The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1938-09-15
Whut AFL Meuns To
American Work1nen

What does the American Federation
of Labor mean to the American work.
ingman and woman. The answer is
best given in the declaration of AFL
conventions, expressing the aspirations
and philosophy of the union move
ment.
Liberty, Equality and Justice
Proclaimed
"This session of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor marks an episode in
the progress of enlightenment unpar-
allied in the worlds history. We meet
in solid phalanx, regardless Of creed,
regardless of dogma, with national
pride, but WITHOUT international preju-
dice. The world is our field of action
and man is our brother. We not only
proclaim, under the unsullied and UNI
tarnished banner of trade unionism,
but live the principles Of liberty,
equality, fraternity and justice.
"Ours is an affiliation of men of like
interests, and of kindred spirit. 1t
is the natural growth of sentiment
for unity that binds and seals the COM
pact for harmony, fidelity and fellow
ship. Our cause demands that there
is no worker so deep down in the
abyss of misery and despair that we
dare refuse to extend helping hand
in his uplifting; that there is no high
pinnacle of grandeur to which the
toiling masses should not aspire to at
tain.
"The trade unions are of, by and
for the wage-workers primarily, but
there is no effort which we in our
movement can make but what will have
it's benefcient, salutary influence upon
all our people. The misery of the past,
the struggles of the present, and the
duty for the future, demand that no
effort be left untred, that all energy
be exercised, and opportunity taken
advantage of, to organize the toilers
Of our country upon the bread plat
form of the trade union, in full affili-
alton with the AFL.
"The dim, distant past, with all it's
plain and travail, must give way to
the better and brighter future for
which the workers have borne the bur-
dens, and make the sacrifices that the
people of our time, and for all time,
may be truly free.
Rights of Minority Guaranteed
"There are many gatherings of men
and women in which things that are
thought inconvenient or unacceptable
are suppressed by reference to COM
mittee, where they are killed and
buried. The American Federation of
Labor has this record, that no matter
what opinion may be held by a dele
gate, if he expresses it in the form of
resolution it is given consideration
by the convention. We realize the
thought and the principle that that
country is best, that organization is
best, where the greatest freedom OBJ
tains and where the rights of the mi
nority are guaranteed.
Solidarity of Labor Promoted
"The growth of this federation is
not merely numerical. 1t has an in
heritance of good deeds done, pres
ent of active ability, a future of po-
tential possibilities. What we will we
can. To transform inertia into de-
termination, ignorance into intelli-
gence, disunion into cohesive associ-
ated effort, is the legitimate and prac-
tical propaganda Of this federation,
and it has most assuredly justified it's
mission.
"The wage-earners Of America are
better educated economically, broader
minded fraternally, and more indie
pendent in the exercise Of their powers
the federation and it's affiliated natl
onal, State, central and local bodies.
"1he federative principle is a pow
erful force in promoting the solidarity
of labor. Back of all organization is
the individual with his personal bias,
prejudice and temperament. In our an
nual conventions the labor representa-
tives Of the contingent get knowledge
of each others ideas and personali-
ties.
"The course of labor has been the
division and Misunderstanding existing
among men of different races and
creeds. In removing this misunder-
standing what other influence has ac-
con1plished so much as the association
of men carrying the union card?
Moral Suasion Used Instead of
COmpulsiOn
"Compulsion in voluntary associ-
alton of voluntary associations is a
very dangerous trend of affairs. A
domineering policy in this direction
would mean destruction in the end.
Moral suasion means progress from
the bottom. Along these lines we have
been working; along these lines we
have formed machinery, we have
formed the city central bodies, the
State federations and the departments.
We have them all ready for the indi-
vidual action of union men, and if in
dividual action is brought into play in
these organizations we know the city
central bodies and the State fedora
tions will be built up from the bottom
and will endure forever"
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