Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1931-12-25
O R N E W S
Bv
F. T. CORNELIUS, Secretary
Salisbury-Sbencer Central Labor Union
AFTER TWO YEARS

AFTER TWO YEARS
By October, 1881, two years after
the stock market collapse, depression
forces have reduced business activity tc
A. per cent below normal. Certain
adjustments have been made, but
several fundamental changes have yet
to be accomplished. We have made
little progress in adjusting the distri-
button of income. The effort to avoid
wage cuts is a step in the right direc-
ton and has helped to maintain work
ers incomes, but while workers have
lost nearly one third of their entire
1929 income this year and total wage
payments are back to 1922 levels we
still had 149 millionaires in 1880 which
is twice as many as at the peak of
post war prosperity and they receive
$350,000,00 in income. Although
many firms have reduced dividends in
1881 total dividend payments were not
far from the 1929 level. This year
through October 1927 firms have
reduced or omitted dividends, while
in manufacturing industries alone, p
900 firms have reduced wages, ovel
5000 corporations paid dividends If
the first II months of 1881 and 675
paid extra or increased dividends.
Likewise in the hours of work fun
damental readjustments have as YET
made small progress. There is al
present only enough work on our
farms, factories, railroads and else
where to give IS hours a week fol
all if everyone wants work is to have
a job. Industry canno keep its wage
Garner forces employed or maintain
their buying power unless the shorter
work week is adopted and the workers
allowed a larger share of the profits
they produce.
THOMPSON HEADS MACF1INIST
HELPERS
Local No. 857 international As
ISOLATION of Machinist Helpers at its
last regular meeting elected officers
for the ensuing year, the meeting was
we'll attended and much interest shown
by its members in the selection of
leaders for the coming year. The re-
suit of the ballots placed the following
in office: president R. L. Thompson;
vice president, L. A. Alsbrooks; re-
cording secretary, R. N. Clark; fin
ancial secretary, L. A. Charles; treas
urer, J. H. Fisher; chairman Of the
shop committee, G.. L. Seamon, and
for the one member to be placed on
the board of trustees, R. S. Wood,
was chosen.
After all business was disposed OF
the special committee appointed to
work out the Christmas treat program
made its report in the form at large
bags which were presented to all pre-
sent as we'll as sending bags to all
those prevented attending on account
of working night shifts. These bag:
were found to contain the finest kinds
of fruits, candies and nuts and all
other ingredients generally recognized
as being a part of Christmas.
MASS MEETING
A mass meeting was called b
secretary of the Federated Shop Crafts
to meet at the Strand theatre, Monday
vening, December 21st. at 7:30 for
the purpose Of hearing report from our
representative of the Chicago con-
ferences between railway management
and labor executives. This call includ-
ed all members of the crafts connect
ed with railway shopmen and regardless
of whether they were now employed
or on furlough. At the time set for
the meeting there was a continuous
down pour of rain but a fair Grove
was present. The deliberations Of this
meeting were kept behind a cloak OF
secrecy and no statement whatever
was put out but it is generally con-
coded that the meeting was highly
important to the ,rembers of the shop
crafts.
RELIEF WORK
Among the crafts now employed in
addition to making the sacrifice of