Owned and Published By and For Labor VOL. 1, No. 33 Lansing Labor News Official Weekly Newspaper of CIO Labor in Lansing MAIL ADDRESS: P.O. Box 657, Lansing 3, Mich. LANSING, MICHIGAN — NOVEMBER 1, 1945 For A Better America -60,000,000 Jobs $1.50 PER YEAR — PER COPY, 5c WAGES MUST BE RAISED - HARRY TRUMAN Wires President Truman Two Small Plants Grant Raises; Big Ones Could Do More, Says Perkins Only a few hours negotiations were required by the union to win raises for employees of two plants, the ice cream division of Arctic Dairy, Lansing, and the John Wyeth Co. in Mason, manufacturers of canned dairy products. Previous raises had also been agreed to a few months before by each plant, bringing the total increase won by previous and present negotiations up to about 18 percent, according to Clyde Perkins, president of Local 93 of the United Retail, Wholesale and Dept. Store Employees, CIO, which handled negotiations for the employees. “Their reasonable willingness to discuss facts and figures and act fairly on the basis of findings could be followed as well by large corporations if they were sincere in their claims to be interested in the welfare of their employees and the public," said Perkins, who is also president of the Lansing CIO Council. He called this to the attention of President Truman Tuesday with a telegram as follows: HONORABLE HARRY S. TRUMAN, PRESIDENT UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON, D. C. DEAR SIR: ON OCTOBER 17, 1945 JOHN WYETH CORPORATION OF MASON, MICHIGAN, A SUBSIDIARY OF AMERICAN HOME PRODUCTS CORPORATION, GRANTED ALL EMPLOYEES AN AVERAGE 14% WAGE INCREASE. ON OCTOBER 26, 1945 ARCTIC ICE CREAM COMPANY OF LANSING, MICHIGAN, GRANTED ALL EMPLOYEES AN AVERAGE 15% INCREASE. BOTH HAD GRANTED SMALLER PER CENT INCREASES LESS THAN SIX MONTHS AGO. NEITHER COMPANY HAS THE POSSIBILITIES OF GREAT­ LY INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY PER EMPLOYEE NOR THE CHANCE OF GREAT TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES. BOTH ARE PRODUCING ON A SMALL MARGIN OF PROFIT PER MANUFACTURED UNIT. NO PRICE RELIEF IS REQUESTED IN EITHER CASE. THESE EXAMPLES ARE FACTS AND MAY BE SUBSTANTIATED BY THE COMPANIES INVOLVED. IF THESE INDUSTRIES CAN DO THIS, CERTAINLY LARGER INDUSTRIES CAN DO AS WELL OR BETTER. RESPECTFULLY YOURS, CLYDE E. PERKINS, PRESIDENT AMALGAMATED LOCAL NO. 93, CIO Experts Tell Why Cost Of Living Jumped WASHINGTON (FP) — A group of 15 top-flight gov­ ernment economists queried by a weekly news magazine on causes of the rise in living costs during the war placed chief blame on the inadequacy of government controls on prices. This same group of experts named excessive profits as a secondary cause, and said they believed that wartime Wage increases accounted for 10% less of the boost in living costs. WESTERN UNION WASHINGTON (FP) — Western Union Telegraph Company has asked for an exemption from minimum wage laws of any sort in its employment of 11,000 mess­ engers. VISITS HOME Pvt. Chester L. Spinney, 1402 Knollwood, is home on furlough with his wife, Cora Spinney, from Fort Lewis, Washington. He was employed at the Reo before going into service and is due back to his base November 6, 1945. BUY VICTORY BONDS Diagram Of GM'$ Plan Fisher Auxilliary To Meet Noy. 13 Next meeting of Fisher Auxiliary 202 will be Nov. 13 at the home of Mrs. Dorothy McCurdy, it is announced. Officers asked the Labor News to express their thanks to the many who cooperated in making their Halloween party at the CIO Council Hall Saturday night a success. UNEXCITING ELECTION SEEN HERE The city election next Tues­ day will be a tame affair. In only two wards will there be any opposition: the fourth, where William R. C. Smith is opposed by Harry Frisasky, and the eighth ward, where Henry E. Fink is opposed by John Turner. In the other wards the pre­ sent aidermen have no oppo­ sition. In the assessors’ race Lawrence Heller is opposed by David Lord. Lansing has not officially endorsed any candidates. WWJ Blocks Frankensteen Broadcasts DETROIT (FP) — The closing week of the hot De­ troit mayoral campaign open­ ed with a denial of the air by WWJ, the Detroit News radio station, to Candidate Richard T. Frankensteen for 30 care­ fully prepared spot an­ nouncements. The News is the most ardent supporter Mayor Jeffries has for re­ election. Frankensteen immediately appealed to the federal com­ munications commission against this political favorit­ ism by the News station but the decision will come too late to help in the election as voting takes place in Detroit Nov. 6. The station’s hasty alibi was that the announcements of Jeffries’ rival, who led him by 20 percent in the primary, were “poorly written, in poor taste and not up to the stand­ ards of the station,” accord­ ing to Manager Harry R. Bannister of WWJ. Frankensteen released a typical spot announcement to the press. It read: “ANNOUNCER: What’s Jeffries done about the transit system? Nothing! What about housing? No­ thing! Unemployment? Nothing! The airport? No­ thing! Enough of Do-No- thin’ Jeff—Elect Franken­ steen mayor of Detroit Nov. 6!” Prize Winning Costumes Mrs. Louis A. Gray, costumed as “Little Bo Peep”, and Steve Mazel of Fisher Local 602 who wore ragged work clothes labeled “Over-Paid Auto Worker”, won first prizes for the best men’s and women’s cos­ tumes at the Halloween party in the CIO Council Hall last Saturday night. The International office didn’t do so badly at winning, either. Don Falor, sub-regional director, and “Rocky” Stone won prizes in a raffle. F. P. Baker won a blue wool blanket which he can have by phoning 59956 before Nov. 6. After that another name will be drawn. A big time was had by the crowd, whose varied costumes got much attention. Even the dancing was' varied, with something for every taste. Square dances were called by Louie Gray. The event was sponsored by Fisher Auxiliary 202. WASHINGTON SCENE WASHINGTON (FP) — There is a solid piece of ad­ vice in the letter to Pres. Harry S. Truman from the leaders of the AFL, CIO, Natl. Assn, of Manufacturers and U. S. Chamber of Commerce cautioning against expecting too much from the national labor-management conference start­ ing Nov. 5. Called to hunt for a program to promote industrial peace, the conference includes all factions of organized labor, industry and management representatives, and is faced with an agenda that is filled with ticklish problems. Can’t Settle All Problems The letter to Truman contained this word of cau­ tion, “While it is probable that many important deci­ sions will be made by this conference, it must be borne in mind that no conference can possibly completely clean the slate of all present and potential sources of friction in the highly complicated American economy.99 One of the difficulties will be sure to come in the second point in the agenda, which asks consideration of “the ex­ tent to which industrial disputes can be minimized by a full acceptance by organized labor of the inherent right and responsibilities of management to direct the operation of an enterprise.” This is paraphrased in the naming of a committee to deal with the subject and the official conference document lists its title as “Management’s Right to Manage.” What About Foremen’s Unions? The bug in this, of course, is the organization of foremen and supervisors. Both Pres. John L. Lewis of the United Mine Workers (unaffiliated) and Pres. Philip Murray of the United Steelworkers (CIO) are vitally interested in the organization of these super­ visory employes. Foremen affiliated with the UMW’s District 50 recently returned to work after a strike that nearly paralyzed the soft coal industry — with a pro­ mise from Lewis that he'd have a try at gaining recogni­ tion for their union another day. Hovering in the background of this tough issue is the Foremen’^ Assn, of America, an unaffiliated union that has lifted with both CIO and UMW — to the concern of the NLRBR, which would have to decide an embarrassing ques- ion should the NFA move into the UMW and have a case iome up of a UMW foreman firing a CIO worker. Price and Profit Angle Shocks GM Anofher potential trouble spot in the same general line looms from labor's new demands to consider prices and profits in negotiating wage contracts. This is a See WASHINGTON, Page 2 Price Increases Are Unnecessary President Truman has unconditionally supported labor’s demands for wage increases to meet rising living costs and make up for the drastic slashes in take-home pay since V-J day. In his broadcast Tuesday night he made clear—just as Walter P. Reuther has contended about General Motors— that this could be done in most cases without increasing prices. Nor were these idle words, for the President has had a staff of experts investigating the whole wage - price struc­ ture of our national economy. Reuther, UAW-CIO vice president, has made a similar and perhaps even more detailed study of General Motors economy — their past record of production, profits, prices and wages, along with a pretty accurate estimate of what they can do in the coming year. Reuther has learned and is making public the figures which show that General Motors even before the war could have raised wages 30 percent without decreasing their average of yearly profits since 1935—and COULD CUT CAR PRICES BESIDES. His detailed briefs presented to the corporation show in plain figures that what they could have done before the war they are even better able to do today for the immed­ iate future. GM CAN RAISE WAGES 30 PERCENT, CUT PRE­ WAR PRICES — AND STILL MAKE MORE PRO­ FITS THAN THEY MADE BEFORE THE WAR! He challenges the corporation to refute his figures pub­ licly, but their only answer is to buy large advertisements which deal in vague platitudes about producing more and having more — without a single specific statement of just when they propose to pay more than they are paying now, for even their apparent proposal of a six percent increase turns out to be no such thing when the qualifications are analyzed. So Reuther says labor—and the public—will have to be shown. President Truman said the same thing Tuesday when he said wages must be increased and if it was found after six months that industry couldn’t stand it, price raises would be considered. Labor Will Aid Local Blood Bank The Lansing CIO is coop­ erating in a drive to replenish Ingham County’s blood bank, which is becoming danger­ ously depleted. During the first nine months of this year’ 294 people were treated with blood plasma in the county, principally due to operations and accidents. Many lives were saved because the blood bank was available. “Labor will be right at the front in this drive as it has in other community programs," said Lyle “Rocky" Stone, who with George Nader are contact­ ing the locals for the Red Cross, which is sponsoring the drive. Both are local International UAW - CIO representatives. Pointing out that it takes only a few minutes to donate a pint of blood, Stone said stewards and committeemen in the shops would be sup­ plied with appointment cards on which donors would indi­ cate what time they could be at Red Cross headquarters, 426 S. Washington.. In this way practically no time would be lost. The following periods have been set aside for CIO donors who sign the pledges: WEDNESDAY, Nov. 14 — 10 to 11:30 a.m., 5 to 6:30 p.m. THURSDAY, Nov. 15 — 10 to 11:30 a.m., 5 to 6:30 p.m. FRIDAY, Nov. 16 — 9 to 10:30 a.m., 1 to 2:30 p.m. Dr. Mitchell at Red Cross headquarters said 15 could be handled each half hour. CIO Auxiliaries Present Radios To Percy Jones Loans to Russia MOSCOW (FP) — Ending a 7-day visit to Moscow and Leningrad, the CIO delega­ tion here said it would oppose any further delay in making U. S. loans to the Soviet Union, needed “to raise the Soviet standard of living.” CIO Auxiliaries from Lans­ ing, Jackson, Battle Creek and Flint recently visited Percy Jones Hospital in Bat­ tle Creek to present radios, records and holders to the hospital. The group was told that the table radios were especially appreciated, as there are not enough to go around for the men who cannot get out of bed. Auxiliary members inspect­ ed the music room, library, dining room and chapel. After leaving the hospital they vis­ ited the museum of science. They were dinner guests of the Battle Creek Auxiliary. YOU'LL BE GLAD YOU BOUGHT THOSE VICTORY BONDS GENERAL MOTORS GENEROSITY Raise of Four Tenths of 1% Offered Dollar an Hour Men One of the most astounding misrepre­ sentations ever to appear in the daily newspapers was perpetrated by C. E. Wilson, president of General Motors, who in newspaper stories and in large ad­ vertisements bought by the corporation this week appeared to be offering workers a six percent increase through a plan adopting a 45-hour week. Twenty Cents a Week Analysis of Wilson’s plan and figures reveals that a worker whose rate is a dol­ lar an hour would make exactly twenty cents more per week than he would now on a 45- hour week. This means that the so-called six per­ cent is not six percent at all. In the case of the dollar an hour worker on the 45- hour week — IT IS A RAISE OF FOUR-TENTHS OF ONE PERCENT. But that doesn’t present the entire pic­ ture of General Motor’s generosity. Mr. Wilson points out that his proposed 45- hour week would increase production: “We would produce nine cars where we would otherwise have pro­ duced only eight.” THIS MEANS A 12 1/2 PERCENT INCREASE IN PRODUCTION — FOR WHICH MR. WILSON WOULD HAVE GENERAL MOTORS INCREASE WAGES, FOUR-TENTHS OF ONE PERCENT. His statements about a 40-hour week before the war, a 48-hour week during the war and now a proposed 45-hour week to split the difference during recon­ version misrepresent further the facts. That 45 Hour Week Nonsense There has only been one kind of work week for the auto industry and most other industries and for all war work. The standard work week, established by law and never changed, even during the war, is 40 hours. All time worked after 40 hours is paid for at time and a half rates — or more, in case of seven day work weeks. That is the way it was before the war, that is the way it was during the war and that is the way it is now. There nev­ er was any change. And there is not likely to be any. “WE MUST BE CAREFUL.........” YOU'LL BE GLAD YOU BOUGHT THOSE VICTORY BONDS WASHINGTON SCENE (Continued from Page 1) novel idea to most managements and it has shocked General Motors into an hysterical silence. GM Pres. C. E. Wilson is a management delegate to the confer­ ence and is a sure fire bet to bring up the subject as one that is none of labor's business. The GM executive is also due for a fight if he seeks to press his idea of scrapping the 40 hour week in order to increase take-home pay without digging into industry’s pile of profits. Even Truman said he couldn’t go along with Wil­ son on that one. All in all, the outlook for the conference is none too bright, particularly if one side or the other feels the new Truman price-wage policy is too weak, or loaded for the opposite side of the table. The end result may be that the conference will dodge the dangerous conflicts, which will not serve the interests of industrial peace too well, either, and may invite Congres­ sional action on some new anti-labor bills. Ford Hiring Ex-FBI Agents Although the resignation of Harry H. Bennett from the Ford Motor Co.'s board after his removal as person­ nel director clear the air somewhat, Ford isn't going to straighten out and fly right. Bennett headed up the union-busting special service section for Ford and with his crowd of gun thugs being cleaned out, the company is replacing them with ex-FBI agents. So the difference is one of degree—a law school one. Labor Editor Story Coming In Post When a labor editor becomes the subject of a major article in a national magazine — its news. Editor K. C. Adams of the United Mine Workers Jour­ nal is the subject of a 5,000 word piece in a forthcoming is­ sue of the Saturday Evening Post. The author is Elsie Morrow, wife of a Philadelphia newspaperman and former Washington correspondent. TELLS TRUMAN WASHINGTON (FP) — An Alabama congressman, Rep. Carter Manasco (D.) visited the White House Oct. 26 to tell off the President of the U. S. Manasco, chairman of the House committee on execu­ tive department expenditures, told newsmen afterwards he told Pres. Truman “there is little chance of passage of the type of full employment bill” desired by the chief executive. Support our advertisers. Labor is faced with two alternatives. We may adopt a go-it-alone policy, isolate ourselves in a struggle all our own, thereby exposing ourselves to American fascism and be crushed. On the other hand we can join hands with our non-labor potential allies, the independent merchant, small business, the farmers and the millions at home and abroad who are the victims of American imperialists such as G. M. and others. In such unity there is strength and hope. In the meantime may we ask, Mr. President, who wrote that speech for you? Montg. Ward Strike Gets Union O. K. NEW YORK (FP — Em­ powered to call a nationwide strike against Montgomery Ward & Co. if necessary, Pres. Samuel Wolchok of the United Retail Wholesale & Dept. Store Employes (CIO) prepared an attempt Oct. 26 to reopen contract negotia- sions with the mail order firm. The strike was authorized by the union’s executive board at an emergency meet­ ing here, called after S. L. Avery, notorious anti-union Canners Win SAN FRANCISCO (FP)— Pres. Donald Henderson of Food Tobacco & Agricultural Workers (CIO) claimed a vic­ tory in the industry-wide NL RB election among northern California cannery workers. board chairman of the com­ pany, refused to enter nation wide collective bargaining with the union, reneging on a promise to the union. 'Time for calling the strike has been placed in my hands,” Wolchok announced. “I will call it at the most op­ portune time.” He said the union was willing to submit all issues to arbitration be­ fore resorting to a walkout, which would affect some 75,- 000 workers. United Press Vs. The A. P. WASHINGTON (FP) — The United Press and its competitor, Associated Press, can’t get together about Pres. John L. Lewis of the United Mine Worers (unaffiliated.) UP reported Oct. 23 that “a high official of the AFL forecast the return of John L. Lewis and his UMW to the AFL on or before January, 1946.” Immediately afterwards, AP wires carried a story quoting AFL Press Director Philip Pearl as denying the report flatly, saying “no such statement has been issued and no such inference can be drawn from anything said or issued.” Lumber Strike SAN DIEGO (FP) — A four weeks strike of AFL millmen and teamsters which tied up 34 lumber concerns ended here when the compan­ ies yielded to union demands for wage increases. LANSING LABOR NEWS, INC. MAIL ADDRESS: P. O. Box 657, Lansing 3, Mich. OFFICE: 109 E. South St. — Phone 2-9621 Entered as second-class matter April 13, 1945, at the post office at Lansing, Michigan, under the Act of March 3, 1879. A non-profit newspaper dedicated to the interests of the commun­ ity and to the interests of labor here and everywhere. Published every Thursday at the Lansing CIO Council headquarters by the fol­ lowing incorporated body, representing local voting to participate. BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT—Ernest Miller (Reo 650). VICE-PRES.—Maurice McNaughton Fisher (602). SEC.-TREAS.—Kenneth McCreedy (CIO Council). TRUSTEES— George Jakeway (Fisher 602). MEMBERS—Robert Richardson (Olds 652), Earl Watson, Charles O’Brien (Reo 650), Maurice Mac Naughton (Fisher 602), V. E. Vandenburg (CIO Council), Peter Fagan, Adrian Jensen (Olofsson 728), Arthur Chappell Woodrow Brennen (Dairy 93), James W. Roberts, Dean Reed (SCMWA 276); Louis Newmark (SCMWA 406); Earl McClure, Melvina Stevens (Hill Diesel 646) ASSOCIATE MEMBERS—Mrs. Robert Atkinson (Olds Aux.), Mrs Harold Wilson (Olds Aux.), Mrs. William McCurdy (Fisher Aux.), Mrs. J. B. Eno (Fisher Aux.), Mrs. Evelyn Moss, Mrs. Etta Kenyon (Local 93 Aux.). EDITOR — V. E. VANDENBURG SUBSCRIPTIONS — Included in the dues of participating locals. In­ dividual subscription, $1.50 per year by mail. CONTRIBUTIONS—Should be typed double-spaced on one side of paper and signed with author’s name, phone and address. Name will not be used if requested. Notes on news not written up but containing complete names and all the facts are acceptable too. Mail all contributions to Lansing Labor News. P. O. Box 657, Lansing 3, Mich. RICHARDSON SAYS President Truman Talks For the Imperialists By R. E. RICHARDSON President Olds Local 652 Last Saturday the American people witnessed a spectacle of the further deterioration of Big Three unity following the crushing of Rome-Berlin-Tokio Axis when President Hairy S. Truman announced his 12-point policy. The reactionry, Hearst-owned, anti-Soviet Detroit Times caught on to the President’s line readily when it proclaimed Truman’s big stick policy by announcing “Truman Tells the World: U. S. WILL ENFORCE PEACE.” The State Journal declared; “U. S. Military Might to Back Foreign Moves, President Truman Tells World This Nation Intends to Preserve Peace With Power, Until Atom Bomb Is Out­ lawed. Scientists vs. Imperialists In America today there are two camps: the scientists who insist that it is utterly foolish and dangerous to be secretive about the atom-bomb; and the rank imperialists who look upon the world as the private hunting grounds for those seeking markets for American manufactured goods. The scientists tell us that we should exchange our information about the atom and look forward to a peaceful co-operative development of atomic energy for the good of man. The imperialists, including the DuPonts, Rockefellers, General Motors, National Association of Manufacturers and other questionable groups want to use the atom bomb to win a quick and decisive victory in World War III. Who is the enemy? They point a palsied hand at the Soviet Union and in their sweep they include the American trade union move­ ment, especially the C. I. 0. Truman Spoke for Imperialists When Truman spoke, he was speaking the language of the imperialist. He handed out some high sounding phrases which do not stand the test as measured in terms of facts. Was it not the U. S. that opened the door for fascist Argentina at San Francisco? Did not Churchill seek to curb our imperialism in the past by co-operating with the U.S.S.R.? Have not those who are in power in the British Labor Party demonstrated that they are the tools of British imperialism, willing to support U. S. imperialists in the building of an anti-Soviet Western European bloc to iso­ late the U.S.S.R. in exchange for the five billion dollar loan from the U. S.? Not Like Roosevelt Days In the light of President Truman's atom-bomb-rat- tling speech labor is faced with a markedly different Democratic Party and national administration than we had a year ago under the late President Roosevelt. The Truman administration has witnessed one reactionary victory after another in the course of its abandonment of the foreign and domestic policies of Roosevelt. In its wake we are witnessing a resurrection of fascism at home and abroad. In the light of the changed situation labor must re-eval­ uate its role in the world and domestic situation. That Military Training Plan A case at point is Truman’s plan for compulsory military training. Elmer A. Benson, chairman of the executive council of the National Citizens Political Action Committee says: “President Truman's plea for universal military training is an invitation to an armament race. It's utterly false assumption that the only safeguard to our hard-won liberties is military strength reveals that we are embarked on a program of power politics . . . only an international policy based on genuine desire for policy designed to meet our people's needs will give us real protection against future war . . . our national leadership has not awakened to the real implications of the atomic age." Industry Sitdown Subsidized In face of this dangerous international situation which Truman’s bomb rattling has made more critical, we have, on the domestic scene, a crisis developing wherein big business is seeking the greatest possible private gain at the expense of the workers. The government has virtually subsidized a two year sit down strike on the part of industry by guar­ anteeing profits. It is also a subsidization of a refusal to reconvert. ditional relief for Big Busi­ ness would be safely approv­ ed. Bennett Era Ends At Ford’s DEARBORN, Mich. (FP) —On the same day that Robert Ley, head of Hitler’s labor front in Germany hang­ ed himself in a prison cell, Harry Bennett, former head of Henry Ford’s labor front in the Ford Motor Co., cut his last tie with the company by resigning from the board of directors. He had been pre­ viously fired as “director in charge of administration” a few weeks earlier when Henry Ford II succeeded old Henry as company president. Bennett and two cronies have formed a firm of man­ ufacturers representatives, something like the job that was found for Homer Martin, traitor-president of the Unit­ ed Auto Workers (CIO), after he got his walking pa­ pers from union affairs. Under Bennett the notor­ ious corps of Ford service­ men was formed, consisting in part of ex-convicts, plug- uglies, deposed police offi­ cers from various towns etc. They were stingingly de­ nounced in government re­ ports made to the Natl. Labor Relations Board and were let go when the UAW strike in 1941 brought Ford into the union column. Profits Tax Repeal Seen WASHINGTON (FP) — Outright repeal of the 85% tax on excess profits on Jan. 1 was voted by the Senate Oct. 24 as it passed a tax reduction bill carrying $500 million more in relief than the mea­ sure adopted by the House. A conference committee began studying the difference between the two versions of the bill Oct. 25, with most ob­ servers confident that the ad­ BUY VICTORY BONDS Labor In ONE WORLD By FEDERATED PRESS CHINA’S GUERRILLAS WERE UNIONISTS The heroic story of how in­ dustrial workers helped set up and maintain resistance bases behind Japanese lines in north, central and south China is told in a report just prepared by the Federation of Trade Unions of the China Liberated Areas, the labor organization which grew to amazing strength in the space of a few years. Shen Chien-tu, Allied Lab­ or News correspondent, gives the highlights of the report in a dispatch from Yenan, capital of guerrilla China. It reveals that a total of 24,000 workers entered the Communist-led 8th Route Army in north China in 1938- 39 alone. More than 10,000 workers of the famous Kai- Ian mines, formerly a Sino- British concern, formed a guerrilla detachment after a revolt in which they captured the mines for some days and subsequently became the first regular column to invade Manchuria. In central China, the New 4th Army has one brigade composed of workers from four industrial cities in which every man and every officer from the commander down is a unionist. Workers form half the enlisted personnel of this army south of the Yang­ SYMPATHY tze and fully 80 percent of its strength in the Shanghai- Nanking area. Gen. Wang Chen, commanding all resist­ ance troops in Hunan, is a former locomotive fireman. Outside of these regular formations, miners, railway­ men and other workers in previously occupied territor­ ies organized themselves into no less than 26 guerrilla de­ tachments of from 200 to 1,- 000 men each and 20 others of 100 men or less. These workers not only fought the Japanese but pro­ duced an ever-increasing flow of arms, ammunition, cloth­ ing, medicine and food to keep the guerrilla bases alive in the face of a double eco­ nomic blockade, by the Jap­ anese on one side and Chiang Kai-shek’s troops on the other. During the war output of industry in the guerrilla re­ gions increased many times, while the efficiency of in­ dividual plants in the last two years rose from 30 per­ cent to 120 percent. Condemns 'Witch-Hunting’ Of Congress Committee NEW YORK — Charging the House Committee on Un- American Activities with use of “the very methods of fas­ cism” by “resumption of witch-hunting at this critical time”, George Marshall, Chairman of the National Federation for Constitutional Liberties, recently urged all members of the House of Representatives to “insist that the House Committee, having proved itself to be only a continuation of the discred­ ited and dangerous Dies Com­ mittee, be abolished immedi- Action by Mr. Marshall came after the announcement of service of subpeonas were also issued to a number of na­ tional leaders of the Commun­ ist Party, the alleged purpose terday’s Nazis Cannot Be To­ day’s Democrats! The People Demand the Reign of the Con­ stitution! NIGERIAN STRIKE Are colonial workers ex­ pected to starve quietly when their wages remain frozen at miserably low levels while living costs aim for the sky? That was the basic issue in the strike which swept Ni­ geria beginning June 21, de­ veloping into one of the long­ est and most widespread strikes of organized African workers yet to occur. According to British offi­ cials the strike ended Aug. 5 but a cable to the Council on African Affairs dated Aug. 20 from Lagos said the strike was still unsettled and the Workers had received no sat­ isfaction on their demands for wage increases. being to “look into current labor trouble.” “These actions of the Com­ mittee, resuming the infam­ ous red-baiting tactics of the old Dies Committee, are shocking to a nation of people who have not only repudiated the witch-hunting of Dies but have barely laid down arms after a long and bloody war against fascism abroad,” Mr. Marshall wrote members of Congress. “Resumption of witch- hunting at this critical time can only be interpreted as an effort on the part of the re­ actionary forces in this coun­ try to deny the people the democratic fruits of this mili­ tary victory,” he said. Characterizing the propos­ ed committee investigations as “a smokescreen”, Mr. Mar­ shall pointed to the signifi­ cance of it being raised at a time when “democratic na­ tional unity is the key to solv­ ing major national problems.” The labor movement will un­ derstand it as an effort to deny wage adjustments and reduce the standard of living and the Negro people have al­ ready recognized it as an at­ tempt to isolate them and take from them gains won during the war, he told Con­ gressmen. OLDS AUXILIARY 76 Olds Auxiliary 76 will meet today, Thursday, Nov. 1, and on the first Thursday of each month hereafter, it is an­ nounced. The organization’s executive board will meet on the third Monday of each month. BUENOS AIRES PARADE Half a million people marched through the streets of Buenos Aires, Argentine capital, Sept. 19 to demon­ strate against the fascist Far- rell-Peron regime. It was the largest mass rally the country has aver seen but the government caught in the trap of its own democratic promises, was powerless to stop the demon­ stration. Col. Juan D. Peron, Argentine dictator, tried to head it off by warning that there might be fighting. His threats were ignored by the people, who called their pa­ rade the March of the Con­ stitution and Freedom. All political parties participated without exception. Some of the banners car­ ried by the crowd read: Yes­ The Truce Is Over Following refusal of Sewell Avery to enter collective bar­ gaining with Montgomery Ward workers as promised, mem­ bers of the United Retail, Wholesale and Dept. Store Em­ ployees (CIO) begin passing out pamphlets to employees in stores in the larger cities. Military Training NEW YORK (FP) — De­ nouncing President Truman’s plan for universal military training, the executive coun­ cil of the Intl. Assn. of Ma­ chinist (AFL) said here its adoption would mean “that the U. S. is getting ready for another war.” Famous CIO Servicemen’s Center Closed SAN FRANCISCO (FP)— The CIO Servicemen’s Center, after a highly successful 13 months of life, closed its doors with a big farewell party on Hallowe’en. Noted particularly for its rigid no­ discrimination policy, the center provided entertain­ ment for thousands of service men and women, giving many of them their first contact with union activities and viewpoints. Maybe You Can Figure The Answer! RAHWAY, N. J. (FP) — The union contract calls for time and a half for the sixth and seventh days’ work at the Merck & Co. chemical plant here, but the mathematicians in the front office have never let a contract stand in their way. The company Oct. 19 an­ nounced without consulting its employes a plan whereby they would work seven con­ secutive days without over­ time payment — except for one every four weeks. The trick is done by working seven, laying off two, so that no more than five days are worked in a calendar week, except every fourth week, when there is a sixth day worked in a calendar week. Seven days’ work five days’ pay puzzled the 1,500 em­ ployes, members of Employes Organization of Merck & Co. (unaffiliated). They have quit work and are sitting down in front of the plant trying to figure it out. A week has passed and the plant is still down. INDUSTRIAL DEMOCRACY Lest We Forget—Or Have We! YOU’LL BE GLAD YOU BOUGHT THOSE VICTORY BONDS The war actually started in 1931, when Jap troops committed the first aggression by marching into Manchuria, where Chinese people were the first victims. Above, this family, typical of mil­ lions, is homeless as a result of battles that wiped out a city. —Federated Pictures BUY VICTORY BONDS Payrolls Are Down Nearly Fifty Percent LANSING, Mich. (FP) — Average hourly earnings in Michigan manufacturing in­ dustry during September were $1,178. Payrolls were 45.9 percent below September 1944. Employment was down 33.3 percent in the same pe­ riod, reports the state depart­ ment of labor and industry. Smith-Connally Law Author Is Against It Now WASHINGTON (FP) — The man who dreamed up the War Labor Disputes act, more commonly known as the Smith-Connally law, has pub­ licly disowned his brainchild. Rep. Howard Smith (D, Va.) presented the House military affairs committee Oct. 17 with a bill (RH3937) to repeal immediately the anti-strike act which he and Sen. Tom Connally (D, Tex.) jointly sponsored. Smith said he did not write the bill, but somehow his name got at­ tached to it. He argued that the bill was “passed purely for emergency purposes. It thought it was generally understood that when the shooting stopped the act would also stop.” Faced with “an almost im­ possible administrative job” the Labor Department has joined the NLRB in asking repeal of the Smith-Connal­ ly anti-strike act, with re­ tention of certain sections. Appearing before the House military affairs com­ mittee, Asst. Sec. of Labor Daniel Tracy asked especial­ ly repeal of Sec. 8. This sec­ tion establishes the procedure for filing notices of labor dis­ putes, holding secret strike vote and provisions for the so- called “cooling-off” period. Instead of reducing labor disputes, the bill has, in ef­ fect, so increased the number of strikes that during the week ending Oct. 17, 123 no­ tices were filed, as against 12 for the same period last year. While advocating repeal of Sec. 8, Tracy asked that the seizure provision of the act be retained, as it “may prove useful in the event of emer­ gency,” promising that the power would “be used spar­ ingly.” Foremen’s Union Wins Victory DETROIT (FP) — The Foreman’s Ass’n of America (unaffiliated) won a signal victory Oct. 26 when an im­ partial umpire held that the Ford Motor Co. must rein­ state with back pay two fore­ men who were demoted in vi­ olation of the union agree­ ment. The contract gave them plantwide seniority so long as they remained plantwide union representatives. CARTEL CHARGES WASHINGTON (FP) — Charges of conspiring with German, British and Swiss manufacturers to fix prices against the big General Elec­ tric Co. and Westinghouse electrical goods were filed and allocate trade areas for Electric Corp. Oct. 9 by the U. S. Department of Justice.