The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1940-02-29
Facing the Facts
With PHILIP PEARL
Thank YOU, Mr.. President!

asked you last week to tell the Amer
ican public the truth about the failure
to resume labor peace negotiations.
You responded promptly, Mr.. Presi-
dent. You told the truth. You in
formed the public that the American
Federation of Labor had responded
favorably and unreservedly to your
appeal for the restoration of peace
conferences. You revealed for the
first time that John L. Lewis had
spurned your pleas.
Now the public knows the truth. |
Now it is the duty of all American
workers, whether they are members
of the American Federation of Labor
or the C. l. O., to compel Mr.. Lewis
to see reason or get out. No one man
can get away indefinitely with the po-
sition stubbornly held by Mr.. Lewis.
No one man can prevent the hosts Of
labor from achieving the unity they
want and need. No one man can stay
on the spot and take the heat that is
being turned on Mr.. Lewis and will be
turned on him.
Even Mr.. Lewis knows this. So as
soon as President Roosevelt spoke up
and told the country the truth-in fact
the very next day-Mr. Lewis at
tempted to squirm off the spot and
escape the public wrath by making
show of offering peace. 1t was the
same kind Of phony offer Mr.. Lewis
has made repeatedly in the past. Some
people, including most of his follow
ers, were duped by the previous fake
peace proposals emanating from MIR.
Lewis. But by this time everyone is
wise to his game. That kind of phony
will not work any more Mr.. Lewis.
You had better think up new one,
quickly.
Ulterior Motives
Even Mr.. Lewis anticipated diff
Guilty in fooling the public this time so
he went to great length in insisting
on his own sincerity and in warning
against efforts to seek flaws in his
proposal or to hunt ulterior motives
behind it. 1t is not necessary to look
for ulterior motives in the Lewis plan.
They stick out all over it like por-
cupine's quilts.
Let us identify them for you. In
the first place, Mr.. Lewis did not sub
nit his proposal to the American Fed
Grafton of Labor directly or ask that
it be submitted and considered by the
duly constituted peace committees
representing both sides. No. Instead
he blew his pretty bubble in the air at
the tail end of speech before the
American youth Congress in Wash
ington. More about this Congress
later.
In the second place, Mr.. Lewis ask
ed for the immediate chartering sby
the A. f. of L.. of all C. |. o. units
without audits of membership or re-
gard for jurisdictional conflicts with
existing A. f. of l.. unions. This means
that the A. +. of i. would issue
charters to paper organizations witt
inflated membership and thus give
them added strength and encourage
ment to carry on their fight agains
the A. F. Of l.. from within the A. f
of l.. Wouldn't that be a fine way o
achieving peace and unity!
Finally, Mr.. Lewis topped his pro
posal off with the glittering but com
pletely gratuitous offer to Withdraw
himself as candidate for any oftic
in the A. F. of l.. How unselfish, nobl
and touching!
The Way to Peace
When we face the facts we see tha
the labor war has been bitter on
and the road to peace will not be al
easy one. The essential requirement
are these:
Peace must be real peace. 1t mus
come from mutual realization tina
existing strife is unnecessary, harm
full and dangerous to labor. 1T mus
be lasting peace. 1t must be com
plete peace
The American Federation Of Labo
is willing and has been willing fror
the beginning to admit all G. |. Z
unions and their members to the fol-
without prejudice, without discrimln
alton and without penalty. We wan
them to come back. We want then
to work with US, not against us.
Therefore, it is first necessary t.
have an Independent audit made a
once of the paid-up membership o
both organizations.
After such an audit is made, it viii
be necessary for the officials Of union
on each side with conflicting juris
dictions to sit down and work on
mutually satisfactory mergers. Tn
American Federation of Labor canno
have two unions fighting against eac
other in the same field for the righ
to represent the same workers.
Finally, after the mergers hay
been arranged on a voluntary basis
all the c. |. O. unions, including thos
originally chartered by the A. f. o
L., can come back at once TO the hous
Of labor and take their rightful plac
in the conventions of the America
Federation Of Labor with the sam
rights and privileges as the organiza
tions which have remained faithfu
throughout.
Mr.. Lewis, if you will accept thes
terms, you will be treated on the sam
footing as any other member in goo
'.tk hn !