THE LABORER Year No. Panama, June 29, 1945 a copy EDITORIAL INFORMATION Colon Branch Union.
OUR NEW PRESIDENT JOSE BLACKBURN these The above photograph of Mr.
Jose Blackburn, a member of the Board of Directors of the Bar Tenders and Waiters Union, who in addition, to be a member of the Board, is one of the most active and realous members of the Union.
The Executive Officers of the Bar Tenders and Waiters Union desire to bring to the attention of the inembers of the Colon Branch that as a result of steps taken in conformation with the authorization given them at the meeting of the 10th May, 1945, after some trying time, Mr. Pascual Fuentes, has final paid over to the Provincal Attorney (Fiscal) of Colon, for the Union, the sum of two hundred and ninety dollars (290. 00. which amount he states was all he was accountable for to the said union.
Inasmuch as the Executive Officers have not full knowledge of the exact amount that was in the custody of Mr. Fuentes, they were unable to dispute the same, in view of which it is intended, to call at an early date, a general meeting of all members in order to undertake further investigation of not only the then Treasurer, but other afiairs which need settlement We want to assure all concerned that we had no end of trouble with Mr. Fuentes before he would finally agree to effect settlement of the within stated amount, and this only after a communication was sent him and the ultimate hailing him before the courts It has been brought to the attention of this Union that for one full year, both Mr.
Fuentes and Mr. Celestino Estrada, have done everything possible at their command and power to hamper the Union progress. spreading of false stateinents, etc. but thanks to the untiring efforts of all those who cooperated gentlemen failed in achieving their end We are sensible to the fact that in every undertaking there must be found trouble makers, who are never comfortable unless they make others around and about them uncomfortable, but by weeding out they will be rid of. In every flock there must be a black sheep.
It is the expressed purpose of the Executive Officers of the union, that with the assistance of the membership to exert every effort to have the union placed in the forefront; with zealousness at heart and a will to serve, make our union a fact as in name.
This gentleman spares himself no pain in seeing to it that the union is kept in the forefront at all times, and left no stone unturned in his effort the build up the mmbership of the said union. We, therefore, openly commend him for his untiring service in the hope that he will continue in the future as he has to the to prosent; and it is the desire of the union that other members there of will follow along Mr. Balckburn lines.
We note with much satisfaction, deep emotion and unique pride, the several manifestations and very fine sentiments of commendation and praise exprsessed publicly and otherwise, especially those published in the local papers of His Excellency Enrique Jimenez on his assuming the office of President of the Nation. We of the Bar Tenders and Waiters Union of the Republic of Panama, use this means in joining in these manifestations and expression in high hopes that His Excellency will, through the help of Providence, on Whon he called at the time of his inauguration, carry out the promises made.
In referring to the publications of the papers cited above, all of which were to the point, special mention is made to a portion of an article in one of these papers, to wit. With the assumption of office as chief executive by Don Enrique Jimenez, a distinguished scholar, cultural gentleman, an official of proven merit and a true liberal of long standing, the Republic enters confidently upon a new era that will set the course of its destiny, and place the country among the most advanced and elevated nations of the world. The Second Constitutent Asembly has received a clear and unequivocal mandate from the people the nation is dedicated to the ideals of liberalism and democacy. That is the popular will as expressed in the recent elections, which has been accepted in every quarter as the fairest and purest held in the history of the republic. The least that can be expected, is that all their actions and troughts will be responsive to this august decision. They are not preparing a document just for to day, hurried by the dictates of expediency but for posterity and for the future greatness of the land and the hap piness of all the people within its gates. They are setting the mold into which the nation will be regenerated, and to this task the recently chosen Assemblymen can carry only consecration and devotion to the welfare of the nation and be guided by humility, justice and truth and inspired by the highest principles of humanitarianism. It would be ghastly travesty if in this supreme moment there should be manifest either self interest, cheap chauvinism or petty politics. The time requires breath of vision and greatness of spirit.
We desire to openly express our feelings of gratitude to the Editor of the paper from which the above quotation is made, and to enjoin on the public to take note thereof. In it there is much food for thought.
There is as we find among too many people of every nation, the things called: IMPERFECTION and FALLIBILITY with man, UNGRATEFULNESS so very often practiced by him; in that, while aspiring for a particular goal, he makes no end of promises, some of which, of course, he knows fully well are impossible to fulfill, ad after succeeding to that which he aspires, he proves not to be that which he was at first thought, but the contrary, uses his office to satisfy personal ends and ambitions to th edisgust and displeasure of those who had looked up to and still look to him for good leadership. The ultimate outcome of which is UNGRATEFULNESS. We predict that our present Chief Executive will not prove to be such a man.
In fact, knowing him as we do a distinguished, honest and upright son of the soil a gentleman in every sense of the word there is no reason for us to barbor for one blessed moment any COLOR (Continued com page 2) suggestion Re. Machinery and Office Equipment; American Federation of La Interpretation of certain Labor Laws Bad Interpretation Of a Labor Law In the Spanish Section of In the North American Labor vigor and the antonomy of the this paper, there appears a News, published by the Amer international labor movement.
very important article relative ican Federation of Labor, This is a statement made rethe discharge of employees. In Washington a copy of cently by Mr. Matthew Woll, this connection, we find that which we received recently by vice president of the on too numerous occasions the mail, an article appears therein Speaking in a radio program, General Labor Office, fails to under the heading EL OBRE during which President Green properly interpret Article 12, of RISMO LA PAZ. In this of the Federation begged that Decree Number of 1941 (28th article, a translation of which the Atlantic Charter be comJuly, 1941. As at present the is given below, the has plied with, he urged all the office requires employers to under consideration the free syndicates affiliated with the pay employees when discharg issuance of certain machinery and their members, to ed, e. if employed by the and office equipment to labor back the campaign in favor of week, one additional week syndicates in the countries de the Free Syndicates Committee.
pay, but we find that this vastated by war, thereby as This campaign was initiated by week pay is that of the very sisting such syndicates coming the Worhers League for the week in which discharged. On into being again. In this co Rights of Man with the aim the contrary and which is cor nection, we the Bar Tenders of collecting a million dollars rect, the decree provides that and Waiters Union of the Re to be used in reestablishing the the week part should be for public of Panama, is consider democratic and free workers the subsequent week, and foring the advisibility of ap movements in the liberated work by the day, in like man proaching the American Fede countries ner, also monthly employees rationi Labor in the premiMr will be paid one full month ses. In that we would be willWoll explained the propay in addition to the month ing to treat with the Federa ject of endowing labor movealready worked tion on the idea of its loaning ments of these countries with to the syndicates in Latin printing machines, publicity Employees intend quitting America with a view of selling writings and illustrative their employment are required to them like machines. It is movies, also the paying or rent to give their employers a like a fact that to the present our of localities for syndicates, the amount of days week or month printing of the LABORER is salary of office staff and pronotice in advance of quitting done by one of the local press, portionate typewriters and ofin order that their employeers but at times delays are caused fice effects may secure proper replace through circumstances over He also said that the workers ments.
which the press has no con of China are equally in need trol. resulting in embarrassInasmuch as the law 1s of assistance Predicting for ments to us.
quite clear on the subject, China after this war, an indusWe give, as stated above, the there is no excuse on the part try of the highest pitch, he translation: of the labor office or emplourged prompt action be taken The economic stability and yers, as well as employees makto avoid exploitation of the ing an misintrepretation y workers of that country which peace of the world after this thereof.
war, will depend highly on the (Continued on page 2)
BIBLIOTECA NACIONAL ERNESTO CASTILLERO