The voice of labor., 1940-06-06
Where Does
Labor Stand:

Labor Stand?
Labor is 90 per cent in favor OF an ade-
quate defense of the nation The fact is known
to everyone. Those who toll are just deeply
and patriotically interested in the preservation
Of American institutions. American ideals and
American life. as is any other strata of the
American public No one ever has had the
temerity to question this attitude Of labor. nor
has anyone ever questioned labor's loyalty to
government. To raise any such implication
would be a direct insult to the tens of millions
of men and women who work and who con-
stitute the very backbone of strength for this
great country OF ours. Love Of country burns
deep in the hearts Of labor. In the world war.
more than 80. 900 members of the United Mine
Workers of America alone served in the mill
tary forces Of the United States, and members
OF other unions in the same proportion gave
their services to the country. More than three
thousand members of the United Mine Work
ers of America gave up their lives in the
democracy They made the supreme sacrifice
These facts should be ample to give the lie to
anyone who voices doubt as to where labor
stands when it comes to the defense of the
country
Labor wants no war. Labor is now and
always has been opposed to war. Especial
ly is it opposed to our participation in any
foreign war. What foreign countries do to
each other is their own business and
America should keep out.
We owe nothing to any OF them. But if it
comes to point where the safety and security
Of our country is endangered. then labor will
line up with all other true Americans and fight
to the last ditch regardless of whom the enemy
may be Let no doubt that statement.
War is raging in Europe between the forces
Of democracy on one side and the forces of
dictatorship on the other. 1t is bloody. ruthless,
senseless war There is very evident danger
that democracy may be wiped out and Europe
be subjected to savage dictatorship. In that
event. America would be left as the only re-
naming strong powerful bulwark of demo-
cratic ideals in the world America would then
be forced to defense of this remnant of
democracy For that reason, labor is in full
accord with all necessary steps that must be
taken to make America strong enough to win
the struggle
In declaring that labor is 100 per cent in
favor of adequate defense measures, we are
assuming. as matter of course. that labor
will not be required to carry all of the burden.
We assume. too that the rights of labor will
be respected and sustained and that labor
will have voice in any program that has to
do with national safety and defense and pro-
lection Of the well-being Of the entire mass OF
our population.
in the past years oil peace labor mas. by
long, continuous effort. won for itself its right
full place in the sun Time was when labor was
regarded by many persons mere COM
modify. to be bough and sold and dealt with
on the same level as lumber coal, wheat,
horses mules and other tangible commodities
But that time is gone and there is no sensible
reason Why it ever should return. Labor now
has the firmly established constitutional right
to organize and join labor union. Labor has
the right to bargain collectively with its EN-.
ployers through representatives OF its own
choosing. Through the efforts of labor, the
country now has the Social Security System
including old-age assistance. etc. Labor Sc.
cured the enactment Of the Wagner Labor
Relations Law. which has brought large de
gree of stabilization of employer re-
lationship. Labor brought about the enactment
of the Wages and Hours Law which relieved
labor from the stranglehold of long hours and
starvation wages Labor shortened the work
day. increased wages. improved working con
ditions and created greater opportunities. By
accomplishing these splendid results. labor
aided in developing a better home life and a
higher level Of citizenship
And now, even under the stress of war
hysteria and manipulations by powerful
anti-labor interests, these benefits must be
protected and maintained, and labor has
the right 10 assume that they will be.
Labor will not take kindly to any assaults
that may be made upon it. no matter from
what source such assaults may come.