International projectionist (Jan-Dec 1947)

IN THE SPOTLIGHT By HARRY SHERMAN TWENTY-FIVE years ago this month, in an All-American Day address in Cincinnati, Ohio, Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., Assistant Secretary of the Navy, strongly defended the trade union movement against vigorous attacks by anti-unionists. In reply to charges of radicalism made against organized labor, he declared: "The union is forced to fight as strenuously for self-preservation as is capital. It would never do to allow either capital or labor to usurp industry, but a balance of power will make for the peace of all. "Our family has always backed the labor movement, and it was my father who best expressed to me the reasons for supporting the unions. He said: 'If I were a factory employe, a laborer on the railroads, or a wage-earner of any sort, I would undoubtedly join the union of my trade. If I were opposed to the policy of the union, I would join it for no other reason than to help rectify the mistakes. If I took exceptions to a dishonest leader, I would join that union to help to remove him. In short, I believe in the union, and I believe that all men who are benefited by the union are morally bound to help to the extent of their power in the common interest advanced by the union.' " • John Nickel, member of Pittsburgh Local 171, was elected to the executive board of the Pittsburgh Union Label Council. • My, my, but we old-timers are certainly getting on! Now it is our good friend, Bill Covert, Toronto Local 173 business agent and I. A. 2nd vice-president, who has joined the ranks of grandpops with the advent several weeks ago of his first grandchild. Welcome to the fold, "Bill; yours truly recently became a granddad for the second time. • We recently learned of a very interesting case now confronting a small I. A. Local Union. About four years ago this Local accepted an apprentice member, who shortly thereafter requested that a ballot be taken on his application for journeyman membership. Four such ballots were taken and on each ballot his application was rejected. In accordance with the I. A. Constitu tion and By-Laws his affiliation with the Local and the I. A. terminated upon his fourth rejection.. Not satisfied, however, this former apprentice filed a bill of complaint against the Local, stating that he was denied a voice and vote in the Local, and demanded that his apprentice membership be restored to him. From last reports reaching these columns, the case is now pending and the court's final decision has not yet been handed down. We will publish this decision as soon as it is rendered, for we believe there are other I. A. Locals faced with similar problems. • Our congratulations to Bill Thompson, popular business agent for Pittsburgh Local 171, upon his election to the post of secretary of the 4th District, succeeding the late Charles Brunner. • Bob LaVezzi of the LaVezzi Machine Works, Chicago, is the proud daddy of a baby girl. We intend to collect the customary cigar usually handed out on such eventful occasions when we attend the SMPE convention in Chicago the end of this month. • "Never say die" must be a favorite slogan for Harold DeLarm, business agent for Local 675, Eugene, Ore. For many years he has tried — unsuccessfully to date — to have the Oregon State Legislature enact a bill that would force exhibitors to install proper sanitary facilities in projection rooms. DeLarm, however, refuses to accept defeat and is determined to continue his fight. Chicago Local 110 and Detroit Local 199 overcame bitter exhibitor opposition to such a plan by making provisions in their contracts for several 15-minute rest periods each day for projectionists. Rather than face the possibility of darkening their theatres several times a day to allow for these rest periods, the exhibitors quickly complied with the unions' demands for proper projection room sanitation and ventilation facilities and lost little time in making the necessary installations. • Recent out-of-town visitors to the offices of I. P. included the following officers of Boston Local 182: Joe Nuzzolo, president; Walter Diehl, business agent, and Harold A. Kaitz, secretary. The boys came to New York on official business with the General Office. Diehl reminded us of our failure to mention last month that Edward Schindler was among the Local 182 members awarded diamond-studded service pins by Loew's, Inc. The oversight was unintentional. • A "welcome home" dinner was tendered Oscar Olson, former business agent of Milwaukee Local 164. Olson resigned from office several years ago because of ill health and took up residence on the West Coast. His return to Milwaukee was hailed by his many friends in and out of the union. • We are happy to report that Charles Beckman, financial secretary of New York Local 306, has fully recovered from the illness that caused him to take a leave of absence for several months, and has once more resumed his official duties. • Bruce Steinmetz, member of Local 213, Great Falls, Mont., was elected president of the Cascade County Trades and Labor Assembly for the 15th consecutive year. • We have been informed that largely because of this department's insistence that projectionists be paid time-and-a-half and double time for working week-ends and holidays in theatres where admission prices are boosted on those days, a bill was introduced in the Pennsylvania Legis "/ give preference to unionists because I am convinced that the man who gives a considerable portion of his time each week and a considerable portion of his earnings each week to try and improve the condition in which he lives, is justly entitled to more consideration than the man who remains outside and will not give a portion of his time and fraction of his money to better the conditions of himself and those who are dependent on his earnings? Judge Cusse, of the Australian Arbitration Court, April 1922. 22 INTERNATIONAL PROJECTIONIST • April 1947