Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1943-09-17
Youth and
omorrow
BY Frank Sido

absolute and hasty defeat Of the
Axis powers. This new atmosphere
is a healthy one indeed. The influx
Of these fine American youths will
have very decided and favorable
bearing on our trade unions and
the way of life of the American
people in the postwar era.
These American youths are
awake to the necessity Of the or
ganization of the American worker.
They are not only willing but ac-
tually anxious to become members
Of the union. In many instances
they have come forward and asked
how long they had to wait before
they could join the union. And
don't think that they are not awake
to what rights they have through
the union. Just let some boss step
on their toes and see how quick
they bristle up and sign a griev-
ance.
Stimulates Old Fogies
This influx of fine American
youth cannot fail to put new life
and determination into some of US
old fogies who have been content
to lay back and rest on the laurels
we have won through a few vic
tories on the Labor Front. These
youngsters will no more be salts
fled with present standards of liv-
ing and working conditions than
we were satisfied with the horse
and buggy day conditions that we
inherited from the past generation.
We kicked over the traces and
went on to win new concessions
and better living and working con-
ditions and you can bet on the
present-day American youth kick
ing over the traces to go on to win
still better concessions and condi-
tions for those who labor for their
existence. These kids have what it
takes-just watch them.
Far too many of US who have
spent years in the shop and in la
Dor movements fail to realize that
these youngsters need our aid and
counsel in getting started out on
the right foot, both in the union
and in the shop. Far too many of
us forget the days when we first
left school to enter the new field
where we had to work for our keep
and were confronted with grouchy
old fogies who were blinded by
Jealousy, greed and fear-iealous
OF the vigor with which youth tack
les new job and often in a few
days or weeks doing as good or
better Job than some who have had
years of experience. A greed for
more work for themselves at over
youngsters will displace them on
tie job.
Ignorance Makes Road Hard
This combination of jealousy,
greed and fear predicated on pure
unadulterated ignorance, has made
the road rough and tough for many
OF us and its presence today is
making it equally rough and tough
for our present-day American
youth who ask nothing more than
a decent chance to help defeat the
enemy abroad as we'll as our eco
nomic enemies at home.
We need have no fear for the
safety and well-being of America
from the Hitlers, Tojos and Mus
solinis abroad, nor for the safety
and well-being of our trade unions
from the Rickenbackers, Smiths,
Connallys or the War Mongering,
Profiteering, Blood Merchants who
are their Masters, here at home so
long as we have our present-day
American youth. So let's give the
kids break.
Give Youngsters Help
The helping hand that you lend
these youngsters will pay big divi-
dcnds in appreciation on their part
and in the satisfaction that you
cannot help but enjoy for the part
you played in giving them break,
but the biggest dividends you will
receive in the twilight of life when
YOU sit back and watch their chill
dren and their children's children
enjoy the fruits of your endeavors
which was won with the support of
today's American youth. So don't
be an unconscious stooge for the
enemies of labor by placing obsta-
cles in the path of progress OF
these youngsters.
sures the bowlers in the Eastern,
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