The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1941-01-30
Patterson Luuds
AFL Cooperation
Under Secretary OF War Has
Praise For mo Strike"
Defense Policy

>'i'N"Bcj I'll iDdIV " lil'
cooperative efforts Of the American
Federation Of Labor in the defense
program was paid by Under Secre-
tary Of War Robert p. Patterson in
an address delivered before the Chi
cago Federation of Labor and broad
cast throughout the nation.
"You gentlemen of the American
Federation Of Labor" said the high
army official, "are alert to the
gravity Of the dangers that face US.
You were among the first to rise up
in opposition to the ravaging totali-
tartan forces. You raised your col
lective voice in support of invulner-
able defenses for our nation. Today
you stand in the forefront of those
cooperating to speed plans for our
security.
"Just the other day, we read the
American Federation of Labor's leg
islatve program for 1871, calling for
the extension Of every aid short of
war to those democratic nations which
have been attacked by the aggressor
totalltarlan governments.
"Today we have twOfold mission:
To prepare the United States for all
contingencies, and to see that the
maximum help reaches England
''The cooperation of labor is essen
tial to the achievement of these goals.
"The War Department, whose re-
sponsibility it is to secure six billion
dollars worth of military supplies un-
derstands that the best possible guar
antee of swift, efficient production is
the cooperation of labor given in the
spirit of free partnership. This part
nership is making possible significant
achievements in the manufacture of
supplies and the construction of de-
fense facilities. Here is an example:
"At our cantonment in Corpus
Christi, Texas, the A. F. of l.. brought
three to four thousand skilled me-
chanics from thousands of miles away
to help in the building work. With
out those craftsmen, the Corpus
Christi camp would not be approach
ing completion as it is today.
an an hour of crisis, such as this,
| therefore, it is even more true than
in untroubed times that responsible
trade unions are essential if we are
to obtain labor's full assistance. And
it is certain that collective bargain
ing, as an integral part of the demo-
cratic way Of life, is indispensable to
our industrial mobilization.
"The War Department has more
than an academic interest in preserv
ing the social gains won by labor
1t knows that the maintenance Of la
Dor standards will react to the bene-
fit of the nation as whole. 1t is posi-
tive that the maintenance of these
fair standards will mean maximum
production in the long run.
"This nation cannot afford the loss
of one days production at any of the
plants turning out military essentials,
whether it be caused by lockout or
by strike. This nation cannot afford
the bitterness engendered by indus
trial strife. The time is too short for
such wastefulness.
"Therefore, the splendid position
taken by those two great components
| VI lIt - ItucIdIlOll VI l4dDOl (,
the Metal Trades Department and the
Building and Construction Trades De-
partment, has given reinsurance to
the nation.
"Their recently adopted policy of
"No strikes" on defense work is a
highly praiseworthy example of pa
trotic moderation. In time Of peril,
voluntary arbitration, as proposed by
the Metal Trades Department is by
far the most satisfactory method Of
adjudicating differences between in
dustry and labor.
"You gentlemen of the American
labor movement have shown a laud-
able attitude of cooperation. You
have placed your. country's interests,
democracy's interests, above all else.
May that spirit become UNIVERSAL"