A GENEKAL NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS
OF ORGANIZED LABOR IN
UN
SECTION |
ONE
Union Press, Established May, 1935.
CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.
ON
AN ATTAINMENT OF THE LARGEST GENERAL WEEKLY
NEWSPAPER CIRCULATION IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.
Recognized and Endors-
ed by Upwards of more
than Fifty Local Unions
and Central Bodies Over
the Area.
Patton Courier, Established Oct., 1893,
VOL. 46. No. 15.
onda 9
CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA AREA. THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 1939
723 South Fifth Ave.
PATTON. PA
SUBSCRIPTION, $2.00 PER YEAR
WATCHFUL EYES SCAN LEGISLATION
LABOR LOBBIES
ORGANIZEDFOR
NEXT SESSION
Twe Big Union Bodies in State
to Present Top Strength in|
Coming Legislature,
facing a test of its political
power during the coming Republican |
controlled state administration will
bring new and extensive organizations |
to bear in behalf of their legislative |
programs.
Both the State Federation of Labor, |
AFL, and the State Industrial Union
Council, CIO, are new this year |
both are organized to represent labor |
on a larger scale than ever before.
Both groups supported the Demo-
cratic candidates in the November el-
ection and now must look to the vic-
torious Republicans to protect the
gains won for labor in the two pre-
vious legislatures and principally in
the Democratic controlled 1937 legis-
lature.
The split in the ranks of labor that /
replaced the former State Federation
with two new groups representing the
AFL and CIO, brought on a wave of
labor organization that resulted in the
state organization of hundreds of un-
ions never previously affiliated with
a state-wide federation.
The New Federation started out
with unions representing some 300,000
to 400,000 AFL members and has add-
ed scores of new unions during and
since the election campaign.
The CIO Industrial Union Council |
working hard at the tas kof organiza-
tion, reports affiliation of 1.200 local
unions with a total membership oi
500,000 and counts on a potential CIO
strength in Pennsylvania of 800,000.
Both groups have affiliated organi-
zations to represent them politically,
and since the CIO first orzwnized its
Labor's Non-Partisan League in 1936.
the political action committees and
leagues have been organized on a
scale that reaches into every voting]
district of ine most populous centers
of the state.
Labor's Non-Partisan league func- |
tioned in 1936 and again in 1937, when |
it supported Lieutenant Governor
Thomas Kennedy's campaign for the]
Democratic governorship nomination,
and, in the general election, the Dem- |
ocratic nominees.
The AFL non-partisan
functioned in this year’s primaries ag- |
ainst Mr. Kennedy and the CIO, and |
were on the same side as the CIO in
the general election.
Although they fought a losing bat- |
tle in the election these political ac- |
tion agencies are counted as among |
labor’s best assets now, as they pro- |
vide an already organized means of
bringing pressure on legislators from |
their home districts.
Labor,
|
committees
hi BE ET |
HISTORICAL GROUP
HAS A MEETING |
{
Attorney Peter J. Little president of |
the Cambria County Historical Socie-
delivered an address at a meeting of |
the organization held in the court- |
house at Ebensburg on Saturday af-|
ternoon. |
Mr. Little spoke on “The Kittanning |
Path and Hart's Sleeping
which was located a quarter of a mile |
north of Sunset Park, near St. Jos- |
| Larger
| ing
| John
| same
| ical
{ that
| operation
| of the
NON-WORKERS HAVE MORE CHANCE
FOR ELIMINATION
OF CAR PUSHING!
Operators Favor Such |
Action, Smaller Ones Oppose,
Senator Haluska Says.
|
{
| bors protest against
| closing of all WPA projects by
Methods to eliminate mine car push- |
in the bituminous mines of Penn-
sylvania were discussed at a meeting
held in the
last Thursday afternoon by
J. Haluska of Patton
present means of moving coal cars in
court house at Ebensburg |
Senator |
at which | der that :
| spread starvation may be
mines by manpower was denounced as |
one of the principal evils in the in-
dustry. Senator Haluska is chairman
| of the committee which for more than
18 months has been investigating the
situation. More
than fifty representa- |
tives of locals of the United Mine Wor- |
kers of America were in attendance at |
last Thursday's meeting.
The committee, headed by Senator |
Haluska will hold a final public hear-
ing in the state senate chamber late
in January or early in February, the
Senator declared, at which time the
subject will be further discussed before
the committee makes final recommen-
dations for legislation to abate mine
car pushing. Representatives Blake
Shugarts of Clearfield county and Jo-
seph Baine of Allegheny county,
attended last Thursday’s session.
Many operators of small mines de-
clare that if they are compelled to in-
stall storage batteries or use other me-
chanical motor power to move the
cars they will be forced to shut down
their operations, while operators ot
[large mines would be glad if legisla-
tion should be enacted compelling the
abandonment of mine car pushing, the
Senator said.
Mine car pushing was declared by |
the |
Harry Smull of Beaverdale to be
second highest cause of mine accidents
--the first being rock
ed that the process shortened the lives
of miners and that in many instances
it led to physical conditions such
ruptures and hernias which are
covered in the compensation laws.
not
The
others at the meeting.
Answering the contention that some
1 operators might have to shut down if
are compelled to install mechan- |
they
devices for car pushing, Thomas
Morris, of Beaverdale, declared
“any mine which cannot be
Ww.
also
fall. He declar- |
oO
MINERS ASKLAW | CIO Demands New Congress
STATE PURCHASES JOBLESS BENEFITS
Vote Additional WPA Funds NORTH COUNTY'S TO BE AVAILABLE
Washington.—A demand by Presi-
CIO that |
| dent John L. Lewis of the
Congress appropriate at least a billion
| dollars for
the
Feb-
ruary 7th.
Meanwhile CIO unions in every com-
munity in the nation were preparing to
register a mighty call upon their rep-
resentatives and senators to insure al-
lotment of new funds to WPA in or-
intense distress and wide-
averted dur-
ing the winter months.
CIO national officers recently
urgent calls to all union affiliates,
ging that they act rapidly to
about speedy action on the bill.
President Lewis's statement
sued less than five hours after WPA
Deputy administrator Aubrey Will-
iams confessed to a group of Pennsyl-
vania unionists led by John Edelman,
CIO director in Philadelphia, that a
lack of funds will force WPA to start
eliminating projects on January 26.
Lewis said:
“The announcement that the
sent
ur-
bring
was is-
WPA
will close down all its projects begin-
WPA led oif organized la- |
announced |
ning Tencery 26th reveals the serious-
ness of the emergency which is n¢
cing the unemployed in tne
“In the face of this emergency ths
CIO is asking that the congress im-
mediately upon convening appropriate
continuation of WPA up to June 30th
1939.
than continue the WPA at the current
rate of jobs. The CIO is convinced
that this is the most immediate duty
which faces the Congress. Unless ac-
tion is taken within the first weeks of
January, 3,200,000 American
and at least
who are dependent
face disaster.
“The CIO calls upon its affiliates im-
mediately to mobilize their forces
bring to the attention of each senator
workers
upon them will
of the American unemployed.
“We believe that Congress when
knows the facts will appropriate
funds necessary to carry on the
tivities of WPA.
“It is the first duty of every
member and American citizen to
sure the continuation of WPA.”
it
the
CIO |
in-
EXPECT DPA LOAD
TO GROWHEAVIER
AS WPA SLACKENS
Effect of Retrenchment Is Not
Computed But Relief Costs
Are Mounting Higher.
Cambria county's direct relief load
wilich has increased steadily since the
Works Progress Administration began
| its much publicized retrenchment pro-
as |
| holiday
thought was expressed also by |
gram ,is expected to continued in a post
climb, according to the
and state Department of Public
reports.
For the third consecutive week an
increase was reported in unemploy-
ment relief rolls. During the third
week in December 15,080 persons were
local
As-
sistance
| added to the state bringing the total as
oper- |
ated with safety to the men should be |
shut down.”
“Human welfare
above profits,”
should be placed
which could not afford to install me-
chanical aides should be shut down
| period,
he asserted. John Sloan !
j of Ehrenfeld also declared that mines
of December 17th to 647,268.
In this county, consecutive weekly
increases have been noted for a longer
with new applications surpass-
ing the number of closed cases as long
as six or seven weeks ago.
Only 551 cases were closed during
| the third week of December because
Earning power of the miners are re- |
duced through time lost in car push-
ing, W. W. Snedden of Nanty-Glo.
pointed out. He also asserted that the |
saps the physical strength
miners and renders them more |
likely to breakdown.
Representative Baine declared
most of the larger mines in Allegheny
county
move the cars without manual aid.
Senator Glen R. Law,
county, a member of the committee, in
a letter to Senator Haluska suggested |
enacted which |
| that law might be
a
| would give the state mine inspectors |
“power”
Place,” is a serious evil existant.”
present,
Several
to act in cases where there
however,
insisted that
eph’s church, on the Carrolltown and | have too many duties at present.
Hastings road. The society has erect-
ed a sandstone marker weighing twa
tons at the site of Hart's Sleeping Pla- |
ce, which will be dedicated next |
spring. The land was donated to the |
society by Nicholas Galluchick, on |
whose farm in West Carroll township | |p
the marker is located.
the latter part of the eighteenth cen- |
tury and during his travels on the |
Kittanning Path frequently remained
overnight at the site where the mark- |
er is located.
CHANGES MADE IN D. ATES
OF UNEMPLOYMENT SER-
VICE: SCHEDULES—NOW
The State Unemployment office at |
Johnstown has advised the Press-Cour- |
ier that a change in the itinerant ser-
| enter
bers of the staff, the board allows
become permanent the probational ap- |
| pointment of approximately 150
| sons with civil service
{| Department of Public Assistance
islation.
board could have
changes any time prior to the end of | that kept the senate in the spotlight,
Republican |
be named by the
' COUNTY DPA STAFF
CERTAIN OF JOBS;
Cambria County Department of
ublic Assistance staff members will
this new
it
the last meet-
believed, following
By its failure to displace any mem-
leg-
At discretion
made
its own
| the year.
Three will
as
(investigators)
board as soon
visitors
that |
|
|
|
{
|
are equipped with devices to |
|
|
The miners |
opposed the idea. |
the inspectors |
f new WPA projects, a state statisti-
cal report said. This was the
aumber closed for this reason
the Federal Works program was start-
ed.
Cases opened because of loss of the |
WPA employment in the state during |
| the same period left 7,623 more persons
dependent upon relief. The exact ex-
tent to which this affected Cambria
county has not yet been computed.
Expenditures for direct relief in
of Mercer | Cambria county are runing about $27,-
000 a week, not including administra
tive payrolls .The relief bill in the
state is almost $1,500,000 week at
current levels.
REPUBLICANS ASSUME
LEADERSHIP OF BOTH
HOUSES IN THE STATE
a
Harrisburg.—Republicans, after
| ghting for hours, elected the president
| pro temporare of the state senate on
NO ONE DISMISSED |
year sure of their jobs |
John Hart was an Indian trader in| .,4 free from political interference,
it
ing in 1938, of the county DPA board. |
| by the vote
to | rence county Democrat.
per- | cratic
ratings under | down the line
chief clerk,
the other odd senate jobs.
personnel |
Tuesday
ship in both houses of the
al
senate patronage.
while
Ellwood J.
wise proceeded in a normal way
night, thus assuming leader-
assembly. Democrats
Frederick T. Gelder, silver haired
veteran from Susquehanna county was
chosen to head the senate.
was 22 to 23, with republicans aided
The result
of William J. Eroe, Law-
the Demo-
and supported them
in the selection of a
switched back to
side later
Eroe
secretary,
It was a bitter, quarrelsome session
House elected
Turner speaker and other-
for
the
vice of the office has been necessita- | a list of names of persons eligible for | the first day of the 133rd legislative
ted in several of the towns over the
county.
next Monday, January 9th, and the
new schedule wil be as follows:
The change will be effective | burg. The three
Scoapt higher
appointment is received from Harris-
visitors resigned to
salaried jobs.
Monday—Spangler, Municipal build- | MIN ER AT SPANGLER
ing form 8:30 a. m. to 4:30 p. m.
Tuesday—None.
Wednesday—Nanty-Glo,
building, 8:30 to 11:30 a. m.;
Fire Hall, 1 p. m. to 4:30 p. m.
Thurs.—Gallitzin, Municipal
ing, 8:30 to 11:30 a.
liams’ Store 1 to 2:30 p. m.; Blandburg, |
Community hall, 3 to 4:30 p. m.
Friday-—Portage, Municipal building
8:30 to 11:30 a. m.; Dunlo, Miners’ hall
from 1:30 to 4:30 p. m.
Municipal |
build- !
Patton, at | fered severe lacerations of the
{hand on Saturday night when he was |
i caught by the premature explosion of |
m.; Frugality, Wil- | a cap. Wilgus was said ‘to be preparing
to celebrate
| Year at the time of the accident.
was removed to the Spangler hospi-
tal where it is feared amputation
several fingers may be necessary.
INJURED BY BLAST |
Andrew Wilgus, 62, of Spangler, suf-
left
the advent of the New
He
of
| the
change in the rules requiring a two-
thirds vote of the 0 member body
The Republicans |
have a numerical strength of 25. |
oust the
session.
After saving the jobs in the senate,
Democrats shoved through a
job holders.
Do You Know?
In no group of independent individ-
uals in our modern civilization is the
profit motive less prominent and
the
need of socialization less urgent than |
it is in the medical profession
and at |
the same time in no form of service |
is political control less likely to ach- |
ieve success. |
lowest |
since |
fi- |
1939 Gener- |
salvaged the |
librarian, and 70 |
to |
| ty-Glo.
‘CLERKS TO MEET
FRIDAY EVENING
AT BARNESBORO
Organizer Elmer Barger Asks
Presence of Chain Store Em-
ployees of North Cambria.
International Vice President Elmer
Barger of the Wholesale and Ratail |
Employes of America, a CIO affiliate,
advises the Press-Courier that a meet-
ing the store clerks of the A & P and
the American Stores has been called
for the Moose Hall at Barnesboro on |
Fridey evening of this week at 8:00 |
o'clock, to discuss the contracts now
pending with each of the two organi-
zations. Mr. Barger is especially anx-
ious to have the clerks from these two
organizations attend from the follow-
ing towns: Ebensburg, Nanty-Glo, Pat-
ton, Spangler, Barnesboro and Has-
tings.
It is the aim of the CIO represen-
tative to bring the stores of this sec-
tion of the state into the CIO organ-
ization under approximately the same
| contract and terms as was signed by
| the Atlantic and Pacific Tea Comapny
stores at their establishments in Cur-
wensville and Clearfield recently.
| AUTO LICENSE DEADLINE
HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO
FIFTEENTH OF JANUARY
Pennsylvania motorists have receiv- |
| ed official approval to use their
| automobile license plates until Janu-
! ary 15th. Secretary J. Griffith Board-
| man o fthe Revenue department, in
| announcing the extension, said he will
recommend to the 1939 legislature a
change of the licensing period until
i early spring, possibly April 1st.
| He said he was convinced by
slowness of the motorists in obtaining
1939 licenses that they desired a licen- |
| sing period other than the Christmas
| holiday season.
Without Boardman's action, under
authority of an act of the 1937 legis-
lature, 1938 license plates would have
been illegal after last Saturday
night.
Boardman said:
“I am granting the utmost leniency
to Pennsylvania motorists by extending
| the time limit as far as the law
| lows.
“I am of the opinion, after careful
and searching investigation, that
| majority of motorists want the licen-
sing period fixed at a time later than |
al- |
I January 1st.
“I am personally convinced that the
most people need all the money they
can command during the holiday sea-
son for purposes other than license
plates.
“It is my intention to advocate at
the forthcoming session of the Legisla-
ture that the relicensing date be fixed
during the early spring, possibly April
1st.
Found Dead in Bed.
James Shaw, aged 69, fami Jianiy |
known through Cambria County
“Jim Crow” was found dead in bed on
{ Thursday morning last at the home of
Mr. and Mrs. Harry Gearhart in Nan-
Mr. Shaw's death was attribu-
ted to complications superinduced by
injuries sustained Christmas day in a |
fall at the Gearhart home. Shaw, who
had been unemployed for the last ten
years, had resided at the Gearhart |
home for the last three years,
He was born in Wilkes-Barre n|
1869. There are no surviving By
not less than one billion dollars for the
“This appropriation will do no more |
ten million human beings |
to |
and congressman the facts of the plight |
ac- |
1938 |
the |
mid- |
the |
| growths of large timber
| ester Gray revealed.
| | interes st on road and bridge bonds and
- FOREST SECTIONS ON LARGER SCALE
4,200 Acres Are Bor Bought in Dean Three Months Added to Qualify-
White, Chest and Clearfield! ing Period Thomas V. Hayes
Townships; Other Options. Declares.
For the first time the Pennsylva-{ Men and women who lost their jobs
nia Department of Forests and Waters during the year just closed became fa-
is purchasing forest lands in the Gall- | miliar with a new state agency, the
itzin district of the department. The Division ¢f Unemployment Compensa-
| district includes Cambria and Indiana tion, which has entered the new year
counties and parts of Blair and Clear- by making benefits available to a
| field counties. greater number of people.
The department already has pur- The program, which was inaugura-
chased 4,200 acres of land of mostly ted under state legislation just a year
scrub timber, in White, Dean, Chest ago will continue as it had done in the
| and Clearfield townships. past but more persons will be eligible
District Forester Thomas M. Gray | to file claims as it becomes easier to
admitted that the department is seek- | qualify for weekly jobless insurance
ing to purchase additional land in the | payments.
| district and is particularly anxious to Thomas V. Hayes, manager the
| obtain forest lands along Chest Creek | State Unemployment Office, head-
| and the upper Susquehanna river quarters for the Division of Unemploy-
| It was learned from landowners in | ment Compensation, said the qualify-
the Northern Cambria County and in! ing rules are difficult to outline be-
| Southern Clearfield County that ap-|cause benefits to which each jobless
| praisers from the department already ' person is entitled must be determined
| have contacted scores of owners of according to the merits of individual
| large tracts of land in that vicinity. cases.
{ It was understood the state is paying 1ne thousands of persons who filed
| about $2.50 per acre for some lands and | claims at the beginning of 1938 will be
| has offered as high as $3 for other eligible, if they are unemployed, to
| lands. depending on the location and | file new claims on January 24th, Mr.
| the timber. Forestry officials refuse to ' Hayes declared. He explained a hypo-
divulge the exact amount of land the | thetical case.
{ department hopes to purchase but it! “Suppose you filed a claim on the
is understood it is well above 100,000 | first day of 1938. That was January 3,
acres. the first day the office was ready to
Department officials already have receive them. The law required a wait-
i taken options on some 50,000 acres of ing period of thre weeks, during which
additional farm and scrub timber | period you had to report at this office
i lands in the northern section of the each week. Then, if you found no job,
{ county. Majority of land is located al- ' you began receiving unemployment
j ong Chest Creek and the Susquehanna compensation checks as of January 24.
river, | “Each case is handled on a yearly
It was generally understood that the hasis. By that I méan that 2 man who
| state is purchasing the land as part of | became a receiver of benefits as of
{ the mammoth flood control project. It January 24, 1938, was entitled to re-
| was believed that the now barren lands | ceive compensation payments for a
| and the slightly forested areas will be | maximum of 13 weeks, based on part
reforested as fast possible. Ever-! of the previous year’s earnings. If, dur-
greens probably will be planted with-|ing the year, he exhausted his share
in the ct year on the recently ac- | of the fund, he is not eligible to receive
quired tract in the northern section of ' any more until 52 weeks from the date
the county. | he became eligible. If he was one of
Forestry officials also are seeking to | the first to file claims he will again
purchase several thousand acres of! be eligible on January 24, 1939.”
land of both farming and timber lands Weekly benefits in 1939 will be bas-
| along Yellow Creek in Indiana county.! ed on wages earned during the last
Several farmers have signed options | three months of 1937, and the first 9
and others are being contacted by de- | months of 1938, Mr. Hayes pointed out.
partment appraisers and land acquisi- | That would be from October, 1937, to
tion agents. October, 1938. mi
| The Indiana County farming lands Hayes declared no person can qual-
lare bringing a slightly higher price'ify for jobless insurance benefits twice
than the forest lands of northern Cam- { on the same wages covering the same
bria county, it was learned. The de-| period of time. ‘There's a mistaken
partment has offered as much as $7| impression among unemployed that
per acre for some of the choice lands | benefits are available every year on
| along Upper Yellow Creek. Purchase | the basis of wages earned when they
{ of thet land also is believed to be part first became eligible,” Hayes said.
of the flood control program. Anyone who becomes unemployed in
Majority of the land already pur-|1939 is “eligible to receive half of his
| chased by the department and that | average weekly income as long as the
{ now under option is accessible by fair- | weekly benefits are not less than $7.50
ly good dirt roads it was revealed. De- | nor more than $15. To qualify, a person
partment officials revealed that there | must have earned at least 13 times his
| is a possibility that several state parks , weekly grant during the period be-
{ will be constructed in the northern tween October, 1987, October,
i section of the county. ! 1938, it was pointed out.
State parks in the Forbes district.| When benefits became available last
j which :ejoins the Gallitzin district on | January ,the base year- the period
He South. have been received very | | during which qualifying wag were
| favorably by sportsmen and recreation. | earned consisted, of a nine hy pe-
| ists. The parks offer excellent facili-| riod. Beginning next yee which
ties for campers, hikers and hunters. should have an additional mber eli-
The state has constructed log cabins | gible, Hays said.
[in parks in the Forbes district and While totals have not been comput-
| annually ghousands of persons take'!ed. the Johnstown office disbursed
advantage of the cabins during the | more than $1,500.000 to jobless in Cam-
| summer and fall. The cabins are remt- | bria county during 1938.
| ed by the week at nominal fees
Local forestry officials and outdoor
| enthusia sts are hopeful that the de-
| partment will be able to purchase ad-
| ditional lands in the county and estab- |
{lish a CCC camp for the purpose of!
i | constructing camps.
| Forester Gray declined to reveal the
owners of séveral large tracts of land
jin the county which are being sought
| by the state. However, it was learned
{ that the land adjoins the McFarland-
| Rothert tract in White and Dea n-
| ships, which was recently acquired by |
| the department.
| In the event the department is
| cessful in acquiring all lands now un-
der option in Cambria county it will
|o Wn approximately 80,000 in one block.
| The land is of very little value from
| the standpoint of timber, but the po- |
| tentialities for producing excellent
are good, For- |
of
as
|
|
|
|
|
and
es
ni
PA TTON FIREMEN TO
HOLD BINGO PARTIES
EVERY WEDNESDAY
The members of the Patton Volun-
teer Fire Company, No. 1, have com-
pleted arrangements for the holding of
a bongo party in the Fire Hall every
Wednesday night, beginning xt Wed-
nesday, January 11th, and starting at
8 p. m. The committe in charge pro-
mise to make the evening interest-
ing. Thirty five games wil > played
for 25 cents admi a
prize will be given each g
general public is welcoms
attend the series
n tow
suc-
IE RN COU N TY
BARN IS LEVELED
Fire of an undetermined
Saturday night destroye
y | frame barn on the Stephen
in Susquehanna toy
Barnesboro and Hastir . Ds
iled was estimated a
A large quantity
tatoes was stored in
valuable farm machinery
stroyed. Hastings and Barne
unteer firemen responded t
but the fire had gained too
| headway before the firemen
on the scene
| COU NTY G ETS SHARE OF
STATE FU EL TAXES
Gray farm
), between
mage en-
000
in
al
Cambria county's treasury was en-
riched $59,035.10 last week when pay- ta
ment was made by the state of the
county’s share of the state gasoline |
tax fund. Payment also went to fif-
ten other counties. Payments may be |
used by the counties for payment of |
and po-
an Some
nas de-
alarms
much
in settling damages in new road con- arrived
struction work