Owned and Published By and For Labor Lansing Labor News Official weekly Newspaper of CIO Labor in Lansing MAIL ADDRESS: P.O. Box 657, Lansing 3, Mich. For A Better America —60,000,000 Jobs VOL. 1, No. 36 LANSING, MICHIGAN — NOVEMBER 22, 1945 $1.50 PER YEAR — PER COPY, 5c GENERAL MOTORS REFUSES PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT: STRIKE STARTS No Fads Presented; Could Mr. Babson Industry Won Something Also Help Us With Every Year of the War Negotiations Blocked This One, Please? If you think the General Motors strike is big, listen to HOUSING (HAMP NOT 30 PERCENT this: Just about the biggest, most serious strike ever sprung in America occurred just as the war was about to start, threatening our national defense at a most critical time. Industry and capital staged that strike. What they won and what they’ve been winning ever since AND WILL GET FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS, WHETHER THEY DO ANYWORK OR NOT is told in this chronological his­ tory of the events: Stock Exchange President Gets 100% Increase NEW YORK (LPA) — A pay increase of more than 100 percent — not the 30 percent workers are asking — has just been re­ ceived by Emil Schram, president of the N.Y. Stock Exchange — and on a three-year contract. Mr. Schram had been getting only $48,000 a year since becoming president in July 1941; now, until Dec. 31, 1948, he will get $100,- 000 a year. Rejoins Army Civilian Wages Far Too Low Says Soldier BEAUMONT, Tex. (FP) — Pfc. Anson John Manuel of Ville Platte, La., after five and a half years in the army, re­ enlisted here, announcing: “I have to work too hard for too little money as a civilian.” Manuel, who apparently has missed all those newspaper stories about the luxurious lives led by workers, said he could make more money as a private, with food and shelter furnished, than if he were earning 65c an hour and hav­ ing to pay room and board out of it. The first Louisiana man to become a qualified army para­ trooper, Manuel asked for for­ eign service, preferably in Germany. Director of Aux. Region Is Elected The Michigan CIO Women’s Auxiliary Council held a re­ gional meeting Nov. 14 to elect a director for Region 3. Delegates from Auxiliaries 75, 93 and 202 attended. Mrs. Lydia Bittel of Auxiliary 75 was elected. There was also some discus­ sion bout holding a meeting of the three auxiliaries some­ time in January. Mrs. Dorothy McCurdy and Mrs. Audrey Jelley drove to Grand Rapids after the meet­ ing in order to obtain infor­ mation to organize an auxili­ ary there. Fail to Rush Conscription Bill Through WASHINGTON* (LPA) — By a close vote of 15 to 12, the House Military Commit­ tee last week voted to con­ tinue hearings on establish­ ment of compulsory peace­ time military training. Ap­ parently thoroughly alarmed by the bill’s close shave, sup­ porters of a peacetime draft marshalled testimony by most of the top U. S. brass hats, leading off with Gen­ eral Dwight D. Eisenhower and Admiral Ernest King. After the 15 to 12 vote, plans for hearings on the proposal, for which Pres­ ident Truman made a per­ sonal request, were drasti­ cally changed. Supporters of military training will be heard until about the end of November, and opponents, including AFL and CIO, be­ gin to be heard after the first of December. Hearings will probably continue through the month. Lined up firmly in oppo­ sition to compulsory peace­ time military training are, besides the labor movement, most of the churches, farm organizations, many wom­ en’s groups, and almost all of the major educational or­ ganizations. In favor, and testifying this week before the House committee are the American Legion, which tried to rush the measure through without adequate hearings, and the U. S. Chamber of Commerce. Lockout Ends NEW YORK (FP) — A two- month lockout of 60 union em­ ployes at the Sandoz Chemical Works was ended with naw contract between the firm and Wholesale and Warehouse Workers Union (C. I. O.) Picket Lucky Strike Firm Preparing to join the picketline around Philadelphia plant of American Tobacco Co., Reg. Director Lew Bentzley of Food To­ bacco & Agricultureal Workers (CIO), is welcomed by workers striking for union shop and 65c minimum. FTA is asking for nationwide boycott of Lucky Strikes and other America Tobacco products. —Federated Pictures Roger Babson, financial page columnist, probably has the answers to everything except the $64 question. Babson asserted in a syndicated column that— "If the returning soldiers insist upon the open shop and peaceful collective bargaining, the postwar prosperity can be bright and of long duration with little unemployment; but otherwise, there will be much unemployment . . . They should insist upon freedom to work where and for whom they wish, with or without union membership unless they become em­ ployers themselves." But in addition to working where and for whom they choose — and here is the big question, Mr. Babson — SUP­ POSE THEY ALSO INSIST UPON WORKING FOR A HIGHER STANDARD OF LIVING, OR ABOUT 30 PER­ CENT HIGHER WAGES THAN ARE BEING PAID NOW? With increased prices and taxes and a 40-hour week it will take at least 30 percent more to give a returned soldier the standard of living he left back there in 1941 and ’42 to go to war. Right offhand, Mr. Babson, do you recall any open shop that has voluntarily offered the returned veteran or anyone else the necessary 30 percent to restore the pre-war standard of living? Do you think veterans will be satisfied with less than they made before while corporations pile up the biggest profits ever realized? And suppose the veterans attempted “peaceful collec­ tive bargaining” with a corporation that, like General Mo­ tors, just kept on saying “NO” but never would say WHY or produce figures or reasons? WHAT SHOULD THE VETERANS DO THEN, MR. BABSON? —V. E. V. Good Business In Lansing Needs Good Factory Wages A high level of take-home pay is the only assurance of a prosperous Lansing community. Slashing take-home pay below pre-war living standards, as has happened at Oldsmobile and Fisher Body plants, means diminished incomes for every merchant, every pro­ fessional man — for it is the workers themselves who dis­ tribute factory money in the community. Excessive prosperity for the factories, based upon low wages does you no good, Mr. Merchant. Neither General Motors nor its factories spends much money with you. MR. GROCERYMAN - How many lathes have patronized your store throughout this war to buy potatoes or bread or cereals ? MR. BUTCHER- When pork chops were scarce and you tried hard to feed our people, how many automatic screw machines, or mul­ tiple drills walked in to buy your meager stocks of beef, weiners and fish? MR. CLOTHIER- We have seen a lot of unusual things in your stores the past few years but never have we seen a power drill or an automatic welder trying on your dresses and suits — and we seem to have forgotten any case of infants wear being sold for use in tool cribs. MR. DOCTOR AND MR. DENTIST - Were your waiting rooms crowded day after day with power hoists, forge hammers or filing cases? Mr. Businessman, we know the answers to these absurd questions as well as you do. But are they so absurd. Our people of UAW-CIO are willing to face the Cor­ poration in this economic struggle for human justice. They will gladly bear the brunt of the battle, not only for themselves but for the benefit of all. We don’t ask you to face the hardships of our picket lines in freez­ ing weather. Nor to match wits with clever corpor­ ation lawyers or servile public officials. We have faced these troubles before — and alone — when the chips were down. A CONSERVATIVE STAND We have studiously avoided trying to be conservative in our views because we prefer to be liberal. But until the science of economics has convinced us that reduced purchasing power brings “more and better things for more people” we shall continue to hold the view that sustained purchasing power of our people means a better community for us all. Yes, we too have a slogan: A RAIN-CHECK ON PAY CUTS IS A CHECK REIN ON DEPRESSION! —K. McCreedy 1940 Capital went on a six week sitdown strike and won the five year amortization agree­ ment whereby U. S. taxpayers were to pay for and hand over war plants to contractors in five years. The same year the auto industry turned down the Reuther plan that might have produced enough planes to have prevented loss of the Philippines and Singapore and shortened the war by years. 1941 Big Industry killed the Na­ tional Resources Planning Board and chewed up scarce metals and rubber in the big­ gest auto production on record. 1942 Capital quietly wrote into he tax act the carry-back and carry-forward provisions that today can finance a sit­ own strike by industry to the extent of $26 billions in the next two years. GM, for ex­ ample, can lock out its 350,000 workers for all of 1946 and collect $160,000,000 from the U. S. Treasury — your money. 1943 The Kilgore-Pepper-Tolen Bill was beaten. This would have planned reconversion in the interest of labor and the public. The Army-Navy lobby, Barney Baruch and James F. Byrnes did the hatchet work. 1944 Big Industry got the juicy contract termination act and heat the Murray-Kilgore Bill that would have assured ade­ quate unemployment compen­ sation to laid off war workers and veterans. 1945 Industry won $11 billions tax refund and reductions and repeal of the excess profits tax while again defeating un­ employment compensation. Today financed by taxpayers, in­ dustry is on a sitdown strike for higher prices and exces­ sive profits, while battling to hold wages down, even though Resident Truman and gov- ernment committees have learned and have publicly stated that wages can be rais­ ed without increasing prices or Jeopardizing reasonable pro- fits. In this strike factories are deliberately withholding many lines of badly needed goods from the markets until can make even more pro- fits despite warnings that this is a certain road to infla­ tion. Georgia is due back with deer —FRIENDS HOPE! Miss Georgia Russell, em- ployed at Olds Local 652 offi- ces, against hied herself north hunt deer from the Slagle Trout Club Camp, where she goes each year. Drooling friends waited this week for of deer meat. The union expresses its regret that General Motors persists in keeping locked up in its vaults the arithme­ tic on which this dispute can be settled peacefully and fairly. The union is compelled to state that the cor­ poration’s wage-price-prof it policy is arrogant and contemptuous of the interests of the public, the con­ sumers, its employes and even its own stockholders." That statement by Walter P. Reuther, UAW-CIO vice- president in charge of the GM negotiations, explains how the world’s largest, richest—and most arrogant— cor­ poration forced war upon the world’s largest union. UNION REFUSES BRIBE In seeking a thirty percent raise, the union flatly turned down the corporation proposal of increases accompanied by price increases in automobiles and other products. In attempted negotiations Reuther had presented the corpor­ ation detailed production and profit studies showing the firm well able to raise wages and even lower car prices and still make high profits. The corporation never presented other facts or figures to show that it could not do this — even though the union of­ fered to accept less if facts showed the firm could not meet the 30 percent demand without raising prices. HUNDREDS OFFER UNION HELP Officials of the Olds and Fisher Body locals said hun­ dreds of phone calls were received Wednesday offering the union any help that might be required, for which they asked the Labor News to express their sincere appreciation. Truthful information about the strike, they emphasized, may be had by contacting the UAW-CIO headquarters at 1118 S. Washington, phone 45319. Sen. Robert F. Wagner (D. N.Y.) is pioneering again with the first comprehensive bill to provide de­ cent housing for every American. Last week he joined with Senators Arthur Ellender (D, La.) and Robert Taft (R, Ohio) to introduce the measure. See page 3. Ford Strike In Canada Is In 10th Week DETROIT (LPA) — The strike in the Windsor, On­ tario Ford plant entered its tenth week with no signs of a settlement, despite propos­ als by the union to allow workers to man the plant’s powerhouse and to reopen negotiations. Royal Canadian Mounted Police, as well as provincial police, are still quartered near the plant, at an esti­ mated cost to the city of Windsor of $20,000 a week. Resentment is rising because of the continued presence of the police, who are being kept at the Ford plant on the ex­ cuse that the powerhouse had to be protected from damage. On Armistice Day, mass meetings were held in every major Canadian city to sup­ port the 20,000 strikers. Con­ tributions, according to offi­ cials of the United Auto Workers-CIO, are continuing to come from unions all over the U. S. and Canada, as the strike became a long-drawn- out battle. UAW-CIO sec’y-treasurer George Addes conferred with the local UAW strike leaders and with government offi­ cials in Ottawa. The Ford local still wants to bargain with the company on its demands for union se­ curity — which Ford locals across the lake in Detroit have — as well as a guaran­ teed annual wage, and two weeks paid vacation. ROOM FOR RENT Intl. Secretary's Husband Applies For Re-Enlistment Pilot Officer Moris Jowett, who recently married the former Jerry Calder, local In- ternationl UAW-CIO secre­ tary, has applied for a two- year re-enlistment in the Canadian Air Force. He has served in Europe, where he had the experience of shooting down a German jet-propelled plane. He hold the Canadian Dis­ tinguished Flying Medal. Lovell Post Returns Home From Army Tues. Staff Sgt. Lovell Post was discharged from the Army Air Force at Baer Field, Fort- Wayne, and returned to Lan­ sing Tuesday night. A former Olds employee and member of Local 652, he saw service with the 8th Air Force in the Euro­ pean theater, where he earned the Presidential Unit Cita­ tion. His wife is. the well-known Lansing CIO Council secre­ tary, Imogene Post. Sleeping room, next to bath, double bed, suitable for one or two. Laundry if desired. 1635 Herbert St. Catholics Honor Bishop Shell, Murray For their fine work in promoting better understanding among Americans of different races and creeds Bishop Bernard Sheil of Chicago (left) and CIO Pres. Philip Murray will, at a dinner in New York Nov. 28, receive the 1st annual Msgr. John A. Ryan award of the Committee of Catholics for Human Rights. Get Your Tickets Now For Dance Get your tickets (only 50c) for the CIO Council Jubilee Folks? If not, better get them soon — the dance is Saurday, Dec. 1 at the Council Hall, 109 E. South St. Arrangements are all made for everyone to have a big time. There is to be a “hard time” party and prizes will be awarded for the best cos­ tumes. Other prizes will also be given during the party. There will be modern and old time dancing from 9 to 1. Person selling the most tick­ ets will also receive an extra consideration. Tickets are on sale at the Council Hall. Auxiliary Sends Ford Strikers Aid Regular meeting of Auxili­ ary 202 was held on Nov. 13 at the home of Mrs. Dorothy McCurdy. The group welcomed two new members, Mrs. Abbie MacNaughton and Mrs. Nellie Gray. Mrs. Audrey Jelley, sec­ retary of Michigan CIO Wom­ an’s Auxiliary Council, was guest for the evening. The Auxiliary voted to send $10 to aid in the Ford Windsor strike. Plans were also start­ ed for our annual New Year’s party. Bunco was played with Sis­ ters Gray and Jelley winning the prizes. Next meeting will be a Christmas party on December 11 at the home of Mrs. Jessie Pritchard. All wives of mem­ bers of Local 602 are invited to attend. Simpson Is Now Awaiting Discharge After two and a half years service with the Army in Europe, including Africa and Italy, Staff Sgt. Rolland Simp­ son, former Olds Local 652 member and Forge plant worker, is expecting a dis­ charge soon. He is now at Romulus Field, near Detroit. His wife, Eleanor, is a sec­ retary at the Olds Local. 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. Most Powerful Friend of Democracy Is C. I. O. Labor’s fight for adequate wages is getting top em­ phasis in publicity these days, but Clyde Perkins, Lan­ sing CIO Council president, points out that the public ought to be informed that the CIO has many other important objectives for which it fights continually, which make the CIO America’s strongest and most effective defender not only of our standard of living but of democracy itself. He lists the following CIO objectives: 1. - The organization of workers in order to advance and safeguard their economic and social welfare. 2. — Establishment of adequate wage standards, high enough to give a decent living to every member and his family. 3. — Shorter hours of work, that each member may have the opportunity of enjoying proper leisure, re­ creational and cultural development. 4. — Proper working conditions, including insurance against involuntary unemployment, security in old age and a reasonable assurance of the certainty of employment. 5. — Protection of the rights of collective bargaining and efforts to seek and maintain agreements with employers for such purposes. 6. — Preservation and extension of the democratic processes of our country, protection of civil liberties and aid in the adoption of legislation which will pro­ mote the economic and social welfare of its members and that of labor in general. Lesson in Government The other day, over 300 Congressmen swarmed into one of the committee rooms on the Hill to attend a hearing. This was headline news, because 300 Congressmen is an awful lot of Congressmen. As a matter of fact, that’s more than can usually be found on the floor of Congress, let alone at a committee meeting. But, so anxious were these Congressmen about this hearing that they held up the tes­ timony of the major witness for over ten minutes while they got it into the record that they had come out for this important occasion. What was it that brought this army of statesmen out? Was it to provide the reconversion plan that this country needs so badly? Was it to go into the problems of the mil­ lions of workers who earn starvation wages in this day of atomic power and still rising living costs? Was it to plan something to take care of the unemployment and depres­ sion that economists predict for as soon as we settle down to “normalcy”? Not on your life! No, this was a hearing on something much more im­ portant to most Congressmen than full employment. This was to prevent OPA from trying to keep down the profits which auto dealers will harvest at your expense as soon as the new cars begin to roll through their showrooms. The major point that I wish to make is this: here’s a marvelous example of what labor is up against in its fight for a postwar world that makes sense. The national auto­ mobile dealers association can get 300 Congressmen to scramble over to a committee hearing at the flick of a telegraph key; the people of this country haven’t yet been able to get 300 Congressmen onto the floor of Congress to face the most serious problems in the history of this country. — BEN DORR, LPA Columnist Official Says: U.S. Heading For Economic Smashup Soon An economic smashup faces the U. S. within five years, Robert Nathan, deputy recon­ version director, predicted in a recent speech to OPA work­ ers. Present short-sighted re­ conversion policies are push­ ing the nation down a road that ends in a cliff — and the fall will be harder and deeper than the depression of 1929, according to Nathan. Better Taxes Needed First on Nathan’s program for averting the chaos he sees looming up ahead is “a tax system that makes sense.” That would mean a system based on ability to pay, one which would relieve low in­ come families, encourage in­ ternational trade, favor real venture capital and produc­ tive labor, and set the tax dodgers back on their heels. That’s the very reverse of the relief-for-the-greedy tax bill just passed by Congress, which is designed primarily to benefit the 900 biggest corp­ orations and 99,000 wealthiest taxpayers. Higher Wages All of Nathan’s points were based on the urgency of de­ veloping high-level postwar production and full employ­ ment. That requires higher wages and stable prices — and Nathan didn’t fall for any of the sob-statistics offered by industry. Like President Tru­ man, he bluntly stated that in­ dustry can afford wage in­ creases by dipping into its past and prospective profits, without extorting price in­ creases in exchange. Nathan also spoke of the importance of broadening the social security program, sup­ porting an adequate employ­ ment service and using the anti-trust division of the Dept. of Justice to smash monopo­ listic prices. Industry Stages Sitdown Any sabotage of this pro­ gram invites economic disast­ er, Nathan made plain. Back­ ing up Nathan’s prediction, Bread & Butter, weekly Bread & Butter, weekly news­ letter of Consumers Union, says its economic consultants believe certain major indus­ tries may use sitdown tactics, as they have in the past, to strengthen their economic and political controls. Today industry is sitting down with the objectives of crippling unions, obtaining higher prices and deferring sales until 1946 to save excess profits taxes. In 1948 there is some reason to believe that in­ dustry may provoke a “Tru­ man depression” by cutting down operations again on the ground that production will be impossible unless “business- minded” public officials are installed. Inventories by that time will probably have reached a peak peacetime point so that a shutdown will ppear immi­ nent anyway. Bread & Butter says the depression may come in less than five years—it may be here by 1948—unless the people succeed in winning their jobs-for-all program. BUY VICTORY BONDS THANKSGIVING - 1945 Home and Family Week Governor Harry F. Kelly has designated the period from December 2 to December 8 for observance as Michigan Home and Family Week. The C.I.O., representing many thousands of fathers and mothers throughout the Lansing area, will aid the Governor’s program in bringing to our members the significance of a real home and family life. The result of working toward such an objective will give our children the opportunity to become highly effect ive examples of our workers home and family living practices and will expand the social, spiritual and economic attitudes of our children toward community life. I ask that every Local Union and Auxiliary observe the designated period of Home and Family Week and that during the following months devote some time to the development of a program of discussion and action to facilitate the understanding of such a pro­ gram. CLYDE PERKINS, Pres. Lansing CIO Council Ford Fined ALBANY, N. Y. (LPA)—A jury here last week found the Ford Motor Company guilty of docking three employes for time they used to vote in the last Presidential election. The company was fined $300 for breaking the state law that says that workers requesting voting time are to be paid for up to two hours so used on election day. Union Federation Organized In * Japan Service Assn. Since member- bership was compulsory, the association numbered more than three million. Its sole aim was to raise production in war plants. Leader of the new free federation will probably be Kumakichi Matsuoka, form­ er lathe worker who in 1915 organized the first Japanese factory workers union, ALN reported. Other veteran labor leaders present at the Oct. 2 meeting were Suehiro Nishio and Isamo Akamatsu, Iron Workers Union; Kansu Kato, Railroad Workers; Chozabro Mizutani and Hideo Yama- bana. It's Your Last Chance to Buy Bonds to Finish Winning The War How Many of These Firms Do You Know? NEW YORK (FP) — For the first time in Japan’s history a central federation of free unions will be estab­ lished in Tokyo in November, Tsunekichi Yamazaki, Social­ ist member of the Imperial Japanese Diet and veteran labor leader, told Allied Labor News in an exclusive interview in Japan. He revealed that a conference of 200 union leaders in Tokyo Oct. 2 set up a committee to draft a constitution for the federation. This outline was to be presented to a na­ tional meeting scheduled for the middle of November. “Our plans are incom­ plete,” Yamazaki told ALN, “but I guarantee that the new central union will be democratic. We studying the forms of for­ eign unions to determine the best model. We have followed the progress of the World Federation of Trade Unions with great interest. After our union is organized, we shall ap­ ply for admission to that international body.” Asked about the current strike wave, Yamazaki re­ plied: “It is not organized but is a spontaneous protest against wage cuts which fol­ lowed the war. While salaries go down, food gets scarer and prices rise steadily.” Since the arrival of Ameri­ can occupation authorities, ALN said, Japan’s anti-labor lows have been rescinded and the government-sponsored Industrial National Service Assn. abolished. As a result, free unions are springing up throughout Japan and out­ standing progress has been made by the Seamen’s Union at Kobe, the Municipal Train Workers Union in Tokyo and by railroad workers at Osaka. A Japanese Wagner act, en­ couraging unions and collec­ tive bargaining, is being pre­ pared for presentation to the Diet. In 1933 when the govern­ ment outlawed unions, ALN said, there were 200,000 workers organized into two separate bodies, the League of Japanese Trade Unions, a conservative group, and the progressive Japanese Work­ ers Conference. Government employes were organized in­ to the government-sponsored League of Government Work­ ers. After 1933, under constant police pressure, free unions gradually dissolved. In their place the government organ­ ized the Industrial National Maybe MacArthur Should Occupy Southern U.S. ATLANTA, Ga. (LPA) — President Truman has been asked to apply to the south the program now being applied in occupied Japan by Gen. MacArthur. In fact, the Southern Labor Press Ass’n, federa­ tion of AFL publications, has asked that Gen. Mac Arthur be trans­ ferred from Tokyo to Brevard, N. C. “We want him to institute in this Southland of ours,” wrote SLPA secretary Janies F. Barrett to Truman, “that fine program for social reform which he has prepared for the Japanese people.” Especially needed in the south, Barrett said, is section two of MacArthur’s ruling, which states as occupation policy that: “Encouragement of unionization of labor that it may be clother with such dignity as will permit it an influential voice in safeguarding the working man from exploitation and abuse and raising his living standard to a higher level: with the institution of such measures as may be necessary to correct the evils which now exist in child labor practices.” Decent Home For Every American Object of Wagner’s Newest Bill bargaining group, it may spur labor delegates to intensify their efforts to include fore­ men as workers in a broad definition of the elements of collective bargaining. Dr. Taylor said he, person­ ally, saw no progress yet in spelling out such a definition of collective bargaining be­ cause of the extremely diverse views of the two groups—la­ bor and management. On the question of union responsibility under collec­ tive bargaining, he said, the committee is connsidering penalties on union violating a contract, and the problem of union security. Foremen Want A Spot On Committee WASHINGTON (FP)—The Foremens’ Assn. of America (unaffiliated) wrote the na­ tional labor-management con­ ference Nov. 14 that it wanted representation or the right to be heard before any commit­ tee of the conference that con­ siders the question of the un­ ionization of foremen. Dr. George W. Taylor, con­ ference secretary, said the letter was signed by Pres. Robert Keys of FAA and was considered by the executive committee, which has not yet decided which of the confer­ ence committees has jurisdic­ tion. Both the committee on man­ agement’s right to manage and the committee on collec­ tive bargaining claim jurisdic­ tion, and the decision of the executive committee or of the whole conference in plenary session may determine the light in which the foremen’s issue is to be considered. Should the committee on management’s right to man­ age get it, there will be a big section feeling that the man­ agement delegates have won an important point because of their determination to insist that foremen are instruments of management. On the other hand, should the issue go to the collective newspapers cannot deny the importance of the news and cannot claim fear of a libel suit as the reason for suppression." CIO BUYS FIRST BOND National Housing Policy Would Promote Building And Abolish the Slums WASHINGTON (LPA) — A bill dedicated to attain­ ment of a decent home for every American family was in­ troduced into the Senate last week by Senators Robert F. Wagner (D, N. Y.) Arthur Ellender (D, La.) and Robert Taft (R, Ohio). Hearings, Senator Wagner announced, will begin before the Bank and Currency Committee on Nov. 27 and will continue for several weeks. "The bill sets forth for the first time in our history a clearcut national housing policy and objectives, as well as providing for practical methods for attaining these objectives,” Sen. Wagner said on introducing the bill. Known as S. 1592, the bill has the backing of a powerful trio, and is the product of several months of intensive hearings, study and debate by a joint Senate committee. It is conceded a good chance of passage. MILLION HOUSES A YEAR All federal housing activities would be centered in one gency under a single policy-making head. Sights have al- eady been set on a program to build one and one-fourth million housing units each year for the next ten years. Here are some of the things which the bill will do: COOPERATIVE BUILDING PROJECTS 1—Mutual or cooperative housing enterprises — un- dertaken by labor groups or by others — would be encour- ged. Federal Housing Agency insurance would be made .vailable, as high as 95 percent, for as long as 32 years. ?his would be aimed at home ownership and rental pro- ects, where the rental is between $20 and $40 a month, or he house is mortgaged for not more than $5,000 — which means about a $5,300 house. FIVE PERCENT DOWN PAYMENTS 2—In this same “middle income” group, which has been ignored by both federal low-rent housing programs md by the private builders, the amount eligible for FHA insurance would rise from 80 percent to 95 percent of the cost of housing, thus reducing the down payment required of the middle income family to five percent. In addition, payments would be extended from 20 to 32 years. BANK LOANS MADE EASY 3—A new FHA insurance system to encourage finan­ cial institutions — banks and insurance companies, for ex­ ample — to make direct investment of their funds in large scale housing projects, by guaranteeing a yield of two per­ cent annual return on capital in exchange for specified in­ vestment. 500,000 LOW RENT UNITS 4—Resumption of the low rent public housing pro­ gram, with a four year program of Federal annual contri­ butions amounting to $88 million to aid local housing authorities. This would provide about 500,000 additional units of low rent public housing. LAND DEVELOPMENT 5—A five year program of federal aid to localities for land assembly, clearance and preparation for redevelop­ ment. This will involve about a billion and a half dollars worth of land acquisition and preparation for redevelop­ ment. It is estimated that this would cover about one-tenth of all the slum and flighed areas throughout the country, and might generate six or seven billion dollars worth of re­ building activity. MONEY FOR RESEARCH 6—For research to aid localities in meeting local hous­ ing needs, an appropriation of $12,500,000 is authorized. Another $25,000,000 for local housing planning studies to be matched by the states, is included. WILL AID FARMERS 7—A substantial program of rural housing, to help low income families on the farm and in other rural areas. Low interest loans by the Dep’t of Agriculture and a system of annual contributions of $5,000,000 a year for a five year period, to enable farm families of a very low income to obtain decent housing and gradually move toward home ownership. This latter program, it is proposed, would be operated through local housing agencies adapted to rural conditions. Catholic Women’s Council Supports Liberal Measure WASHINGTON (LPA) — Endorsing the principles of “equal pay for equal work” as proposed in the Pepper- Morse bill, the Nat’l Council of Catholic Women last week adopted several liberal proposals. Repudiating efforts to endanger women in industry through the so-called “equal rights amendment,” the Catholic Women’s board of directors supported such mea­ sures as the full employment bill, the abolition of compul­ sory peacetime military training, and the 65c wage law. Concerning this last, they saw it as lessening “the need for wives and mothers to supplement inadequate family income by working outside the home.” The British and Dutch are fighting in the Dutch East Indies, France is fighting in Indo-China, the U. S. is fight­ ing in China. Maybe Congress had better send an investigating com­ mittee to the USSR to look into the Russian conspiracy to make peace. CIO BUYS FIRST ROOSEVELT BOND in Connecticut as Pellegrino Mannello, committeeman for Local 3381, United Steelworkers of America, CIO, at the Farrel Foundry, Waterbury, Conn., signs up for a $200 Roosevelt Memorial Bond in the Victory Loan Drive. Left is Edward Lavery, president of the Connecticut State Industrial Union Council, CIO, and Steelworkers’ international representative. On the right is George Murdock. of the Connecticut War Finance Committee. This was the first Roosevelt Bond sold in Connecticut. A&P Exposed By Censors At Radio Station INDIANAPOLIS (FP) — Secretary Walter Frisbie of the Indiana CIO Council called on the Federal Communica­ tions Commission to revoke the license of Station WTRC, Elkhart, Ind., for “its failure to operate in the public in­ terest.” Frisbie charged that 10 minutes before a CIO broad­ cast was to be made on Octob­ er 31, the station informed the broadcaster that a part of the script would have to be cut out. The censored section of the script, which had been ap­ proved by the Indianapolis station, WFBM, the previous week, dealt with the way the daily press suppressed news of a Department of Justice suit against the A. & P. stores, while playing up a debt owed by Elliott Roosevelt to John Hartford of A. & P. One of the statements which the station blue-pen­ ciled was this quotation from George Seldes’ newsletter. In Fact: “The $20,000 Roosevelt deal is picayune compared to the gain by the A. & P. of $20 million by short- weights and short-chang­ ing the American people, faking prices at check-out counters and other prac­ tices of the great A. & P. officially charged by the government and reported by Congressman Patman in the Congressional Rec­ ord — a privileged docu­ ment. The fact that the U. S. government made the charge and the fact that it appeared in the Congressional Record com­ pletely show up the cor­ ruption of the press. The Yank’s Owner, Larry McPhail, Faces Charges BEL AIR, Md., (FP) — That old hustle and fight so appreciated by bleacher fans in New York’s Yankee sta­ dium got Yankee President Larry MacPhail of the Amer­ ican league club into some­ thing worse than being sent to the showers when he used his fists to protest against strike action by the independent telephone workers in their re­ cent nation wide stoppage. MacPhail’s ire was aroused October 5 when the Bel Air exchange was unable to com­ plete a call from his country estate near here to New York. He stormed into the telephone company office and began tak­ ing direct action — just as his hired hands do with an umpire whose eyesight they feel has been faulty. The local grand jury has in­ dicted MacPhail on a charge of assault and disorderly con­ duct.. The indictment claims the baseball club owner struck Mrs. Anna Towner, the oper­ ator, and her superior, Man­ ager Thomas Dwyer, who in­ terceded for her. Pennsylvania before he moved here, has been corresponding- recording secretary of the union since 1941. Intl. Organ­ izer Karl Feller was appointed by the board as corresponding secretary and Ed Hughlett, a member of the board, was ap­ pointed recording secretary. Brewery Men Get New Head CINCINNATI (FP) — Wil­ liam J. Kromelbein has been named secretary-treasurer of the United Brewery Workers (unaffiliated) to succeed Pres. and Sec.-Treas. Joseph Oberg- fell, who died here Nov. 2. The union’s executive board, which named Kromel­ bein to the post, declared the office of president vacant un­ til the next convention of the union, scheduled to be held in Galveston, Tex., in September 1946. Kromelbein, for many years a prominent labor leader in PHILIPPINES FOUGHT FOR A BETTER WORLD-WILL THEY GET IT! College Union WASHINGTON (LPA)—Facul­ ty and non-faculty members of the staff of Howard University here have gained recognition of their right to organize, and an election is to be held in about two months to determine office workers’ bar­ gaining agent, according to G. Frederick Stanton, administrative assistant to the University’s pres­ ident, who said that this is the first time any university in the U. S. has accorded bargaining rights to its employes. PUPETEER PRESIDENT WHY WE’RE INTERESTED: Thanksgiving Thought U. S. Labor Wants Good Market, Not Nation of Sharecroppers The inside story of what General MacArthur is permitting to happen in the Philippines is important news, but you won’t find it in most papers and magazines. The Philippines are thousands of miles away from the U. S. They are mode than 24 hours away, even by the fastest commercial air­ plane. Does it matter much to American labor what happens in the Philippines? IT DOES. American workers know how many jobs they get out of manu­ facturing goods for American sharecroppers — just about none. In the Philippine Islands, the great majority of the 16 million people are sharecroppers. This one fact —and it is the outstanding fact in Philippine economic life — demonstrates two things: 1. Why the people of the Philippines want economic freedom as well as political independence, and why they want to industri­ alize their country. 2. Why American labor should be interested in seeing that the Philippines get that freedom—-so they can be as good customers of American industry and American labor as the farmers of Ohio or the midwest wheat belt, instead of non-customers like the southern sharecroppers. Once more is demonstrated the fact that an injury to one is an injury to all; what affects labor in the Philippines affects labor in the U. S. Labor’s interests are international. By ALFRED G. LARKE Federated Press The people of the Philippines— a colonial possession of the U. S.— fought and died for the U.S., the United Nations— and themselves. They formed the guerrilla bands, they harassed the Japanese, they even planted microphones in Japanese mili­ tary headquarters. They destroyed their crops to keep them out of the hands of the Japanese, they suffered star­ vation and semi-starvation. PATRIOTS KEPT FIGHTING BACK Whole villages of men, women and children were burned, bayoneted and shot to death for their resistance to the invaders. Their country was severely damaged by the fighting when U.S. forces returned and their capitol city was nearly levelled to the ground. The people of the U.S. may be proud of the fact that one of their colonies has been treated well en­ ough that it is one of the few, if not the only colony, in history to fight for instead of against its master nation. What have the Philippines got out of their heroism and their choosing our side? It is always good to be on the winning side in any contest but sometimes some members of the winning team are left on the outside looking in when the captain receives his testimonial banquet A HOLLOW VICTORY The Philippine Islands, which bid fair to be the only colony to get freedom after World War II without fight­ ing Allied armies to win it, are threatened with a hollow victory when the U.S. gives them their independence next July 4. Their freedom threatens to be the kind of freedom Am­ ericans were offered in the depression of the 1930s— the freedom to work but no jobs to work at. A small group of large landowners, mine operators and commercial interests that controlled the country before the war, aided by Gen. Douglas MacArthur and American officials who worship the status quo, are fighting hard to keep the country in a semi-colonial condition— pros­ perity for only themselves and the Americans for whom they have been straw bosses. Ten years ago this November the U.S. voted indepen­ dence for the Philippines as of July4, 1946, and the Fili­ pinos foresaw independence, industrialization of their coun­ try and a level of prosperity that would bring their stan­ dard of living up to American levels. MacARTHUR HAS INVESTMENTS Today the vested interests still occupy positions of im­ portance and are supported in the Philippine Congress by men who were members of the Japanese puppet govern­ ment during Japanese occupation. Thirty percent to 40% were in the puppet congress. Recently they voted them­ selves longer terms— puppets and patriots alike— and back pay was voted for the years of Japanese occupa­ tion. President of the Senate is Manuel Roxas, a member of the puppet cabinet, whose minutes show that he supported a declaration of war aganst the U.S. Chief of the Econo­ mic Planning Board that furnished war supplies to the Japanese, Roxas used to be principal attorney for a finan­ cial group that owned big mines in the Philippines, mines in which MacArthur, as one of the leading residents of the Philippines, also owned stock. CENSORS FORBID CRITICISM Roxas, back in power as Senate president and support­ ed by collaborationists who fear a purge, was freed on MacArthur’s personal guarantee after he had been cap­ tured as the Japanese evacuated him and other puppets. Senate committees he controls have high-pressured pat­ riotic anti-Japanese out of major jobs. The Philippine press, as long as MacArthur was in the Philippines, dared not denounce collaborationists. Censors forbade it. The same censorship made it difficult to tell the story of the Philippines to America. Nothing critical of Mac- Arthur was permitted to go out of the Philippines— ac­ cording to correspondents, to Filipinos, to men in the army. The prohibiion, the latter said, applied even to personal letters. MacARTHUR’S FRIEND GETS CONTROL The economic interests represented by Lawyer Roxas, the friend of MacArthur, are to be given the inside track on food and the few consumer goods that reach the Philip­ pines. In a war-devastated country like the Philippines, —Federated Pictures Pres. Manuel Roxas of the Philippine Senate, former attor­ ney for the economic royalists of the Philippines, voted in the Japanese puppet cabinet to de­ clare war on the U. S., but through his connections has es­ caped punishment and is com­ peting for the Presidency. —Federated Pictures Sergio Osmena, President of the Philippine Commonwealth and candidate to succeed him­ self, has been weak in fighting collaborationists, labor and lib­ eral leaders charge. JAPANESE WERE NOT KIND These two emaciated children, being cared for by Filipino nurses after Tarlac province was liberated, were among the lucky kids. Others were bayoneted and burned to death. —Federated Pictures ARMY FORBIDS FEEDING The food shortage was great in the Philippines and remains bad as the country struggles to its feet. These kids in Manila got rations from sympathetic soldiers but now the U. S. Army has forbidden giving food or clothing to the natives. —Federated Pictures Co-ops Quickly Picked the Meat Out of This One SUPERIOR, Wis. (LPA) —Armour’s, one of the na­ tion’s giant meat packing concerns, got its policies mix­ ed up last month. One division — which sells fertilizers — decided to squeeze out the farmers’ co­ operatives by refusing to supply them with fertilizer. When the co-ops set up a hue and cry about this discrimi­ nation, Armour’s fertilizer division heard from Ar­ mour’s meat division. It seems that the co-ops in upper Michigan are one of the best outlets for Armour’s meats. All is well now, ac­ cording to the Cooperative Builder, and Armour’s will continue to supply both the co-ops and their competitors. Negroes Hired NEW YORK (LPA) — Since the state law against discrimination became effective on July 1, several influential concerns here have vol­ untarily hired Negroes for the first time. possession of such goods means control of the govern­ ment. Roxas and his former clients— the interests of MacAr­ thur, Andres Soriano (ex-Spaniard, pro-Falangist, Ameri­ can citizen since late 1941), Joaquin Elizalde (old Span­ ish land-owning family), Brig. Gen. Courtney Whitney (mine stockholder)— are sitting pretty. But the people of the Philippines want something better. When July 4, 1946 comes they want to quit being a colony. Not only political independence, but economic freedom, is what they want: WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT An end to the oppressive sharecropping, under which tenant farmers keep at the very most 50% of their crop (the top rate in the U.S. is 75%). A beginning of consumer industries, to give jobs to the city people and to furnish goods cheaply to the rest of the Philippines. Government ownership of the public utilities and of the big land holdings— held under a feudel setup established when Spain ruled the Philippines. Industry and agricultural improvements financed by government loans from the United Nations under the Bretten Woods plan— not financed by private landowners and commercial interests devoted to mak­ ing profits on the improvement of the standard of living. DAIRY WORKERS The boys are returning. Donald Adcock and Eldon Greenfield from the Army and Ed Kelpper from the Navy will be back on the job soon. Everyone is looking forward to seeing them again. Jane, pretty cashier at Arc­ tic, is going to be married in December. The wolves are go­ ing to have to quit howling so loudly. Bill Fudge, Eustace Roggau and Bud Dart have joined in a business of their own. Good luck to them on this venture. Bob Heightchew has left to go back into his store. Bob has a union store agreement, but we understand that a little peeve of his has caused him to change from some union made goods to scab products. Let’s hope he gets back on the beam soon. "I took 'Cold Capsules' and used 'Nose Drops' till I was blue in the face" “I kept working, but couldn't shake my cold. I finally got so sick that I lost a week's work. Half the fellows in my department came down with colds, too, one after another." Jim Jones didn't know that a day or two spent in bed when he first felt his cold coming on would have shortened the time he had to be off the job, and would have saved him much misery. Two days of rest, quantities of fruit juice and avoidance of fatigue would have made him a well man again. He would then probably not have infected the other men at his shop. Jim didn't know that most of the so-called "cold capsules" and "nose drops" you buy at your drug store are practically worthless. Jim could not be expected to know, for hundreds of radio programs and newspaper ads are beamed at him, advising him to take their products for a cold. His corner druggist, too, says, "Take my cold capsule, Jim." But this common cold is an uncommonly bad enemy. Every day throughout the winter approximately one person in every six is laid up because of a cold. The ingredients in most of the patent cold capsules are aspirin, acetanelid, caffeine citrate, and cathartics. While certain combinations of some of these ingredients are some­ times effective, they should be prescribed for you by your physician and not taken without his advice. Some people are made deathly sick by aspirin. Others find that acetanelid, a coal tar derivative, produces dangerous symptoms. Cathartics should not be taken indiscriminately, and should not be taken either directly before nor after a meal, nor when symptoms of pain exist in the stomach. When prescribing for you, if your doctor advises a cathartic he rarely combines it with his prescription for relief of cold symptoms. Remember that colds are infections, and they should be taken seriously. Your ph/sician alone is qualified to diagnose and to treat you when you are ill. —Health Institute of the UAW-CIO —From AMMUNITION, UAW-CIO Propaganda Stunt Pays Off For NAM NEW YORK (FP) — The way the American press will­ ingly fell for an expensive propaganda stunt cooked up by the Natl. Assn. of Man­ ufacturers to blame labor for reconversion delays was told in the Nov. 19 issue of In Fact, weekly newsletter. In the month of October the NAM hired an airplane,— the first civilian hiring since the war — and took 20 leading newspapermen on a 31-day trip to 20 industrial cities and 50 plants, plying them with liquor and big business propa­ ganda, In Fact said. ANTI-WAGE NEWS Only a few of the news­ papers which carried stories on the trip mentioned that it was financed and sponsored by the NAM. Throughout the trip the journalists supplied not only their own newspapers, but many more belonging to press syndicates and services, with “the propaganda of big busi­ ness, biased against labor and government controls,” In Fact said. Employers were quoted saying reconversion would go better if labor did not strike or threaten to strike. No mention was made of the fact that strikes are being provoked by refusal of employers to grant a liv­ ing wage. A typical propaganda piece was headlined Newsmen Pro­ Passengers Union LONDON (LPA) — A “Passen­ gers’ Trade Union” is crystallizing here as a result of long dissatis­ faction with antiquated methods and rules of travel within the city. A million Londoners are expected to join, to get for themselves and others relief from crowded, di­ lapidated bus and train transpor­ tation sytsems. duction Languishing From Strikes And Idleness. Writ­ ten by Morley Cassidy of the Philadelphia Enquirer, it was reprinted by the NAM News Oct. 27 as proof that the trip was paying off. TRIP PAYS OFF NAM’s propaganda clip­ sheet, Industrial Press Serv­ ice, Oct. 29 carried a part of the report of Joseph Garret­ son of the Cincinnati Enquir­ er which alleged that “so many war workers seem to prefer unemployment com­ pensation to jobs.” The NAM clipsheet also car­ ried a half column story about the conclusions of Russell Porter of the New York Times predicting rapid reconversion “unless the present waves of strikes and labor disputes broadens into widespread and prolonged interruption of pro­ duction.” “The amount of space the New York Times gave porter on his NAM propa­ ganda equalled—at adver­ tising rates — the cost of the whole NAM junket," In Fact observed. BUY VICTORY BONDS PRICE TAGS ON CARS How much will you have to pay for the car you hope to buy next year ? Spokes­ men for the auto industry would have the public be­ lieve that the UAW-CIO’s demands for restoration of “take-home” pay can be met ONLY by a raise in car prices. FALSE That is not the truth! “Take-home” pay of auto workers can be restored without increasing car prices one cent. The Office of Price Ad­ ministration knew what it was doing when it asked the auto industry to hold prices on cars down to 1942 levels. OPA economists knew that, in 1941, the auto industry had piled price increase up­ on price increase, to assure high profits even though car output was cut. PRICES Here’s what happened to prices, between 1940 and 1942, on General Motors, Ford and Chrysler standard low-cost models: Jan. Price 1940 Chevrolet .... $766 Ford ______ . 707 Plymouth ....... 740 Jan. Price 1942 $907 960 972 In this two-year period, long before UAW-CIO’s fight against cuts in “take- home” pay had even been started, the average price of the cheapest cars put out by the “Big Three” had been pushed up by $176. Costs of materials did not increase like that. Steel and other basic raw mate­ rials that go into a car in­ creased slightly, if at all. Labor costs did increase, due to wage adjustments, but by less than $25 per car. They are due to drop dramatically as new tooling and streamlined production send output per worker sky­ rocketing. FACTS These are facts. They are the facts back of UAW-CIO’s assertion that car prices need be no higher even if auto workers’ “take - home” pay is restored. I car prices do go higher, the auto industry’s profits will rise above the high­ est levels in history. PENALTIES The UAW-CIO is heartily in favor of reasonable pro­ fits for the auto industry. But the UAW-CIO insists that such profits shall not be made by raising prices. That will penalize you, the consumer. The UAW-CIO insists that such profits shall not be made by slashing auto Workers’ “take-home” pay. Such profits will victimize our children. Profits made at the cost of less food, less medical care, less educa­ tion for our children are Profits that mean tragic losses — losses in health and happiness to the De­ troiters of tomorrow. The UAW-CIO insists that De­ loit cannot afford such losses. Auto workers’ “take- home” pay must be restor­ ed ! cisions came in a Florida case instituted under the consti- tutional amendment. In it the NLRB upheld maintenance membership clauses signed by three AFL unions in a paper mill. get a final answer soon from the U. S. Supreme Court, which agreed Nov. 13 to hear arguments on the question from the AFL and the state of Florida. Florida adopted a con­ stitutional amendment in 1944 stating: “The right of persons to work shall not be denied or abridged on account of membership or non-membership in any labor union or labor organ­ ization; provided that this clause shall not be con­ strued to deny or abridge the right of employes by and through a labor organ­ ization or labor union to bargain collectively with their employer." A three judge U. S. district court in Florida upheld the closed shop ban and the AFL brought the case directly to the Supreme Court, which has limited arguments to the jur­ isdiction of the federal court. A similar test instituted by the CIO has also been dismiss­ ed by the same district court and is pending before the Su­ preme Court. The NLRB has ruled in sev­ eral cases that state laws must bow before the weight of the Wagner labor relations act. One of these NLRB de­ Fights for Wage Discussion Insisting on need for including the vital question of wage de­ mands in the labor-management conference in Washington, CIO President Philip Murray addresses one of the sessions. U.S. Steel Demands A Price Raise WASHINGTON (FP)—For the second time, the U. S. Steel Corp., spearheading the costly industry campaign to force a test of power with American labor, has notified Secretary of Labor Lewis Schwellenbach that it will not meet with the United Steel­ workers (CIO) and a special conciliator named by him to resume negotiations over the union’s demand for a $2 a day wage increase. President Benjamin F. Fair- less of the corporation wired Schwellenbach November 13 that further collective bar­ gaining “cannot be expected to accomplish anything until Schools Menaced WASHINGTON (LPA) — “Suc­ cess in holding prices steady in the months just ahead,” said OPA Ad­ ministrator Chester Bowles here recently in connection with Ameri­ can Education Week, will directly affect the future of education for America’s children and youth. “From 1939 to 1943 and par­ ticularly in the school years of 1941-42 and 1942-43,” he con­ tinued, “the average salary of teachers throughout the coun­ try lagged markedly behind in­ creases in their cost of living. A postwar inflation this time would seriously threaten the standards and morale of our teachers and in turn the quality of education offered our children now in school.” the OPA authorizes adequate increases in prices, of steel products to which the steel industry has lonng been en­ titled by reason of past heavy increases in costs.” Little Luther Negotiates Increase In Allowance By JOHN PAINE Federated Press Columnist “Pop, I need an increase in my allowance," Little Luther announced. “The price of movies is up. You're only getting half as big a comic book for a dime nowa­ days. Humburgers cost 15c. A double-dip soda costs twice as much as before the war. You're making more than you used to .. ." “Whoa, Luther! Stop right there,” Mr. Dilworth de­ manded. “What I make is none of your business. It has nothing to do with the matter. You were talking about wages. Stick to the subject.” “What you were making had a lot to do with it the last time you cut my allowance," Little Luther said. “A least that's the excuse you gave me then. Said you were broke, going to the poor house and what not." “I hereby officially declare these negotiations have broken down,” Mr. Dilworth announced, “and therefore we will not discuss the matter further. If I have anything more to say, I’ll say it to the Parents Protective League which is, incidenally, unaffiliated.” “Pop, as I live and breathe, I'll picket this house if you don't negotiate." “And I,” blustered Mr. Dilworth, “will call the cops if you picket. We’ve had just about all the juvenile delin­ quency we can stand. While you kids were collecting sal­ vage for the war, we overlooked it. But now, with all the young parents back from war, we’re going to clamp down on you.” “I'll tell Dorothy Dix about you," warned Little Luther. “Not a bad idea, son,” Mr. Dilworth said. “What do you say we have a conference to settle this problem?” “Anything that settles it right is OK with me," Little Luther said. “Fine,” Mr. Dilworth beamed. “Now we’ll have the cop on the beat as chairman, and of course we’ll have Dorothy Dix and maybe Mr. Anthony to represent the pub­ lic. And me. And maybe your mother. And you. Of course, we’ll let you come. This must be democratic.” “Generous old skinflint, aren't you?" said his son. “I'm supposed to get an increase singlehanded out of a packed jury like that?" “Increase?” asked Mr. Dilworth. “What do you mean, increase? Who ever said anything about increases?” “Well, I did, for one," Little Luther said. “I said I wanted an increase. You said I couldn't have one. That's two people that said something about increases." “Oh, THAT,” said Mr. Dilworth. “That was back in the negotiations that broke down. This is entirely differ­ ent.” “I'll say it is," Little Luther admitted. “Me against two parents, two 'experts' and a cop. But if the con­ ference is not about an increase, what is it to be about?" “Well, procedure mostly, I’d say,” Mr. Dilworth ex­ plained. “We’ll sit right down around a conference table and freely and openly negotiate, and when we’re through we’ll have a procedure for discussing that other thing you mentioned.” UWA-CIO Wins at Willow Run —Federated Pictures Signing agreement in Detroit to recognize United Auto Workers, CIO, as sole bargaining agent for production and maintenance employes in the 100 million dollar Willow Run plant, recently leased from government by Kaiser-Frazer Corp. and Graham- paige Motors, are (left to right) Intl. Rep. Harry Foster of Region 1-A; Reg. Director Percy Llewellyn of Region 1-A; Director James Morgan of Region 1-B; and Director of Intl. Relations E. D. Riordan of Graham-Paige. Closed Shop Ban In Florida Faces Supreme Court Test WASHINGTON (FP)—Can a state prohibit the closed shop or maintenance of mem­ bership agreements by enact­ ment of a constitutional amendment ? This last hope of the anti­ union, open shop forces will Postwar living By SUSAN ALEXANDER —Federated Press— THE HIGHEST BIDDER — OPA held a novel kind of auction recently in the public square of Jackson, Tenn. Bid­ ders came from all parts of the state to vie for the scarce articles being auctioned off — a 1946 Ford, a 100-pound bag of sugar and a 50-pound keg of lard. Anxious bidders in the crowd pushed close to the auctioneer’s stand, franti­ cally trying to outshout each other. At the end, the lard was sold for $15, the sugar brought $35 and the Ford $2,500. Novel aspect of the auction came when an OPA spokesman stepped forward and told the crowd that the sales were illegal. The auction was a hoax — a demonstration to prove that the law of supply and demand makes price control an absolute necessity. Without price control, min­ iature auction scenes would be staged every day in fornt of counters, in butcher shops, groceries and department stores throughout the coun- try — only the housewife would really have to pay fan­ tastic prices because there would be no OPA agent to as­ sure her it was all a hoax. “The increase?" “Please, Luther, don’t say that word again or I’m afraid I’ll have to call the conference off,” Mr. Dilworth said sternly. “Call it off? queried Little Luther. “You haven't called it on yet." “See? See? That’s what we parents have to put up with,” his father wailed. “All right, that’s the end of it. I’ll write Congress and THEY’LL pass a law that will take care of you little pests.” “OK, Pop, but how about an increase in my allow­ ance in the meantime?" SAFETY FIRST HEAVY UNDERWEAR- Topping off three wartime increases, manufacturers of heavyweight knit underwear have wrested another price in­ crease from OPA. The in­ dustry refused to turn out heavyweight knit items un­ less prices were raised and had to comply. OPA says re­ tail prices won’t be affected. PEPPER PROSPECTS— The government reports no immediate letup in the pepper shortage is in sight. There have been no official reports on pepper suppliers in the Dutch East Indies, which be­ fore the war furnished 95 per­ cent of the world’s supply. NUTS FOR YOU— Want to know how to esti­ mate the amount of meat in nuts bought in their shells? According to the government: One pound of almonds yields about one cup of shelled ker­ nels; one pound of filberts, about 1 1-3 cups; one pound of peanuts, about two cups; one pound of pecans, almost 1 1-2 cups of halved kernels, and one pound of black walnut, about 1-2 cup of broken ker­ nels.