davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1937-02-19
Maritime Strikes Ended;
Workers Winning Wage
And Other Concessions

Washington, D. C. (ILNS)-Follow-
ing approval of terms offered after
weeks of intermittent negotiations,
maritime workers on the Pacific
coast returned to work on February
5, ending a 90-day strike.
Terms accepted by the men, some
$4,000, assured them generally of
higher wages, union control of hiring
agencies, maximum working day of
8 hours and better working conditions.
All of the workers in the seven unions
involved got wage increases, except
the longshoremen, whose overtime
concessions, however, brought sub
stantial increases in the weekly pay
envelope
All the unions won full control of
hiring agencies, except the masters,
mates and pilots and marine engi-
neers, who received generous wage
and other concessions. The employers
got ban on "quickie strikes" and a
port committee for settling disputes.
The workers won payment of overtime
in cash instead of time off.
Wage increases were as follows:
Wage increases: Sailors-$72.5 so
basic scale on deep-sea vessels; $50
on schooners, an increase of $40.
Marine firemen-Same as sailors.
Marine cooks and stewards-$5 $55
basic scale, increase of $40.
Masters, mates and pilots-S15 a
month increase in all classes.
Marine engineers SIS monthly in
crease.
Radio telegraphers $125 basic, a
$40 increase.
Longshoremen A 95-cent scale
Technically no increase, but prac-
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1937-02-19

tically a 6-hour day, with $1.40 for
overtime, means more money in the
pocket at the end of the week.
Settlement of the Pacific coast
strike came after seamen on the At
lantic and gulf coasts had called off
their unofficial strike, which was op-
posed by the International Seamen's
Union of America and vigorously con-
demned by the American Federation
of Labor at it's last convention.
When the strike was called off, the
international union began negotiations
with the American Steamship Owners
Association, resulting in an agreement
giving wage increases to virtually
every unlicensed worker in the en-
ploy of Al steamship lines operating
on the Atlantic coast and Gulf of
Mexico unlicensed workers" in
cludes everyone but the officers.
The increases were mostly $40 a
month. With most of the men, how
ever, eight hours is days work, and
they get 70 cents an hour for over
time. Stewards work 9 hours for a
day, and get so cents an hour over
time; walters and bus boys get a $5
raise per month. The owners also rec
ognize Sunday, Saturday afternoon
and legal holiday work as overtime
while in port.
The wage raises bring rates on the
Atlantic and gulf ports virtually up
to scales on the Pacific. Difference
between the wages on the East and
West coasts was cause Of dissatis-
faction and chiefly responsible for
bringing the strike in the East.
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1937-02-19

per cent of all the full time night
broadcasting power authorized by the
FEC.
mo independent full time station
is allowed to operate at night with
power of more than 1000 watts,
in contrast to the 165 or more sta
tions controlled or operated by the
Big Three, many of which are said
to have power of $4,000 watts, one
of them 100000 watts" he said.
Mr.. Wigglesworth gives list of 13
stations, without names, the value of
whose fixed property is $640,0OO, but
which have been leased for $2,379 500
Ia clear profit of S1,739,O00.
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1937-02-19
Big Sum Paid Spy Agency
By General Motors Barred

Washington, D. c. (ILNS)-Rob.
ert Wohlforth, the La Toilette civil
liberties committees chief investiga-
tor, went on the stand and told how
General Motors, from January 1, 1884,
to June 80, 1886, has paid $419,85o
to the Pinkerton Detective Agency
alone.
Il wish to emphasize" said Wohl-
forth, "that these figures are incom-
plete. We believe they show only a
part of the payments from General
Motors to the Pinkertons. They are
merely all that we were able to find
in our search of the Pinkerton files.
Pinkertons were hired by General
Motors early in 1884 to keep the com
pany informed on prospective
strikes; and apparently, the Pinks
have been on the payroll ever since
All the General Motors blather about
reds" and all the difficulties it made
before being finally forced to nego.
tiate are explained by this payment
in two and half years, of $419,85(
Ito single spy agency.
Senator La Toilette brought out Of
one witness that the Pinkertons ut
terly ignored the Wisconsin law
which requires detective to get {
license from that state while prac
ticing his so-called profession in it
One of the Pinks was simply trans
ferred to the Chevrolet payroll, ant
other equally effective schemes wer,
employed with others.
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1937-02-19
CONGRESSMAN SAYS
SALES OF RADIO
Franchises Issued Without
Cost Build Monopoly

Washington, d. C. NS)-Rich-
ard B. Wigglesworth, representative
from Massachusetts, has laid before
the house and therefore before the
country a story of how radio licenses.
issued by the government for moth
ing, are trafficked in for profit by
the persons who get the licenses. Mr.
Wigglesworth opened his speech on
this subject as follows:
About a year ago, called the at
tention of the house to situation ap-
parently prevailing in the radio field,
and to the part played by the federal
communications commission in this
connection. urged at the time that
a thoroughgoing investigation be
made of the entire situation.
Il rise at this time to renew that
recommendation, in the light of evil
dence submitted to the committee on
appropriations by the communications
commission.
Transfers Up to Commission
"Section 310(b)-The station license
acquired, the frequencies used by the
licensee, and the rights therein grant
ed shall not be transferred, assigned
or in any manner voluntarily dispos-
ed of unless the commission shall,
after securing full information, de-
eide that said transfer is in the pub
lie interest, and shall give its consent
in writing"
1t is perfectly clear, think" went
on Mr. Wigglesworth, "that the con-
gress intended in this manner to
guard against the evils of monopoly,
as we'll as against those inherent in
trafficking in federal licenses. The
record indicates that ;. the renewal
of licenses has become largely per-
functory matter, and the transfer of
licenses has been approved on terms
which appear, at least, to be without
justification"
Mr.. Wigglesworth states that the
big three broadcasting companies
Columbia, National and Mutual-now
control all the clear channel franchises
in the country; and that they use 81
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1937-02-19
Automobile Strike Ends With
General Motors Recognizing Union

Detroit (ILS)-General Motors, /
largest corporation in the world,
takes for its final cue in the labor
difficulties from Byron's heroine,
Julia,
"And murmuring, / will ne'er
CONSENT consented
When the troubles began, and for
long time afterwards, Sloan, G. NJ.
president, and Knudsen, its general
manager, insisted that any negotia-
tions must be conducted between the
men working in a given plant and the
manager of that plant The strikers
secuted this proposal, pointing out
that the plant managers had no au-
thority but had to refer everything
back to the central office.
G. Nj. Chiefs Sign Pact
The men insisted from the first on
negotiations with representatives of
the General Motors Corporation. Af-
ter more than a month of refusal and
resistance, they had their way The
treaty of peace was not signed by
plant manager on one side and the
chief of a company union on the
other. 1t was signed by William S.
Knudsen, Donaldson Brown and John
T. Smith for General Motors; and
by Wyndham Mortimer, Lee Press
man and John T. Lewis for the United
Automobile Workers of America.
Lewis was sick, and the treaty was
taken to his room for him to sign in
bed
Wage Increase Granted
Immediately after the signing of
the agreement between General Mo-
tors and the auto workers, the COR
poration announced pay rise Of 5
cents an hour in all the plants of the
company. 1t is estimated by company
officials that this will add $25, 100000
a year to the wages of its employees.
The increase goes into effect Febru-
ary Is in all plants now running, and
plants now closed by the strike will
], open under the new scale.
Chief Points in Agreement
The chief elements of the agree
ment are these:
1. The corporation hereby recog
nizes the union as the collective bar
gaining agency for those employees of
the corporation who are members of
the union. The corporation recognizes
and will not interfere with the right
of its employees to be members Of the
union.
There shall be no discrimination,
interference, restraint or coercion, by
the corporation or any of it's agents
against any employees because of
membership in the union.
2. The corporation and the union
agree to commence collective bargain
/ ing negotiations on February 16 in
regard to the issues specified in the
letter OF January a, 1887, from the
union to the corporation for the pur-
pose of entering into a collective bar
gaining agreement, or agreements,
covering such issues looking to final
and complete settlement Of all matters
in dispute.
Discrimination Barred
8. The union agrees to forthwith
terminate the present strike against
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1937-02-19

Unionize for collective bargaining
and organize for collective buying.
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1937-02-19

the corporation, and to evacuate
plants now occupied by strikers.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-12-07
Back to the BuGalo

The bison and the American Indian are both increasing in numbers. In Buffalo National park, Alberta, protected bison herds have become so large that the government is having many of the anil mals shot. At present there is no such problem about the Indian population al- though it keeps on growing, the reserva- tions may have to be enlarged or the Indians allowed to live elsewhere.
 When Columbus discovered the New World the buffalo and the Indian held undisputed sway over North America. The buffalo was one of the principal means of support for the Indian, furnishing him meat and hides, which meant food, cloth ing and shelter. By the end of the 18th century the herds were down to thou sand or less. The Indians, too, seemed to be vanishing people.
 An imaginative person wonders whether some day in the distant future this continent will again be wilderness peopled by savageS and roaming wild beasts. Scientists now say the earth it. self has another billion years to go. If the white mans civilization goes under in few more centuries, there will be plenty of time left for the forests to spread out over the cultivated fields again, and even for another Columbus to rediscover the land. But will there be Columbus, or even European people, to explore 1t?
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-12-07
Silver-Jointed Motors

Mercury, the god of transportation, has been pictured with silver-winged feet. As usual, there seems to have been fore- shadowing of scientific truth in this bit of mythology. Our automotive engineers are putting silver in their motors.
 The silver is used for the bearings. It replaces the babbitt-metal hitherto used where steel shaft needed softer hous- ing, to prevent undue friction and over- heating The silver is harder than babbitt but soft enough for the purpose. It is Q better conductor of heat, and more dur able. Its use is made possible by discov- ering how to electroplate silver directly on steel. This has always been considered impossible. The trick is to cleanse the steel surface chemically and then build up a silver layer by electroplating as usual.
 This new use for silver comes at an ap- propriate time. The big increase of It's production may be eased off into industrial use when the government quits it's high-priced purchasing of the metal, as 1t must do sooner or later There Is a big potential market, already starting, for silver lining in vats used for beer, pickles and other products that corrode steel. Bold, too, might be used for these pur- poses if 1t ever lost its special value as Inoney-metal.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-12-07
The Old Helps the New

It is interesting to see how very old and very new methods of ocean travel are joining hands in Pan-American Airways venture in the Pacific. Pan-American has reconditioned an old four-masted schooner to carry supplies to various island bases Although equipped with auxiliary Diesel engines, this ship de- pends on the wind for most of her motive power; her officers thus hark back to old clipper ship days, when ship captain spent much of his time studying upper air currents and trying to forecast the weather on which the speed of his voyage depended.
 Which, in way, is precisely what the pilots of Pan-America1's planes have to watch the weather far more closely than do. Like the old-timers, they have to do steamship shippers; and it is some how fitting that Pan-American should be using an old-time wind-jammer, which follows the same rules, as an aux Hilary surface ship
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-12-07
In New York
BY GEORGE ROSS

New York, Dec. 7-They persist ently pumped George Arliss, while he was in New York, about the rumor that he would portray the late John D. Rockefeller on the screen.
 And repeatedly, the British acc tor said that he wouldn't, adding that the rumor first began when the late oil king started looking like him. But he failed to ex- plain why he wouldn't add por- trayal of the late American Croe- sus to his crowded gallery of im- presentations. He wouldn't, that is, to interviewers.
 But in private conversation the other day, MT. Arliss gave his real reason for stunning the as. signment. His reluctance, 1t seems, lies In his distaste for one phase of the Rockefeller benefactions: medical research in all parts of the world. MT. Arliss is an ardent anti -vivisection And he, there. fore, opposes any kind of surgical experiment.
 He doesn't believe that he can do justice to the character, in view of the difference of opinion.
 Ex. News
 Time was when the amatory life of playboy Tommy Manville was fol- lowed with blind devotion by editors and scribes; and the ladies in his | life always enjoyed grandstand seats on the front pages. But the ardor has died and no one In the city room, apparently, cares any more about the didoeS of T. M. or any of his alleged inamoratas.
 The other night, Norma Taylor, whose name was linked with Tommy almost to the altar, en- tered c night club with e stranger. The house attache grew excited; he phoned Q tabloid and asked for the city desk.
 "Tommy Manville's ex-," he began.
 "Forget It." cut in lackadaisi- cal desk man, i've wouldn't care if she were Tommy's Madame x." And hung up. Big Apple Sours
 That animosity which professional performers once directed at Major Bowes when hc exploited the Anna. teur Hour now Is being aimed at Arthur Murray by veteran ballroom dancers.
 Murray Is Americas dance mag nate. Ills schools for popular ball. room choreography outnumber any rivals. When the recent Big Ap- pie" craze struck the city, Murray went to town on 1t. He organized numerous units of youthful "Big Apple" enthusiasts and sent them out. under his auspices, Into the enc tertainment world. He still is doing | 1t. W
 The prcfessionai dancers moan l that he is putting them out of work I u J I| '
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-12-07
Selected Poem
DEXTER FELLOWS
(Maurlce Morrise in the New York Sun

(Maurice Morrise in the New York Sum The circus no longer will be the same,
 With Dexter Fellows gone: Somehow eXpectance will lose It's flame
 And weeds instead will don The liveler iris of early spring Is lost, with the crocus towering, The earth won't be in tune to sing,
 With Dexter Fellows gone The elephants and the kangaroos,
 With Dexter Fellows gone, And all the inhabitants of the zoos
 will intone an prison. That oVercoat and the long cigars The cozy chats over modest bars Are gone with the chiefest of avatars--
 With Dexter Fellows gone, Hyperbole has been put to rest
 With Dexter Fellows gone But somewhere he argues with old-time zest The ultimate pro and con. Yes, somewhere the adjectiveS nouns and verbs Are flowing free, unknowing Curbs With Frank O'Malley to do the burbs-
 Yes the Admiral there has gone
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-12-07

There's no profit in making the "prov- erbial sou" any longer, so France may shortly discontinue minting its five cen time coin. If in your childish days you came across the expression about the hero not even having sou left in his jeans, you probably puzzled and won dered just what a sou actually was. It was and still is the five-centime piece. But 1t costs seven centimes to make five centime coin, so the French can't sec anything being gained by such transac- ton as this. They expect to discontinue minting the coin very shortly. And this will vanish from the history of money coin that is legendary Sous were in use as far back as the 4th century. And they kept on being used right down through the ages. And even in the present time tradesmen and poorer people in France estimate sums in sous The first sou was a gold-piece, but gradually lost in value until they got down to five-centimes where they remained and where they will probably die
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-12-07
Just Insert . Plate

A recent item in the papers of the state called attention to the fact that after the first of the year motorists won't have to start to figure on getting new license plates for their automobiles. We'll get in- serts in 1888, consisting of a small metal plate, bearing the figures, 1888, which will replace the present 1887 on our li- censes. Incidentally these aluminium ii1- serts are to be made way out in Wiscon- sin, SO we learn.
 The company out there submitted the lowest bid to the State Motor Vehicle for 410000 inserts. They will cost $7,511.2O, shipped by freight and $8, ,19l.80, shipped by express. Waterbury supplied the only bidder for the contract, the Scovill Com panys bid being larger than that submit ted by the Aluminium Goods Manufactur- ing Company of ManitoWoc, Wisconsin. Too bad the contract couldn't have come to Waterbury or remained in the state, at least, but when competitive bidding rules, you've got to follow the rules.
 AS for the inserts, well, acquiring them simply means that the work of passing our new licenses is facilitated even be- yond the point where Commissioner Connor had brought 1t in the last few years. It has been pleasure to obtain license plates the last couple of years. The way 1t looks now it's going to be even less trouble. Incidentally the semi-per- manent license plates that we now have won't offer on opportunity to "gyp" the state. Don't try to beat the inserts; 1t just can't be done successfully.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-12-07

We believe that the right to picket is one of the Fundamental rights of labor, but we also believe that, like other rights, 1t may be abused. We think that labor is justified in de- lending that right, but we also think that if labor is wise 1t will be care- full not to abuse the right, for its abuse may easily lead to its curtail- ment.
 We have in mind developments that are hurting labor and endan- gering Its right to picket. Our streets and sidewalks are becoming so cluttered with pickets that the presence of Q picket before e place of business is no longer effective In some cases they have become a nuisance to the public and Q lia. bility to labor.
 Even more obnoxious is the use of pickets in what the courts have called and often condemned as "sec- ondary boycotts". These are cases in which a man Is picketed, not be- cause he has a dispute with his em- ployes or with 6 union but because he is doing business with some one else who may have dispute with employees or q union.
 If unions and employers are to bargain collectively there must be occasions when unions will resort to
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-12-07

Just before Christmas New York will celebrate another great event in its trans portation history. The midtown tube un- der the Hudson river, linking New York It has cost $75,ooo, ,ooo to build and is the first of a two-way system to be built at this point. The second under-the-river tunnel will be ready about 1940. Oddly enough this river tunnel comes almost 100 years after the first successful one was built in modern times at London under the Thames river. This was in 1842.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-12-07
Picketing Abuses
Secondary Boycotts" Are Causing Trouble Be- tween Labor, Capital -Picketing Must
 Be Definite Appeal
NEW YORK POST

picketing. But it is to the best in- terests of labor to limit these ap- peals for public support and to make them as definite and clear cut as possible.
 Unnecessary friction and hostility are created when a man not a party to @ labor dispute wakes up one morning to find his business picketed because some one else has a labor dispute. He rarely has means of judging the merits of the dispute. There is no reason why he should be forced to choose between one side or the other. There Is no reason why he may not remain neutral. KY
 The very basis of organized so- ciety rests on tho view that private quarrels are to be settled by gov- ernmental tribunals. When Q man and his wife fall out there is no reason why every neighbor on the block must take sides between them or be denounced as unfair.
 Nor is there any reason why in a dispute between an employer and his union other employers should be forced to take sides for or agys. .,st Third parties have the right to maintain friendly relations with both sides. There Is no need to make q public t,ig-of-war out of a private dispute. #sy.
 There was @ time when the courts, both state and federal, forbade and enjoined secondary boycott. That attitude. in recent years, has changed. The right to picket in secondary boycott was upheld in this State in 1927, and the Supreme Court this year, in upholding the coiastitutionality of the Wisconsin anti-injunction law, held that pic. keting was a form of free speech and thus protectedaby the Constitu- ton.
 Nevertheless we believe that if labor Is wise 1t will make use of these rights sparingly and dis. creetN: that 1t runs the risk of di- viding the community into hostile classes if 1t does not do so; that if 1t does not regulate itself effectively in this matter there will inevitably be regulation by law. %
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-12-07
Still Reducing

We had lot to say earlier this fall about reduction of tax rates, particularly those brought about during the admins tration of Mayor Frank Hayes. It was, therefore, encouraging to read in last nights Democrat that further reduction in the tax rate for next year loomed as positive. It will amount only to half a mill, but in these times even a half-mill reduction is not to be passed over lightly or to be greeted with amusement.
 Some weeks ago when The Democrat brought it's readers knowledge of Mayor Hayes plans to houseclean with thorough ness and fineSse, there seemed little likeli- hood that such sweeping reforms as then contemplated would result in drop in the tax rate. Even Mayor Hayes him. self said that his reorganization was not to be considered as an indication that generous drop in the tax rate would fol- low. This has been brought about by par. ing estimate here and there throughout the city government and cutting expenses to the bone.
 No doubt should the far-reaching re- organization plans include every city de- partment and even reduce personneis to Skeleton forces there would be likelihood of further tax reductions. But this would naturally bring about a question of whether conditions and times war ranted wholesale housekeeping. It might also run right up against welfare conditions that would place the city back on the same footing they were in when the Mutual Aid of Waterbury was created some years back.
 We can be thankful that a small tax reduction was possible without extraor- tlinary means. It not only will have 8 psychological effect on taxpayers, but it will also go bit deeper and have an ac- tual effect on pocketbooks.