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Show UTAH LABOR NEWS. SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH. JANUARY 26, 1938 Page 4 P b ubrnifs Proposal for Peace I Special to the Utah Labor News WASHINGTON (UNS) John L Lewis announced peaoe proposals to the A. F. L. Wednesday in an address to the dele gates to the U. M. W. of A. convention here. He said, "We all want peace peace with honor." Mr. Lewis said that he is recommending to the 4,000,000 members of the C. I. O. that on February they march into the A. F. L.,' if the A. F. L. will issue charters to the C. I. O. units and later call a convention to arrange details. "If that is not pleasing to the A. F. L.," he continued, we offer the alternative proposal that on February I the A. F. L. unions march into the C. I. O. and receive charters and hold a LABOR LEADER v- ' ' Vi' 1 f ; '' .' convention later to arrange details." r United Mine Workers Meet in Nations Capital i , i. f At' Special to the Utah Labor News From every coal section of the United WASHINGTON States and Canada more than 2000 delegates came for the i opening Tuesday of the biennial convention of the United Mine I. O. affiliate. C. of America,' a Workers JOHN L. LEWIS The delegates, representing the unions 600,000 members, He presides at the important are meeting at the Rialto theater here in what is expected to be convention of the United Mine sessions most - one of the important in the U. M. W. of A.s half-centu- Workers of America meeting in Washington, D. C. ry history. John L. Lewis, president of the U. M. W. of A. and chairman o' the C. I. O., received a thunderous ovation when in addressing the delegates he warned governmen and industry to keep the wage scale up. Miners Boo Hoover If wages and prices are allowed to collapse, there will be anu complete economic, social Lewis told debacle, political delegates. One school of economists, said, wants production costs to stimulate production. The answer to that is that it has never worked, and it never will, the C. I. O. chief said, then scornfully snorted: We tried that under President Hoover. The miners booed at mention of Hoover's name. No one need tell the coal miners whose wages were cut from 1925 to 1932 that cheaper cost of production means more consump tion, Lewis continued. The miners know that those cuts didnt result in the consuming of another trainload of coal. Lewis advocated immediate federal appropriation of six billion dollars five for a gigantic low cost housing program and one for this winters relief needs. Another two billion would be needed for relief next winter, he suggested in his written report. For the housing program, Lewis suggested congress tap the so rial security reserve fund. Lewis report showed his union had $2,534,668 in the bank last November 30, an increase of $236,-64- 9 over the amount reported at the last convention. Reports on the unions condition and the progress of the Committee for Industrial Organization, of which it is the largest unit, will be made at the meeting. The past two years have been eventful in this country, with the United Mine Workers of America playing a prominent part in labor, economic, political and national affairs, declared the United Mine Workers Journal. A fast one, which somebody slipped over on congress in June, 1934, has just come to light. On that date a bill was passed, without objection or debate, giving the U. S. supreme court justices sweeping power to draft a complete set of new rules to govern practices and procedure in all of the Federal district courts. Most of the rules now effective in Federal district courts are the result of laws passed by congress during the past 150 years. But the bill .enacted in 1934 provided that the new rules drafted by the Nine Old Men, unless specifically veto ed by congress within six months after their promulgation by the justices, were to become effective, and all Federal laws in conflict with the new rules were to be auto matically repealed. Not only was the passage of this till one of the most amazing legislative spectacles in the history of congress, but the subsequent action of the supreme court justices vas a 100 per cent example of their in consistency. The supreme court, as we all know, murdered the NRA and some other splendid laws on the ground that congress could not Membership at Peak delegate its lawmaking powers to It is gratifying to state that the President or any other goyern the United Mine Workers of Amer- ment agency. But the same court ica is in the best condition in its history. There is peace in the entire industry. Wages have been increased and the hours of labor have been reduced. Working conditions throughout the industry have been vastly The organization has improved. been extended until it now covers evern mining field in the country. Our membership is at its peak. We have contracts in both the bituminous and anthracite branches . of the industry that run for more than another year. Members of the union enjoy greater freedom and privileges than ever before. There is perfect harmony in our ranks. There is deep respect for and loyalty to the leadership of the union. The mission of the union has not yet been fulfilled, but gigantic strides of progress have been made in the last two years. Highlights of Year In the last year the union has accepted a much wider delegation of lawmaking and power' than the National Recovery Act had ever conferred on anyone when it took, without a murmur, he authority conferred on it by the congressional bill of June, 1934. There isnt space in this column to go into a discussion of the new rules. But three instances will suffice to give an idea of how far the supreme court justices have gone. law-repeali- ng provides that labor unions can be sued by any person who desires to prosecute them. The suit can be brought against the union in the name of the organization only, at any time and at any place and without notice to the One rule members. This would make it possible for a heavy judgment to be rendered against the property interest of each member without them even being notified of the suit or having their day in court. Another rule goes to the opposite extreme regarding corporations. F. I L Si ord in favor of S. 69, and instruct ed Secretary of the League to forward copies of the resolution to Congressmen Abe Murdock and J Will Robinson. The resolution endorsing the Bill said that it was Wagcs-Hour- s must American labors No. 1 item on its legislative program for 1938, and the passage would go long ways to provide employmen; and purchasing power so sorely needed. Vice President William Qumn made a report on the state-wid- e conference of the Labors Non Partisan League of Utah on Janu ary 16, which he attended as delegate. Jle highly commentec on the unanimous effort of the delegates to bring about a unitec front of progressive-minde- d people of Utah. In the absence of President A. M Scott, Mr. Quinn had charge o the meeting. REACTIONARY HOOVER SPIRIT REIGNS IN UTAH WOOL GROWERS MEET The Utah Wool Growers annual convention in Salt Lake City Monday and Tuesday resembled a gathering of reactionary Republic ans meeting to nominate Herbert Hoover for the presidency. Anything that means for the progress of the people of this nation wms opposed. And all those that would bolster the selfish greed of the wool men was favored. It opposed reciprocal trade agreements. It did not faver the pending farm bill. It opposed the government reorganization bill. It expressed opposition to the can follow. Maybe we will disagree with the program but there will be meat in it and it will be something we can sink our teeth into. Well, sir, the great du Pont just plumb fanned out. Jle didnt even go down swinging. He just stood at the plate and watched the balls go by, never once lifting the bat from his shoulder. It wasnt that the pitcher was so good. Senator Jimmy Byrnes never did have much speed on the ball and hes not particularly fond of the new manager of the Democratic ball club but even Jimmy set down the oppositions greatest hitter without so much as a foul ball. Reads Prepared Statement The du Pont opened with a prepared statement in which he described the achievements of the du Pont corporation, how they have produced materials, such as cello-- ( Continued on' Page 6) LABOR ON ITS FORWARD MARCH (Continued from Page 2) flourished unchecked, is again on the increase throughout the country, President David Dubinsky of the International Ladies Garment Workers union, said in announcing plans for the immediate construction of a sanatorium in Duarte, California, to be built with union funds. The large increase in the membership of the union in recent years, he said, helped make the Contracts have project possible. been let for the building of a nine-win- g hospital, eight units of which will be used for bed patients, and he ninth for medical, dietetic and nursing services. The sanatorium will be dedicated as a memorial to Morris Hillquit, abor lawyer and publicist, who was himself a victim of tuberculosis. He played an active part in he unions affairs for many years. This rule, according to Congress man Robert Ramsay of West Vir ginia, one of the ablest attorneys in America, opens the way to prohibit suits against a corporation except in the state where it is chartered. A third example, pointed out by Ramsay, is that the new rules permit judges to take sides in every jury trial and make stump speeches to the jurors as to the judges opinion of the value of testimony, and bill. thus get the kind of a verdict the Wages-Hour- s declared its opposition to the It wants. judge Train Limit Bill. In many respects it showed a NEW IIIGII COURT greater reactionary spirit than the JUSTICE HAS WON MOST Bureau Federation Utah Farm CASES DEAL OF NEW convention and it was very much The appointment of Stanley opposed to everything labor wants C. I. O. GLASS UNION Forman Reed to succeed Justice in the way of humanitarian legis- TO BARGAIN FOR FIRST , Sutherland on the Supreme Court lation. The Utah wool men reelected S. NATIONAL WAGE PACT is meeting almost universal apM. Jorgensen of Salina, a stand-pa- t proval. CINCINNATI, Ohio (UNS) He is a native of Kentucky and Republican, as president, and Tor the first time in the history W. D. Candland of Mt. Pleasant, a is 53 years old. of the flat glass industry, negotia-ion- s He has an astonishing record of reactionary Republican, vice presia national wage agreefor success as solicitor general of the dent. ment under are way, starting JanThe wool Utah men apparently United States. He has argued 11 17 in Cincinnati, between New Deal cases before the supreme do not remember that it was Presi- uary of the union and court, won nine and lost two. One dent Roosevelts program which representatives ;he of the councompanies major of those lost was the NRA case, saved the wool industry from contracts Separate only have ty. which wras hopeless from the start. starvation. )een signed previously. Wonder what the wool men His topnotch legal learning and Utah An intensive four-mont-h study ability are agreed to by all; and he and farmers would say if the work- of conditions in the industry made is classed as a moderate type of ing men and women of America commissions from the iberal; one who will not crusade stopped eating Utah lamb, eggs, jy joint and the union have laid companies and all or reform, but is perfectly willing butter, other products produced by Utah wool men and farm the basis for the conferences. o have it tried. One who has Workers in the industry are the proceedings before the bureau farmers! This is apt to happen. Your ob- represented by a national wage supreme court and the court itself server rehas heard this matter dis- comnfittee made up of 45 union for years says that Reed closely members from all parts of the sembles Justice Harlan F. Stone in cussed in labor meetings. country, under the chairmanship of his social and legal outlook. Paul W. Fuller, head of the C. I. O. Some quotations from his utter ANTI-NEDEAL Glass Workers Organizing comences seem distinctly in point here: BUSINESSMEN ARE SORT mittee. The Constitution is a guide fori OF WASHOUTS our progress; not a jailer to pre Great industrial figures, such as UNION MAKES JOB SURVEY serve the status quo. Regretfullv but inevitably we General Motors President William 0F MICHIGAN INDUSTRIES must adjust our lives and our gov- Knudsen and E. I. du Pont Co.s' ernment to modem needs and find, President Lammont du Pont, have SysLANSING, Mich. (UNS) in a Constitution written for a no hesitation in running all over tematic surveys of unemployment simpler era, guidance for the prob- the country and telling the people in all the industrial centers . of what they must do in order to re Michigan will be made by union lems of our present age. The opportunity and the neces- store prosperity. committees, it was decided at a But when it comes to telling con- C. I. O. state-wid- e relief conference sity for the governments service to its people cannot be confined gress what should be done, when it attended by about 250 representawithin rigid limits. The Constitu- comes to laying out a program in tives from 10 international C. I. O. tion sets no such bounds. It is a black and white and defending it unions and many local industrial living, vital institution, whose against all arguments, these people unions. function is to guide and not to curb are the worst sort of washouts. Between 175,000 and 200,000 Both Knudsen and du Pont have Michigan workers are out of work, necessary governmental powers. Experience of the last half cen- been to the Capitol to testify be- Adolph Germer, C. I. O. regional tury has driven us to the realiza- fore the senate committee studying director, told the delegates. tion that, after all, we live in a the problem of unemplojnnent and The survey will be made to profactual world, where organized relief Knudsens contribution was vide data for the various affiliated groups, whether for production, a hazarded guess that everything (Continued on Page 5) commerce or propaganda, are too was due to fear and the decline powerful to permit the feeble m the sale of motor cars. As far Sweet Spirit of Christmas! forces of the individual to survive. as suggesting a remedy he was Did you receive many Christanything but helpful. mas cards, Miss Brown, asked the du Pont Strikes Out TRADE UNION DEMOCRATS mean young man. Now the committee has heard ENDORSE SHORT TRAIN Oh yes quite a lot, replied from the du Pont, the man who AND WAGE-HOUBILLS the young lady, and there was an made the great speech before the one which I thought parunsigned The executive board of the Trade National Association of Manufacticularly dainty and artistic. Im Union Democratic League at its turers Congress of Industry in sure came it from you. New club the York, recently, the man who meeting Monday night at Indeed! he exclaimed, delighted is 168 of West South the president Temple rooms, great du Pont highly flattered, and what street, endorsed the Short Train corporation, the man who contrib- and Bill. uted a sizeable chunk of change to makes you think that? Bill, S. 69, and Wages-Hour- s Because I sent it to you last The resolution endorsing the the American Liberty League and year. short train measure said it is a the Republican party. measure for the protection of huHere, everybody thought, is man lives of those workers operat- where the senate committee is goIn this world it is not what we This take up, but what we give up that ing the trains, and believing that ing to get the real human lives are worth saving, magnificent brain of industry will makes us rich. Henry Ward therefore the League wrent on rec- - present a program that the country Beecher. fol-ow- ed W . R low-dow- n. |