The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1940-11-21
Victory Spirit Prevails As Delegates
Meet For Convention In New Orleans
Program For Cooperation Of
Labor and Government
Most Important
WILL TAKE STAND
Strong Opposition To All
Foreign Isrns Is
Expected

New Orleans, La.-Three Of the
great departments of the American
Federation of Labor the Metal
Trades, the Building and Construction
Trades and the Union Label Trades
held their annual conventions here
as curtain-raisers to the American
Federation of Labor Convention next
week.
First to begin was the Metal Trades
Department convention, with Presi-
dent John p. Frey presenting his an
nual report in which he pledged that
American workers in the metal crafts
will "give the nation every possible
support" in the defense program.
Mr.. Frey emphasized that there is
no shortage of skilled mechanics in
the country but he pointed out the
need for training semi-skilled labor
$50 that it can efficiently perform the
many detailed operations in connec-
tion with mass production"
He revealed that the Federal Bu-
reau for Vocational Education is in
a position "to train larger number
of persons than would be required by
industry even during a period Of ma
tional emergency"
Condemning all totalitarian philos-
ophies, Mr.. Frey contrasted the re-
cent arbitrary increases in working
hours ordered by Stain in Soviet
Russia with a pledge of the Roose-
welt Administration in this country
to avoid any increases in the forty
hour week and to pay time and half
for overtime.
Discussing the prospects for labor
peace, Mr.. Frey declared that division
over partisan political policies has
caused breach in the CIO ranks and
"has divided the CIO into bitterly
hostile camps" He predicted that
progress toward labor peace will come
about through the Withdrawal Of or
ganizations from the C1O and their
affiliation with the American Fedora
tion of Labor"
Mr.. Frey devoted a section of his
report to the problem of racketeering
in unions. He said:
"The percentage of the racketeering
small, but, small as it is, much injury
to our welfare has been done in pub
lie opinion because Of a few outstand-
ing cases which have been thoroughly
publicized.
"The attacks made against our
titled aspersion upon the character Of
the splendid men who fill responsible
positions in our trade union move
ment, but the time has come when
our position should be made clear,
definite and emphatic so that our
trade union membership and the pub
lie will know that we are determined
to prevent any form Of racketeering
within the ranks of our trade union
movement.
"lf housekeeping becomes neces-
sary, then to maintain our integrity
let US do the task ourselves"
Mr.. Frey disclosed that contracts
entered into by metal trades councils
guaranteeing against interruption of
work because of jurisdictional dis
putes have seemingly proved thor
oughly satisfactory" and he praised
the high character of cooperation ex-
listing between the metal trade unions,
industry and the United States Fed
eral Government.
The Building and Construction
nnno orty, on,,f Cnnvonfjnn
scheduled to follow the Metal Trades
with President William Green of the
American Federation of Labor listed
as one of the speakers. In his report
to the convention President John
Coyne emphasized the successful rec
ord of the department in the elimina,
ton of jurisdictional strikes and
pledged cooperation with the Fedora
Government in it's program of defense
construction.
The convention of the Union Labe
Trades Department heard encourag
ing reports Of progress during the
year from Matthew Woll, President
and l. M. Ornburn, Secretary-Treas
urer. Several new industries, having
complied fully with union conditions
have now received authority to displa!
the union label on their products.
The convention called upon all af
filiated organizations of the American
Federation of Labor to join in the de
partment's drive to make the natiol
n-label-conscious and to educat
workers into demanding to see tn
union label, the union shopcard or tn
union button when making purchase
or hiring services.