The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1942-06-04
Facing The Facts
With PHILIP A

ENtloIS Sl'NtN iouuVI tl"h Noi''
The American Federation of Labor
unions have said little with regard to
President R~oosevelt's program for sta
bilizing the cost of living because there
would PROFESSIONALLY keep wages down.
However, the unions of the AFL
have acted.
The leaders of nineteen building con
struction trade unions have agreed
with the Government to stabilize the
wages of their 100000 members for
the duration of the war. The pact pro-
vides for the adjustment of rank in
justices and inequitics but its effect
will be to keep wage levels I'm the con-
struction industry at their present
levels until the war is over.
Likewise, the Metal Trades Depart
ment of the AFL has acted. Meeting in
Chicago with the representatives of the
shipbuilding industry and the Govern
ment, the heads of this department
negotiated al agreement stabilizing
wages for 100000 shipyard workers,
most of whom are AFL members. Tn
der this agreement, a substantial por-
ton Of wage increases due under con
President ROoSevelt'S request.
BY such outstanding actions, the
AFL is demonstrating to the entire ma
ton that American labor is willing to
take it on the chin If necessary to help
win the war.
Peace and Patriotism
Also more eloquent than mere words
is the action of the American Fedora
ton Of Labor in renewing at his time
its standing offer to make peace with
The Gro and merge the two organiza-
lions into II united labor movement.
In this case, the AFL can't act alone.
1t must receive the willing cooperation
of the Gro. 1t takes two sides To make
peace. As yet, no favorable response
has been forthcoming from the tlo.
The leaders of the Gro are great ones
To talk about peace, but they seem to
be more than a little shy of doing some
thing about il.
Again actions speak louder than
words.
This time the Executive Council of
ia" AFL speaks up for the Treasury
Departments 10 per cent payroll allot-
ment plan for the purchase of var
bonds by American workers.
Patriotism is cheap when ii involves
merely nag-waving and pretty speeches
But when the representatives of mil,
lions of workers of this country de
linitely commit themselves to IL pro,
poSal to turn over 10 per cent of their
weekly wages to the Government of tn,
United States rs II loan for victory
that means something. And we're de-
lighted to report that the response OF
the membership has been amazingly
favorable.
Organizing the ~Unorganized
Finally, we wish to call attention &c
The report on membership submitted {,
the Executive Council by Secretary
Treasurer George Mcany. Here again
actions speak. Others may talk of or
ganizing the n~norganizcd. The AFL is
actually doing it.
Consider the figures. When the &C
split off from the AFL and set up il
business for itself in 1897, the mem.
bcrShip of the Federation was at the
low level of 2,SGO,933. The AtL thcr
voted additional funds for organizing
and ia" drive ven into action.
Year by year the results became cvi
dent. IIy 1888 the membership Ia,
jumped up more than 3.GUO,ODO. Next
year the AFL topped the four million
mark. In 1910 another quarter of 4
million of new members was added. II
1911 the total had been boosted to oxen
i,5OO,UOO.
And now, rs of April 80, the AFI
membership has reached the all-tim,
nigh mark of I,ill, 1o2. In other words
within four years by about action th,
AFL has doubled its membership. That
is progress, And ii should be cmpha
sized that this is dues paid member
ship. The figures do not include !; float
ing membership of perhaps 10000,
which Is not on II dues paying basis.
Let's 90 yer the top with six mil
lion members by the end of this year
T,1cf Ono Woak