The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1942-07-09
Facing The Facts
With PHILIP PEARL

Al lne moment, lne only really ell
couraging aspect of the war picture is
the tremendous growth of American
war production.
Brothers and sisters, we are proud
to say that labor is largely responsible
| for that achievement. The men and
women of organized labor have been on
the job and the results are highly en-
couraging.
The story comes directly from Presi
dent Roosevelt who at last has lifted
the shade that has shielded war pro-
duction with utmost secrecy and has
now revealed certain specific and inter
esting figures. ~
For n long time, some of our military
leaders in an excess of caution have
blocked publication of production fig
ures In the fear that it might help the
enemy But the President now realizes
that these figures are the worst pos
sble news for the enemy and he has
given the nation the facts.
In the month of May, the President
declared In an official statement, near
/ ~ 1000 planes were produced in this
country, besides more than 1,5OO tanks,
more than 10000 machine guns, about.
the same number of submachine guns,
nearly 1000 heavy artillery and anti
tank guns, in addition to large guam
titles of anti-aircraft guns.
Hitler's Doom Coming
If our annual production were to
continue at the May rate, this would
mean that we will turn out $4,000
planes and $4,000 tanks in year.
These totals are staggering. But they
do not even approximate the actual
production the nation is going to get,
for surely the May figures will be
dwarfed in the coming months when
production begins to hit full stride.
Now if Hitler can get any aid or
comfort from these figures, he Is even
more insane than we suspect. For they
add up only to his doom. He must see
that when these implements of war are
thrown into the field of battle against
him i'm such overwhelming quantities.
his goose is cooked. Therefore, he must
realize that his only chance to win the
war Is to do it right now. And that's
too much of job even for the blitz
krieg.
We are willing to give industry due
credit for its share in building up war
: pr,+luction to the present high levels,
} even though many firms took up the
duty of war conversion belatedly and
reluctantly. We also gladly take off our
hats to the Government for its encr-
; gelic stimulation of the production
drive.
But, in all fairness. we bieve that
the men and women of labor, the ma
tons production soldiers, deserve the
lions share of The credit. Because they
are actually doing the job-and Il swell
job it Is! They are the ones who are
straining their muscles, devoting their
skill and contributing their sweat to
trade union leaders of America, have
exhibited the patriotic determination
and the far-sighted vision that has
brought America these heartcning re
suits.
Free Labor Did the Trick
You may remember that even before
America entered this war. while we
wer" just beginning to strengthen our
defenscS against future contingencies
. and at the same time send aid to Bri-
tain. President William Green of the
American Federation of Labor told the
| hat l,h, al iSi
production miracles" That was last
October.
You may also remember that when
the laps actually attacked at Pearl
llarbor, n great hue and cry was
raised by reactionary forces against
labor Those whose sole concern was
To profit by the war managed to con
vince many Of our honest and sincere
citizens that the only way to get re
suits In war production was by com
pulSory methods. Thus the campaign
was started for anti-strike legislation.
for abolition of the 40 hour week stand
ard and overtime rules and for the
lpractical destruction of free trade
r unions.
In that hour Of crisis. President
. Green and other trade union leaders
took up the challenge and pledged
labor'S nll-out aid to the war program.
, They warned that any attempts to en-
slave labor would only weaken Amer
I lea. They prophesied that labor would
; accomplish more by voluntary methods
than ever could be forced out Of UNI
willing workers by compulsion.
: President Roosevelt and his admins
\ tration needed the warnings of labor's
r leaders ana Congress was prevailed
a upon TO defeat the many disaStro
: legislative proposals aimed at Amer
= ica'S workers.
Now IL seems pertinent for Us to