The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1913-05-02
LABOR LECTURERS
American Federation Plans {
Speakers Bureau.
70 PRESENT CAUSE OF TOLL,

Iected-The incompetent Do More
Harm Than Good.
Those things which we hold to be
true are what determine action, ideals
and ultimate destiny. Since public
conviction and public will control poll
cies and opportunities it is of greatest
Importance that these should be found
ed upon correct Impressions and In
formation that development may be
along the best lines and the least pos
Bible hindrance be placed in the path
of progress. Great truths and great
movements have not infrequently beer
retarded or even killed because Of the
prejudice or misconceptions existing
In the minds of the public. 1t is i'm
portant not only to establish the think
ing habit in our nation. but to enable
all to think truly and correctly. A
cause hampered by prejudice and iii
will must use part Of Its energies IN
combating these hindrances and is pre-
vented from utilizing all of its power
for normal activities and for realizing
its greatest usefulness.
Recognizing the influence Of igno-
rance and misconception. all great or
ganizations and movements have al
most universally adopted the policy
Of establishing publicity departments.
through which they can control the
trend of public opinion In the making
rather than be compelled to combat
an unfriendly attitude that has become
crystallized They have also realized
the mischievous consequences of al
lowing false statements to remain un-
controverted and false impressions of
policies and purposes to be circulated
without contradiction. The public, with
no other information at hand, would
accept as true false statements fire.
quently repeated and would be infiu-
enced accordingly. Publicity depart
ments are established to challenge In
correct statements and to place the
movements before the public in such
way that plans and purposes may
y
When the purposes and policies Of an
organization are publicly interpreted
| 1t is natural TO suppose that this is
| done with the sanction and consent of
the organization Often an impression
| is fixed which can never be eradicated.
To prevent false conceptions from
gaining weight through such apparent
sanction 1t is necessary to have some
| definite plan for securing responsible
representatives Like all other organ
lzations. the American Federation OF
Labor has suffered through misrep-
resentation in public addresses and
statements. often by we'll lntentioned
but misguided people. and through
the willful misrepresentation of others
who pose as authorized representa-
| tives and who knowingly disseminate
theories opposed and repugnant to the
very philosophy. basis. work and as
| pirations of the organized labor move
| ment
TO meet this difficulty a resolution
i was introduced in the Rochester con
vention which provided that steps
should be taken to correct this condi-
| ton and to prevent wrong apprehen-
sion and misconception of the true
purposes of the American Federation
| of Labor According to the plan pre-
sented in the resolution, the executive
council shall consider the establish
ment OF a lecture bureau. Through
| this bureau arrangements shall be
made for lecture courses to be held un-
der the auspices OF central bodies and
| local organizations. the general organ
| ization to pay all travelling expenses
and the local organization all local ex.
penses. Such a bureau would be OF
! incalculable benefit to organized labor
In former years it was the custom to
obtain labor speakers, particularly for
Labor day, through the offices of the
American Federation Of Labor, and
| there ought to be some method and
system by which speakers now could
be readily obtained on the various
necessary occasions.
| The advantages OF such a system
| can be readily seen. The speakers sc
secured would be responsible men and
women. youched for by those who are
in touch with the whole movement anG
| all the workers. There would be none
OF the apprehension and danger now
| associated with securing speakers
| whose ability may prove to be disap
pointing and whose statements may
hinder the cause they are intended tt
further. Weak, inferior spokesmen no
only fail to benefit the cause, but in
lure 1t by ineffective. partial interpre
| tations. By having some centra
agency to furnish lists of speakers ant
information concerning them not only
would more effective, capable speak
ers be available. but the task Of pre-
pairing for special occasions would b,
so facilitated that these occasions
would increase in number. Bette
presentation of the cause of labor, tn,
correction and refutation of incorrec
statements with regard to our move
ment, the increase in the number o
| special meetings. would give an impetu
to organization and would inspire al
of the members with greater en-
thusiasm The convention iEdorse'
the purpose Of this resolution. but be
cause lack of funds TO pay such
corps of lecturers directed the compila
tion OF list of competent men ant
women, together with statements a
to the terms upon which the affiliate,
organizations might secure their serv
ices.--Amer1can Federationtgt.