Labor Messenger (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 59, No. 44, Ed. 1 Friday, January 22, 1943 Page: 1 of 4
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Vol. 19—No. 44
How to Reduce Your Income Tax
Notice
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Results
to vote); the United Brotherhood
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Joint Action on
Supervisors, to the draftsmen and
2:
meat retailers and more than 100
the past few weeks.
Hear from Home
A
One-Third of Fires
In Texas Caused by
fires in Texas during last January
States government.
<
Selection of the blue ribbon mon-
of eighty-five basic food items sur-
were caused by improper use or in-
A
show is to encourage better condi-
€
tioning of birds before marketing
(Continued on Page 4)
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HAVE YOU
Exposition Officials Hard at Work
Preparing for Big Event in February
Election Results
Are Announced
secretary not later than January
24. The rule applies to all depart-
fused to submit to the extortion
have been crowded out of business.
The Philadelphia “Record” claim-
ed that in that area 1,000 small
Elmer Davis Launches
Drive to Collect
would represent the workers show-
ed that the Houston Metal Trades
V --
Labor Relations Board representa-
tive to supervise the election.
The employes voted this way:
Houston Metal Trades Council
death for the RIGHT to strike, with all the energies and pow-
ers at our disposal. On the other hand, we have voluntarily
pledged to our government that we will call NO strikes for
the duration.”
That certainly makes clear the position of the A. F. of L.
President Roosevelt
Stresses Importance of
Maximum Production
Leaders of organized labor this
4
I
3
vLAfiiHated Organizations
bar in Houston
war bonds, which must continue to
carry the big brunt of financing the
waging and the winning of this
war.”
Geo. Allen Urges
Workers to Buy
Tax Savings Notes
The Treasury Department’s tax
savings notes, which, like war sav-
ings bonds, are a definite part of
the Government’s war financing
program, will prove to be a great
boon to people of moderate income
at income tax paying time each
year, according to George N. Allen,
executive secretary of the Harris
County Victory Fund Committee.
He said that workers would be wise
to start buying these notes now on
a scheduled installment plan to pro-
vide in advance for 1943 and 1944
taxes, which will become due in
1944 and 19*.
“Tax savings notes, series A, are
available in denominations of $25,
$50, $100 and up,” Allen stated.
Black Market
Operations
Increasing
Normal Distribution
System Threatened
With Collapse
I
a
and women in America who want
to work.
“When you talk with our young
men and women, you will find that
(Continued on Page 4)
-p
Houston Area
Leads Victory
Fund Drive
(Region Comprised of
41 Counties Holds Lead
'Established in August
The Victory Fund Committee of
the Eleventh Federal Reserve Dis-
trict announced the following sum-
mary sales by the various regions
during the drive which was held
during the month of December::
Austin, Texas.—Marvin Hall,
State Fire Insurance Commissioner,
reports that almost one-third of the
engineers, to the workers—men and
women—in factories and arsenals
and shipyards and mines and mills
and forests and railroads and high-
ways.
“We take off our hats to all the
loyal, anonymous, untiring men and
women who have worked in private
employment and in Government and
bought by Bill Williams of Hous-
ton.
The reserve champion was sold
by Fred Brown of Winters to the
Dixon Packing Company for 80
cents a pound.
The auction of beef champions
will begin at 10 a. m. on February
10, at the Sam Houston Coliseum,
and all champions will be sold.
William R. Archer and Vernon C.
Frederick of Houston are co-chair-
men of the poultry section.
The regular meeting of
City-County Employees will
be held Wednesday, January
27, at the Labor Temple, at 8
p. m. This will be an open
meeting and city and county
officials are expected to visit
with the group. AU members
are urged to be present.
citizens with their income tax prob-
lems, also aid the war financing
Council, A. F of L. affiliate, won
the right to represent 13,433 gen-
eral maintenance and production
pies of improvement brought about
through cooperative action on the
part of labor and management in
this field.
He emphasized that safety and
health in industry are not manage-
ment’s responsibility alone, and
that when management attempts to
take exclusive responsibility, health
and morale, as well as production,
may suffer.
Stating that industrial health
and safety are production problems
of major importance which must be
solved simultaneously with those of
materials and facilities, Director
Lund offered the Council the serv-
ices of the Labor Production Divi-
sion in developing labor participa-
tion in its industrial health pro-
grams.
Notice
The Boilermakers Local 74,
Shop Iron Workers Local 618,
and Machinists Lodge No. 12
have opened an A. F. of L.
Organizing Headquarters at
4711 Washington Avenue. Mr.
Gordon and Mr. Rogers will
, be in the Headquarters from
January 21, henceforth.
ditioning program for the Army
Air Forces. Greenberg, who left a
$50,000 a year job with the Tigers
and came up through the ranks,
said the program provides for one
hour of daily physical conditioning
or athletics for each man in the
Army Air Forces.
Labor Pledges
All-Out Aid
To Farmers
pay approximately 1.9% interest
per year, so they not only help one
to meet the new higher taxes more
conveniently, but also pay a gener-
ous profit that actually reduces tax
cost. These notes, while intended
of Welders, Cutters and Helpers of
Amerca, an independent group, won
the right to represent the 5100 eli-
gible welders and burners, and the
Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen
was named to represent the 39 en-
gineers and crewmen running the
small “dinky” engines around the
plant’s railroad tracks.
The election was held Wednesday
afternoon and Thursday of last
week.
The results of the election were
announced by Cliff Potter, Fort
%. * s
Mi* ■
Efforts to establish regular re-
Since the Middle Ages, when the “Black Death” struck
terror to all Europe, there has been no disase which so terri-
fied humans as infantile paralysis. Unlike some diseases, it
strikes, those of all clases, rich and poor, any race, any creed.
But since its treatment is very expensive, only the rich
may avail themselves of it when it strikes in their families.
Those without ample means are unable to get treatment with-
out help from others.
And that is the reason for the President’s Birthday Ball,
given annually all over the United States since it was inaugu-
rated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, himself a victim of
the dread disease. This year it will be given, as usual, on his
birthday, January 30. X
Tickets are now being sold for it and workers, of all people,
should buy them. For it is the children of the working people
who are benefited by the Birthday Ball Fund.
Lack of money is the only posible excuse a worker could
have for failure to buy tickets or donate money direct. And
at this time every able-bodied worker can have money, since
jobs are not merely plentiful but are seeking workers.
Last year $8,000 was raised locally for the fund. Half of
that amount went to the national organization but the other
half stayed here in Houston to take care of our own. The
national organization needs money, since infantile paralysis
breaks out unevenly over the country. When an epidemic hits
Houston, and there is not enough money in the local fund to
-
... ,
i’
ing equipment.
In urging carefulness with stoves
and other heating units in cold
weather usually experienced in
Texas at this season of the year,
Hall said:
pantries at home and knapsacks of
fighting men, and also to provide
foodstuffs for our Allies and liber-
ted nations.
YTuesday was “M-day" for Ameri-
can agriculture. Farmers in almost
every town and hamlet in the land
gathered to plan for this year’s
production, which, it is hoped, will
be the largest in history.
President Roosevelt, in a radio
message, told farmers food is as
cheaper or less food,” stated Reed.
“There are still many persons, espe-
cially women, who are trying to
raise families on salaries of six and
eight dollars per week.”
The rise in food costs has been
about 1.5% per month since April,
1941. December, 1942, showed an
increase of 1.55% over the previous
month and indications are that food
costs will continue upward instead
Experience Gained During Past Year Declared
Great Benefit, Will Enable War Workers
To Accomplish Tasks More Efficiently
Miami, Fla.—Following is text of the declaration by the
Executive Council of the American Federation of Labor on
the 1943 war production program:
War production must be vastly increased in 1943. WPB
Chairman Donald Nelson has announced that it will be neces-
sary to double the 1942 quotas of war materials this year so
that the new military plans of the United Nations can be exe-
cuted successfully.
Labor accepts its part of the responsibility for making good
on this tremendous program willingly. We know it will be no
2 Commenting on the above fig-
ures, Mr. F. M. Law, co-chairman
of the Houston Regional Commit-
tee, stated, “It is indeed gratifying
that the Houston Region, which
comprises forty-one counties, was
(Continued on Page 4)
have reached proportions that
threaten collapse of the normal dis-
tributing system, it was revealed
by sensational developments of the
week. Last week packers had
evolved a new-fangled bribery sys-
tem that was costing retailers and
consumers millions of dollars. In
order to obtain supplies, it was
pointed out, retailers are compelled
to pay tribute of from 4 to 10 cents
a pound over the wholesale ceiling
prices.
L
,2%
2348.,
3F0-T
of the election among
employes of the Houston Shipbuild-
ing Corporation as to what unions
Shipbuilding Workers of America
(C. I. O.) 1613, with 1930 of this
group voting for “no union.” A to-
tal of 10,526 votes were cast by this
type of labor. The welders voted:
United Brotherhood 2159, Houston
Metal Trades Council 1239, Indus-
trial Union (C. L O.) 107, no union
528. The total in this group was
4059.
The dinkey enginemen and crews
voted: Brotherhood of Railroad
Trainmen 34, Houston Metal Trades
Council 2, C. 1. O. none.:
A report of the election will be
made to the National Labor Rela-
tions Board at Washington by Pot-
ter and, if there are no protests
over the results within five days,
will be certified.
To the Congress, he said point-
edly: “As spokesman for the Unit-
ed States Government, you and I
take off our hats to those respon-
sible lor our American production
Here and There
New processes have been devel-
oped to speed up production. This
is especially true of planes and
shipbuilding. These new methods
are rapidly being extended through
war industry arid will help to step
up the total output. Also, many
new plants and factories have been
completed during the past few
months and will serve to expand
production qf vital materials.
All of these factors must be con-
sidered in their full significance.
But even more important is the fact
that the men and women whose
hands operate and guide our indus-
trial machinery are better organ-
ized today to do the job than they
were a year ago.
No general would think of send-
(Continued on Page 4)
Retail Cost of
Food Continues
promoting right along. Last Saturday, President William.
Green of the American Federation of Labor told the Southern lief, shipments for military and
A. F of L conference at Atlanta, Ga., that "so long as ‘he
American r edreation of Labor exists, we will fight to the American Red Cross and the United
((4238
SC)
Post-War Job
Security Declared
Major Problem
Hailing the production efforts of
American workers in his Congres-
sional message on the state of the
nation, President Roosevelt de-
Austin—Food, the average wage-
earner’s largest cost if living ex-
penditure, is now 16.6% higher
than at the time of Pearl Harbor,
according to the monthly report of
Labor Commissioner John Reed.
“Counting the increase before
Pearl Harbor of 14.4% in retail
food prices, this problem becomes
easy task. But we believe it is a
grave mistake for government offi-
cials or anyone else to magnify the
difficulties unnecessarily.
We must remember that many
important factors are in our favor
and augur well for the future
months. In the first place, some of
our largest industries did not get
into full swing on war production
until last spring or summer because
‘“Heaters too near walls, curtains
or room furnishings account for a
number of fires each winter. Other
causes include over-heated stoves;
defective flues and chimneys and
improper installations.
“Because of an acute housing
shortage in many areas, together
with the fact that a large number
of home fires occur during the win-
ter months, we must, of necessity,
prevent dwelling fires.
“At least 31 persons died in
Texas last year from burns re-
ceived when their clothing caught
fire while standing too near stoves
or open fire places.”
God-given democratic and personal right,” it has been volun-
tarily waived during this war.
The State Democratic Executive Committee was right in
including “strike by . . .t employers” within its resolution.
The employer can do as much to slow up or stop production
. as can the employe. That is shown by the fact that the House
Naval and Military committees reported their investigation
developed that more than $2,000,000,000 (two billion dollars)
had been saved through renegotiation of war contracts, and
that many manufacturers held off from contracts until they
got contracts giving them exorbitant profits.
This is not to charge that there has been unAmericansspirit
shown exclusively by either group. There HAVE BEEN
strikes in spite of the labor leaders. And there HAVE BEEN
chiseling contracts in spite of the fact that most industrial-
ists are patriotic. The point we are trying to make is that
(Continued on Page 2)
The extension of relief to prison-
ers of war is a traditional and pri-
mary obligation of the Red Cross.
During the past two years more
than half a million food parcels and
quantities of clothing and other
supplies were distributed for the
American Red Cross by the Inter-
national Committee to captive
Executive Council Pledges
Every Effort to Fulfill
America’s War Production Goal
veyed in nineteen cities, only twen-H/
ty-eight showed steady or slight de*
clines while fifty-seven showed in>
creases, principally in beef, por®
and canned vegetables.
Stock Show and Livestock Exposi- and to encourage consumer demand
Hon must be placed with the show’s
5k PA/o
POLL,
tax -
have only one specific purpose and
- should not interfere with the regu-
“The purpose of the fat poultry lar and continued subscriptions for
These figures were announced at
workers(th largest group eligible rmhetnsnoDthesosionanuManat Black market operations in food
t vMaV the TTnited T-ehaeed which was attended by Mr. John
Churchill, Regional Manager of the
Houston Regional Victory Fund
Committee, and George N. Allen,
Executive Secretary of the Harris
Count Victory Fund Committee.
Responsibility for this ap-
palling situation is placed .
squarely on the doorstep of
packing interests, who have
eliminated legitimate whole-
salers and jobbers and turned
their business over to gang-
sters.
With the wiping out of ordinary
(Continued on Page 4)
Every year, as the Christmas
holidays wear off and people turn
toward their best work on the new
projects for the next 12 months, the
Houston Fat Stock Show and Live-
stock Exposition officials begin a
whirlwind 30-day job of preparing
for the big event in February.
Rodeo agents and cattlemen ar-
rive to check up on the prospects.
Farm boys begin to preen their
entries.
The cowboys take a few practice
twirls through the air, and the at-
mosphere begins to react to the
purely Southwestern odor of bark-
ing leather.
Most important event for farm
boys at the Houston Fat Stock
Show and Livestock Exposition
usually is the auction sale of cham-
pion calves, sheep, swine and poul-
try.
“All individual and group exhib-
its in the several classes will be
sold at auction,” President James
W. Sartwelle has announced.
“All| entries in the Houston Fat
They can be used for meeting and February were caused by heat-
quarterly income tax payments as •
ments, including carload classes.” . .well as to pay the tax in full. They
Houston $194,828,661
Dallas 76,657,595
Fort Worth 48,275,364
San Antonio 42,632,911
Shreveport 14,308,429
El Paso 12,704,919
Amarillo ........ 7,460,724
mittee, agreed with Allen that they
have an important place in the bud-
get planning of every worker who
will be eligible for income tax pay-
ment. “However,” he stated, “it
must be remembered that tax notes
_____ .. .... ... .0. who have endured rationing and
jobbers have closed up shop during one stringencies with good humor
Declaring that ideas of our men
That has been recognized by leaders in the American Feder- that whatever American food
ationofLaboras it has among leaders of every group, denomi- Imumheoand rrnkuana X- 6814 Industrial „ io pv
nation and race. Admiral William Young, director 6814 Industrial Union of Maritime
Harry Acreman, State A. F. of L. Secretary, has informed of navy supplies, traced a lifeline
Secretary George A. Wilson that forms are being sent here direct from the farm to every
for those who want to show President Roosevelt appreciation American battle zone in the world,
for what he has done for workers by sending contributions •
direct to him. The forms will hold dimes and donations will Cant; Ta IIntten
be mailed right to the President. —P5 nuied
Any worker in Harris County or anywhere else in the nation Nations Soldiers
Books from the shelves of Amer-
ican workers’ homes will soon be
collected for the men and women in
the armed forces.
A national drive to collect mil-
lions of books as reading matter
for soldiers and sailors was launch-
ed last week by Elmer Davis, Office
of War Information Director. “La-
bor through its unions and organi-
zations,” he said, is participating in
the drive, along with other “Ameri-
cans from all groups and from all
parts of the country.”
Sponsors of the campaign are the
American Library Association, the
American Red Cross, and the Unit-
ed Service Organizations working
in cooperation with the Office of
Civilian Defense.
on the battlefronts coincide with
the thinking of Americans back
home, he said, “The men in our
armed forces want a lasting peace
and, equally, they want permanent
employment for themselves, their
families and their neighbors when
they are mustered out at the end of
the war. ...
“The people at home and the peo-
ple at the front—men and women—
are wondering about the Third
Freedom—Freedom from Want. To
them it means that when they are
mustered out, when war production
is converted to the economy of
B. F. McClellan, President of the Houston Labor & Trades have enabled the Red army to deal
Council and Chairman of the Labor Division ticket sales, says: "mighty blows’’ against the Nazis.
/The Birthday Ball should raise much more than $8,000. £ SxEpesecdisdeaPArpmreciationi £
. dorepeople arerwonkine than in 1942, and they are making States. Worth; Whocame here |
more money. No other cause should enlist everyone more Speaking from London, Lord
completely than this one!” Woolton, British food minister, said
“The record of 1942 reveals that -
---------— over 31 per cent of all fires report- of holding steady or declining. Out
by the .Treasury Department to aid ed in Texas cities and towns during “ h “ “-------
the first two months of the year
____________H0U8TON' TEXAS, JANUABY 22, 1943 pER
AFL UNIONS WILL DOUBLE PRODUCTION IN 1943
_____________________________________________________ - t,-
effort materially. So it’s patriotic stallation of heating equipment,
to be tax-thrifty.’ ” . _ —
In commenting on the tax notes,
Claud B. Hamill, chairman of the
Harris County War Savings Com-
peace, they will have the right to
expect full employment—for them- _nward Sniral
selves and for all able-bodied menAr F
Operatonsditn ftjg* fXS Shipyard Workers
President Roosevelt’s demand to fill
Hank Greenberg
Heads Sports Program
First Lieutenant Hank Green-
berg, former Detroit Tigers first
baseman and outfielder, is in
charge of a universal physical con-
essential as ships and guns in win-
ning the war. He asserted that food
already sent to the people of North
Africa is saving the energies and
lives of our soldiers and is being
used by the army to earn the
friendship of inhabitants of liber-
take care of the situation, the national organization steps in I ated areas
and helps out. fit hit “7 community.or state too hard to = Lhtvinov, Russian ambas.
be handled by the local fund, the national fund is drawn upon, sador, said American foodstuffs
Health and Safety
Organization of joint labor-man-
agement committees on health and
safety as a direct and immediate
means of conserving manpower was
advocated by Wendell Lund, Di-
rector of WPB Labor Production
Division, in an address before the
Council of Industrial Health of the
American Medical Association at
Chicago.
The successful records of several
union organizations which have in-
corporated clauses dealing with
health and safety in their collec-
tive bargaining contracts were
cited by Director Lund as exam-
g
■
N who fails to support this cause is blind to his own interests
as well as those of the entire country. This is one of the
MUST contributions for labor. DON’T FORGET THAT A
DONATION TO THIS CAUSE IS EXEMPT FROM INCOME
TAX.
President Roosevelt has never let us down. We can’t afford
to let him down. For if we do, we not only show ingratitude,
but we let our own children down.
wholesalers are able to hide the
transaction.
The New York “Herald-Tribune”
declared that merchants who re-
The flagrant nature of the gouge
- is indicated by the disclosure the
Lund Advocates . fhrgsgFemndergeoundoehannaisevei tharonmet
in the normal manner, and that by
fraudulent bookkeeping methods
United Nations soldiers.
On the first sailing of the ex-
change ship Gripsholm, the Ameri-
can Red Cross dispatched to Japan
29,000 standard food pareels, 31
.tons of drugs, toilet articles, and
Uncle Sam’s Nephews Need Production; Ammy-#ay anlothingooacmillion
It’s Up to Workers and Industrialists smoking tobacco These supplies,
1 reports indicate, are being distrib-
The Texas State Democratic Executive Committee meeting atmedt°rorptivinmemebeFaroEaur
this week, passed a resolution condemning strikes "whether Loaded on the Gripsholm for its
by employes or employers, during the period of the war, re- second trip were 66,000 standard
i
M J more serious each month, especially
Heating Equipment to those in the lower income groups.
° “ I It means simply that these persons
and their families will have to eat
and machinery from a peace-time
basis to war work. This phase is
now over.
Further delays were encountered
because of shortages of materials.
Partly because these materials were $
not on hand in the right place at
erigattime. This seripuobstacle, (
Eo efselent production has now, "
been largely removed through a
new system of allocation of mate-
rials introduced by the War Pro-
duction Board.
war period looms as a major
problem.
—
gardless of reasons.” food packages, 553,350 articles of
That is a resolution that can be endorsed by every good clothing, 20,000 blankets, 10,000
American. It puts the monkey on the back of anyone whosoasptuistonssvoroedicaPounppiie, Houston Fat Stock Show and Livestock
starts anything that slows up or stops production. and ten million cigarettes—a mil- ------ 1 mu —-sm anu HlvetOeK
And it is right in line with what labor leaders have been lion-dollar cargo.
While Mr. Green said that “the right to strike is an inherent, Books for Soldiers
nmed
archs in 1943 is expected to be just
as colorful a feature as ever
before.
Last year’s grand champion
Hereford calf brought Calvin Le-
feiste, 14, of Mason County, an F.
F. A. boy, $1,986. Th/ calf, “Shor-
ty,” weighed 875 pounds and was
ss‛h
(ee- -X
s
.g
N25
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Labor Messenger (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 59, No. 44, Ed. 1 Friday, January 22, 1943, newspaper, January 22, 1943; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1551392/m1/1/: accessed June 12, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .