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Show I v tnuu nr ivxhsfry ot ur.t& Review of Current Events i ' 1937 ujac git. EDUCATE ORGANIZE THE PEOPLES PAPER COOPERATE VOL VIII; NO. 20 SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, NOVEV Utah State Industrial Union Council Formed Price: i&J9,J937. 5 Cents EISDTOKDAILS- News and Comment Per Copy - By M. I. T. C. I. O. IN UTAH CAN A HALF WIT Delegates Representing More Than 10,000 C. I. O. Affiliates BECOME A WHOLE WIT? Adopt Program For Permanent Organization In Utah There may be no half-wit- ? James Morgan Chosen As Acting President And E. M. Utah. At least we would hes.. cetermneIi delegates, representing more than Resolutions Endorse to name a list. Someone else might 0,000 Royle, Acting Secretary-Treasurorganized workers, in convention this week in Salt Lake Labors League For Political Action Adopt decide to do the same, to our em- City organized the Utah State Industrial Union Council, thus barrassment. for Organization. Program I. O. affiliated unions in Utah into closer C. the bringing could be also said cooperHowever, it ation with each other. no we have that quite definitely Delegates representing C. I. O. affiliated unions with a whole wits among us. Those who Looking over the convention delegation, we can say that it membership of more than 10,000 members held a convention make a specialty of human men- was about as fine looking and intelligent crowd of men as ever in Salt Lake City this week at the Trade Union Halls, 168 tal growth say that the mind is came in Utah, or any other state. together South West Temple street. On the opening day, Monday, the never full, that the brightest and The convention proceedings testify that those wisest still has much to learn. If were and heard visitors addresses splerwJid delegates by prominent that be so then we can say a half- anxious to lay the foundation for the organization present on a permalabor leaders. The delegates got enough to refuse participa- wit can never become a whole wit. nent and solid basis. down to business Tuesday mom strong There is room though, for us tion we may soon be drawn into act n choosing James Morgan, C. I. O. (rst ing following the appointment of another world s quarter-witand war convention committees by James He wits to improve. You will regional director, as the acting president to serve until April, a united front of demMorgan, convention chairman and ocraticurged M. Royle as acting secretary-treasureant we notice in about nitsaid nations and workers, for regional director for the C. I. O. particular, to prevent a worldwide wits. That lets nothing the same lets it was wise out, well, well as period, as economical for ora new for Utah. er 1 Non-Partis- an s, half-wit- three-quart- er r, dictatorship of capitalists. WorkWarns Workers ers should resolve, too, they will Reid Robinson, president of the not enter any war unless our counInternational Union of Mine, Mill try is actually attacked, he said. and Smelter Workers, who came Mr. Robinson pointed out that here from Denver headquarters to the industrial union idea had its address the delegates, declared origin in the western section of the that unless a united labor is (Continued on page 6) President Urged Congress To Pass Liberal Legislation President Roosevelt in his mes . "L sage to the special session of con gress Monday recommended con gress to act on labor, agriculture and other progressive legislation The Presidents message in part reads: In the attainment of the broac central purpose we recognize many related objectives. however, deals with only four these objectives four which are already being considered by the This-messa- ge congress. v out those who didn't agree with in politics when last you argued. Be that as it may, Robert Browning felt what modern scientists claim that they have proven, namely, there is no end to learning. Of all the different groups of brain cells with their special work of receiving orders, giving orders, controlling glands and so forth we are particularly interested in the neurones. (We said neurones, not morons.) These nerve cells we are told, are in different parts of the brain. They record impressions, relate them to previous experience impressions and help us form good judgment. There is no limit to the combinations of ideas they can make. Hence the attaining of perfect understanding or wisdom is never a completed process so long as we live and acquire knowledge and experiences. A half wit may never become a whole but there is hope for im provement for all of us except the human specimen the nit wit. Having nothing there can be nothing for new ideas to associate with, hence no progress Ho, hum! Yes, a couple of hums! you quate standard of living and pur chasing power everywhere if every part is to live happily with every other part. We do not recognize the destiny of any state or any county to be permanently back ward. Political and social har mony requires that every state anc every county not only produce goods for the nations markets,' bu furnish markets for the nations goods. Wage Standards This does not mean that Iegisla tion must require immediate uniform minimum hour or wage standards; that is an ultimate goal . We should provide flexible machinery which will enable indus tries throughout the country to ad- THOSE TRADE just themselves progressively to AGREEMENTS No country can supply all Its better labor conditions. But we own needs. Those that tried it on 3) Page (Continued deferred their climb out of the depression. If a nation must buy certain items outside it is naturally going LOOKING to buy of nations that turn bust ness their way. In the United States we produce AHEAD such a large variety of goods ourselves that it is hard to determine By what goods shall be given easy Len De Caux entry. But buy of others we must, (Continued on Page 8) Two relate directly to the stabil ization and maintenance of the purchasing power of the nation The other two, essential tools for the whole task, look to the improvement of the machinery anc functioning of both the executive and the legislative branches of the federal government. 1. Agriculture: Intention to pass a new and per manent national farm act was de dared by the congress in joint resolution last summer. Great as the need was then, that need is still greater today. Some crops will begin to be planted within three months. . . . I hope and believe that the supreme court will not again deny to farmers the protection which it now accords to others. Labor Legislation On Uniting Unions 2. Labor. That the Committee for Indus I believe that the country as a trial has brought Organization whole recognizes the need for imdivision rather to the than unity mediate congressional action if we workers in those industries where are to maintain wage income and it has concentrated its organizing the purchasing power of the nais shown again by its rection against recessive factors in efforts, the shoe industry, as rethe general industrial situation. ord in to the conventilon of the The exploitation of child labor and ported Shoe United Workers of America the undercutting of wages and the 8 in St. Louis. November beginning stretching of the hours of the shoe were American workers poorest paid workers in periods of the earliest of the among pioneers business recession has a serious union trade movement. The first inon In the effect buying power. terest of the national economy, odgewasof the Knights of St. Cris-in organized in Milwaukee such adjustments as must be made pin and in the next few years 867, should not be made at the expense ;his organization grew to a memof those least able to bear them. I further believe that the coun- bership of 40,000 in 400 lodges, making it one of the largest unions try as a whole realizes the neces- in the world. sary connection between encouragThe Knights of St. Crispin came ing business men to make capital in in the 70s on the rocks of and grief new plants expenditures for dissension and division. internal of income the total wage raising other But unions also sprang up, the total of our working populathe Lasters Protective including tion. New plants today mean and when the Knights of r-saving Union, does machinery. What to came New abor we England, shoe if the country ultimately gain were workers its most nuamong men to business enlarge encourage and merous active groups. the capacity of American industry The long history of trade unionto produce unless we see to it that the income of our working popula- ism in the shoe industry, however, tion actually expands sufficiently has been one of disunity, of many to create markets to absorb that competing unions, of bitter internal fights, and of repeated failincreased production? I further believe that the coun- ure of all attempts to amalgamate try as a whole recognizes the need and unite. (Continued on Page 4) of seeking a more uniformly ade : afore-mention- ed Political Outlook In ganization. Both Morgan and Royle are highly esteemed by their fellow workers as well as by the employers. They have experience in dealing with labor problems and negotiating with the industrial employers. We congratulate the delegates for their wise action. Mr Morgan, especially, has more than 30 . years of experience in the intermountain states in labor leadership. For (Continued on Page 8) Labor on Its Forward March; C. I. O. Is Active T. W. O. C. CONTRACTS SIGNED IN SOUTH, EAST AND WEST At the national convention of tha F. A. E. C. T. held in Detroit, October Pittsburgh was chos0, NEW YORK (UNS) Progress being made by the Textile Workers Organizing Committee throughout the country is indicated by con tracts signed recently with firms in Oregon, Alabama and Pennsylvania, Sidney Hillman, T. W. O. C, chairman has announced. The Portland Woolen Mills, Inc., Portland, Ore., employing 200 workers, has signed an agreement providing for an $18 minimum for men, $16.50 for women, wage increases in all occupations, an eight-hoday, week, a weeks paid vacation, time and a half for overtime and the adjustment of grievances by arbitration. An agreement with the California Cotton Mills of Selma, Ala., provides for the reinstatement of 85 persons discharged for union activities and the payment of $2250 in settlement of all claims and damages. Back rent due from the employes concerned who live in houses owned by the mills is to be and free occupancy cancelled, 40-ho- ur labo- PITTSBURGH, Pa. (UNS) Members of Pittsburgh Local 67 of the International Federation of echnical Engineers, Architects Smashing victories for the C. I. and Draftsmen Union, A. F. of L., O. were won in Pennsylvanias relave applied for a charter in the cent elections. ederation of Architects, EngiEleven mayors and burgesses neers, Chemists and Technicians, from western Pennsylvania cities C. I. O. affiliate, as the result of a and towns, nearly all actual mem- referendum 95 per cent in favor of ;he C. I. O. bers of C. I. O. unions, were The Local has a on Page 5) membership of 400. ed John D. Bigger, administrator of the federal census of partial employment, unemployment and occupations, Washington, D. C., writes to the Utah Labor News as follows: I wish to express my appreciation of the fine spirit of cooperation which the Utah Labor News and organized labor in your state have shown toward the unemploy- ed census. In my first appeal I stated that it appeared to me that labor 30 for days. granted The Oakland, Calif., plant of the unions, because of their close concompany is already under contract tact with workers, both employed and negotiations for a signed and unemployed, could be of mate- wages and hours agreement with the Selma plant are pending. Another contract has been signCompiled From Reports ed by the T. W. O. C. covering the of Observers 300 workers of the Walter E. Knipe & Sons Company, Philadelphia, a carpet and rug manufacturMAYOR OF BUFFALO WINS ing concern. The agreement proWITH LABOR SUPPORT vides for a minimum weekly wage of for carpet and rug workers, According to the Union News 816$17 for yarn dyers, an eight-hou- r Service a decisive factor in the week and other bene-it- s. day, election of Tom Holling, independent Democrat, as mayor of Buffalo, Some 36,000 textile workers are N. Y., was the increased strength of the American Labor party. Re- Already under contract in PennIn recent elections held calling that labor in Buffalo gave sylvania. Board in silk and Labor the ry about 50,000 votes to President mills in the state, the T. W. rayon Roosevelt last year, in the recent O. C. was designated as bargainelection, 73,250 votes were cast for 8000 workers. for Holling, who was endorsed by the ing agent regional office of the C. I. O., which supported the American PITTSBURGH TECHNICIANS JOIN C. I. O. UNION Labor party. elect-continu- THANKS LABOR FOR COOPERATION ur 40-ho- ur Utah and U. S. LABORS CANDIDATES WIN BIG VICTORIES IN STEEL CENTERS en as the point of a major campaign to be conducted by the Federation. National headquarters of the organization are in New York City. A special drive to unionize the technical staffs in General Electric, Westinghouse, structural steel and (Continued on Page 2) rial assistance in getting the true message of the purposes of the census to those who are most affected by it. The union officers lave given their full cooperation in his great effort to give the President and congress complete facts on the unemployment situation. The census report cards were distributed by the post office mail carriers to every home on Tuesday, November 16, and must be filled out and mailed by midnight Saturday, November 20. We want every unemployed person seeking work and every partly unemployed person who is seeking more work, to understand that it is important to him and to his fellow workers that he answer the questions on the card and drop it into the mail box. ' I am now writing to ask you to request your readers to redouble their efforts during the week by urging all of their unemployed friends and neighbors to fill out the cards, and in cases where necthe essary, to help them to answer undernot do who questions. Those stand English will find translations of the questions in ten languages in their local post offices. Let me take this opportunity to thank you again for your help in this great work. |