The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1941-06-26
UNLIMITED EMERGENCY!
THE CHIEF EXECUTIVES proclama

THE CHIEF EXECUTIVES proclamation de-
caring an unlimited national emergency con-
fronts with the immediate necessity for putting
our military, naval and air defenses in readiness
for action.
We face the most grueling test to which our
nation has ever been sub jected-n discipline, 10y
atty to national ideals and ability to achieve.
Upon ability to produce the weapons of de-
fense the fate of democracy rests.
The American Federation of Labor knows our
unions and their membership will do their full
part and more. We have at least as much at
stake in this worldwide battle for human freedom
as any other group in our nation. We pledge our
cooperation, our services and our devotion.
After one year of defense production we have
not yet attained the goals which we set for our
selves twelve months ago, but we have achieved
preparedness for tremendous production in all de-
fense industries
From now on we need better planning, better
coordination, better management and more eff
cient sustained production. TO this end our E,X-
ecutive Council has pledged the cooperation of all
affiliated unions in making full of the concilia-
tion and mediation machinery set up by the gov
ernment so that every effort can be made to pre-
vent stOppage of work.
The American Federation of Labor early
pledged every effort to prevent stoppages of work
due to strikes. We have demonstrated the eff
fectveness of established collective bargaining in
adustng issues that would otherwise result IN
strikes. We built the cantonments on schedule
in many cases ahead of schedule-and with a
minimum of stoppages. Only .03 Of one per cent
working time lost cantonments through
strikes. In all production less than per cent
has been lost through strikes of A. +. of l..
unions.
Strikes are an expression of unrest and dis
trust The remedy is not the denial of the very
essence of democracy by prohibiting strikes, but
the creation of conditions requiring cooperation
and the fixing of responsibility for actively coop
Grating.
Make management and labor integral parts Of
the organization responsible for getting defense
production and there will be set into operation
cnergizing forces that will reach back to the ma
chimes and the production lines throughout the
country and unite the nation IN u mighty Hort to
supply the munitions of defense for democracy.
We can get national unity and total effort for
defense only when all groups feel they are part
of the national effort and share the responsibility
for achievements.
Free men can grow strong through voluntary
sacrifice, but the will to do is weakened by sacri-
fees imposed by others.
We have one simple method Of enabling masses
to share effectively in national undertakings
that Of representation. Representation is the
basis Of confidence and goodwill 1t is the way to
spend responsibility for results the rank and
file and arouse the will to carry on.
The labor movement of this free country isl
made up Of workers who are loyal citizens and
who value their precious democratic rights. 1hOSe
of Us who serve this movement IN responsible Ca
paciticS have been gravely concerned that in this
fateful time national unity Of purpose and the will
to achieve should be strong and true.
Now that an unlimited national emergency has
been proclaimed by the President are eager
to give service to capacity, and again we urge the
principle which alone can assure a united and
total effort for deenSe-uSe of the representa-
tive principle in order to give every citizen share
in national defense.