Page ACCION June 15, 1948.
TODAYS TRENDS EDITORIAL Local 713 The visit of Local 713 delegates to the United States opens (Continued from Page. 1)
up stirring new vistas and horizons for the silver workers.
By FOSTER BOURNES These people more than ever now have the ear of Citizens Convention delegates We recommend Convention time to all who seek an were and the Congress.
unabridged version of the deeper meaning of the labor The trip of the delegates is in every sense an epoch making shocked to hear that the mistruggle in the United States today. The drama, the occurence in the bitter struggle of the silver employees for nimun wage was only 22c! on tragedy and pathos, and the comedy of it, are on disa better way of life. It is a milestone on the rocky path of the Canal Zone and that there play for all to see. For these people who represent a suffering and frustation.
was no decent retirement sys true cross section of America have not travelled thouEverywhere people gasped and shook their heads in won tem for the old and faithful sands of miles for sport; they are playnig for keeps and derment when they heard from the lips of Ampudia, Alexis, employees. Deep concern was the stakes are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Bournes, Lewis and Green of the incredible degree of discri shown by the convention over They have come from inland and coastal states covering mination. Who would believe that an employee with over 40 the length and breadth of these United States.
years service, one who helped dig the canal, was rewarded for the low wages generally paid Here seated at a centre table is a delegation from his labor with a pathetic 25 monthly pension? citizens the so called silver employees Mississippi, the Bilbo State, and over there two tables hung their heads in shame when they heard of a 22cl per hour and the fact that no provisions away is a group from Minessota, familiarly known as minimum wage of the Canal Zone.
had been made for a general the Iron Range. Way up front is representation from Can this be the United States government they asked, across the board increase.
the sun kissed shores of California, while off to the left amazed. Do you mean to tell me that our government not Local 713 submitted ten reis speed conscious super mechanised New York. And only condones these conditions but enforces them.
solutions calling for a 40c mifrom outside too. Panama delegation travelled 500 uch were the questions coming from the audiences that nimum wage, enforcement of miles while Hawaii lone representative covered a dislistened in amazement and shame everywhere the delegates tance of 6, 000 miles.
the recommendations of the Went.
President Committee on CiA WORKINGMAN DEMOCRACY There was no need to exaggerate. It was only necessary The racial minorities are well represented here. This to tell of conditions as they actually existed to win the over vil Rights, improvements in the present classification whelming sympathy and support of people from all walks or system concourse of delegates is a mixture of races, religions establishment life.
of a Juvenile and political beliefs. They have many kindred virtues but one thing principally. They are fighting mad. Yes, The 550 delegates attending the UPW convention went Court, the setting up of a dethey are mad at Taft Hartley; incoherent with rage at home with this tale burning in their ears and with a hard cent retirement system, improthe Mundt bill; hurling hell and damnation at the Keefe spoken resolve to spread the story far and wide and mobilize vement in housing conditions, support for their brothers and sisters in the Zone.
equal job opportunities, provirider. They vow as one, friend and foe alike, to fight sions for better recreational faevery piece of repressive legislation emanating from committee of cutstanding Negro and white leaders, in cilit the halls of Congress.
cluding Paul Robenson and Abel Plenn, author of Wind in cilities, the granting of a genHere again is exemplified the true American spirit the Olive Trees, has already been formed to put the spotlight eral wage increase for all emon the cancer in the Zone.
which nixed the nazis at Normandy, and annihilated the ployees to cover the increased Nips at Nagasaki. This is that breed of fighting men Not even the nine Congressmen who listened to the dele cost of living, and elimination and women that has always refused to even contemplate gates had known fully of the true conditions on the Zone. Of of tuition charges for employees defeat.
course other Congressmen had visited the Canal Zone on many living outside the Canal Zone.
They laugh a little, and play little, but underneath occasions but the plight of the so called silver employee was in adopting the resolutions the Convention called upon the Preit all the grim life and death struggle runs like warp not publicized by them.
sident of the United States, weaving through the woof. They will have no truck The Congressmen plied the delegates with numerous ques.
with racial discrimination and segregation, nor will they tions. They learned of the silver wage scales and then were members of Congress and the cater to the exploitation of minorities. They stand up astonished to learn that silver employees paid the same Canal Zone authorities to allevand speak their minds out for a democratic America.
prices in government commissaries. How do you manage to iate the conditions cited and called upon the International GOOD NEIGHBORS ALL survive, they asked. No one could answer.
Union officers to do everything Here friendship between the races in genuine and The nine Congressmen pledged their complete support to uninhibited, as tre struggle of white and black intervolve.
Local 713 program and outlined their plans to attack the in their power to seek an early solution to these problems. The need and the hope of a better world is no dream here, problem. At last the silver employees will have an effective The considerable time spent but a searing and surging reality. Caucasian, Negroid, voice in Congress.
and Monglolid are working side by side with the same Whether it was Haroldo Ickes, newspaper reporters, or just by the Convention in discussing eagerness and enthusiasm to develop workable norms union members, the story was the same. The same astonish the Local 713 resolutions indicated the sincere interest in for a real progressive social system.
ment, the same sense of shame and the same determination to the problems of the so called This is Convention time; School teachers, sanitation put their shoulder to the wheel.
usilver workers by the deworkers, salaried white collar employees, common laborToday the United States no longer think of silver em legates and their desire to asers, waitresses, cooks, truck drivers, chemists, librarians, ployees as workers in a silver mine. They see them as the stenographers, all mingle freely to discuss the problems cast offs and derelicts of an ungrateful government, still un sist in every way possible in achieving the set proposals of the day. They plan and work together and from swerving in their loyalty to their creation The Panama Catheir combined efforts evolve policy and program to diwal. The tears of shame are now being converted to words forth in the resolutions. The rect the destinies of UPW CIO for the next two years.
and action. The silver workers can rest assured that they Local 713 delegation expressed It is amazing the capacities and capabilities displayed have powerful friends and mighty voices in the United States. complete satisfaction with the by the trade unionists.
The Iron Curtain on the silver side of the Zone has been manner in which the resolutions were presented to the Conven In four days of Convention time a tremendous volifted and the sight was not beautiful to see.
tion and were pleased that conlume of work has been completed and they emerge tired siderable Convention time had but happy. They disperse as they came inauspiciously, been taken to discuss them for all parts of the United States to tell and retell the fully.
strange tales they had heard. Like missionaries crusading for the democratic ideal, they will try to find the answer to Hawaii question. He was known as Hawaii because no one could remember his name. In Brig. Gen. Francis Newcomer, Shocked committee he asked: Do you mean to say that in CaGovernor, The Panama Canal, nal Zone black men gets less pay for same work? hat Balboa Heights, Continued from Page. 1) Why hung in the air unanswered.
Dear Governor Newcomer: With a feeling of gratification over a flash received by Jim Crow conditions faced by radio from the United States today, to the effect that the the so called silver workers on the Panama Canal Zone are Senate definitely confirmed your appointment as the new goas bad as the discrimination vernor of the Panama Canal, We hasten therefore to extend our faced by the Negro in Missis General Joseph Mehaffey, warmest felicitations and best wishes on this happy occasion.
sippi. o Coronel Frank Wang, In addition may we assure you of the continued loyalty of the officers of Local 713, UPW CIO and the mass of silver delegation that he intended to The Panama Canal, Congressman Powell told the Executive Secretary employees in general, who with unremitting zeal shall support visit the Panama Canal Zone in Balboa Heights, your administration as Governor of the Panama Canal. the not too far distant future Dear General Mehaffey: Very respectfully yours, to make a further study of the LEROY INNISS, discriminatory conditions. In The completion of your service as Governor of the PaActing Recording Corresponding Secretary. the meanwhile, he had the other nama Canal is to the many silver employees and especially to Congressmen promise to take the officers and members of Local 713, UPW CIO a very reMr. Leroy Inniss, every possible step to improve grettable incident to be recorded in the annals of our negotiaActg. Recording Corresponding Secretary, the conditions of these tions with the Government of the Panama Canal, particularly emUnited Public Workers of America, Local No. 713, ployees of the govern under your most remarkable administratorship.
Drawer I, Cristobal, ment.
Indeed, we are greatly disadvantaged through the lack of My dear Mr. Inniss: adequate words to convey our sincere feelings to you at this Your very kind message of congratulations has been retime when our parting is inevitable. We are, however, conceived and wish to express my appreciation to you and the fident that you are fully aware of our gratefulness for the keen members of Local 713, UPW CIO.
ACCION interest you have always taken in matters of extreme concern It has been my observation and conviction, as well as my Published twice a month by to the silver employees and for this unselfish and sincere atpredecessor s, that the mass of the silver employees are comtitude we are greatly indebted to you, and say with all our UPW CIO LOCAL 713 pletely loyal and your assurance of their continued support of heart thank you and may your life be spared to enjoy the fruits my administration is very gratifying. It will be my purpose PUBLICITY COMMITTEE resulting from your many humanitarian actions to a humble to give the fullest consideration to all matters that affect the group of unfortunate people.
Wilfred Wason, Chairman welfare of the employees and am confidently anticipating In conclusion it our fond hope that you new assignment reciprocal cooperation in matters affecting the efficient oper REPRESENTATIVES will be crowned with an abundance of success coupled with ation of The Panama Canal and Railroad.
good health and happiness.
Peter Forbes, LeRoy Inniss, Sincerely, Very sincerely yours, Christopher Harewood, NEWCOMER, LEROY INNISS, Thomas, Viedel Anthony Governor.
Actg. Recording Corresponding Secretary.
NEWCOMER HAILS LOYALTY OF SILVER EMPLOYEES Local 713 Bids Mehaffey Farewell BIBLIOTECA NACIONAL ERNESTO CASTILLERO