The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1939-11-30
DEMOCRACY

vNHERE could be no mstaking the sincerity with
which the American Federation of Labor be-
lieves in the principles of democracy nor the sense
of responsibility which the whole membership
feels for maintaining democracy within our Re
public. Democracy is the ma jor concern of wage
earners Without it they have neither political
nor economic opportunity nor assurance OF civil
liberties. Democracy recognizes the worth or
every individual and seeks to assure each and all
opportunity to promote their own welfare as men,
bers of society, and in the pursuit of happiness.
Democracy is SO generally taken for granted in
this country that it takes something like the shock
of the present European War and messages from
persons who have been living in tOtalitarian cour-
tries to make realize the privilege of life in a
democratic country.
To the few who have opportunity Tor special
privilege, democracy does not seem essential,
but to the great mass of wage earners and small
salaried persons, democracy is essential to justice,
progress and satisfaction in living. Democracy is
essential to free labor movement and free la
Dor movement is essential to democracy. The first
step toward dictatorship in all countries has been
the suppression of the free trade union movement.
When this major group in any nation is denied
leadership of its choice and expression Of views
and needs, the nation ceases to be free and the
will of the leader the controlling group may be
imposed.
The American Federation of Labor is fully
aroused to the understanding that freedom and
democracy carry the responsibility Of constructive
use of the opportunities they afford and constant
vigilance to prevent any invasion or restriction OF
the rights bestowed upon free citizens. We are
convinced that the best protection of democracy
is intelligent and persistent efforts to improve
democratic institutions and to make more full and
free equal opportunities to all for fuller and more
satisfactory living. That nation which steadily
and effectively deals with the causes of in Justice
and which effectively undertakes to use its ma
terial resources to give its citizens employment
with compensation that assures distribution of
goods and services produced in an abundance
necessary for Y comfortable standard of living,
will give democracy within it's borders the best
guarantee Of security. But in addition those who
cherish democracy must be on guard against those
in midst committed to the revolution of de
struction and subject to orders of foreign dcta-
tors. Those in this country who believe in COM
munlSm or the totalltarian state are comparatively
few in numbers and can do comparatively little
damage if they are known for what they are and
are denied the right to participate in our free, dem
Ocratlc organizations. Members of communist
and authoritarian groups have renounced the
ethical standards which undere democratic So
ciety and are undependable in word and deed
They work with democratic groups only to gain
their own ends-the first of which is the over
throw Of democracy AS a fundamental measure
for the preservation Of democracy, our unions
must protect their membership from communists
and deny any communist election appointment
to any representative position capacity. When
communists are known for what they are, they are
to definite degree made ineffective, and the union
is free for its constructive work. Communists and
advocates Of all forms Of totalitaranisms would
destroy those spiritual forces and ethical stand
ards that give our civilization value. We cannot
compromise with or tolerate these Subversive Dui-
poses. We must understand and know in order to
separate ourselves from them for the protectOn
Of our free institutions.