The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1940-03-28
COMMENT ON WORLD
EVENTS

sources, for repeal of the Johnson Act
which bans further extension Of United
States government credit to debtor ma
tions.
Great Britain and France, having
failed to pay war debts to this country
incurred during the World War, come
under this ban. British credits here
now. are sufficient, authorities claim
to meet war materials purchases fol
about one year.
AS that time passes, it will be nee
essary for Britain and France, per,
haps vitality so, for some plan to be
formulated whereby the flow of wal
supplies may continue unabated if the
war goes on. A large-scale war will
use up British funds faster, would
also make more pressing the need fol
loan credit when cash is all gone
Then will come a drive for repeal of
the Johnson act and extension of
credit to the Allies.
The American Federation of Labor
is on record as opposing any exten-
sion of credit that might tend to in
volve the United States in the Euro
pean war. Congress and the people
as whole have given every indication
of being in thorough agreement with
| labor's stand.
At the time of the war perpara-
tions large groups of German work
ers were already shackled to their
jobs. Since the outbreak of war (says
the international Federation of Trade
Unions Bulletin) this industrial en-
slavement has been extended to vir-
tually all workers. Workers not re-
leased by their employers may only
change their jobs with the express
consent of the labor exchange authori-
ties. Many employers take advantage
of the hold this gives them upon their
workers. Three examples taken from
the Nazi press in one week show the
type of silent conflict this situation
gives rise to:
Nazi judges in Solingen condemned
to two months Imprisonment a work.
er who by constant grumbling had
sought to obtain a better job and had
absented himself from night work, and
another to six months Imprisonment
for 'frivolously absenting himself
from his work for a considerable
period"
In Dusseldorf a workman was SEN
fenced to two months Imprisonment
for absenting himself from work with
out excuse or warning.
On January II, Gertrud Westphal,
born on March II, 1914, was executed.
She had Intentionally set fire to fac
tory at Warren on November 1S in
order not to have to work there any
longer.
x X X
"Various forces today are creating
the prospect that our unemployed may
once more become our forgotten men,"
the Bulletin of the Federal Council of
Churches remarks. 1t adds: "The
situation also presents the danger that
the United States also will embark on
a program of guns instead of bread,
since politicians are tempted to feel
that 1t is easier to raise money for
defense than for domestic relief and
social services. The desperate shift
to armament economics, the reliance
chiefly upon increases in the army and
navy and their equipment, has char
acterized other governments which
were unable to solve their domestic
problems. 1t has led such countries in
the direction of military control Of
national policy, and in many cases to-
ward totalitarianism and into actual
war.
appropriations for relief and So
cial services in the United States must
not be cut while military appropria-
tions are Increased. Until more fun
damental and constructive solutions
can be worked out to abolish unem-
ployment, the Christian conscience will
demand that increased burdens of suf-
fering shall not be placed upon these
least His brethren"