Journal Stories From The 2000's

L.U. No. 230 Victoria, B.C.
Editor:

The May issue of our Journal contains much that is of value and interest to our readers. For instance, the clear, concise statements of Brother Broach in his speech at the first annual meeting of the Electrical Guild of North America, in which he outlined in plain-spoken, vigorous terms, which won the applause of the gathering, the ideals which we, as a union, are striving for.

The tragic death of Vice President Wilson, a sensitive soul, so overcome by the suffering and misery which he saw around him that he felt unable to carry on the grim fight any longer and sought rest in oblivion, makes me feel that the modern Judas Iscariots, who, in their selfish greed for gold, created the conditions which caused his untimely death, will one day find their blood-stained wealth a mill stone around their necks when they stand before the last Tribunal and hear the dead decree, “Away with them; I know them not,” better for them had they never been born. No finer epitaph could be written over our late Brother’s name than this, “He loved his fellow man.”

One bright spot which is gradually appearing in the dark cloud of the present depression is the fact that those in authority are beginning to recognize that the maintenance of fair wages with shorter hours is the best remedy that can be employed to combat the present evils.

On May 26, James Farrell, president of the US Steel Corporation, in an address at the semi-annual meeting of the Iron and Steel Institute, accused the big, standard companies of his industry, of wage slashing, and further declared himself in favor of raising prices and stabilizing wages. Mr. Farrell’s address came directly after a talk with Charles M. Schwab, chairman of the Bethlehem Steel Corporation and president of the Institute. Mr. Schwab stated, I really discover no difference between my views and Mr. Farrell’s and I heartily endorse all he said.

Ministers of different denominations are beginning to be heard along these lines, too.

Monsignor Hunt of Salt Lake City on April 12, delivered an interesting radio sermon and, on request, kindly sent me a copy.

He says in part: “Man is a social being. He lives with others; he needs the help of others to enable him to attain his end. And so he has the right of freedom of association.” Here is the principle of the right to working men to form labor unions, which very often are necessary to enable them to obtain just conditions of work. It is right here that the state must step in to protect human rights. The state must protect the right of each man to live, the right to a living wage, the right to own private property, the right to security in the possession of that property, the right of freedom of association, the rights of the family, the right of husband and wife to have children, and their right to keep them together in their home. The place of the state is to protect private rights, not to invade them, and so, Mr. Editor, we see from widely different sources, an awakening to the realization of the rights of workers to employment, at fair wages, and we hope to see the time come soon when any movement which impairs those rights will be declared illegal.

Shappy.



	Published in July 1931 - I.B.E.W. Journal L.U. No. 230 Victoria, B.C. Editor: The May issue of our Journal contains much that is of value and interest to our readers. For instance, the clear, concise statements of Brother Broach in his speech at the first annual meeting of the Electrical Guild of North America, in which he outlined in plain-spoken, vigorous terms, which won the applause of the gathering, the ideals which we, as a union, are striving for. The tragic death of Vice President Wilson, a sensitive soul, so overcome by the suffering and misery which he saw around him that he felt unable to carry on the grim fight any longer and sought rest in oblivion, makes me feel that the modern Judas Iscariots, who, in their selfish greed for gold, created the conditions which caused his untimely death, will one day find their blood-stained wealth a mill stone around their necks when they stand before the last Tribunal and hear the dead decree, “Away with them; I know them not,” better for them had they never been born. No finer epitaph could be written over our late Brother’s name than this, “He loved his fellow man.” One bright spot which is gradually appearing in the dark cloud of the present depression is the fact that those in authority are beginning to recognize that the maintenance of fair wages with shorter hours is the best remedy that can be employed to combat the present evils. On May 26, James Farrell, president of the US Steel Corporation, in an address at the semi-annual meeting of the Iron and Steel Institute, accused the big, standard companies of his industry, of wage slashing, and further declared himself in favor of raising prices and stabilizing wages. Mr. Farrell’s address came directly after a talk with Charles M. Schwab, chairman of the Bethlehem Steel Corporation and president of the Institute. Mr. Schwab stated, I really discover no difference between my views and Mr. Farrell’s and I heartily endorse all he said. Ministers of different denominations are beginning to be heard along these lines, too. Monsignor Hunt of Salt Lake City on April 12, delivered an interesting radio sermon and, on request, kindly sent me a copy. He says in part: “Man is a social being. He lives with others; he needs the help of others to enable him to attain his end. And so he has the right of freedom of association.” Here is the principle of the right to working men to form labor unions, which very often are necessary to enable them to obtain just conditions of work. It is right here that the state must step in to protect human rights. The state must protect the right of each man to live, the right to a living wage, the right to own private property, the right to security in the possession of that property, the right of freedom of association, the rights of the family, the right of husband and wife to have children, and their right to keep them together in their home. The place of the state is to protect private rights, not to invade them, and so, Mr. Editor, we see from widely different sources, an awakening to the realization of the rights of workers to employment, at fair wages, and we hope to see the time come soon when any movement which impairs those rights will be declared illegal. Shappy.