Labor Messenger (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 20, No. 5, Ed. 1 Friday, April 23, 1943 Page: 1 of 4
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Vol. 20—No. 5
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HOUSTON, TEXAS, APRIL 23,1943
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nation's outstanding leaders of 1
a steady increase in the number of children leaving school to
nt’s claims.
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Here and There
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to do any more until the government makes some of these
On prices the order is less spe-
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♦
BACK UP
7.
THEY GIVE THEIR LIVES...YOU LENDYOUR MONEY
2252
—-- -
J
, 2nd
WAR
delivered a significant address
like to call attention to some <
to the fact that in the
America’s best-adver-
“The closing of many restaurants
serving war workers in crowded in-
dustrial areas and the restriction
of meal-serving hours in increasing
the dependence of war workers
A Child Today Is a Citizen Tomorrow
Insist on Passage of House Bill 279
Eating Becomes
Serious Problem
For War Workers
Organized Labor
Urged to Join Texas
Defense Guard
2
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accomplish this for Texas children.
That isn’t a problem for the legislators of Texas alone—it
is YOUR problem, too. And you have a duty to perform in
connection with its solution. House Bill No. 279 is believed
to be the proper answer. Write your legislators today. Let
them know you are interested in the passage of that bill.
Large Number
Of Anti-Labor Bills
Before State Bodies
The following report submitted
Incorporation of Labor Unions
Held First Step Toward Fascism
Many Sound and Infallible Reasons Advanced
Why Labor Opposes Incorporation of Unions
e
take jobs in bowling alleys, diners, stores, on freight Tele-
vators, in quick-lunch spots, honky-tonks and drive-ins, tem-
porary jobs with no future and with no bearing on the war.
In most of these jobs, the atmosphere is such that a grown-up
might be corrupted.
Many of the jobs in which these youngsters are working
are extremely dangerous. Let me quote from Collier’s an in-
stance: “Recently in Houston, Texas, Howard, a boy of 15,
who was trying to operate a laundry mangle, died after hav-
ing had his right arm torn off above the elbow. A sheet had
jammed the machine, which was powered by a 7% horsepower
motor. Howard shut off the power, thought he had untangled
YOUR BOY
Bay an Additional
Band Today
the burdens of those who default
In this war, as in previous ones, there are two groups:
Those who do all they can to further the war effort regard-
less of what anyone else is doing or failing to do, and those
(Continued on Page 2)
ures in as many States as possible.
The summary which follows gives
an over-all picture of this legisla-
tion, so that legislative committees
can know what is transpiring in
other States, comparing such action
with local trends.
In some communities restaurants
are closing from one to two' days a
week. In others they are not open-
ing to serve breakfasts. This makes
it increasingly difficult for workers
who have left their homes to take
jobs and rooms in other communi-
ties. It also increases the problem
of the homemakers who are work-
ing in industrial plants and haye
little time for shopping or planning
meals.
others kick in like I’m doing.”
We don’t doubt that he is a good man. But we do think he
is a “right” man with a wrong attitude.
There has never been a government strong enough to make
; people be decent. And it is a matter subject to proof that a
a
served as a reliable measure.” As
proof, it cited a check made in a
number of communities of price
quotations collected by the Bureau
of Labor Statistics. Not only foods,
but all other items going into the
index, were included in the A. F. of
L. study.
The Federation’s roundup dis-
(Continued on Page 4)
who are qualified and able owe to
the State, but it is also an act of
patriotism and loyalty to our Unit-
ed States, because every man who
joins the T. D. G. makes it possible
for some other man to be used in
the regular army.
Joining the Guard does not make
(Continued on Page 4)
The formula limits wage raises
to 15 per cent above the level of
Jan. 1, 1941, even though the cost
of living has soared way beyond
that figure.' Heretofore the board
had authority to make additional
adjustments to eliminate “inequali-
ties” and for other reasons, but the
new order wipes out that leeway. It
also puts brakes on transfers of
workers to jobs paying higher
wages.
A week ago today Collier’s, national independent weekly,
and the Labor Messenger of Houston both protested about
the exploitation of child labor. While we realize that Collier’s
treated the subject in more detail and with much more skill,
we still feel pretty good about having the same idea at the
same time.
The subject is not a closed one. It is still one of the greatest
problems in America today. So we want to bring out some of
the points not mentioned last week, as well as refer to some
of those brought out in the article by Vera Connolly in
Collier’s.
Miss Connolly told how the Children’s Bureau reported that
in the fiscal year of 1942 there was an increase of 132 per
cent in the number of minors found illegally employed; that
75 per cent of them were under 16 years of age; 37 per cent
under 14, and 12 per cent under 12. “Many,” she said, “were
10, 9, 8, and even younger.”
She pointed out that most of these illegally employed chil-
dren, except for those hired by farmers and canners, are in
directs government agencies to
sanction no further price increases,
but makes a number of exceptions.
It also provides for a cut in prices
of those items that are “excessively
(Continued on Page 2)
important part along with the reg-
ular military forces, in repelling
the danger.
Enlistment in Guard
A Patriotic Duty
For this reason enlistment at this
_______ the deadline on copy for the
—.T-- ----be Wednesday noon.
coW’noentte tnpohazrozode: tmane x"
for the furtherance of the nefarious objectives of the
Communist Party in this country, the New Leader re-
mained stalwartly steadfast in its opposition to all anti-
democratic movements and perfo rmed yeoman service in
exposing the hypocrisy of the C mmunist Party line.
Secondly, Mr. Green emphasiz id that the New Leader
from the beginning refused to j imp aboard the C. I. O.
bandwagon along with other so sailed liberals but pub-
licly and courageously disclo ed the “fundamental
Dedicated to Our Fighting Heroes
By Mrs. Art G. Ellis
Buy another share or two—of good
Old U. S. A.
Don’t say you’ll buy some later-
buy those shares today.
Our fighting heroes didn’t wait to
volunteer their all,
They gave their lives, left their
homes to heed their Nation’s
call.
The hours are long—the going is
tough, still they ask no extra
pay.
They are driving on to Victory—
and to come back home to stay.
So buy, and buy, until it hurts—
buy bonds and stamps galore,
Remembering that our heroes—
have given so much more.
Official Newspaper pfHoustofTLa^r^a
BACK UP g
YOUR BOYE
K[
Bay an Additional 3
Bond Today
10^1
In many industrial communities
there are now few restaurants
which are open during the odd-
hours during the night and early
morning when night shift workers
are in need of food.
The Nutrition in Industry Sec-
tion recommends that all plants
with more than 250 employes es-
tablish some type of in-plant feed-
ing. It also recommends that where
factory feeding facilities are avail-
able, that they be maintained on a
24-hour basis.
FACING the FACTS
With PHILIP PEARL
»
The other night the New Leader, well-known and in-
$2.00 PER YEAR
DEPARTMENTOF LABOR REPORT EXPOSES
WIDESPREAD ATTEMPTS TO SHACKLE
LABOR THROUGH STATE LEGISLATURES
Similarity Indicates
Legislation Stems
From Common Source
sippi in 1942, five legislatures cur-
rently have already defeated it-
Iowa, Missouri, North Dakota, Ok-
lahoma, and Tennessee. The fate of
the bill is still undecided in Kansas
and Maryland, while no information
has yet been reached on how the
North Carolina Legislature, which
has adjourned, finally dealt with it.
Union Regulation and Licensing
At least fifteen State legislatures
are considering bills requiring labor
organizations to register certain in-
formation with a State agency as a
condition of collecting dues and
representing employes. Kansas,
South Dakota, and Idaho have just
passed laws which include provi-
sions requiring licensing of labor-
union agents; financial reports by
unions; reports of fees, dues, and
assessments of members, and re-
ports of salaries paid union offi-
cials.
The registration required by bills
in different States takes several
forms: :S. 290 (California) and H.
110 (Michigan) among others, for
example, require incorporation of
labor organisations, thereby mak-
ing them subject to the general
corporation laws of the State; in
most bills, however, the registration
takes the form of a filing with the
(Continued on Page 4)
x8
Mussolini calls his government a
“corporate state.” He has all labor
under his thumb in a labor syndi-
cate. There is no freedom such as
we know it. Those who ape Musso-
lini in this country are crying for
incorporation of labor unions.
What is a Corporation?
The courts have defined a corpo-
ration in the following words:
"Corporation: A body, consisting
of one or more natural persons,
established by law, usually for
some specific purpose, and con-
tinued by a succession of members.’
“An artificial being created by
law and composed of individuals
who subsist as a body politic under
a special denomination with the
capacity of perpetual succession
and of acting within the scope of its
charter as a natural person.” Fiet-
sam v. 112 Ill. 293. By fiction it is
partly a person and partly a citizen,
yet it has not the inalienable rights
of a natural person; Northern Secu-
rities Co. v. United States, 198 U.
S. 200, 24 Sup. Ct. 434, 48 L. Ed.
679.
Why Were They Invented?
Simply to be able to gather up
vast sums of money to engage in
large business enterprises and at
the same time limit the responsibil-
ity of each investor to the amount
he put in. If a man had a million
dollars but invested only a thousand
he could not be sued for a million
if the corporation failed owing a
million. Under the old partnership
arrangement each partner was
liable for the whole amount of a
partnership failure.
Therefore corporations were in-
vented to avoid individual respon-
sibility instead of as some would
have you believe—take on more.
Why Does Labor Oppose
Incorporation of Unions?
Because a corporation is created
by law and may be controlled by
law. A labor union is created by
(Continued on Page 4)
paign has been inaugurated to ham-
per or destroy the rights of organ-
ized labor through the medium of
state legislatures, presumably as
that method is thought less likely
of failure than direct application to
the Congress of the United States.
The report is presented in full that
members of organized labor may be
alive to the seriousness of the situ-
ation.
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Division of Labor Standards
Washington, D. C.
Legislative Reports,
Supplementary Bulletin No. 4
March 22,1948.
Trends in Industrial Relations Bill
State legislatures this year are
considering a greater volume than
ever before of bills affecting union
activities. All but a very small part
of this legislation is restrictive or
regulatory.
A marked similarity exists in
different states in certain bills deal-
ing with particular aspects of in-
dustrial relations. Certain bills in
different States are identical, while
others are modified to a limited ex-
--------■- 1 ■ ’ —
fluential Socialist weekly publication, celebrated its
twentieth anniversary with a dinner at the Hotel Com-
modore in New York City attended by many of the
beral thought.
een, who, to the best of
r has been a Socialist,
this meeting. We would
his statements because
grranvn-------
Buy Another Share of
Good Old VS. A.
nd
iff .
Li
ae,
tent, indicating that the legislation
stems from common sources inter-
ested in promoting certain meas-
A. F. L. President William
our knowledge, is not and m
By W. A. COMBS
The Texas Defense Guard was
virtually frozen within the confines
of the “Little Steel” formula, and
the War Labor Board is directed to
allow no increases beyond that, ex-
cept to correct “substandards of
“Everyone in America realizes now things that were
clear then to only a few observers of the labor move-
ment,” Mr. Green continued. Among these be listed:
“That the creation of the C. I. p. constituted a repudi-
ation of one of the basic principles of democracy, namely,
majority rule; that the original leader of the C. I. 0.
ru,
48
s MAY. 13
8223
A1188 keep from doing the right thing, will seek to let others shoul-
Hobbs Bill
the machine, and switched the power on again; his hanaGains Okay
caught in the sheet and he was pulled into the mangle . . . ()f HAnga
Howard was legally employed, according to the state laws of V-
PuncH^andAUiliated Organizations
of Labor in Houston
-4 )
First of all, Mr. Green attested
past two deca^j^. while some of
tised liberals dced to the tune of “every new piper of
false philosophies” and permitted themselves to be used
Mr. Green congratulated the New Leader, therefore,
for helping the whole course of liberal thought in Amer-
ica to grow up and come of age.
Ever since Pearl Harbor, he continued, labor has given
all of its attention to the problems of increasing pro-
duction so as to win the war in the shortest possible time.
Taking advantage of labor’s preoccupation with the
immediate task of winning the battle of production, he
charged, labor’s enemies “have attempted to steal a
march on us."
He warned that the purpose behind the concerted drive
of reactionary interests to destroy the power of the trade
union movement through restrictive Federal and State
legislation is to limit labor’s sphere of influence in the
post-war world; They fear revolution in Europe after the
war is over, Mr. Green said, and they dread that the
contagion of such upheavals will spread in this country.
THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME
Here is where Mr. Green made one of his main points.
He said:
“The reactionary interests responsible for this con-
certed drive against labor are their own worst enemies.
They do not seem to realize that the shortest cut to
revolution in America is the destruction of the trade
union movement which has carried on an unceasing fight
against any and all anti-democratic philosophies through-
out its existence.
“Organized labor knows that the best guarantee
against revolution in this country after the war is social
and economic security. Our domestic post-war program
calls for jobs for all and social insurance for all. The
American Federation of Labor will exert all of its eco-
nomic and political power to carry this program into
effect.”
We wish that every business man and industrial leader
in America could read these words and take them to
heart and learn the lesson that the shape of things to
come can be molded now by intelligent and constructive
Government-management-labor cooperation, that the
danger for the future lies chiefly in disunity and class
warfare.
Mr. Green made one final point, with regard to inter-
national relationships. He declared:
“We, in America, despite our traditional reluctance to
intervene in foreign affairs, must assume our share of
the responsibility for maintaining world peace. In self
defense alone, if for no other reason, we must abandon
forever the policy of isolationism. In company with our
allies who comprise the United Nations, we must first
formulate a just peace and then establish an inter-
national tribunal empowered to maintain it.”
That is a policy to which all Americans can subscribe.
-
Shortening of restaurant hours is cific, labor spokesmen said
also hitting the night shift workers. -
-...... .......
Official Cost
Index Called
Inaccurate
‘Spot’ Survey Reveals
Sensational Price
Hikes in Various Cities
Charges have been frequently
made that the cost of living index
compiled by the Bureau of Statis-
tics no longer reflects what the
nation’s housewives really must pay
for the necessaries of life.
These charges were dramatically
confirmed this week in a series of
“spot surveys” made by the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor and its
affiliated unions in various cities.
Workers are tremendously con-
cerned about the index because gov-
ernment boards have been relying
on that yardstick to deny justified
wage increases.
Not Reliable Measure
---5? ------ •V ---- V-V9P» TV CM V-FDU d1M VUIIEI dEEII- T g • ,
cies and I feel like I’m doing my part. By gosh, I’m not going otheshostiencgfthesahotag oN
te de onV mere nn*il *he "eve"men* --bee -e-- ef -ha- without ‘ jt will probably play an
by the United States Department
of Labor on anti-union labor legis-
lation bears out the contention that and organizations in any one State
an all-out and nation-wide cam-
certain percentage of citizens in every country will try to time in the Texas Defense Guard is
...... - not only a civic duty, which those
President
Urged to Curb
Profiteers
Record Made by O.P.A.
Indicates No Relief
From That Source
Roll back prices or roll up wages!
That battle cry was raised by or-
ganized labor this week, in the
wake of President Roosevelt’s ex-
ecutive order “stabilizing” the cost
of living.
“F. D.” called his order a "hold-
the-line" command, but labor chiefs
were frankly disturbed by the fact
that the "line" was made rigid as
far as wages are concerned but
weak with respect to prices.
Under the order, pay rates are
xg der their burdens. And there is just as much proof that the
citizens who are doing the right thing will shoulder part of
"eD.TRe*
$2
F[ORGANIZED \2
» < MAY. 19 ! C
%) 903
*3,-6----- > /
While millions of our boys and men are gambling their into the Army of the United States,
health, futures and lives all over the world so that we can the Texas Defense Guard is the
continue tobreathe free air, there is:no limit to what we ought stationed“withinfenestpermaonenti
to do to help them except our abilities. for ordinary military duty, In case
Recently on a bus we heard n man say: “I’m putting 10% of riot, insurrection or other serious
into war bonds, paying Victory, income and a hoard of other civil disturbance, it will no doubt
taxes, donating to the Red Cross, War Chest and other agen-1 be called on to guell the disorder.
,3
protect child laborers. The bill was the first piece of
Let us repeat that there are four excellent reasons for the anti-labor legislation to get favor-
passage of this bill: able consideration at this session of
1. Protect children under 16 years from the present war spng2%8-tonoroparlrthesFwtse
fever for jobs, which needlessly curtails their education with- broken, 72 Democrats, 32 Republi-
out contributing to the war effort. cans and three members of minority
2. Protect all school children working part-time from ex- groups voting against the measure,
treme strain of low hours and night work or over-loads of legsanndphatstedywsetegtent the
after-school work which destroy for the child and the com- hemence that it was not aimed at
munity much of the value of the school system.. organized labor. That claim, how-
3. Protect youth from extra-hazardous jobs. | ever, fooled nobody except those
4. Provide a Texas-operated system of work certificates to who wished to be fooled.
--- - - - r । Newspapers Not Fooled
noh-essential industries. She pointed out, too, that there,.18 oveh "“AAyarf haassnded that “or
Newspapers without excep-
tion headlined the House’s ac-
tion as the f irst defeat of labor
(Continued on Page 8)
"Anti-Violence’ Legislation
Nine states have considered so-
called “anti-violence”’ bills which
are almost identical — Arkansas,
Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri,
North Carolina, North Dakota,
Oklahoma, and Tennessee.
An organization known as the
Christian American Association
has championed this bill, particu-
larly in the Southern States.
This bill provides that it shall be
unlawful for any person by the use
of threat or force or violence to
prevent or attempt to prevent any
person from engaging in a lawful
vocation; or, for that purpose, for
any person acting in concert with
others to assemble at or near a
place where a labor dispute exists.
Such legislation could be inter-
preted to prohibit picketing and
strikes under circumstances usually
recognized to be a proper exercise
of constitutional rights.
While Arkansas has enacted this
bill as law this year, following the
action of Texas in 1941 and Missis-
upon in-plant feeding,” says Dr. „
Robert S. Goodhart, Technical Ad- Brake on Wages
viser. Nutrition in Industry.
frailty” of the dual labor moven e
THE TRUTH BECOMES CLEAR
precipitated a civil war in the ranks of organized labor
to satisfy his personal aspirations for dictatorship; and
that the C. I. O. provided -the Cinmunist Party in this
country with #s firsyrwywrtiinity tn wain a fwtfhnld in
trade union organizations.” $
of their highly important bearing on past, present and
future developments affecting the welfare of our
country.
i
Are You Playing or Sweating? t. . tlons Guard for thPdratfonhothe
Too many of us are “sweating” this war. war.andmust be disbanded as soon
Sweating is a term used to describe the actions of those Guard have setnitsa to tBatitona!
non-participants who stand around looking at others gamble. Since the National Guard was taken
Texas! Texas permits a child of 15 to operate a mangle!” Several Member* of
Texas has the “permit” system. That is, the county judge c.nc c,i M.
can issue a permit to a minor to work. What does Collier’s —0 81ress Cal Measure
say about that? *-2 -Manacles for Unions.
“Eighty per cent more work permits were granted to minors , Over..the, vigorous protest of
under the age of 16 in 1941 than in 1940, and the figures so b°r’ House adopted the 80-
far compiled for 1942 show an additional increase of 58 per called anti-racketeering bill spon-
cent ” ' sored by Congressman Sam Hobbs
Yet in the face of these and other factsthe Texas state aCtsoharynewspdprpandtedehyre
legislature hesitates to pass House Bill No. 279, which would of labor in the land.
Notice to Correspondents
Due to the existing labor shortage I
Labor Messenger will be Wednesday
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Labor Messenger (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 20, No. 5, Ed. 1 Friday, April 23, 1943, newspaper, April 23, 1943; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1551405/m1/1/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; .