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Show Review o2 ILiabor Activitieo JUl - r 3. r,.. r EDUCATE ORGANIZE COOPERATE VOL. V. NO. 40. SALT IAIN STREET GANG 1 Z& .IT. UTAH, APRIL BLOCKED News and Comment! LABOR MUST ORGANIZE I. T. By M. AND LEARN COLLECTIVE ACTION Tobacco Magnate Dies black-fac- e Under an eight-poiTobacco Magnate type caption, Dies, appeared obscurely at the Asbottom of page 3 a seven-lin- e Louissociated Press dispatch from ville, Kentucky, reading as follows: Wood F. Axton, 63, president of Tobacco comthe Axton-Fishpany, and widely known turfman, died today at his home near Pros pect, a suburb, following a heart attack. The date line was April 4. This news item was a shock to me, and no doubt it was a shock to millions of members of the American Federation of Labor. Wood F. Axton was a man. He believed in organized labor. He knew labor because he was an employer of labor. For 40 years Wood F. Axton was an employer of union labor, and on more than one occasion he publicly stated that union labor is the most dependable labor. I knew Wood F. Axton, and I was glad to count him among my most intimate personal friends. Some years ago, I was an em Tobacco ploye of the Axton-Fishcompany, of which concern the deceased was president and founder. While in the employ of the firm, I visited the big factory in Louis ville and spent several days there and knew something about the working conditions enjoyed by the employes of that concern. I was employed as a promotion man, opening up new territory and giving publicity" to labor unions' about the conditions in the Axton Fisher factories, and pointing to the reasons why organized labor should patronize union made prodnt By M. I. T. Workers, employed or unemployed, men or women, or those wearing overalls, must organize and act collectively if they ever expect proper recognition from the employers as well as from the government. It is unfortunate, indeed, that thousands of workers have failec to grasp the opportunity offered them to join the ranks of the bom fide labor union movement for their own economical, political ant civic protection. Union Is the Only Salvation NRA or no NRA, organization in bona fide labor unions is the only salvation that will redeem the workers from the plight in which thousands of them are at this critical period in America. In order to bring home to workers the necessity of organizing, cooperating, and collective action, I am pointing to several reasons why workers, regardless of sex and occupation, need join the ranks of organized labor. The chairman of the national labor relations board, testifying recently before the senate committee on behalf of the Wagner Labor is dead and that if the Wag Disputes act, declared that Section ner bill is not passed, the national and regional labor boards throughout the country might just as well pack up and go home. This, no doubt, is true, but let us analyze how this situation has come to pass. Indifference Has Been Damaging You remember that in the summer of 1933, there was great enthusiasm over the NRA, and everywhere we heard the statement by prominent government officials that the NRA could only be enforced by organized labor. Yet, thousands of workers did not heed that enthusiasm. They failed to join the ranks of bona fide labor unions. Because of the indifference of thousands of workers, the government placed in many instances the enforcement of the NRA labor provisions in the hands of chambers of commerce, the enemies of labor. tIn many instances. the government Jabot compliance off fcers.jwere chosen upon the recommendation of the chambers of commerce. Failed To Enforce Section It was noted from the outset that the government was reluctant and hesitant about testing the strength of Section in the courts. Typical of the government attitude at the time was the failure to take ucts. any aggressive action in the Weirton case, and in countless other Mr. Axton, perhaps, employed cases at a time when public trust and confidence in the entire NRA more for the union label program, including the new rights given to organized labor were real than spokesmen other person or organi any and hopes high. Now that industry has rallied from the first shock of the depres zation in America. His young manhood dreams came sion, it has united to defeat organized labor. true before he passed away. Had the president in those early days of the NRA told Ihe deHe told me of his early strugpartment of justice that he wanted section enforced, there can be gles as a tobacco manufacturer. (Continued on Page 4) His first factory was a small basement room with three or four em-- ( Continued on page 2) SEVERAL IMPORTANT LABOR white-collare- dt er big-heart- ed 7-- A er 7-- A 7-- A 7-- A BILLS WERE APPROVED BY UTAH LEGISLATURE All invitations to bidders Despite the disappointment over the defeat of the workmens com- public works shall contain a propensation revision bill, the direct vision to the effect that no bid primary election, the train limit, shall be considered unless it is and several other important measures supported by labor, there were several measures passed by the 21st session of the Utah legislature, and approved by the governor. Among these were: H. B. 98, by Representative Stanley N. Child and 12 This law extends the Utah State Industrial Recovery act. The new act makes the administration of the law less bunglesome, and it provides better enforcement of the labor provisions. . Wage Recovery , The new law provides that an employe may bring an action to recover code wages, and in any such action the employer shall be liable to pay, by the way of damages, an additional sum equal to the amount of wages found to be due and payable to such employe. The justices courts and city court in this state shall have juristiction in the action provided for by this section. The act also provides that all contract and purchase orders authorized by the state, any political subdivision thereof, or any municipal corporation, or by any departmental agency or institution, shall contain a provision to the effect that the party awarded any such contract or purchase order, shall comply with each code of fair competition to which he is accompanied by a certificate stating that the bidder is complying with and will continue to comply with each approved code of fair competition to which he is subject. The act also provides that the state, or any of its subdivisions, shall refuse to do business with code violators. Unemployment Insurance H. B. 86, by Mrs. Bosone, is an act establishing an unemployment insurance and creating an unemployment reserve fund department under supervision of the industrial commission of Utah; making aptherefor; " providing propriation penalties for violations thereof1; and other purposes. H. B. 83, introduced by Peter retirement Marthakis, teachers fund in city school districts. H. B. 108, by Representative teachers retireTaylor, state-wid- e ment fund. , H. B. 170, by Representative Romney, authorizing Utah banks to conform in making loans under housing act. This is an important law, because it will enable financing of building projects. It means more employment to the building tradesmen. Buildings and institutions under liquidation are permitted to take advantage of the federal housing act. H. B. 191, by Representative Paul M. Peterson, providing for self-hel- p cooperatves; this is (Continued on page 4) Prices 5 Cents Per Copy 12. 1935. UTAHS PROSPERITY Controlled Senate Ignored Great Basin Authority H. B. 30 Would Have Opened Way For Cheap Power and Ample Water Storage For Industrial Development PurLower House Passed the Measure It Was Held poses in Senate Because of Manipulations of Main Street Up Gang Lobby. Industries that would employ thousands of men, and at good wages, must stay away from Utah, because the Main street gang defeated measures in the legislature that would have paved the way for industrial development of this state. Utahs natural resources are the greatest of any state in the Union, but to develop them it requires cheap power and oodles of water. These Utah has not, and because of this, industries and payrolls are barred from coming into this state. Deprive of Prosperity H. B. 30, which passed the lower house by a substantial majority, was held up in the senate sifting committee, because the powerful lobby of the Main street gang, which did not want the bill passed, because it would have meant new industries, thousands of men employed at good waees, and would have brought prosperity into this state. Thus people of Utah were deprived of prosperity that new Industries would have created. .The narrow-minde-d and greedy members of the Main street gang SELF-HEL- in their selfishness, figured that if new industries and payrolls were allowed to come into Utah, it would perhaps reduce some of the dictatorial powers of the present indus- trial leaders in Utah. Uphold Open Shop Another contention among the members of the gang was that new payrolls would have a tendency to increase the wTages here, and of course,' you bet, the Utah employers felt that would be against the established open shop policies of the gang leaders. Had II. B. 30 become a law of the state, it would have put Utah into the electric power business and would have empowered the state to develop water for industrial, commercial, agricultural, and domestic purposes. It would have meant cheap power and sufficient water to take care of industries for the development of the great natural resources of the state. Delay Development Because of the failure of the senate to enact into law the Great Basin Authority bill, the develop-(Continuon page 4) ed COOPERATIVE LAW P or UTAHS E P I U ACT You may not know it, but nevertheless it is a fact that the Utah legislature passed an End Poverty In Utah act, and Governor Blood signed it, and it became a law March 25, 1935. II. B. 191, introduced in the lower house by Representative Paul M. Peterson, Democrat of Summit ATTEND LABEL cocounty, providing for self-hel- p operatives (patterned after Upton LEAGUE SOCIAL Sinclairs EPIC plan), passed the MONDAY NIGHT house without a dissenting vote. Looked Innocent The Salt Lake City Federation I The bill looked so innocent when of Labor will provide the program it reached the senate, that it pass for the meeting of the Salt Lake ed the upper house with 16 favor-Unio- n Label league on Monday, able votes, one no, and 6 absent April 15, 8 p. m., at the Labor I and not voting, Even such staunch reactionaries temple. President A. M. Scott of the City as Senators Bamberger, Ray, and Federation promises a splendid I Bowman, did not recognize that H. B. 191 was no more, nor less, nor program of speaking, music and else but Upton Sinclairs anything refreshments. EPIC caused such a plan The Union Label league meet-- ! hullabaloo inwhich California in the 1934 mgs are well attended and the general election. league is more active than it has The senate vote on H. B. 191 was been for years. Thanks to the ac- as follows: tive and cooperative leadership of Yeas Bamberger, Bowman, Cal-de- r, its present officials. Frischknecht, Griffin, HamThe entire labor movement is mond, Holmgren, Hopkin, Miller, invited to attend the meeting Mon- - Musser, Ray, Royle, Stevens, Stew- day night. art, Woodward, and President Meet us there! Maw. Total 16. The program will consist of voNays Day. Total 1. Absent and not voting Fennell, cal and musical selections, and acrobatic dancing. The speakers Fowles, Holbrook, Huggins, Par-rat-t, and Wallace. Total 6. wall be: W. M. Knerr, M. I. ThompE. and B. End Poverty son, Kelsey. President Scott will act as masUtahs EPIU law is an act creater of ceremonies. cooperative board; ing a self-hel- p The members of the entertain- providing for the appointment of ment committee are: Carl Rey an executive director of said board; nolds, E. B. Kelsey, F.T.Gilligan, delegating to-- said board the duty W. H. Rupea,. J. F. Rhodes, Fred of preparing means of employment Sanford, Don Evans, Frank J. Supp in production and distribution of and George W. Smith. goods andor services for all coopassociations which Frank Winn, Musicians Union erative self-hel- p nonNo. 104, is on the music commit-- j are organized on a basis and have ;ee. profit personnel The program will be given in that will work in harmony with the lall No. 1. The bricklayers union spirit of the act; defining the purmeets weekly in this hall but for poses of the cooperative self-hel- p the coming Monday night has given association; and providing for the up the hall for this entertainment. execution of such purposes. non-stoc- k, This law provides that the state p cooperative board shall be composed of the following mem- self-hel- t)CIS Self-Hel- p Board The director of the state plan- ning board, or his representative, a representative each of the faculty of the University of Utah and of the Utah Agricultural college to be severally selected by the respective presidents of such institutions and an industrial engineer to be selected by the state engineer. To such board shall be added three cooperrepresentatives of self-hel- p atives, to be hereafter selected by the board of such self-hel- p cooperatives under uch regulations as said board may adopt. (Here we will note that the lower house adopted an amendment offered by Representative Sam Kiefer, Democrat of Salt Lake county, which would have placed on the managing board a member of the State Farm Bureau federation and a member of the Utah State Federation of Labor, in place of representative of University and the Agricultural college. This amendment was voted out by the senate. The senate evidently did not have trust in representatives of labor nor agriculture on this important board.) Board Set-u- p The act provides that the term of office shall be determined by the boards of control of the respective organizations or institutions from which they are selected. When a new officer is appointed by the organization or institution to take the place of the one represented on this self-hel- p cooperative board, the new member automatically, upon proper approval of the ones in charge of the selection, shall become a member of this self-hel- p cooperative board. The members of this board shall take office immediately upon appointment, and hold office until their successor is duly selected, ap-- ( Continued on page 3) |