The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1938-11-03

we'll educated theorists who would not
know how to produce any manufac-
tured articles would be insulted were
they asked to live on salary which
equally competent economists receive
in foreign countries Are we to assume
that these economists contend that
American wage standards shall be re-
duced to the level which prevails in
Japan?
We are appealing to you, your fami-
lies and your friends to prevail upon
your Congressman and United States
Senators to militantly fight for legis-
lation which will protect the job op-
portunities of millions of America s
wage workers as well as provide jobs
for hundreds of those now unemploy-
ed. We ask their support for the i'm
position of an Excise Tax on compar-
able imports which will equalize the
difference in costs of production and
give products of Americas workers
an equal opportunity in our own
American market.
Are we asking too much?
There are some who say that inn
ports at the present time are not as
great as they might be. This we
admit. There are many reasons fo1
this. The principal reason being that
the larger exporting nations are either
at war or working on munitions OF
War.
What will happen, it is fair to ask
when the Dictators of Europe and Asia
find it necessary to put the millions OF
workers now under Arms and the mill
ions of workers now employed in pro-
ducing and supplying materials fol
those under Arms, back to productive
work?
With the American market virtually
wide open, with imports taxed on the
basis of fictitious foreign valuation
and, with the Dictators in need OF
foreign exchange with which to re-
plenish their reserves of war materia
for the next thrust, what protection
have our American workers against
the transfer of their job opportuni-
ties to workers in foreign countries? ?
Since more than 90l6 of our norma
commerce or trade is within the con-
fines of our own country, and, as ar
increase of only 1919 in our domestic
trade is of more value in job oppor-
tunities than our total export trade
it should be apparent to everyone that
if we will all BUY AMERICAN we
will soon create jobs for millions OF
our unemployed workers.
We ask your support and your in
Auence with those you send to the Con
gress of the United States, to secure
legislation which will make possible
the protecting of the job opportunities
of Americas workers. We ask you
your family and your friends to in
sist that your congressman and youl
Senators vote for an Excise Tax
which tax will equalize the difference
in landed costs of production of com
parable goods in the United States ant
foreign countries.
The conception of BUY AMERICAN
can be traced to the efforts of organ
lied labor, whesekin 1874, the Cigal
Makers Union first undertook to use
label as an emblem of American pro
duction and to combat the invasion OF
the cigar making field by orienta
workers. The American Federation OF
Labor has always consistently advo
Gated the purchase of American made
goods.
Many years ago, under the able
leadership of the late Sam Gompers
we demanded and secured the passage
of restrictive immigration laws ant
the Asiatic Exclusion Act. We did no
seek this legislation because of any
racial hatred. We faced the opposition
at that time, and still do, of our SO
Called economists, college professor:
and manufacturers, who think only il
terms of dollars, who sought to i'm
port boat loads Of immigrants for th'
sole purpose of securing workers a
low wages and long hours. We asked
for restrictive immigration Legislation
and the Asiatic Exclusion Act to pro
tect the standards of American labor
and to nrotect the iOb ODDOrtllnitieS O1