davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Proletarec. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1906-19??, 1945-03-07
GENTLE TREATMENT FOR BIG THIEVES
Eighteen Steel Concerns, Which Robbed Government
And Ordinary Customers for Ten Years Pay
InconseqUentiul Fines

Eighteen of the big concerns which make stainless steel, and six of
their high-ranking officers, we're arrangned before Federal Judge
Philip Forman in Trenton, N. j, last week, charged with conspiring to
They launched their conspiracy to violate the Federal antitrust
law ten years ago, and among the instruments they used were German
patents for chrome nickel steel, which they secured from the Alien
Property Custodian after the last war.
Sales of stainless steel totaled $175,OoOOOO in 1912 alone, and
presumably the figures were very, much higher the last two years of
our supreme war effort. The companies which appeared in the Trenton
court produced more than 80 per cent of the total output. BY fixing
prices, they were undoubtedly able to steal tens of millions of dollars.
Clearly, the defendants were not ordinary criminals and their
ohenses were not ordinary offenses. They were not petty thieves. They
did not deal in chicken feed" AS pirates, they were in Captain Kids
class.
Now what do you think happened to them? Well, first of all, one
of their attorneys, in order to avoid a long trial" pleaded guilty for
the whole bunch. Then the special representative OF Attorney General
Biddle suggested to the court that each of the defendants be fined
5000 on each of two counts.
In other words, that they be turned loose on payment of $4,000
less than they stole from their customers and the govern
ment in any n week during the ten years they confessed they devoted
to fixing prices.
Attorney General Biddle talks a lot about enforcing antitrust laws
II this is a fair example of what he has in mind, then heaven help us!
Obviously, it is safer for a big corporation to thumb its nose at Uncle
Sans antitrust laws than it is for a hungry mar to steal a sack Of
flour-Labor, Washington, D. c., Feb. "a, 1945.
Proletarec. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1906-19??, 1945-03-07
ARE AMERICAN UNIONS FREE?

We note with mixed feelings the American Federation of Labor
campaign to rMse a million dollars for the purpose Of restoring free
unions in war-devastated countries
Basically, we believe such a project could we'll be entitled to a
position at the top of American labors activities. For one thing, democ-
racy cannot be the way o. life in any country in which the workers
care not free. For another, we are hopeful that American participation
in the restoration of workers organizations in other lands will result
in an international of labor that will unite all workers in all lands
around the world.
And with the exploters of the victor nations planning an inter
national of their own, it becomes even more of a necessity that workers
should do likewise.
Therefore more power to the A. F. of L.
However, we hope w won't be accused of quibbling when we ask
whether Americas unions are themselves free.
There is plenty of cause for doubt on that point The War Labor
threaten the very existence of unions. The Boards power to revoke
to destroy.
American unions have been forced to submit, which do not fit with
any reasonable concept of freedom.
So when American labor speaks of establishing unions in other.
countries-unions which shall be free-the workers of this nation
would do well tt examine their own position.
Freedom is something that cannot be conferred by another. It
must be won. And workers who fight for freedom must come into
conflict with those who would limit and destroy freedom.
Who, then, will be the enemies of free unions? Answering this
question in the broadest sense, we must say that -
In Italy the enemy will be the Italian exploiting class.
In Spain it will be the Spanish exploiting class.
And in America it is the American exploiting class
The point is that the chief enemies of freedom for the workers
of all countries r not found in other countries but in the homeland
There is where the fight for freedom must be fought and won first
right at homel-Reading Labor Advocate.
Proletarec. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1906-19??, 1945-03-07
Soviets Publish Bulletin to
Prove Religious Freedom

WASHINGTON - The Soviet
embassy's information bulletin
gave nearly five pages today to
recent Russian church events,
which were cited as proof that
there is full freedom of worship"
in the U.S.S.R.
Articles in the bulletin reported
the election and enforcement of
Alexius, patriarch of Moscow and
all Russia, and carried a message
from him asking Christians every
where to pray that Fascism
should be destroyed forever"
One article was by Benjamin,
metropolitan of North America
and the Aleutians, who attended
the national assembly of the Rus
sian Orthodox Church in Moscow.
Benjamin said that if Americans
had been able to attend the as
sembly there would be no need
to prove that the church lives here
(in RUSSIA, that there is full free
com of worship"
Proletarec. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1906-19??, 1945-03-07

meeting of the F. T. U. is likely
to be devoted to it's euthanasia.
This situation leaves the A. F.
of L., the one notable hold-out
from the world conference, in a
completely isolated position. Geo.
Meany, its secretary-treasurer, has
declared that the A. F. of l.. will
consider the new world group as
"a rival organization" to the l. F.
t. u, but. it is difficult to see what
rivalry there can be between the
kind of vigorous youth the yet I'M
named organization promises to be
and a rather sad corpse. Quite OBJ
viously a movement which in
cludes the Russians, British, French
and most of the European and
Latin American unions, the CLIO,
and the growing trade unions of
the colonial countries has a better
chance of being accepted as the
voice of labor internationally than
q composed I'll LIZ "a. L.
of l.. and a few oddments. Realism
should make the situation plain
enough to the A. F. of L., but we
fear that pride and obstinacy will
keep it from taking place held
open for it in the new group.
One OF the chief detectives Of
the new international labor organ
ization is to claim a share "in de-
termining all questions of the
peace and postwar settlements"
organized labor, with so great a
part in winning the war;" a mani
festo approved by the London con-
ference declared, cannot leave to
others the sole responsibility
for making the peace" In line with
this request was made for effect
i've t~rade-union representation in
the assembly of the proposed world
peace organization, and the asso-
citation of the movement with the
social and economic council envis-
aged in the Dumbarton Oaks plan.
The conference also made a very
specific demand for consultation
on the question of the future of
Germany. 1t wants the occupying
authorities to listen to trade-union
advice in regard to the payment of
reparations in kind and to the re-
t~rade-union movement. In parti-
cular, in the event of direct use
of German labor in making good
Proletarec. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1906-19??, 1945-03-07
$3.50

Strike losses took another sharp
tumble in December, falling to
the lowest figure for any month
of 1914, the Department of Labor
revealed in January.
Walkouts for the month were
put at $50, involving 85, 900 work.
ers and only 100000 man-days-
or 1I20th of l per cent of time
put in by all workers during De
cember. That's only half the loss
recorded for the corresponding
month last year.
For all of 1914, the record was
almost as good. Stoppages for the
year took a toll of not more than
1/10th of / per cent of time work
ed, which was we'll under the 1943
figure, the Department said.
Proletarec. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1906-19??, 1945-03-07
French Socialist Proqrum

The French Communists have now agreed to support the Social
lists demand for the naturalization of banks and public utilities before
the end of the war, Andre Philip, Socialist leader, stated. adding that
de Gaune would accept this program. Many followers of the Com
munists were disguised with their new conservative line and switched
allegiance to the more radical Socialists The Socialist Party urges:
A tax on profits made between 1910 and 1945 that would rise al
most to confiscatory levels.
A capital levy fortunes exceeding 10O,O 900, 900 francs, these
funds to be devoted to the aid of war victims.
More drastic confiscation of silicit profits" derived from com
merce with the Germans.
The calling in and exchange of bank notes to take inventory of
the fortunes accumulated in cash and to stHe the black market. which
is carried on mostly in cash. The difference between this and a similar
Belgian experiment would be that check transfers would remain free
during the exchange to avoid interference with normal commerce.
Liston M. Oak.
Proletarec. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1906-19??, 1945-03-07
EVIL PROPOSAL is
LOSING GROUND

For the past five years, the Com
mittee for Constitutional Govern
ment, guided largely by a gentle
man who, during the last World
War, was sent to Jail as a German
agent, has been urging state legis-
latures to ask Congress to submit
a constitutional amendment limit
ing to 25 per cent the maximum
tax which may be levied on in
comes, inheritances or gifts.
Such a change in the Constitu-
ton would save the Very Rich
billions in taxes every year There
fore, the Very Rich have been
pouring a lot of money into the
Golfers Of the Committee for Con-
stitutional Government.
Wyoming was the first state to
fall for this propaganda" and Is
other states have followed its bad
example. If 80 states could be in
duced to act, Congress would be
forced TO submit the proposed
amendment and it would become
a part of the Constitution if rati-
fled by 35 states.
Fortunately, the Committee fol
Constitutional Government has
been pretty we'll ventilated re
cently-first by exposes in such
papers as LABOR, and later by
congressional and other inquiries
The story of its evil work has drift
ed back home. The legislature Of
Arkansas has withdrawn its sup
port, Similar action is proposed by
legislators in Iowa, New Jersey
Wisconsin, Rhode Island and other
states. - Labor.
Proletarec. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1906-19??, 1945-03-07
BOGUS DEMOCRACY"
I'M ONE OF OUR BEST
"GOOD

Brazilian dictator Vargas has
promised a free democratic cleo
ton soon. He seized power in 1880,
and there have been no legal po-
litical parties since, SO the selec-
ton of candidates will not be sim
pie.
Roland Hall Sharp, Christian
Science Monitor correspondent in
Mexico City, thinks that the call
ing of elections is an empty ges-
ture to try to remove the stigma
of fascist dictatorship from the
Vargas regime" He says he has
possession of a document proving
that the big ind~u5trialists Of Bra
I'll are contributing $16,000,0 600 to
perpetuate the Vargas dictatorship
and their own privileges with it.
Part of the money will be used to
buy two prominent writer's on
each big newspaper.
In a population Of "A, 600, 900,
less thar. 1000, 900 are eligible to
vote. Electoral control are com
pletely in the hands of the die
tator's political machine. The
letter in Sharp's possession, from
one big industrialist to another,
states that secret agents have been
placed in all the large factories;
pretending to be Communists, they
will give the police the names of
all who are against the govern
ment-police will do the rest.
But the industrialists are wor-
ried-there is growing unrest, and
even the army is settling with dis
content.
Sharp adds that the Vargas ges-
ture will be applauded in Wash
ington since the official policy
is disinclined to oppose internal
fascism in a country actually aid
ing the war on the Axis.'-Listor
M. Oak.
Proletarec. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1906-19??, 1945-03-07

The voice of labor should be far
more powerfully heard in the post
war settlements than it was last
time, thanks to the birth in Lon
don last week of a new interna-
tional trade-union organization.
Technically, perhaps, n should
say conception rather than birth,
but the period of CESSATION pro-
misses to be less than the normal
nine months, with delivery certain
in September, when the World
Trade Union Conference recon
venes in Paris. Meanwhile a con-
limitations committee of forty-one
with a smaller administrative COM
mittee will be working on a draft
constitution and pressing the
claims of the embryo organization
to take part in the San Francisco
conference and to be heard on all
issues of wal and peace.
The resolution embodying these
steps toward the formation OF a
new organization means, in effect,
the end of the International Fed
Grafton of Trade Unions. Sir Wal
ter Citrine, general secretary Of
the British Trades Union Congress,
and a few European veterans
hoped to save the federation by
broadening its constitution SO as
to make eligible for membership
the Russian unions and national
movements like the c. l. 0. which
had been excluded under the rule
"One country, one organization"
But both the Russians and the CLIO
favored a new start, and they were
supported by the Confederation of
Latin American Workers and the
representatives of a number of
European countries who criticized
the inactivity of the L. F. T. u.
during the war. 1t should, they
considered, have rendered far
more assistance to unions in coun-
tries overrrun by Germany.
In the face of this opposition
Citrine backed down but saved
face with a reservation clause
stating that the resolution was Sin
no way binding on the unions at
tending the conference, which
have the right to accept or reject
the constitution of the proposed
body" II seems most improbable,
however, that there will be many
dissentients, and the next full
Proletarec. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1906-19??, 1945-03-07
World Labor Unity Wins

There is every reason for satisfaction with the outcome of the
London world labor conference. True IT did NOT Immediately actablch
a new international organization, as urged by the CIO But the un-
anmousy adopted compromise makes up in unity for what it may
lack in speed, and it lays a firm foundation for the new world labor
body.
A Representative continuing committee has been set UP to draft
c constitution, and another world conference is to be called in Paris in
September, at which final action will be taken to launch the aTin.
elusive world organization.
Meanwhile the committee is authorized to sneak N behalf Of
world labor and to seek representation at the international gatherings
at which the worlds future is now being planned.
Decisive steps have thus been taken to unite the labor movements
OF the world for the first time into one inclusive and truly represent
alive body.
The London conference was a fitting counterpart to the Crimean
1T was remarkable for the unity revealed o all the basic
issues of the war, the peace and postwar reconstruction
It's immediate results will be more effective united effort by labor
all countries for winning the "a and winning the peace. And there
is no limit to the long-range benefits which may logically be expected
to flow from this organized world labor unity-The Go News
Proletarec. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1906-19??, 1945-03-07
OFFICIAL RETURNS

The final, official count of the
presidential election votes show
that Roosevelt received IS, 602, sos
to Dewey's 2,0O6, 278, out of the
grand total of 48. 025, 684 votes cast.
The rest of the popular vote
was: Norman Thomas, Socialist,
80,518; Claude A. Watson, Prohl-
bition, 74,758; Edward A. Teichert,
Socialist-Labor, 45,336; Others
ZIG, 289.
While there were As, 1O3,O 2s
votes for Representatives, there
were only 81, 1913 ,613 cast for Sen
ators. The Democrats polled j.
SOC, 600 more votes for Represent
atives than the Republicans. Inc
totals were: Democrats, 22,812,oll'
Republicans, 21,303, 273.
Proletarec. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1906-19??, 1945-03-07
Says Canada Has Licked H. {. |.

How Canada has chaked up a victory over the cost of living was
enthusiastically related recently by the wall Street Journal"
A visitor from the United States, it said, ate a full course dinner
for 81 in OttaWas swank hotel the Chateau Laurier; enjoyed a fine
beef meal OF a Canadian National diner for SIPS, and had a
breakfast of bacon, one egg, toast, jam and coffe for 35 cents in a chain
restaurant in Montreal.
Canadian housewives were reporting to be paying the same price
for flour, bread, sugar, rolled oats that they did when ceilings were
imposed in December, 1941. Milk is IA per cent less, while food gen.
orally has increased less than 5 per cent.
Although the governments cost-of-lving index shows a 1T per
cent rise since August 1889, when the war started, only 2 per cent of
took place after general price ceilings were adopted, according to the
Proletarec. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1906-19??, 1945-03-07

the devastation wrought during the
war, the conference called for in
ternational supervision with trade
union participation. This is of the
utmost Importance if such labor
is not to degenerate into slave la
Dor, undermining the standcrC3 of
workers everywhere. Here s one
example of the many postwar
tasks which a fully united and in
elusive world organization OF trade
~unionists can undertake.
Proletarec. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1906-19??, 1945-03-07
Capitalism Left Intact"

The Brussels socialist paper lie Peuple" in a recent editorial de-
clares that while big democracies may well be victorious o the fields
of battle, but the reign of democracy is by no means assured in our
country ;. one realizes more clearly each week that the war has left
capitalism intact in u country. Let us have no illusions"
The editorial warns that the enemies of democracy and social re-
forms r. not using frontal attacks, but III quietly and viciousIy
demonstrating their power in another way. people If careful" says
the editorial, not to u down the Parliamentary system as they did
before. They merely attack members of Parliament.
"They do not revolt against the social laws, but they set about
sabotaging the financing of them.
They do not talk about the New Order any more, but they are
already beginning to attack what was good in the old order for fear
of the radical reforms which the country is demanding"
Proletarec. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1906-19??, 1945-03-07
in THE WIND
From THE NATION

In the first edition of the Nash
vile Tennessean of January % an
editorial headed Commerce for
Wallace? urged the Senate to get
in step with the times and con
firm Henry Wallace's appoint
ment. The editorial was missing
from all subsequent editions. Next
day the paper ran an editorial,
headed A Blow to Confidence,
which said it would be in the ma
ture of a national disaster for the
Senate to confirm Wallace. Mar
vim w. Strate of st. Paul, to whom
we w this information, remarks,
Its a wise editor who knows his
w mind, and an even wiser one
who knows his owners mind"
One of the most impressive
speeches on social and economic
questions at the World Trade I'm
ion Congress in London was made
by Wallace Johnson, a Negro from
Sierra Leone, Africa, who had
just been released by the British
after five years of Imprisonment
and exile for union activities.
If your local dairy is running
advertisements to the effect that
there would be plenty of butter if
the OPA would only raise the cell
ing price, it is most probable that
the ads Wer written in Chicago.
The American Dairy Association,
with offices in that city, is sup
plying it's members all over the
country with ready-made layouts
to which they need only add their
names. It's part of a national cam
paign to raise prices.
The name of Lieutenant General
George S. Patton was mentioned
in company with those of Bach,
Handel, and other composers of
sacred music in the New York
Suns Saturday column, The Choir
Loft, on February 10. The General
has written a hymn, God Of
Battle" which has been set to
music by Peter De Rose and re-
corded by Phil Spitalny and his
All-Girl Orchestra.
Festung Europe: In Oslo a box
of matches costs six kroner ($1,25)
-. So many Germans have fled to
Prague from points southeast that
a special newspaper, Der Deutsche
aus dem Sudosten, has been estab-
lished for them. This is a typical
editorial comment: Your special
political mission as an active all
Germanic outpost is only inter
rupted. 1t will live again, later"
Proletarec. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1906-19??, 1945-03-07
ShipbuiIders Top
Lost Years Record
YARDS UNDER MARITIME
COMMISSION TURN OUT 100
VESSELS IN JANUARY

Americas shipbiulding workers
in January outstripped their
record of a year ago in the amount
of merchant ship tonnage turned
out, the Maritime Commission re-
vealed this week.
During the month, workers in
yards under the commissions
jurisdiction, produced 100 vessels,
aggregating 1,229,296 tons. That's
10 per cent above the tonnage of
January, 1914, and % per cent
higher than January, 1943.
Eighty-eight of the 100 vessels
were delivered from yards that
are under the banner of A. F. Of
l.. unions.
Proletarec. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1906-19??, 1945-03-07
COST UP IN 1914

War expenditures in 1914 total
led sol, 174,0 600, 900, the War Pro-
duction Board has announced. This
figure represents an increase of
IL percent over the 1943 output.
Total war cost since July 1, 1910,
amounts to $244, 500, 000, 900.
Proletarec. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1906-19??, 1945-03-07
SHY OF LOCOMOTIVES

A dispatch from Paris says that
before the war the French rail-
roads had $4,000 locomotives. Now
only 1000 are usable. That ex-
plains some of the difficulties the
Yanks are experiencing getting
supplies to the front.
Evening star., 1945-02-04
Bathing Girl Pictures Give Navy
Neot Profit on Surplus Rofts

Another sales effort Of which they
are proud Is the disposal of q num-
ber OF running lights (port and
starboard) and taf1rail lights. There
were more lights than ships. SO
they advertised, wouldn't you like
a nautical effect In your den or
bar?" They sold several hundred OF
them at the same price the Gov
ernment paid for them.
Right now they are busy selling
yachts. For some reason the original
owners don't want them back. But
people who want q yacht can al
ways be found. The commission re-
ceived 5000 bids on the first group
Of yachts offered.
They have thousands Of assault
boats for sale. These are the first
boats built, little ones l3 feet long
and six feet wide, when the plan
was if early landings on enemy
shores were ordered the troops
would paddle ashore. The big LCIs
Canding craft infantry have
made these little craft obsolete, but
Evening star., 1945-02-04

nocent phrases" promising a soft
peace.
Newspapers in Germany carried a
story inspired by Propaganda Min
lister Paul Joseph Goebbels stating:
THE three nations may be Of diff
ferent opinion on many points, but
in one way they are completely
united and that is in the deepest
hatred with the intention to de-
stroy the German nation. No mat-
ter how such intentions are being
proclaimed, the aim to enslave Ger
many remains"
Evening star., 1945-02-04
b. GEORGE KENNEDY.

A drawing Of bathing girls on &
raft has realized an extra 81 800
for the Government In the sale Of
surplus war goods and seems des-
tined to bring In several thousand
dollars more. q spokesman for the
Maritime Commission said last
night.
Here's what happened: The Gov
eminent had some l,400 metal life
RATS In surplus. The Navy wanted
to junk them at $700 for the lot
SO cents apiece.
A merchandising minded Mari
time Commission man persuaded the
Navy they could be sold to bathing
beaches as resting places for mer-
maids.
A drawing was ordered. It cost
a. Then it was photostated and
several hundred copies mailed to
prospects. Fifty of them have been
sold so far for q total of $500.
That is $1,000 more than all the
RATS would have brought If they
had been sold for junk.
Maritime Commission men are
quite proud Of this performance and
hope that Chairman Mead and his
Senate War Investigating Commit
tee will take note of what can be
done when surplus goods are made
attractive with q little sex appeal.