The Union Review (Galveston, Tex.), Vol. 27, No. 44, Ed. 1 Friday, February 14, 1947 Page: 1 of 4
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V
The LCnion Review
1
Subscription Price, $2.00 Per Year
VOL. 27, NO. 44.
GALVESTON, TEXAS, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1947.
Text of Green s Letter on Uniting Labor
SILENT SOUNDS
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GULF COAST TYPO NOTES
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reports.
long remembered. Committee in charge people.”
SENATE REPUBLICANS BACK PLAN
FOR SWIFT ACTION ON CASE BILL
Galveston No. 28 will make every
endeavor to make the meeting, on Sun-
day, March 9, of the Gulf Coast Con-
ference in Galveston, one that will be
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Official Organ of the
Galveston Labor
plant recently purchased a Model 5,
along with other typesetting equip-
ment, from the J. V. Love Co. As to
notices sent out last week to job shop
proprietors that the Union wishes to
negotiate a new wage scale and other
conditions, I want to state confiden-
tially to Mrs. Killi that I believe Al
is worthy of a raise, although this
plant has always paid journeymen well
above the prevailing scale.
(Mr. Scale Committee: The new boss
already knows about the “two days off
a week” clause . . . but can’t you just
kinda try to negotiate a “one night
out a week” concession . . . send for
an ITU representative . . . send for
President Randolph!—Alkali.)
Fred Wilson came down from Hous-
ton and is the new chairman at Knapp
Brothers plant. He intends to bring his
family as soon as housing can be se-
cured. Charlie Hanson is proprietor-
member at this busy shop.
C. F. Fletcher was obligated at last
meeting. He is presently working on
the Texas City Sun, where he is in
charge of the job department.
W. L. Linn, operator who came here
recently from San Angelo, has gone
to Goose Creek to work on the paper
there. Lack of suitable housing here
necessitated the transfer.
To those who may disagree with
matters in this column, I repeat the
oft-told story of the farmer who was
kicked by a jackass, and when asked
whether he would do anything about
it, replied that he would not, for he
considered the source.
Council and Building
Trades
Talk of Firing Million U. S. Workers
Assailed by A.F.G.E. Chief Bums
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AMERICAN
FEDERATION
OF LABOR
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REGULAR MEETING OF THE
GALVESTON LABOR COUNCIL
Official Organ of Galveston Labor Council, Dock and Marine Council
and Affiliated Unions
Endorsed by the Texas State Federation of Labor
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By AFL News Service.
Miami, Florida.—The text of the letter addressed by William Green, presi-
dent of the American Federation of abor, to Philip Murray, president of the
Congress of Industrial organizations, proposing a merger of the two organiza-
tions for a united front against anti-labor legislative proposals follows:
DEAR MR. MURRAY:
I herewith submit an official reply to your letter dated December 5, 1946.
We will await with deep interest your answer to this communication.
Labor has learned, through long years of experience, that it can best
resist organized opposition when united. It has ever been conscious of the
fact that it was at a disadvantage in dealing with those forces which sought
to destroy labor organizations, when it became disunited. The attempts which
are now being made to enact anti-labor legislation, in the Congress of the
United States and in many state legislatures, emphasize the need for labor
unity and labor solidarity.
Labor could cope with situations such as confront us at the present time
in the Congress of the United States and in the different states in a much
more effective way if the millions of workers organized into separate unions
were blended into one parent union. That would mean that the millions of
workers now represented by divided unions would stand together, speaking
as one and acting as one, united solidly into a strong, united movement. The
continuation of the existing division within the ranks of labor serves to en-
courage those who would weaken and destroy the organized labor movement
through the enactment of anti-labor legislation in the Congress of the United
States and the state legislatures.
The holding of periodical meetings, such as you suggested in your let-
ter dated December 5, 1946, for the purpose of dealing with attacks made
upon organize^ labor means that co-operation may be followed for a day while
division and discord continue. We cannot present a united front by pretend-
ing to be united today, and being divided tomorrow. The extension of increased
protection to labor and the organizations which the workers have formed calls
for the establishment of organic unity and solidarity within the ranks of
labor. The need for such action is made clear by the trend of events.
It is the opinion of the executive council of the American Federation of
Labor that the attempt which is being made in the Congress of the United
States and in the different state legislatures to enact highly objectionable
anti-labor legislation ought to serve to bring about organic unity and soli-
darity within the ranks of labor. If our enemies unite against us and, through
unified action on their part, seek to destroy labor organizations through the
enactment of anti-labor legislation, the full, united, economic and political
strength of labor should be mobilized into one effective organization in op-
position to such a movement on the part of our enemies.
The executive council of the American Federation of Labor therefore pro-
poses that a committee of five representing the American Federation of Labor
and a committee of five representing the Congress of Industrial Organizations
meet together for the purpose of establishing organic unity and solidarity on
the part of the two organizations named. The following five members of the
executive council of the American Federation of Labor are authorized to meet
a like committee from the Congress of Industrial Organizations for the pur-
pose of creating a united organized labor movement on a sound and permanent
basis: William Green, George Meany, William L. Hutcheson, Daniel J. Tobin
and John L. Lewis.
The committee representing the American Federation of Labor herein
named, stands prepared to meet with a committee reprsenting th Congress of
Industrial Organizations at the earliest possible date for the purpose of bring-
ing about organic unity within the ranks of labor. Through the realization of
such a purpose a strong, united organization could function continuously
prepared to meet all attacks on organized labor.
Very sincerely Yours, WILLIAM GREEN,
President American Federation of Labor.
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At mom, at noon, at eve, at night
I hear the patter, soft and light,
And catch the gleam of wings, snow white,
About my door.
And on the silent air is borne
The voice that from my world was torn—
That left me, comfortless, to mourn,
Forever more.
LOCAL VOICE
OF THE
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Sometimes, there floats from out the street,
A burst of laughter, shrill and sweet,
And I forgetting, turn to greet
My darling fair.
Soft as the ripple of the stream
Breeze-kissed beneath the moon's pale beam,
How strangely real doth it seem!
And he not there.
By AFL News Service.
Washington, D. C.—James B. Burns, president of the American Federa-
tion of Government Employes (AFL), has struck back at the critics of govern-
ment employes who break into the headlines almost daily with demands that
a million or so be “fired” forthwith.
Representatives Taber and Knutson have called for the dismissal of a
million government workers, and Senator O’Daniel of Texas advanced the
idea that half of them should be “fired” to see whether the public would com-
plain of poor service.
“It is a lot easier,” said Mr. Burns, “to talk about firing a Jot of govern-
ment employes, indiscriminately, than it is to figure out just who should be
fired and what activities should be closed down—for, obviously, if you are
going to get rid of half the government employes in this country, you will
have to reduce the work load they are carrying.
“Senator Downey of California has .suggested that we might get rid of
half the employes of the Veterans Administration, now one of the largest of
government agencies, by giving disabled veterans half the hospital care they
are now receiving, or making them wait twice as long to get them.
“The cold figures show that it is not possible to release half the employes
of the government without making .serious inroads into the War and Navy
Departments, the treasury, the post office, and the Veteran Administration,
because, if all-the other government employes were fired, droppd, they wouldn’t
come anywhere near half the total.
“If we want to neglect our military security—if we want to forget about
collecting taxes and carrying the mails—if we want to turn out wounded vet-
erans of World War II into the streets, we can, perhaps, cut the payroll in
half. But I doubt very much that many public men would want to take the
responsibility for that sort of thing, even if it seems like a good idea to some
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directed a letter of protest be sent
President Berry for his “co-operation,
and how” in the Beaumont matter.
2. A ban on strikes for organizing purposes as well as jurisdictional
strikes.
3. A prohibition on foremen’s unions, with additional supervisory em-
ployes,, such as guards and inspectors, blocked from organizing.
4. A ban on secondary boycotts.
5. A Federal mediation board within the Labor Department with power to
delay strikes for 60 days after intervening in any dispute.
6. Specific authority for employers to sue unions for violation of contracts
in Federal district courts.
It was learned that a bill designed to stop the flood of portal-to-portal
pay suits may later be added to the so-called “quickie” measure.
A separate bill outlawing making union membership a condition of em-
ployment (closed shop) will be introduced along with the Case measure.
By AFL News Service.
Washington, D. C.—Swift hearings on a revised Case antilabor bill, as a
A report to the conference, by Ball, Taft and Smith, virtually turned down
the President’s proposal last year for a joint committee over-all study of the
whole range of labor laws.
Said the report:
“Such an investigation would take many months, even years, to produce
legislative results, and there is not time for that, since the subcommittee
is strongly of the view that prompt action should be taken in the present
emergency on all those subjects which have been adequately considered in
the first session.”
Strategy greenlighted by the GOP conference thus called for “brief hear-
ings” and prompt action on the strengthened Case Bill, and “more extended”
hearings on at least two additional bills. These would:
1. Provide “several alternative” solutions for industry-wide shutdowns,
such as the recent coal strike.
2. Amend the NLRB Act to define “unfair labor practices” for unions as
starting point of broad revision of labor legislation, was approved here by
the Senate Republican conference.
A toughened draft of the Truman-vetoed measure was announced by a
three-man GOP group, preparatory to quick action by the Senate Labor Com-
mittee. Senator Ball, Republican, of Minnesota, a coauthor of the draft, told
newsmen the GOP conference approved only over-all strategy, and not the
specific contents of the bill.
The initial measure, jointly sponsored by Ball, Robert A. Taft (Ohio), and
H. Alexander Smith (N. J.), provides:
1. A new section requiring unions to register and publish annual financial
-EAs
"Labor
RRESS
4SS‘N
February 10, 1947
Meeting called to order by President
B. A. Gritta at 8 o’clock.
Roll call of officers found all pres-
ent except Trustee Anderson.
Minutes of previous meeting were
adopted as read.
CREDENTIALS
Brothers R. L. Faust from Local No.
940, A. Barrett and E. Wilderman from
Plumbers No. 200 and M. Saurez from
Shrimpheaders No. 21044, were ad-
mitted, obligated and seated. Visitor
at the meeting were Brother J. W.
Thompson from Local No. 851.
COMMUNICATIONS
From American Federation of Labor
concerning booklets of the proceedings
of the 56 th convention of the A. F. of
L. was received and filed. From A. F.
of L. regarding the “Food for Free-
dom” contribution; was received and
filed. From Texas USO asking Coun-
cil to appoint members from organ-
ized labor to represent labor on the
USO steering committee; was received
and concurred in. From USO in regard
to their campaign; was received and
filed. A bulletin in regards to social
security benefits; was received and
hied.
REPORT OF OFFICERS
President Gritta reported on the
USO; also asked that the Council go
on record indorsing drive and that the
Council send out letters to all organ-
izations asking the members to do-
nate $1. He also made a report con-
cerning Laundry Workers and their
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new contract and statement about the
Retail Clerks. Vice President Bennett
reported on the happenings of the
Cooks’ and Waiters’ controversy, and
Brother Garonovic reported that his
organization was giving full support
to this controversy. Brother Jung made
a report on legislative matters. At this
time the recommendation of the execu-
tive board in donating $5 to the Na-
tional Foundation for Infantile Paraly-
sis was concurred in by the Council.
The executive board also reported that
the Council would go on record endors-
ing a bill entitled: “An Act Creating
a Firemen’s and Policemen’s Civil Ser-
vice in Cities of 10,000 population or
More.” The secretary was instructed
to write the representatives of this
district urging them to support this
bill with all their support.
LEGISLATIVE MATTERS
The legislative committee reported
that the committee recommends that
the Council ask the representatives of
this district not to support—if when-
ever it came before their bodies—the
monopolistic practice that the Ameri-
can Medical Association is trying to
put over. The legislative committee
was instructed to make a study of and
report back on the fair trade bill. At
this time President Gritta appointed
Brothers Bennett and Howe as dele-
gates to the USO steering committee.
No further business to come before
this body, meeting was adjourned after
reading of receipts and disbursements.
Fraternally yours,
CHAS. GANTER, Secretary.
You do not hear it? Unto me
The sweet, low sound comes ceaselessly.
And, floating, floods the earth and sky
With tender tone.
You do not hear the restless beat
Upon the floor of childish feet—
Of feet that treat the flow'ry street
Of heaven alone.
By J. A. ST ALLO
An anonymous saying is “Be ye
stout of heart and firm in faith. Each
cloud has a silver lining. It is always
darkest before dawn.” While many
have deserted the battle and left town,
the real union printers in Beaumont
are carrying on valiantly, knowing of
their responsibility to their sister ty-
pographical unions in a battle with
publishers’ associations to wrench tele-
type jurisdiction away from the ITU
and away from union members, and
hand the job to cheaper stenographic
help. Beaumont union printers are still
on the picket line, and making great
sacrifices, and it’s up to us to give
them every help possible until final
victory is won. Jud Moody, in his col-
umn last week, used foresight when he
termed the Enterprise and Journal as
a sinking ship. For time will prove it
just that! Presently the management
has embarked upon another desperate
effort to obtain help, this time the ap-
peal for workers being sought in the
smaller papers throughout the coun-
try as well as in the want ads of met-
ropolitan dailies. Former Beaumont
printers allegedly have been approach-
ed, directly and indirectly, to return
to Beaumont, and that if sufficient
help is obtained, all union demands
will be met. But knowing the tactics
of the management, no faith or confi-
dence is placed in promises, knowing
well from past experience that those
who worked faithfully have received
the worst of the deal in the end. None
but rats will go to Beaumont, but
there will always be plenty of union
Pied Pipers on the job to make their
stay but of short duration. I am using
every means of publicity available to
thwart the publisher from obtaining
printers, and it is up to every union
printer everywhere to do his part to
inform those printers within their
jurisdiction, not within the fold, as
to true working conditions in the past
and that there never has been, in the
past, security of employment and
ideal working conditions on the En-
terprise and Journal, a vermin-infest-
ed plant, both the four and two-legged
kind.
Larry Taylor, first vice president, is
to be commended for his informative
articles in the January Typographical
Journal, in which he brought out that
President Berry of the Pressmen’s Un-
ion authorized issuance of working
permits to at least 15 employees of
the Beaumont Enterprise and Journal,
none of whom were pressmen or mem-
bers of his union, to run the presses
while the pressmen’ there refused to
cross picket lines and work with rat
printers. I am wondering how long
the rank and file membership of the
Pressmen’s Union will tolerate a presi-
dent to force them to work with a
bunch of rat printers, and place them
in a role where they stand despised
and shunned by all organized labor.
No. 28 took action on the matter and
While the great majority of No. 28
has not become panicky in regard to
teletypes, action was taken neverthe-
less at the last meeting to take up the
matter with international officers.
While it always has been, and always
will be, my contention that teletypes
will never prove practical, to full ex-
tent, and replace human ingenuity in
the printshop, there is great danger
that operation of same may be wrest-
ed from control of union printers. The
union printers are not trying to stand
in the way of progress, but are claim-
ing jurisdiction over duties that right-
fully belong in the composing room.
To this end, information will be sought
from international officers whether it
is possible to start a school fo tape-
punchers, these tape-punchers to be
■sent wherever they may be needed to
teach local operators. Funds could be
used from the defense fund for this
school. Many also would like to know
the proper procedure in the event the
teletypes are installed in a plant.
These and other questions will be ask-
ed of international, and answers will
be sent to sister unions through var-
ious media by No. 28.
Knowing the! need for sober and re-
liable help in Galveston, Guy Foley
came down from Houston Saturday,
where he worked hard on the Chron-
icle and elsewhere, and intends to go
to work here sometime next week . . .
he says.
Having heard the beat of the off-
shore waves for the past several
months, Tom Bookman once again has
become possessed with the wanderlust,
and, to the ‘regrets of his many
friends, has drawn a traveler. Tom
intends to go to Waco and Fort Worth,
and when spring arrives, to make a
swing through the East coast and
Canada, and then back to Texas, where
Tom says he will be well content to
entertain the lag-end of his life with
quiet hours. I am cautioning Tom not
to grow old suddenly, for there may be
danger in it.
Jud Moody last week gave expres-
sion that discretion forbid on my part
when he stated that none other than
the membership or officers of the Gulf
Coast Conference should speak for that
body unless authorized to do so. As to
the identity of the anonymous letter
writer, Jud, he is known only to the
Good Lord as far as I know, and He
won’t tell. But there is no sense in
making a mountain out of a mole hill,
and I am glad there is an individual
in Houston over-zealous in conference
affairs and hope he will attend the
conference in Galveston March 9
where his apparent interest will be
put to good use by the conference.
Ah, no; you cannot hear him call;
You catch no laugh, no light footfall;
I am his mother—that is all.
And He who said
"I will not leave thee desolate"
Has, somehow, loosed the bands of fate,
And left ajar the golden gate
Which hides my dead.
of arrangements consists of H. A. Le-
roux, veteran in conference affairs;
L. M. Nash and William Ginn. Confer-
ence secretary will advise unions of
time and place. Meanwhile, all print-
ers in this section, and throughout the
state, should reserve the second Sun-
day of next month, for attendance of
the conference in Galvecton. More de-
tails will be gicven in future columns,
I liked Stereotyper Scribe George’s
suggestion last week that all alliled
trades bodies in various jurisdictions
stick it out with managements when
negotiations come up to imbed a
clause in contracts whereas printing
trades workers cannot be forced to
go through one another’s picket lines
in case of disputes. I am glad that
stereotypers, individually and collec-
tively, as allied trades members, “mu-
tually pledge to each other our lives,
our fortunes, and our sacred honor.”
Congratulations and well wishes for
success and prosperity are in order to
Mrs. Albert .Killi as owner-manager of
the Albert Killi Typesetting Company.
Another journeyman was needed in
this busy and up-and-coming trade
plant, so the former owner, Prof.
Alkali, (Al Killi to you), has placed
himself in the working class in the
same status with the employed opera-
tor par excellence, A. H. Ragland. An-
other excellent “workman” connected
with the shop is Robert Hardee. Bob
is very anxious to learn the printing
trade and become a member of the
Typographical Union. Although Bob is
still just a youngster, he has all the
makings of a very fine craftsman. The
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Qqusod
Kxe1q!1 3135
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The Union Review (Galveston, Tex.), Vol. 27, No. 44, Ed. 1 Friday, February 14, 1947, newspaper, February 14, 1947; Galveston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1441403/m1/1/: accessed August 15, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Rosenberg Library.