The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1939-10-19
The Cherry Tree
Where We Hutchet Out
The Truth
. CONSTRUCTIVE
ACHIEVEMENT
g HISTORY OF A. f. OF L.
9 WAR IMPORTANT ISSUE
Q DICTATORS OPPOSED

| Q DICTATORS OPPOSED
Fifty-ninth annual convention of the
American Federation of Labor is now
history.
AS usual, record of constructive
achievement was made.
The convention spoke on matters
of vital Importance.
Every decision was made after full
discussion and consideration.
No dictums were handed down from
on high and ratified by rubber stamp"
delegates.
Questions were brought out in the
open, examined from all angles and
all views given an airing.
Then the convention spoke, eX-
employing democracy and democratic
procedure in it's best aspects.
x X X
Perhaps most important of all SUBJ
jects before the elegates-importan
to every man, woman and child in the
United States-was the matter of
keeping this nation out of the Euro
pean war.
Reiteration of labor's determined
stand against war was of course to be
expected.
The convention made it's declaration
in the plainest kind of language.
"The only way by which we can
avoid being drawn into the present
European war is to definitely deter
mine that we will not, that under no
circumstances will we enter into any
national policy which would include
the use of armed force, except should
our shores be attacked" the conven-
tion said.
In that it spoke for the vast body
of citizens of the United States.
The convention, however, did not
shut it's eyes to the princi Piles in
volved in the European conflict.
1t declared that the A. F.. of l.. rec
ognized that continuance and ex-
pansion Of parliamentary government
in Europe is involved in the present
war"
1t made known it's answering op-
position to all forms Of dictatorship
and it's firm championship of democ-
racy.
But the convention saw clearly that
by keeping out of war and by holding
itself in readiness to aid peace ef-
forts, the United States would be
serving the cause of civilization.
"There may come time," it said,
Ny1ybo hn fyio
welcome some great neutral naticl
taking the lead in mediatorial eff
forts"
Unpleasant subjects were not lodged
at Cincinnati.
Labor's disappointment with the
working out of certain New Deal leg
islation, it's suspicion of certain ten
denotes in government, however we'll
meaning, was voiced before the con-
vention.
Seeming public hostility to organ
lied labor, as indicated by recent leg
islative attempts to restrict the rights
cf unions, was discussed.
The fortnight Daniel J. Tobin ex-
pressed the fear that the tide of pub
lie opinion had begun to turn against
the labor movement. And he didn't
spare union officials
"If we as labor leaders cannot see
the handwriting on the wall we are
not the kind of leaders the workers
who depend upon us need" he said.
Mr.. Tobin touched on a situation
which every thoughtful union member
knows is Of deep concern to the labor
movement.
The convention drove home the
truth that in organization lies the sal
walton of the workers. 1t emphasized
the message that the hope Of the pro-
ducing classes, both city and country,
is in economic organization, now as in
the past and future.
To this end it urged a union-forward
campaign and said:
"It is of the utmost Importance to
labor that the coming year should be
one of activity in organizing workers
and in educating them in the princi-
pies of trade unionism that they may
be able to protect themselves and ad-
vance their interests socially, political
ly and economically"