The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1941-01-02

were ISCcSSdTy dIO IIldl lISy SllouiH
not be changed except by Congress.
She adds:
81 cannot escape the feeling, how
ever, that the tendency has been so
far to say that labor must make sac
rifices of wages and hours because OF
the necessities Of national defense.
II have yet to see anywhere a
statement that manufacturers and
business concerns and the general
public, through investment returns,
shall make this same type of sacrifice
in the cause of national defense, by
cutting profits and reducing the sal
aries of their executives"
That is what we call true talk.
x x <
Let's polish up the old crystal ball
again and see what gives for 1941
We see-we do, indeed-a banner
year ahead for American workers.
We see long lines of workers troop
ing into mills and factories all over
the land, with many new plants being
built and many new homes. We see
the lines Of unemployed at job agen-
cies dwindling rapidly. We see six
million men and women getting new
jobs in private industry. We see pay
envelopes growing slowly but stead
lily stouter, what with the greater de-
mand for labor and overtime. In
short, we see, during 1941 at least, a
return of prosperity for the great
mass of workers.
We also see peaceful year ahead
in American industry. There will be
fewer and fewer strikes. The leaders
of the American Federation of Labor
will be working in close harmony
with the leaders Of industry and Gov
ernment in united effort to step up
production and avoid Interruptions of
work.
We see the ranks of the American
Federation of Labor growing more
numerous and even stronger as the
unorganized workers of our country
learn to appreciate the benefits of
trade unionism. We see a healthy
growth in the influence of the Amer
lean Federation of Labor in national
affairs through legislation and
through increased representation on
Governmental agencies. Finally, we
see those anti-labor forces anxious to
grind labor down defeated on every
front as the logic Of labor's program
gains wider public acceptance.
A Turning Point in the War
But as we swing the crystal ball
around and bring the Old World into
focus, the picture clouds and threat
ems. The war in Europe will go on
with increasing savagery. The air
is thick with bombs and explosions.
1t is difficult to discern the outcome.
We see Great Britain bravely hold
ing out against the blitzkreg and
dealing out more and more punish
ment to her totalitarian aggressors.
We see her in sole command of the
Mediterranean and driving Nazi Ger
many closer and closer within the
circle Of central Europe. We see
great fleets of airplanes and ships
pouring in steady stream from
America to Great Britain, bringing
her new power and new courage to
keep up the good fight for democracy
We see, dimly it is true, turning
point in the war. And it is turning
in favor Of the democracies as against
the relationships We see turning
point in the thinking and morale of
the oppressed people now enslaved to
the dictators. We see desperate and
ever more desperate days ahead for
these dictators. And, yes, we see
daylight ahead
Perhaps it is a mirage born out OF
thirst for peace and wistful thinking
but it seems clear to us Hitler and
Mussolini and Stain and all the cruel
things they stand for are on the way
out.
Much more clearly can we see that
the sparks Of war now falling dan
gerously close to our own shores will
subside and leave the United States
of America safe from the conhag-
ration. We see a mighty wall Of de-
leilSc DclHB tIcSlcN Will Ictolu SpcCN
to guard our coastline. And we see
the shafts of hate, venom and ag-
gression which seemed to be heading
our way from Europe, falling spent
into the Atlantic and being quickly ex-
tinguished.
Peace Is Wonderful
And now, turning back home again
we cast our prophetic eye on the civil
war in the labor movement and tino
an increasing movement toward unity
We see it clearly. We see an in
evtable distintegration Of forces with
in the CLIO. We see trend among
many disillusioned organizations in
the ClO to come back to the American
Federation of Labor. We see the
American Federation of Labor wei.
coming home more Of it's errant or.
ganizations.
We see this happening through the
compulsion Of events and the pressure
Of the nations needs. Division anC
disunity in labor cannot exist indefi.
nitely in country where solidarity
and unity are essential to self defense