The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1940-01-04
Fdcing the Facts
With PHILIP PEARL

An official representative Of the
United States Government, who was
also representing the C. /. O., sat on
the platform at public meeting in
Havana, Cuba, on Nov. 26 and heard
his country denounced for Imperial
ism" while Soviet Russia was praised
for its "peace policies"
This representative of the United
States Government and the C. /. o.
said nothing in protest against these
remarks by the head of the organiza-
tion holding the meeting but, instead,
publicly expressed to the speaker and
to the organization the friendly greet
ings Of the C. |. o. and John L. Lewis.
The representative of the United
States Government and the C. I. o.
was James B. Carey, secretary of the
c. |. 0. He was appointed by the Pres
ident Of the United States on Nov. 1S
to represent this country at confer
ence called by the international Labor
Office in Havana
While in Havana Mr.. Carey went to
a meeting of the Cuban Labor Con-
federation. He went there despite the
fact that Lazaro Pena, head of the
Cuban Labor Confederation, is an ac-
knowledged revolutionary Communist,
a leader Of the Communist Party in
Cuba. Knowing this, he brought to
Mr.. Pena the greetings of Mr.. Lewis
and the C. l. o.
The Highlights
The meeting was held on Sunday
morning and it was quite meeting.
The highlight was Mr. Pena's address.
According to the New York Times,
Mr.. Pena urged Latin-American
workers to unite against American i'm
perialism and support the peace poll
cies Of the Soviet Union.'"
This declaration was made only a
few days before Soviet Russia pounced
on Finland. 1t was made only few
weeks after Stain had signed up on
the dotted line with Hitler and di-
vided up Poland with him.
Mr.. Carey sat on the platform while
Mr.. Pena spoke and made no protest.
Mr.. Carey has been widely accused
of being "fellow-traveler." So far as
we know he has not denied this. Be-
sides being the secretary of the C. l.
O., he is the President of the United
Electrical, Radio and Machine Work
ers Union, which is unquestionably
dominated by Communists.
To go back to the meeting, Mr.. Pena
was not the only Communist speaker.
There appeared also Mr. Vicente Lom-
bardo Toledano, Mexican labor leader.
Following the party line, Mr.. Toledano
termed the present war in Europe "a
fight not for democracy but for the
division of territories" He added that
''our best allies in Latin American
countries are the armies, because
they are composed Of workers.
Mr.. Pena agreed with Mr. Toledano
In fact, he declared the example of
Mexico should inspire labor in all the
American nations TO take similar
steps. In Mexico, need we explain,
Mr.. Toledano and subservient gov
ernment seized the oil industry from
its owners, including American citi-
zens.
He Said Nothing at All
Mr.. Carey sat on the platform and
heard all this. He did not protest. He
remained silent. Silence means con-
sent.
We have set these facts down with
out comment. We do not think any
comment from US is necessary We
believe there can be but one reaction
to such a performance from the Amer
lean people
But there is one phase of this stu
alton that we feel calls for comment.
That is the original selection as
United States representative to the |.
L. 0. conference of c. l. o. official.
This appointment was a grave mis-
take. The c. |. O. does not represent
the dominant labor movement in the
United States. The appointment of
a c. I. o. official as a representative
of the United States gave the c. I.
o. an official recognition which it does
not deserve.
The American Federation of Labor
has lodged official protests against
this appointment. 1t is prepared to
take further steps, if necessary to
prevent repetition of this farce and
to maintain its standing.
We cannot believe that after the
events that took place in Havana the
American people will ever again con-
sent to be represented by C. |. o. de-
signees.