The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1941-12-04
AFL Chief Pruises Record
OF Federation In
Defense
RESPONSE NOTED
Case Is Also Presented To
Labor Committee
From House

4Ox1l 31OO9S
Washington, D. C.-President Will
liam Green personally informed Presi-
dent Roosevelt that the American
Federation of Labor stands "resolute-
ly and uncompromisingly opposed to
any anti-strike legislation"
Mr.. Green, accompanied by Matthew
Woll, went to the White House to tell
the President that the five million
loyal members of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor will resent being
"penalized by anti-labor legislation
because of the acts of some irrespon-
sible labor leaders,"
"We maintain that the Federation
has cooperated fully with the Govern
ment in the defense program" Mr..
Green declared when interviewed after
the White House conference.
"We have adopted no-strike policy
and we have lived up to that policy.
That is something no other labor or
ganization has done. We will submit
to Congress the record we have made
and let them compare the loss of man.
hours because of local and sporadic
illegal strikes with the record made
in England which is at war.
"And want to emphasize this
further point:-We have never called
out $4,000 men in key industry nor
have we been responsible for a single
national STRIKE" Mr.. Green added,
1o: :V,1xy ,sofov,rSrCr m thu
tive coal mine strike called by John
L. Lewis.
In another direct reference to
Lewis, whose arrogant and incorrigi-
BILE attitude precipitated the current
threat of anti-labor legislation, Mr..
Greer said: sa.
"The President of the United States
has never appealed to the American
Federation of Labor or any Of it's
leaders in vain. We have never re-
fused a single request from him for
aid in the national defense program"
Mr.. Green and Mr.. Woll also took
up with the President recommenda-
tions of the national defense commit
tee of the AFL for fuller participa-
ton of labor in the defense program
to make it more effective. They ex-
planned the plan called for joint par
ticipation Of labor and industry with
government in policy making and ad-
ministration, particularly because Of
increasing unemployment in con-
sumer goods industries due to pri-
critics"
Both AFL representatives reported
that "the President seemed to respond
very favorably to the suggestions
made"
Following the White House confer
ence, Mr.. Green went before the
House Labor Committee and present.
ed a powerful case against the anti
strike legislation which that commit
tee is considering. Excerpts from Mr..
Green's statement before the commit
tee follow:
"On behalf of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor l wish to submit pro-
posals basic in assuring maximum
production with the minimum of in
terruptions:
"Our factories, mines and produc-
tion facilities must supply the major
amount of tools and supplies needed
by those defending our ideals on the
battle front. The key to success is to
create in all doing the job the will to
see it through. To build this morale
we must mobilize the wills of those re-
sponsible for management and those
responsible for production. Give them
a personal stake in the outcome. This
can be done by asking the voluntary
organizations of employers and work
ers to take responsibility for the
duration Of the job and to select their
representatives to work with govern
ment representatives selected by the
President to agree upon policies and
to mobilize their organizations
throughout the country in support OF
plans agreed to by their spokesmen
The democratic principle of represen-
tation is basic for morale, for the
maximum of intelligent cooperation
for responsibility for sustained effort
and for efficiency in terms of output
"Free citizens living in democ'
racy whether workers or employers
have responsibility for securing rep
resentation in policy making and fol
putting such policies into effect. This
is the fundamental difference between
institutions we defend and the insti
tuition of a dictatorship for the de-
struction of which we are ready tt
risk our all.
mediation and conciliation hav'
been uniformly successful wherea:
compulsory arbitration has uniforml!
failed.
"On the pages of labor history O.
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