STRIKERS OPPOSE CODE FARCE, FARMERS FACE DROUGHT PERIL
STRIKERS OPPOSE CODE FARCE, FARMERS FACE DROUGHT PERIL NRA Decisions Favor Big Capital While Rural Workers - Contend with Famine and Gamblers CAPITALISM nursed by the NRA showed some signs of...
...President Qreen, however, has, expressed himself in terms that reveal a growing labor militancy and indicate labor's feeling toward present NRA policies and management...
...The Merthyr Tydfil seat was captured by Hardie in 1900 and held by him until his death in 1915...
...Continued failure of the Recovery Administration to give labor adequate representation on the code authorities has been rankling for a long time...
...Labor Turning Against the NRA...
...Underlying and Illustrative of these leimions are privation in the midst of plenty, violations of fiduciary trust, gross Inequalities in Income and wealth, widespread racketeering and banditry, wasteful use of natural resources, unbalanced distribution and organisation of labor and leisure, the harnessing of science to individualism in business enterprise, the artificiality of political boundaries and divisions, the subjection of public welfare to the egoism of private interests, the maladjustment of production and consumption, persistent tendencies towsrd economic instability, disproportionate growth of debt and property claims in relation to production, deliberate destruction of goods snd withdrawal of efficiency from production, accelerating tempo of panics, crises and depressions attended by ever-wider destruction of capital and demoralization of labor, struggles among nations for Markets and raw materials, leading to international conlisU and wars...
...state of mind toward NRA 1 undergoing radical change...
...8,534 for McNamara, Conservative, and 748 for A. Fenher Brockway, I.L.P., who entered the campaign "to give a bold lead" and "to save the British working class movement from disaster," according to that party's-statements...
...His last speech was an appeal for labor Party unity and against splitting the movement...
...The next test will be at Merthyr Tydfil, Keir Hardie's old constituency, where there is a vacancy due to the recent death of Richard C. Wallhead...
...The President was urged to inaugurate at once a "thorough house cleaning" of the NRA and remove officials who allow continued Intimidation of the workers by industry...
...It is of * serious nature and it is my opinion that unless the workers secure redress for grivances .about which they have complained for a long period of time, strikes will occur in other automobile plants," Green said...
...Green pointed out that the employers have definitely refused to comply with the recommendation of President Roosevelt and Administrator Johnson that employers agree to a substantial reduction in hours and further increase in wages...
...The organization of the new body followed a meeting of the I.L.P...
...M. J. McDonough, head of the A. P. of L. Building Trades Department, is a member of the construction code authority...
...The completion of the industrial codes of fair practice for remaining miscellaneous industries will not create work opportunities for this vast army of idle workers...
...Industry," he pointed out, "has been unwilling to shorten the hours of labor sufficiently to absorb a really significant number of unempjoyed...
...This was a burning subject at the Spring meeting of the Federation's executive council, ended here this week...
...and says that the President seems to fear to "really, fully and freely" recognise the A. F. of L., pointing out that labor is not getting representation on code authorities...
...But there is no indication of NRA "reform...
...As to the specific form which this 'collectivism,' this integration and interdependence is taking and will take in the future, the evidence at hand is by no means clear or unequivocal...
...candidate in 1922, and held by him since...
...There is a definite split in the remnants of the I.L.P., following the recent national conference, at which an attempt was made to define a party line distinct from the Communists (who continue to assail the I.L.P...
...The Federal Government has been worried over the production of surpluses...
...Socialists warned of employer domination of the NRA and...
...The Federal Government has been piling up an increasing deficit to get capitalism on its feet and the limit of this indebtedness will be reached in a year or two...
...A labor news service reflecting A. F. of L. opinion asks, "What is the Matter with Roosevelt...
...Inevitably this will bring a break, unless the NRA reforms...
...who refuse to cooperate with the Communists...
...In eight states, Kansas...
...The agreement recognizes unions of workers, company unions and any other groups that may appear or be set up to divide the workers in the industries...
...It is a matter of either strikes or vi the workers quietly accepting a position of serfdom and the eventnal destruction of the unions...
...The workers allege that thus far no decision has been made upon the merits of any case of discharge or discrimination for union activity and union membership, notwithstanding the fact that the board was appointed for specific presented, with the understanding that the decision of the board would be final and binding upon both employers and employees...
...When this agreement was made The New Leader pointed out that it was a blow against the organized workers...
...pointed out that the welfare of the workers must be the paramount consideration...
...The language is academic and yet It I* clear that the authors consider capitalism doomed and that a oeHeetive regime must replace it| Extracts from the first installment of the report follow: "Cumulative evidence supports the conclusion that, in the United States as in other countries, the age of individualism and laimtfaire in economy and government is closing and that a new age ef collectivism is emerging...
...and its leaders with characteristic venom) and yet including cooperation with them...
...President Lewis of the miners was made a member of the bituminous code authority...
...The scholars have apparently weighed every word in their report, for they come into conflict with what Marx called the "furies of private interest...
...Strikes are now on in many industries throughout the country and they are increasing every day...
...It i§ marked by numerous and severe tensions arising out of the conflict between the actual trend toward integrated economy and society, on the one side, and the traditional practices, dispositions, ideas, and institutional arrangements inherited from the passing age of individiutlism, on the other...
...Plenty had been rogarded as a calamity and now scarcity becomes a curse...
...He added: "The workers in the automobile industry as well as labor generally are irritated and resentful because the spokesmen for the automobile manufacturers, the representatives of manufacturers' associations, the press, and big business generally heralded the plan of settlement of the threatened strike in the automobile industry a few weeks ago as a triumph for the company union and as a defeat for organized labor...
...Gardner was defeated in 1931 by a majority of 5,108, the byrelection therefore showing a turnover in favor of the Socialist of 8,572 votes...
...The A. F. of L. president this week sharply criticized failure of an NRA agency to redress grievances of workers in the automobile industry in a statement that virtually charged the NRA is not protecting the rights of workers to organize under Section 7-A of the Recovery Aet "The strike of workers employed at the Fisher Body plant in Flint, Mich., reflects the spirit of unrest and discontent which prevails among the automobile workers...
...The big corporations are more and more taking tlve offensive against the workers...
...Dissatisfaction is fast increasing and is being expressed more frankly every day...
...The remit is a stunning vote of lack of confidence in the MacDonald "National" government...
...What then...
...The polling to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of a Conservative member took place Monday, and the result was the election of the veteran Labor and Socialist M.P...
...Other indications of labor's feeling has just been given...
...The board was appointed about seven weeks ago...
...Almost certainly, it will involve a larger measure of compulsory as well as voluntary cooperation of citizens in the conduct of the complex national economy, a corresponding enlargement of the functions of government and an increasing State intervention In fundamental branches of economy previously left to individual discretion and initiative—a State intervention that in some instanees may be direct and mandatory and In others direct and facilitates...
...is particularly an age of transition...
...To many the main significance of the election is not the recapture of the seat by Labor but the dwindling in votes and influence of the once-important I.I^.P...
...Campbell Stephen, speaking for the national executive of the dwindling I.L.P., insisted that all party subdivisions must adhere to the party line laid down that includes cooperation with the Communists regardless of the Communist attitude and conduct toward them...
...Council for Lancashire, Chelshire, North Staffordshire and North Wales, at which Rev...
...Finds ''Recovery" Only for Bosses ly Observer Our Washington Correspondent J^N outright break between organized labor and the National Recovery Administration seems near...
...It is reported that the Conservatives will not contest the seat, leaving it to the three working class organizations to fight it out among themselves...
...Unless the drought is soon broken tens of thousands of farmers will be helpless but speculators In foodstuffs will be enrkited by the higher prices...
...The workers complain that their grievances have not been adjusted, their right to bargain collectively has been denied, the company union is imposed upon them, and they are still being coerced and intimidated in the efforts the companies are putting forth" to compel them to become members of company unions...
...Most likely it will issue from a process of experimentation and will represent a composite of historic doctrines and social conceptions yet to appear...
...There can be no united decisions so far as the> workers are concerned...
...and rejoined the Labor party...
...Throughout the rural regions little storekeepers and others dependent upon normal crops will also be dragged down to rum...
...An Independent Socialist Party has been organized composed of members of the I.L.P...
...In the held of agriculture another situation has developed that brings into bold relief the crazy character of the whole system...
...There will be three candidates, the Socialist nominee, the I.L.P., and a Communist candidate...
...Your answer is as good as ours...
...There is none at hand...
...There are still more than 10,000,000 unemployed...
...Something more must be done if the Administration is to succeed in its efforts to bring about complete national recovery...
...There is no other remedy available...
...This is th« conclusion reached by a commission of the American Hittorical Association on Social Studies in the Schools after five years of study...
...The vote was '11,998' for Card* ner...
...At this writing, the council has made no pronouncement on the subject...
...President Green further emphasized his protest against failure to make additional cuts in hours when 1. appeared before a Senate committee in support <f the LaFo)lette $10,000,000 public works bill...
...What they feared has largely material' ised, with the result that labor...
...It was carried by Wallhead as I.L.P...
...Another Victory Is Scored for British Labor jf^nd still British labor marches v on...
...There will be no peace in the automobile induntry," Green said, "until the grievances of the workers are fairly tettled, discrimination and coercion stopped, the right of collective bargaining established and company union domination and intimidation stopped...
...The Pennsylvania Federation, in convention at Philadelphia, called upon .the President to oust all NRA officials who discriminate against labor and the convention declared that almost 'every speaker "who has had close and intimate experience with the attempted enforcement of Section 7-A of the Recovery Act, has reported that the enforcement of this section protecting labor has been neglected willfully or grossly in coal, steel, textile or other industries...
...Labor men have been appointed to authorities of a very few small and comparatively unimportant industries...
...It may Involve the limiting or supplanting of private property by public property, or it may entail the preservation of private property, extended and distributed among the masses...
...The emerging age...
...This dissatisfied state of mind of the workers became accentuated because of the failure of the Automobile Labor Board to function properly and constructively...
...Labor, a strong supporter of the NRA, is becoming fed up on what the NRA hasn't done for the workers...
...How long, how long, will the working masses submit to torture and uncertainty, the agony of privation and of shattered hopes ? Our ancestors of the caves never faced such a ghastly farce...
...It is all too obvious," he told the committee, "that the codes have failed to do what was expected of them, in putting people back to work, nor can we hope for any considerable amount of increased employment in that portion of industry for which codes are still to be adopted...
...Labor believes" Green continued, "that notwithstanding this refusal, a concentrated drive should now be mmde to compel, through the me of forceful methods if necessary, an immediate, reduction in the hours of labor...
...The wage workers aroalso showing increasing discontent with the industrial codes...
...In 1931 the Labor party did not endorse Wallhead, but it did not enter a candidate against him and he was elected by tfce customary Labor party vote...
...1 Socialist criticism of NRA months ago forecast much that is now coming to pass...
...Four of the six* teen members do not sign the report, the complete report will be published in book form next week...
...The workers complain that thus far no substantial redress of grievances has been brought about...
...The automobile agreement has l>een a hard blow against the trade unions and many company unions have been organized to take advantage of the terms of that agreement...
...Only a Socialist program will destroy this crasy npgime and bring deliverance to its sufferers...
...Green pictured the NRA and AAA as having failed to put back to work in industry the "vast number of the unemployed...
...STRIKERS OPPOSE CODE FARCE, FARMERS FACE DROUGHT PERIL NRA Decisions Favor Big Capital While Rural Workers - Contend with Famine and Gamblers CAPITALISM nursed by the NRA showed some signs of improvement in March and April but in the past several weeks it has again been suffering from sinking spells...
...Now the failure of the NRA further to reduce hours and increase employment is to the fore and is causing acute anxiety in A. P. of L. circles...
...Historians Find Us Headed for Collectivism MODERN capitalism is passing through a transition period to a coflectivist era...
...The strike revolt now spreading throughout the nation is directed against this class farce that has appeared under the protecting wings of the Blue Eagle, against long delays of NRA agencies in handling labor grievances, and against widespread violations of labor sections of the codes...
...Following a recent visit to the White House, at which Green and Representative William P. Connery, Jr., urged Presidential support of the 30-hour week bill, the labor head said: "It is the opinion of labor and labor representatives that a further reduction in the hours of labor must be brought about immediately...
...Ben W. Gardner, by a majority of 3,404...
...A correspondent of the New York Times adds, "This movement has gone so far -{hat settlements negotiated by the national and regional .labor boards months ago are being attacked by employers who consented to rhem but who noiv' demand that these cases be reopened so that the decisions may be redrawn in the light of tlw automobile agreement...
...In election after election the old party of Keir Hardie has entered candidates against the Labor party, only to poll Votes so insignificant that there is danger of the party's* immediate disappearance...
...Another parliamentary by-election and another victory for Socialism was scored, this time in Upton, West Ham, London...
...The more company unions the more such divided counsels and the stronger Ixjcomes the corporation masters...
...The cases of a large number Of workers who were discharged for union activity still remain unsettled...
...Oklahoma, Nebraska, Montana, Minnesota, the two Dakota* and Iowa, drought threatens a food shortage...
...That is the extent of labor representation...
...So millions of human beings must pay a terrible penalty because of lack of intelligent control of our great productive powers...
...The present strike trend forecasts the greatest number of strikes than \n any summer for years...
...A year or so later Wallhead withdrew from the I.L.P...
Vol. 17 • May 1934 • No. 20
