The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1942-11-26
FACING
THE FACTS
With PHILIP PEARL


we are forced to the conclusion that
the outstanding thing about the re
cent CIO convention in Boston was q
curious omission.
This omission consisted of the fail
ure of the officers of the CIO to submit
to the delegates any report on paid
up membership or finances.
Its hard to believe that any labor
movement worthy of the name could
get by with that sort of thing.
But it's very easy to understand
why the officers of the CIO deliberate
ly neglected to give the delegates an
official report on this vital subject
They didn't dare
The whole ecort of the CIO in the
past few years has been to achieve
equality with the American Federation
of Labor CIO leaders have striven
desperately to obtain recognition on
an equal status with the AFL.
OF course, equality can be deter
mined only on a membership basis.
And that's the reason why the CIO
leaders haven't dared to make public a
report or even submit one
to the delegates at their convention.
They just don't have the members.
Cards On The Table
If the CIO were to disclose it's true,
paid-up membership, its claims co
equality with the AFL would be ex-
posed as a sham. The detection of the
United Mine Workers, which paid the
CIO per capita tax on 100000 mem
bers, although it doesn't have that
many, has cut heavily into CIO mem
berShip rolls. Any estimate as to the
actual, dues-paid membership of the
CIO at this time is clancy, but in
formed labor observers are of the
opinion that it doesn't exceed 100000.
The paid-up membership in the Amer
lean Federation of Labor is in excess
of 100000.
Now, while such comparisons are
they would not have any
special significance at this time except
for the fact that peace conferences
between the American Federation of
Labor and the CIO are due to be re-
sumcd in the very near future.
The bitter fact is that there is no
nope of success for these conferences
unless the CIO Representatives are pre-
pared TO lay their cards on the table
and agree to an impartial audit of the
paid-up membership of their affiliated
unions.
The representatives of the American
Federation of Labor agreed to do this
ut previous conferences and insisted
on similar action BY the CIO but it
was not forthcoming. The CIO repre-
stalled and evaded but they
would never agree " a showdown.
Common sense indicates that there
can be no merger of rival unions un-
less full information on membership
and finances is available Common
sense also dictates that there can be
no unity between tlIe American FEEDER
alton of Labor and the Go unless
there is prior merger of their allli-
ated unions of the same employers
Any other course would mean complete
confusion and continuous civil war
within a united labor movement.
The Time Is Ripe
The obvious conclusion from the
ClO convention is that the right-wing
element in that organization, led by
Sidney liillman, sincerely desires labor
:,
However, the lclt-Wing faction, which
is more of Il political than labor
clearly prefers To preserve
its own identity rather than be sub
ordinated in Il united labor movement.
ClO Presi dent Philip Murray'S
speech to the convention on labor unity
was grievouS disappointment. In
stead of Offering aggressive leadership
for unity, he displayed fear. Instead
of breaking down the obstacles To
peace that do exist, he erected new
and phoney ones. lie gave the impress
sion that he is knuckling down to the
lctt-WingcrS in the ClO rather than
divorcing himself from their obstruc-
tioniStS policies.
It's too bad, because if ever the time
Was ripe for Labor peace it is now. Ii
ever the needs of America and the
welfare of American workers demand
ed united labor movement, il is now.
y number of influential and discern
ing trade union leaders in the Go see
eye to eye with The AFL on the nee
cSSity of united action by organized
labor To further The war effort and to
protect the interests of workers in war
and peace emergencies. 1t would be
indeed unfortunate if Mr.. Murray re-
jectS their counsel.
1t is up to him 10 decide whether to
exert his leadership for Il reunited
labor movement or to let the CIO fall
into the diSintcgrating and destructive
power of the left-wing consprators
who know that The American Fedora