The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1949-12-22
Puerto Rico
(Confinned From Page Ons)

gents already existent in Puerto
Rico.
In this desperate circumstance
the government of Puerto Rico is
going all out for industry develop
ment. Through the use of govern
ment funds they build modern
plants for interested companies
willing to equip for any kind of in
dustry production. The program
provides tax exemption for period
of twelve years. This is in despera-
tion to lift Puerto Rico and Puerto
Ricans out of their degradation and
suffering in the hope that eventu-
ally there will be sufficient new in
dustries established within their
land which will give employment
to their people and thereby improve
their standard of living.
One must admire the leaders in
Puerto Rico responsible for this
industrial program. It's objectives
are humanitarian. They are trying
to do something for themselves as
in contrast, it seems to me, with
other lands where they are con-
stantly looking toward the United
States for grants of money or other
indispensables to proper living. We
have nothing but admiration for
the Insular Government officials
who are so energetically seeking
new industries and providing so
generously the monies towards
such development, because we be-
lieve they are sincere in their eff
forts to help their citizenry to lift
themselves out of direst suffering
and poverty. We deplore ruthless
and selfish capitalists establishing
industries in Puerto Rico to ex-
plot the misery of the people and
their need for jobs by paying such
workers substandard' wages. |
haven't the slightest doubt as to
the motives of some industralists,
as to the basis of their plant opera
tion to produce products through
exploitation of this labor. And to
sell same in competition with the
employers in all lines on the main
land who contribute so much to-
wards our American standard of
living through making jobs avail
able at the kind of wages our peo-
pie are now enjoying.
There are two clay industries
now operating i'm Puerto Rico. One
is known as the Clay Products
Company, manufacturing tile, brick
and sanitary plumbing fixtures. |
The lnsular Government establish
ed the % cent minimum rate of |
pay. Maximum earnings are about |
60 cents per hour with an average |
wage, according to testimony at the
hearing, of 37l2 cents per hour as
against the average of the main
land potter of $1.46 per hour. The
plant has been operating several |
years not too successfully, accord
ing to reports.
The other plant is the Crane
China Company which has been in
operation about year, manufac-
turing hotel and restaurant china
ware. Mr., Earl Crane, the major
stakeholder in the lroquoiS China,
Syracuse, N. Y. is likewise the
main stakeholder in the Crane
China Company of Puerto Rico. To
illustrate Mr.. Cranes unfair prac-
tlces and intention TO exploit the
low wage Puerto Rican pottery
workers, he is using the trade name
lroquois China in the sale of his
Puerto Rican product, in his efforts
to sell his ware to mainland users.
In other words, by use of IroquoiS .
China, he is deliberately capitaliz-i
ing on the long establishment of
this trade name which is so we'll
known and will be accepted as evil
dence of quality merchandise, al
though produced under conditions
in the Puerto Rican plant and at
their standard of wages.
Yet at the same time through
out the hearing he and all of his
executives and even the Insular