The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1943-09-24
RELIEF
faction FOR THE
ITALIAN PEOPLE

AS practical demonstration to the
Italian people that "our protestations
of democracy are not idle words" the
Labor League for Human Rights, in
the name of the 100000 members of
now preparing to put into action
relief program for the Italian people,
according to Matthew Woll, president
of the League.
| In a statement issued Immediately
after Italy's unconditional surrender
to the United Nations, Mr.. Woll en-
phasized the Importance to the post
war world of re-educating the Italian
people, as soon as possible, to the
ways of democracy. The AFL's ship
ments of food, clothing and medical
supplies, he pointed out, will be "sym-
bols of American labor's hope for
democratic tie" between the two ma
tions in the future.
The complete text of Mr.. VOLTS
! statement follows:
"The fall of Italy is more than a
crushing blow to Hitler's dream of
Nazi-Fascist Europe. 1t makes Italy
the first proving ground for the prin-
ciples of the Four Freedoms and the
Atlantic Charter.
Gas one way of demonstrating to
the Italian people that our protesta
tions of democracy are not mere idle
words, the 100000 members of the
American Federation of Labor are
now preparing to put into action an
Italian war relief program similar to
those already in effect in Britain,
China, and other countries of the
United Nations. Through the AFL re-
lief agencies, the Labor League for
Human Rights, and the New York
Labor War Chest (AFL), shipments
of food, clothing, and medical supplies
will soon be under way to Italy
"The shipments will be tangible
proofs to the Italian people of Ameri-
can labor's understanding of their
problems and symbols of American
labor's hope for a democratic, free tie
between the two nations in the post
war world.
First to become hostages to fas-
cism, first to be liberated from fas-
cism, the people of Italy are still liv-
ing in an occupied country. They will
continue to do so until the principles
of democratic control under which
they are to live have become finally
established.
GA democratic political structure
should provide for the return to their
native land of those honest Italian
anti-fascists who have spent the
twenty-one years of fascist rule in
bitter exile. The American labor
movement warns the Italian people
against leaders masked as anti-fas-
cists who would urge the establish
ment of new political structure diff
ferent only in color from the dictator
ship just overthrown. But the major
ity of these exiled anti-fascist leaders
have never compromised their demo-
cratic principles, and are, therefore,
particularly well-ftted to assist in
guiding the Italian people once more
into the ways of democracy.
'The millions of members of organ
lied labor in America recall the close
fraternal relations which existed be-
tween them and the free Italian trade
unions which Mussolini suppressed
They also remember that the fascist
criminals who destroyed democracy
and the free trade union movement in
Italy are still unpunished. We hope
that the terms of Italy's surrender
call for the bringing to trial of the
murderous anti-labor Black Shirt
squadristi.
"Our government now shares in the
responsibility for the future of the
Italian people. The principles for
which we are fighting make it neces-
sary to start as soon as possible the
task of re-educating the Italian people
to the ways of the democracy they
were forced to abandon"