The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1942-03-12
Facing The Fdc+s
With PHILIP PEARL

President Roosevelt told us in his
how labor can help win the war. He
said:
"Here are three high purposes for
every American:
81. We shall not stop work for a
single day. If any dispute arises we
shall keep on working while the dis
pute is solved by mediation, or con-
ciliation or arbitration-until the war
is won.
So We shall not demand special
gains or special privileges or special
advantages for any one group or oc-
cupation.
"3. We shall give up conveniences
and modify the routine of our lives if
our country asks us to do so. We will
do it cheerfully, remembering that the
common enemy seeks to destroy every
home and every freedom in every part
of our land"
We can assure the President with
members of the AFL will live up to
this program in every particular.
The AFL already has taken a
solemn nO-strike pledge. 1t has re-
ligiously refrained from making eXces-
sive demands or seeking special privi-
leges. 1t has cheerfully made major
sacrifices and its members are even
now arranging to place part of their
hard learned wages every week on the
, line for defense bonds.
, Employers Playing Dirty Pool
But labOr's effort should not be en-
tirely One-sided If the workers of
America give up the exercise of their
economic strength-the right to strike
t for the duration of the war, they
t expect square deal from employers,
, the public and the Government
7 In one respect this has been assured
! by the creation of the War Labor
, Board by President Roosevelt, as
recommended by the American Fedora
, ton of Labor. Labor relies upon this
board to safeguard its rights, now that
: it has voluntarily surrendered the
strike weapon and has agreed to settle
{ all disputes by peaceful means.
| But we are sorry to say that many
: employers and big-money interests
{ generally, are not playing the game
Q They are seeking, contrary to the
: Presidents express desires, to take ad
= vantage of labor's position.
. knowing that labor has pledged it
Y self not to strike under any circum
e stances, some employers are refusing
y to bargain in good faith. They turn /;
$ deaf ear to all disputes for wage in
2 creases, despite swelling profits an,
:, booming production. They blind them
!, selves to labor's just right to recog
: milton ana trNr<A sick the dogs on an,
!. union that asks for Il closed shop. The.
n are even attempting to break dowl
h standards set in existing contract
h when they come up for renewal
V That is dirty pool and the pity of i
). is that the press is actively engaged il
n helping the perpetrators of such meal
tactics. They jump on labor union
with both feet at every oppOrtumil,
and completely ignore labor's tire
$ mendous contributions to the nation
war effort.
), Dangerous Tactics
|. The newspapers are playing Il sin
l. lister role in the present anti-labor cam
pai@n. When such labor-haterS Il
Rep. Howard w. Smith of Nirgini;
come to the fore with vengefu an,
d reprehcnsible legislation propose
i aimed at the destruction of all labo
J. protective laws, they get columns o
@ favorable publicity. Every ranting AM
empty-handcd Congressman who take
- Il crack at the workers gets Il pat ol
. the back from the press.
This is IA dangerous thing. Nothing
is better calculated to arouse the re
sentiment of workers than unmcrite
|, dcnuncation. Nothing is more likel
:. To destroy their morale than tn
t chorus of hate led by the howlin
hyenas of cntrenched wealth.
Ann ,n,,i,.. L.. =. "a,