Evening star., 1940-11-26
Union Responsibility
I'm Defense Stressed
By Miss Perkins
Labor Secretary Urges
A. F. l. to Avoid Any
Production Delays
> the Associated Press.

tary o. Labor Perkins told labor
today it had a responsibility under
national defense to carry out It's
contracts, seek an adjustment OF
its own family differences, avoid
production delays. and "thwart in
fiuences from dishonest or subvers-
i've sources"
She expressed these views about
labor's role in the defense program
In a speech before the American
Federation of Labor convention. 1t
was her first speaking appearance
before the A. F. l.. delegates since
kl936. In recent years her name
had not appeared on the invitation
list.
Labor has status today as never
before" she said, land that status
carries with 1t responsibilities
sponsibihty to wage earners and
responsibility to all the people Of
the United States"
THAT responsibility calls for car
rying out all contracts agreed upon"
she added.
Vigilance Against Subversion.
THAT responsibility calls for vigi-
lance in the maintenance of high
standards so as to thwart influences
from dishonest or subversive sources
attempting to establish themselves
within the labor movement.
"That responsibility calls for sin
cere and conscientious effort to
bring about a fair and honorable
adjustment of differences within
the labor movement itself.
THAT responsibility calls for CO.
operation by labor with employers
and with all responsible groups to
avoid delays and interruptions-to
increase production and efficiency
land to preserve and promote human
welfare and labor standards at the
Same time in the defense program
which we as a Nation have under
taken"
Miss Perkins asserted in her ad-
(dress that in the months to come
labor, employers and other groups
fmust cooperate as never before
In the interest of defense.
1.-THE American Federation of
Labor will do its part unselflshly,
unstintingly and whole-heartedly,"
she predicted.
Dubinsky Defeated.
Meanwhile, the convention dug
Into scores of resolutions following
a let-up in an attack by David Du-
binsky, president of the 1nterna-
tional Ladies Garment Workers, on
rome measures.
The A. F. LIS big club over unions
that might have reasonable inten-
tions remained in the grip of the
Executive Council despite Mr.. Du-
binsky's protests.
The convention upped the salary
Of President William Green from
sl2, 900 to $4,000 and the salary of
Secretary Treasurer George Meany
from $4,000 to $4,000.
1t also adopted resolution rails
Ing the 1-cent per capita tax to
a cents for at least year and
dropped a 1-cent assessment which
MIR. Dubinsky asserted was created
ln 1887 for "war" on the Congress
bf Industrial Organizations.
Mr.. Dubinsky said abolition OF the
assessment was one Of the conditions
Ripon which he brought his union
back into the A. F. of l.. last June.
Drops Floor Fight Plan.
Another condition of that return
10 the fold he deserted in 1885 to
help organize the G. I. O., he said,
vas President Green's promise that
The Executive Council recommend it
be stripped of the power to suspend
hny union for anything.
The council recommended just
that but added that it should be
given instead power to suspend two
pr more unions engaged in a dual
movement" The convention ap-
proved the recommendation.
Mr.. Dubinsky had intended floor
hight for a resolution he offered to
stop racketeering in labor unions
but since, in a modified form, it had
met with unanimous committee ap-
proval, he said he was satisfied"
Ind intended to make no further
protests.
Citrine Calls for Planes.
A British labor leader, Sir Walter
Citrine, executive secretary of the
British Trades Union Congress, ap-
pealing for planes, planes and more
planes" yesterday told the conven-
lion German bombings have be-
come so intense they are affecting
sour output" and added that Ameri-
can labor can defeat Germany
swithout firing a shot"
II say to you something that no
British statesman has yet said:
Bombing is having an effect upon
pur output. Speed is of the essence
now as never before because our
butput cannot keep upon full sched-
ule because of the bombings."
How long we can continue. de-
bends not merely upon our will, but
also upon the will to hit back" he
declared. "The only thing the Nazis
Understand is the power to make
Them suffer"
He said the three present aims of
the British Labor party are to prose-
cute the fight with 'inflexible re-
solve" safeguard the rights of the
citizenry and widen the range of the
movement.
Appealing for speeded production
|of war supplies in this country, Sir
Walter said, American labor can
conquer the Nazis without firing a
lshot. I want you to make your
Rworkshops the first line Of defense
Nor all democracy"