The voice of labor., 1940-02-15
LeUis' Address To Youth Congress

cans having something to do with
tic business of managing the gov.
ernment. ! think the politicians
have been left too much alone to
do with the government and the
people what they will / think
the country has paid terrible
price for the ineinciency OF our
politicians. For their lack OF
knowledge. for stupidity. for their
Ignorance in their approach TO
public questions and their disin-
clination to assume responsibility
Whoever were the manager OF
this country. in those halcyon
days that have gone by. they Ger
tainly failed miserably in 1920.
either to safeguard the future or
to preserve the integrity OF the
functioning machine. Domestic
ally speaking. and in ten years.
every citizen has paid a terrible
price In deprivation OF opportunity
III human tragedy. sorrow and
agony. by reason OF this misman-
agement of this republic and this
government by whoever were in
charge.
Well. isn't ten years long enough
TO learn? Isn't It now apparent
that the politicians answers arc
not going to get YOU a Job unless
YOU force the politicians to get
YOU job? You know. after all.
you young people of this country.
labor the common people. arc
only going TO get that degree OF
consideration from the politicians
and from Our public representa-
tive that you force them to give
you. by your orgI nization. b.
your work. by your crystalliZed.
articulate voices and by the fact
that you expect to fight for your
rights as Americans.
Americans drifting. their coun-
Try YOU listened TO the President
today, when YOU came away YOU
didn't know where TO get job
II you needed one. he didn't tell
YOU that II you waited a year
there would be a job for you. he
didn't say that II you waited Ave
years there would be job for
YOU Because. apparently inc did
nj know. and If he doesn't know,
he finds himself in the same fix
that you were OH the Finnish
question.
And II he doesn't know he ought
To do something about it he
ought to call a conference capable
OF finding out the essence and the
roots of the problem and Of de-
vlSing ways and means for eco
nomic America 10 emerge from
thc slough Of despondency and the
agony which has convulsed the
entire nation.
JOIN l.. n. =. l..
| do not know what the future
of the American Youth Congress
may BE-. or what resolutions II
may adopt. l wish. however. %
give YOU this message and ! give
IL to you as chairman of LabOr's
National partisan League not
identified with either the Demo-
cratic or the Republican party
but standing always for the rights
and principles of free America.
for the support Of its meritorious
institutions. for the preservation
OF the flag and for the protection
of the homeland. and for Job
ana civil liberties. And while
other people may be condemning
you. and the Republican party
saying it doesn't want TO associate
with you. and the Democratic
party through its t.tular Spokcs-
man saying they doubt you know
what you are thinking about. as
chairman OF Labor's partisan
League. l issue an invitation TO
the American Youth Congress to
become affiliated or come to "a
working Arrangement with Labor's
Nom partisan League in this coun-
try.
! want TO say this to you also,
that ii you ever decide TO accept
that anlliation or come TO that
working arrangement. with the
millions of others in this country
that you can thus associate your
selves with. we won't be sending
any detectives down to Your meet
ingS TO Scrutini2e the resolutions.
1t is time for labor. 1t is time 70.
the common people and 1t is time
for the youth OF America 10 get
together. There are problems
ahead and everybody can do his
part. and 1t is going to take
united effort on the part of those
who are the chief sufferers OF
doing nothing IN this country.
The chief sufferers. so we well
come you whenever you are ready.
but don't come unless you are
prepared to work and unless you
are prepared to fight in this cause
for greater opportunities for your
selves.
Surely I am widely criticized
because some people say ] am Wig
orous in my statements.
Well. / quite agree that I think
pretty strongly on some Of these
propositions. They run to the
question OF life and death. And
/ am prepared at any time TO de-
bate the rights OF labor. the rights
OF youth Of America and the
rights OF the common people Of
this country with any politician
or champion in any forensic ring
in America. all OF them standing
there tremendous applause).
LABOR PEACE
One other subject I want to
touch upon before ! close. In
the newspapers OF yesterday and
today. Il seems that President
Roosevelt and President Green OF
the American Federation OF Labor
have agreed that I am solely re-
sponsible for the n-convening
Of a peace conference between
those two organizations. the Amer
ican Federation of Labor and the
Congress of Industrial Organiza-
tions.
Well. that is a remarkable dis
covery. because ] have been will
ing to admit at all times I haven't
ststa e. s,.N.