The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1943-05-27
ployment opportunities of Americas

and conditions of employment Of
foreign countries. and, with which
we are bound to be faced at the end
of the present European and Asiatic
wars. and, in order to hold secure
the advanced industrial relations and
employment standards secured by
Americas workers through legisla-
tive enactments and collective agree.
ments against competition from
products of workers in countries of
lower standards, it is essential that
adequate and proper legislation be
had to obtain these ends. We urge
the adoption of this policy and pro-
cetiure."
President Green The Chair desires
to make this explanation so that all
delegates may hear and may know and
may understand In line with
the instructions of conventions of the
American Federation of Labor, the
Federation has supported National and
International Unions when these Ma
tiOnal and International Unions de
cded that, in the interests of these or
ganiZatiOns, certain legislation, certain
benefit them either by an increase or
Il reduction. When these National and
International Unions come to the
the American Federation of Labor and
say. I'VE have decided that the inter
est of our trade, of our people whom
-
guire us to go to the Congress of the
United States and support certain spe-
cfic proposals.; and ask us to help
them, in response to their requests, we
assist Our position has always been
plain, however, that we support the
proposition because the International
Unions directly involved have asked
us for that support" October IS,
1920.
Usually and ordinarily no question
acted upon until it has been very fair
ly and most comprehensvely discuss
ed The Delegates vote with a clear
understanding of it ALL of what it
means. There is no doubt as to what
it means and then in accordance with
Democratic procedure we decide the
question, and when 1t is decided 1t be-
comes the law Of the American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor, ineXOrable and I'M
challengeable until set aside by the
great democratic organization that or
dered the action taken" president
william Green, Cincinnati, Sept. 2S,
1030).
Mr.. Woll stressed the fact that with
our country facing the readjustment
and the transition from War produc
following the cessasiOn of hostilties,
and, with many millions Of workers all
through the world turning from War
activities, either I'm the armed forces or
in the production of War implements
and war munitions, and, the flow of
competitive products of workers in
foreign countries into American mar
kets our tariff rates on competitive i'm
ports should be based on the known
differences in costs. of production in
order to protect the job opportunities
Of our workers, as well as to provide
much needed job opportunities for the
many millions now serving in our
armed forces on their return from the
War.
Mr.. Vol, answering the bugabOO put
forth by proponents of lower tariff
rates, without ascertainng the differ
enceS In costs of production, raised, for
the first time the question aS to what
constitutes II trade barrier or an eX
cessive tariff rate. He demonstrated
that costs Of production are nscer-
of production have been found by the
investigations of the Tariff Commits
sion. Further, that In each case Presi-
dent Roosevelt has accepted the find
ings OF the Tariff Commission whether
the finding called for an increase or Il
decrease in the then existing tariff
rates.
Stressng the low wage levels and
lower standards which prevail in many
foreign countries from which we i'm
port much of our competitive products,
Mr. VOL compared these conditions
with the higher wage levels and higher
labor standards which prevail among
Americas workers, due to the activity
OF the Unions affiliated with the Amer
lean Federation of Labor.
Mr.. VOL dwelt extensively on the
contention that the only fair yard
stick was to ascertain, and, to pro
claim the differences I'm costs of pro
ductlon, otherwise the jobs of Amer
ica's workers would be transferred to
the lower wage paid workers In for
eign countries.
Mr. Vol challenged the alleged ac
complishments of Trade Treaties in
the promotion and expansion of our eX-
port trade and produced charts and
figures which SLOWED that in many
cases there was greater increase in
exports to contiguous non-trade agree
ment countries than there were to the
neiShboring countries with which we
had entered into a trade treaty.
Mr.. Vol, In response to queries
from members OF the Committee con
tended that the principal American