Evening star., 1926-04-11
VICE PRESIDENTIAL
BOOM GIVEN BERRY
Labor Leader Urged to Enter
Democratic Race at Testi-
moniaI Dinner.

Members Of Congress, leaders OF
organized labor and Government off
cials united in paying tribute to Maj
George L. Berry, president of the
International Printing and Press
mems and Assistants Union at a re.
ceptior and banquet given in mis-
honor by Printing Pressmen's Union
No. i, last night in the L'Aiglon
Club. Salons.
Recalling MIR. Berry's defeat as a
candidate for vice president on the
Demoratic presidential ticket at the
national convention in New York, his
friends openly urged him again to
seek the office in the next presidential
campaign. confidently predicting vic.
tory. Without indicating his future
political ambitions, Mr.. Berry modest.
~ re-'lied 70 the encouragements: Be
fore | decide I must consult by leader,
Mrs. Berry
Speakers Laud Berry,
Those who Joined in lauding Mai
Berry and his contribution to organ.
lzed labor and the printing industry
were Senator McKellar of Tennessee
Representative Byrns of Tennessee,
, William Green. president of the Amer
, lean Federation of Labor; George H.
! carter, public printer; John J. Deviny,
! assistant director of the Bureau of En-
craving and Printing; Chief Justice
Walter /. Mccoy of the District Su-
preme Court; Il. A. Franklin, president
of Pressmen's Union No. /, and Frank
Morrison. secretary of the American
Federation of Labor.
President Green was one of the
Staunchest supporters of the Berry
Tor Vice President boom. The Dem
ocratlc party made a mistake when il
failed 10 nominate Maj. Berry in the
last convention. he said, "and the
wiSest thing for the party to do now
Is TO nominate him at the next con.
vention"
The labor chieftain devoted a major
portion of his talk to the trades union
movement. Our organization is a
great economic power" he declared
serving society and the Government.
Organized labor is the one movement
throughout the world that is sub.
Stantlaly supporting governments
and their institutions. All we ask of
those not directly associated with us
Is to study us and know us better,
we are not a destructive force. We
are endeavoring to establish the right
relationship between employer and
employees"
Progress Made by Printers.
The marked progress in the print.
Ing industry. especially as it relates
TO wages and working conditions of
the printers, was stressed by Mr..
Berry. Nineteen years ago, he said,
the wage scale of the printers aver.
aged $l.65 a day and the hours of
labor ranged from 54 to so hours n
week. Now, he pointed out, the wage
scale exceeds $725 day and the
hours OF labor are either Sc, 40 OF "a
hours a. week
Organized labor, Mai. Berry de.
clared. does not resent the fact that
America is capitalistic nation.
america has reached a point of sta
o1llty and prosperity" he said. "be.
cause 1t is capitalistic country.
Organized workers cannot permit
themselves to be placed in the
category of advocating confiscation.
Confiscation of properties is inevitable
unless business is kept in healthy,
stable and prosperous condition"
The trades union movement of
America, Maj Berry explained, has
great opportunity for real construc.
tive contributions to business in an
effort that looks to improve crafts.
manship. to eliminate inefficiency and
waste, and to bring to bear all of the
economies necessary to sound busi-
ciates the value of this doctrine. be-
cause it is engaged in the greatest
technical trade school operations
that has ever been known in the his
tory of civilization" added Mai.
Berry. 1T is operating a great en-
gineering and productive department,
seeking and taking advantage of
every opportunity for increased pro-
ductivity in quality and quantity.
Seek to Avert Strikes.
The greatest possible effort is put
forth to escape the pain and losses
of strikes and lockouts, and every
possible effort is being put forth to
accentuate the principle Of co-opera-
ton peace and constructive and in.
dustrial developments and accomp-
liShments. The International Print
ing Pressmen and Assistants Union
of North America has in the main re-
moved that costly uncertainty of re-
lationship A S between employing print
ers. the publishers and our organiza-
tion. There is a sense of security
prevalent upon the part of both the
employer group and the employe
group and from it has come that re-
newed energy. interest and affection
for the business upon which they are
both dependent for their economic
Standards"
Chief Justice Mccoy spoke of the
human side of arbitration and de-
clared that every worker should be
entitled to a fair and decent living
with a fair amount of leisure and an
accumulated saving that would in
sure him a peaceful old age.
Mr.. Byrnes agreed with Justice
Mccoy and added that the wages of
employees should also entitle them to
some of the luxuries of life. The
cordial relations existing between
him and the printers at the Govern
ment Printing Office were touched
on by Public Printer Carter. Sen
ator McKellar described Maj Berry
as the most distinguished Tennes-
sean now living"
D. I. Leane was POSTMASTER at the
banquet. The committee on arrange
ments was headed by c. G. Gastrock.