davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1923-12-14
IA m @ n N
ARTIFICIAL GAS

There are few now living who can
not recall the days of artificial gas.
1t is not so long ago that the natural
product was introduced into the homes
of Salem and elsewhere in the central
west. Yet, the warning already has
been sounded that natures supply is
near exhaustion and that a return to
artificial gas is inevitably near. Con-
servation of the former has been
urged for long time and now comes
a warning that this conservation must
take the form of combination with
manufactured gas so as to postpone
the day of the exhaustion of natures
resources.
This is no idle warning. 1t is given
by no less an interested party than
the Ohio Gas and Oil Mems Associa-
ton. A committee is being formed to
consider the crisis. 1t is to act on the
recommendation of the department of
mines and metallurgy of the Ohio
State University, that the entire
state be placed, as rapidly as possible,
on basis of manufactured gas en-
riched by a mixture of natural gas"
Ohio's production of natural gas has
so declined that the state has dropped
from fourth to fifth in rank in pro-
ducers, although it holds first place
as a consumer of it.
The situation is an unpleasant one
and fulfillment of the prediction of the
not-distant exhaustion of natural gas
would produce much inconvenience
1t will be almost a retrogression of
progress to go back to artificial gas
with its high cost of production and
consequent higher cost to consumer.
This is one Of the penalties that must
be paid for the reckless waste of the
natural product and introduction
among the present-day conveniences-I
waste that has shortened the life of
natures reservoirs and brought near
the day of practical exhaustion.-Ed |
torial from Salem (O) News.
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1923-12-14
- - n - -
WHEN THEY ARE FREE

In a recent talk before newspaper
men, L. C. Probert, manager of the
Associated Press at the national cap
ital, characterized the newspaper re-
porter as a great educator. Mr.. Pro-
bert said:
''He brings one part of the world
to another part; he is the person who
has more to do with the worlds pro-
gress than any other class of men.
Reporters are men of intelligence and
tact; they are educated and apprecia-
tive of the responsibility which rests
upon them"
To a considerable extent this is
true Newspaper men, however, could
be greater educators if they were not
held down at every turn by their en-
ployers, who often represent special
interests that are robbing and ex-
plotting the people. If the reporters
and other men who actually get out
the newspapers were permitted free
hand, they could do wonders at dis
pelling the darkness of ignorance.
Too often they are permitted to write
only what their employers think best
for the public to know, with the re-
suit that much vital news is ignored
or given scant attention.
The one bright ray in the situation
is that the labor press is becoming
stronger and more powerful, and is
giving newspaper men the opportun-
ity to tell the public of the really
significant happenings of the world.
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1923-12-14
E ~ @ - ~
LOW WAGES DOOM BABIES

Study of a recent report of the
federal children's bureau leads di
rectly to the conclusion that employ.
ers who pay" low wages are respon-
sible for the high death rate among
babies of the poor
The children's bureau, in an inten-
sive study of infant mortality in Bal
timore, found that the baby death
rate was highest among the poorly
paid and lowest among the better
paid. In other words, there was a
direct relation between wages and in
fant mortality, a fact which has long
been known by social workers.
1t is idlesto deny that revelations
such as the one made by the children's
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1923-12-14

bureau place terrible responsibility
on employers who pay inadequate
wages. 1t means that these employ
ers are a menace to the national well
fare, as people of all shades of opin-
ion are agreed that there is nothing
that means more to the building up of
society than the conservation of child
life.
Fortunately for the nation, organ
lied labor is alive to the danger of
the low wage and is fighting it in
every section. Where labor is suffi
GENTLY strong to secure fair wages,
there is assurance that the rate Of
infant mortality will decline. In this
lies one of the most encouraging as
poets of present-day conditions in the
United States.
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1923-12-14

ing the rates, and to anyone who did
little thinking and wanted to be
fair about it, they were reasonable
and Just. But that didn't cut any
figure. Increased rates touched the
pocketbook and the people wouldn't
stand for it. The increased rates cut
a big figure and the people voted
against them and they are expecting
low rates, and low rates to continue
no matter where the revenue comes
from, and the fellow who increases
them Mr.. News despite any and all
explanation will be in the same hole
as jake Winterback was wont to say
of the fellow caught with the goods
"Hee's gon to ketch HI"
Believe US Mr.. News, when we say
that the increased rates for water
and gas was the biggest issue with
the working man in the recent cleo
ton, and that you will find explana-
tions for increases will cut little fig
ure in the next municipal election,
that is, of course, if increases really
become necessary.
But at that, Mr. Workingman, the
Press believes that you can begin look
ing forward to an increase in rates
of water and gas. The News is AL
READY preparing US for it.
M "a En III "a
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1923-12-14
THAT MEMBERSHIP LIE

Employers and their spokesmen
throughout the country, are busily en-
gagged in circulating the statement
that American FeIera ton Of Labor
membership has declined.
They WANT to believe union MEM
bership has dropped and they want
others to believe likewise.
American Federation of Labor
membership has NOT dropped and it
is not dropping.
American Federation of Labor
membership is growing.
During the coming year it is going
to grow lot more.
The figures published yearly by the
American Federation of Labor do not
show MEMBERSHIP. They show
PER CAPITA TAX PAID. There is
great difference.
Figures published at convention
time in October showed a decline in
per capita tax paid over period
of sixteen months. During those
months there was much unemploy-
ment and there were many strikes,
some of them of huge proportions.
They included the railway shopmen's
strike.
Unemployed workers and workers
on strike do not pay per capita tax
they cannot But they are union
members just the same.
There is no way of knowing with
anything like statistical accuracy at
any time what is the total union mem
bership.
But everything that has any bear
ing on the subject goes to prove
| that union strength is as great as 1t
| was at the peak; and that it is GOING
UPWARD.
President Samuel Gompers, of the
A. F. of L., recently said publicly that
there are SIX MILLION ORGANIZ-
ED WAGE FARMERS in the United
States. That is the best and most
authoritative statement available.
The American Federation of Labor
is at top strength; and it is growing
every day.
Tell that to those whose wish is
father to the thought that the A. F
of L. is pining away. The A. F. of l..
is on the upward sweep, constructive
fighting organization.
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1923-12-14

ure to get better acquainted with
their families and to lead normal lives
that the 12-hour day denied them.
Additional evidence that the worker
knows how to make good use of his
leisure has recently come from Eng
land. A coal mine owner on the
northeast coast made a record show
ing the influence Of hobbies on steady
work. He found that some of his en-
ployes kept pigeons, some whippets
and that others were gardners and
football enthusiasts. The miners with
hobbies worked more steadily than
those who had no particular form of
recreation.
Reports telling of the good use to
which the workers put their leisure
also come from other parts of Great
Britain. Robert Hyde, director of the
Industrial Welfare Society, which has
encouraged workers recreation, says
that in his happy employment of leis-
ure time there is the promise of a
fuller, more contented life for the
whole country.
The superior" persons need not
worry about the workers leisure time
The workers will mount their hobbies
during their leisure time and will find
richer, fuller life.
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1923-12-14
Issued Weekly at s26 Marka Street
Hamilton. Ohio.
Telephone 1895
Endorsed by the Trades and Labor
Council of Hamilton, Ohio.
Endorsed by the Middletown Trades
and Labor Council of Middletown. O.
ALREADY-IYS COMM?

Last week city council passed an
ordinance establishing new gas prices
and Service Director William F. Ma
son ordered that new scale of water
rates be drawn. Investigation shows
that we are going back to practic-
ally the same rates as previous to
October /, 1920, when the officials
deemed it necessary to increase the
rates for gas and water in order to
secure revenue enough to continue
business. Council also passed an or
dinance repeating the regulation and
licensing soft drink places and pool
and billiard halls. Mayor Koehler
backed council and Director Mason in
their action. When asked the reason
for the rate cuts and repeating ordi-
nance Mayor Koehler said:
"The people of Hamilton evidenced
their disapproval of the present ad-
ministration at the November cleo
ton, and we want to put the city on
the same basis as it was before we
went into office, so that the incoming
administration might not be hindered
in doing whatever they see fit"
And to those who know the situa-
tion and understand, my, what mean
ing in the words of his honor! Mayor
Koehler, it seems, played one of his
last cards, and it was the trump ace
The cards he hasn't played he gummed
all up, making it difficult for some
one else to play the hand. In other
words Mayor Koehler is putting some
one in a hole from which it is going
to be big job to get out. None sees
it more clearly than the Hamilton
Evening News, spokesman for the
newiy-elected incoming officials. The
News all during the recent campaign
howled about the increased gas and
water rates, claiming they were un-
necessary and charging the present
officials with gross extravaganza, in
competency, ETC., making the increas-
ed rates necessary.
Now that Mayor Koehler and the
other officials are reducing rates and
repeating ordinances, thereby cutting
off revenue approximating 100000
annually, the News lets out a long
drawn howl, claiming it is small town
politics" The News knows right
now, as it has known all the time,
that it is next TO impossible to fur
nish gas and water at the old rates
and meet expenses, that those who try
to do so are going to run things IN
the hole. But it made good campaign
ammunition for it has long been said,
when you touch the average fellows
pocketbook you touch the heart, so
that by dangling before the voters
the increased gas and water rates, |
it was easy to corral the votes. Now,
it would seem, Mayor Koehler and the
city council have placed the boot on
the other leg.
The News, however, is already paw
ing the way for backslide when it
says, in part:
"One thing is certain and that is
that Mr.. Kelly and his associates will
try in every way possible to turn
the joke; and if it is not possible to
keep the rates down they will frankly
tell the people so, and EXPLAIN THE
REASON WHY"
That won't do, Mr.. News. Mayor
Koehler also gave reasons for rails
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1923-12-14
n ~ - ~ -
NEWSPAPERS AND WORKERS

New York society girls" who re,
Gently took over the operation of two
big hotels for day in the interest OF
charity have been getting lot of pub
licity in the daily press. Reporters and
photographers have We'd in describing
and picturing their work as amateur
bellhops, room clerks, mattresses and
venders.
The same papers which have been
almost falling over themselves to laud
the daughters Of the idle rich for
few hours of work have nothing to
say about the girls and youths, men
and women, who do the READ work of
the hotels, 365 days a year, year in
and year out. The hotel workers are
counted members of the '1ower
classes" and the papers are not inter-
ested in them.
Yet it is these same humble work
ers on whom the hotels depend. If
they should suddenly vanish from the
earth, the hotels would cease to func-
ton. If the hotel managers should
turn to the Society girls" for relief,
it is probable that most of the girls
would make a sorry showing if they
actually tried to run the hostelries
and give service equal to that of ex-
perienced workers.
Some day the workers will control
daily newspapers that will recognize
the services Of the real workers and
will give space to their work and life,
rather than to the activities of the
gilded society" butterflies who neith-
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1923-12-14
LIVE ABOVE COAL
MINES BUT CAN'T
PURCHASE COAL

Pittston, Pa.-Citizens in this and
surrounding territory are indignant
over the refusal of coal owners to sell
them coal. 1t is charged that the
largest coal corporations in this vi
cinity decline to sell their product
here, but are shipping elsewhere.
Citizens are discussing whether they
will refer the matter to Governor Pin
chot or the federal trade commission.
The towns involved are in the heart
of the anthracite region, and some of
them are built over immense coal
mines.
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1923-12-14
WILL PROBE DISEASES

Washington. - The United States
public health service is conducting a
detailed study of common colds and
other minor respiratory diseases and
influenza in an effort to gather data
that these affections may be prevent
ed. Few individuals, it Is stated,
escape suffering some acute respira-
tory condition at least once year
from a day to week or more. Some
of these attacks develop into serious
disorders.
These studies by the health service
are the first of their kind to be taken
UP on such a broad scale.
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1923-12-14
Subscription Price $1.00 per Year
Payable in Advance.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER IA, 1928

Entered at the Postoffice at Hamilton,
Ohio, as Second Class Mail Matter.
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1923-12-14
- - II - ~
THE WORKERS AND LEISURE

Those superior" persons who think
that the worker does not make good
use of his leisure and that therefore
short worRdays are bad for him, are
wrong.
Z The worker does make good use
of his leisure, the superior" people
to the contrary. When he wins in
creased leisure, he devotes more time
to his family, to recreation, to hobbies
of various kinds. Testimony to this
effect has come in the past from many
trades which have gained increased
leisure. Similar testimony is already
coming from the steel centers where
the 12-hour day has gone and the
8-hour day been established. Observ-
ers agree that steel workers on B-hour
shifts are using their newly-won leis.
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1923-12-14
SHOPPED YET?

Just continue right on doing your
Christmas shopping. If you haven't
already started, get busy. You've
only got about eight more days to do
it in. Don't wait until the last day
and then get sore because you can't
find just what you want. Remember,
the merchants can't be expected to
have next years stock on hand just
for your benefit and few others like
you who tag behind. And above all
else, spend your money in the town
in which you make it. 1t will be
more appreciated here than elsewhere,
where nobody knows you.
- ~ ~ - ~
Don't fail to attend labor's big ba-
zaar at the labor temple next Thurs
day, Friday and Saturday. Line up
Duncn OF 1rlenQS ana Jake tHeIl
along. No better place can be found
next week for entertainment and
amusement and the admission is free
- - - - -
One of our city council members
had an awful time locating himself
when it came to voting on the gas
and water rate reduction and repeal
ing the soft drink places and poo
rooms, didn't he?
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1923-12-14

er toll nor spin. Until that day
comes the public will have to submit
to seeing real news crowded out by
"guff" on the doings of society
girls
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1923-12-14
METAL WORKERS UNITE

Manhattan, Kan. Sheet metal
workers in this city have organized an
affiliate of the Amalgamated Sheet
Metal Workers international Union.
The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-10-05

RUTH SMASHES
HOMER BUTCY
ALSO DOES IT
Philadelphia Retains Lead OF
Two in the Race for Home
Run Hitting HOnOrs

Chicago, Oct. 5.--For more than an
hour Yesterday Babe Ruth of the
New York Yankees was but one home
run removed from the smuggling Cy
Williams Of Philadelphia in their
race for circuit crashing honors, Tor
in the very third inning Of the Yam
KEGS Athletic game at the Yankee
stadium the Bambino whacked one
of Hasty's offerings into the right
field bleachers. but in little more
than an hour Williams regained his
2-point advantage. In the eighth in
Boston Cy picked on Batchelder, a
rookie twirler, for his 41st home run
of the season. Thus today's standing
in the home run race is Williams,
Al; Ruth. 80.
In the ClevelandSt. Louis game
iris Speaker who on Wednesday
equalled major league record which
had stood for 33 years proceeded to
wreck that mark when he registered
his 57th two-base hit for the season.
The old record set by +. Delehanty
OF Philadelphia in 1899 was Sc.
Speaker made three singles, double
and home run in FIVE times at bat.
The Philadelphia Athletics by de-
feating the Yankees robbed the New
Workers of any chance to run it's
winning total to 100 Cleveland, by
whipping st. Louis 8 to l, while De-
troit was bowling 8 to 6 to Chicago,
lessened the Tigers chances of ac-
curing second place The remain
ing games in that league found Bos-
ton victorious, z to 6, over Wash
ingfon.
Cy Williams homer was the big in
cident in the lone National League
contest of the day, in which the Phil
lies trounced Boston, 10 to 9.
The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-10-05

l907-Winnor Chance, Chicago
Nationals; Loser-Jennings, Detroit
Americans.
1908 Winner Chance, Chicago
National; Loser-Jennings, Detroit
Americans.
-Winner--Clarke, Pittsburgh
Nationals; Loser-Jennings, Detroit
Americans.
Mack, Phila Amer
leans; Loser-Chance, Chicago Ma
tionals.
19l1-Winner- Mack, Phila Amer
leans; Loser-McGraw, New York
Nationals.
Americans; Loser-McGraw, New
York Nationals.
19l3-Winner-Mack, Phila Amer
leans; Loser-McGraw, New York
Nationals.
19l4-Winner-Stallings, Boston
Nationals; Loser-Mack, Phila Amer
leans.
observation-disclosures, Boston
Americans; Loser-Moran, Phila Ma
tiOnals.
MISREPRESENTATION, Boston
Americans; Robinson, Brooklyn Ma
tionals.
observation-disclosures, Chicago
Americans; Loser-McGraw, New
York Nationals.
1918-Winner = Barrow, Boston
Americans; Losk Mitchell, Chicago
| Nationals.
1919-Winner-Moran,~ Cincinnati
Nationals; Gleason, Chicago Ameri.
cans.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. CLEVELAND
Americans; Loser-Robinson, Brook
| lyn Nationals.
! observation-disclosures, New York
| Nationals; Loser-Huggins, New
| York Americans.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., New York
| Nationals; Loser-Huggins, New
| York Americans.
The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-10-05

fight draw and then when the
crowd of 4,4O0 displeased fans
charged the ring, changed his de-
cision giving victory to the 1S-year-
old Georgia school boy had issued q
written statement declaring the fight
draw. The statement, issued from
the obscurity of private residence
here, contained the assertion that
the referee had been threatened with
death if he did not give the decision
to Stribling and that Major Jones
had forcibly held his arm and that
of Stribling aloft. McTigue and Joe
Jacobs, his manager, both issued
statements in which they declared
they had been threatened with death
If McTigue did not fight.
McTigue, who left Columbus short
ly after the fight, declared in state
ment before he left that he had
"bcen virtually forced to 60 into the
ring at the point of gun. have
never Known before of a champion
being forced to enter the ring with
one hand and at the point Of gun.
The gun was dispIayed IN my hotel
but not actually pointed at me-"
The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-10-05
GEORGIA FIGHT
FANS ASSAIL
MIKE M'TIGUE
Referee Harry -Ertle Gives
Him Decision After Re-
serving Himself Twice

Atlanta, Ca, Oct. 5.-Guarded
by four husky military police
men from Camp Benning Mike Nc
Tigue, worlds light heavyweight
champion, his manager, Joe
Jacobs, and Harry Ertle of Jer-
sey City, arrived here at 8 o'clock
this morning from Columbus.
They came through in two au-
tomobiles.
Columbus, Ca, Oct. 5.-Altnough
Mike McTigue of Ireland still re-
tanned his worlds light heavyweight
crown under the third decision rem
dered by Harry Ertle after the Irish
mans 10-round bout yesterday his
opponent Young Stribling today is
the rightful holder in the opinion of
Columbus fight fans. Promoter j. Paul
Jones of the local American Legion
post 80 informed Chairman Muldoon
of the New ork state boxing commits
sion in telegram sent him last
night demanding a thorough investi-
cation by the commission of yester-
days tumultuous events.
Jones' telegram was sent after Ref.
cree Ertle, who at first declared the