The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1939-12-21
Hitler ond Ills
Continued From Page One)

Continued From Page One)
there is no free trade unionism there
can be no freedom. One of the very
first steps taken by the relationships
in Russia and Germany was to destroy
the free trade unions, wipe out every
vestige of independent labor organiza-
ton and to kill or imprison the lead
ers, organizers and spokesmen of the
free organizations of the people
In the countries to which the power
of the Fascist and Communist dicta-
torships did not extend, their agents
have sought to disrupt, undermine and
destroy the organizations of labor by
means of poisonous agitation, intrigue
and campaigns of character assassin
alton, directed against the freely
chosen and recognized leaders of la
Dor.
Full-well do the agents of Fascism
and Communism know that organized
labor is democracy's first and strong
est line of defense. That is why the
relationships at home and abroad
have waged merciless war against all
forms Of free trade union organza-
ton.
Because Labor sensed the great
menace to our rights and liberties in
the event we should become involved
in any foreign war. The recent con-
vention of the American Federation
of Labor declared it's unalterable OPP
position to our nation and our people
entering in any way the present
European conflict. While we favored
the exercise Of neighborly and friend
ly influence by our government in all
efforts to promote peace and to COM
pose difference between nations, we
insisted that our government shall at
all times pursue judicious policy, ex
ercising care and caution and a firm
determination to avoid involvement in
European conflicts or European War.
Dangers Ahead
The convention unequivocally op-
posed participation by our nation in
the present war for many sound and
valid reasons, particularizing and en-
phasizing the unquestioned prediction
that if called upon to approve war
program we would be subject not
alone to an incalculable toll of Ameri-
can lives on foreign soils and the leav-
ing of hundreds of thousands Of our
young men horrible mutilated but we
would be compelled to surrender as
we'll many of the liberties and rights
SO essential to the protection of our
well being.
1t must be clearly evident that a
democracy at war requires regulations
and conditions which would not and
could not be tolerated during normal
times. If there be doubt regarding
France present splendid examples of
the transition taking place in a de-
mocracy at war Today England and
France seem heading toward an
eclipse. Under guise of war emer-
gency measures, labor societies in
England, representing 100000 work
ers are being gradually shorn of their
Stage by stage the British Govern
ment has tightened it's hold on the
nations industry, commerce and labor
under the aegis of war. 1t has taken
control, more or less, of public trans
port and power of all kinds. 1t has
entered world commodity markets and
directly and indirectly has appointed
itself the chief buyer, seller, investor
and employer of the nation. What is
true Of England is equally true Of
France, if not more so.
Experience has likewise demon
strated that powers once acquired by
governments, whether due to an eX-
treme emergency or not, are seldom
6 abandoned Thus, the liberties of a
free people are easily whitfield away
in one way or another. Under exist
ing circumstances and menacing
clouds it behooves American labor, in
deed all who value the principles of
freedom and the institutions of de-
mocracy not alone to retain calmness
of mind and of balanced judgment to
prevent our being drawn into the vor-
tex of the European conflict but like
wise to be alert and active against any
and all attempts, legislative, execu-
tive or otherwise that may be made
or may be conceived under guise of
emergency and that threaten the very
foundation of the rights and liberties
Of our people.
Already legislation has come to our
attention and further Legislative meas
ures are in contemplation that should
a national war emergency arise, we
need not ask "Can it Happen Here? ?"
we may not then be accorded even
the right to discuss the manner and
means by which our rights and lib
critics and our free institutions have
been suppressed, if not destroyed. 1t