Jackson Advocate

THE BELL TOLLS
By LEONARY H. BELL

American democracy is a paradox that needs constant study and attention in these times of world revolution and steady movement of those so long oppressed, toward freedom. For instance:

From Monrovia, Liberia we hear that the Liberian workers on the Firestone Rubber Plantation staff have outlined the grievances which led to the labor disturbances here recently. The trouble started originally as long ago as November 28, and was the result of pent-up feelings.

Later in early February it flared up again. Beginning in the garage the strike spread rapidly through all the main plantations as far as the big shipping port of Marshall.

The formal statement drawn up by the workers said according to unofficial sources; an increase in pay; they contend their salaries are not commensurate with their living requirements; that they were getting poorer the longer they worked for Firestone. Monthly pay. they contended was or should have been different for classified employees, instead of being figured on a daily basis as that of ordinary employees, especially since they had served the Company for a long time. They say that the United States Trading Company maintained by Firestone charged them too high for the ordinary necessities of life. They also demanded a reduction of working hours. And strange enough they had to demand better hospital treatment for their dependents and themselves. And in order to salvage some of their salaries they asked for free transportation for all employees. And they asked that every classified employee be granted a two-week annual vacation for classified employees.

Many grievances were voiced by the strikers against their immediate plantation owners, or chiefs who did not pay them the amounts booked for them by the Labor Department.

American loans from white and black Americans taxes pay the tariff in every oppressed country for the above conditions to exist.