The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1940-09-05
Facing the Facts
With PHILIP PEARL

I
and dispassionately the messages ad-
dressed to them by labor's leaders.
In this connection, we wish to call
attention to a highly Discerning edl-
torial published in the New York Her
aid Tribune the day after Labor Day.
"There is a difference between Mr..
Green's and Mr.. Lewis attitude Ton
national defense)," says the editorial.
"It is an important one, and for none
more important than for labor"
We agree with this statement lOO
per cent.
The editorial continues:
"Mr. Green unqualiiedly pledged
himself to anything-any work or any
sacrifice-that may be necessary, but
he wanted to be assured that what
ever was asked really was necessary.
"Mr. Lewis produced an old-fashion-
ed, rip-snorting attack on private
greed and men in high places and
then pledged himself to national de-
fense-on the terms which Mr.. Lewis
chose to lay down."
The editorial agreed that Mr.. Green
was justified, in calling on the Presi-
dent to let the nation know what the
man-power needs of the nation are and
to present definite program to fulfill
those needs supporting conscription.
"No such promise energies from Mr..
Lewis" it points out.
The Sore Spot
Then, the editorial probes the sore,
diseased and painfully secret flaw in
the Lewis philosophy. 1t quotes Mr..
Lewis as saying that even an army
of four million conscripts cannot save
the nation "if the people doubt whether
it is worth saving"
This "leads one to wonder just why
Mr.. Lewis should put so much energy
into implying that the nation is not
worth saving," says the newspaper.
at is everlastingly true that no arm
ament program can ever defend this
country unless it's people-all it's peo-
ple-think it profoundly worth de-
Tending. If labor imagines, or allows
labor leaders to imagine, that it is
being asked to defend something other
than itself, it's institutions, it's free
doms, it's great stake in the common
enterprise, then we might as well for
get about defense altogether"
What did Mr.. Green say on this
subject? Here it is:
"The great army of workers and the
unions represented by the American
Federation of Labor courageously face
the fact that the preservation of
America and democracy transcends all
other considerations.
"Truly observing the spirit of La
Dor Day, we stand here and publicly
proclaim thatAwa are ready to work,
we are ready to sacrifice, we are ready
to fight for America"
Surely the difference between the
patriotic and courageous stand taken
by Mr.. Green and the false and hypo-
critical mountings of Mr.. Lewis
should be just as clear to every work
ing man and woman in this country
as it is to the editorial writer's Of the
New York Herald Tribune.
1t is the difference between loyalty
and treachery. 1t is the difference be-
tween Americanism and Communism.
Americanism VS.. Communism
Search Mr.. Lewis speech and try
to find single denunciation of the
Stain dictatorship. 1t cont be done.
But Mr.. Green openly declared:
81 am proud to repeat now the state
ment | have consistently made these
many years that there is no room in
the American Federation of Labor for
Nazism, Communism or Fascism. We
regard these philosophers as hostile to
Americanism. We regard Communists,
NaZiS and Fascists as traitors to
America. We strongly urge that such
traitorous organizations as the Com
munist Party and the Nazi Bund be
outlawed."
What does Mr.. Lewis say to such
followers as still cling to him? He
says that within the coming months
and years, labor and the Common
people of the country, the aged, the
youth, the Negroes, have several
choices to make about their leadership.
They must decide whether the two ma
jor political parties, constituted and
directed as they are, can fulfill the
nations needs"
What is that, if not Communist
propaganda? What it is, if not re-
iteration of Mr.. Lewis personal po-
litical ambitions? What is Mr.. Lewis
cunning for, if not the complete po-
litical and economic collapse of the
country so that he may attempt a
Hitler "putsch" in America?
Truly the workers of America have
received an important message on La
Dor Day. 1t is a message that affects
not only their personal security for
the welfare of America. The message
is simply this:-if you love your
country and wish to defend it from
the Hitlers, Stains and Mussolinis
your place is in the American Fedora
tion of Labor.