The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1940-12-12

CONDEMNS
Continued from Page One)

tional capacity. The record for in
5egrity which they have established
with their membership, with public
officials and with employer, is a just
source of qualification.
"Those who make use of instances
where trade union officials have
erred, for the purpose of condemning
the trade union movement and its
leadership as whole, are guilty Of
grave social harm.
"There is a direct moral RESPONSE
bility on the part of the trade union
movement to keep its ranks free from
every tinge of racketeering and gang
sterism. The membership of our
trade union movement, and the pub
lie, have the right to expect that the
leaders of labor will be men of un-
questioned personal integrity.
your committee believes that dec
larations by this convention to be
effective, must be accompanied by
provisions which will place the Amer
lean Federation of Labor in position
| where the subject under consideration
can be dealt with in an effective man
| ner.
"In SO doing we must keep in mind
| that the American Federation of La
| DOR is a federation of self-governing
| national and international unions who
| have been guaranteed their right to
}elf-government, which includes their
IL &c
control over their conduct.
"On the other hand the national
and international organizations have
The power and the obligation to pro-
,cct the integrity of the trade union
movement by the enforcement of dis
:iplinary action which will safeguard
he good name Of their own organi-
lation, and the reputation of the Am
erican Federation Of Labor.
| "We direct attention to the well
established policy of the American
Federation of Labor in connection
With the directly affiliated local or
sanizations. Whenever charges have
| Jeen filed against officers of local
md federal labor unions and investi-
gation has shown the charges well
founded, such officers have been re-
moved from their positions of trust,
and when necessary to maintain the
integrity Of trade unionism, offend
ing organizations have had their
| ,harter annulled.
an lieu of Resolution No. 32, and
n support of the Executive Councils
report, your committee recommends
hat all national and international
unions affiliated with the American
Federation of Labor be advised tC
adopt rules or amendments to thei1
constitution or where no provision
now prevails embodying appropriate
provisions for adequate disciplinary
action against any Of their officers
2nd/or members who may have beer
found guilty Of betraying the trust
reposed in them, or of having useC
heir official position for personal anC
Illegal gain, who have been or may
)e convicted of such acts which cas
liscredit upon the labor movement.
"That whenever the Executive
Council has valid reason to believe
hat a trade union official is guilty
If any such ofense, and the Nationa
n International Union in question
'eeminGly evades it's responsibility
, he Executive Council shall be au
| thorized to apply all of its iniluenc,
. secure such action as will corrcc
, he situation
"Thc foregoing recommendation
must not be construed as preventing
any person from rehabilitatng him
self.
"Attention is also called to a Ger
, tain type of gangesterism which re
, uuires vigorous action on the part o
the trade union movement.
"Thcre have been men Of i'll reput,
who, in some instances, have sue
, "ccded, through stealth and armc'
'orce, in securing control of existing
local unions, or in organizing new
ones, using the power they have ac
CURED for illegal purposes. This is ;
most difficult evil to eradicate. /
"alIs for the application Of ever!
means available"