The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1938-09-22
Cooperufion viful
Continued From Page One)

pose depends the welfare OF lnuuS-
try-indeed, the welfare of the ma
tion."
Ancient Doctrine OutgrOwn
Mr.. Woll pointed out that industrial
relations have outgrown the ancient
doctrine of master and servant" re-
minding the convention that because
of this outmoded doctrine still held by
some employers, we are now faced
with arbitrary legislation and the
danger of bureaucratic, governmental
control in the field of industrial and
labor relations.
Labor is not just commodity"
continued Mr.. Woll Labor is what
man is; Capital is what a man has.
Labor power is commodity; but la
Dor is also one of the parties to the
transaction; namely, the agreement to
employ on the one hand, and the agree
ment to furnish service on the other"
The alternatives confronting the
American people, were clearly stated
before the convention:
american people are faced with two
alternatives, either of which we refuse
to choose.
People Must Choose Course
con the other hand we have the ten
dency of big business to become so big
that nobody can work except by the
grace Of the managers of big business.
On the other hand it is possible for the
government to enter into and extend
control over industry to such an ex-
tent that jobs can be had only at the
nod of bureaucrat. When big busi-
ness goes to the limit in exercising
it's ideas Of liberty, we have anarchy.
When government goes to the limit in
extending it's control over the people;
we have tyranny.
Somewhere between anarchy and
tyranny lies democracy, and it is up
to the American people to say where
between these planes our particular
choice of democracy lies"
Mr.. Woll assured the convention that
organized labor was just as concerned
as business by the problems confront
ing the people of this country, listing
specifically undue, confused and over
tapping taxation" danger Of Gun
checked industrial absolutism" and the
counter danger, bureaucratic, govern
mental control, the growing tendency
of the state to enter into the field of
production, and finally the more press
ing problems of the small business
men.
Tax Fairness Important
"It is critical time in the nations
history" said Mr.. Woll, commenting
on the muddled tax structure. upon
the fairness of taxing plans to be
worked out will rest the success of to-
days recovery spending program. If
that fails, what shall follow-debt re-
pudiation, initiation, or political and
financial collapse?"
Calling for complete and equitable
revision of our tax laws, and denounc-
ing "hidden and confscatory" taxes,
Mr.. Woll reiterated:
"Taxes provide the greatest single
contribution to the cost of living to-
day. 1t makes no difference whether
these taxes are paid in the first in
stance by big business, industry, the
public utilities, the railroads, the banks
or the insurance companies, it is the
ultimate consumer that pays them in
the end. Whether taxes can be re-
duced Immediately or not, they can and
should be distributed more equitably
and so as not to stifle business or to
tax incentive which is the source of
new industry and new employment"
Recovery Plan Outlined
Mr.. Woll pointed out that labor sees
clearly that it's own program cannot
be realized unless business has the
right to earn profit and stated that
the real remedy for our present con-
dition is the creation and maintenance
of work opportunities for working
men and women in private industry.
AS the immediate steps for the ac-
complishment of this recovery, Mr..
Woll listed the following:
The establishment of common eff
fort on the part of labor and industry
for the mutual protection against
autocratic usurpation of power over
their destiny by governmental agency.
Secondly, formation of definite policy
limiting the boundaries of government
competition with private enterprise.
Third, cessation of the apparent cam
paign of propaganda of governmental
officials discrediting all business and
industry. And finally, recognition by
capital and management as we'll as by
labor, of the changing social, political
and economic conditions in this
country.