davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1950-02-02
Tags Bell System
Brutal Octopus
In Radio Speech

Cincinnati (LPA)-The Ameri
can Telephone & Telegraph Co
BELL System) was branded al
octopus" and brutal and veal
thy corporation" by Joseph A
Beirne, president of the Commun.
ications Workers of America, in 6
nationwide broadcast over the
ABC network the night of Jan. 25
The 320,C00-member CWA is or
the verge of strike because Bel
refuses to bulge, even to the ex.
tent of arbitration, Beirne explain
ed.
Beirne pointed out that the pub
lie pays the bill (which permits a
gigantic telephone monopoly to ex-
ist"; that the Bell System is an $1l
billion aggregation, with net 194a
profits of $3.50 million; that al
though phone rates have been hiked
again and again, phone workers as
a group received the lowest wage
treatment between 1889 and 1949.
Beirne said the telephone indus
try is run through interlocking dir
ectorates of IL major corporations,
that it is digger than many gov
ernments, at times it is bigger
than our government" He charged
the Bell System had spent $40 mill
ion in four years to persuade the
public that it is "a friendly, benign
and that the $40 mill
ion "you paid for'on your telephone
BILL" He charged that for 20 years
the management has consistently
flouted the people and defied the
laws of our nation"
Telephone workers, Beirne re-
vealed, average about $40 a week,
overtime and holidays.
Starting rates are $35 to $37, and
top is $52-and that only after
eight years. In smaller towns,
starting rates are $26 and top
rates are $50. Rates for skilled
craftsmen are similar, he said. He
pointed out that telephone work
srs have dropped from seventh to
18th place in the nations average
Turn TO PaQe Tspol
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1950-02-02
STU Distributes
Pony" Newspaper
To Ships Abroad

New York (LPA)-Union sea
men live lives unlike union work
ers in most fields. For months, OF
even years at a time, they are far
from home and completely out OF
touch with union affairs. Yet, as
good union men, they want to know
what's going on.
The Atlantic & Gulf District of
the Seafarers Int'l Union-AFL,
well aware that a US sailor in
Singapore or Rio wants to know
what his union is doing for him
stateside, decided to take steps to
tell him. Last July, the STU, al
ready publisher of one of the live
liest of all union papers, the Sea-
farers Log, began publishing the
Bulletin, a three or four page d.
gest of union news which is air.
mailed to ships around the world.
The Bulletin is kind of a pony edi-
tion of the Seafarers Log which
also is distributed around the
world but in more leisurely fashion
Production of the Bulletin is no
problem at union headquarters
here where it is written and null
Turn TO Page Tsoo)
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1950-02-02
I Teeth Pulled From
Amendment On
Equal Rights Bill

Washington (LPA)-An "equal
rights for women" amendment to
the Constitution vastly different
from that originally proposed was
sent on to the states on Jan. 25. As
approved by the Senate So to 10,
the amendment could not be con-
strued to impair any rights or ex-
emptions conferred on women by
law by reason of sex.
Spokesman for the wage-earning
women of the country, led by the
AFL and CIO, and the Natl Con-
sumers League, had originally
fought the equal rights amend
ment because it would wipe out
much protective legislation of spec
ial Importance to low-wage indus
tries workers. 1t would also have
placed women at an economic dis
advantage in many situations. This
is not now the case.
The amendment to the equal
rights proposal which brought it
union backing was proposed by
Sen. Carl Hayden Cd, Ariz. J. 1t
was approved on a roll call vote,
81 to 81. There were Sc Democrats
and Is Republicans for the Hayden
amendment; 18 Republicans and 13
Democrats opposed H a y d e n
amendment.
The measure now goes to the leg
islatures of the states, which have
seven years in which to ratify it.
Before it becomes a part of the
Constitution, SO states must ratify.
1t is highly unlikely that enough
pressure will be exerted
to obtain approval by this many
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1950-02-02

Chrysler vice-president Herman
l.. Weckler attacked the union pro-
posals as political" His reply to
the union demand for a sound, de-
pendable fund was that the UAW
leadership wants kitty it can
get it's hands on.
"a company which reluctantly
agrees to pension plan in the first
place." Reuther responded, "and
then only for five years, can be
expected to chisel or jerk the
strings if possible at a later date" "
The UAW Chrysler negotiating
committee and the unions execu-
tive board both voted unanimous
ly to cut original demands in an eff
fort to avoid the walkout. They
further agreed to submit technical
details to arbitration. Though the
union accepted 500 retirement
pension at Ford, it. produced fig
ures to show that the Chrysler of
fer was actually far short of the
established 10-cent pattern because
Chrysler workers as a group are
much younger. The Chrysler offer,
the union proved, would cost the
company less than three cents an
hour.
"The Chrysler Corporations abil-
ity to meet the legitimate and rea-
sonable demands of its employees
is not an issue in these negotia-
tions," union statement declared.
"In response to direct question
in the collective bargaining ses-
sion January 10, corporation repre-
Turn to PAGE T4v0)
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1950-02-02
Brass Hufs' Hot
For ChiseIing
On Jobs And Pay

Washington (LPA) - U n f +
treatment of civilian employees and
wage chiseling by military agencies
have been assailed by the AFL
Metal Trades and Building Trades
Departments. Skilled civilians have
been displaced in navy yards by
men in uniform, and there has been
chiseling on wages in many con-
struction projects, the AFL groups
charged.
James NJ. Brownlow, M t a
Trades secretary-treasurer, said
that civilians were laid off in an
economy drive, and then mill
tary personnel was used instead.
"It's just a case of shifting the
cost from one pocket to another" +"
Brownlow said, with our people
the victims" He said the matter
will be taken to Congress.
President Richard Gray of the
Building Trades said a check show
ed wage chiseling on military pro-
jects in at least SO states. "Top
BRASS" he said, has brushed off
all attempts to correct the situa-
ton.
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1950-02-02
Court Affirms
Monopoly Charges
Against Papers

Lorain, Ohio (LPA)-They can't
claim you're trying to curtail free
dom of the press if you attempt to
break up a newspaper or broadcast
ing monopoly, according to a re-
cent court decision affecting this
area. In what may be far-reach-
ing ruling a US Court of Appeals
in Washington upheld denial by
the Federal Communications Com
mission of radio station licenses
to two local newspapers, the Lorain
Journal and the Mansfield Journal,
both owned by the same firm, be-
cause monopoly was strongly indi-
Gated.
The FEC rejected applications
for the licenses year and half
ago on the ground that the Mans
field paper had coerced advertisers
into exclusive contracts, shutting
out the only other news medium, a
local radio station. Since the Lo-
rain paper was under the same
ownership, there was every reason
to expect it to follow a similar
policy, the FEC reasoned.
In ruling on the FEC charges,
the Circuit Court said monopoly in
the mass communication of news
and advertising is contrary to the
public interest even if not in terms
outlawed by antitrust statutes.
This demolished the technical de-
fense of newspaper attorneys that
the case was an antitrust case
which should have been brought by
the Justice Dept, not by the FEC.
The decision was read by Judge
George T. Washington of the Cir
cult Court and was concurred in by
Judges Bazelon and Miller. Wash
ington said the FEC acted fully
it's power in denying the
Turn to Pace Ts0o)
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1950-02-02
75-Cent Minimum Wuue
Gives Rdise To 100000

Washington (LPA) = About L.
100000 workers across the nation
got raise Jan. 25 by act of Con-
greSs. That was the date the new
75-cent minimum wage law became
effective.
Actually, the minimum wage law
covers approximately % million
workers in interstate commerce
within the meaning of the statute.
However, most of those covered
already are making rs cents or
more because of union contracts.
Nevertheless some 100000 employ
ers received posters announcing
the new legal minimum to be dis
played on their premises. Old min
imum, first established in 1888,
was 40 cents.
The 75-cent minimum was Fair
Deal victory when it was approved
by Congress last year with the
vigorous support of organized labor
CIO and independent alike.
However, the victory was far from
clear-cut, since Fair Deal senators
and representatives were forced to
yield important points in order to
get the new wage level passed.
Specifically, Congressional back
ers of the 75-cent wage had to ex-
empt a number of workers cover
ed by the old Accent minimum to
win approval for the higher rate
for the rest. For the most part,
these exemptions will be felt in the
south, where opposition to statu-
tory minimum wage is strongest
and where union organization is
weakest.
In addition to about nine million
"self-employed" workers, the fol-
lowing are exempted as they were
under the old law:
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1950-02-02
AFL Officials Attend
CIT Meet in Havana

Havana, Cuba (LPA) = George
Meany, secretary-treasurer of the
American Federation of Labor, and
Serafino Romualdi, the AFL's
liaison man with Latin American
labor bodies, were in Havana Jan.
26 to attend three-day conference
of the executive committee of the
Inter-American Confederation of
Workers (CIT).
Main business of the meeting
was expected to be action on the
resolutions adopted in December at
the London conference establishing
the Int'l Confederation of Free
Trade Unions. Delegations from
the AFL and from national labor
bodies in Latin America partici-
pated in the London talks.
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1950-02-02

About 100000 who are in the
armed services and about six mill
ion federal, state and municipal
employees, most of whom already
receive rs cents an hour or better.
In addition, there are several mill
ion more who have always been
exempted because they cannot be
construed as being in interstate
commerce. Only state legislation
could cover them and there isn't
much state legislation. The list in
cludes domestics, most retail work
ers and people in similar categories
agricultural workers.
Also exempted are seamen.
The new wage-hour law adds the
following new exemptions to ap-
pease Dixigop senator's and repre-
sentatives: 10000 operators of
small telephone switchboards, 10,-
900 employees of small newspapers,
and more than 100000 employees of
small sawmills, plus newsboys and
of cab companies. In adj
dition, retail exemptions have been
Next fight may be to re-
store these exempted workers and
to raise the minimum another
notch, possibly to a dollar.
In two employe classifications,
the new act actually broadens COW
erage. About $4,000 fish cannery
workers have been brought under
the minimum wage, as have about
100000 in the air carrier industry.
In the end, the actual coverage
may be determined by the courts
because the wording of the laws
commerce clause has
oeen altered.
Each employe covered by the act
must be paid rs cents or more an
(THrn TO Page Tsro
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1950-02-02
Casket Assn. Rejects
UIU Survey Offer

Chicago (LPA) = The Chicago
Casket Manufacturers Assn. has
rejected an offer by the Upholster-
ers' international Union for an i'm
partial survey, jointly financed, of
the serious economic conditions in
the industry. The Association rep
resents 13 firms with 500 workers.
The union offer was made during
long negotiations, with a view to
establishing stability in the indus
try.
Sal B. Hoffman, UIU president,
expressing regret at the rejection,
said the offer was made because
the union is determined to dis
charge faithfully our obligations to
our members and our responsibility
to the industry and to the public
at large"
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1950-02-02
Steel Price Boost
Tax On Public;
May Cause Bust

Washington CLPA) - The most
effective time to hold hearings on
price increases in such vital indus
tries as steel would be before, not
after, the rises have taken effect,
Donald Montgomery, Washington
representative Of the United Auto
Workers proposed to the Joint
Congressional Economic Commit
tee Jan. 27.
Speaking for UAW President
Walter Reut h er, Montgomery
charged that the steel induStry's
price increase amounted to a tax
on consumers levied by "a private
government that answers to no
one. 1t may account to stockhold-
ers for its profits, but it will not
account to them or to anyone else
if it's price action launches series
of plant shutdowns and layoffs
six months from now."
This "tax" of at least $69,000,-
600 on the auto industry and at
least another $13,000,000 on agri-
cultural machinery makers, the
UAW man said, may very well
create serious unemployment in
six months. Even now, he said, the
auto industry is seeing the end of
the present production boom, and
is concentrating on lower-priced
models, and had even talked vague
ly about substantial price cuts until
the steel price boost was announced
in December.
"The decision of United States
Steel management to raise prices
was a fragrant exercise of arbi-
trary power to extract the last
drop of juice from the last orange"
Montgomery said. "The only expla-
nation we can suggest for its rash
and untimely act is that this corp
oration decided to carry out a
policy it has defended in the past
to get what it can while the get
ting is good, and to lay up reserves
for the slump that follows the
boom. 1t looks dispassionately
upon the prospect of reduced en-
ployment, provided it can fix its
finances to weather the storm. To
balance its books it runs the risk
of throwing the entire economy out
of balance"
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1950-02-02
Calls Publishers
Greatest Enemies
Of Press Freedom

Washington (LPA)-"As many
persons have observed many times
before, the greatest enemies oi
freedom of the press are the pub
lishers," concludes an editorial in
the current issue of League Report,
er, publication of Labor's League
For Political Education. The edit,
orial points out that most of the
country's big dailies ignored the
sensational report by the Federal
Trade Commission disclosing that a
majority of big business made a
profit of around 20 per cent, after
all taxes, in 1948, compared with
about half that before the war. The
report, one of the most important
profit stories to break in many
years, was available to all news
papers. Did you see it in your
hometown paper?"
The editorial declares that spot
check by the Labor Press Associa-
tion disclosed the NY. Times and
the N. Y. Journal of Commerce
gave the story half a column, the
NY. Herald Tribune carried no.
thing, nor did the Washington
papers, nor did most others, al
though most papers "spend money
for special Washington correspond
ents."
The editorial points out that
when the publishers association
meets this spring "you can be GER
tain it's members will assure one
that they are firm believ-
ers in the freedom of the press"
The editorial continues:
Freedom to what? Freedom to
keep their subscribers in ignor-
ance? Freedom not to let the peo-
pie know that those who scream
loudest about taxes make the big
gest profits Freedom not to make
their advertisers mad?"
The full story was carried by
Labor Press Association, which OBJ
tanned it from the same source
available to all dailies, and all
wire services-the Federal Trade
Commission.
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1950-02-02
Flags Anti-union
SIurs In Harvard
Business Review

Arlington, Va. (LPA)-When he
read an article by A. A. Imberman
in the Harvard Business Review
charging that many of America S
union leaders not only maintain
extra marital relations but reject
bribes from employers only be-
cause they are offered cas- if to
men of inferior stature, it was too
much for Rev. William j. Kelley,
federal labor mediator and lectur-
er at Catholic University of Am
erica.
Kelley, speaking before the Guild
of Leo XIII at the st. Charles
Catholic Church annex here, called
upon American labor to defend its
officers against the accusation and
demanded that Imberman, a Chic
ago public relations man, substan-
tiate his charges.
Having known many labor lead
ers over a period of Is years, |
resent such an undocumented in
dictment," the priest declared. 81
deny that these men have aband-
oned honesty for social prestige.
"To officers of labor unions
say, in fact: Stand up and be
counted as to your concepts of hon.
esty, the integrity of which your
conduct constantly attests.' AS for
union members, | ask you to defend
your officers against these unwar-
ranted charges concerning their
relations"
1t was Imberman's quaint theory
that an employer can avoid labor
trouble by inviting the local union
president to join a luncheon club
or, better yet, by getting the union
daughter enrolled ain
dancing school,"
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1950-02-02
Local Union No. 16 Holds
Fish Fry AT Legion Hall

The members of Local Union 16
held their annual fish fry January
20 at the American Legion quarters
in Chester.
Bro. "Red" Meeks was the of
ficial "fryer" ably assisted by
George Bowyer, Bill Snider, James
Williams, John De Long and Clyde
Raybum. A large turnout was on
hand for the event, keeping "Red"
and his aides busy throughout the
evening.
We take this means of extending
our thanks to the members of the
Chester American Legion for do
mating the hall.
Our next meeting is scheduled
for February z in the Brotherhood
hall. -O.C. 16
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1950-02-02
10000 Auto Workers Strike
ChrYsler Corp. For Pension

Detroit LPA)-Stubborn refus-
al of the Chrysler Corporation to
Iset up an adequate pension fund
for it's workers forced nearly 90,-
coo members of United Auto Work
ers to strike the giant auto COM
pany Jan. 25.
Two days before the strike dead
line UAW cut its demand for IL R
cents in pensions and insurance
benefits to what it termed crock
bottom" 10-cent proposal. Union
leaders said the 10 cents could be
divided between a pension and
medical program or go into a flat
hourly wage increase. The COM
pany countered with an offer of
500 monthly pensions for workers
at 65 after 25 years of employment.
The biggest joker in the company
! AOffer was that the pension pay
Itnents would come out of the Chry-
sler treasury rather than from a
joint union-company trust fund
into which Chrysler would deposit
pension money.
Fearing the collapse of any pen
sion plan that didn't have a guar
anteed fund behind it, union MEM
bers voted to hit the bricks. Said
UAW President Walter Reuther:
"The arrogant and insufferable at
titude of the Chrysler Corporation
has forced this strike upon its
workers. The issues are simple,
clear and sensible. The tragic ex-
perience of the mine workers dem
onstrates the need for a sound
pension plan."
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1950-02-02
Change In System
Would Make Your
Vote Really Count

Washington LPA) - Two dis
tinct choices are offered to the
Senate when it votes on proposals
to abolish the antiquated system
of choosing a President and Vice
President now required by the US
Constitution.
One would allow a candidate
who received a minority of the
ballots in a closely split election
to become President. The other
would allow every voters choice to
be counted not only at the state
level, but when the final tally is
made nationally. This second
method would completely knock
out the Dixiecrats' main claim to
power-their control of the cleo
toral votes is nearly dozen south
ern states.
Sen. Hubert Humphrey Cd,
Mimi has proposed a Constitu-
tional amendment which would
count the votes for every candi-
date, and would transmit the fig
ures to the President of the Sen
ate. Then, national totals would be
made up, and the candidate receiv-
ing the highest popular vote would
be declared elected.
An earlier proposal by Sen.
Henry Cabot Lodge (R, Mass.)
would abolish the present system
of electing the president, but would
still require that each states votes
be apportioned among the electors
of the state in proportion to the
number of popular votes cast. A
sizeable minority in each state,
thus, could be disfranchised when
the electors votes are counted.
And since each state, no matter
how small, could have three cleo
tors, the weight of an individual
vote in these states is five or six
time heavier than one cast in a
heavily populated industrial state.
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1950-02-02
Tobin Aide Wants
Mediation Service
In Labor Dept

Oklahoma City (LPA)-Congress
could do more toward promoting
labor peace by returning the Fed
eral Mediation & Cancellation Ser
vice to the Labor Department than
by creating a new Department of
Labor & Management, Assistant
Secretary of Labor John Gibson
told the Oklahoma State Labor
Council Jan. 21.
Gibson, referring to the recent
proposal by Herman w. Stein
kraus, president of the US Cham
Der Of Commerce, that new labor
management department be estab-
lished to foster peace between "the
worker and the boss, said there
was no need for such a move.
"All that needs to be- DONE" Glib
son declared, "is to restore to the
Department Of Labor those func-
tions which would guide both labor
and management into a more
peaceful relationship. At this point
refer specifically to the Federal
Mediation & Cancellation Service" I"
The mediation service was re-
moved from the Labor Department
by the Taft Hartley act and made
an independent office. Gibson call
ed for repeal of the act, and point
ed out that he and Secretary of
Labor Maurice J. Tobin had long
been pressing for restoration Of
functions to cabinet
level by making the Mediation Ser
vice a part of the Labor Depart
ment again.
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1950-02-02
Dutch Thank US Workers

Washington UPA) - George
Meany, AFL secretary-treasurer
has received a handsomely bound,
illustrated book in which the people
of the Netherlands thank Ameri-
cans for help with postwar recon-
struction. The book entitled Here
We Are Uncle Sam, Holland Call
ing You," was sent by the Dutch
Metalworkers. The Dutch workers
point out that after the American
Revolution their country was the
second to recognize the infant US,
and that Dutch bankers lent money
to get the young republic on its
feet.
The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1950-02-02
Jones Installs Officers
At Meeting OF Local ia

Metuchen, n. j. At the last
regular meeting past president
Donley Jones installed our new of
ficers as follows: George Bondics,
president; William Golden, vice
president; Andrew Lesko, financial
secretary and Walter L. Szelc, re-
cording secretary.
At our next meeting on Febru-
airy 9, George Bondics and William
Golden, delegates to the recent
sanitary conference in New York
will make their report Every mem
Der is urged to be present at this
meeting. -O.C. 174
Evening star., 1950-03-18
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