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CHILDREN GETFAMINE PAY IN

SWEATSHOPSDeplorable Condition Bared

by Industrial Survey inPennsylvania.

By Rrrippa-Hntcnrd Xrwapaper UlinnccPITTSBURGH May s.—Cut-

throat competition and depressionprices were blamed today for a sor-did story of “penny labor by babesin the mills,” as disclosed here bythe Pittsburgh Press in a state-widesurvey of child labor.

Employment of underpaid childlabor is reported growing at an un-precedented rate as more and moreadult workers go on relief rolls.

Pennsylvania laws do not restrictemployment of children, but theMethodist Preachers’ Associationhere has called on Governor GiffordPinchot, an enemy of child labor,to create a commission to investi-gate sweatshops, and to hold thelegislature in session to set up sucha commission.

This action was urged followingdisclosures of numerous sweatshops,many of them fly-by-night con-cerns which have moved from placeto place to avoid competition andthe labor laws of other states.

Long Hours Allowed

One of them moved his shirt shopfrom New' York City to Troy, N.Y., only to encounter a state lawwhich caused him to move to asmall city in this state, where hecan work women ten hours a dayand fifty-four hours a week.

But the other day this immigrantmanufacturer lost a big order toa competing Pennsylvania sweat-shop operator who employes chil-dren at much lower wages. Fifty-twoper cent of the workers in this man’sshop were found by state officials tobe under 18 years of age, and 24per cent under 16. Wages hereranged from $1.65 to SB, for not one.but two, weeks.

Inquiry by the state departmentof labor and industry shows thatchildren in the clothing and textileindustries average $3.10 a week.20 per cent of them get less than$2 a week.

Mrs. Cornelia Bryce Pinchot, wifeof Governor Pinchot, in her privateinvestigation of young girls work-ing in textile mills, discovered un-imaginably low' wages.

Paid Starvation Wages

Trimmers in many of the sw’eatshops manufacturing shirts are paidat the rate of 3 cents a dozen shirts.But inquiry by the state departmentuncovered a widespread practice of"short-change.”

Tally of the sw'eat shop operatorsrarely amounts to as much as thatof the workers. Many dozens ofshirts are trimmed without pay.

An 18-year-old high school grad-uate, working in a Pottsdow'n fac-tory, gluing edges on shoes, earns51.90 a week, with 90 cents for car-fare.

In Wilkes-Barre, a pants factorykept its 16-year-old girl employesat work eleven hours daily.

Another Wilkes-Barre sweatshopforbade time for lunch.

“They need all the money theycan make,” the manager told a stateinvestigator.

Sewing companies now are pay-ing children 2 cents for puttingpockets on a dozen shirts (twenty-four pockets i, a job formerly paying13 cents a shirt.

During the last two years when manymoving picture firms have been going intoreceiverships or otherwise suffering finan-cial pangs, a small outfit, Columbia Pic-tures. steadily has been growing andstrengthening its position. The result isthat its ratio ot current assets o liabili-ies is 3 to 1.

. ...

How the Cohn Brothers, president andvice-president, have succeeded in defyingthe depression. George Britt tells in thisthird of six articles.

By GEORGE BRITT.Times Special Writer

NEW YORK, May s.—An old-fashioned flickering silent

moving picture called “Traffic inSouls.” which opened in JoeWeber's theater November 24, 1913,taught a great lesson to theBrothers Cohn, and, fortunately,they never forgot it.

The picture dealt with a sub-ject then very much in the news-white slavery. Historically it was5t landmark in the film industry,for it showed what never had beenappreciated adequately before, thetremendous box office value of sex.

But to the Cohns, Harry andJack, destined in about nineteenyears to become president and vicepresident of their own ColumbiaPictures Corporation, “Traffic inSouls” spoke another message interms of the balance sheet.

It cost $5,700, as Jack Cohn wollknew from having helped produceit, and its gross earnings were$450,000.

“Therefore,” reasoned theBrothers Cohn, “it isn't necessaryto shoot the works like a drunkensailor to earn money on a picture.”

That idea steadied themthrough all the years in whichthey saw film giants waging abattle of bankrolls around them.One depression fortune has beenbuilt in the movies apparently,and it belongs to the Cohns ofColumbia Pictures.

As the larger companies havegone into receivership or sufferedreorganizations and accumulatedheadaches. Columbia has enjoyedthe best business in its history.

It is earning more and has moreto spend than ever before. Dur-ing the bank holiday in March,most of the Hollywood studiosalso took a holiday; virtually mostall of them cut salaries in half.

IT was little old Columbia, not soold and not so little any more,

that first announced it was goingback to full production and fullpay. It's program was twenty-sixfeature pictures three years agoand now it is forty-eight.

Well, in the name of all theblonde and starry-eyed goddessesin Hollywood, how did they do it?

The answer is thrift. The storyfits so perfectly, it is a pity Ben-jamin Franklin himself is notpresent to tell it.

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OLUMBIA PICTURES startedback in Hollywood's famous

“Poverty Row,” where single dol-

lars are accustomed to doing thework of ten spots in the big lav-ish studios. Jack Cohn went intoth business as a boy a quarter-century ago. He did everythingin Carl Laemmle's old “Imp"company in Broadway.

He used to shoot two-reel west-erns away up in the open spacesat Broadway and Dyckman street.In those days he had to tell hisactors and directors they weremaking a one-reel picture, thentry to piece it out to two with lab-oratory shots. If he told themit was two-reel in the first place,they would use up too much timeand film.

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THE Cohns are showmen.Brought up on New York’s

east side, they removed in earlyyouth to Broadway, and therefound home and school and placeof worship. Jack, the elder andfirst in picture production, hasshifted to business management,and rules the New York office.

Harry, heavier now than whenhe was a hoofer, is in command ofthe Hollywood studios. They havea shrewd eye for profit, a knackfor running on a shoe-string.

Their system was very simple.Rafael Sabatini

The latest historical romanticHovel of Sabatini is called “TheStalking Horse." It concerns thedays of William of Orange and es-pecially the sad love experiences ofLady Lochmore. It is published byHoughton Mifflin Company and sellslor $2.

BY WALTER D. HICKMAN

IT is a conservative statement tomake at this time when indivi-

duals gather for conversation onetopic that is always discussed is thedepression and its cure.

Right now with the front pages ofthe dailies covered with the newsof legislative action concerning cur-rency reforms, the desire now of thecareful reader is for books whichhave thoughtful discussions of theproblem as well as a program.

I firmly bclive that Thomas EwingDabney, financial editor of "TheNew Orleans States," has such dis-cussion and a program for relief in“Revolution or Jobs.”

It has just been published by TheDial Press, lnc„ and sells for $1.50.

The other morning I had this redcovered book with me when I cameto town on a bus. An elderlywoman sitting oy my side saw theflaming title of “Revolution Or Jobs”and said to me—“Four years ago ifJ had seen you with a book of sucha title I would have classed you asa dangerous citizen. Now I wantto borrow the book.”

More and more people are askingfor books which deal with theproblems that our national govern-ment is attempting to solve andcorrect.

Dabney writes that he beganwriting his book in December, J.032,and finished it in February of thisyear. Since then we have had abank-collapse.

He writes—-“President Roosevelthas made an impressive start atrevising the worst banking systemin the world. But finances are notan end. only a means, of measuringproduction and facilitating distribu-tion. The satisfactions of life arcthe end.”

Here are a few of Dabney's con-clusions as well as warnings:

"The country's need today is moredire than when I began to write.Those who had no jobs when allthe banks closed, have no jobs nowthat some of them have opened.

“Many more have lost their jobssince then; many have suffered sal-ary and wage cuts. The businesslost during the interdict is produc-tion lost—jobs.

“The money lost in banks thatcould not reopen is purchasingpower lost—jobs. The huge con-struction program announced by thePresident is conterbalanced by thehuge economy program adopted bycongress, and so purchasing poweris held at the old dead level."

Sigmund Odenheimer is a suc-cessful New Orleans business man.He terms the people standing inbread lines “the parade of pain.”

The claim is that his plan willgive jobs for every one, all the time,and the result will be a general in-crease.

Here is another deduction of theauthor: "The crash was caused bycollapse of purchasing power. Theeconomic structure became over-bal-anced. Too much money went intoprofits and new capital investmentto add to a machine that was al-ready larger than the consumingpower, and too little went to wages.”

And then this truth: "Every timea man loses a job, he becomes thecompetitor of the man who has ajob. and. his competition takes theform, ‘l'll do it for less.’”

The cure is—jobs. And—“We canhave those jobs if we remove fear.”

The Odenheimer plan calls forcongressional action "to open thesejobs"; amend the Constitution socongress has the power to legislateon hours of labor; then the appoint-ment of hours of labor commissionand the working hours fixed in anyindustry or locality and violations to'*> punished by fine and imprison-ment.”

The plan estimates a work-weekof twenty-four hours is needed "togive jobs to every one.” And asconditions get better, the plan worksin a high rate of pay.

Here is a big and interesting plan.You will find it worth while to read“Revolution or Jobs." Agree or not,you have a right to read it.

• a a

Been asked to suggest a bookwhich gives "a good account of thetraining, growth and background ofthe life of President Roosevelt.”Such a book I think is "My BoyFranklin,” as told by Mrs. JamesRoosevelt, mother of the President,to Isabel Leighton and GabrielleForbush. It is published by RayLong and Richard R. Smith. Itsells for $1.50.

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Has Vicki Baum written anewbook since she spoke here? At ieastshe has one published by Douole-day-Doran It is called "Helene.'',In this story a woman succeeds jagainst heavy odds. j

Situation Is Deploredfill Svriiiim-Howani Xcwspaper Allia<ice

WASHINGTON. May s.—Thesweatshop and child labor situationin some industrial states is a matter

! of deep concern to the children’sbureau of the department of labor,the official guardian of the nation’s

| children.This was made plain here today

by Miss Grace Abbott, nationallyknown social worker and veteranchief of the children’s bureau. MissAbbott is one of the few departmen-

| tal executives who served underPresidents Coolidge and Hoover andis continuing in a similar capacityunder President Roosevelt.

Miss Abbott is hopeful that thelegislature will heed the plea ofPennsylvania social workers and en-act remedial legislation. She ishopeful, also- that the situation inPennsylvania will be reached by en-actment of the pending thirty-hourweek bill with a provision for mini-mum wages.

A survey under Miss Abbott’s di-rection disclosed that the depres-sion vitally is affecting the childrenof the nation through their health, ;their home environment, their jobs,and their schooling.

This condition. Miss Abbott fears,likely will continue, because pastsurveys have disclosed that whenemployment conditions improve, thenumber of child workers decreasesmore slowly than adult workers in-crease.

HIGH SCHOOL”BAND ISPLAYING WITH CIRCUS

Sullivan Organization ProvidesMusic for San R. Dill Shows.

By l Hitiand PrcsSULLIVAN. Ind.. May s.—Mem-

bers of the Sullivan high schoolband w? ere performing under the"big top” this week and obtainingfirst hand knowledge of circus life. ;

They are traveling with the SamB. Hill shows, playing for the pa-rades and giving concerts beforeeach performance. They are beingaccompanied by Tolman Charts, |supervisor of music in the Sullivanschools.

The tour was arranged by FredF. Bays. Sullivan, who directs sev-eral acts in the circuit.

COPS ARE AMBITIOUS1,207 on Boston Force Apply for

Promotion Examination.By United Prc**

BOSTON, May s.—Boston police- jmen are nothing if not ambitious. IRecently a call went out for patrol- imen who wished to take an ex-amination for promotion to sergeant.Not less than 1,207 patrolmen re-sponded.

They didn't keep a company ofhigh-priced stars on hand undercontract. When they neededElaine Hammerstein or HobartBosworth or any of the other bignames, they hired them by theday.

They got their scripts all readyto shoot in advance, instead ofchanging the story after it was halftaken.

By 1926 they had moved into abig studio of their own, but theystuck to the old economics of “Pov-

INDIANAPOLIS, FRIDAY, MAY 5, 1933

THRIFT IS BASIS OF FILM FORTUNEDepression Proves Tonic Instead of Damper for Columbia

Constance Cummings and Lee Tracy in a scene from “WashingtonMerry-Go-Round,” one of the most successful Columbia Aims.

And then came the sad year1930, peak year for chain owner-ship by film producers. Many ofthem found that all the moneythey earned from making pictureswas swallowed by their deficitsfrom exhibiting them. And thebonded debt on the theaters stillhad to be carried.

The big producers began drop-ping theaters with the earnest-ness of a man holding hot pota-toes

Nowq as the producers left thetheaters new doors were openedto Columbia, This year for thefirst time the Warner Bros.’ the-aters contracted to take the en-tire Columbia output.

Likewise the R. K. O. theatersand other chains. The companyaltogether reports it is sellingfilfs to 500 more theaters thisyear than last.

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FURTHERMORE, since Colum-bia has learned in general to

make the same picture for lessmoney, it has a peculiar advan-tage in the competitive marketwith theaters wanting above all

erty Row.” They were almost theonly graduate of “Poverty Row” tomake the grade in movie society.And still Columbia was out ofstep. .

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FOR by this time the othercompanies were organizing

chains of houses to exhibit theirown pictures, and they steppedout into the real estate field inhot competition. But Columbiasimply hadn’t the money to getinto that race.

Entered as Second-Class Mattprat Postoffice. Indianapolis

srst in picture production, has \ ——te. I'shifted to business management, \ j; . .:: • *-~ 'T ' zi'Pi ’ftind rules the New York office 't' 'tie was a hoofer, is in command of t .£/ • k\ shrewd eye knack \

’

* ' ffW $/ I[or running on a shoe-string. \ * Jr Jf f If V ’J imfo

Their .system was very simple. g m j

H' z’* Harry Cohn (left) and his brother. Jack.

And then came the sad year things to cut the cost of overheaMl 1930. peak year for chain owner- The other producers in chori

e ‘ '■ ship by film producers. Many of have started a demand for studi.; • . ...

~..

to get on to the Columbia systcthem found that all the money of economical productionthcy earr!fd front diking Pictures Qne thing more the Cohns hat

jy- 'vas swa lowed by their deficits accomplished in the depressiommm\ from exhibiting thetm And the they have brought out their pari'V-5 1 w°nQed dPb °n lh3 theaters sUU ner Joe Brandt and become so’usMfci bad , be cair i cd - masters of their company, HarikTSBEBIgSKS Th - blg Producers bc^an and- Cohn succeeding to the pres

ping theaters with the earnest- dpnrv1 ness of a man holding hot. pot.a- . \

I as the story goes, when Branc

things to cut the cost of overhead.The other producers in chorus

have started a. demand for studiosto get on to the Columbia systemof economical production.

One thing more the Cohns haveaccomplished in the depression,they have brought out their part-ner Joe Brandt and become solemasters of their company, HarryCohn succeeding to the presi-dency.

That happened a year ago.’Arid,as the story goes, w'hen Brandtwouldn't take the market price of$8 a share for his stock, the con-fident brothers paid him his priceof SSO, or $1,000,000 for 20,000shares.

Having more money to spend,now', the company has announcedan increased budget for produc-tion—while many rivals are cut-ting dowm. They intend to makebigger pictures. They paid about$25,000 for the play “TwentiethCentury” recently, an unheard-ofprice in the old days for a Colum-bia story.

Next: Bernard E. Smith, WallStreet Speculator.

GANG TERROR! SWAY SHIFTS

TO FOOD FIELDY

Tribute Is Levied by Thugson Markets: Stir War in

Farm Areas.By Scripps-Hotcard Xctmpapcr Allinnct

WASHINGTON. May s.—Con-fronted by anew race of gangstersand new gangster tactics. Attorney-General Homer S. Cummings hasmobilized the agencies under hiscommand for war on the elementswhich have levied tribute on foodproducts from Manhattan marketsto farm strike areas in the ‘mid-west.

It is understood that severalgrand juries now’ are investigatingactivities of the men who havearisen as successors to the jailed A1Capone and the dead “'Legs” Dia-mond.

The internal revenue depart-ment is furnishing leads in .nanycases through income tax inquiries,and other branches are looking intothe source of gansters' wealth.

“Muscle in” on MarketsAlthough prohibition still pro-

vides lucrative source of revenue,and the underworld has made an ef-fort to capture breweries under fed-eral license, the gangsters haveturned to food products, like fishand poultry, in large cities, or re-sumed activities in those fields tem-porarily by federal prosecutions ayear ago.

At the risk of violating an in-junction decree, they are alleged tobe “muscling” into these marketsagain. At one time it was estimated

I they took a cut in the sale and dis-tribution of staple foods.

It also is reported that each farmstrike in lowa and other states has.in its secondary stage, been aidedand abetted by gangsters’ agents,seeking new fields for profits.

Last fall's strike was said to lwvabeen prolonged by this development,many gangsfrom Chicago and uthercities blocking the roadsides longafter the real farmers had returnedheme.

Shift to Food FieldWith prohibition repeal expected

soon, it is believed the underw'orldis setting up machinery for collect-ing toll through other sources—atribute that will inflict sufferingand higher prices.

In many large cities the gang-sters already have begun to shiftfrom liquor trade to extortion ofbasic industries. In the past theselatter fields have not furnished suchprofitable returns as bootlegging,and have been left to the smallerfry.

Now' the “big shots,” unless brokenup more thoroughly than ever be-fore, simply will transfer their ma-chinery.

The Indianapolis Times Second Section

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