The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1940-02-22
CONGRESS SHOULD EXPLAIN

THE Congress is now considering, upon the de-
mand of Secretary Of State Hull, and other
State Department intellectuals supported by Pres
ident Roosevelt, the continuance of the Reciprocal
Trade Treaties.
These Trade Treaties are contrary to the Con-
stitution, are contrary to the express policy of
every Democratic controlled Congress from 1882
to 1882 They are contrary to and virtually set
aside and nullify the protection of jobs and stand
ards of living which American workers received
through the Asiatc Exclusion Law, Restrictive
immigration Laws and Fair Labor Standards Law.
Secretary of State Hull in serving as Congress-
man and Senator bitterly opposed the granting OF
taxing and treaty making power to any appointed
officials OF our government.
Every leader of democracy, prior to 1888, has
publicly opposed this type of legislation.
Daniel j. Tobin, Vice President of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor President of TeamSteTs
International Union, and Chairman of Democratic
Labor Committee in 1892 and 1886, keen student
of world and labor conditions in leading editorial
in the Teamsters February Journal, says in part:
''The labor movement is destroyed in most of
the countries of the world That includes the
Americas, North and South of the United States.
If the war conditions continue for two years from
now what is left of the labor movement IN the
European countries will be destroyed because OF
the economic destruction due to war. " Only
those who close their eyes or through their lgnor-
ance blindness to war conditions can tall TO see
that with the destruction of 7alue in the European
countries, no matter WHO wins the war; the econ
omic conditions of thO-e countries Will be de-
stroyed i The markets of the world will be
drawn down and cheap labor will be forced upon
all the workers of the European countries so that
they can help pay the expenses OF this awful ca
tastrophe now obtaining in Europe and Asia. The
hours of labor established by the French workers
union two years ago have been totally set aside
and instead of forty hour week they are now
working ffty-two and ffty-siX hours and will soon
be working sixty hours, to meet the demands OF
Of "a
struction The trade unionsts of England are
alarmed and recently held conference with the
leaders of the French labor movement endeavor-
ing to plan some method OF procedure to protect
the English worker; or let us put 1T another way
fearing that war will cause the destruction OF
the conditions which labor enjoys in that country
similar to what has happened in France. DOES
ANYONE WHO HAS ANY SENSE BELIEVE
THAT THE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS OF THE
UNITED STATES CAN BE PRESERVED AND
THAT UNION LABOR WAGES CAN CON
TINUE TO OBTAIN HERE If THE WORLD IS
FLOODED WITH CHEAP LABOR PRODUCTS
AND THE COUNTRY INVADED BY THE
PRODUCTS OF LABOR OF NATIONS DRIVEN
TO DESTRUCTION BY WAR EHPENDl-
TURES?"
In view Of the statement Of conditions so ably
made by President Tobn and the historic policy
of the Democratic party we deem it fair to ask
why the change in policy since 1892:
Can it be possible that international Bankers,
our few exporters and our automobile, office APP
piiance equipment and canning trusts have been
able to change this historic Democratic policy.
Surely, some explanation should be made for
this most unusual change in attitude at a time
when it should be apparent to everyone that
American markets will soon be flooded with the
products Of the pauper wage paid workers OF
Europe and Asia.
Your Congressman and your Senator should
know your views on Reciprocal Trade Treaties, the
continuance OF which jcopardizes your job opp0r-
tunitieS and yCur standards OF living.