1946, 1946

The papers become very spotty during both 1946 and 1947, with an average of about ten items appearing each month. During the first few months of 1946, the major topic is the attempt to roll back the USDA wage ceiling for cotton workers. During the summer, the STFU, which had changed its name to the National Farm Labor Union (NFLU) became affiliated with the AF of L; the formal NFLU request for affiliation is dated August 14. Also during the summer, the union became embroiled in a furious fight with the FTA-CIO over the seasonal employment of NFLU members at the Campbell Soup Co. in Camden, NJ. The CIO union threatened to strike the plant if NFLU workers were hired, and the NFLU retaliated with charges that the FTA-CIO was Communist-led. The National Farmers Union also became involved in the conflict, which ended when the company gave in to the CIO demands. On this subject, see the affidavit of George Stith, the NFLU representative at Campbell (Sept. 14). At the end of the year, the union started a campaign to stop the illegal entry of Mexican Nationals into Texas, where they were used to depress the wage standards of American farm labor; see especially the detailed letter from a U.S. Customs Patrol inspector at Alpine, Texas to Mitchell on why his service was unable to stop the "wetback" immigration (Dec. 9)