The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1941-11-13

of these is the danger of initiation.
This wild horse, once it begins to gal
lop, leaves terrific destruction in it's
wake. Strong steps are needed now to
prevent it. 1t would be very unfortu
nate if governmentally fixed wages
and farm prices were used to prevent
it. But in my judgment, the wide
spread, voluntary collective agree
ments through labor organizations on
a national scale with the government,
on fair wage levels, fixed in that man.
ner, subject to negotiation, and a
similar agreement on ceilings of agri-
cultural products by the leaders in
that field, with government, and the
governmental fixing of many Of the
basic prices, are steps that must be
taken to prevent more disastrous
steps to stop initiation when it really
breaks out in full force. This will re-
quire real craftsmanship, not only OF
labor but Of agriculture, of business,
and especially Of government, as we'll.
Further safeguards of democracy
also involves the constant strengthen
ing of unions and the constant i'm
proving of the caliber of leadership,
insisting on the leadership placing
the public good and the interests of
membership above personal selfish
ness.
In this connection, I want to add
that | think that the efforts that are
made to use some instances of in-
proper actions to attack organized
labor as whole are inexcusable and
reprehensible.
The words of Samuel Gompers are
exceedingly important in this regard
as they come down through the years
from Scranton in 1901. | quote that
great dean and leader of labor:
at should be our constant aim tC
make the collective bargains, that is
agreements with our employers, as ad-
vantageous to our fellow workers a.
it is possible to obtain in the course OF
negotiations; but when these agree
ments are made, it should be no less
our steadfast purpose to faithfully
abide by and live up to their terms fol
the full term of their existence. AS ar
Individual earns and receives the con.
fidence of his fellows by self-respect
self-restraint, and absolute faithful
adherence to his plighted word, Sc
does organized labor in it's collective
capacity deserve and win the respect
and confidence, first of all, of our owl
members; second, that of the com
munity in which we live, thus gaining
the commentator of an enlightened
public opinion"
This is an outstanding statement OF
principle by Samuel Gompers, thai
has been re-affirmed many times by
your leaders in the various crafts ant
under your present national leader
ship.
| know, looking ahead to the safe
guarding of democracy, you will als'
insist upon an attitude Of tolerance
and understanding between our peo
pie of all races 1d,creeds and groups
He who kindleS hc flames of intol
erance and bitterness lights a fire
under his own house.
The strong reaction of the Ameri
can people against recent attempts t.
stir up group hatreds has been one o
the most encouraging indications o
the real strength Of unity in America
because the people did not wait whel
some of those recent utterances were
made for someone to tell them tina
was dangerous, that that was under
mining America. Almost instantane
ously from east to west and north t.
south there was strong pubic
opinion that that should not be dom
in this land of the free.
The fourth challenge before labo
is TO prepare program, and to de
velop public support for it, to NEE
the tremendous problems of readjust
ment and of reaction when the emer
gency has passed and the defense pro
gram ends.