davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The people's voice., 1939-12-13
MISSOURI and
WASHINeT join
USHA PROGRAM

WASHINGTON.-(FP)- Two more
states were actively enlisted in the
nationwide slum clearance program
when President Roosevelt here, upon
recommendation of Nathan Straus,
administrator of the United States
Housing Authority, approved USHA
loans totaling SIS, 5,480,000 to IL local
housing authorities.
These loans, to defray 300 of the
S17,206,000 estimated cost of 13 low
rent and slum clearance projects,
brought the USHA loan contract total
to $536,797, ,000
The states of Missouri and Wash
ington entered the loan contract col
umn for the first time when loans
were approved for st. Louis and Seat
tie. Thus 140 communities in 20
states, the District of Columbia, the
territory of Hawaii, and Puerto Rico
have received loan contracts with
which to attack their slums and build
decent homes for families in the low
est-income group.
Besides the $536,797, 900 In loan con-
tracts there are outstanding earmark-
ings of $130,831 900, making a total
of $667, ,628,000 in USHA commitments
for 1863 communities.
The contracts approved to date call
for the construction of about 1895
dwelling units in 80 projects to re-
house about 476,000 dwellers in the
slum.
The people's voice., 1939-12-13
Small War
.Disappoints U. S.
Business Men
BY SCOTT NEARING
Federated Press)

The War of 1899 has not come up
to expectations. Instead of destroy
ing wealth at the rate of S125,0000
day as the last war did when it
got into its stride in 1918, the pres
ent war has turned out to be small
town affair that is no more destruc-
tive of materials than some minor
campaign in Spain or Central China.
The American business world is dis
appointed and disgusted.
The responsible spokesman of
American business have been careful
not to express their disgust in public.
When they speak for the press they
are all for peace. But the confiden-
tial business services are telling a
very different story, reports Labor
Research Assn.
A Wall Street Journal columnist be-
lieves that "a most active phase of
fighting is what many Wall Street
traders have been looking for to break
the stalemate in markets" And the
Monthly Market Letter of Goodbody
& Co., brokers, takes it for granted
that ''as soon as the German offensive
enters an active phase on land or in
tlc an tuti Oul SlOch anu COluIiOulty
markets should resume their up
trend"
American business is not only dis
appointed by the failure of the belli-
gerents to stage a first-class war. 1t
is periodically terrified by the reap
pearance of the peace ghost"
The Fitch Survey, which goes to
rich spectators, attributes the sag
ging stock market to "the lack of
heavy hostilities abroad and the reg
ular appearances of the peace ghost
which serves to hold down expan-
sion" And David Lawrence's Report
for the Business Executive. laments
that: TYPE of war now being fought
will, if continued, tend to be bust
ness depressant, not business slim
ulant"
The American business community
wants a real war. On no other basis
can it hope to restore prosperity"
The return of peace will bring with
it deeper levels of depression.
Only through organized destruction
and mass murder on a vast scale can
the masters of profit economy keep
the wheels of industry moving and
guarantee themselves "a reasonable
return on the investment"
The people's voice., 1939-12-13
War Threatens
Farmers With Loss

! WASHINGTON.-(FP)-E Export OF
farm products from the United States
is threatened with virtual extinction
as the result of the war, according
| to reports reaching responsible gov
ernment officials here.
Policies adopted by Great Britain
and France relative to war purchases
here will send the already declining
exports into a nosedive, farm experts
say, although war orders to manu-
facturers are booming as anticipated.
Under these policies, the reports
say, Great Britain and France will
limit purchases in this country to
materials of war and divert their agri-
cultural purchases to their own col
onies or to countries with a sterling
basis of exchange.
Among the principal sterling coun-
tries are Argentina and Uruguay and
they are regarded as the likely bene-
ficiaries of the purchasing policies of
the western powers.
Already forbidden, it is said, is the
import of tobacco and fruits from the
United States. In addition, drastic
restriction of domestic food consump-
tion has been put into effect in order
to allow maximum diversion of re-
sources to the war industries.
Farm exports will be further cut
by the already announced policy of ra
tioning neutrals, the reports continue.
The purpose of the plan, according to
Great Britain, is to prevent supplies
being shipped to neutral countries
from eventually reaching Germany
Shipments to neutral countries will
be subject to seizure if they appear
to be destined to the enemy or likely
to aid him and shipments from any
neutral nation will be subject to seiz-
lre if goods in the shipment have
been manufactured in whole or in
part from German materials.
Department of Commerce figures
show exports of steel scrap in Octo-
Der, 1889, were 75qo above those in
October, 1888, semi-manufactured |
up 549o, metal working ma
,hinery up 2296, oil products up 1870 |
,ut wheat and flour down 25Go, fresh |
ruits down 478c and tobacco down
,39S
The people's voice., 1939-12-13
|Cleveland's Needy
To Get &c Meals
Until 1910
BY TED COX

CLEVELAND. - OPP = The most
! fortunate of Cleveland's 62,818 relief
clients are trying to hold out until
1910 on a basis of 4c a meal A
Christmas announcement by Mayor
! Harold H. Burton (R.) said that the
city will "be able to continue" the
present scale until the first of the
new year
While out-of-town papers played
the story of the relief crisis in g.
column front page banners, Cleveland
papers buried the facts beneath a
barrage of war stories. The stories
that did appear were limited to the
haggling between republicans in the
city and state governments over re-
sponsibility for breakdown in relief
machinery.
Gov. John W. Bricker (R.), who
has been urged by AFL and CLIO
groups throughout the state to call
special session of the Legislature, ar
rogantly refused to see 35 labor lead
ers, members of the executive boards
of the Ohio Industrial Union Coun-
Gil (CIO) and Labor's Non-Partisan
League, when they sought a confer
ence on the relief situation.
Labor leaders privately agreed that
only huge mass demonstrations would
force action from the republican ad-
ministrations of state and city About
10000 men, women and children are
getting the 4c-a-meal allowance.
Still worse is the fate of 10000 sim
gle men and couples without children
who have been cut off of relief en-
tirely and put on a diet of apples
and white flour, supplied by the Sur
plus Commodities Corp.
Also sharing in the misery were
thousands never admitted to relief |
rolls by an administration which has
tightened restrictions and |
spent tens of thousands of dollars to |
kick chiselers off relief rolls"
The people's voice., 1939-12-13
SO MEN RULE U. S.
NATL ECONOMY

| Eighty-three men rule the econom-
lc life of America, and they have rul-
ed in such manner that 13 million
people at the top get as much of the
nations income as IS million people
at the bottom according to a report
filed with President Roosevelt by the
National Resources Committee, re-
ports the Cooperative Builder.
The IS million cannot buy even all
the necessities of life, to say nothing
| of luxuries, and hence over 10 million
would-be producers. are idle and de-
pendent on public relief, and crops
must be restricted and DESTROYED to
avoid Surplusses.
Meanwhile, the 13 million top-dogs
get so much more than they can
spend for consumer needs that they
have glutted the Golfers Of the banks
with their savings These savings are
largely idle, because they can only
be used to finance new production,
and there are no consumers able to
buy such production. Idle men, idle
money.
The report, which consists of 400
pages of cold-blooded statistics show
that the SO men rule finance and in
ter-locking directorates.
Morgan Heads the List
They are divided into eight dis
tlnce groups, headed by the House
OF Morgan. The others are the Kuhn
Loeb group, Rockefeller group, Mel
lon group, DUPONT group, and what
are known as the Chicago, Cleveland,
and Boston groups More than two
pages are used to list the holdings
of the House of Morgan, which total
in value over 80 million dollars.
The report frankly points out the
calamitous condition to which these
rulers" have brought the national
economy. Unemployment of men and
machines costing the nation 20 bill
lions a year, or about one-half of the
national debt over which the Tories
weep so profusely. In other words,
set the idle men and machines to
work and the entire national debt
could be paid in two years.
Every Family, a $4,000 Home
During the last 10 years the loss
from idleness has been 200 billions,
Or enough to provide new $4,000
nome for every family in the land
The solution, the report points out,
les in increasing the incomes of the
20 per cent of the population who now
get less than $4,000 year, for any
Increase they get, up to about $4,000,
will be spent increasing demand and
therefore, increasing production. But
hose in higher income brackets are
llready consuming at a maximum and
10 will not increase their consumption
given more income.
Even in foodstuffs, the committee
eports that there would be A per
,ent more buying if consumer in
ONE increased in the lower brack-
is as it should be.
The people's voice., 1939-12-13
MURPHY INSISTS
ANTITRUST LAWS
APPLY TO UNIONS

WASHINGTON - (FP) - The de
partment of justice believes antitrust
laws are applicable to labor unions
Attorney General Frank Murphy told
American Federation of Labor Presi
dent VIM. Green in a blunt letter
made public here.
Murphy's letter, in response to one
by Green asking for a statement of
the departments position, was fol
lowed by a supreme court decision
reinstating antitrust indictments
against Chicago milk handlers in
which the question of applying anti
trust laws to labor unions was ducked
In recent letter you have in
quired whether 1t is the view Of the
department of justice that the anti
trust laws apply to the activities of
labor organizations and their mem
bers,' Murphy wrote Green.
"In reply it is only necessary for
me to point out that it has been so
held in several decisions of the su-
preme court. In the Chicago milk
case, now pending in the supreme
court, your general counsel, Joseph
Padway, conceded this to be true and
frankly asked the supreme court to
oVerrule its former findings.
In the enforcement of criminal
statutes it is the practice of the de-
partment to follow the construction
placed on them by the supreme court.
In doing so in this instance, the anti
trust division has followed the usual
practice, and l would not be justified
in interfering with that course"
In reinstating the antitrust indict-
ments against the Chicago milk hand
lers, the supreme court, in a unani-
nous decision written by Chief JUS
tice Hughes, declared, "The conten-
tion of the defendants who are labor
officials that the Sherman act does
not apply to labor unions or labor
union activities is not open on this
appeal
The district court did not construe
the Sherman act as inapplicable to
these defendants and the govern
ment's appeal under the restriction of
the criminal appeals act does not pre-
sent that question" AFL counsel
Padway had filed brief with the
court urging it to declare labor unions
from antitrust prosecutions.
1t is the governments contention
in the case, which will be pushed to
trial shortly, according to the justice
department that the milk wagon
drivers in Chicago, affiliated with the
Init. Bro. Of Teamsters (AFL), en-
tered the conspiracy to keep milk
prices up by striking firms selling
milk at prices lower than those set
by the alleged conspirators.
The people's voice., 1939-12-13

You cannot control what you do
not own.
The people's voice., 1939-12-13
NLRB Defines
COMPANY UNIONS

| WASHINGTON. - (FP) - COMPANY
unions were defined here by the
National Labor Relations Board in {
study issued by the boards economic
research section summarizing the
findings in 60 cases in which the
NLRB had ordered unions dis
established.
| The study was regarded as having
bearing ON one of the current com
plants being made of the board and
the labor relations act, the charge
that it has carelessly designated in
dependent organizations as company
unions and ordered Their disestablis-
ment.
characteristics common to the 60
organizations found to be company
dominated and ordered disestablished
were:
1. The manner of their inception.
The board found that IL unions
were organized from admittedly-em-
ployer dominated organizations and
that in all but three cases the an
nouncement abandoning the old form
of organization was followed i'm
mediately by organization of the new
organization "under circumstances
which made obvious it's connection
with the old organization"
g. The timing of the organization.
The vast majority (45) the study de-
clared, were formed in the three and
a half months directly following the
valuation of the National Labor Re-
lations Act by the U. S. Supreme
Court.
8. The labor situation in the plant
at the time of organization. In every
case but one, organizational activities
were being carried on by bona fide
unions at the time the independent"
organization was formed. Strikes were
in progress at the time of the "in-
organization in 27 cases,
back-to-work movements in Is cases,
and lock-outs in eight cases.
4. Use of company time and proper
ty. In Al cases company time was
used for organizing purposes and in
AZ cases company property was SINH
larly used.
5. Participation of supervisors in
the formation of the independent
union. In AZ cases they approved the
use of company time and property, in
40 cases they were active in recruit
ing and in 81 cases they were present
at organizational meetings.
G. In almost every case the "inde-
pendent" had the verbal support OF
he management, usually in the form
Of attacks on outside organizations.
Z. Constitutions or bylaws cannot
Do taken as evidence of bona flde
organization without careful study OF
heir method of adoption and content. |
s. Membership in all but three |
,ases was limited to the employees OF |
he company involved In the three ex-
,eptions there were no members from
,ther companies, although such mem
,ership was permitted.
8. Hasty recognition of the indepen-
lent was often sharply contrasted
With the employers resistance to the
ona fide union and relatively few
secured formal agree
nents with their employers.
The board found that company
MONS were most prevalent in rela-
lively small plants. Seven were found
4 plants employing less that 100
yorkers. "a in establishments with
etween 101 and 500 workers, IL in
lants with between sol and 1000
Torkers and IA in plants having more
IAN 1000 workers.
You cannot control what you do {
The people's voice., 1939-12-13
RECEIVE DROUTH RELIEF

SAN ANTONfO.-(FP)-More than
half of Texas $50 counties will re-
ceive drouth relief in December and
January, and 5000 workers will be
employed to assist in the program, the
FSA has announced here
The people's voice., 1939-12-13

The principal basis of his charges against the ASU that
the organization subversve in its activities that had
obtained the of 600 male students college and
written them advising them not to enlist in the Reserve Off
GERS Training Corps
readily understand how such actions would disturb
old major but certainly with all whtewashng possible
could hardly be called unpreudced witness questions
He may certainly be said to be typical of
Dies star witnesses.
The people's voice., 1939-12-13
OSTRICH NEUTRALITY

by Of s0caed great leaders that the
would quit interfering with business that the indus
tries would not be hampered and could proceed with expan
of the habit the ostrich said have of sticking
its head in @ the M sand when senses ms Sd near
far common sense is concerned
these oudmouths Simply ask them what they would do with
the additional products they promise so gb would be pro
of them complain of shortage of produced goods
All and than be marketed being produced What
the fun of it, order to perform civic duty Of employing
petent And the of business that
it will show profit is about the only religion these chaps
Why there upsurge in certain lines Of activity at the
moment? it because of atruc desire the part of
industry to relieve the unemployment situation? Is because
the profits tax done with and indusras
It was repealed that if this We're done they would feel
and n 1p ~ eeas of Of profits be made out
misery of the Europe of the things that those
tools of death which profits American industries
also expected end these ves Are not these same in,
Europe openly enough admitting that because of the advance
result?
appears be only sound logical why these
mnistraton and that because has made effort to
employed Actually the administration has done only what
compelled to do what it dared not refuse to do The
hand of oftentmes recacran legislative his
credit m and a the on % ndea ne b has often had to make to e
character Had he not done what he has done recommend
bargain collecvey and insisted upon relieving hun
and only wonder what would have happened
had he not done these things
Had these things not been DONE these great industrial lead
might concevab by this time be in the circumstances
their brother indusras Thyssen who financed Hitler
and is busted" refugee in Switzerland Thyssen
thought that by financing hs own leader he could continue
in control of his vast industries and unhampered with
his exploitation Instead he created Fankensten which des
troyed him.
Despite the clearly evident breakdown of the profit system
which has nurtured them and which cody analytical
tell them neverunder present world conditions
with almost universally advanced stage of chronological de-
VpO
outdated system They strike blindly at the actions of the
administration which saved them saved the wreckage
things they 1t nconcevabe that they cannot
realize that completely changing the system of production
compel compensatng changes in distribution They must
realize it, but since these changes threaten their positions of
privilege they lack to face conditions They hide
their the sand and refuse face their obligations
society whole.
The people's voice., 1939-12-13
WAR AND FREE SPEECH

Fundamental democratic rights promptly repressed
when country goes to war The socaed democraces are
free expression of thought and opinion in which
empfy the edicts of any autocracy.
and England and Germany moved under Canada had
daily labor paper The Clarion It's editor had the
the business promptly arrested for printing mat
which woud might be prejudca to the safety of the
five and fined $5000 for stating his opinion of the
war; paper definitely banned by the Canadian gov
The editor has not yet been located by the author
tiles.
The Commonwealth, official organ of the Cooperative
Commonwealth Federation, Canadas Farmer-Labor party
formerly weekly, appears with considerable difficulty
only twice each month The action against the
Clarion may the New Commonwealth to temper its ed
toria expression.
According newspaper dispatches which appeared last
week. the democracy of France constructing
tration camps citizens criticize policy
country. Presumably their ails full All labor is
regmened. Collective bargaining is thing of the past A
complete damper is on free and open discussion.
Here in country still have statutes books
which relics of the hyera of 1917 and 1918 Wen
need bother about passing laws check free
already passed and do not question for moment that they
will be rgidly enforced.
This line of thought leads speculation
employment of officers civil capacities Per
haps the president feels for the officers and give
of them relief from the humdum monotony of the
army time and really them something to do
might be well to give thought and consideration to
the increasing strength and influence of the military while
still rights Americans Democratic
rights do not count for much under military regime.
PREJUDICED REPORTS
One of the before Dies
Maj Hampden Wilson, investigator for the Veterans
administration He apparently qualified an expert on edu
subversive activities educational institutions
before 1917 he headmaser of military academy
which Dies attended.
the vehicle with which communism being spread in
educational institutions. He admitted that he had made
because he had been afraid that might affect his highly
partial attitude.
Evening star., 1939-01-20
Huste-With Discretion

Concurrence with the administra-
ton in the belief that Congress
should expedite consideration and
ultimate enactment Of legislation
authorizing reciprocal taxation of
salaries and securities of Federal,
State and local governments does
not preclude the hope that the
Treasury Department will restrain
itself from precipitate efforts to COL
lect taxes on the basis of the pres
ent condition of controversial legality.
For although there seems much
weight in the contentious of those
who believe recent rulings of the
Supreme Court materially extend
the taxing privileges of the Federal
Government as previously inter-
preted, there are "inevitable uncer-
tainties" of tax liabilities, a no
mans land" from which little net
revenue would be obtained.
Aggressive collection efforts in this
border line category might, in fact,
create further sentiment against
clearing up the issue either through
legislation or constitutional amend
ment. And as practical effect, it un-
doubtedly would result in the little
fellows" paying while the big fell
lows" fought their various cases
through the courts, at material ex-
pense to themselves and to the Gov
ernment with no assurance that the
eventual rulings would be sufficiently
comprehensive to bring an end to the
uncertainties.
At the moment, special Senate
committee is considering the prob
lem OF ending these immunities by
statutory authorization to tax. It
has been directed to report its con-
clusions by March l. On the House
side, a new Ways and Means Com
mittee should, at it's earliest con-
venience, undertake its study of the
question.
If evidence is available that the
task is being undertaken in good
faith by the Congress, the Treasury
Department would be justified in
waving too strict adherence to
the March Is deadline for the dec
laration of liability.
At the same time, Congress should
not feel it has discharged it's re-
sponsibilities in the matter by speedy
enactment of legislation to check the
retroactive collections while allowing
the broader objective to languish.
Evening star., 1939-01-20
Great Falls Power

Once more a bill has been intro
duced in Congress proposing the
setting up of a "T. v. A." for the
Potomac Valley, calling for pre-
liminary expenditure of ten million
dollars, and holding out promise
of almost fabulous decreases in elec-
trio rates within a radius of several
hundred miles.
This project has been advocated
with considerable vigor for nearly
twenty years, and had been men
toned often before that. In 1921
Army engineers planning the ex-
pansion of the water supply system
of the Capital approved the develop
ment of the Falls for power in order
to conserve coal. That was before
the Bituminous Coal Commission
was set up to save an industry from
overproduction. A bill similar to the
present one in it's basic aspects passed
the Senate in 1924, but it carried no
appropriation and died a natural
death.
While the measure just introduced
does not specify a dam at Great Falls,
its sponsor in previous years has