The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1940-12-26

ness OIL reuerdJlOn representatives W
sit down around the conference table
with a c. l. o. committee "for the
purpose of negotiating an honorable
peace and the establishment of
unity and solidarity within the ranks
of labor"
So far as known, the President COM
pletely ignored the convention of the
c. l. o., which opened in Atlantic City
the same day the A. F. of l.. con-
vention got under way in New Or
leans. Almost year ago Mr..
Roosevelt attributed to John l.. Lewis,
then head of the C. l. o., response
bility for the failure of White House
efforts to bring about resumption
of negotiations.
The Presidents Letter
The text of the Presidents letter,
as read to the convention by Secre-
tary-Treasurer Meany, is as follows:
The White House,
Washington.
Dear Mr. Green:
Please extend to the officers, the
teltSdJSo anu Vic llClllDSIo VI tiiN
American Federation Of Labor my
congratulations and fluctuations upon
this occasion Of the siXtieth conven
tion of the organization. At the
same time let me wish, with all your
members, for a meeting out of which
will come substantial good and bene
fit to American wage-earners, to
American business, to American farm
ers and to the general public.
| had hoped to be able to attend
the New Orleans convention and to
speak to my friends there in person;
but that was part of a plan | had
which included the possibility Of a
cruise and also the spending of
Thanksgiving at Warm Springs. AS
you know, all plans have to be ten
tative in these days of crisis, and
subject to change according to cir
cumstances of the hour. 1t still is
inadvisable for me to be further away
from Washington than a distance
which will permit my return in seven
or eight hours Reluctantly, there
fore, and with deep regret, | have
had to forego the privilege Of attend
ing the New Orleans convention.
This nation Of ours and its work
crs have made great economic and
social gains since your 1888 conven-
ton was held here in Washington.
Representative Of organized labor
have played an important part in the
| c., l,a pinn nnI ont nf hn
Gressive program which has meant so
ruch not only to wage-earners but
to farmers and business men as well.
Now we have come to a period
which demands intense and sustained
cooperation so that our beloved repub-
lie can present, in any emergency
which might be forced upon US, the
solid imposing front of great and
united democracy. In order to dc
this successfully all of us are called
upon to work together in a common
purpose and for the common gooc
that these United States shall stanc
forever free and that the institu.
tons we as a free people enjoy shal
ever be preserved. To this end labo,
can make its contribution along with
, the rest of the American people. | an
confident that this contribution viii
be generously and gladly given with
out reservation.
Labor will lend its aid in planning
for full efficiency of industrial pro
ducton, in planning for selection
training and placement of new work
Crs, in planning for full labor supply
in maintaining the social gains of re
cent labor and social legislation, il
maintaining sound and uninterrupted
work in the defense industries and il
promoting sound cmploycr-workcr re
lationship at time like this whel
the steady flow of production may b'
our greatest need. Sacrifice may b,
necessary in the future for every one
Responsible action and selfdiscipline
physical and moral fitness are nov
required Of all Of US as our part il
the defense Of our country and de
mocracy.
Among the things which labor vii
contribute is, ] venture to suggest, al
unscIhsh, far-sighted and patriotic
effort to bring about a just and al
honorable peace within the now di
vidcd labor movement. Labor leaders
with the interest of the nation a
heart and the advantage of thcl
followers in mind, can, | am sure, fine
the way to reach such a peace.
Peace may not be easy to achicV'
and the intricate problems involved
e may not be easy to solve. But whel
mon of honor and good intentions 81
down together they can work out ;
, solution which will restore the much
needed harmony either by unity o
, by a sensible working arrangement.
We as a people today have the com
mon determination to put our countr.
above all else. Please God we shal
always keep it so as to preserve on
priceless heritage of the world
greatest democracy which came from
5 the fathers of the republic.
1t can only be kept by building upol
that sound foundation in the patriot
way, in the democratic way and II