The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1941-04-03
The Cherry Tree
Where We Hutchet Out
The Truth
o THE ANVIL CHORUS
O DIRECTED AT LABOR
O WILL MAKE SACRIFICES
Q BUT NOT BE GOAT

BUT NOT BE GOAT
1t is to be expected that every time
labor opens it's mouth to make de-
mand or to make protest against
alleged injury the anvil chorus will
strike up in condemnation.
An army of haters and of paid
agents see to it that the welkin rings
with denunciation.
Labor can do ninety-nine good
deeds, but the minute it stages one
kicking festival down come the brick
bats.
Well, somebody ought to take a
look at the stumbling blocks that have
been put in the way of national de-
fense by some manufacturers and by
some financial outfits.
AND, somebody ought to take a
look at the blocks laid down by some
politicians, including some members
Of Congress.
THERE we can find plenty of
things that never should have hap
pened. Why is all this criticism
levelled in one direction?
X x X
Labor has had to get rid of some
practices and it has shown willing
ness to do that with a good deal of
speed.
Nobody who knows even a little bit
about it will say that labor is all
saint, pure and intelligent. Of course
it isn't.
But it doesn't have to stand
and take ALL the bleatings of
the professional hell raisers and
selfish interests. Or it shouldn't
have to.
Labor's own weakness in making
its case and getting it heard is partly
to blame for the one-way criticising.
Labor doesn't do we'll at stating its
case or at finding out and stating
what is wrong with selfish interests.
Nor is it very good at using tact
or diplomacy. 1t is direct and thus
often gets misunderstood.
But even the most ardent pro-
defense pleaders mustn't expect labor
to yield in EVERY conflict with en-
ployer interests.
X \
AS long as there is fairly free play
# economic forces labor is going to
have to make demands, in order not
| to be driven backward.
When costs of living go up, real
wages go down, unless there is an in
crease in money wages. That's clear.
Costs of living have gone up, will
| 20 up more, unless and until there is
| complete price fixing. s,, a
Government doesn't demand that
| manufacturers reduce prices below
| he pre-defense level But rising living
costs can put labor's real wages be-
ow the pre-defense level, unless
| money wages are raised.
Lots of folks seem to be overlook
ing those simple facts.
Employers are allowed their profits
many Of them big ones-and the
government gets its share back in
| axes.
Why use one method with employer
and another with labor?
X X X
| kackeIeeflnS mas no excuse, thOugn
t has had many friends. But to use
he racketeering war cry as an eX-
cuSe to jump on labor for everything
s just little too much.
And it is likewise too much to use
the racketeering cry as a smear on
ALL labor.
Most labor is cleaner than most
business and cleaner than most poll
| ticians.
How about having a little fairness
IN this defense period, which, to all in
.ents and purposes, is war period.
We need unity, but to have
unity there has to be some mutual
trust and mutual sharing of re-
sponsibility, AND OF SACRI-
FlCE.
Labor will accept self-imposed re-
straints as fast as any other groups.
1t will give up as much and gladly.
But it shouldn't be asked to be the
goat. Nor will it agree to be the
goat.
Less name calling by selfish inter-
ests and pounding politicians
will do more than some other things
will do to help national defense, our
paramount need.
The world struggle is for freedom
not for further exploitation and de-
gradation!-CMW.