Evening star., 1943-05-22
Green Vows AFL
Won 'tLet Down
Men al Front
Tells Labor RoIIy
Strikes Are Barred;
Servicemen Speak

StI'NSS %IS DOIIeOy
Servicemen Speak
Pledging that the 5000 900 mem
bers Of the American Federatio of
Labor never will let down the men
on the battletronts. AFL President
William Green declared last night
that no strike will be authorized.
approved or condoned" by the AFL
and Its affliated unions until the
enemies of America have been forced
to unconditional surrender.
In addressing a Labor for Vic
tory" rally at Constitution Hall, un-
der the auspices Of the Washington
Central Labor Union and the AFI,,
he said soldiers of the production
front will march with soldiers on
the battlefronts until victory is won.
Pointing out that labor has a great
stake In the present world conflict,
Undersecretary OF War Robert P.
Patterson warned that victory is
"far from Won" either on the bat
tlef1eld or in the workshops.
Needs Not Yet Supplied.
I'VE have nowhere near supplied
our war needs" he said. The rate
Of production has been speeded up.
but more and always more. is
needed. The requirements of war
are never satisfied-that Is the onlv
sure thing about war"
Other speakers at last nights
meeting included War Manpover
Commission Chairman Paul ". Nc
Mutt, Rear Admiral Clark H. Wood
ward. chief Of the Incentive Division
OF the Navy, and John Locher. presi-
dent OF the Washington Central La
Dor Union, who explained that the
purpose Of the meeting was to en-
able AFL members to rededicate
themselves to their war jobs.
Thomas Mitchell. screen and stage
star, served as master Of ceremonies.
Music was furnished by an orches-
ira provided by Local 16l OF the
Musicians Union. while Alfred
Manning, secretary of the musicians
local. led large mixed chorus in
patriotic songs.
A feature of the program vas a
recital OF their experiences on the
battle fronts by a number of war
heroes. These were 1t. Col. I. F.
McAlpin of the Black Watch Regi-
ment, commander of No Com
mando, which took part in the in
itial landing in Algiers; Sergts AL
Schmidt and Barney Ross OF the
United States Marines, and 1t.
James Kayser of the Army Air
Forces. All were loudly applauded as
they appeared on the platform.
1t. Kayser Was in AFL.
1t. Kayser, an AFL member and
carpenter in youngstown, Ohio, be-
fore he entered the Army, told the
meeting that the road to Berlin may
be long, but we have proved We
can travel 1.-THE Army and labor
together
You have glorious gang fighting
for you" Sergt. Ross said.
Recent victories In North Africa
and the new of1ensives against the
enemy have been made possible, Mr..
Green declared, only because the
workers of our country have won
the basic battle Of production
"Our own country and its Allies
owe an everlasting debt of 'sratir-
to the workers OF America for the
wonderful progress they have made
in so short time, for the fine Job
they are doing today and will con-
tinue to do until the war Is won," he
said
The no-strike pledge given to the
President by the AFL soon after
Pearl Harbor has been fulfilled al
most 100 per cent" by AFL workers,
and af1liated organizations, Mr..
Green stated.
He paid high tribute to the WASH
ington Central Labor Union for rails
ing more than s13O.000 in contribu-
tions from AFL members in the
Washington area to protect the Ma
tions Capital from enemy air raids.
Our trade union movement is
going to make certain that America
wins the peace" Mr.. Green said.
For the first time in history, pre-
dict that organized labor will be
directly represented at the peace
| conference at the close of this war.
We will never agree to any peace
terms unless they guarantee that
war shall be abolished as means
Of settling disputes between ma
tons
Cites Bomber Output Boost.
Undersecretary Patterson praised
the collaboration of labor and man
agement in making good American
production. AS an illustration OF
this collaboration. he cited the fact
that four Flying Fortresses now are
being made in the same number Of
man hours-about 10000 - that
were required initially for the con-
! struction of one Of these bombers.
Though there have been cut-backs
| in specific items in our armament
program. Mr.. Patterson said there
has been no actual cut-back in over
all production" Instead, production
has increased, as it must continue to
increase and increase If we are to
meet our demanding schedules for
1943 and 1914"
1Wl NS4>uIo conveyed a. lllCSSdSS
of greeting and warm wishes to the
Labor for Victory rally, and
praised the contribution of labor to
the formulation OF the policies OF
the War Manpower Commission.
Others who spoke briefly last night
included Chief Carpenters Mats
Tom Jenkins, who served at Midway,
and Capt. John A. Mattson Of the
merchant marine, skipper of mer-
chantman that brought aid to the
American forces besieged on Bataan.
Charles Reed of Baltimore. who
recently experienced his fifth tor
pedoing in the present war, was ons
OF six members Of the Seafarers' In
ternational Union, all Of them sur
vivors Of ship sinkings, who were
introduced to the audience.
At the opening of the meeting q
service flag was raised from the
platform in honor of the million
members of the AFL now serving
with the armed forces.
Ne e. n