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A GENERAL NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS
OF ORGANIZED LABOR IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.
Recognized and Endors-
ed by More Than Fifty
Local Unions and Cen-
tral Bodies Over Cam-
bria County and Ad-
jacent Mining Areas.
VOL. 45. NO. 22.
LABOR CONFER-
ENCE PRAISES
THE PRESIDENT
Telegram Commends Roosevelt
On Move to Bring Warring
Labor Factions Together.
An interesting quarterly conference
of the Central Labor Unions of Cen-
tral Pensylvania, comprised of repre-
sentatives of both the American Fed-
eration of Labor and the Congress of
Industrial Organizations, was held in
Barnesboro last Sunday afternoon, and
brought delegates from all over Cen-
tral Pennsylvania.
Chief among the discussions were
the contemplated amendments to .the
National Labor Relations Act, and
other matters concerning the labor
movement in general.
President Roosevelt was commended
for his stand in endeavoring to bring
the American Federation of Labor and
the Congress of Industrial Organiza-
‘tions together, and the following was
endorsed and sent by the meeting to
President Roosgvelt.
To The President:
The Central Pennsylvania Con-
prising eighty thousand workers of the
AFL and CIO groups, in eight coun-
ties, commend you highly in calling
tegether leaders of both factions for
the purpose of bringing peace into the
ranks of labor. These representative
groups have been working in harmony
meetings every two months for the
past three years. The membership sin-
cerely hopes the peace conference will
be successful.
Albert Johnson, President,
Ford City, Pa.
Luke Brett, Secretary,
Kittanning, Pa.
Central Labor and Industrial Unions
attending the Barnesboro Conference
on Sunday included: Kittanning C. L.
U., Clearfield County C. L. U.., Barnes-
boro Industrial Union Council, Altoona
C. L. U, and the Retail Employes In-
dustrial Council.
MINE EXAMINATIONS
BOOKED NEXT MONTH
FOR THREE DISTRICTS
Examination dates for applicants seek-
ing certification as mine foremen, as-
sistant foremen, chief electricians or
firc bosses were announced by State
Mine Inspector Roy D. Joseph.
The examination, which will be held
April 3 and 4 in the Vigilant Fire Hall,
Dibert Street, will be for applicants
from the sixth, 20th and 24 Bituminous
Districts.
Joseph is chairman of the examining
board. Other members are Bart C.
Leonard of the Adams Fuel Corpor-
ation, representing the operators: John
Edgar Cruse of the Berwind-White
Coal Company, representing the min-
ers; M. W. Thomas of Windber, mine
inspector of the 24th District, secre-
tary, and State Inspector F. W. Cun-
m.ngham of the 20th District, associate
inspector.
Inspector Joseph said miners desir-
ing to take the examinations should
notify him prior to the time the tests
are to be held.
Applicants seeking certification as
second-grade mine 1oremen and chief
electricians will be given tests on
April 3 only, while those seeking to be
certified as first grade foremen and
assistants and fire bosses will appear
for examinations both days.
The Sixth District embraces the
Jobnstown area, while the 20th Dis-
trict covers the southern portion of
Somerset County and the 24th District
take sin sections of Somerset and Cam-
bria Caunties.
HALUSKA ASKS PROBE
OF RELIEI" AGENCIES
IN CAMBRIA COUNTY
Harrisburg — A legislative inves-
tigation into charges of “highly ir-
regular practices” by the WPA and
three state agencies in Cambria County
was demanded last Monday night by
Senator John J. Haluska (D. Cambria.)
Naming the Highway Department,
the Department of Public Assistance
and the Unemployment Compensation
Division of the Department of Labor
and Industry besides the federal works
project organization Haluska said in a
resolution:
“The charges made a not only con-
fined to the improper use of funds by
by these departments and agencies,
but also as to the existence of many
highly-irregular practices, incompetent
personel, political coercion, graft, bri-
bery and macing.”
He called for appointment of three
senators and two representatives to
be armed with power of subpena for a
“thorough and impartial investigation”
and to report to the Governor or the
next session of the General Assembly
if it can not finish during this session.
Zz
NTF
CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA AREA. THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 1939
AN ATTAINMENT OF THE LARGEST GENERAL WEEKLY
NEWSPAPER CIRCULATION IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.
OURIER
Our Shop Is Equipped
to Do Job Printing of
All Kinds. Nothing Too
Large or Too Small
We Cater Especially to
Local Union, Printing.
Patton Courier, Established Oct., 1893,
723 South Fifth Ave.
PATTON. PA.
SUBSCRIPTION, $2.00 PER YEAR
MINERS TO ASK
New Philadelphia, O.,—John Owens,
district head of the United Mine Work-
ers, told a scale meeting last Thurs-
day the union will ask for a six-
hour day, five day week with annual
vacations of two weeks and time and
one-half for overtime and double time
for Sunday work, when they confer
in New York with coal operators.
“These things are being given in
other industries that are stabilized and
they can be given in the coal indus-
try,” Owens said. He predicted mine
owners would try to reestablish the
eight-hour day. Miners now work sev-
en heurs a day, five days a week.
HASTINGS MINERS
PROTEST MINING
BOARD CHANGES
Letter to Secretary of Mines
Voices Dissatsfaction With
New Ruling.
Local Union No. 393, of Hastings,
Pa., has sent us the following—a ict-
ter to John Ira Thomas, secretary oi
mines—with a request for its pubiica-
tion:
Hastings, Pa., Feb. 24, 1939.
Mr. John Ira Thomas,
Secretary of Mines,
Harrisburg, Pa.
Dear Mr. Thomas:—We notice bj
the letter you sent the Miners’ Exam-
ining Board that you contemplate dis-
continuing the Miners’ Examining
Boards and placing this work in the
hands of Mine Inspectors.
We wish to call your attention to
Sec. 2, Act 135, creating these posi-
tions, which specifies that examining
boards shall be composed of miners.
We also wish to call to your attention
“hat mine inspectors, whom you con-
template handling the certification of
the miner, are recruited from former
mine officials such as mine foremen
and mine superintendents, who in
SX nour oav|PLANS FOR LABOR PEACE REMOTE
AS AFL REJECTS C10 PROPOSITION
Additional Conferences Will Be Held, However; John L. Lewis |
SLIDE OF CULM STOPS
WORK AT HEISLEY MINE
Approximately 900 miners of Nanty-
Glo, and vicinity, were idle on Mon-
day of this week as the result of a
tremendous slide of “boney” from the
culm bank at the Heisley mines of the
. " : iJ. H. Weaver Coal Company. Phila-
Proposes Labor “Holding Company” Which Would Include Both | delphia, The slide Neral. thice
Factions and the Railroad Brotherhoods. o'clock on Sunday morning, sending
| approximately 15,000 cubic yards of
| reject coal thundering down the moun-
Plans for any immediate peace or, the combined units of all members of| tainous slope, covering the railroad
truce between the American Federa- organized labor with the president el-| ,,4 choking the channel of Blacklick
tion of Labor and the Congress for In- | ected from the Brotherhoods; Lewis: Creek, which borders the coal com-
dustrial Organizations, at the time of | and Green would be ineligible for of- | pany’s spur of the Cambria and In-
going to press, seem to be rather re- | fice but Green would have a life ten- diana railroad.
mote, when, at the suggestion of the ure of his salary for services rendered.
President, the committees from both 2—The congress’ governing body |
factions of labor, met in Washington | would consist of an executive board | INROADS FROM
| with equal representation for AFL and | 1
on Tuesday, and heard a proposition {
from the CIO, which the AFL prompt- | CIO components and proportionate |
ly rejected. representation for the railroad units. {
3—For the first year following its A BAD FACTOR
John L. Lewis nen of the C10, pros organization the Labor Department's
Dosed a ‘abor o'aing rtompany” io | Conciliation Board would be available |
be called the American Congress of !
i tio ic jurisdictional and ther |
Labor, following zn hour long White | lo mediate jurisdictional an orner |
House Conferente. Neutral observers
believed its blunt rejection by the AFL |
disputes.
4—President Roosevelt would be |
augured ill for any truce or unity. | convention
Lewis’ proposal called for separate The AFL did agree to meet with the
national conventions of the CIO, AFL, | c10 committee on Wednesday, but the
to ratify such establishment along the |! ure from the hite House has a greater
following lines:
1—It would supersede and embrace ' time.
CHAINS PURCHASES |HALUSKA PLAN
UP DURING PENN-| OF PENSIONS IS
SYLVANIA- DAYS| GIVEN SUPPORT
Rural Sections Supporting Drive | Portage and Jamestown Miners
Throughout Stage as Cam- and Workers' Alliance Indorse
paign Enters Final Stretch| Senator's Proposition.
Philadelphia — Rural Pennsylvania A special meeting sponsored by
should benefit greatly from the extra| Workers Alliance G-1429 anc Portage
chain store expenditures of $3,000,000 | I.ocal 458 and Jamestown Local 1318
for Pennsylvania products in the first| of the United Mine Workers was held
campaign, Fred W. Johnson, chairman tage. Principal speakers on the pro-
of the Chain Store Committee for|gram were Sen. John J. Haluska, Pat-
times of labor trouble, owing to their
former positions, may stretch a point
-n granting certificates to miners who
are not qualified.
And if you contemplate amending
the Miners’ Certificate Act to do as
you say, then we wish to protest such
action as being a direct slap at the Bi-
tuminous miners who worked so hard
and so long to have Act 135 passed.
We have no objection to the present
administration cutting down expenses
which, no doubt, you will give as the
reason for your contemplated action.
but we protest you doing it at the ex-
pense of the soft coal miners of Penn-
sylvania.
We wish to call your attention to
the fact that similar laws in, the An-
thracite region of Pennsylvania and in
the state of Illincis, are handled by
the miners, which is right and proper. |
Trusting that the reasons set forth
in this letter will receive your earnest
consideration why your contemplated
action should not become a reality,
Your respectfully on behalf of Lo-
cal No. 393.
JOHN STEWART, President.
WALTER LUMADUE, Sec'y.
ANDREWS MAY
SEEK CHANGES |
Washington — Wage-Hour Adminis- |
| trator Eimer F. Andrews disclosed last |
| week that he may ask Congress to |
change overtime provisions of the |
Wage-Hour Law affecting well-paid |
“white collar” workers. |
He said he beleives that questions |
involved in such work can be handlea |
better by congressional amendments of}
the act than by administrative regula-
tion,
The wage-hour administrator dis-
closed his attitude as an amendment |
sponsored by Representative Albert |
Thomas (D. Tex.) was referred to the
House labor committee. Thomas’ am- |
endment would exempt from the law
writers, newspaper reporters and cler-
ical employes who are paid more than
$1,200 annually, receive sick leave
without salary deductions and get va-
cations with pay.
Andrews said that the main problem
concerning “white collar” workers is
whether they have sufficient adminis-
trative responsibility to afford them
exemption from the law. He said he
‘vould confer with members of Con-
gress before he forwards specific re-
commendations.
Andrews announced meantime that
handbooks on which employers of
home-workers must record their hours
of work and wages will be available
al regional and local offices of the
wage-hour division not later than Mar.
10th. The handbooks are supplemental
to regulations governing payroll rec-
ords which employers must maintain
beginning March 15.
One in every ten inhabitants of the
earth is a beleiver in Mohammedan
religion.
| nually for the products of Pennsyl-
| vainia,” Johnson said. “This huge ex-
Fennsylvania Prosperity, declared on ton, who also gave an interesting ex-
Monday. hibition of feats of magic, and Mich-
“A large part of this money was | ael Chervenak, assemblyman from Por-
spent for the products of Pennsylvania | tage.
farms and dairies,” Johnson asserted. George Cowan was elected president
The chain store chairman pointed |and Charles Krumenacker was eleced
out that the $3,000,000 in added buying! secretary. Descussions of the old-age
ras a result of “Pennsylvaina Days” | pension plan were given by George |
boosted total chain store expenditures | Cowan, Al Kane of Revloe, who sug-
for Keystone State products last week | gested lowering of the age limit, and |
to “approximately $9,000,000 This | Mr. Sneddon, who advanced the plan
huge expenditure,” he added, “should | of reducing the age limit on the pen-
do much to put men back to work on ! sion bill to 60 or 65 years of age.
our farms and in our factories.”
Johnson cited the many endorse-| vanced his opinions concerning the ag
ments of thg “Pennsylvania Days”, pension and the bill which he has
campaign being sent to the chain store | pliced before the Legislature which
committee as evidence that rural Penn- | would set the age standard at 55 or
sylvania is supporting the drive. He 60 years of age, with pensioners to re-
said that farmer, dairy and canners’{ ceive $40 per month providing they
groups were almost uninamous in voi- have less than $2,500 in personal pro-
cing their aproval of the chain store | perty or $5,000 in real estate. Haluska
effort to restore purchasing and create urged that the meeting go on record
employment in the Keystone State by as backing the Haluska bill.
increasing consumption of Pennsylva- | Mike Vaselaney gave a taik on car
nia products. , bushing, suggested that it be elimin-
“Chain stores spend $309,400,000 an- | ated in the state. Assemblyman M. C
cerning the age pension bill, as well
| penditure is a stabilizing influence in| as other legislation now before the
| the state's economy. By increasing this | House, hitting at large corporations
| expenditure through extensive promo-| which “cut and dry” all legislation be-
tion of Pennsylvania products, the | hind closed doors during recessions.
chains are aiding every person in | The meeting went on record as sug-
Pennsylvania. For increased spending | gesting that all surrounding locals be |
by the chains mean more jobs, more | asked to back the Haluska bill. John
consumption of the products of our | Feeley, a former U. M. W. of A. board
factories and hence greater purchas- | member, suggested the meeting go on
ing power all around.” | record as favoring the Townsend plan
He pointed out that this exependi- lof $60 a month dole to the aged.
ture did not include the chain store |
payrolls, nor the huge outlays for | Mm AIN STREET GARAGE
lighting, trucking, advertising and|’ ‘ ey tie :
other services. “In all,” Johnson said, | BUYS CHEVROLET CO.
AT BEDFORD, PENNA.
“chain stores spend $406,000,000 a year |
in Pennsylvania.”
Announcing that the closing days of :
“Pennsylvania Days” would ge Jeo A deal was closed this week where-
ted by further intensification of the |PY the Messrs. Warren G. and Kenneth
effort to increase consumption of Key- | Thomas, proprietors of the Main 8%
stone State products, Johnson predic- | Garage in Carrolltown, purchased the
ted that the lasting effects of the chain | Garage and Chevrolet sales and ser-
store campaign would prove a needed! Vice business of the Augustine Chev-
spur in turning Pennsylvania into the | olet Company in Bedford, Pa. The
road to recovery. | new owners took charge on Monday
and announce that they will endeavor
JOHN L. ELDER WITHDRAWS to give the same good service at the
APPLICATION FOR POSITION neighboring county seat as they have
HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT | €iven at the Main St. Garage, Carroll-
town,
Withdrawal of his application for Warren G. Thomas will take com-
the position of Cambria County roads | plete charge of the Carrolltown estab-
maintenance engineer, State Highway | lishment, and Kenneth A. Thomas will
Department, was announced Monday | be in charge at the Bedford Garage.
by John L. Elder, Ebensburg engin- | No dissolution of partnership is con-
eer. “After careful consideration, I|templated by the Thomas Bros. and
have decided to withdraw my appli- | both businesses will be conducted un-
cation,” Mr. Elder said. “I have found | der one management.
that my own business would take too
| invited to preside at the organizing |
and Railroad Brotherhoods in April { hope for peace is remote unless press- '
| bearing than is indicated at our press |
three days of the “Pennsylvania Days” | Sunday afternoon in Miners Hall, Por- |
Senator Haluska in his speech ad-|
Chevenek, presented his opinions con. |
much time so that I would not be able
to devote my entire time to the state
highway position. I wish to thank my
many friends who have been so loyal
to. me in my efforts to obtain the po-
sition.”
Apple syrup is a new rival of maple
syrup.
FOR SALE—Property on Magee av-
enue, including business and apartment
building and also residence house. Of-
fered for sale because of death of my
wife. Inquire of John J. Bigos, Patton,
Fa. 3t.
The name measles comes from a
Dutch word meaning spots.
| United Mine Workers Will Gird |
| for Some Changes in Matter |
at Wage Parley.
|
Pittsburgh — The problem of la- |
| bor saving devices which eliminate the |
| work of hundreds of soft-coal miners |
will be discussed by the United Mine |
Workers union leaders in preliminary |
wage-scale conferences in New York |
this week end.
According to P. T. Fagan, president |
of District No. 5 of the U. M. W. yy
head of the wage-scale committee from |
| the Pittsburgh district, mechanical |
loading machines have displaced hun- |
dreds of loaders, cutting production
costs. The miners feel these benefits |
should be passed on to the worker!
| through increased benefits.
Now working a 35-hour week, the |
miners will seek a 30-hour week from |
operators, in accordance with the pol- |
isy adopted by the union’s last inter- |
| national convention, and a better wage |
scale. Wage rates now range from $4.40 |
la day jor greasers, trappers, flaggers, |
| switch throwers and slate pickers to |
| $7.60 a day for loading and cutting |
{ machine operators.
As an argument for the shorter |
{ work week, the miners plan to point |
| to the fact that last year bituminous |
! coal production fell off 100 million
| tons from 1937, principally because of
| increased use of fuel oil as a substi- |
| tute for coal. |
| DIVORCE POLITICS |
FKRUM STATE WPA |
{ Harrisburg—First effects of a con-|
gressional resolution regulating politi-
cal activity on the federal works pro- |
| gram reverberated in Pennsylvania
ast Thursday with a warning to 16
directors and branch office managers
| that official affiliations are definitely
| “out,”
Everett C. Smith, acting state WPA
administrator, issued the ultimatum to
members of his staff that they are
not to retain any office with any pol-
itical organization or committee.
{ Smith's action came from an inter-
| rretation of the resolution making it
{ unlawful for any person employed by
| a federal agency paid by the funds of
| the emergency relief appropriation act
cf 1938 “to take active part in pol-
itical management or in political cam-
| paigns.’
Directors and branch managers un- |
{ der S h were asked to return signed
| statements before March 15 to the ef-
fect that all administrative and pro-
ject supervisory employes had chosen
either to retain their political affilia-
tions or their WPA employment.
Smith hastily pointed out, however,
I
|
|
{
bers of a political club or organization
but not officers.
COAL COMMISSION
REVEALS FINDINGS
»
Washington — The National Bitu-
| minous Coal Commission, resisting at-
tempts of a group of operators to re-
peal or make drastic changes in the
Federal law under which the agency
is attempting to stabilize the industry
made public a collection of views sup:
porting its policies.
These were copies of six letters re-
cently written by coal operators te
John A. Howe, chairman of the Com-
mittee for Amendment of the Coal Act,
Replying to Mr. Howe's request for
recruits in the amending campaign, the
operators in general expressed faith ip
the coal commission and urged that a
fair trial be given to the minimum
prices it is attempting to set up.
{TWO FATALLY HURT
IN FALL OF ROCK AT
MINE NEAR CLYMER
Two miners, employed in the Wil-
more Coal Company mine, near Cly-
mer, died in the Indiana hospital on
Saturday, as the result of injuries
Michael Puzh, 56, and Andy Zelio, 64,
the village of Penn Run.
that WPA employes can become mem- |
sustained in a fall of rock. They are pain, a full-sized mechanized model of
MINERS READY
TO OPEN WAGE
SCALE PARLEYS
Union Delegates from District
No. 2 and Officers Are Now
in New York.
Officials of District No. 2, United
Mine Workers of America, and the dis-
| trict scale committee named to repre-
cent approximately 46,000 Central
Pennsylvania miners, left for New
York City on Wednesday of this week,
to participate in the parley starting
today on union wage rates.
Spokesmen for District No. 2 joined
with the scale committees of the oth-
er districts in the nation and for 3
days—Thursday, friday and Saturday
--these representatives will meet in
=Xecutive session to shape up a na-
tional policy and draft United Mine
Workers of America demands which
will be laid before the representatives
cl the National eoal operators in joint
session on March 14th.
Heading the district No. 2 contin-
£ent is James Mark, district president,
together with Richard Gilbert, Clear-
field, secretary-ireasurer; Edward
Sweeney, Lilly, vice president, and
John Ghizzoni, Homer City, Interna-
tional Board member. The scale com-
mittee for central Pennsylvania con-
sists of Andrew Pokarcic, represent-
ing Indiana, Centre and Clearfield
counties; Harry Sheets, Huntingdon,
Bedford, Blair and Somerset Coun-
ties; John Sloan, of Ehrenfeld, rep-
resenting Cambria county.
Present contract between Appala-
chian operators and the United Mine
Workers expires March 31. The joint
session scheduled March 14th is for
the purpose of agreeing upon terms
of the new wage and hour agreement.
While hundreds of resolutions from
| all union districts will come before
the union’s national scale committee
at the New York meetings this week,
the committee is. under mandate from
Jasl year's constitutional convention of
the United Mine Workers of America
to ‘demand:
Changes in district or local agree-
ments,
Six hour day and thirty hour week.
Abolition of wage differentials,
Increases in wages.
Solution of mechanization problems,
JOBLESS ADVISED
TO MAKE CLAIMS
Thomas V. Hayes, manager of the
State Employment Office and the Un-
eraployment Compensation Division of
Cambria County, has warned jobless
men an women who have received job-
less insurance checks during the past
year or more, to file new claims if
they are still eligible for benefits.
Persons eligible to file a second or-
iginal claim may be disqualified if
their claims are not made by March
11, Mr. Hayes said. This is due to the
fact that a claim filed after March 11
will be based on a different series of
calendar quarters.
“A claimant whe was laid off during
the fourth quarter of 1937 or early in
the first quarter of 1938, might be eli-
gible for unemployment compensation
{on a second original claim if he files
| that claim before March 11,” Hayes
| explained. “He might be ineligible if
he files on or after that date.”
i Unemployed persons were cautioned
ic determine whether or not they are
| eligible to file claims for benefits, even
though they received their maximum
amount during 1938 and have not been
{ regularly employed. Hayes said some
| eligible claimants may find themselves
disqualified as a result of a shifting in
the base year.
PLAN MINE TESTS
AT COUNTY SEAT
Ebensburg — Examinations for ap-
rlicants seeking certificates of quali-
fication as mine foremen, assistant
foremen, chief electricians and fire
bosses will be held April 3 and 4 in
the First Presbyterian Church, Center
Street, according to an annuoncement
by State Mine Inspector W. H. Filer
of Ebensburg, chairman of the exam-
ining board.
Applicants for second-grade and
chief mine electrician certificates will
attend the examination on April 3,
while those seeking first-grade certi-
ficates must attend both days. Those
for fire boss certificates will be ex-
amined April 4,
The tests will be for applicants who
reside in the Eighth, 10 and 18 Bitu-
minous districts. Those planning to
take the examinations must notify In-
spector Filer by letter or card prior
to the dates of the tests.
To show how anesthetics deaden
$
a man will be shown on an operating
both of whom resided on farins near | table at the New York World's Fair
medical exhibid,