davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1948-08-12
Physical Volume Of Construction In Az
Lags Behind Likely Record Dollar Value

Washington = The physical vol
ume of construction in 1948 will
fall short of previous record years
although dollar value of new struc-
lures is expected to set an all-time
record of $4,000, 100000 the Depart
ments of Commerce and Labor de-
clared.
The forecast was made in a re-
vision of earlier estimates that
building construction for this year
would not exceed a $4,000, 100000
valuation, with employment run
ming at about 2,150,OO0 workers.
In the new estimates, the Bureau
of Labor Statistics predicted that
construction employment would hit
it's peak in September when nearly
2,400,000 workers will be on the
job.
Explaining the need for an up
ward revision in the dollar valua
ton estimate, the BIS release as
serted the IL percent boost was
primarily because the
for new residential
have been advancing
more rapidly than anticipated. This
larger dollar volume reflects the
unexpected predominance of high
priced housing thus far this year
over homes for moderate and low
income families"
The unprecedented dollar vol
ume of new construction expected
for this year will exceed 1947 ex-
penditures by slightly over $4,000
100000 or 20 percent. By contrast,
physical volume in 194S dollar vol
ume expressed in 1889 prices) prob
ably will be only Is per cent above
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1948-08-12
Norman Thomas
Reps Congress

New York (LPA) - Socialist
presidential candidate Norman
Thomas starts his sixth campaign
this week with an 8O00-mile tour
Of the far west. His first speech
will be delivered at the Montana
Labor Institute in Missoula. The
institute is sponsored by the state
AFL, CIO, Farmers Union and the
University of Montana.
In an address to Columbia Uni
versity students delivered just be-
fore leaving for the Montana la
Dor meeting, Thomas indicated the
principal themes of his campaign.
He haid that he supports the
program that President Truman
submitted to the special session of
Congress, but it is inadequate to
the needs Of our times.
"While | favor most of the things
the President wants, merely to pass
laws for them without an UNDER
lying philosophy or a planned cor
relation Of them would increase the
inflationary trends Of which he
complains" the veteran Socialist
declared. He insisted that social
ownership of the Commanding
heights of our economy" is neces-
sary for democratic planning to
meet the peoples needs.
The administration has given lit
tie or no thought to the burden
which the new defense program
places on the people, Thomas said.
He emphasized that the principal
blame for initiation rests upon the
profits system, not upon any poll
tical party. More political respon-
sibility lies upon the Republicans
than the Democrats, in Thomas
opinion, but he says Truman him
self bears the onus of the repeal of
excess profits taxes and failure to
use federal bank credit control pow
ers.
Thomas remarked that Truman's
foreign policy is superior to that
Of the Wallace-Communist coalition
which endorses Stalin's program of
relentless aggression" but criticiz-
ed the President for not having
made "a dramatic appeal to the
peoples Of the world for universal
not unilateral-disarmament, un-
der international controls"
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1948-08-12
Comment On
World Events

One Of the most dramatic Incl
dents of the Russian Blockade" Of
Berlin, aimed to squeeze the United
States, British and French occu-
pying forces out of the city, was
the recent "hurry" call that came
from the democratic trade union
lists in the beleagured capital and
the chief of the Manpower Branch
of the U. S. Army to the Amerj-
can Federation of Labor to send
food Immediately.
The appeal brought a prompt re-
sponse. Within "a hours the Coop
erative for American Remittances
to Europe, Inc, (CARE) was fly
ing CARE food packages into Ber-
lin. Within another "a hours thanks
were being received at CARE head
quarters, so Broad Street, in New
York City.
Although this incident received
international attention, resulting in
great prestige to the American
Federation of Labor, yet it was on
ly another instance Of the help the
AFL has been giving to democratic
trade unionists throughout the
world. This help was made possible
by the generosity of American
trade unionists.
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1948-08-12

says that all unions must get to-
gether in the coming election and
vote for the right persons, if they
wish to be established forever in
this country. "Why should the man
ufatcturers be always the main
|cheese?" she asks. "Give us a
chancew She remembers when her
sister worked in the factory before
the union was. there and conditions
were really bad. Myers told Cath
erine that he would have her essay
put into the Record so that others
could read it.
When it was time for the Wash
ington Trip, the local decided to
send along three other members
Mary Daniel, Kay Longo and John
Tomsho-to help Catherine tell the
other people in the plant what she
saw there. All four were, like most
people who come to Washington,
shocked at the way the Congress
men behave on the floor, paying no
attention to what's going on up
front or the person who's speaking.
The reaction-"Is this what we
elected by staying away from the
polls 2" Kay said she was the only
of the group who had voted in the
last election. In the Senate, they
were most impressed with Sen.
Charles w. Tobey (R., N. H.) who
attacked the Republican House
leadership for blocking action on
the housing bill. The highlight of
thier visit to the House was a
speech by Rep. Helen Gahagam
Doublas 3D., CALI on the same sub
ject.
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1948-08-12
AFL ASKED TO PARTICIPATE
I'M ASIAN LABOR FEDERATION

Washington-Representatives of
the Preparatory Commission for the
newly organized Asian Federation
of Labor extended an official invi-
tation to the AFL to send a fra
temal delegate to the first con-
ference Of the federation to be held
next year in China.
The invitation was proffered by
Deven Sen, Organization secretary
of the Indian National Trades
Union Congress, and G. l.. Mapara,
general council member of the In
dian TUG, during conferences with
AFL President William Green and
Matthew Woll, chairman Of the
AFL's international Relations Com
mittee, on the trade union situa-
ton in the Asiatic countries.
Mr.. Sen also urged that the AFL
assist the new Asian federation by
sending a special envoy to assist
the committee in its organizational
work throughout Asia.
The invitation to participate in
the formation of the Asian labor
group will be discussed further at
a forthcoming meeting of the AFL
international relations committee.
Meanwhile, both President Green
and Mr.. Woll assured the visiting
labor leaders Of the "great concern
Of the American Federation of La
Dor for the strengthening Of free
trade unionism in Asia as well as
in other parts Of the world, and
reiterated strongly the AFL policy
of encouraging and assisting ef-
forts in such direction whenever
they are prompted by bona-fide,
free and democratic trade union or
ganizations."
The Preparatory Committee for
the Asian Federation Of Labor was
formed last month in San Francis
co by group Of Asiatic worker
delegates and advisers who were
the international Labor
Conference. Nations represented in
cluded China, Burma, India, Indo-
nesia, Philippines, Pakistan, Iran,
and Turkey. Mr.. Sen is secretary
of the committee.
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1948-08-12
HINES SPARKS EASTERN
AL POLITICAL DRIVE

Chester, Pa. (LPA)-AFL Leg
islative Representative Lewis G..
Hines described Republican Con-
gressional strategy at meeting of
the Conference Of Eastern Pennsyl-
vania Control Labor Unions lasr
week. He said that the Republican
majority took up civil rights legis-
lation as the first order of business
to provoke a southern filibuster
anG block President Truman's in
flation-control and housing legis-
lat1on program.
Hines, lifelong Republican,
said that neither the Wallaceite
Progressive Party nor the Dixie
Gratis will be a major factor in the
November elections, and predicted
that President Truman's reelection
campaign will make a strong ap-
peal to the people. Truman will
make an extensive personal tour Of
the country, Hines revealed, des-
cribing the 80th Congress- failure
to act on the problems of high liv-
ing costs.
Forthcoming public meetings un-
der LLPE sponsorship were dis
cussed. Mark Starr, educational di
rector of the Int'l Ladies Garment
Wirkers Union-AFL, will address
an LLPE rally in Reading on Labor
Day. The Easton Central Labor
Union hopes to have Franklin d.
Roosevelt, Jr., as principal speak
er at a banquet following an edu-
cational institute on Sept. 25.
Mrs. Franklin Roosevelt has ac-
cepted Sept. II speaking date for
the Wilkes-Barre LLPE.
All of the city centrals represent
ed at the Conference meeting re-
ported vigorous campaigns to elect
a Congress pledged to repeal the
Taft-Hartley law. A few, however,
feared that the predominantly rural
vote in their district might make
the election of liberal congress
man difficult, but hope at least TO
improve the composition of the
state Legislature.
Hines, in his speech, pointed to
the victory of pro-labor candidates
in southern and western primaries
as evidence that local unions in
towns in agricultural districts need
not adopt a defeatist attitude.
Best congressional prospects for
labor, however, seem to be in the
Wikes-Barre and Reading districts.
In Reading George Rhodes, edi-
tor of the labor weekly, The New
Era, and president of the Confer
ence is Democratic congressional
nominee. LLPE election work is be-
ing closely coordinated with that
lof, the regular Democratic organi-
zation. H4
VjLast week the Reading Central
Labor Union also endorsed Presi-
dent Truman for reelection.
Former Democratic Rep. Daniel
Flood, who had a good record in
Congress, has labor's endorsement
for a comeback in the Wilkes
Barre district, and is conceded
good chance of winning.
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1948-08-12

Our economy is but partly free
because of the Marshall Plan and
because of huge military expendi-
lures.
Again, what to do, to prevent i'm
possible initiation. You can find
many proposals among economists.
What might work in a wholly free
economy could perhaps be disas-
trous in an economy only partly
free, but with the free part modi-
fled by the unfree portion.
In those things you have the
makings Of a political mess. Added
to that is the conceded fact that
we the people have sent a lot of
mediocraties to Congress.
So, much of what so many are
kicking about goes straight back
to we the people, for not having
taken more thought about whom
to elect.
In the gravest hour we have
known we need the selfless think
ing of the best brains in the coun-
try. But we didn't elect the best
brains. We elected a goodly per-
centage of glad-handers and ham
actors, with only a modicum of
"best brains" and selfless thinkers.
1t all comes back to US now and
if there is failure it seems to be
failure by we the people to take
seriously enough our marvellous
political freedom.
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1948-08-12

last years performance, but about
20 per cent below the wartime high
in 1912. In other words, the pur-
chasing power of the construction
dollar has declined until the amount
of work estimated to cost $18,OOO,-
000,OO0 today could have been done
in 1889 for around $8,500,000, coo.
Remaining unchanged is the bu-
reau's earlier estimate of 95O,OOO
new permanent nonfarm dwelling
units to be started with private
funds in 1948. The number Of pub
licly financed units, however, is
now expected not to exceed 7,5O0.
compared with 10000 anticipated
previously. Adjustment of the bu-
reau's public housing estimate fol-
lows the failure Of federal hous-
ing legislation to materialize earlier
in the year.
The current estimates assume
that prices will continue to rise
gradually during the balance OF
1948, with average prices for the
year from 10 to Is per cent above
1947. 1t assumes also that no ma
jor business recession or important
work stoppages affecting construc-
tion will occur this year. In con-
sidering the influence of defense
on construction activ-
ity during the next six months, al
Iowance was made only for sums
appropriated and contracts
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1948-08-12
COP CHIEF PROMISES
TOUGHER TAFT-HARTLEY

Portland HPA)-Speaking to
a meeting Of the Maine Repub-
lican State Committee, Rep.
Hugh d. Scott, Jr., new national
chairman Of the COP, said last
week that "The Taft-Hartley
law met the new challenge to hu-
man liberty created by the ex-
traordinary powers given to a
few ruthless labor bosses by the
Democratic, New Deal admins
tration."
"The new Republican admin
istration," Scott continued, will
give "real enforcement to the
Taft-Hartley law, and will bring
about still further improve
ments." Needless to say, Scott,
who represents a Philadelphia
silk-stocking district, was a
staunch supporter Of the law
when it was under debate in
the 80th Congress.
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1948-08-12
MINE HEARING POSTPONED

Wa shington (LPA) = NLRB
Trial Examiner William Ringer
this week postponed hearings on
General Counsel Robert Denham's
objections to the United Mine
Workers union shop contract till
after Labor Day. This means that
his report can't be issued until
October, and the five-man board
will hardly be able to release its
final decision on the case which the
steel trust is pushing against UNIV
until after the November elections.
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1948-08-12
Employees Choose
Retail Clerks AS
Bargaining Agent

Lafayette, nd.-Employees OF
the New York and Brooklyn stores
of Oppenheim, Collins & Company
Inc, have voted 276 for represen-
tation by the Retail Clerks Inter
national Association, AFL, Local
1901, to 108 for ''no union", in an
NLRB conducted election. The of
ficial announcement was made
from international Headquarters,
Lafayette, Ind, by Secretary Treas
urer James A. Suffridge shortly
after the official count was COM
pleted Monday, August 2.
The Retail, Wholesale and De-
partment Store Union-CIO, Local
1850, which had held bargaining
rights at the store for some time.
was excluded from the official bal
lot by the NLRB because the
unions officers failed to file the So
called "non-Communist" affidavits
with the Board as required by the
Taft Hartley Act. AS result, the
ICIO union held no status in the
eyes of the NLRB.
At recent Congressional in
Ivestigation the CIO unions Off
GERS declined to testify when they
were asked if they belonged to
the Communist party. 1t has been
intimated that they will be cited
for contempt of Congress because
of this refusal.
The election gained national sig
lnificance in the retail field since
it was a test to see whether Am
ercianism or Communism would
prevail at the polls. That the ma
jority voted for the Retail Clerks
International Association, AFL,
whose Constitution bars Commu-
nists from membership or office,
was seen to augur we'll for the fu-
ture by those nearest the situation.
Observers also believed that the
election was crippling blow to the
sorely beset CIO union, and might
we'll be the "straw that broke the
Camel's back"
1t was the second severe blow
suffered by the RWDSU-CIO at the
hands of the Retail Clerks Inter
national Association, AFL, almost
within fortnight. Late in July Lo-
cal lit, of Philadelphia, an affi-
late of the RWDSU-CIO, disavow-
ed the parent organization because
of the cleft wing" more appro-
priately called "Red Wing, influ
ence and domination within the
parent organization. Local 1T sub
sequently affiliated with the RCIA.
The contract between Open
helm, Collins and CIO Local 1850
expired July 81 and it called a
strike of its members Monday, Au-
gust 2, but comparatively few re-
sponded. This was indicated by the
fact that the units represent about
476 employees. Of this number, 80
were on vacation and did not vote;
nine votes were challenged; three
were voided, and 1884 were counted,
a total of 476. Al
Samuel Meyers, Vice President
of the RCIA, was in charge of
activities and received
a personal commentator from Sec
Treasurer Suffridge for his
leadership in the campaign.
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1948-08-12
Caterpiller Union Wins 13c

Peoria, III (LPA) More than
16,500 workers at the Caterpiller
Tractor Co., here have won wage
raise of 13c an hour as a result
of negotiations by the United Auto
Workers-CIO, which recently won
collective bargaining rights here in
an NLRB election.
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1948-08-12
NOTICE LOCAL UNION I72

In order that all members
will have an opportunity to
vote in the referendum now
before the trade, polls will
open at 1880 p. m. at our next
two meetings which falls on
August 13 and 27.
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1948-08-12

In the judgment of many leaders
the best form of saving for Am
erican citizens is I. S. Savings
Bonds.
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1948-08-12

Regular, systematic savings of
U. S. Savings Bonds through pay
roll savings make your dollars
grow,
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1948-08-12

On theother hand we have the
matter of our domestic economy.
What to do! Initiation surely is
sprouting lusty wings.
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1948-08-12

Russia offers US perhaps the
greatest puzzle of all time, because
of the consequences to the world.
No nation politically free could Of
fer such a puzzle. Anyone who fol-
lows our political discussions can
not fail to have a very good idea of
what the United States would do
under a given set Of conditions. 1t
must be clear that we will not start
a war, but that neither will we sur
render to certain demands by try
ing to Munich our way out.
But Russia, having no free poll
teal life, is beyond accurate fore
cast from the outside. We can do
no more than wait and wonder. One
guess is exactly as good as an
other.
Congress came together under
that kind Of shadow. 1t met to
find itself in stew, beset and de-
Freemen have been try
ing to out-guess dictators who need
to consult nobody, but who can keep
their plans secret up to the very
verge of action.
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1948-08-12

In this special session each par
ty is trying to make a record cal
culated to win votes in the coming
election by backing or opposing
measures on the basis of supposed
popular appeal.
Of course it would be nice if we
could have condition in which all
would join for study of what the
country needs, acting upon basis
Of ascertained fact. But each would
then be compelled to view ascer-
tanned fact in the light Of its own
political philosophy, which again
would bring US divided opinion and
divided plans for action.
So, we shall 90 on having politi-
cal sessions of Congress and there's
no escape within the framework Of
democracy.
If we know what we are talking
about, if we believe in a democratic
political system we shall not only
admit that Congress is political, we
shall be proud and glad that it is
so.
Of course Congress is puzzled,
not only for partisan reasons, but
for other reasons as well. Pretty
much the whole country is likewise
puzzled For this there are two
main reasons. One is the uncertain
ty of Russia, to be determined only
within Russia. The other is in the
fact that we have only a partially
free economy.
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1948-08-12
.Ess1yH MS
Td(HERRY
TX l. Rec

Everywhere we hear that the
present session Of Congress (if it is
still in session when you read these
lines) is political, by which folks
generally mean that no good can
come from it because both parties
are engaged in putting each other
behind the political eight ball.
The word political gets a ter
rifle kicking around. As a matter
Of fact every session Of Congress is
political and it will be so as long
as we live under a dual-political
party system Of government. We
should be happy that it is so.
If ever we desert this system
and go in for dictatorship, then we
shall have shadow-boxing sessions
Of something like a Congress and
in it there will be no politics as we
know politics.
That is what Earl Browder would
like. It's about time we stopped US
ing the words politics" and "polit-
ical" as though they meant poison.
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1948-08-12

Stanley c. Elsis, American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor representative on
the CARE staff, says that if the
AFL is to continue this relief work,
the aid Of all national, state and
LEGAL AFL organizations is neces-
sary. He points out that they can
help by distributing AFL panph-
lets explaining the CARE program
and by appealing for individual
purchases of CARE packages, to
be sent to needy trade unionists
and Their families in Europe and
in Jap1n.
The AFL will supply Mr.. Elsis,
as CARES AFL representative,
with the names of needy trade
unionists if organizations or indiv-
iduals desire to make a contribu
ton without specifying a benefit
ciary.
The Labor League for Human
Rights, the AFL's relief arm, join
ed with 26 other relief agencies in
establishing CARE, the only non
profit, government-approved agen-
cy through which gift packages
can be sent to Europe and Asia.
Matthew Woll, president of the
league, is taking a leading part in
the campaign to send CARE pack
ages to Berlin trade unionists and
has recently issued an appeal to
AFL members to send contributions
for shipping the packages.
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1948-08-12

A newsletter compiled by the
Baltic Review, Stockholm says that
persons who have recently escaped
from the Soviet-occupied zone of
Germany maintain that slave labor
there is much more usual now than
it was under the Nazis. Former
concentration camps, like Buchen-
valid, Sachsenhausen or Futerchen,
at present have twice as many in
mates as in Hitler's time. In addi-
ton, the Russians have establish
ed new camps at JemlitZ (near
Frankfurt on the Oder), logan,
Oranienburg, Hohenschonhausen,
Muhlberg, Altenburg, Altenheim,
Schwerin. Ketschendorf, Dobbin,
OVERWHELMING and Frieburg. The
smaller camps house between 5000
and 10000 men and women. the
larger ones between $4,000 and 25,-
600. The total number of prisoners
in the concentration camps is be-
lieved 10 be about 100000. The food
rations in all the camps are much
and Of vastly inferior quail
ity than in the old Nazi camps and
the sar'e applies to sanitation.
have somewhat improv-
ed and no prisoners are executed.
However, as regards treatment,
All the camps are administrated by |
.he MVD Among the guards are
many folmer Nazis who held the
same posts in Hitler's time.
The existence of the concentra
ion ca ips is not exactly a secret
or The local population, but to talk
lbout them is, nevertheless, regard
,d as a hostile act towards the Sow
ct occupational forces and punish
d accorGin gto the Soviet criminal
ode, the minimum sentence being
years forced labour in a concen-
ration camp.