davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1940-02-08
LABOR'S SOUND PROGRESS

lust now it is the fashion for certain coumnists
q and "slick paper" magazines to launch attacks
on organized labor over the heads Of certain clever
and dishonest men who have Wormed their way
into the labor movement.
All of which tends to obscure the dominant
facts about the clean solidty of the American la
Dor organizations, pointed out by President
William Green of the American Federation OF La
bor in his address at East st. Louis recently.
Sixty years ago, a handful of scattered organ
izations, representing in all about 25,OOO members,
formed the American Federation of Labor. Today,
105 national and international unions, with 1853
Federal unions, in 49 state federations and 8O6
city central labor bodies, furnish the framework
for the membership of about million men and
women in the national federated body.
The average wage of $lO.71 a week, for an
average work week Of 65 hours, represented the
pay of these workers, 60 years ago. Today the
average pay of the organized workers for 40
hour week is about $4O.50.
even in such states as California, with
its bitter labor heaters, the established body of Ia
Dor legislation and administration, gained through
these 90 years, furnishes a background against
which the little specks of local corruption make,
relatively, small showing
Of course there would be parasites on such a
large and vital body And of course the temptation
for these would be the greatest at the point where
the pickings could be the fattest
Labor does not even resent putting the spot
light on these who have muScled in on its pre-
serves 1t will be glad for the ultimate effect Of
this treatment But let no one be misled into
thinking that these exposures affect the vital
principles or practices Of the organized American
Labor movement.
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1940-02-08
LEGISLATIVE LABOR GAINS

T'HERES debate on among members of labor
organizations, as to the lasting benefits of i'm
provement gained in labor conditions, by means of
legislation
On the one hand, it is said that when shorter
hours and minimum wages are handed to workers
"on platter" by law, they conclude that it is not
necessary to join, OF to maintain labor Organza-
tiOns.
On the other hand, it is pointed out that these
benefits would never have been gained by law, had
it not been for the longtim fight of organized la
Dor; and Also that unless the strength of the labor
movement is maintained the enemies of labor,
those who think they would gain by removal of
labor laws, are always ready to wipe out these
benefits when they have a chance.
Immediate benefits are, of course, important to
the workers, whether gained directly by labor
union action, or by the longer and harder method
of political influence.
But the trade union member who thinks of his
union dues as simply premium to be paid for
present gains, or present conditions, with no
thought for the future battles to be fought, has
very short vision Of the history of organized labor
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1940-02-08
THE SUSPENSION OF /. T. u. LOCALS FROM
A. f. OF i. CENTRAL BODIES

THE action of the Executive Council of the
American Federation of Labor at it's Miami
meeting in ordering the A. F. of L. State fedora
tons of labor and city central bodies to dissociate
themselves from locals of the international Typo
graphical Union followed inevitably from the de-
cision of the 1889 A s. of l.. convention suspend
ing the l. 7. U. from membership in the Fedora
ton for refusal for the last three years to pay an
assessment legally levied by the Federation.
The conventions decision was made mandatory
by the provision of the A. F. of L. constitution
which stipulates that any affiliated organization
not paying it's per capita tax and assessment or
assessments when due and payable shall be notified
by the secretary treasurer of their delinquency,
with the added provso that if at the end of three
months the AFFILIATED organization is still in ar
rears it shall become suspended from membership
in the American Federation of Labor.
In a plainly worded explanation of the action
of the Executive Council with regard to the sus-
pension of l. r. U. locals from membership in State
declarations of labor and city central bodies, Mr..
Green said:
"The American Federation of Labor has en-
deavored to deal with this situation in generous,
patient and broad-minded way.
"a year ago last October, in response to an
appeal made by myself and other officers of the
A. F. of L., the delegates from the /. T. U. were
seated at the A. F. l.. convention upon an implied
promise to pay the assessment due. At that time
they were delinquent only for one year
'The |. T. U. was the only international union
only one now that has failed to pay the assessment.
president Baker assured our 1888 convention
that if his international union failed to pay the
assessment due by the time the 1889 convention
met he would not ask for representation in the
"In the meantime a convention of the |. T. U.
was held and that convention instructed Mr. Baker
and his associates to appear before Cincinnati
convention last October and ask to be seated They
appeared presented their credentials and asked to
be seated.
"The credentials committee reported adversely
and the convention unanimously sustained the re-
port and denied them representation.
ever since the adjournment of the convention
last October, we have tried, through conferences
and appeals, to prevail upon the |. r. U. to place
itself in good standing with the A. f: l.. and re-
main affiliated with it,
"Mr. Baker and his associates are sympathetic
and would do so if they could But because of the
|. r. u. referendum year ago their hands are
tied, they say and the only solution is another ref
erendum. Those who share Mr. Bakers view will
continue their efforts to have another vote taken.
1--WE regret this situation because the l. T. u.
is one of the oldest labor unions in America. 1t
was chartered before the Civil War and is one Of
the very few existing unions that participated in
the formation of the A. F. of l.. in 1881 and has
remained with the "A. F. l.. ever since that time"
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1940-02-08
INFLUENCE OF "REDS" IN LABOR
is DECLARED OVERRATED

New York City QLNS).-Raymond
J. Kelly of Detroit, National Com
mander of the American Legion, said
that if Harry Bridges cannot be de-
ported under existing laws, the
statutes should be amended to "take
care of such cases" Kelly, addressing
the Kings County American Legion,
added, however, that he believed the
influence of "Reds" in education and
labor circles in this country was over
rated The overwhelming majority"
of American students and workers, he
said, are good upright Americans"
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1940-02-08
WHAT NEXT?

Radio Corporation of America
has developed a system of relay
transmission extending the range
of television from SO miles to
much greater distance. The new
method of transmitting makes it
possible for station in New
York City to reach receivers in
cities as far distant as Boston and
Washington. This, the corpora
ton said, clears away a principal
technical difficulty which hitherto
has Obstructed the development of
televisiOn brOadcasting.
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1940-02-08
MINIMUM WAGE LAWS BENEFIT WORKERS
IN LOW-INCOME GROUPS

THE important assistance provided by minimum
wage boards for workers whose chseling en-
ployers persist in compelling them to accept less
than-living wages is revealed in the report of
James p. Walsh, superintendent of the Division OF
Minimum Wage of the Ohio Department of Indus
trial Relations, summarizing the activities of the
division during 1889 in collecting from employers
the difference between the wages paid and those
made mandatory under the State minimum wage
law.
During the year, s53 laundry, dry cleaning and
food and lodging establishments were found guilty
of having defrauded 1865 employees out of SOL
107.11, which amount the wage division by legal
process compelled the low wage employers to pay
to their victimzed workers.
This amount, according to statement by the
Ohio Industrial Relations Department. "is the
largest collected by the Division in any year since
the law was enacted in 1888 and brings the total
collection for the six year period to $125, ,69722 of
which $61 59O.11 was secured for underpald
IWomen and minors in the first five years of the
laws existence. Of the 1889 total, underpaid
Workers in the food and lodging establishments re-
ceived SGT O69 76 while $3,3S602 went to employees
in the dry cleaning industry and S652.33 was ar
ranged for laundry workers"
In view of the persistent clamor by business
interests against the high cost of Government, it
is interesting to note that in order to compel low
wage employers in Ohio to obey the minimum
wage law "a total of 1870 Investigations were
made by minimum wage inspectors during 1889,
bringing the number of inspections since January
1885 to 1871. During the preceding year, 9,532
Investigations were made. A comparison between
the 1888 and 1889 figures shows that the Division
has increased its activities greatly"
In addition to the salaries paid minimum wage
inspectors, the Minimum Wage Division was also
put to considerable expense in carrying forward
criminal and civil actions against employers Tor
violation of the law.
If Ohio employers would recognize the validity
of the Minimum Wage Law and obey it without the
necessity of plant inspection and court cases, the
cost of government in Ohio would be apprecably
reduced This also applies to every other State
and to the Federal Government, where q large
portion of Government expenditures be
charged up to the cost of enforcing labor laws.
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1940-02-08
SHORT HOURS VITAL

Hours of work are getting shorter.
The 5-day week of 40 hours or even
less, though unknown a dozen years
ago, is now a schedule widely used.
Short hours are needed if our unem-
ployed are to find jobs and workers
are to remain healthy, safe and eff
cient.-" Standards" for Employment
of Women in Industry Z. S. Women's
Bureau.
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1940-02-08
Truths Pondered While
Riding At Anchor
MIR. MODESTUS

. LAST DECEMBER
. HIT 1925 PEAK
. BUT THE UNEMPLOYED
. WERE WITH US
It's a small matter
These out-O'-works-
Peak production was in 1929
Last December we were back to that
same level
That means prosperity
X x X
Of course there were unemployed
What do you expect business men
to do?
Over million workers came from
somewhere
More than there were around in
1929 s.
Then, there has been mechanical
progress
You don't want to do away with
that, do you?
And of course, we need less hands
to make 100 of anything
Than were called for in 1929
You can't stop all that, can you?
4 4 4
The same thing is happening every
where
There were too many Poles, in Ger
many
Too many Bohemians in Sudeten-
land
Too many Firms up north there
It's puzzle, really
Whether to get rid of these sur
pluses-
By the quick way, Of total war, and
extermination-
Or by slower processes of starv-
alton
You know: just Flower standards of
living
Some of these ghetto slaves
To say nothing of the hill-billies-
Country mechanics, and extra col
lege grads
Have accumulated a lot of fine
About "high standards of living"
They don't realize, that all those
notions
Are passing over the dam in other
countries
Look at the Japs, clever little peo-
pie
Consider what has happened to the
Italians
Mussolini took lot of foolishness
out of their heads
1t took time, and some firmness,
with the Germans
But they are now taking their medi-
cine
In exactly the doses which are good
for them
They have been getting tanned these
last ten years
So that they are ready to take
orders from Adolph--
x x 4
Russians never knew there was any
standard of living
So it has not hurt them in any new
places
To take what has been handed them
by Stain
Which is the main difference be-
tween mujhik and an American-
The American has too many fine
notions handed down.
But these ten years of Depression
have done a lot for them
They are even learning now that
there is no use in saving
When they put their savings in the
bank
Nobody wants to borrow their
money
X 4
So, we get prosperity:
For those who know enough to take
it,
For the others: the surplus
1t is only matter of eventual
Liquidation
Carefully
Ease it in
Don't stir them up
With too much Relief!
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1940-02-08
Red Caps Charge For Carrying Grips

Cincinnati, O. (OLNS).-The Gin
cinnati Union Terminal Company has
decided to require their red caps to
make charge of ten cents for each
piece of luggage handled hereafter in
stead of permitting the red caps to
depend entirely upon tips.
w. r. kellokk, manager, said the
system of placing these boys on a
salary had been brought about because
Of payroll reports required to be made
under the Social Security Law.
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1940-02-08
! WISDOM
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Shall the people be educated is
a question not of mere policy, but
it is a question of life and death,
upon which the existence of our
present form of government de-
pends.-James Buchanan.
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1940-02-08
MEDICAL SUPPLIES SHORTAGE

New York City.-American Red
Cross workers report terrific"
shortage of medical and surgical sup
plies in Europe, not only in countries
at war but in many others where mob
ilization of men and equipment has
frozen available supplies of these ma
terials vital either in war or peace
time.
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1940-02-08
STABILIZED EMPLOYMENT URGED

Stabilized employment is one of The greatest
needs of American industry, Il. r. Deupree, Presi-
dent Of Proctor and Gamble Co., told 700 members
of the Illinois Manufacturers Association. He ad-
vocated adoption of a steady work year to benefit
manufacturers and labor alike.
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1940-02-08

IN the matter of accidental deaths we seem to
be gaining in safety. please knock wood
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1940-02-08

DECORATING STANDING COMMITTEE
H. MARGARET PARKER
o. p, JAMES SAVIN. HUGO MILLER ROLAND HORTON
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1940-02-08

EASTERN GENERAL WARE STANDING COMMITTEE % M ~
G. DALE FRED SUTTERIIN JAMES TURNEF
L. WHEATLEY, VIM E. YOUNG. EDWARD SEYFIER1
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-01-28
Comments
From Other Angles
MORE THAN TRAINING NEEDED
Greensboro New

One of the ~pertinent points-perhaps the
most pertinent in it's hope of practical fulllll'
ment-developed at last weeks regional confer
ence on guidance and personnel at Raleigh had
to do with the challenge to education to pre-
pare the predominating percentage OF Its pupils
who will never have the opportunity to go 10
college, for the elemental and necessary pusi-
ness of earning a living.
r. A.. Wilson, chairman Of the state lhous-
trial commission, told the conference that work
ers would benefit or suffer as a vocational
guidance program fell or succeeded. Labor
he emphasized, REALIZES the need Tor a chahse
in our public school currlcula. The currlcula
of the past have been primarily TO tram lhose
students who will enter college ana engage III
some profession or become a business eXecu-
tive" Mr.. Wilson advocated a 'practlcal edu-
cation for those "who are forced 10 ehter
some more or less manual occupation"
While the Daily News is in hearty ACCORD
with this declaration, 1t IS OBVIOUS Hal ,ne'
curricular changes are not as easily hlaue VI
effectuated as suggested. The schools are soins
in more and more for vocational tralhlhs' out
the training, in and Of itself, does not assure
anvbodv of a lob. Labor itself has in various
insta placed restrictions and hlhoraheea
between those so trained ana eihpioSine"''
there is the question OF absorbing appien'Nea
or learners in any given field or ihauo'iS,
Equally pertinent and realistic are occupatono
or employment trends. Here the Vocal,ohol pr
gram calls for continuous study, for closest CO.
operation with labor and Industrial leaoers'
and for all possible understanding Oh d sec
TONS. states or nations labor needs. for VIVA. ,
shall these high school students pe nns
Nib tho host nrospect of landing a job? What
~ labor needs and demands? Is a student to
he guided into that field which he wlshes TO
enter, for which he has an aptitude or lhae
field where a lob is more likely to be secured!
Establishment of vocational courses ~ d
necessary beginning; but II presuppo'ea q ~
.-... :.taII;no,+ op5 altered fOllOW-LlfOuSn
if ANYTHING like the desired purpose is TO DC
SERVED.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-01-28
MEANEST MEN

Effort has frequently been made to locate
the "meanest man" but all previous expos
ures pale before the operations of counter
feiters in foreign countries who have been
bilking refugees headed for the United States
out of all their good money and giving them
in exchange spurious American currency.
One case is cited by the secret service In
which two brothers who fled from Poland
to Berne, Switzerland, with their life saw
lngs, amounting to more than $1,000, and
there surrendered it to a man who Offered
them counterfeit U. S. currency at a better
-than-legal rate Of exchange. They received
seventy-seven 500 bills, alleged to be lega
American tender for their Polish zlotys. L
was not until tlcy went to a bank in New
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-01-28
Naval Recruit Offices
Sign Up Fiue Youths

Five additional enlistments from
Southeastern North Carolina were
reported yesterday at the Whining
ton district office of the naval re-
cruiting service.
First enlistments as apprentice
seamen for six years of service in
GUIDED:
Adrian D. Sellers, IS. son of Mr..
and Mrs. L. w. Sellers, of South
port; Claude E. Meares, 20, son of
Mr.. and Mrs. w. D. Meares, of Ger
70 Gordo; and Quinton V. Leon
ard. %, son Of M. B. Leonard, of
Bolivia.
They were transferred to the
naval training station base at
Hampton Roads. Va, for prelimi-
nary training prior to assignment
to various ships of the U. S. Fleet.
Two re-enlistments for four years
of service included: William D
Anderson and Carl w. Harris, Ct
Leland, who had previously served
for four years with various ships
of the U. S. fleet while stationed on
the west coast.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-01-28
York that thew learned they had been de-

York that they learned they had oeen oe-
frauded.
The secret service bureau OF the treasury
has confiscated $40, 1000 in counterfeit oliis'
said to have been made IN EUROPE during
the last four months. In all cases Reported
the victimized refugees had been accosted by
swindlers on the streets of European cities,
who offered a higher rate OF exchange than
could have been obtained from legitimate
sources.
1t might be possible for a more desplcable
trick to be played on credulous persons, but
it is hard to conceive of it. And the worst OF
it is that this country can do nothing to stop
it, except to appeal to the governments un,
der whose flags it is happening.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-01-28

OIuee S"' ine metnOd OF procedure, re-
moving the boards power to make its own
rules and specifically requiring certain changes
such as the right of petition by employers.
In other words-present personnel and prac-
tees of the board will be assailed, but not the
basic principles of the Wagner act.
VOORHIS DID
HIS WORK TOO VEIL
It's very odd, but Congressman Jerry Voor-
his of California is in very bad with New Deal
es these days, although he's as devoted a New
Dealer as there is in Congress. His crime: ton
ing down the Dies committee report.
Argument is that if he had let the report
ride as originally written it would have been
so wild and exaggerated that New Dealers
could have fought the committees approprla-
ton successfully in Congress-.
The report as Voorhis fixed it is sane and
factual and restrained, no good fighting points
were left.
AS a matter of fact, of course, there never
has been a chance of beating the committees
plea for another year of life. What Voorhis did
was to put a frequently unrestrained commit
tee on record with a liberal and intelligent
document which may come in very handy later
on. The New Dealers ought to be thanking him
for it, and probably will some day.
If you know a southern worker named Dunn
my, the Social Security Board would be glad
to hear from you.
Dummy is the prize sample of faulty re-
turns that get into the boards old age lnsur-
ance accounts. His boss sent his name in that
way-jus Dummy, no first name or initials
and forgot to give his card number. When a
board official tried to check up, Dummy had
left his lob and couldn't be found. Meanwhile
his card is on file; some Gay he may have
money coming to him which he won't be able
to collect.
The board has between 0 10000 and SOO,o 600
similar - who have paid the Ola
age insurance tax for a while but who cant
be found now, or whose account numbers are
missing.
The number is much smaller than 1t used to
be. When the act was first passed, about 10 per
cent of all the returns were in error In one
way or another; now the number is under one
per cent.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-01-28
COLD COMFORT

The Houston Post strives valiantly to con-
sole it's readers with the reflection that Sc
we're cold visitations every decade or two are
worth while, if for no other reason than to
let Texans know what northern residents en-
dure every winter.
1t is a kindly effort, but we seriously
doubt it's power to stop a%nyone's shivering.
Nor does it divert attention from the plight
of Florida, Texas and north Gulf regions
from the tremendous loss in crops which has
already mounted into millions and is still
climbing.
Nor does it put a check to the suffering OF
unfortunate households where there is lack
of proper food, clothing, bedding and fuel
and where pneumonia and influenza are ram
pant, with death frequently following.
Rural sections of Georgia, Tennessee, Ala
bama and Kentucky are reported to have beer
particularly hard hit, with thousands Of
families cut because roads are clogget
with snow. The Red Cross has succeeded II
reaching many homes with food and fuel. Its
reports of conditions in areas isolated by the
storms reveal dire want.
Wilmington is finding it's lot hard to bear
but in light of what is transpiring else
where in the state, it is truly fortunate, will
no heavy snow to buck and communication
open in all directions.