The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1941-06-19
AL Teachers Gust
Communist Locals
Two New York and q Third
In Philadelphia Are
Expelled By Vote

New York, N. Y.-By an over
whelming vote the membership of the
American Federation of Teachers in
national referendum voted to oust
three locals charged with being Com
munist-controlled.
Thus the union effectively served
notice that the teachers Of America
are unalterably opposed to Commun-
ism and will not permit them to gain
a foothold in the schools Of America.
The vote of the Federation mem
bership, excluding those of the three
local unions involved, showed 80 per
cent in favor of revoking the charters
of these locals, two of which are in
New York City and the third in Phila-
delphia.
Immediately it was announced the
Federation would set up new local
organizations in New York and Phila-
delphia to take the place of those
ousted.
In the charges brought against the
three locals by the Executive Council
Of the American Federation of Teach
ers, the members of the union were
informed that the locals had engaged
in practices detrimental to the devel-
opment of democracy in education"
At the annual convention of the
American Federation of Teachers in
Buffalo last August a slate of officers
headed by President George S. Counts
was elected on pledge to "clean
| house" of Communists.
| Commenting on the results of the
referendum, Irwin S. Kuenzli, Secre-
Treasurer of the union, said:
"The American Federation OF
Teachers was organized primarily fo,
the purpose Of providing better edu.
cational facilities for children anc
better working conditions for teachers
These objectives cannot be accomp
lished if small minorities taking theil
directives from foreign groups op
posed to American democracy are per
mitted to gain control of loca
branches of the Federation.
"The great majority of our local:
from Coast to Coast have had little
trouble with attempted control by th'
Communist Party. In those areas
where Communist control has gained
a foothold our unions have become in
effective and usually totally destroyed
"This decisive victory of the ma
tional officers Of the Federation owe
minority political groups within tn
Federation comes at time when tn
, union is celebrating it's twenty-fift
anniversary and should initiate a pc
riod Of tremendous growth and pros
perity on the part of the internationa
union. Thousands of teachers through
out the nation have desired affiliatio
with the American Federation of La
Dor but have hesitated to organize be
cause of adverse publicity emanatin
from a few of our local unions.
"The position of the American Fed
Grafton of Teachers in the labor move
ment of the nation will be great
strengthened by this splendid vote O
= confidence in the national officers G
> the American Federation of Teacher
t With the nation preparing for the dc
: Tense of American democracy fo
which our forefathers lived and diet
y there is no place for fifth columnist
: either in the teaching profession c
n in the labor movement. This state
d ment does not imply an hysteric;
s witch-hunting and red batting can
I | n b,lf r,nro1,,
S practical loyalty to the freedom
a which are fundamental to America
democracy"