Montana labor news., 1944-10-19
UNION STUNlO.
new WORKERS
REGISTRATION
CONSCIOUS

49,
NEW YORK lFP) = The union butch
er, the baker, the men who deliver the
laundry and the milk and the women
who answer the phone told Mr.. and Mrs.
New Yorker Oct. TIA: Don't forget
if you don't register you can't vote"
outcome of two months Of preparation
by the labor movement, the drive to
bring out a record vote in the worlds
largest city had thousands Of AFL and
CLIO unionists each manning his special
political action post as New YorS enter
ed its registration week.
Highlghting the drive, a million hand
bills with a simple appeal to register were
handed out by CLIO unionists on the Sat
urday before the big week began. Each
union took over certain busy street.
corners, covering the business district
in the morning, the shopping section in
the afternoon and the Broadway theatre
district in the evening.
A fleet of 20 sound trucks decked out
with catchy signs and flags were sent
out by the CLIO to coyN more than
LOCO street rallies from noon to 10 pm
daily throughout the week. At lunch
hour, at work closing time. in the even
ing the streets %resounded with the music
and registration call Of these rallies, con-
Quoted by nonpartisan groups and the
CLIO unions.
Registration reminders We're handed
out with the hamburger and porkchops
by members of the Amalgamated Meat
Golfers & Butchers Workmen (AFL).
The men behind the meat counters,
wearing Roosevelt buttons, were asked by
their union officers not only to register
themselves but to talk to their custom
ers about it. Walters in the Hotel &
Restaurant Employees Init. Alliance (AFL)
wore Roosevelt buttons and made pools
of their tips for the Natl. Citizens Politi-
cal Action Committee.
Switchboard operators and reception
lists in many a company under union
contract said: Good morning-Blank
g. Co.-have you registered" each time
they answered the phone. Local IS,
Wholesale & Warehouse Workers (CIO)
got arrangements OK for switchboard
operators in 1000 wholesale firms to
answer the phone that way.
Families who sent their wash to the
laundry got a reminder to register when
it came back, both flat and wet wash.
This was the work of drivers in the Init
Bro. of Transfers (AFL). In Brooklyn
many laundries agreed to insert the re-
minders in the clothes and laundry
trucks throughout the city carried huge
registration word along with the morn
ing milk.
Town crier girls ringing bells to re-
mind white collar workers of their date
at the registration places were sent
through Wal Street stock market sec
ton by United Office & Professional
Workers (CIO). On some streets this
union posted a series of signs, the first
saying: did you last night a few
steps further: will you tonight...?" a
few steps further: IF you didn't, you
ought to-" and finally, to solve the
mystery: Register to vote"
seamen back from the invasion fronts
cruised the streets in their own fleet Of
20 sound trucks, kept on the New York
Election front until NOV. z by the Natl.
Maritime Union (CIO). CLIO transport
workers reached the people riding the
subways and buses. CLIO teachers tried
to get the Board Of Education to per-
nit them to send children home with a
note, reminding their parents to regis
ter, and were on hand themselves to
coach first voters for nteracy tests.
Through the PAC and local American
Labor party clubs, the CLIO modified
for canvassing on a large scale in neigh
forhoods and shops. The Amalgamated
Clothing Workers, the United Electrical
Radio and Machine Workers and 300
local unions with membership in several
ed large plants held daily check
rups of all workers for registration. In
a number of plants, management joined
with labor in using public address
systems to remind employees to register.
A registration cavalcade of leading
actors, actresses and chorus girls from
Is Broadway shows was cheered as it
paraded through the city in horse-drawn
buggies under auspices Of shipbuilder
Henry j. Kaiser's Nonpartisan Assn. for
Franchise Education the first day Of re-
gistration. That night long lines stood
in front of thel polling booths-and
egistration-consciou was the word for
New York.