Journal Stories From The 2000's

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

Though Local 230 is suffering from hard times the same as all other locals of the Brotherhood, yet we are carrying on, keeping the cards of members out of work paid up to the best of our ability.

Some time ago the management of our utility company cut down the number of working days per week of the linemen, and later on laid off some of them. With a fine, unselfish spirit the linemen requested the management to still shorten the working days and divide the work so that these Brothers could be put back on and all share alike. This request was granted. If that same unselfish spirit would permeate the moneyed classes, what a different old world this would be!

Horseshoes are on again and believe me we have some experts in the game. “The Gold Dust Twins,” Brothers Matt and Joe Ball, are tossing ringers so fast that they look like doughnuts on a stick, but even at that Brothers Tonman, Brown, Peck and Shorty Haines keep them guessing. One day even the recording secretary relaxed his stately dignity long enough to demonstrate to Brothers “Smiler” Bradshaw and “Bungie-eye” McKenzie that mature judgment is more to be relied on than youthful enthusiasm. The laughter and shouting which takes place at this sport helps a lot to “push dem clouds away.”

The celebrated Canadian novelist, Ralph Connor, is writing a series of articles in the Western Home Monthly, published in Winnipeg, on our present troubles, one of which says in part:

Is the Present Social Order Doomed?

“Of the population of the United States, 120,000,000, the following is the classification as to material possessions: 17 per cent of population, 20,400,000, have a bare existence; 59.6 per cent of population, 71,520,000, are poor; 76.6 per cent of population, 91,920,000, have less than enough; 10.1 per cent of population, 12,240,000, have more than enough; .1 per cent of population, 120,000, have one-fifth of national income.

“The prospect for the future is even more disturbing. The richest of the rich have doubled their share in the last 10 years, the rich have held their own, and the poor have made no gains.

“Look at these figures: Since 1927 – production has increased 11 per cent; wages have increased 4 per cent; profits have increased 51 per cent.

“This appalling discrepancy between rich and poor in the most highly industrialized nation in the world and at its highest peak of prosperity constitutes a terrible indictment of our present industrial system as a nation-building agency.”

The concluding paragraph of this article says:

“The axe is laid at the root of tree.’ And the axeman will be no wild-eyed Marxian Communist, but one of those lads that pushed over Vimy Ridge, a sane and even cheery chap, but in a fight against tyranny, terrible, relentlessly terrible. He will sweep things bare.”

In the death of our late Brother Charles P. Ford, the International at large has suffered the loss of one who placed his high talents unreservedly at the disposal of the cause so dear to him, the protection and betterment of labour conditions, and though his well-known abilities brought him offers of lucrative positions in the business world, he never wavered in his devotion to his ideal and followed its white, shining light to the very end,. In honor of our late Brother, the charter of Local No. 230 was draped for a period of 30 days.

Shappy.



	Published in May 1932 - I.B.E.W. Journal L.U. No. 230 Victoria, B.C. Editor: Though Local 230 is suffering from hard times the same as all other locals of the Brotherhood, yet we are carrying on, keeping the cards of members out of work paid up to the best of our ability. Some time ago the management of our utility company cut down the number of working days per week of the linemen, and later on laid off some of them. With a fine, unselfish spirit the linemen requested the management to still shorten the working days and divide the work so that these Brothers could be put back on and all share alike. This request was granted. If that same unselfish spirit would permeate the moneyed classes, what a different old world this would be! Horseshoes are on again and believe me we have some experts in the game. “The Gold Dust Twins,” Brothers Matt and Joe Ball, are tossing ringers so fast that they look like doughnuts on a stick, but even at that Brothers Tonman, Brown, Peck and Shorty Haines keep them guessing. One day even the recording secretary relaxed his stately dignity long enough to demonstrate to Brothers “Smiler” Bradshaw and “Bungie-eye” McKenzie that mature judgment is more to be relied on than youthful enthusiasm. The laughter and shouting which takes place at this sport helps a lot to “push dem clouds away.” The celebrated Canadian novelist, Ralph Connor, is writing a series of articles in the Western Home Monthly, published in Winnipeg, on our present troubles, one of which says in part: Is the Present Social Order Doomed? “Of the population of the United States, 120,000,000, the following is the classification as to material possessions: 17 per cent of population, 20,400,000, have a bare existence; 59.6 per cent of population, 71,520,000, are poor; 76.6 per cent of population, 91,920,000, have less than enough; 10.1 per cent of population, 12,240,000, have more than enough; .1 per cent of population, 120,000, have one-fifth of national income. “The prospect for the future is even more disturbing. The richest of the rich have doubled their share in the last 10 years, the rich have held their own, and the poor have made no gains. “Look at these figures: Since 1927 – production has increased 11 per cent; wages have increased 4 per cent; profits have increased 51 per cent. “This appalling discrepancy between rich and poor in the most highly industrialized nation in the world and at its highest peak of prosperity constitutes a terrible indictment of our present industrial system as a nation-building agency.” The concluding paragraph of this article says: “The axe is laid at the root of tree.’ And the axeman will be no wild-eyed Marxian Communist, but one of those lads that pushed over Vimy Ridge, a sane and even cheery chap, but in a fight against tyranny, terrible, relentlessly terrible. He will sweep things bare.” In the death of our late Brother Charles P. Ford, the International at large has suffered the loss of one who placed his high talents unreservedly at the disposal of the cause so dear to him, the protection and betterment of labour conditions, and though his well-known abilities brought him offers of lucrative positions in the business world, he never wavered in his devotion to his ideal and followed its white, shining light to the very end,. In honor of our late Brother, the charter of Local No. 230 was draped for a period of 30 days. Shappy.