The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1941-04-10
The Cherry Tree
Where We Hutchet Out
The Truth
ANY WEEK NOW
COMES GUN SHOOTING
NATIONS NOT PLAYING
A REAL BATTLE

Any week may bring active gum
shooting war.
So, always between writing and the
day the reader gets his copy of this
newspaper, there is chance that the
whole situation will change.
Change from the current kind of
war to the shooting kind of war.
The sabotaging of Italian ships in
United States was a part of the cur
rent kind of war.
Whatever the law books and the
diplomats (and Burt Wheeler) may
say about it, that job was a war job
nothing less.
Busting up ships that somehow
might help against the Axis.
The point to these remarks is this:
You can expect a lot more sabotage
and you can expect it in American
factories and mills-and maybe in
mines.
The Axis realizes fully (and has
said so) that the United States is, to
all intents and purposes, factor IN
the great war. Therefore, United
States attempts to help the democ-
racies are a menace to the AXIS.
Therefore, isn't it reasonable to expect
that the Axis will try to do something
about it?
We needn't be children about this
business. The Axis is perfectly
realistic, without qualms and without
any fine moral restraints.
Surely there are some among us
who remember the dirty work of the
World War of 191S-19. There must
De some who remember the black pail
Of smoke and debris that marked the
great Black Tom explosion - and
others.
The nations of the world were not
playing post office or tiddly winks.
Nothing short of the grimmest
kind of war is holding the stage
desperate war for survival-the
kind of war that is fought most
bitterly and most outrageously.
In a sink or swim battle all holds
are barred-all scruples go out the
window.
Is it too much to warn--LOOK OUT
FOR SABOTAGE-right where you
are?
This column thinks not. Don't go
panicky, but don't be sappy either.
American organized labor has it's
own job to do. Especially the AFofL.
And that includes every state and To-
cal body A real job to do.
There is such a thing as patriotism
such thing as putting the nation
and its crisis above everything else.
That doesn't mean taking what
ever the employers want to hand out
But it does mean that labor must be
statesmanlike-not childish, not hasty,
not jumping too doggoned fast.
Every unwarranted action is en-
couragement to the Axis. Think of
things that way.
Uninportant issues must not be
made fighting issues. William Green
has stated policy that all can back
up. 1t ought to be the working policy,
as well as the declared policy.
If there is to be damnfoolish action,
let the CIO have monopoly on it.
X x x
Cool headed organized labor, con-
scious of its duties and obligations,
as we'll as of its rights, is one of the
best defenses against sabotage.
And, let us remember, sabotage
doesn't have to be a wreching oper-
alton. 1t also can be just plain stopp-
age Of supplies.
Look out for the sabotage of vio-
lence, but don't forget the other kind
and look out for so-called leaders
who suggest it. When in doubt, go
to your top leaders like William
Green and your International Union
presidents
1t may be worth while to re-
member that every strike or lock-
out some time or other comes to
an end. With present machinery
most of them can now be set
tied BEFORE THEY START.
We are at war--a certain kind of
war, but war just the same. The main
job, more important thanany flash in
the pan matter, is to WIN THAT
WAR.
And one way is to be eternaly on
the job to guard against sabotage We
can't prevent all Of it, but vigilance
will prevent a great deal of it.-CMW.