The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1939-07-13
Fdcing the Fucts|
With PHILIP PEARL |

We understand that the fol1oWN
Of Father Divine, the kingpin tvant
list of Harlem, custcmarily groet oo1
other with the expression -"Pea
Peace! It's wonderful"
That goes for us too. Yes, inds
peace is wonderful-that is, if only
knew how to get it.
Just to keep the record straight, |
US explain that we're not talking abs
peace in Europe, or peace in Asia
peace in any other troubled sector
the globe, but peace in organized
Dor in the good old U. S. A.
There seems to be a dispositi
among some people to disregard .
cause of the war, the responsible
for it's continuance, or any other ra
tive factor except: "How can it
ended here and now?"
Unfortunately it is impossible
answer that question without expld
ing at least briefly the causes of
conflict and the reasons why it has
yet been adjusted. Here goes!
The war began in November, 194
when small group of labor officia
headed by John l.. Lewis, formed
Committee for Industrial Organizati
with the avowed object of putting {
to effect policies which had been
jected by a two-thirds vote at
American Federation of Labor Cd
vention in Atlantic City only mon
before.
Unprovoked Aggression
Despite repeated warnings, n
Lewis and his associates prompt
started campaign of unprovoked d
gression against American Fede1
ton of Labor unions which had
joined their rebellion, very much
the manner of Hitler's and Mussolin
tactics. They raided A. F. of L. unio1
violated jurisdictional borders, al
committed a multitude of addition
acts of aggression. In the face of Il
situation the American Federation
Labor saw the futility of continuing
policy Of appeasement and expelled
rebel unions from it's ranks. War th
spread to all fronts.
First peace overtures came in q
tober, 1887, when the c. l. o. discd
cred it was licked. Peace conferend
began the following month. TIL
progressed to the point where
agreement was reached satisfactory
the negotiating committees represe1|
ing both sides. 1t was a fair, hond
able and just settlement. 1t looked
though unity had finally been restor|
to organized labor. But at the l.
moment John L. Lewis personally S
| ped in and vetoed the agreement n
by his committee.
| That meant war and vicious
1t continued uninterrupted for md
than a year. The f1imsy C. l. o. st
ture started cracking under pres.
The international Ladies Carr
Workers Union quit the C. l. O. in d
gust. The United Textile Workd
Union deserted Lewis and returned
the American Federation of Lab(
The United Automobile Workers
America followed suit.
Then, at the instance of Preside
Roosevelt new peace conferences we
instituted this Spring. They continu
for sometime without much defini
progress. In fact each time it appea
ed that some progress had be
achieved, John l.. Lewis immediate
nullifed the gain.
Where Are We Now?
The last conference was held
April 4th. The next day Mr.. Lew
telephoned to Vice President Matthe
Woll and said that negotiations wou
have to be postponed Indefinitely,
cause he expected to be tied up wi
coal strike meetings and hearings
Wagner Act amendments. Mr.. Lew
promised to notify Mr.. Woll when t
c. l. o. committee would be ready
meet again with the A. F. of L.
We are still waiting for word fro
Mr.. Lewis. We wonder if it will ev
come. In May, Sidney Hillman, the
l. o. brain-buster, made a speech
Philadelphia. Said Sid:
81 predict we will have peace with
a year"
Madam Perkins, curatrix of Was
mgton museum known as the Depal
ment of Labor, telegraphed Sid:
81 congratulate you on your state
manlike utterance."
A month later John l.. Lewis, brai
buster of the c. l. O. announced at
press conference:
"Peace is impossible"
Brothers and Sisters of the Lab
Movement, that's where we are hui
at the moment. We fervently agr
that peace is wonderful, but how c;
we obtain it when one party to t
controversy insists that peace is il
possible ? In the present circumstanc
all we can do is wait and wond
whether Mr.. Lewis means that pea
is impossible for Labor or whether
is merely impossible for him persona
ly and for his ambitions.
| n1 Al IL