The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1941-10-16
Building Trades
All For Defense
Hillmdn Is Criticized And
Defended As Speaker
At Convention

At Convention
Seattle, Wash.-In a three-day con-
vention that sparkled with decisive
action and sharp debate, the Building
and Construction Trades Department
of the American Federation of Labor
resolved to give the Government
every ounce of cooperation from it's
million and half members for the
successful completion of the defense
construction program.
Speakers representing the chief
Federal defense agencies bestowed
high praise on the officers and men,
bers Of the building trades unions for
their fine record to date and urged
them on to even greater accomplish
ments in the future
Among these speakers was Sidney
Hillman, associate director of OPM,
who stressed the need Of all-out effort
to crush Hitler.
William Hutcheson, president of
the Brotherhood of Carpenters and
Joiners of America, voiced vigorous
objections to permitting Hillman to
speak mot because | have any objec-
/ tions to the gentleman personally or
any criticism of his official conduct,
but because he is the head of C1O
union"
In response, John Coyne, president
of the department, declared Hillman
had been helpful and cooperative to
the building trades unions and had
recognized them on all Government
construction work.
Another furry resulted after D. w.
Tracy, Assistant Secretary of Labor,
called upon the union representatives
to prevent all strikes in the future and
make their SO per cent successful rec
ord in this regard 100 per cent per-
feet.
Daniel J. Tobn, president of the
Teamsters, Immediately retorted with
sharp criticism of Certain depart
ments Of the Government" for failing
to speak out publicly against ClO
raiding tactics which have a disrup-
tive effect on production. He said he
meant no criticism Of Mr.. Tracy, but
pointed out that the latter should
know from his experience as former
head of the International Brotherhood
Of Electrical Workers that it is not
always easy or possible to prevent
strikes.
Citing specific instances in Pitts
burgh and Detroit of CIO attempts
to stir up labor trouble and "brbe"
away A. f. Of l.. members, Mr.. Tobin
continued:
"Yet there is no punishment, no
condemnation Of such activity by the
Government. The truth must be told
on who is causing crimes against
labor today!"
President William Green of the
American Fedt4keion of Labor, who
addressed the convention on its clos
ing day, also condemned CIO at
tempts to chisel into the building
trades field. He recalled that when
the ClO was formed their slogan was
to "organize the .unorganized" and he
asked how this policy could be
squared with the raiding of well-or-
ganized and strongly established
building trades unions.
"The CIO raiding is indefensible
violates all ethics Of labor and is one
of the greatest crimes against labor,
Mr.. Green charged.
Praising the record of the building
trades unions in the defense program
and their patriotic service to the gov
ernment, Mr.. Green said that while
labor would willingly discipline itself
and avoid strikes that would retaro
production, it will fight to the utmost
of its powers against proposed legis-
lation to outlaw strikes and abolish
the right to strike. That way lies in
voluntary servitude and forced labor
he declared.
Officers reelected We're:
John p. Coyne, president; l.. p
Lindelof, first vice president; Rich
ard j. Gray, second vice president
William McSorley, third vice presi-
dent; Daniel j. Tobin, fourth vice
president; William l.. Hutcheson, fifth
vice president; Robert Byron, sixth
vice president; George Masterton
seventh vice president; Edward J
Brown, eighth vice president, and
Herbert Rivers, secretary
Two Of the most important resolu-
tions adopted referred to the national
defense programs interference with
building construction.
One urged that unnecessary APP
prevails of priorities be eliminated, SC
that they can be made effective for
both defense housing and housing in
private industry.
The other urged the Federal Hous-
ing Administration to give increased
aid to private builders in national de-
Tense areas where more housing is
still needed