davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1931-04-17
B. & |. ASSN
Launched By Unionists To
Help Workers Build
Homes

Paterson, N. j. (ILNS)-fhe Pas
sale County Labor Building and Loan
Association just launched by leaders
of organized labor in Passaic county
is probably the first venture of this
kind which trade unionists have un-
dertaken in this country during re-
cent years.
Carl Holderman, vice president of
the American Federation of Full
Fashioned Hosiery Workers, who has
been elected president of the new as
sociation, says that its principal pur-
pose will be to assist working men to
build homes and that the organization
will so conduct its affairs that wage
earners who are buying homes will be
protected as far as is legally possible
from the risk of losing their invest
ments during a period of depression.
The tentative list of officers SO far
selected to launch the Labor B. & L..
is as follows: Vice president, Robert
Barclay, president of the Passalc Cen
trail Labor Union; treasurer, John
Earnest, Typographical Union; secre-
tary, Fred Holderman, Hosiery Work
ers; counsel, Municipal Judge Harry
A. Joelson.
The wage earners of this county
are accustomed to invest their savings
in building and loan associations and
we are assured that an association un-
der trade union control will gain wide
support in this country. We propose
to frame our policies in so far as the
law allows to assist workers who
must have homes to live in assurance
that they will not be sold out during
the period of unemployment. We pro-
pose to make it possible as time goes
on to carry our members just as long
as is possible" Holderman said.
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1931-04-17

year, and So per cent of the building
trades membership were still without
work.
"These reports show that unem-
ployment is still at very high level
with no prospect for more than grad
ual improvement in the near future.
On the basis of the government census
of unemployment in 10 cities in jan
uary, Secretary Lamont estimated
that 6,050,000 were without jobs and
from 25O,O0O to 100000 on temporary
lay-off, making total of about g.
100000 without work. Considering
the small improvement since January
the number out of work is probably
still near the 100000 mark"
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1931-04-17
Shorter Work Week, Higher Pay
Is Only Unemployment Remedy
Better Balance Between Mass Production and Disrib
ton of Goods Must Come if Depressions Are to Be
Prevented, Women's Bureau Head Tells Y w. C. A.
Conference

Pittsburgh, Pa. (ILNS)-A strong,
intelligent and persistent effort must
be made to work out better balance
between mass production and the dis
tribution of goods produced if we are
to find permanent solution to the
unemployment problem, Miss Mary
Anderson, director of the women's
bureau of the United States depart
ment of labor, told conference held
by the Y. W. G. A. here to discuss
unemployment.
To-day we are searching for more
than remedies for the immediate dis
tress and suffering caused by the
present acute unemployment" Miss
Anderson said. eve are searching
for preventives that will enable US
to avoid unemployment in the future,
and to do this requires the finding of
a better balance between our mass
production and the distribution of
the goods and services that we pro-
duce.
For today we are not faced with
situation of over-p production. The
problem is rather one of under-con-
sumption. While perfecting the proc
esses of mass production, not enough
attention has been directed to seeing
that the buying power of our people
has been enabled to keep pace with
the out-turning of goods"
Home Market Most Important
American industry is largely de-
pendent on its home market, Miss An
derson pointed out. Here is con-
sumed nine-tenths of our total pro-
duction. The home market is nine
times as important to American b4si-
ness as is the foreign market, and it
is workers market, rising and fall
ing, as do wages, with the increase
and decrease in unemployment.
1t is to our unemployed and under
paid workers that we can look as the
greatest potential market in the
world If they could buy what they
need to maintain an American stand
ard of living, much of the fear O.
unemployment would vanish.
! "And the wants Of our people ar,
almost Unsuitable. There would be lit
| tIa fear of sat1lratioy1 noin+S apd in
dustry could continue with increased
activity with the maintaining and in
creasing of the purchasing power O
the rank and file of our people
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1931-04-17

workers could buy as much even if
wages were cut" the federation
points out this argument does not
take account of wage losses because
of part-time work and unemploy-
ment. 1t continues:
"For the last four months our re-
ports from unions show that from 18
to 20 per cent of the membership have
been working part time each month.
Judging from our unemployment fig
ures and the report of the Metropoli-
tan Life Insurance Company, it seems
probable that from "a to d. per cent
of American wage earners have been
victims of either part or full emplyo-
ment each month this winter. Since
the calamity does not strike the same
individuals each month, it seems prob
able that comparatively few families
have escaped during the past year.
"It has been estimated that wage
losses in 1880 amounted to about ten
billion dollars. The loss of this huge
sum cannot but cripple retail trade
and hold back industrial production.
Now is no time to reduce buying
power still further by wage cuts.
Also, the effect of wage cuts will last
into the future and limit buying
power after depression is over. After
the 1921 wage cuts it took eight
years for wages to rise again t. the
1920 level
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1931-04-17
Decline Checked

"Reliable trade indicators show
that tht business decline has already
been checked. Wage cuts were not
necessary to accomplish this. They
are even less necessary now that the
decline is checked. Hard as the ad-
justments of depression are, they can
be accomplished without wage cuts,
as past history shows. We are in a
new era; mass production depends on
mass buying. Wage cut philosophy is
out of date. The question of wage cuts
is largely psychological. If business
men expect wage cuts and wait for
them, recovery will of course be de-
layed. If executives accept the pres
ent standards and adjust accordingly
business recovery will proceed with
out wage reductions. Wage cuts were
fewer in February, but there were
still very large number. In Janu-
ary 335 firms cut wages, affecting
43,507 workers; in February, 228
firms, affecting 39,096 workers. Cuts
averaged 1913 per cent in February.
profits rose to high peak in 1929,
increasing 35 per cent in two years,
Most of the increased earnings of
these plants went to pay higher divi-
dends to stockholders; some were
held as a reserve. Dividends increas.
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1931-04-17
Labor Business Survey Attacks
Price Argument for Wage Cuts

ed 26 per cent, wages only per cent.
When depression came in 1880, profits
declined to a point below the 1927
level. Nevertheless, dividend pay
ments were continued at the high
1929 level. But wage payments were
cut 19 per cent. Keeping reserves for
wages would solve much of the un-
problem"
Bottom Reached is View
The survey says that the first quar-
ter of the year ends with a frmer con-
viction that business has reached the
bottom of depression and that "in the
fall we may look forward to the be-
ginning of more definite climb up
ward toward prosperity"
Business sentiment is continually
improving" the survey says. The
situation this spring is very different
from last, for this year more of the
fundamental adjustments have beer
made and business men have THEN
feet more firmly on the ground" !"
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1931-04-17
RESIST WAGE CUTS

Rock Island, Building trade
unionist in this city, Moline and Dav-
enport, rejected contractors pro-
posal that wages be cut 81 day
The unionists insist that low wages
will intensity the depression.
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1931-04-17
Experience in Previous Depressions Shows Pay
Reductions Are Unnecessary Now, A. F. Of l.
Says in AssaiIing Views of Bankers and 9th
ers Who Advocate Lower Wage Levels.

Washington (ILNS)-The argu-
ment that wages should come down
because of the decline in wholesale
prices is strongly attacked by the
American Federation of Labor in its
April survey of business.
Present advocacy of wage cuts
comes largely from banking circles,
the federation says, adding that it is
claimed wages must come down to
compensate for losses from price re-
ductions.
Price Falls Outstrip Wages
Wage rates have never varied pro-
portionately with price changes, the
federation declares, and in most de-
pressions the decline in wage rates in
general has been very small. if any,
though price declines have often been
drastic.
SIN the long depression of 1894 co
1897, prices fell II per cent from 1910
level, but wages declined only 3 per
cent in 1894, and Immediately in
creased again so that by the end of
the depression they were again at the
1890 level" the federation continued.
"In the depressions of 1866, and
1884, and the mild depressions of 1911
and 1927, wage rates either rose or
were maintained at the same level
although prices declined from 8 to Ia
per cent and once as much as 81 per
cent.
Wage Cuts Not Necessary
'In only two depressions were there
wage declines amounting to as much
as 10 per cent-the five year depres-
sion of 1874 and the depression OF
1921 lin the first, wage rates declined
only 10 per cent while prices fell 2S
per cent, and in 1921, wages were re-
duced II per cent and prices 81 pei
cent. These two wage declines are
outstanding exceptions; they occurred
with unusually severe price declines
The price decline of 1880 was only II
per cent. Clearly if 65 years expert.
ence has weight, wage cuts are not
necessary now.
Undoubtedly there were wage re
ductions in former depressions, but
they did not reach the sweeping pro
portions of 1921. They were not large
enough nor widespread enough to af
feet the general wage level seriously
Conditions then were different; indus
| try was not so closely interrelated
Wage cuts now would be far more
serious because industry is more de
pendent on workers buying power
than ever before.
Pay Losses Not Considered
Assailing the argument that tn
"cost of living has declined, therefor
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-18
Propose Drop
 in Tariffs
(Continued from Page 1.)


 wants 1t for citrus fruits and other produce. Party leaders are not anx- ious to shake these skeletons in public just now.
 Second. world conditions are so disturbed that bad as many demo- crats believe the present tarin 70 be. they fear that the uncertainties of a prolonged revision fight would tend to aggravate business depres- sion.
 Third. such an attempt could only be a gesture anyway. It would monopolize months of time in con- gress and probably would meet a White House veto if 1t passed con gress. Should the democrats cap- ture both houses and the presidency next year, this situation would be altered.
 Those supporting the general tariff conference proposal suggest that if a formula were adopted, It should be put into effect by legis- iative and parliamentary action in the respective countries rather than
 The pian was advanced by New ton D. Baker of Ohio in an address at the Williamstown. Mass. Insti- ute of politics last summer: It IS now urged by such democratic tar if experts as Senator Hull, Tenn, and Senator Costigan, Colo. former member of the U. s. tariff commis-- sion. The reciprocal adjustment plan of Rep Rainey. house demo- cratic leader. is adaptable to the
 Bakers suggestion Is that a con- ference could recommend legisia- ton for adoption in all countries. making horizontal reductions in all scheduies. to go into effect simul- taneously, at definite rates over periods of years. calculated to per- init the effact of the reduction to be absorbed by domestic readjust- ments.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-18

(Continued from Page 1.) sack, according to advance in- formation furnished the commit tee.
 These reports indicate the amount of some South American loans totaled $1,531, 100000 with n depreciation of SLIPS, 900 from par. Totals for a group of European loans indicated a drop of 48 per cent. The par value was $1,792, 100000 and the depreciation n $742,0 900.
 If the Italian loan was fioated at 90 and sold at 95, as reported, the profits of the commissioners would have been around S30,000,000.
 Advance information has come to the committee indicating Lamont and Mitchell are not pre- pared to give the committee the data some of its members want. They were said to be prepared to reveal their interest in loan fiota- tions, but not their present hold ings.
 A member of the committee has taken the view that 1t would not be proper to inquire into present holdings, although that is prob- ably the only means by which the committee could compute profits. The objecting member Is Senator Reed, republican, Pennsylvania.
 The scope of the inquiry Johnson has in mind is revealed by the names of twenty-five institutions he has asked to be subpoenaed. This list. now in the hands of Chairman Smoot of the senate finance committee includes the fol- lowing:
 John P. Morgan & Co: Equitable Trust Co; Guaranty Trust Co; Kuhn. Loeb 6 Co; Becker (Chi- cago); Ames. Emerich; Harris, Forbes: Lee, Higginson & Co (Bos- ton); Blythe. Witter; Brown Bros & Co; F. H. Rollins; J. & W. selig- man; Blair; F. J. Lisman: Chase Securities Corp: National City Bank; Dillon. Read; Halseyy Stuart Howe, Snow and Bertles; W. A. Hartman; Brokaw (Chicago) 1:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-18
Town Plot Feud
 Listed As Murder
(Continued From Page D

teer workers have explored the underbrush and have poked about infrequently visited places for the weapon, but without success. A number of special policemen also lent aid. but to no avail. The gun Is still missing.
 The liquor theory has popped up owing to the fact that Mrs Kviet- kus was formerly interested in three speakeasies which were operated at different times on North Riverside and North Leon- ard streets. Her past associations with some of the well known "moonshine merchants of the Brooklyn district are being scrut- inized for a possible clue of a feud that might explain the shooting.
 Members of the Kvietkus fam fly. however, have no knowledge of anyone harboring ill-feelings against their parents. They are in- clined to ridicule the liquor theory as being the cause of the shooting. They claim that all associations with former merchants and pa- irons ended months ago.
 The trail which started at the scene of the shooting has led the authorities to various sections of the state. They are in possession of some valuable information which has yet to be published. Whether 1t will corroborate Mrs Kvietkus' story or serve to estab- lish the innocence of Blenstrudas will be known in few days. As a matter of fact the authorities ex- pect to be in possession some time to-day of some very definite infor- nation regarding the attempt to murder MT and Mrs Kvietkus.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-18
Divorced WOInan's Fate Depends on
 Operation To-day

Hartford, Conn, Dec 1S-(U. P.) The fate of Mrs Florine Lowen- dick Fosner of New Haven, who shot her divorced husband, Michael ID. Smith, Derby contractor, appar- ently hung in the balance to-day as surgeons prepared for delicate operation to remove a bullet from next to his spine.
 Mrs Fosner was given continu- ance until January iE police court to-day. She is charged with assault with intent to murder Smith in the Allyn House Hotel Monday. Author tiles indicated the charge would be more serious should Smith suc- cumb.
 Smith was transferred to St RaphaePs hospital from Hartford hospital yesterday afternoon. Dr William F. Verdi of New Haven, noted surgeon, will attempt to re- move the bullet without harm to the delicate nerve cords against which the slug is wedged.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-18
Lightners' Bidding
 Sinks Sidney Lenz
(Continued from Page 1.)

has become so excited that he has left his chair.
 It was the first huddle since the contest started and it excited a great deal of comment. Then . conference lasted about five min- utes. When they came out 1t was apparent that they did not want anybody to know what they had been talking about. But Sidney Lenz inadvertently gave 1t away.
 "Ozzie," said Sidney, and your correspondent was standing right at his elbow, "Ozzie, you under stand what I mean, don't you?"
 Sure" said Ozzie. then they went back to work.
 Nobody could doubt that Lenz was complaining about ozzie's bidding.
 The quarreling brought a state ment from Culbertson which said in part: ,, ,... ,,,,. and Mir Lenz and MT Jacoby will acquire a reputation of being the worlds worst losers."
 To which Lenz replied:
 "Mr Lightner played a very good game of cards. Conslderlng the fact that Culbertson was out of the room three fourths of the time talking to the press, he also did very well. When Haywood Broun became my referee, just his presence in contrast with MT Cul- bertson was so fine, so great, that 1t was pleasant"
 And all the experts are agreed that the match has not been fair test of the bidding systems; that a bidding system cannot be accu- rately tested without duplicate play.
 Therefore, all of you folks (please leave the on you copy readers) who think this contest Is deciding anything, ought to study around a little bilt. You ought to think about such things as book sales and lecture fees, and straw herrv shortcake and suchlike.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-18

of the democatic victory in New Jersey. It says:
 "The loss of the fifth New Jer- sey congressional district by the republicans cannot be explained away by any administration of na- tional committee apologist. The indisputable fact is that democrat was elected to congress by the peo- pie of Morris and Union counties because of dissatisfaction with pre- vailing conditions and disapproval of the administration of President Hoover. That was the issue made by the republican candidate him self. On 1t the election was lost to the party in power. If the democrats take MT. Stewards vic- tory, on the issue made by his op- ponet, as a mandate from the East, they can hardly be blamed"
 Republican Chairman Fess and other administration spokesmen have frequently made statements declaring that the %resident was not an issue in recent democratic congressional victories. In this con- nection Claude Bowers, the political historian and editorial writer, says in a recent article that the fight in the fifth New Jersey distdict was won by the democratic nominee lon economic issues and the col lapse of an administration in the midst of human misery" MT. Bow then cites some previous congress sional campaigns in which the president was avowedly an issue which have application to the re- cent congressional contests. He says: "In the campaign of 1908 the republicans declared on every stump that there was but one is- sue-and that was Roosevelt. Tn 1914 the democrats insisted there was but one issue-and that wat Wilson. Whenever politica party protests that its president and leader is not an issue 1t means just one thing-that this president Is failure in the opinion of his own party, that his leadership is leading toward sparse pastures"
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-18
tLegs" Diamond
 Put On Spot
(Continued From Page 1)

kidnapping and torturing Grover Parks, the driver.
 "Whee," exclaimed Diamond when the jury had given its ver- dict. "I'm glad its over. I'm going to sell my home and leave on a long trip. I'm going to get away from 1t all."
 Diamonds trip proceeded only as far as Albany where bullets got him.
 Mrs Diamond, jubilantly happy, leaped over the rail that separated the spectators benches from the attorneys tables where Diamond was sitting when the verdict was announced. She hugged and kissed him and the flashlights of news photographers boomed. A mild rip pie of applause swept through the courtroom, which Justice F. Wal ter Bliss sternly squelched.
 With his wife and attorney, Dia- mond left the courtroom. In the corridor a crowd of several hum dred were waiting. mostly young women. They gasped their admir- ation, swarmed around him.
 "Atta boy, Jack" exclaimed one pretty girl, rushing toward him with wideopen arms.
 The courtroom where Diamond was tried and was the scene of his last triumph, was once . church. The jury deliberated his fate in a room where Sunday school for merly had been taught.
 Diamond was successful as a gangster, though he was known as petty, a coward, and could not rate with the really big timers.
 He began his career as a petty thief along New York's waterfront, gaining his nickname, Legs" from his skill in grabbing a package from a truck and 'legging" away with 1t.
 He was free under $1o.oOo bail under an appeal from q conviction in New York city federal court on a charge of operating a still. It was the second conviction in a long criminal life. His previous Trap" had been when he was @ | mere novice. He was permitted to plead guilty to a charge of burg lary and served a term in the pen- l itentiary.
 Diamond met his death in a TOOInlHB LOuSts <tlttt nho oSfhAes0i in Troy, he. his wife. and several companions, drove here. They ar- rived at the rooming house in a taxi and went up to Diamonds rooms.
 Through the night. neighbors heard loud voices and revelry. Be- tween four and five a. m. Patrick Delehanty, a cobbler. was awak- ened by three shots. He hurried to the street and saw a man clad in dark clothes running down the street. He jumped into an auto mobile. The driver was waiting with the motor running and the car sped away.
 Police found Mrs Diamond hud- dled in n chair near the bed where Diamond lay dead. She fought them off historically. desperately seeking to remain with his body. She was literally carried down the stairs to the patrol wagon.
 In an adjoining room was seven year old Eddie Diamond, son of Diamonds dead brother.
 Mrs Laura Wood, proprietor of
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-18

Lamont denounced "the almost inflamed state of the public mind regarding short term German credits"
 He said American banks were not loaded up with these securi- ties.
 We don't have any short term credits" he said, but I happen to kaow there are 90 American banks engaged in an old practice. It has been their custom to grant short term credits to German banks which is essential to our foreign trade.
 "Yet the public mind is almost inflamed with the idea of large fig ures. I have heard that some indi- vidual banks are loaded up with $200, 100000 to $300000,000 of these credits. It is perfectly fam tastic. I happen to know that the largest amount held by any bank is $70,000,000 or whereabouts.
 "They do not constitute a dan ger to the American banking sit- uation today"
 If Germany went off the gold standard the credits would not be influenced ,he thought, because the principal is payable in gold.
 Lamont said he made his state ment regarding the German credits to show the solid banking situation as regards them.