The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1938-10-20

to helping chisellng employers and to
destroy set-up of the kind and type
that we have in the pottery industry
of this nation.
81 sat in the first meeting Of the
Industrial Conference, after the in
validating of the MIRA, at which con-
ference Major Berry presided. l en-
tered my protest at that time against
any governmental intrusion or inter-
ference with the regular trade union
activities. Gentlemen, am still of the
same opinion.
"Our members are wondering what
is going to happen to their jobs What
are they going to do to provide for
their dependents after the Federal
Government passes upon few more
Of these applications for loans in ad-
dition to the one have specifically re-
ferred to that is paying it's employees
40 per cent less than our wage scale,
which happens to be the Shawnee
Pottery Company Of GAINESVILLE, Ohio,
which firm secured it's loans through
the Democratic political boss Of that
county, an attorney who never has had
any interest in the pottery industry.
"I do not know whether the ap-
plications have been passed upon
finally or not, but there are two pot
teries to start in the very near future
in Paris, Texas, and they are depend
ing, so | am reliably informed, if they
have not already secured it, on $780,
600 loan to operate each Of these pot
teries. 1 have it from source and
have no reason for doubling that the
program calls for the employment Of
a few skilled potters imported from
the north to be used as key men to
train native labor at wages even less
than the employer to whom have re-
ferred as paying forty per cent less
than the wages paid in potteries where
we have a collective bargaining ar
rangement. 1t is also reported from
a source believe to be true, that there
is another plant in the making at
Wheeling, w. Va, and that there is
also one in Gordon, Ga. There are
rumors concerning other places in the
Southland where they expect to take
advantage of native labor. And you
know what that means.
81 am somewhat disappointed with
the report of the committee. | was
anticipating something more definite,
something more decisive, and some
thing more direct than the report, be-
cause, brothers and sisters, to us this
is our bread and butter. 1t is true |
understand the RFC was conceived for
the purpose of bringing about re-
sumption of employment in industry,
to give employment to American citi-
zens, and | am 100 per cent in accord
with that objective. But where is the
gain in an industry, like ours? With
the industry developed as it is,
with our markets so limited as they
are, where is the gain, ask, in using
Federal money to start potteries in To-
calities where it is the specific inten-
ton to establish exceedingly low
wages, much lower wages than are
now being paid the organized pottery
workers of the country? | say, where
is the gain?
"Assuming that there are as many
skilled potters in employment in pot
terry making after they get through
with this program as there are at the
present time, there can be only one
result. | grant there will be as many
potters employed, yes, but they will be
employed at wage much lower than
the established wage for pottery
workers in this country, and it will
be driving out of employment pottery
workers who have spent their entire
lives i'm the industry.
"Where are they going to find en-
ployment? Probably they can go on
relief, but to any intelligent, any OBJ
servant American citizen the de-
structiveness of our relief program
must be apparent. 1t is not bringing
back prosperity. We do not want re-
lief. We want a decent and fair
chance to continue on with this fine
collective bargaining system that we
have practiced for nearly so years.
do not think we are asking anything
from the American Federation of La
|
pect, and that is immediate action, be-
cause immediate action is necessary
due to the fact that these applications
have already been granted or they are
to be approved in the very near fu-
ture.
81 am sorry cannot be more specific
and accurate regarding whether or not
they have been approved, but that is
because in Washington they do not
believe in keeping you informed re-
garding these matters. | have writ
ten many letters, | have appealed to
our congressman and our senators.
have asked for service in this con-
nection with the usual experience that
if they do answer your letters, it is
in very evasive way. The fact of the
matter is | doubt if we would have
received reply at all from these let
ters of protest had it not been for the
fact that we have in the State of Ohio,
running for reelection senator who
bears the title of Dear Robert" and
he knows that he has fight on his
b,pJe. for olaction In tbof cit,,-