The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1938-09-29

CeQeTdIlON OF LapOC IL was pointed out
that,
eve are committed to the principles
Of private ownership private initiative
and the protection Of private property,
the right to own and manage private
property must be freely conceded and
safeguarded; and that the working
people must be accorded the right to
organize and bargain collectively; and
that the highest wages which indus
try can afford should be paid; and a
fair return upon legitimate investment
to those who own private property
must be freely conceded.
Industrial Democracy
"The principles of industrial democ-
racy through which labor and manage
ment may solve their common econ
omic problems should be recognized
and applied in all industrial relation
ship; through the development Of
teamwork between industry and labor
many economic wrongs can be righted,
and all industrial legislative burdens
can be remedied, and the maximum of
service which industry and labor may
render can be given to the entire ma
ton.
Labor invites industry to discard
the weapons Of industrial warfare di-
rected against labor by employers as
sociations both now and in days gone
by; let us have changed attitude
concverning the problems affecting in
dustry and labor; let US substitute CO.
operation and understanding for indus
trial strife.
"All Of this is easy of accomplish
ment because all that is required is to
respect and recognize the economic,
legal and industrial rights of labor,
and capital"
Now my friends, I think that this
fair statement of our position is a
challenge to all other groups who claim
they are interested in the advance
ment of our national welfare. If we
are to solve our economic problems
there must be cooperation between
all elements Of our society who are
endeavoring to promote and advance
the welfare of humanity.
Democratic Procedure
The American Federation of Labor
is an institution founded upon the prin-
ciples of democracy. Throughout our
existence Of over half a century, demo
cratic procedure, embracing the prin-
ciple of majority rule, has been the
very cornerstone of our existence
When these principles are attacked we
must be prepared to defend them.
Those who would depart from oul
historic democratic procedure, ano
who would defy the very basic prin.
ciples upon which our movement was
founded, have not only shown them.
selves to be the enemies of progress
but have aligned themselves with
forces hostile to the fundamental aims
principles and traditions of our great
movement. ~
Minority Group =
In 1885, in Labor's highest tribunal
the Convention of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor, an issue arose in
volving the question Of organizationa
policy. What mattered it to those
who raised the issue of industria
unionism that it be a false one. Il
seemed to serve their purpose.
The delegates to that convention
elected by the rank and file member
ship of the American Federation Of
Labor, in accordance with the demo
cratic procedure of that body, decided
the issue by an overwhelming vote.
l think it will be agreed that thu
will of the majority should have pre-
vailed. The leadership Of the minor
ity, however, saw fit to defy the very
principles Of democracy, and, as a re
suit of the ensuing controversy thu
Committee for Industrial Organization
was launched under the leadership OF
men from whom we had right to ex
pect adherence to the laws and princi
Piles of the American Federation OF
Labor.
Falsity Exposed
These leaders, who have finally beer
unmasked for the false prophets they
are, contended that the American Fed
Grafton of Labor had not put fortl
adequate efforts to meet the organ
lZaClOnal neeQS OF workers IN mass
production industries by providing
them with an industrial form of or
ganization; this despite the fact thai
the American Federation of Labor ha.
within it's ranks both industrial anC
craft forms Of organization.
Notwithstanding all the attempt:
made by the leadership of the Ameri
can Federation of Labor to avoid {
split in Labor's ranks, these false
prophets, under the leadership o.
John l.. Lewis, deliberately set upon {
program of destruction and violated
every rule of decency and proper con
duct laid down by the founders of thu
American Federation Of Labor and fol
lowed throughout the years.
All of the elements hostile to tn
American Federation of Labor were
gathered together by the Committe'
for Industrial Organization; the evi
forces of Communism were embraced
by John l.. Lewis and his cohorts ant
set loose to tear down what had beer
builded by the Federation, through tn,
slow but stable process of organiza
ton and education over the wears.