The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1939-11-30
Facing the Facts
With PHILIP PEARL

ioeo1y SdliCu OOIlc Llhc IcIIl SOlu.
The hero grew progressively cooler as
the heroine grew progressively warm
er. Such hero is Sidney Hillman.
In October Sidney Hillman, was
warm in fact positively hot, for labor
peace. In November Mr.. Hillman has
lcooled off.
Let us delve into the mystery of
Mr.. Hillman's emotional change of
Temperature. First let's take him
when he blew hot. That was just be-
fore the G. I. o. convention in Octo-
ber Mr.. Hillman sent out message
to all members of his union, the Anal
gamated Clothing Workers, in which
he said:
National unity of our people is
essential if we are to preserve the
gains of the past and move forward
to new and higher ground. Such ma
tional unity requires unity in the
ranks of labor. We must spare no
effort to secure such a united labor
movement-to achieve a unity which
will sacrifice none Of the gains of the
past four years but which will equip
the American labor movement with
the strength and the singleness of
purpose necessary for the perform
ance of the historic task which it faces
today"
Without processing to be Sherlock
Holmes, we feel safe in ascribing this
fervid plea for peace to the inspir-
alton derived by Mr.. Hillman from
visit to the White House. The Presi-
dent was preparing to send peace mes
sages to both the A. F. of L. and C.
| |. 0. conventions. 1t is reasonable to
assume that he made his views known
to Mr.. Hillman and inspired the lat
ter to espouse them at the c.. l. O.
convention.
Thumbs Down on Peace
SO Mr.. Hillman went bodily charg-
ling forth toward San Francisco. There
he ran into a cold wave known to the
labor world as John l.. Lewis.
"Peace, Peace" exclaimed Sid, "It's
wonderful"
"Nuts," replied John l..
Thus the battle was joined. For two
days the struggle went on behind the
closed doors of the C. l. O. executive
board. And then Lewis threatened
to quit. The bluff hit Hillman like an
icy blast from the polar regions. He
cooled off, hastily, almost desperately.
Let US Gee how his reaction is Off
cially described in the November issue
of "The Advance monthly publca-
!tion of the Amalgamated:
"He (Hillman) would rather go
along with Mr.. Lewis, he said, even
though he had disagreed with him on
certain policies in important matters,
than have complete agEeelbent on all
points at the cost of losing Lewis
leadership"
So Mr.. Hillmon now blows just as
cold on peace as he blew hot in Oc-
tober. at cannot be said," declares
the article in the Advance, "that the
issue of unity with the A. F. of l..
greatly agitated the minds of most
delegates of the c. |. 0. convention"
The article then proceeds to give six
alleged reasons why the leaders of
viz W - ". clS iiOC oO hCCIl VII pcCCc
now. Only the final reason is of any
particular Importance. So we quote
it:
"They Che c. |. o. leaders) don't
feel that they are in any sense in
ferior to the A. +. of L., no matter
what the show of per capita payments
of affiliated unions may be in any
given month and they are prepared
to consider unity when and if it is the
unity of equals. The A. Il. of l.. has
not thus far offered them anything
approximatng equality"
The Key to the Whole Question
There we have it. At last the G. !.
O. is being frank. Now we can hon
estly face the real key to the whole
question of unity.
"We are prepared to consider unity
when and if it is the unity of equals"
says the G. !. o.
BY refusing to continue peace nego-
tiations with the American Federation
of Labor, the G.. |. O. now tactily ad-
&c mot hn ~ ,,{,