The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1940-02-08
Providinq
CONTINUED From Page One)


platforms this year a constructive
program for the elimination of wide
spread unemployment. This is not and
must not be considered partisan or
political issue. 1t is a grave respon-
sibility of every element of our ma
tional life.
"The American Federation of Labor
has come to the conclusion that it
would be suicidal for this nation to
continue cropping in the dark about
unemployment. 1t is essential that
we proceed Immediately to find out
the facts and to face them courage
onsly. First, we must acertain just
how many men and women willing and
able to work are unemployed through
no fault of their own.
eve must learn what localities and
what industries have suffered most.
We must find out the extent of un-
employment among our youth and
among middle-aged workers. We must
get more accurate information on the
chronological displacement of workers
by new inventions and machinery
Only when this knowledge is obtained
can we act intelligently.
Furthermore, experience has
taught us that Government spending
while it provided necessary relief fol
those forced into idleness, offers ne
permanent cure for unemployment
The only possible practical way tt
end unemployment is to provide job!
for the unemployed in private indus
| try.
"At this time there are not enough
jobs in private industry to go around
This is largely due, in our opinion
to the fact that lack of confidence ha!
stunted business growth and expan
sion. We demand that those in au
thority take whatever steps may b'
necessary to restore business conf
dence.
1--WE urge that all Government ac
tions that tend unnecessarily to dis
courage business expansion cease ant
that a positive effort be made to en-
courage greater Industrial activity
We have learned the lesson that whel
opportunities for profit diminish, op
portunities for jobs likewise disappear
eve recommend that efforts to re
duce unemployment be integrated. II
this end, we urge Congress to Great
a National Advisory Council on Un
employment which would have repre-
sentatives of Government, business
labor, farmers and consumers. Sucl
4 council could bring about unity o
purpose and unity of action on con
structive program.
"Organized labor has long felt tha
the shorter work week without de
creases in pay provides a positive ant
progressive offset to the natural dis
placement of workers by the intro
duction of labor-saving machinery
Benefits from new inventions and i'm
proved methods of production mus
be shared by business, by the work
ers and by the consumers if we ar
to avoid a top-heavy and unbalance
economy.
"The shorter work week will sprea
available jobs among a greater mum
ber, increase consuming and purchas
ing power and thereby offer oppol
tunity for continuous growth to in
dustry. The American Federation Q
Labor therefore will continue to pres
for the fve-day week and the six
hour day.
"Until unemployment is reduced
the Government must bear the heav
burden of providing relief for the mil
lions now unable to find work III prl
vate industry. A large appropriate
will again be necessary for this pun
pose during the coming year.
"We call upon Congress not to see
economy at this time at the expens
of the helpless but to provide an ade
quate appropriation. The nation ca
drop this relief burden and slash tn
terrifying high cost of Governmen
only when the unemployment probler
is faced, met and solved"