The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1941-10-16
Workers Dedicated To Task Of Making
Success Of National Defense PROGRAM
Preserving American Free
dom and Democracy Is
Held All-Importdnt
HITLER DENOUNCED
Council Urges Extension Of
All Possible Aid To
Greet Brituin

Greet Brituin
Seattle, Wash.-In a memorable re-
port to the 61st annual convention OF
the American Federation of Labor
the Executive Council rallied Amer.
ica's workers to do their utmost to de.
fend America and preserve democracy
and freedom.
The council denounced Hitler and
all his works in the most sweeping
terms. 1t dedicated American work
ers to the task of making the national
defense program a success. 1t urged
the extension Of every possible aid Ia
Great Britain and her allies who are
resisting Hitler's war machine.
eve realize we face war situa.
tion that will require service and sac
rifice Of ALL" said the councils report
eve are willing to give in defense of
our free institutions and to abolish
slavery so that all persons may have
the right to control their own lives.
"We know that the organized labor
movement has the special RESPONSE.
bility Of preserving and extending the
application of principles of democracy
and justice within it's own immediate
sphere of activity. Upon our ability
to meet responsibilities depends in
large measure the preservation of free
institutions.
"We therefore solemnly urge all af-
filiated unions to renew their dedica-
tion to the cause of labor and human
freedom so that our sacrifices and
hardships may be made to serve the
cause Of humanity"
The report reviewed various phases
of the defense program of chief in
terest to labor and emphasized the
fine record Of American Federation of
Labor unions in avoiding strikes and
work stoppages that would have de-
layed defense production.
The Executive Council asked the
convention to consider such serious
problems as the threat Of defense un-
employment due to priorities; the
need for postwar planning right now
to prevent serious depression after
the defense program is completed and
the emergency is over; and the COM
plex problems dealing with the train
ing of millions of new defense
workers.
In a financial report preceding the
Executive Councils annual review,
Treasurer George Meany
revealed to the delegates that the
membership of the American Fedora
tion of Labor is now at it's highest
point in history. AS Of Aug. 81, 1941,
Mr.. Meany revealed, there was total
of 4,569,056 dues-paying members in
affiliated unions besides a floating
membership Of perhaps another half
million.
The financial report disclosed that
the American Federation Of Labor had
gained 321,613 new dues-paying men,
bers in the past year and had spent a
total of 81 ,O39,758 for organizing pur-
poses.
The total financial receipts of the
Federation for the year were $685.
1913 and the disbursements aggregated
$1,835,973, leaving a balance on hand
of more than a million dollars in the
Federation's treasury at the end OF
the fiscal year.
The council urged the launching OF
a new and intensified organizing drive
during the coming year among unor-
ganized workers.
Asking the delegates to adopt a
major change in it's own makeup, the
Council recommended that the mum.
ber of A. F. of L. vice presidents be
reduced from fifteen to thirteen.
The course of peace negotiations
with the CIO were thoroughly re.
viewed and the Council placed full re.
sponsibility on John L. Lewis for the
failure to achieve unity in labor's
ranks.
Pointing to huge increases in cor.
poration profits and the steadily
mounting cost Of living, the Council
declared that the efforts of trade
unions to secure higher wages fol
their members are wholly justified
The Council said:
"It is the fixed purpose of tht
J American Federation Of Labor t
continue to demand and secure higher
wages and improved conditions of EN-
ployment for the working men ant
women of our country"
The whole field of national ant
state legislation was thoroughly re
viewed in the report and the fact tina
every piece of anti-labor Legislation
voted upon by Congress had beel
soundly defeated was emphasized.
The Council also recommended tina
the per capita tax paid by nationa
and international unions to the Fed
Grafton be reduced from two cent
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