The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1940-11-07
Facing The Facts
With PHILIP PEARL

are Americans. Let us remember that
Americanism means tolerance. Let
US leave hate and prejudice to Hitler
Stain, Mussolini and their disciples
in Europe We don't want any part
of that here.
This plea and this prayer is oc-
casioned by widespread reports that
discrimination is rearing it's ugly head
in American life. Americans of for
eign birth or origin are feeling the
effects of this country's honest and
fortnight Indignation against the
policies and practices of the European
dictators.
man, Italian or Russian is no reason
why we should assume that he agrees
with Hitler, Mussolini or Stain. As
matter Of fact most Of our citizens
who trace their ancestry to these
European countries are refugees, OF
descendants Of refugees, from the
very things we abhor. That is why
they and their parents came to this
country in the first place. They re-
fused to submit to tyranny and op-
preston, they sought freedom and in
dependence, they were men and women
of spirit and that's why they came
here. That is also why there are good
and true Americans.
The American Federation of Labor
recognizes no distinctions of race, col
or or creed. It's tradition, like the
American tradition, is an all-embrac-
ing conception of men and women as
human beings, free and equal and as
piring to better their lot.
Counsel From the Past
Two generations ago, a convention
of the American Federation of Labor
adopted a credo which we are now
reiterating here because of it's eloquent
statement of principle and because
of it's particular applicability to mod
ern problems:
"Ths session of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor marks an episode in
the progress of enlightenment unpar-
alleled in the worlds history. We
meet in solid phalanx, regardless OF
creed, regardless of dogma, with natl
onal pride, but without international
prejudice. The world is our field OF
action and man is our brother. We
not only proclaim, under the unsullied
and untarnished banner of trade
unionism, but live the principles OF
liberty, equality, fraternity and JUS
tice
"Ours is an affiliation of men of like
interests, and of kindred spirit. II
is the natural growth of sentiment
for unity that binds and seals the COM
pact for harmony, fidelity and fellow,
ship. Our cause demands that there
is no worker so deep down in the abyss
of misery and despair that we dare
refuse to extend helping hand ir
his uplifting; that there is no high
pinnacle of grandeur to which the toll
ing masses should not aspire to at
tain.
"The trade unions are of, by anc
for the wage-workers primarily, but
there is no effort which we in oul
movement can make but what will
have its benefcient, salutary influence
upon all our people. The misery OF
the past, the struggle of the present
and the duty for the future, demand
that no effort be left untried, that al
energy be exercised, and opportunity
taken advantage of, to organize the
toilers of our country upon the broac
platform of the trade union, in full
affiliation with the AFL.
"The dim, distant past, with all its
pain and travail, must give way to the
better and brighter future for which
the workers have borne the burdens
and made the sacrifices that the peo
pie of our time, and for all time, may
be truly free"
Don't Emulate the DictatOrs
Let US not forget these inspired
words and this noble example set fol
American labor by those who came
before us. Instead let us apply thei1
good counsel to our present-day prob
lens.
We we'll remember the prejudice:
that were stirred up by the last WorlC
War, even the silly demands that opera
companies cease playing music b!
German composers. Let US not re
peat such mistakes now.
Prejudice is much more blind thar
justice. 1t fails to face or recogniz,
facts. Would it not be ridiculous fol
some Americans to vent prejudic,
against other Americans Of foreign
ancestry if both were in agreement OF
points at issue? Yet that is what i.
likely to happen if we lose our gril
on realities and become hot under tn,
collar. Just because we despise Hitler
Stain and Mussolini, we should tak'
care not to emulate them but to dea
justly with our fellow men.
X X X
Excuse us for laughing, but we hav'
just been listening to John l.. Lewis
on the radio. There was only on,
thing missing from his talk. The radio
people should have provided sound eff
fects of a swelled head being inflated