The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1929-05-03
BY OLIVER f. CARRUTH

Washington, d. c. G. L. N. ST.
Strikes and Industrial unrest in North
Carolina are a direct result of a pol
icy long pursued by that state
though it has been somewhat modi-
fled in recent years and there are in
dications of further change of
heart. In brief, the policy of North
Carolina has been to invite northern
capital to the state on the plea that
employers We're free to exploit work
ers to the limit, there having been no
laws to regulate or protect the toll
ers.
These facts are brought out in an
extraordinary circular issued by the
North Carolina department of labor
some thirty years ago and in an in
terview with John P. Frey, secretary
treasurer of the metal trades depart
ment, A. F. of L., and long prominent
in the international Molders' Union.
The circular is in the possession of
Mr.. Frey and is here reproduced.
Recent events in the south, includ-
ing events at Elizabethton, Tenn,
have revived Mr.. Frey's memories of
pioneer organizing work in the south
ern states.
Organized Carolina Molders
About 28 years ago, Mr.. Frey visit
ed Winston Salem, N. c., to organize
molders in the six foundries of that
city. At that time there were no trade
unions in Winston Salem and no
knowledge of trade unionism on the
part of the worknfen, who worked
under conditions of semi-peonage.
In time thorough organization was
brought about, the molders being in
formed that they must learn to work
together as trade unionists before it
was advisable to make any attempt to
improve their terms of employment
After some months modest request
was made for a wage increase and
establishment of the ten-hour day.
Interviews with the foundrymen oper-
ating the smaller shops secured salts
factory results. A visit was then
made to the largest foundry, the own
er of which was typical southerner
of the old school.
$50, you're the man who has been
organizing my molders," he said when
Mr.. Frey introduced himself. 81
want to have talk with you, but
must ask you to wait fifteen or twenty
minutes"
Finds Officials Presnet
When Mr.. Frey entered the inner
office he was introduced to two men,
one the city prosecutor, and the other
the sheriff. They lost no time in in
forming him that he was a contempt
ible agitator trying to stir up dissen-
sion and strife in a happy community.
There was a train leaving at six
o'clock that night, and Mr.. Frey was
instructed that he would have to leave
Salem on that train. Let Mr..
Frey tell in his own words what hap
pened afterward:
"After telling them what an Amer
leans rights were, and assuring them
that if they endeavored to carry out
their threat they would be held re-
sponsible, I left them and devoted
several days in discussing the local
situation with the members of the
union. AS result the molders quit
the shop, and sometime afterwards a
satisfactory settlement was made.
"What had impressed me in part.c-
ular was the evident collusion of the
local authorities. How could such a
condition possibly exist in the United
States? What understanding was
there between employers, sheriffs and
other public officials which brought
the authorities to the employers beck
and call?