney Grant
The New York herald., 1922-11-26
ST. John Evangelist Waverey place

minister), and Church of Christ, Scientist,
on West Eighth street, back of the Hotel
Brevoort, between Fifth avenue and Uni
versity place.
CYes. the Artistic Temperament even
acknowledges Mrs. Eddy's teachings, and
in Germantown, Philadelphia, Violet Oak
The New York herald., 1922-11-26

ley. perhaps the best known woman mural
decorator in America, having adorned the
Pennsylvania State House at Harrisburg
and won many first prizes in competitions,
has acted as First Reader in the Christian
Science Church)
AS final evidence of the keen interest