The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-07-18
BY BARNEY MASS.

The National Biscuit Co. robs and
exploits on a national scale. 1t is able
to monopolize the market of biscuits,
thru it's forty-one plants and two hun
bred selling agencies. Incorporated in
1898, in New Jersey, the company &C
quired by purchase the New York Bis
cult Co., Hamilton Co., United States
Baking Co., American Biscuit and
Manufacturing Co., National Cracker
Co., the Decatur Cracker Co. and sew
eral small companies controlled by
these constituent companies. Many
new plants are being erected and the
business expanding considerably.
With this huge machinery it contin-
ues to pile up more and more profits
and simultaneously crushing the lives
of thousands. of young girls and boys,
who toll by hot ovens making bis
cults to earn living. 1t is not liv-
ing, but scant existence.
Millions In Profits.
On and on this monster of modern
production goes, increasing it's earn
| ings and killing in its wake. We find
the total earnings in the year of 1917
to be $4,672,34S with net earnings on
preferred stock amounting to 1874 per
cent.
Within five years this gigantic COM
pany multiplied to an unheard of ex-
tent. In 1922 its total earnings ag-
ured 1,024, $50 and As per cent earn
ings on its preferred stock. In five
years time it practically tripled its
earnings.
Interlookinp Directorates.
The interlocking directorates of this
company is typical of all youth crush
ing machines. Sitting on this board
Of executioneers, are men like Francis
L. Hine, also president of the First
National Bank of New York, not to
mention some sixteen other powerful
financial organizations. After exam
lining the directors and executives of
the National Biscuit Co., we find that
it comes under the indirect control of
the banking interests and tracing the
tentacles of the octupus, none other
than Rockefeller and other conspicu-
GUS 1nanciers are to be discovered as
the body and brains of it.
Head of other Slave Plants.
Francis L. Hine, e. s. Moore and
Paul Moore, directors of the National
Biscuit Co., are also directors of
Rockefeller's American Can Co. Only
too well do the workers remember the
national strike called in 1921 by the
International Association of Machin-
lists against the notorious American
Can Co., known for its bitterness
against its workers and ruthlessly
crushed that strike. Even in labor
shortages, there Is always a demand
for help by the American Can Co. and
its subsidiaries. The plants turnout
the country are similar and the me-
thods of production the same. II en-
ployes predominately young people
and like the National Biscuit Com
pany, accumulates us wealth thru
youth labor. Cutting, shellacing,
shaping and performing many other
operations on the can, is not a Job to
be scoffed at, especially do the en-
ployes of the Can Co. feel this way
about it.
Why Child Labor Continues.
1t can readily be understood, why
Taft ruled the child labor law uncon-
stitutional, after seeing such preda-
tory interests hiring the youth for its
selfish gains. AS long as industry I'M
der capitalism, viii reap profits from
the labor of children, so long will we
witness the sorrowful spectacle of see
ing the child of the worker in help
less state, whose future holds in store
only matured slavery and in most cas-
es finds them become enemies to so
ciety because the children of Mr..
Rockefeller, Morgan and other pluto
Gratis had to enter Yale, Harvard and
other exclusive colleges to be worthy
Of the name they carry. 1t is the
working youth that toll. making pos
sible for the dainty children lounge
lizards) of the rich to have life full
of luxury and heaven on earth, and
the slaves get the other extreme The
crackers they make, are in many cas-
es the only breakfast the girls anC
boys who work in the National Bis
cult Company, eat.
The luxuries of life are reserved fol
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