The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1940-06-20
The Cherry Tree
Where We Hdtchet Out
The Truth
IN THE WAR
FURNISHING MATERIALS
REGARDED AS AN ENEMY
IN THE MIDDLE

Today the United States is IN THE
WAR
We have said that beforehand it
has been true.
But today it is several degrees
MORE TRUE, if the phrase is per-
missable.
The Presidents speech of June 10
was just about one-tenth of an inch
short of telling Hitler and Mussolini
that the United States is AT WAR
WITH THEM and their devilish, hate
full relationships.
We are bound to furnish the Allies
with every scrap Of material aid we
can summon up.
When muzzle loading fintlocks were
in use it was often the case that some
loaded the guns, while others fired.
Both were fighting-BOTH WERE AT
WAR.
We are like those who loaded the
guns-AND WE ARE IN THE WAR
actually, though not technically.
We shall do ALL WE CAN to help
the Allies win. Which is AS 1T
SHOULD BE.
X X X
Now the thing that may be tre-
mendously important about all this is
that if the Hitler -Mussolini gangsters
win 1--WE hope they don't but "IF"-)
then in the flush Of their victory, WE
SHALL BE REGARDED AS AN
ENEMY PEOPLE,.
That CAN have consequences far
beyond anything we can control!
That's something we had better get
into our minds NOW!
Where may that leave us IF Ger
many and Italy knock out England and
France?
That's the logical question-and we
can't duck it for very long.
Britain has said that if England is
invaded and conquered the British
fleet will fight on from New World
base.
Add that to our own commitments,
which is that we will supply the Allies
with every material thing we can
muster.
If furnishing materials isn't enough
and IF the British fleet bases upon
the New World, it seems pretty GER
tain WE SHALL HAVE TO TAKE
THE NEXT LOGICAL STEPS.
We will then-and perhaps before
then-be where we shall either have
to join in the battle lines, or be our
selves a vanquished people, scorned by
the hard-riding and constituencies
tyrants. t.,.s--.j. 4-;.4.,s.-e-. ---47,-s..l-
If we aren't in the war in our own
minds, you can be sure that both Ger
many and Italy regard us as their
enemy IN THE WAR.
And we had best be taking ALL the
protective and precautionary measures
that we would be taking if the Presi-
dent had gone that other one-tenth of
an inch in his declaration of June 10.
1t is true that the President cannot
declare war, but, as we have seen,
nothing on earth can stop him from
stating his recognition Of a set of
facts, even if that stated recognition
amounts to telling the world that the
United States is all out to help one
side win the war in Europe.
So, WE ARE IN FACT IN THE
WAR, though not yet technically.
X X X
In this situation TWO dark spots
loom up on our horizon.
One is Soviet Russia; the other is
desperate, ambitious Japan.
If we get into real jam, depend
upon one or the other, or both to jump
at the most vulnerable point, as they
see it.
The United States, dedicated to
freedom and democracy and con-
stantly improving way of life, is
caught, irrevocably, in the most awe
some malestrom of all time.
We shall have to pay heavily; we
probably shall have to fight; we can
not know the outcome.
The American labor movement
can and must play great and
heroic role in these coming days.
1t will fall short of it's mission and
its golden opportunity if it mars it's
effort and supplies it's idealism with
personal greeds, shallow ambitions
anu Sc1lSlnS LIlaC nave no meaning Ill
principle.
l hope these lines may be read by
Mr.. Sidney Hillman, who has been
given most important task by the
President. And hope that thereafter
he may have long and earnest talk
with Mr.. John l.. Lewis who thinks
peace talks inopportune.-CMW.