The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1940-08-29

7 ABOR DAY has always been the occasion when
IL trade unionists reviewed the progress which
had been made, and planned for still greater pro-
gress in the future.
1t has been the day on which the principles
and policies Of our trade union movement have
been discussed.
1t has been the occasion when trade unionists
expressed and defined the sound American prin-
cipleS upon which the American Federation OF
Labor has been erected.
The maintenance of free institutions and of
our democratic form of self-government as trade
unonists and citizens, has been vigorously af-
firmed
Labor Day, 1910, brings to the front some
problems which have not forced themselves
upon us so intensely and ominOusly in the
past
We have witnessed the destruction of the trade
union movement in Russia by the Bolsheviks and
the assassination of trade union officials which
Immediately followed the Red revolution in Rus
sia; but the trade union movement. of Russia was
long way from shores. ofro'
We saw the suppression of the trade union
movement in Italy and upon it's ruins the setting
up of Fascist labor organization, dominated by
MuSSOlini.
In turn we saw the annihilation of the German
trade union movement by Hitler and his hench-
men, which, in turn, was followed by the assassi-
nation of number of outstanding trade union
leaders of that country.
But the international Federation of Trade I'm
ions continued to function, and there the con-
VlctlOn CnaJ passed a bona noe JfdQe union
movement would be re-established in the three
dictator controlled countries.
In comparatively recent months we have seen
the German war machine rolling it's brutal, crush
ing force over Czechoslovakia, Poland, Norway,
Holland Belgium and France and it's present at
tempt to annihate England, from whom in
hert so many of our conceptions of human free
dom, human justice, and parliamentary form
of government.
In the countries which have been ground un-
tba Iuth hoo Of tTad
uniOnism has ceased to function, hundreds of
thousands Of those who, but few months ago
were protecting their rights wage earners
through trade unions, are now prisoners of war
compelled to work for Germany under such con-
ditons as a brutal arrogant dictator imposes.
Aside from Sweden, Switzerland and Great
Britain, trade unonism has practically ceased to
function in Europe. In the statements we have
received from Europe, it is evident that Fifth
Column played prominent part in Iliters tactics
through the nftraton of Fifth Column in the
country which to be made the victim Of the
dictators iron heel
In measure our own country has already
been attacked for the Fifth Column has been bus
lily at work within nations borders. The rep
resentativeS of the Italian and the German dcta-
tor have been busily at work, but far as labor
is concerned they have made no effective progress.
The most dangerous of all Fifth Columns in
our country, is the controlled and directed by
Moscow. Since Lenin conceived his scheme for
worldwide revolution, American Communists di-
rected and controlled from Moscow, have labored
strenuouSly and ceaSelesSy to infiltrate into our
trade union movement. The immediate menace to
our nation and its institutions comes principally
from this Communist Fifth Column, Fifth Col
umn which found no followers in the ranks of or
ganized labor until it was able to capture con-
trolling position with the ClO.
AS citizens we must be on constant guard
against Fifth Column activities within coun-
try AS trade unioniSts we must be particularly on
guard against Communist Fifth Columns, working
to infltrate into unions for their directors are
cruel, cunning, treacherous and without conscience
The Communist who secures membership in our
local unions is not interested in trade union prob
lens and policy. His sole interest is in shaping the
policy of the local union, and in instances the
national union, in adopting policies and carrying
pose of the Russian controlled Communist move
ment in the United States.
Trade union policy Communist and dictator
rnlicN are as far apart as ustice and Injustice