The Union Review (Galveston, Tex.), Vol. 16, No. 25, Ed. 1 Friday, October 25, 1935 Page: 1 of 4
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Ohe LCnion eview
VOL. 16, No. 25.
GALVESTON, TEXAS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1935.
Subscription Price $1.50 Per Year.
Song Of The Wanderlust
during the whole of the coming year, to cover or include such workers who
/
Convention Favors Craft Form
of Organization by Vote of
18,025 Against 10.924.
and that he can .pay the pledge in
weekly, monthly, or quarterly install-
ments.
Committee Representing Both Groups
Will Adjust Differences; Decision
Will be Final and Binding On All
Affiliated Unions.
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR
DEFEATS INDUSTRIAL UNIONISM
AMERICAN
FEDERATION
OF LABOR
GREEN URGES EMPLOYED MEN TO
SUPPORT WELFARE PROGRAMS
BUILDING TRADES SPLIT
SETTLED BY A. F. OF L.
LONGSHOREMEN’S ECONOMIC
STRUGGLE IS STILL ON
Give me a night where the air is soft and cool,
Where the trails are faint and dim;
With song of bird at early morn, above a crystal pool.
With a cool-caress of twilight winds whisper a hymn.
—Walter Tabor in the "Melting Pot.”
fD
Official Organ of Galveston Labor Council, Dock and Marine Council
and Affiliated Unions
Endorsed by the Texas State Federation of Labor
Give me a night in some forest green.
With the smell of greenwood smoke;
Where the pause of night is chill and keen,
Crystal springs by shaded way will provoke
A longing for the starlight through the trees.
LOCAL VOICE
OF THE
/
up as in the first convention—seven
unions sending delegates and 12 unions
refusing to send delegates. This con-
vention elected J. W. Williams presi-
dent of the department, Herbert Riv-
ers secretary-treasurer, and the six
vice president chosen at the first con-
vention.
The department elected Mr. Wil-
liams its delegate to the 1935 conven-
tion of the American Federation of
Labor. The other group elected its
president, M. J. McDonough, as dele-
gate. The controversy reached its final
stage in a contest as to which delegate
should be given a seat in the conven-
tion. The settlement provided that
neither group should be recognized by
the A. F. of L. pending the carrying
out of the terms of the settlement.
Terms of Settlement.
According to the terms of the settle-
ment plan adopted by the building
trades and approved by the A. F. of
L. convention the Williams 'group and
the McDonough group will each ap-
point three members to an adjustment
committee of six, which will settle the
In connection with the annual cam-
paign of the Galveston Community
Chest, which is now in progress, a
special statement from William Green,
president of the .American Federation
of Labor, to Gerard Swope, chairman
in charge of the national publicity for
all community funds, has been re-
leased.
Mr. Green’s statement, which out-
lines labor’s interest in private wel-
fare work and renews its pledge of
co-operation and support in the com-
ing 'campaigns, is as follows:
“I am writing you as chairman of
the 1935 mobilization for human needs
to assure you of the interest of the
working man and woman in the cam-
paigns for privately supported social
work which will be carried on in hun-
dreds of .American cities this coming
fall and winter.
“During the last six years employed
labor in the United States, in spite of
reduced wages, has stood loyally by
those who were without jobs and in
need. Reports issued by Community
Chests and Councils, Inc., show an
increase in small gifts 'during the de-
pression and testify to the fact that
men and women with the smaller
wages have proved themselves ‘.good
neighbors’ in one of the most trying
chapters of American history.
“This fall finds business and indus-
try showing gains in employment in
many fields. More optimism is appar-
ent. We are now in an economic per-
iod which may be likened to conval-
escense after a serious illness. Covales-
ence, according to physicians, is apt
to be the most trying part of sickness,
due to the fact that with recovery in
the air precautions previously taken
are often thrown to the wind. Experi-
ence should have taught us that con-
Give me a home to where the stars agleam,
Far from the din of city strife;
With banks of moss, and murmuring stream,
Far from the petty ways of life.
Give me a night with a bed of earth, and roof of purple
hue
Amber glow of western sky;
And trees that tower, and grasp the blue,
Swaying gently a murmuring sigh.
construct buildings, manufacturing or
installing machinery, or engage in
maintenance work or in work out-
side of the plants or factories.”
Recommends Continuance of 1934
Policy.
In its report to the 1935 convention
the executive council recommended
that the policy adopted by the 1934
convention be continued and “that the
definition of the jurisdictional unions
in mass production industries be treat-
ed and acted upon in accordance with
the circumstances and the require-
ments of each individual case.”
Question Comes Before 1935 Meet.
A number of resolutions were pre-
sented to the 1935 convention urging
the adoption1 of the industrial form in
place of the craft form of organiza-
tion. The resolutions were referred to
the resolutions committee consisting
of 15 delegates, of which Matthew
Woll was chairman and John P. Frey
secretary.
The question came before the con-
vention in the form of majority and
minority reports from the resolutions
committee.
The latest developments are a num-
ber of advertisements in the local
newspapers inviting workers to join a
local company union, alleging that the
I. L. A. is a foreign organization 'be-
cause it operates internationally. Sure-
ly no worker will be so stupid as to
fall for that line of propaganda. If the
I. L. A. is a foreign organization, then
nearly every line of endeavor in the
city is foreign. We will relate a few:
International Steamship Association,
National Banking Association, every
chain store. Every 'grocery store has
national affiliation, oil companies and
every other line of endeavor that
amounts to anything has its national
affiliation. So you see that it is all
hooey, 'company union propaganda
based on inconsistent selfishness, and
a scheme started down her in the var-
ious ports to make economic slaves
out of the workers, which will only
prolong the 'depression indefinitely.
The outgrowth and ultimate results
are always the same, reducing wages
and lowering the standard of living
for the workers, and in turn it will
reflect itself back upon the community,
vacating more store buildings and rent
houses and causing more failures and
bankruptcy, in the face of a steadily
rising cost of living and taxes.
Acid Test.
The acid test is now being applied
to the workers of this nation, from
one end to the other, you will either
organize in a legitimate A. F. of L.
union as a group and stand together
as a unit against an insignificant mi-
nority, or you will become either an
economic slave or moron separately.
Take your choice now! There’s no
time to procrastinate if you want to
- protect your family, posterity and civ-
ilization.
Analyze I. L. A. Situation.
Let’s analyze the I. L. A. situation
again in the Texas ports: From Jan.
1st to the time of the strike the aver-
age income per worker was about $7
per week per man, and the prospects
were no brighter for the future unless
they could remove the differential cost
in labor between these ports and
Louisiana. The steamship companies
- who make all these ports and have
contracts from port to port with the
stevedores refused flat footed to equal-
ize the labor scales of pay in all ports
in the gulf coast district, the same as
the United States railroad commis-
sion has grouped and equalized rail-
road rates to the competing ports.
For weeks and weeks the I. L. A. tried
to settle this uneven situation with
By AFL News Service.
The 1935 convention of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor, after a long
and heated debate, voted to continue
the policy for organizing the workers
in mass production industries adopted
by the 1934 convention.
This policy, formulated with refer-
ence to the automobile, cement, alu-
minum and similar industries, was de-
veloped to fully protect the jurisdic-
tional rights of all trade unions organ-
ized upon craft lines and at the same
time afford every opportunity for en-
rollment in unions of those workers
engaged upon work over which these
organizations exercise jurisdiction.
“Experience has shown,” the 1934
convention declared, “that craft or-
ganization is most effective in pro-
tecting the welfare and advancing the
interests of workers where the nature
of the industry is such that lines of
demarcation between crafts are dis-
tinguishable.”
The 1934 convention also declared
“that in many of the industries in
which thousands of workers are em-
ployed a new condition exists requir-
ing organization upon a different
basis to be most effective.”
Executive Council Defines
Jurisdictions.
To meet this new condition the 1934
convention instructed the A. F. of L.
executive council to exercise its own
judgment as to the form of organiza-
tion and jurisdictional limitations in
mass production industries. In follow-
ing out these instructions charters
were issued to national unions of the
automobile and rubber workers. The
executive council declared that the
charter for the automobile workers
should “embrace all employes directly
engaged in the manufacture of parts
(not including tools, dies and machin-
ery) and assembling of those parts into
completed automobiles but not includ-
ing job or contract shops manufactur-
ing parts or any other employe en-
gaged in said automobile production
plants.”
With regard to the Rubber Work-
ers’ National .Union the Executive
Council ordered that the charters
should “cover all those in that indus-
try who are engaged in the mass pro-
duction of rubber products, same not
valescent periods in sickness and in
business require as great, if not great-
er, care than the sickness itself, if a
complete cure is to be effected.
“I therefore urge men and women
interested in the welfare of the. indi-
vidual community in which they live,
as well as in the welfare of the na-
tion, to redouble their efforts this fall
instead of decreasing them, in order
that the convalescent period may be
passed successfully.
“I should like also to remind men
and women that the government’s wel-
fare program does not relieve them of
their individual community neighbor-
ing job, in as much as it in no way
duplicates the work which is being
done by private charity in the United
States.
“Good neighbors after all are good
neighbors, in fair weather or foul. No
one understands this philosophy 'bet-
ter than the American working man.
I am therefore convinced that the gen-
erosity shown by him in the height of
the depression will be again displayed
in this important convalescent period
of business and industry.”
The goal of the Galveston .Commun-
ity Chest in this year’s campaign is
$76,875, approximately $23,000 more
than the amount which was raised last
year. Community chest workers are
'confident that this amount can be
oversubscribed if Galvestonians will
contribute generously and according
to their ability. In determining the size
of his pledge the individual is be-
ing asked to remember that in the one
pledge he is contributing to the sup-
port of 15 different welfare agencies
(Continued on page 4)
By AFL News Service.
The internal controversy between 19
building trades unions affiliated with
the American Federation of Labor rel-
ative to the Building Trades Depart-
ment of the federation was settled
when the 1935 convention of the fed-
eration in Atlantic iCity concurred with
an agreement reached by representa-
tives of the unions concerned.
Labor officials predicted that the
amicable adjustment of the controver-
sy which has lasted for more than a
year would provide the trade union
movement with a solid front in its
campaign for the 30-hour week applic-
able to all industries.
Settlement Pleases Green.
William Green, president of the A.
F. of L., expressed his pleasure over
the settlement of the controversy.
“This will cheer the heart of every
friend of organized labor,” he said.
“This is a great day. I know of no
achievement in the history of federa-
tion conventions that equals this. It
can not be surpassed.
It demonstrates that we have the
patience, the brains and the ability to
settle our own family quarrels. If we
can settle one as difficult and com-
plicated as this we ought to be able
their employers, but they refused em-
phatically to talk any settlement other
than the Texas ports. The I. L. A. had
no other recourse. To carry on as it is
meant economic death to them and all
Texas ports. Hence the strike. Thank
heaven they are an international or-
ganization, the contention will be car-
ried to every port in the United States.
Peaceful Picketing.
Peaceful picketing, according to the
president of the United States, the
governor of Texas and the county at-
torney of Galveston County, is legal.
Picketing means that the pickets are
entitled to talk directly to strike
breakers when they are brought in to
take their places. It has 'been alleged
and can be proven beyond a reason-
able doubt that men have been brought
into the strike zone through misrepre-
sentation and once on the inside of the
lines are forced by gun men to remain
there against their will. In fact if the
majority [of the .strikebreakers had
known that there was a strike they
would have never come. Now if the
duly authorized officers of the law
will observe and respect the law them-
selves and permit these strike break-
ers to be interviewed, we are quite
sure this strike will not last long.
May we advise the authorities who
are responsible for these officers who
are violating the law, and if there is
trouble developed, and civil strife 'be-
comes rampant down here in these
ports of Texas, then the duly elected
authorities are responsible.
Galveston-Houston Breweries
Incorporated.
Manufacturers of that famous Mag-
nolia beer with that ripe old Southern
flavor have signed a contract with all
the craft unions settling up a contro-
versy that has been pending for some
time. We wish them very much suc-
ces.s
to settle everything that arises in our
family circle.”
Origin of Controversy.
The building trades dispute originat-
ed when the 1934 convention of the
Building Trades Department, held in
San Francisco on Sept. 26, 1934, re-
fused to seat delegates from the In-
ternational Brotherhood of Electrical
Workers, the United Brotherhood of
Carpenters and Joiners of America,
and the Bricklayers, Masons and Plas-
terers’ International Union of Amer-
ica. These three unions had affiliated
with the department in June, 1934.
The three unions appealed the action
of the department to the 1934 conven-
tion of the American Federation of
Labor, which instructed the A. F. of
L. executive council to compose the
differences between both groups.
A. F. of L. Calls Convention.
Unable to accomplish this object of-
ficials of the federation invited all the
building trades unions to a convention
at the headquarters of the American
Federation of Labor on Nov. 26, 1934.
Delegates from the following unions
attended the convention: Bricklayers,
carpenters, electrical workers, operat-
ing engineers, hod carriers, marble,
slate and stone polishers, teamsters.
The following building trades unions
did not send delegates to the conven-
tion: Elevator constructors, united
slate, tile and composition workers;
heat and frost insulators and asbestos
Majority Report for Craft Unions.
The majority report, approved by
eight members of the committee, was
presented by Mr. Frey. It recom-
mended the reaffirmation of the decla-
ration of the 1934 convention protect-
ing the jurisdiction of the craft un-
ions in the mass production industries
and giving the executive council au-
thority to exercise its judgment with
regard to the jurisdiction of other
unions in industries to which charters
might be issued.
Minority Report Unholds Industrial
Unions.
The minority report, signed by six
members of the resolutions commit-
tee, was presented by Delegate Charles
P. Howard, president of the Interna-
tional Union.
“In the great mass-production in-
dustries,” the minority report de-
clared, “and those in which the work-
ers are composite mechanics, special-
ized and engaged upon classes of work
which do not fully qualify them for
craft union membership, industrial or-
ganization is the only solution. Con-
tinuous employment, economic secur-
ity and the ability to protect the indi-
vidual worker depends upon organiza-
tion upon industrial lines.”
After amplifying this principles the
minority report added:
“It is not the intention of this dec-
laration of policy to permit the tak-
ing away from national or interna-
tional craft unions any part of their
present membership or potentional
membership in establishments where
the dominant factor is skilled crafts-
men coming under a proper definition
of the jurisdiction of such national or
international unions. However, it is
the declared purpose to provide for the
organization of workers in mass pro-
duction and other industries upon in-
dustrial and plant lines, regardless of
claims based upon the question of
jurisdiction.
“The executive council of the Amer-
ican Federation of Labor is express-
ly directed and instructed to issue un-
restricted charters to organizations
formed in accordance with the policy -
herein enunciated. The executive coun-
cil is also instructed to enter upon an
aggressive organization campaign in
those industries -in which the great
mass of the workers are not now or-
ganized, issue unrestricted charters, to
workers organized into independent
unions, company-dominated unions and
those organizations now affiliated
with associations not recognized by
the American Federation of Labor as
bona fide labor organizations.”
Labor Debate Results.
The debate on these two resolu-
tions occupied the convention during
one entire afternoon and far into the
night.
Matthew Woll, first vice president
of the International Photo-Engravers’
Union of North America and third
vice president of the American Fed-
eration of Labor, and John P. Frey,
president of the Metal Trades Depart-
ment of the American Federation of
Labor, led the debate in favor of the
majority report.
John L. Lewis, president of the
United Mine Workers of America and
12th vice president of the American
Federation of Labor, and Charles P.
Howard, president of the International
Typographical Union, led the debate
in favor of the minority report.
Majority Report Wins Largest
Support.
At the conclusion of the discussion
the vote was 18,025 in favor of the
majority report and 10,924 in favor of
the minority report.
When the vote was announced, Mr.
Lewis said:
“I have no comment. The issue
seems to be clarified.”
John P. Frey said:
"I was convinced that after the
statements for both sides had been
made that this would be the result.”
workers, boiler makers, structural
iron workers, granite cutters, wood,
wire and metal lathers, sheet metal
workers, painters, decorators and
paperhangers, operative plasterers,
plumbers and steam fitters, journey-
men stone cutters.
This convention elected J. W. Wil-
liams, president, and Heribert Rivers,
secretary-treasurer, of the Building
Trades Department together with six
vice presidents.
Court Decision Hits Both Groups.
The controversy between the two
groups finally landed in the supreme
court of the District of Columbia,
where Justice Adkins decided that
neither group had a legal' existence.
To meet this condition the executive
council of the A. F. of L. authorized
President Green to call another con-
vention of the building trades organ-
izations to reorganize the department,
and at the same time appointed a com-
mittee of three members of the execu-
tive council to attempt to compose the
differences among the organizations.
The efforts of the committee were
unsuccessful. The second convention
was therefore held with the same line-
Officia -0, van of the
"9,
Galves 2,,+bor
°99
Council and n‛% Jing
Trades
Cost of Living.
This is a comparison of some basic
food prices over a two-year period, as
compiled by the United States News:
Aug. 1933 Aug. 1935
29.8c lb.........Sirloin steak 40.8c lb.
21.2c lb...........Pork chops.......... 39.5c lb.
7.6c lb...............Bread.............. 8.2clb.
9.8c lb................-Lard................ 21.8c lb.
25.6c doz.............Eggs............ 37.3c doz.
10.9c qt.................Milk................ 11.7c qt.
This means that the average Ameri-
can housewife had to pay $1.59 in Aug-
ust of this year for what she could
have bought for $1.05 two years ago.
Respectfully,
N. P. BLAKEMORE, Sec’ty,
Galveston Labor Council.
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The Union Review (Galveston, Tex.), Vol. 16, No. 25, Ed. 1 Friday, October 25, 1935, newspaper, October 25, 1935; Galveston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1416800/m1/1/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rosenberg Library.