The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1941-06-26
! COMMENT ON WORLD
EVENTS


not given the nation all the facts on
the world situation and the part the
United States is playing in it. Many
of the complaints, it is true, have
come from opponents of the Govern
ment's policies, but some have come
from its supporters.
Qualified observers in Washington
say there is good basis for the COM
plants, Of course admitting that in
some cases, facts, especially those
dealing with military and naval doings,
can't be made public, for obvious rea-
sons. However, they assert the Gov
ernment has not been as frank as it
should have been.
1t is significant that the American
Federation of Labor, a staunch sup
porter of the Governments policies,
feels that the complaint is justified
and believes that more frankness is
needed. This feeling is expressed by
it's comment in the current "Labor's
Monthly Survey" in which it says:
"Wage earners and all other Amer
leans feel they have right to know
the facts of the international situa-
tiOn which so vitality concerns them.
They expect the Government to trust
them to respond in accord with the
need disclosed by the facts presented
By presenting the facts, the Admin
istration can unity and galvanice the
nation into responsible action"
X X X
Australia's prime minister, Robert
C. Menzies, recent visitor to the
United States, has announced his gov
ernment has forbidden strikes and
the government would have the right
to seize plants and factories where
such occurrences are slowing down
production.
This is a drastic move for demo-
cratic Australia, whose workers have
been reported to be Loyalty and whole
heartedly behind the nations war eff
fort. 1t indicates there have been
been some work stoppages, quite like
ly inspired by Nazi-Communist ele
ments, which exist in Australia as in
other countries.
Australias action shows what may
happen in any democracy, including
the United States. It's portent is
plain to all and constitutes caution
to labor against work stoppages until
every recourse of mediation and con-
ciliation have been exhausted. Other
wise repressive legislation may fol-
low.
X X X
How tolerance of lynching and
other forms of mob action play into
the hands of the totalitarian enemies
of America is pointed out by the Ma
tional Association for the Advance
ment of Colored People, in a letter
to President Roosevelt registering
protest against the lynching of A. c.
Williams at Quincy, Fla, in May.
After voicing its protest and ask
ing for positive action by the Presi-
dent and the Department Of Justice,
the letter declared:
"We are concerned with lynching
as it relates to the aims Of our ma
tional defense effort. You have said
that every man, woman and child has
stake in this effort You have
pictured the struggle as one to pre-
serve the democratic freedoms against
the assault of the forces of oppres-
sion, brutality and death.
an this immense effort our coun
try is weakened morally and physi
cally by the lynchers who kill at their
whim, and by officers of the law who
make no effort to protect their pris-
oners or to arrest the lynchers. Into
the hands of Virginio Gayda and Paul
Joseph Goebbels the Florida mob and
all other mobs have thrust the an
swer to Americas protestations and
actions in the international conflict.
"a pronouncement from the Chief
Executive on this crime would heart
en- those Americans who abhor lynch
ing and who stand defenseless before
the gibes Of those who regard our
country's defense philosophy as hypo-
critical :"