The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1941-04-17
Red-Inspired and Minority
Orgunizdtiondl Wdlkouts
RoundlY Assdiled
BOARD IS PRAISED
National Defense Bourd Has
Fine Record. States
AFL Head

Philadelphia, Pa. Assailing pro-
posed anti-labor legislation, President
William Green declared in an address
before the Rotary Club that the no
strike policy of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor on national defense
projects "has been carried out by it's
affiliated unions to the extent of more
than SO per cent"
81 cannot recall any time in the
sixty-year history of the American
Federation of Labor, during war or
peace" said Mr.. Green, "when a
smaller percentage of the membership
of the American Federation of Labor
has been out on strike during period
comparable to the past few months" !"
Mr.. Green denounced Communist
inspired strikes and minority organi-
rational strikes but made it clear that
American Federation of Labor unions
have not been responsible for such
unwarranted interruptions Of defense
production.
Strikes of any and all kinds can be
reduced to minimum, Mr.. Green
said, by applying the principles of
mediation, Cancellation and voluntary
arbitration in the settlement of in
dustrial disputes. Praising the fine
record of the new National Defense
Mediation Board, he added:
"The American Federation Of La
Dor will cooperate fully with this
Board, with the Government, and with
all agencies created for the purpose
of promoting industrial peace through
mediation, conciliation and arbitra-
tion. We will supplement this action
aby repeatedly appealing to the 7iiem-'
bership of the American Federation
of Labor to give constant service; to
avoid interruption of production in
defense industries, and to respond to
the needs of the Government and of
our country in the fullest and most
complete way.
"The moral and administrative
power Of the American Federation of
Labor will be exercised in all the eff
forts which are put forth to realize
this noble objective But as free men
who place unreasonable value upon
the priceless benefits of freedom, lib
erty and justice, we shall jealously
guard our common heritage and re-
fuse to accept or approve anti-labor,
anti-strike and compulsory service
legislation. We shall resist such leg
islation with all the power, influence
and resources at our command. We
know that liberty and freedom, once
lost through legislation or otherwise,
are not easily regained.
"ln making America great and in
the construction of an impregnable
defense of America and it's institu-
tions, we must at the same time de-
fend, protect and preserve American
Democracy, liberty and freedom. 1t
would seem contradictory indeed, if
through the execution of an enlight-
ened foreign policy we oppose totali-
tarianism and dictatorship abroad,
while at the same time we endeavor
to impose a form of involuntary SER
vitude and compulsory service through
the enactment of so-called anti-strike
measures at home"
In defending the A. F. of L. record
in the national defense program, Mr..
Green said:
"The chief charge made against
labor today is that it is causing de-
lay in the execution of the nations
defense policies by resorting to
strikes.
Speaking for the American Fed
Grafton of Labor-and for the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor only-I deny
the charge. | assert it is unjustifable
for it does not square with the facts.
The American Federation of Labor
has done everything in it's power to
promote and expedite national de-
fense production and the record shows
it has succeeded far beyond expecta-
tions.
"Behold the picture! All can see
for themselves. In almost every State
huge new Army cantonments have
been constructed, most of them on
schedule or ahead of schedule. New
airports, new naval stations, new mu-
nitions plants, new factories have
sprung up by the hundreds, most of
them on schedule or ahead of sched-
ule. In every seaport along our
coasts, warships of all kinds are be-
ing constructed in Navy Yards and
in private shipyards-most Of them on
schedule or ahead of schedule.
"How was all this accomplished
BY magic? By some superman wear
ing an Army or Navy uniform? Not
bit of it. 1t was accomplished by
,,,,>o@ +Lo ,,o%;r;o<r el,;l1 thu will
ing sacrifice and the loyal devotion Of