davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1950-04-27
10 Mayors Urge
Rent Control In
Call On Truman

Washington (LPA)-The mayors
of ten cities told President Truman
April 20 that housing conditions
in their municipalities make con-
tinuation of rent control impera-
tive. The mayors were from St.
Louis, Boston, Los Angeles, st.
Paul, Baltimore, Lexington, KY,
Muncie, Ind, Canton, Ohio, Aber-
deem, S. D., and Seattle.
The president told them there
was no doubt in his mind that rent
control, expiring June 80, should
be extended, that he has told Con-
gress so, will continue telling it so,
and will do everything in his power
to see that legislation extending
rent control is enacted.
He declared he leaned to the pro-
posal offered by Rep. Spence Cd,
Ky.) chairman of the House Bank
ing and Currency Committee, which
calls for affirmative action by the
cities affected, before Dec. 81.
Under the present law, decontrol
action must be affirmative.
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1950-04-27
Mrs. Mary Smith
! rendered Surprise
By Her Shopmates

Trenton, N. ATTENDING what
was represented to be a reunion OF
former employees of the old Mer-
Ger Pottery, Mrs. Mary Smith, 81
years young, was rendered the sur
prise of her life on April 19, when
she learned he friends had planned
the party in her honor.
An aunt of Dorothy Bissett Of
Local Union 35, Mrs. Smith was
born in England and came to this
country on what was to be visit
with her uncle, the late Fred
Swami of the Swami & Whitehead
pottery. She was 20 years old.
She became interested in china
decorating and went to work at tsSe
old Swami & Whitehead pottery on
Muirhead Avenue and later joined
the decorating staff of the Mercer
Pottery. She was there for about
80 years before her retirement 26
years ago and during her stay help
ed teach many others the art of
china decorating. 1t was her asso-
ciates during that time who con-
ceived the idea of the party.
Mrs. Smith makes her home with
her daughter, Mrs. Anna M. Apple
get.
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1950-04-27
Russian Labor Law Set
For East Germany

Berlin (LPA)-Workers in East
ern Germany are now under the
Russian labor system, with unan-
imous adoption by the Communist
controlled legislature of a new
labor law. The Communist press
hailed the law as Magma
Charta". To those this side of the
: Iron Curtain, the law looks like
peedup, sweatshop, and stretch
1out.
Women are to work in mines and
factories as the equals of men; pay
will be on piecework basis and
"labor norms are to be increased
constantly; workers will vie in
increasing output, with medals
and bonuses for the most produc-
tive.
Women are to be drawn into
heavy industry to straighten out
bottlenecks, especially in the field
of mining.
The Communist press said the
law was evidence of the full liber-
alton of workers and their advance
over workers "still enslaved by
capitalism.
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1950-04-27
Over 200 Present
At Anniversary
Party Of Local As

Trenton, N. Local Union 45
celebrated their 50th anniversary
on April 22 with a dine and dance
party at Hotel Hildebrecht with
over 200 present. The large turnout
was more than we had anticipated
and Chairman Elijah Watson and
his committee done some last min
ute maneuvering that is worthy of
mention.
Seated at the speakers table were
Chairman Watson, Mr.. Pieslak,
Mr.. Bentley, First Vice President
E. L. Wheatley, Fifth Vice Presi-
dent Arthur Devlin and officers of
the local.
A telegram was received from
President Duffy regretting his in
ability to be with US, due to illness.
We hope he has fully recovered
Five charter members were pre-
sent including Mr.. Prince, cele-
brating his 80 birthday, Ruben Nc
Dcfil anu lOiD bciiIlISs
Mr.. Pieslak and officers of the
local got off with taking a bow
when called upon, but not so with
Mr.. Bentley for his remarks are al
ways timely and his counsel very
helpful First Vice President
Wheatley responded for our ma
tional officials.
We had good representation from
Locals 80, 49, 81, TIA and IT'S. Bro.
Hugh Church from Perth Amboy
was also present.
Following the dinner Miss Bailey,
soloist and Gary Pentz, phonograph
impersonator entertained.
Walt MeIlor's orchestra provid-
ed music for the dancing which
lasted until midnight. Some of our
younger members featured with a
type Of rug-cutting that proved
them real artists.
The committee on arrangements,
headed by Chairman Watson, who
incidentally was celebrating an
other milestone in life, included
Bros. Ansell, Hannah, Gray, South
ard, Conte and President Smith.
Credit is due them for a job well
done.
AT our last meeting the major
items up for discussion were sen
iority, welfare and pensions. Vice
President Wheatley and Organizer
James Solon made a report of a
meeting held with company Off
cials previous to our session and it
is now up to the three locals what
is done regarding the offers that
have been made. Should they be
endorsed, the company hopes to
have the welfare set-up in opera
tion by June 1st. This includes
family disqualification we have been
seeking for a long time. Pensions
may take a little longer due to
government regulations, but we be-
Turn 10 Page Three
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1950-04-27
By ALVAINE HAMILTON
For Labor Press Association

Washington (LPA)-Eight mill
ion families may be subjected to
"a wave of exorbitant rent in
creases" at the end of June unless
Congress extends the rent control
law for another year, President
Truman warned the legislators
April 21 in a special message three
DAYS before Senate hearings began
on rent control extension. Unless
there's heavy pressure from consti-
tuents, many Congressman will be
reluctant to vote the extension de-
spite Truman's persuasive mar
shalling of arguments for rent
curbS.
Democratic National Chairman
William Boyle has warned all local
Democratic leaders that "The real
estate lobby will be conducting a
lavishly- financed, all-out compaign
to get rid of rent controls now,"
with the present law expiring June
80. "Many Republicans in Congress,
already too closely tied to the
real estate lobby to have any hopes
of regaining lost grounl with the
voters by voting for extension of
controls, will go along with the real
estate lobby" He called on voters
"to explain rent control to their
and to insure that
"grass roots support for orderly
removal of rent controls at a time
when they will not dislocate our
economy is reflected in the votes of
the House and Senate"
Truman told Congress that "the
time has not yet come for the final
of federal rent control,"|
that the wartime shortage of rent
al housing is not yet ended, espec-
tally for low-income families, that
the present law allows landlords
'all justifiable increases" in rents,
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1950-04-27
Janitor Called
Sanitary Engineer
To Block Union

Cushing, Okla. (LPA)-The re-
finery here of the Deep Rock Oil
Co., and it's crude production and
pipeline facilities in Oklahoma and
Kansas have been closed by a
strike of the Oil Workers. The dis
pute is over exclusion of certain
employees from the bargaining unit.
The company tried to have 40
percent of the present bargaining
unit excluded, claiming they were
supervisors. In one case the firm
sought to exclude a jaintor by call
ing him a sanitary engineer. In
one instrument shop, of four en-
ployes, the company tried to class
ify three as supervisors.
A strike against the Quaker
State Oil Co. has closed its refin-
cries in st. Mary's, w. Va, En-
lenton, Pa, and Oil City, Pa. At
stake are demands for wage i'm
provements.
Meanwhile the strike against the
Texas Co. continues, with the maj
or refineries at Lockport, H., Port
Arthur and Port Neches, Tex, and
Casper, Wyo., shut tight. The 400
at the Lawrenceville, Ill.,,
returned to work, but re-
fused to give "no strike" pledge.
An offer of 1000 to go back at
Lockport, pending future negotia-
tions, was rejected by the company.
Although only 7600 workers of
the $4,000 are out, four-fifths of
the company's key refining process
ses have been eliminated, as the
strikers are the refinery workers.
Bargaining has been on a plant
basis, with overall tactical direc-
tion i'm the hands of o. A. Knight,
OWIU president.
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1950-04-27
Mccain, Kaufman
New Officers For
Local Union No. rs

Kokomo, Ind.-Local Union 26
has not reported to the trade for
some time but that does not mean
we are not moving along in for
ward style.
There have been some changes in
officers since the first Of the year.
President Bob Mitchell was APP
pointed temporary cast shop fore
man and Bro. McCann has assum-
ed the presidency and doing a fine
job. Financial Secretary Bob Snow
resigned his post, due to illness,
and Bro. Kaufman was named to
succeed him.
Since we now have the check-off
system, Bro. Rutherfold's office
was abolished. In passing Bro.
Snow is up and around again and
he looks as if he needed little
exercise to take off the extra
poundage gained while belfast.
Everything seems to be running
smoothly as far as the writer
knows. The only problems before
the local are completing some
minor details to get the contract
ready for signing, and ironing out
the inequities now existing between
bowls, miscellaneous ware and
lavatories Strengthened out
There seems to be something
wrong when an Al bowl caster
runs from four to six dollars per
day less than a lavatory and one
piece combination caster of equal
ability, and when one of the best
casters in the shop with twenty
five years service is refused lava
tory bench that is open and given
to two-year man.
This is not criticism of the
newer man, but we think when
man gives twenty-five years SER
vice to a company, the least they
could do is to let him have a choice
JoD Wnen IL Is open.
We are happy to report some
small gains in our welfare and pen
sion program now in effect. We
wish to thank our negotiators for
their efforts in our behalf and Of
ficials of the firm for their coop
Grafton. -O.C. 26
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1950-04-27
Redl Estate Lobby Head
Saws He Hates Democracy

Wa hington (LPA)-What
makes the real estate lobby tick
and how it fights its day-by-day
battles with labor and civic inter
ests before Congress-is being
probed by the special House COM
mittee investigating lobbying acti-
vities. The real estate lobby in
quiry, which covers the realty and
builders as we'll as the labor and
public housing lobbies, is the first
specific matter before the commit
tee headed by Rep. Frank Buch-
anan Cd, Pa.).
The Natl Association of Real
Estates Boards has been spending
an average of S130,000 a year on
influencing Congress over the past
four years, Executive Vice-pres-
ident Herbert u. Nelson told the
Congressman. Its Washington Of
flee only dates back to 1912, MAX
ing it one of the war babies of the
lobby industry, formed to fight
rent controls and construction curbS
during the war. Nelson insisted
with a straight face that it was
formed to help relocate some $4,000
federal workers whose offices were
moved out of Washington after
Pearl Harbor.
I'm der cross s-eXamination by
Buchanan and Rep. Henderson Lam
ham Cd, Ga.), the committee got a
picture of the kind of man Nelson
is and how he views the Congress
and government which he is trying
to influence.
81 do not believe in democracy"
he wrote lost year to President
Theodore Maenner of NAREB, in a
letter Buchanan read in full. Il
think it stinks. | believe in re-
public operated by elected repre-
sentatives who are permitted to do
the job, as the Board of Directors
should. | don't think anybody ex-
cept direct taxpayers should be al
lowed to vote. don't believe wo-
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1950-04-27
Profits So High
Most Firms Can
Boost Wages Now

Washington.-Profit levels are so
high generally that most corpora
tions are able to increase wages
this year.
That is the conclusion of an AFL
study published herewith.
The AFL has urged local unions
to seek wage increases of 10 to 15
cents an hour or more this year to
raise consumer purchasing power,
keep the nations industrial mach
inc turning at full speed, and re-
store full employment.
Reports just published show that
profits in the first quarter of 1850
are up $1,000,OO0,000 from the
fourth quarter of 1949.
The Standard & Poor outlook of
April 10 gave the earnings outlook
for 1850 as 10 percent above 1949
in ID industries: brewing, chem
icals, coal, tin containers, electrical
power, gold mining, meat packing,
natural gas, paper, radio and tele-
vision, railroads, rayon yarn, beet
Turn TO Page Three
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1950-04-27
Railroads Launch
II heir Campaign
To Kill Labor Act

Washington (LPA) = The ma
tion's railroads launched their cam
paign to wreck the Railway Labor
Act when Sen. Forrest Donnell (R,
Mo- introduced a bill April Il to
outlaw all strikes and lockouts on
the railroads. His bill would make
arbitration compulsory, with de-
cisions enforceable by court injunc-
tion.
His estensible excuse was the
strike called for April 26 by the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Fire
men and Enginemen against four
railroads, but his real target, said
rail union leaders, was two-fold:
To rip apart the rail labor act, and
to kill off the bill, on which hear
ings will start next week, to auth
orize the union shop for railroad
workers.
Donnel's measure was glimpse
of what is in store for labor if the
Republicans win control of Con-
gress in the fall of 1850, for he
said his measure is in line with the
Taft Hartley act, section 2, which
recognizes Limitations or qualifi-
cations" on the right to strike.
Strikes in the great industry
covered by the Railway Labor Act
are an outstanding illustrations"
said Donnell, "of the fact that in
some cases the interest of the pub
lie requires restrictions to be i'm
Turn TO Page Three
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1950-04-27
Urges Grdss-Roots Support
For Keeping Rent Control

and that under the local decontrol
provisions of the law only four
states and only 20 out of the 92
cities with populations over 100,-
1000 have removed federal rent
|curbs.
The reluctance of local governing
bodies to remove controls is "clear-
ly evident" the President went on,
when you look at the facts on how
rents have scared wherever the
curbs were taken off. In ID cities
where controls were lifted in 1949,
he said, of those units whose rents
were free to rise the proportion of
tenants who received rent increases
ranged from II to IA per cent.
"There is every reason to assume
that in other cities, Truman con-
tinued, "and particularly the larg-
est ones, the effects of decontrol at
this time would be even more
drastic. Chicago landlords, for ex-
ample, argued in court last fall
that they were entitled to a 71.5
per cent increase" He added that
"the burden would be most serious
for the one-fourth of our families
with incomes of less than $40 a
week."
Before the Senate Banking Com
mittee conducting hearings that
occupy the week starting April "a
are at least two rent control ex-
tension bills. One, sponsored by
Senators Scott Lucas Cd, Iill) and
Francis Myers Cd, Pa.) would ex-
tend the present law for another
year, to June 80, 1861.
A two-year extension of controls,
with "strict yet flexible" provis-
ions, has been proposed by Sen.
Herbert Lehman Cd, N. ~. His
bill proposes fresh start on rent
controls. In areas where there are|
10 per cent vacancies of rental
Turn TO Page Three
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1950-04-27
Union Industries Label Show
Demonstration of Teamwork
Potters' Display
Always A Feature
At Label Exhibit
By CUSHMAN REYNOLDS
Labor Press Association

Philadelphia OPA) 10 ne day
the late |. M. Ornburn, until his re-
cent untimely death secretary-trea-
surer of the AFL's Union Label
Trades Department, passed a site
which workmen were excavating
for new building. The project
lwas surrounded by a high board
Fence, but scores of people had
their eyes pressed to holes and
cracks to watch the digging. Orn-
burn himself may have spent a few
precious minutes from a busy life
observing the big steam shovels
and their operators. At any rate,
the scene inspired a great idea
which set off a train of events un-
ique in labor management history
the Union Industries Show spon-
sored by the Union Label Trades
Department.
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1950-04-27

men should be allowed to vote at
ALL"
While nettled that the committee
Investigators had obtained the let
ter from NAREB's files (after
NAREB voluntarily opened them)
Nelson gave the committee a Wig
orous and even more outspoken de-
fense of his tory views. 'In our re-
public we do not trust majorities
very far" he insisted.
Nelson read to the committee an
editorial from the current weeks
issue of "Headlines"-the NAREB
newsletter. after a short visit to
England and France" he wrote in
a signed editorial, lone comes
home to thank God that we still
have republic instead of demo-
cracy in the European STYLE" He
went on to quote Karl Marx and
then wrote: "In the democracies
simple majority becomes an unres-
trained tyrant. 1t can abrogate all
rights of minorities and often does.
As wise old Ben Franklin said, we
do have republic, but we have to
be constantly alert to keep it. The
most insidious attacks upon the re-
public are those which come dress
ed up with humanitarian appeals
and which would make of our fed
eral government centralized
hand-out agency to redistribute
the fruit of our thought and labor
at the dictates of bureaucracy. Let
US fight to keep our republic. If we
lose it, we lose all individual and
property rights as we'll"
Nelson's views were upheld by
the two ranking Republican MEM
bers of the committee, Reps.
Charles Halleck (R, Ind.) and
Clarence Brown (R, Ohio). Added
Lanham, Zone reason | have come
to believe in the filibuster in the
Senate is because it is the only way
to protect minorities." He told Mel |
Turn TO Page Three
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1950-04-27

Observation-Disclosures want to
know the key points about today's
high profits. The chart shows that
profits in 1929, the prewar all
time peak, have been dwarfed by
those of the postwar period. What
becomes of these profits?
/. Federal income taxes take a
much larger part today: 1870 COM
pared to 11% in 1929.
2. Even after these high taxes
are taken out, corporation profits
after taxes represent much higher
earnings on net worth today: 11%
in 1948 and 80 in 1949, compared
to SO in 1929. This is the correct
way to measure profits, as return
on capital. Net worth is the stock
holders original investment in a
corporation plus whatever profits
may have been retained since the
business started.
3. Stockholders get a small pro-
portion of the profit today in the
dividends paid them, but when
measured against net worth
stockholders equity - they get
more: In 1929 dividends were 3.5%
on net worth; in 1948, 4.1% in
1949, 4.2%.
4. After taxes and dividends are
paid, what about profits retained
in the business = or "ploughed
back? That is the most interest
ing part of the story. Profits re-
tanned are 3 to 5 times those re-
tanned in 1929. This sounds extra
VACANT, but there are reasons for
it.
(A) From 1916 to 194S, corpora
tions undertook the largest pro-
gram of expanding and reequipp-
ing their plants ever known. It
cost them almost twice as much as
in 1929.
(B) In addition, they needed
vastly more working capital. Sales
were about double 1929, prices
rising fast, reaching a peak 50R
above 1929. Corporations needed
Turn TO Pd0e THREE
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1950-04-27
CWA Workers In
New Jersey Win
Wage Pay Boost

Washington (LPA) = Wage in
creases for 1880 members of the
Communications Workers, were
granted in an arbitration award in
New Jersey. The union hailed the
award as "the first significant
break in the current telephone
wage dispute" and Joseph A
Beirne, CWA president, said 1--WE
hope this development will get bar
gaining off dead center in our other
25 sessions across the country"
Under New Jerseys law barring
utility strikes, arbitration was COM
pulsory, and binding on both sides.
The union has set April 26 as a
deadline for a nationwide strike,
which would involve 206,170 men,
bers. %Ae 81
The award gave New Jersey
workers an increase of $3.50 a
week, but workers with six months
service and less than a year get
so cents; those with nine months
service get $1.50. Some of the 500
with less than six months service
will benefit from upgrading.
Cities upgraded were: Camden,
Trenton, Atlantic City, and Pleas
antville, where workers will get 81
to SO more in addition to the gen.
eral basic increase.
The award also included a modi-
fled union shop; termination allow
ances, with no top limit, and one
year no-strike clause.
Beirne declared the unions posi-
tion that phone workers should get
a general wage increase has now
been substantiated. eff pay boosts
are justified in New Jersey, they
are justified in other places. 1t is
time for AT&T to take the halter
off its companies and let them
really bargain"
He pointed out that even with a
substantial pay boost, phone work.
er earnings would still be well be-
low most other industries. mo
Turn TO Pdge Three
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1950-04-27
Reporter Argues
with Boss On
Editorial Page

Jamestown, N. Y. (LPA) - A
newspaperman's dream has come
true on the jamestown Sun, where
a reporter can argue with the boss
on the editorial page, and one of
them is doing just that.
Publisher Harry Sharkey, when
he founded the morning daily a
year ago, said newspaper staff
members frequently have better
ideas and more convincing argu-
ments than the publishers. The
staff members are entitled to an
outlet. for their personal convic-
tions."
Sharkey is getting his moneys
worth, with the community cheer
ing and leadership interest in the
editorial page alta high point. For
Publisher Sharkey and Reporter
Prentice Bothra are slugging it out
daily on the editorial page, with
opposing views on plans for flood
control of the nearby Chautauqua
lake watershed. Bothra launched a
drive for petitions to back one plan.
Sharkey is pleading with the COM
munity to turn the plan down, as
unsound.
The readers are talking about
the plan, the public is being given
both sides, Sharkey is being prais-
led for his liberalism, and staff
morale is way up. Bothra is pres
ident of the jamestown Newspaper
Child.
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1950-04-27
Net Profit of GE In First
Quarter, History Highest

Schenectady, n. Y. (LPA)-Net
profits of General Electric Co., for
the first three months of 1850, were
38 per cent over the same period in
1949 and the highest in the COM
pany's history, President Charles
E. Wilson reported to 1000 stock
holders here. New records were set
in sales, profits, and production.
Net profits were S36,858,000 COM
pared to $26,7O3,O0O in the same
period in 1949.
Wilson reported all-time high
production records in television,
radio and refrigerators, and said
he expected new marks to be set
in ranges and irons. Net sales were
$418,45O,000 or 2 per cent over
the first quarter in 1949, and sales
of electronic products were "a per
cent higher. Orders for heavy
equipment were % per cent over
the same period in 1949.