The Union Review (Galveston, Tex.), Vol. 19, No. 49, Ed. 1 Friday, March 31, 1939 Page: 1 of 4
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Vol. 19. No. 49.
GALVESTON, TEXAS, FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 1939.
Subscription Price $1.50 Per Year
HHHHHHEHHHHgHr
I THINK THAT GOD IS PROUD
listed: Texas Fisheries and Joe Grasso
Garner for President.
" half the fee assessed, the state, couny
SECRETARY LINDBERG REPORTS ON
BREWERY WORKERS STATE COUNCIL
WOMEN IN D. C. INDUSTRY
TO GET BASIC WAGE OF $16
“Working men are at the foundation
of society. Show me that product of
human endeavor in the making of
which the working man has had no
share, and I will show you something
that society can well dispense with-
out.”—Samuel Gompers.
Minimum Pay of $13 Is Ordered
For Learners In Graphic Arts
Plants.
Bloedel Donovan Mill Employes, Bel-
lingham, Wash., Turn Against C. I.
O. Unit in Election for Collective
Bargaining Agency.
AMERICAN
FEDERATION
OF LABOR
REGULAR MEETING OF THE
GALVESTON LABOR COUNCIL
VETERAN PRINTERS
TENDERED SMOKER
BY TYPOGRAPHERS
WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS
BY YE EDITOR LINDBERG
LUMBER WORKERS VOTE
FOR A. F. OF L. UNION
SHOE WORKERS CHOOSE
A. F. OF L. AFFILIATE
STATEMENT BY A.F.L. COMMITTEE
ON PLAN SUBMITTED BY C. I. 0.
How proud He must be of them. He who knows
All sorrow, and how hard grief is to bear.
I think He sees them coming, and He goes
With outstretched arms and hands to meet
them there,
And with a look—a touch on hand or head—
Each finds his hurt heart strangely comforted.
I think that God is proud of those who bear
A sorrow bravely. Proud, indeed of them
Who walk straight through the dark to find
Him there,
And kneel in faith to touch His garment’s
hem.
Oh, proud of them who lift their heads to shake
The tears away from eyes that have grown
dim;
Who tighten quivering lips, and turn to take
The only road they find that leads to Him.
LOCAL VOICE
OF THE
and municipalities have received an es-
timated $2,555,464.04 in permit and li-
cense fees.
Figures and statistics of the moneys
that were paid out by the Texas brew-
eries for labor, new machinery and
renovating of their plants are not avil-
able at this time, but will be in the
near future.
The metal trades and building trades
are receiving the prevailing wage scale
which is paid to their respective crafts
in the territory in which they are lo-
cated, and the brewery workers, them-
selves, receive an average of not less
than $30 to $35 per week for 40 hours
work.
These figures have been compiled by
the Liquor Control Board and are true
and correct and are submitted by the
Texas State Council of Brewery Work-
& Sons, who gave generous donations
of shrimp and which was enjoyed by
all the members working on the labor
temple; and to Mr. Charles Egert who
loaned his equipment for the leveling
up of the floors in the labor temple
building.
Report of Legislative Committee.
Brother M. E. Shay, chairman of the
legislative committee of The Council,
gave a report of his committee on the
ten charter amendments that are to be
submitted to the voters of our city in
the coming municipal election, and he
stated that the voters of our city
should be in a posiion to vote favor-
ably on the bridge project and on the
proposition of voting to refill any va-
cancies on the board of city commis-
sioners which might occur during their
term.
Brother Dave Hartnett of the Laun-
dry Drivers’ Local No. 940, reported
that the Model Laundry delivery de-
partment was now 100 per cent union,
and that all drivers employed by the
Model Laundry were now members of
his organization.
At the request of Brother E. C. Va-
lot, there was a motion made and car-
ried that the Council go on record as
recommending the candidacy of Bro.
M. H. Snow of the Motion Picture
Operators of our city for school trus-
tee, to the members of organized labor.
There being no further business to
come before the Council, a motion to
adjourn carried.
Meeting adjourned at 10:45 p. m.
Respectfully submitted,
C. H. LINDBERG, Secretary,
Galveston Labor Council.
"After careful analysis and consid-
eration of the proposal submitted by
the Committee of the' Congress of In-
dustrial Organizations, we are con-
firmed in conviction earlier expressed
that the proposal advanced ‘does not
offer any possible solution of the prob-
lems facing is.’ We would add that the
proposal submitted is also contrary to
the directions and instructions of our
respective conventions.
"In our judgement the proposal sub-
mitted by the C. I. O. is impracticable.
It does not begin with trying to heal
. a breach but shifts the issue to a field
having no relation to the immediate
problem that must be met, for the so-
lution of which the President of the
United States has brought about this
conference.
“The proposal made by the C. I. O.
is not a new one. It was offered on
previous occasions when President
Lewis himself did not pay the slightest
attention to it. It bears all the ear-
marks of the type of ‘united’ front
April 8th, at 8 o’clock, on east beach
near Club Delmar: Brothers Sinnott,
Register and Stappenbach.
Pertaining to the A. F. of L. report
dealing with the recent peace confer-
ece between them and the C. I. O.,
there was a motion made and carried
that same be published in The Un-
ion Review.
Reports of Officers.
Brother B. A. Gritta gave an inter-
esting and fully detailed report of the
Council happenings that transpired in
the commissioners court pertaining to
the proposal of a tunnel type bridge
connecting Galveston Island with the
mainland at the Bolivar peninsula; and
requested that the following action ibe
taken by the Council: That our respec-
tive and senator and representatives be
notified that the Galveston Labor
Council is in full accord with this pro-
posal and desire that they .lend their
support and aid toward this project.
A motion was made and carried to this
effect.
Brother D. A. Jung reported on
quite a number of the organizations
that were in arrears with their dues to
the Council and submitted a partial
report on the labor temple building.
Brother Gritta also gave a full re-
port on the labor temple building and
remarked on'the progress that was be-
ing made, and stated that the Council
desired to extend its sincere thanks to
the following firms that have been
generous and helpful wih their asist-
ance. The following firms are here
in this column The Union Review will
set forth short items of mutual inter-
est to the labor movement, including
such observations as may present
themselves to the editor in passing.
By AFL News Service.
Bellingham, Wash.—Local No. 2667,
Lumber and Sawmill Workers Union,
affiliated with the American Federa-
tion of Labor, won a large majority
over the C. I. O. affiliate in the elec-
tion held under the auspices of the Na-
tional Labor Relations Board to
choose a collective bargaining repre-
sentative for the employes of Bloedel
Donovan Lumber Mills.
The election was held at the court-
house. Out of a total of 1,015 em-
ployes who cast their ballots, 538
voted for the A. F. of L. union and
477 for the C. I. O. union.
By AFL News Service.
Washington, D. C.—Women em-
ployed in manufacturing and wholesale
plants in the nation’s capital were
guaranteed a $16 weekly salary under
an order issued by the District of Co-
lumbia Minimum Wage Board. It is
estimated that more than 1500 women
workers will benefit by the edict.
This basic wage was set for a work
week of from 32 to 44 hours after sev-
eral weeks of hearings. A final hear-
ing was set for April 8. In the event
there are no complicating objections,
the wage will become mandatory in 60
days.
Part-time employes will be paid on
the basis of 40 -cents an hour, and for
overtime the pay rate will be time and
a half. In graphic arts establishments,
the board provided for a $13 weekly
wage to learners for the first six
months of employment. The learners
will be raised $1 for each succeeding
six-month period.
The board also ordered that only
one-fourth of the total number of
workers in the graphic arts establish-
ments -could be learners at a time.
,9, .
'3,+vial Organ of the
99
° eston Labor
Council and Building
- Trades
Approximately -50 persons attended
a smoker at Odd Fellows Hall Sunday,
March 26. The affair was tendered by
Galveston Typographical Union No.
28 in honor of six members who have
held card in the organization contin-
uously for 50 year or more.
After a brief formal program, re-
freshments were served.
The program commenced with an in-
vocation by W. L. Bratsen, followed
by a welcoming address by H. A. Le-
roux, president of the Local, who pre-
sented each honoree with a golden
lapel butten as a token from the mem-
bers of No. 28.
Vocal selections were rendered by
John Haglund, who was acompanied
at the piano by Mrs. E. E. Howell.
Miss Mary Agnes Johnson’s vibra-
celeste numbers were received with
enthusiasm and applause by the audi-
ence, and enchores were necesary.
The members who celebrated their
golden jubilee were L. F. Knapp, H.
D. Carr, W. L. Love, Mayo Paretti,
J. E. Taylor, and John Sandiland. Mr.
Sandiland, who lives in Dickinson, was
unable to attend the smoker.
As each of the 50-year members
arose to reminisce they were presented
with an informal but sentimental token,
in the form of what appeared to be a
small “printer’s stick.” Each stick was
about two inches in length, and in each
was set a small line of type bearing the
name of the receipient and the year in
which he was initiated. Paradoxically,
however, these sticks of hand-set type
were made from Linotype slugs, and
were the artistic creation of Leon Killi,
one of the younger members of the
union.
Robert Schmidt, the youngest reg-
istered member of the union, gave what
was listed on the program as “Junior’s
Rebuttal.” He regretted his inability
to mention any great accomplishments,
but assured the “old-timers” that the . >
present generation would try to live up
to the standards established by the
founders of his organization.
M. E. Shay, publisher of the local
labor paper, held the attention of the
group with his interesting remarks, and
recalled many of the high-lights of
days gone by.
A. L. Perkins, editor, told in well-
chosen words some of his observations
of the men associated withe printing
profession. He assured them at the
start, however, that half the lies told
about printers aren’t true.
F. E. Hempel, secretary, spoke
briefly and also acted as master of
ceremonies.
Arrangements for the event were
made by T. J. Cordray, Albert F. Killi
and Dick Carpenter. Mrs. Killi assisted
the committee in preparing the refresh-
ments.
which does not unite but divides, and
which is extraneous to the best interests
of the trade union movement.
“The C. I. O. proposal would trans-
fer direction of the trade union move-
ment from its own hands largely into
those of government officials, a dan-
gerous tendency which has found ex-
treme expression in totalitarian count-
tries. While we welcome friendly co-
operation from genuine friends of la-
bor, we insist that labor must remain
master in its own house and must not
arbitrate its future.
“The proposal is predicated solely
and wholly upon the concept of bring-
ing into the newly proposed mass or-
ganization the railroad brotherhoods.
It is further proposed they should be
entrusted not only with the balance of
power but with’the prestige and influ-
ence of executive office. Then, too,
quite aside from the fact that the pro-
posal provides -for equal representation
without regard to actual dues-paying
(Continued on Page 4)
The political drums are commencing
to beat out a steady tatto for Garner-
for-president in 1940. “Cactus Jack” is
a party man, and seeing a return to
conservatism as evidenced by the elec-
tion results of last fall, he is reported
to have request frequently that the ad-
ministration sense the trend and bring
the democratic party into a more con-
servative alignment. - Conservatism is
well and good in the proper place, but
it must be remembered that one Her-
bert Hoover was the very acme of con-
servatism and it will be long in being
forgotten by the masses during his ad-
ministration.
John Garner is almost rabid in his
opposition to the Wagner act and this
should not be overlooked by the work-
ing people, or in the discussion of a
presidential nominee of the Democratic
party for 1940.
Probably the only thing wrong with
Franklin D. Roosevelt is that he can
foresee the need of the working mass
and is emphatic in his speech in their
behalf. There is no doubt Roosevelt
is a pro-labor man and the greatest
friend of the working masses that has
ever had the opportunity to head this
great nation. More legislation benefi-
cial to organized labor has been passed
under the administration of F.D.R.
than has ever been heard of hereto-
fore in the history of our country.
If the feeling of anomosity that ex-
ists, or seemingly exists, between the
administration and capital, could be
ironed out, possibly then and not be-
fone will there be a better economic
condition in our country.
Taxation—Sales Tax Foes Score
Strongly In House.
The overshowing problem of this
legislature is the provision of new rev-
enue to finance a Santa Claus pension
program.
Last week the house of representa-
tives, after two hectic weeks of debate,
amendments, and consultation, did a
lot of voting, but no money as yet has
been provided for the old people.
At the week-end the results of the
two weeks’ labors were:
1. The house voted 78 to 67 for the
sales tax constitutional amendment
sponsored by Rep. Alfred Petsch of
Fredericksburg which bore the warm
blessings of Gov. O’Daniel. The pro-
posed measure would levy a two per
cent sales tax and would boost natural
resource taxes 33 per cent.
The proposal, framed as a constitu-
tional amendment, would have frozen
the sales tax into the constitution.
However, the measure needed 100
votes in the house to be submitted. It
fell short 22 votes of the needed ma-
jority last week.
The measure will still remain before
the house and likely will be voted on
several more times, but the odds are
heavily against the measure.
Those opposed to the sales tax
joined with those who recognized the
unsoundness of writing tax legislation
March 27th, 1939.
Meeting called to order at 8 p. m.,
B. A. Gritta presiding officer.
After reading of the minutes of the
-previous meeting, same were ordered
adopted as read.
The -credential committee, having
credentials referred to them for three
delegates from the Teamsters and
Chauffeurs Union No. 858 and from
the Book Binders Union No. 50, re-
ported that all delegates were favor-
able, and that they be duly obligated
and seated. A motion to this effect
carried.
We are glad to extend the welcome
of the Council to Brothers L. F. Mas-
soni, J. F. -Simmons and J. Hansen of
the Taxi Drivers’ Local Union No. 858,
and also to Brother H. L. Benecke of
the Book Binders Local No. 50.
After reading of a communication
and request of the Port Arthur Labor
and Trades Council pertaining to leg-
islation that was being sponsored in
Austin, which would, if pased, be det-
rimental to organized labor employed
in the refining industry, there was a
motion made and seconded that the
communication be referred to Brother
Harry W. Acreman, executive secre-
tary of the State Federation of Labor,
which upon protest of Brother R H.
Bennett of the Boilermakers was with-
drawn and a substitute motion made
by Brother Bennett, which carried, and
is as follows: That the Galveston La-
bor Council co-operate with the Port
Arthur Labor Council and comply with
with their request; and that letters be
sent notifying our various senators
and representatives of this district of
the action taken by the Council.
Pertaining to the communication
that was sent to our representatives
and senator with reference to the Mine
bill dealing with safety measures of
the salt workers of our state, after
reading of replies from our respective
representatives, there was a motion
made and carried that this particular
communication be laid on the table
and held over for the report of the
sub-committee in the Texas legisla-
ture.
There wa a communication read out
from the Galveston Chamber of Com-
merce along with a prospectus list, and
upon motion, was referred to the
Building and Trades Council. Brother
Gritta stated that he had made a re-
port to the Building and Trades Coun-
cil on this proposition, and that he
thought a favorable action would be
adopted by the Building and Trades
Council.
IComplying with the request of the
Kiwanis Club dealing with the 11th
annual Easter egg hunt, there was a
motion made and carried that the Gal-
veston Labor Council donate $5 to the
Easter egg hunt, which would be five
$1 prizes to the -children that find the
winning numbers on this Easter egg
hunt. Brother D. A. Jung, our finan-
cial secretary and treasurer, was em-
powered to pay the winners of the
prizes.
The following committee was ap-
pointed to represent the Galveston La-
bor Council at this Easter egg hunt,
which will be -held Saturday morning,
into the constitution to wage a success-
ful, uphill battle to block the amend-
ment.
The refusal of the house to okay the
proposal was a defeat for Governor
O’Daniel.
Local Politics.
With two tickets being introduced
into the field in the coming municipal
election, it is sad, indeed, to see that
organized labor is not represented on
either ticket. It was rumored very
strongly at times that a member long
known in labor circles would be on
one of the tickets, but this did not ma-
terialize. With approximately 7,000
members of organized labor in the
City of Galveston, organized labor
should be represented on the board of
city commissioners. There being ap-
proximately nineteen thousand paid
poll taxes in the City of Galveston this
year, organized labor should have one
of their own kind on the Board of
city commission government, one who
understands their problems and can
deal with them adequately. Possibly
not in this coming municipal election,
but in 1941 this may materialize.
Ohe bunion Review
Official Organ of Galveston Labor Council, Dock and Marine Council
and Affiliated Unions
Endorsed by the Texas State Federation of Labor
ers so that the people of this state may
have some idea of the vast amount of
moneys that are colleced by the Liquor
Control Board and appropriated to the
various funds, from the brewing indus-
try in the Sttae of Texas.
In the recent issue of The Review
as issued by the Texas Liquor Control
Board for the month of March is the
statement that Texas again leads high
as a temperate state, which we quote
as follows:
“For the second yesr in a row,
Texas was rated at or i. ar the top for
temperate consumption of liquor
among 26 states operating under the
license system, according to per -capita
consumption statistics compiled by
Distilled Spirits Institute, Inc.”
By AFL News Service.
'Carlisle, Pa.—Employes of the Car-
lisle Shoe Company rolled up more
than a two to one victory for the Boot
and Shoe Workers Union, affiliated
with the American Federation of La-
bor, as their sole -bargaining agent,
against the United Shoe Workers, C.
I. O. affiliate.
The A. F. of L. union polled 377
votes, while the C. I. O. group regis-
tered only 172.
The election was conducted by rep-
resentatives of the National Labor Re-
lations Board, following two weeks of
striking and picketing.
Galveston, Texas, March 22, 1939.
Facts and figures submitted by the
Texas State Council of Brewery Work-
ers -showing that beer is a commodity
that does pay a million dollar daily
taxes:
National Statistics.
The following statistics are taken
from our daily papers of the taxes re-
ceived from the manufacture of beer,
according to the official figures of the
late Warren M. Persons, former pro-
fessor of economics at Harvard Uni-
versity:
“Beer has become a revenue produc-
er of more than a million dollars a
day for the federal, state and local
governments—more than $500 a min-
ute to the United States treasury
alone—according to official figures in
‘Beer and Brewing in America,’ the
1938 edition of the industry’s econom-
ic textbook. The study is a revised
edition by Standard Statistics Co., Inc.,
of the book by the late Warren M.
Persons, former professor of econom-
ics at Havard University.
Federal taxes, which totaled $273,-
192,458 for the fiscal year 1938, have
exceeded $1,300,000,000 for the five and
a half years since relegalization of beer,
in April, 1933, while state and local
fees have totaled another half-billion.
Thus public revenues for the five and
one-half years have exceeded the ag-
gregate for the 25 years prior to pro-
hibition, when beer sales were even
higher. This is explained by the fact
that current taxes on beer are seven
times as high as in the former days,
when the excise was $1 per barrel, in
contrast to the current $5, and there
was no state taxes.
The booklet also analyzes the bene-
fits that have accrued to agriculture,
labor and various lines of industry
furnishing machinery, equipment, ma-
terials and services to the brewing in-
dustry. Brewery labor alone has bene-
fitted to the extent of $350,000,000.00
since relegalization, while the amount
spent by the brewers for farm prod-
ucts has approximated a half-billion
dollars. Total benefits accruing to al-
industries, labor, public revenues and
local -business men through direct sale
of beer are estimated at seven billion
dollars for the five and a half years.
‘The influence of that expenditure in
the deepest depression that this nation
has ever experienced was far greater
than the size of the expenditure indi-
cates,’ is one of the observations made.
In an appendix, it is also revealed
that consumption of beer, as a bever-
age of moderation, has shown an in-
crease in recent years in all countries
where temperance education was most
wide-spread and effective.”
State Statistics.
The following figures were recently
released by the Texas Liquor Control
Board pertaining to revenue that has
been received iby the State of Texas
that was collected by the Liquor Con-
trol Board within the last three years.
The Liquor Control Board has col-
lected more than 19 million dollars for
the state. Liquor revenues have con-
tributed more than 50 per cent of the
state’s share of the old age assistance
program. Counties and cities have re-
ceived an estimated $2,500,000 in li-
cense fees. The total receipts and col-
lections for the three-year period end-
ing November' 15, 1938, were $19,344,-
441.05. Proration of this revenue dis-
tributed $12,567,084.16 to the old age
assistance fund; $3,694,664.53 to the
available school fund; $331,347.11 to
the general fund and $3,015.50 to the
state auditor’s appropriation. Under
the law authorizing them to collect
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The Union Review (Galveston, Tex.), Vol. 19, No. 49, Ed. 1 Friday, March 31, 1939, newspaper, March 31, 1939; Galveston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1438377/m1/1/: accessed July 11, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Rosenberg Library.