The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1938-09-08
Maintain World
Peace, AFL Pleo
Federation Pledges Efforts.
Urges International
Cooperation

SSSk1GIotlOlA
Atlantic City, n. deeply alarm
ed by the international armament
race and the constantly increasing
possibility of another world war with
its disastrous results for the masses
Of every country, the American Fed
Grafton Of Labor is ready to cooperate
very closely with the labor movement
in Europe to promote peace, safe
guard democracy, and prevent war,
William Green, president of the Fed
GRAFTON announced here in a press
conference following the fourth days
session Of the A. f. of l.. Executive
Council.
/. F. r. L. Promotes Peace
Declaring that the Federation is
prepared to go to the extreme limit
for world cooperation against war;"
Mr.. Green said "We will make labor
a decisive force for peace. We are
willing to work actively with the la
Dor movements of the world to pro-
mote peace, in favor of international
disarmament and in favor of coopera-
tive relationships Of all Countries
Pointing out that the American Fed
Grafton of Labor is a member of the
international Federation of Trade
Unions, Mr. Green said the A. F. of l..
IS working actively through that or
ganization for better understanding
and is prepared to cooperate by aiding
in the international dissemination of
information, deciding on unified labor
policies and mobilizing the moral and
economic influence Of the American
labor movement against nations that
seek war.
Mr.. Green emphasized the fact that
the A. F. of L. was tremendously
alarmed over the growing war fever
in Europe but warned against Ameri-
cans catching that fever and going
"war mad"
owe believe that America should
proceed along reasonable lines," he
added. Our ornaments should not
be too great but they should be ade-
quate."
Woll Reports on War Preparations
Mr.. Green's discussion Of the Euro
pean war situation was based on a re-
port made to the A. +. Of l.. Execu-
tive Council by Matthew Woll, one Of
the vice presidents of the Federation,
who was the Federation's delegate at
the triennial convention of the Inter-
national Federation of Trade Unions
/ recently held at Oslo, Norway.
Mr.. Woll told the Executive Coun-
Gil that practically every nation in
/ Europe was engaged in ever larger
armament programs, including both
small and large nations. He said the
small nations were arming because of
the fear of invasion, and that the lar
ger nations were carried away by this
same fear.
Battles Are Fought by Labor
"The Executive Council manifested
| grave concern over the armament pro-
( gram because such a program natural
/ ly involves nations in war and it is
labor that fights the battles of a
nation" Mr.. Green declared in COM
menting on Mr.. VOLTS report.
1--WE regard the situation as menac-
/ ing and Serious" Mr.. Green added.
"One of the chief reasons we are men,
/ bers Of the international Federation
/ of Trade Unions is that we are anxious
to promote world peace and to prevent
war"
Mr.. Green cited the invitation that
( Mr.. VOL had extended to the |. F. T.
I |. to hold its next meeting, three years
/ hence, in the United States as an illus
tratiOn Of the desire of American la
Dor to cooperate with European labor
in an international program.
Boycott Favored
| With regard to the use of the boy
colt to promote peace Mr.. Green di-
rected attention to the fact that the
( American Federation of Labor at its
1887 convention in Denver, Colo, had
gone on record as favoring boycott
Of japanese goods and reiterated its
boycott Of German goods.
He declared it was probable that the
/ coming convention of the A. F. of l..
in Houston, Tex, beginning October
;, would take definite stand on the
war question and on methods of pre-
. '1NA ' III r k'S1SS' AL SIdIlu VIC Idht,
he said, must be practical, construc-
tive and realistic"
General Strike Opposed
In outlining the stand taken by the
Executive Council on peace, Mr.. Green
declared that the suggestion frequent
ly advanced by left wing organizations
abroad favoring general strike of
all workers at the first sign of war
would get no sympathy from the
American Federation of Labor
"We rather feel" he said, that all
avenues Of peace should be explored
and that labor, which perhaps exer-
cises greater influence than ever be-
fore, should do its part in that direc-
ton"
Mr.. Green said the American Fed
Grafton Of Labor supports the peace
policies Of the Roosevelt administra-
ton as Constructive and realistic"
Father Hdss Mediator
In Electric Workers Strike