davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1933-02-24
CRITICISM SOMETIMES
JUSTIFIED

Congress complains bitterly and
often with justice, of criticism level
ed against it. That much of the criti-
cism comes from selfish interests
which have no love for democracy
is recognized. Trade unionists and
other believers in democracy know
that these interests would like to see
the power of the people, as expressed
through congress, curbed and curtail-
ed. But the fact that some of the
attacks come from enemies of de-
mocracy does not mean the criticism
of congress is never justified
Just now, many of the best friends
of congress believe that it has itself
largely to blame for the increasing
public disfavor in which it seems to be
falling. They say that since it con-
vened in December, congress has
wasted much precious time by need
less oratory, petty squabbles, play
ing politics and attention to unimpor-
tant matters at time when serious
consideration and decisive, prompt
action is needed more than perhaps
at any time in our history. If this is
true, congress can itself remedy the
situation, which should not be for
gotten by senators and representa-
tives who protest against attacks on
the national legislature.
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1933-02-24
A SINNER COME LATE TO
REPENTANCE

Here and there a big employer
shows some comprehension of the
fact that wage cuts are not the way
to increase sales and restore pros
perity. One of these is Ernest T.
Weir, head of the National Steel
Company, who recently said that steel
manufacturers are not justified in
even considering further wage cuts.
1--WE have gone, if anything too far
along these lines," he said, declaring
that another pay cut would not add
single ton to the sales of steel and,
on the contrary, would decrease
sales, as buyers would tend to with
hold purchases in the hope of still
lower prices.
Mr.. Weir is a sinner come late to
repentance. He has done his share
of pay slashing in his own plant
since the depression began, but ap-
parently he has now seen the error
of his ways and is taking a common
sense view of wage cutting. If few
more business leaders would take the
same view, and act upon it, there
would be hope of business climbing
out of the pit of depression. But as
long as he is in the small minority,
as seemingly is the case, business
may be expected to make little prog
ress toward recovery.
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1933-02-24
UNORGANIZED WORKERS
VICTIMIZED

A startling example of what hap
pens to workers when they are unor-
ganized comes from Pennsylvania
Wages in factories as low as $1.65
for two weeks work have been found
by Miss Charlotte Carr, deputy sec
retary of the state department of la
Dor and industry. The workers who
are thus so cruelty exploited are of
course unorganized
Apparently there is no depth to
which wages for women and children
in Pennsylvania cannot CO." Miss Carr
told meeting of clergymen in Phila-
delphia. "At the same time that
most factories are not working at ALL
too many others are working over
time"
She said that in some cases women
and children are eking out an exist
ence at starvation pay while hus-
bands and fathers are seeking in vain
for jobs.
Similar examples of the exploita-
tion of workers during the depression
were recently revealed by the Con-
sumers' League in New York can
ming plants, where unorganized work
ers were found toiling long hours at
wages no better than those of 25
years ago. The same condition exists
wherever the workers are inorganic
ed, and therefore at the mercy of
greedy and inhuman employers.
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1933-02-24
LABOR MUST MOBILIZE

1t is up to labor to bring about
the 30-hour week Already dolefud
sounds are coming from the direction
of several big industries whose Off
cials declare the six-hour day and
five-day week an impossibility.
But is it? No progress has been
made by labor except through hard
struggle. Labor is much more far
sighted than capital The worker con-
stantly looks ahead. The employers,
for the most part, are content to sit
on the side lines until forced to get
up and take part in the activities
of the changing world
Recently the International Typo
graphical Union, in a national refer
endum, voted almost two to one in
favor of the shorter work week. Other
organizations will probably take SINH
lar action. Still others, as in the
building trades and electrical work
ers, here and there, have put the
shorter work week in operation.
Many international union headquar-
ters' force are on the five-day week,
and in some of the larger cities mer-
camille establishments operate five
days week during the summer sea-
son, and a few the year round.
These are straws showing which
way the wind is blowing. The worker
is slowly coming into his own.
The primary purpose of every en-
terprise, coal mining included, is to
supply profitable employment to hu-
man beings, not as an ethical obliga-
tion entirely, but as wise economic
law. People must have money-pur-
chasing power-if they are to buy and
fulfill their obligations. Some few
coal operators are beginning to see
this philosophy is right.
The larger number of men with Jobs
the better off everybody is. A shorter
work day will bring more jobs, and
labor will leave no stone unturned to
bring about this happy condition.
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1933-02-24
A BANK PRESIDENT TALKS

The annual report of John R. Wal
Ter, president of the international
Bank, Washington, d. c., to the stock
holders of the bank is an unusual
document. Instead of attempting to
hide the facts regarding the busi-
ness and labor situation, which is the
ordinary practice of bank presidents,
Mr.. Waller takes off the lid and gives
the stockholders the plain, undisguis-
ed facts
Pointing out that public confidence
has been largely destroyed, but that
there is hope in the ability Of the
administration which takes over con-
troll of the government in March to
do something constructive, Mr.. Wal
Ter gives the following analysis of
the situation:
"An emergency more serious than
war confronts the country, and the
people have placed their hopes in
new leader. Unless cures rather than
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1933-02-24
Printers Locked Out
For Refusing Pay Cut

Rochester, N. Y.--When they re-
fused to accept a 25 per cent reduc-
tion in wages, union printers employ
ed by the Jewish Ledger were locked
out by Joseph M Biben, president of
the company. Biben told union Off
cials that he had decided to cut wages
at once, and if the men did accept,
they would be replaced by nom
unionists. Declaring that the action
of the Jewish Ledger is an attack on
standards in the printing business,
the union is waging vigorous fight
against the Ledger. The Ledger
Company publishes weekly papers in
Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, Atlantic
City and Washington, and unions
from these cities 6are cooperating
with the Rochester Union in it's fight.
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1933-02-24
WORK in FORESTS
For Idle Boys Is Held Ur-
gent Need

Washington, D. c. (ILNS)-A half
dozen demonstration camps in va
rious parts of the country would
quickly demonstrate the soundness
and effectiveness of putting unem-
ployed boys at work in the national
forests, the American Forestry Asso-
citation declared in a statement to
Senator Bronson Cutting, sponsor of
bill appropriating $15,O00,000 for
the relief of jobless transients.
Expressing hearty approval of the
proposal for reforestation and other
outdoor work with government funds,
the forestry association said the
nation could do much to preserve the
stamina and self-respect of wander
ing boys by releasing the 'opportun-
tiles which the national forests hold
for providing work in almost every
state in the Union, and particularly
in the West, where the transient
youth situation is most acute"
The association quoted Secretary of
Agriculture Hyde as saying half a
million men could be kept busy this
summer in the national forests and
that $150,0O0,O00 would set the work
in motion. 1t added:
with funds there need be no delay
in the program. The National Forest
Service could have the work camps
read for operation when winter
breaks into spring, and instead of
hanging the head in the slums and
railroad yards of the cities and jun
gle camps of the country, American
youth can lift its face to the trees.
''It is not to be expected that all
would or could work in the woods,
but forest camps operating in vir-
tually every section of the country
would absorb enough of the able
minded to make it possible for the
states to better deal with the re-
mainder"
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1933-02-24
Charity to Benefit BY Sale
Official Inaugural Program

Washington.-All net profits from
the sale of the official souvenir pro-
gram of the Roosevelt Garner inaug-
uration will be donated to charity, the
program committee of the Roosevelt
inaugural committee announces. The
program is expected to be more at
tractive and informative than any is
sued for previous inaugurations and
will be of unusual historical inter-
est. In addition to listing the events
of the entire Inauguration, hour by
hour, the program will include his
to rical articles, by we'll known writ
ers. The articles will be profusely
illustrated. The program will also
contain pictures of all presidents of
the United States, airplane views of
Washington, map of the city and
other features. 1t will carry no ad-
vertising.
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1933-02-24
MACHINERY AND UNEMPLOYMENT

machinery
will
the larger of wit machinery.
Some business leaders their parasitic bayhooers
maintaining the impossible position that
find
occupations Consequently say really
unemployment employers
place of workers made of flesh blood
They tommyro housetops despite
right numbering from twelve ffteer
working and who unemployed largely because the
machines taken their jobs.
this position ncusve shown by the made
held Geneva under the of the Inter
Organization. The said
while proposition that scientific ultimately
employment destroys be valid under heo
cay ideal conditions of perfectly free markets and complete
mobility nothing either economic the
that such proposition will
conditions of the modern world
strong when the of
and labor displacement high expect that
displacement reabsorption will be sub
the that displaced workers cannot i'm
mday with opportunities for employ
exist.
progress in technique production been rapid,
there has countries been corresponding improvement in
rapdty with which displaced labor find jobs
CRATE from to in of them.
STILL of all the most difficult to transport and
occupaona geographical mobility labor and
the efficiency and places
employment corresponding acce
expect the persistence
of a higher volum of chronological unemployment
is that revival of prosperity
rhythm of technical change the
ume merely persist but
further increase
with the of fragmentay which
including the results Of
industries
methodhey suggest that chronological
the depression
and reckoned with for a considerable time to come
the length of the work day
to the unemployed
legal limitation the hours
employers would arbi
nghenng the work day and week
empoved of unemployed work
the United States the bill
sore by Senator Mas
Federation of Labor which makes
mandatory throughout the nation for
industries whose eproducts
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1933-02-24

Goldfish are the product OF long
years OF selectlye breeding. The ma
tive ash, from which goldfish were
developed, belong to the carp family
and are still numerous In the streams
OF China. They do not naturally have
the golden hue but are dark In color
much like ordinary carp. Centuries
ago the Chinese fish culturists inter.
bred light colored specimens and pro.
duced beautiful varieties. Fanciers
further induced and strengthened the
golden and silvery coIors by regulat.
Ing the quantity OF mineral In the
wptor
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1933-02-24

palliatives are made effective, debt
ors face bankruptcy and creditors
face reputation; unemployment will
increase and debtors, creditors and
governments alike will drift into in
solvency.
"a year ago this nation looked
hopefully to emergency legislation
creating the Reconstruction Finance
Corporation, the Federal Home Loan
Bank and other measures, to bring
about gradual recovery. These
agencies have proved Intellectual, and
public faith has been further impair
ed Nearly fifteen million workers
are out Of employment and the
boasted standards of American wages
and living have almost disappeared.
AS a result, the fiber of the nation
is being gradually weakened, but the
depression is compelling the people
to cooperate for their mutual pro-
lection. They now realize that no
magical process will bring this crisis
to an end.
"At the present time no commodi-
ties that are grown or mined can be
sold at a profit. 1t is imperative that
the purchasing power of the people,
and especially that of the farmer, be
restored. The profitableness of all
enterprise, the relief of unemployed
and the stability of the government
itself, are dependent upon this being
DONE"
Turning to the billions and billions
of dollars of private and public debts
which those who control industry and
governments have saddled on the peo-
pie, Mr.. Waller declares:
AN examination of production and
Indebtedness in the United States es-
tablishes the startling fact that for
years our debts have been increasing
at rate faster than production, and
both of them faster than the ratio of
population In 1929 the national in
come was nearly ninety billion dol.
lars, while in 1882 in was below forty
billion, about equal to the tax levies
together with interest on private in
debtedness. We have reached a point
when the total income of the people
is insufficient to pay interest and
taxes"
Mr.. Waller is to be congratulated
for the frank and truthful statement
of the ruin which those who own and
control industry have brougt to the
American people.
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1933-02-24
Industrial Deaths Drop
IA Per Cent Last Year

Chicago.-Fatal accidents in indus
try, which annually take big toll in
deaths from the workers, showed
reduction Of Ia per cent last year, the
National Safety Council reports.
There were about $4,000 industrial
deaths in 1882, against 1880 in 1881.
Accidental deaths from all causes and
nall fields were reduced slightly
more than 9 per cent last year.
The industrial showing is based on
reports to industrial commissioners of
16 states, but as agricultural acci
dents are seldom reported to the COM
missions it was necessary to estimate
them separately.
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1933-02-24
CAN WE AFFORD 1T?

The economic cost of accidents
wage loss, medical expense, and in
surance overhead-was estimated by
the National Safety Council to be in
the neighborhood of two billion dol
lars last year. When one considers
that at least 80 per cent Of all acci-
dents are needless, it doesn't take
much figuring to realize that most of
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1933-02-24
BOUND TO COME

Labor is insisting that industry be
required to set aside reserves for
workers during periods of unemploy-
ment. Such system offers logical
and fair means of distributing the
burden of unemployment relief. 1t is
bound to come.
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1933-02-24

the cost of accidents is simply money
thrown away.
In times like these can America
afford such extravaganza As
matter of fact, can America afford
such extravaganza at ANY time?
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1933-02-24
Cherry
Tree I'm. !, !. ..,.s;, ..,..
about many things. sometimes pre-
feundly. sometimes 1ippantly,
sometimes recklessly.

| Queer thing, but a price has to be
paid for just about every worth while
thing.
1t is so in all life, including gov
ernment, industrial life and in every
human relation. There are equities
throughout.
1t isn't that the thing is entirely
simple; sometimes it seems complicat-
ed. Good institutions generally breed
good results. Freedom brings the
blessings of freedom.
Denial of freedom brings the pen
alties of that denial. Repress and
you generate some kind of dynamite
In physics they have law covering
such matters. every action brings
an equal and opposite reaction"
The stronger force wins, for the
time being. Heat melts ice, but
enough ice will, when melted, put out
the fire that makes the heat.
Employers, strong for a moment,
may deny the right or organization.
They may repress the natural and
reasonable desires of the workers.
If they repress hard enough or
long enough there will be a back
action. The workers will organize
and sometimes, in their resentment
against past brutalities and inequi-
ties, they will infict penalties. Life
is like that.
| All tyrants have been slow to see
the coming end of their tyranny That
is automatic. 1t is plain, on the face
of it. All history shows it. Human
emotions today are about what they
have been always. Natural laws
have not changed
Today's tyrants have learned lit
tie from earlier tyrants.
There are industrial tyrants today
who think they can go on forever.
In actuality there is no limit to
which humanity will not go in retail
iation, if pressed hard enough and
long enough. Undoubtedly part of
the inhuman cruelty of the bolshe-
viks in Russia was generated by the
inhuman cruelty of the czars.
Extremes beget extremes.
Employers who oppose unions
ought to ponder these things. They
ought to learn about humanity and
it's conduct. Just knowing about ma
chimes and markets and money isn't
enough.
If the employers of America, in the
great mass production plants, deny
the right of labor to organize sane
ly and freely, ultimately the workers
will organize otherwise-not so sane
ly, not so freely, but possibly with
very destructive results.
The Briggs body plant walkout
wasn't without cause. 1t isn't the
first and it won't be the last.
Another thing: When yeast starts
growing it grows so long as it has
something in which to grow Given
the conditions, the process is indefn-
| ite.
Strange that so few in America can
think of status of democracy in in
dustry. Strange that the democratic
| ideal, dominant in political life, is re-
garded by SO many as unfit fo rindus-
| try.
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1933-02-24
THE WOULD-BE KILLER

Life has been very bad to me-" the
man who tried to kill President-elect
Roosevelt said. Perhaps in that brief
sentence the man revealed the cause
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1933-02-24
MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION

MlNIM I'M WAGE LEilSLAIlON
Employers who will not maintain
decent standards are bringing on min
imum wage legislation.
Trying to keep up the wage level
by voluntary agreement with employ
ers proved an insurmountable diff
Guilty. We shall have to return to
minimum wage legislation now get
ting favorable consideration in these
depression days which see no down.
ward limit to wages" the National
Consumers League said in announc-
ing that it will give up the policy of
attempting to maintain standards by
printing the Candy White list. This
list carries the names of manufactur-
ers who lived up to certain minimum
standards such as the 50-hour week,
beginning weekly wage of $14 and
standards of comfort and safety for
the worker and of sanitation in the
interests of both worker and con-
sumer.
And so the Consumers League,
with many other organizations, is
going after minimum wage laws,
which the employers could have pre-
vented by voluntary agreement among
themselves for fair wage and work
ing standards.
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1933-02-24

1t is time many Americans did some
thinking, revised their views, and
learned about freedom. Freedom will
come, one way or another.
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1933-02-24

of his insane deed. Apparently life
had twisted and warped his nature
to such an extent that he could not
see the enormity of his action. How
many other criminals could say, "Life
has been very bad to me?" In all
probability, many.
Society some day will realize its
responsibility for conditions that
make men say, Life has been very
bad to me-" and will move to remedy
them and provide an environment
which will not encourage the produc-
tion of men such as the would-be
killer of Roosevelt.
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1933-02-24

Subscribe for the Press.
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1933-02-24
Endorsed by the Trades and Lahsr
Council Of Hamilton. Ohis
Endorsed by the Middletewn Trades
and Labsr Council Of Middletswn, Q.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY "a, 1888
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1933-02-24
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The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1933-02-24

Entered at the Postoffice at Hamilton,
Ohio, ~ Seto Class Mail Matter.
The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-01-14
Liebknecht and Luxemburg->
Foes of Imterialist War

in the struggle against war. Though
this conference represented one OF
the outstanding actions against the
war, nevertheless it revealed very
serious weaknesses: inadequate ex-
posture of the social chauvinistS, no
attempt to split from the chau-
whist Social-Democracy, or to ex-
pose the attempts to "reconstruct"
the Second International.
Liebknecht and Luxembourg were
the leaders of the SpartacuS up
rising in January of 1919. This
revolt was brutally crushed by the
German Social Democratic gov
eminent, and Liebknecht and Lux
emburg were foully murdered.
ACHIEVEMENTS
AND MISTAKES
While we cherish the memories
of Liebknecht and Luxembourg, we
must seriously study their mis-
takes and shortcomings. This was
greatly emphasized by Comrade
Stain in his famous letter on the
History Of Bolsheyism. Though
Liebknecht was very outspoken
against the war and fought the
chauvinist position OF the German
Social Democratic Party leaders,
nevertheless he did not vote against
the war credits when 1t was first
raised in the Reichstag. This he
failed to do in the name Of dis
cipline" of the Social-Democratic
Party-the discipline that basic
ally meant giving aid to the war
makers. Liebknecht soon corrected
this mistake, since he recognized
that the struggle against war must
be advanced, that these chauvin-
lists had completely gone over to
the camp of the bourgeoisie.
AS for Rosa Luxembourg, she conf
mitted some very serious errors in
her position on the national ques-
ton Con the question of national
independence fer Poland); in her
position on the struggle between
the Bolsheviks and MensheYiks (she
called for unity" between them;
III her reliance on the theory OF
spontaneity (not clearly under
standing the role Of the Party;
failure to raise the slogan of Turn
the Imperialist War into Civil
War" etc.
HOWEVER, despite these very SER
III Iious mistakes, the memories Of
Liebknecht and Luxembourg are
cherished by all revolutionary work.
ers. Lenin highly valued the work
of these two outstanding fighters
and, in the case of Luxembourg,
declared:
she was and remains an
eagle; and not only will her
memory always be highly es-
teemed by the Communists of all
the world, but her biography and
the complete collection of her
writings will be useful for the in
struction Of many generations of
Communists In all countries.