The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1938-12-15

| ing the interests of their particular
trades and callings. The machinery
exists to promote unity Of action as
far as the workers wish to apply such
policy, but the American Federation
of Labor has declared that contracts
made by local unions shall be kept
inviolate.
Organization of Mass Production
Workers
An instance of the fexibility of
trade union policies to adapt them
selves to the needs of the workers is
the resolution adopted by conference
Of national and international organ
izations in interest, held January,
1884, and the resolution adopted by
the San Francisco Convention Of the
A. F. of l.. in 1884, and reaffrmed by
the 1885 Convention of the A. f. Of
l.. held at Atlantic City, authorizing
the Executive Council Of the American
Federation of Labor to conduct an or
ganization campaign among the work.
ers in mass production industries
and place them in local unions direct
ly chartered by the American Fedora
ton of Labor, and where workers are
taken into these local unions that come
under the jurisdiction of one or more
national or international organiza-
tions, which is a temporary infraction
of the rights of these organizations
involved, that the Executive Council
adjust such difficulties in the spirit of
taking full advantage Of the immedi-
ate situation with the ultimate recog
milton of the rights Of all national and
international organizations concerned.
Adjustment of Overlapping Trades
Automatic machinery, the applica-
ton of scientific processes, and the in
PRODUCTION of new materials are rev.
olutionizing production methods. This
has caused the overlapping of trades
formerly separate and distinct. The
trade union movement provides order
ly measures for the workers affected
to adjust these questions through con-
ference and agreement on a basis sat-
sfactory to them.
One valuable lesson to be learned
from membership and leadership in
the labor movement is that a labor
union must have within itself the ele-
ments that will make it durable.
No Room for PyrOtechnics
Pyrotechnics play no part in the
progress of labor union. Permanent
accomplishments require qualities in
men and women that impel them to
remain steadfast through a monoton-
Gus routine which builds up stamina
and discipline necessary to establish
responsible union.
This is the type of membership that
has made the American Federation of
Labor the spearhead of the labor
movement of this country; that made
powerful corporations so apprehensive
of it's power to attract the membership
of their employees that they surround
ed the enforcement of restrictive labor
policies with impressive legal talent
and professional spy operations.
Labor Legislation Achieved
All through the years of it's exist
ence, the American Federation of La
Dor has directed it's efforts to secure
the enactment of specific legislative
regulations to prohibit unfair practices
against workers in industry.
The records of the United States
Congress, state legislatures, county
and city governments, give ample tes-
timony Of campaigns continuously
waged by the Federation and prove
that with the progress of its non
partisan campaigns in political cleo
tions the principles for which the
American Federation of Labor stands
have been reiterated time and again
in legislative enactments.
The Norris-La Guardia Injunction
Law and the Wagner National Labor
Relations Act, both enacted in 1885,
are the latest achievements to testify
to the progress of the American Fed
Neration of Labor. Both Of these meas
ures, now federal statutes of the
United States, impose upon law-mak-
ing and law-enforcing bodies the duty
to recognize and enforce the principle
of the right of workers in industry to
join unions of their own choosing.
Labor Relations Act Administrator Is
Not Satisfactory
The administration of the Wagner
National Labor Relations Act is un-
satisfactory. The American Fedora
tion of Labor sponsored this legisla-
ton not to force workers into par
ticular union or any union, but to per-
nit them to exercise freely the right
to join union of their own choosing