The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1943-09-30


He defended the record ma
the war in vigorous fashion, poir
the attack against our enemies by thers
prodigious production achievements.
"Our workers have done just as
good Il job as our soldiers Mr.. Green
declared, yet instead of praise and a
pat on the back, they have been taking
Il terrible beating in the press, on the
radio and in the public forums of our
country.
''SDeaking for more than six million
Woodworking and thoroughly patriotic
members of the American Federation
of Labor, | can truthfully say that
they bitterly resent the Slurs and de
nunciations that have been heaped
upon the organized workers of Amer
lea by people who ought to know
better. Even spokesman for the Amer
lean Legion have at times been guilty
+ of rash and unreasonable statements.
1T is quite understandable for
people to become incenSed over some
individual incident or situation. but il
is wholly reprehenSibe to denounce on
that account the entire labor move
ment, including workers and labor or
ganizations that have contributed ire
mendously to the success of our war
effort.
Every time an isolated strike oc
curs, a hue and cry develops for
lynching all of labor's rights Such an
attitude is un-Amercan. 1t is, in fact
typically Fascist. There is no place
for it in our free country.
"OrganiZed labor in America has
voluntarily surrendered the exercise Of
its right to strike for the duration in
order to help win the war Our no
strike pledge to the President has been
religiouSly kept by 30 and nine-tenths
of. the members of the American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor. We know that in
order TO keep America free and to pre-
serve the right to strike against in
justice for all time we must keep on
working without interruption until
final victory is won. Ever since the
z war started the efforts of the national
and local officers of American Fedora
tion of Labor unions have been cOncen-
trated on preventing strikes by any
and all possible means.
I'VE have succeeded in this beyond
the most optimistic expectations. The
few strikes that have taken place are
merely the exception TO the rule The
'no-Strike' record of American workers
during this war is better than that Of
labor in any other free country in the
world, including nations like Great
Britain which have actually been I'M
der direct enemy fire.
Il have spoken to you thus frankly
because | feel there is some danger Of
organizations like the American Legion
being used by powerful groups to adj
vance special and selfish economic
interests. | trust that the American
Legion will reject any such advances
no matter how attractiVely they are
disguised. More than anything else, if
it is to retain and extend its effective
influence for all that is best in the
American way OF life the American
Legion must preserve its independence
of thought and action. Only by 50 do
ing can it successfully take full adj
vantage of the opportunities for
growth and expansion and service that
loom ahead
Mr. Green urged close cooperation
between the American Legion and the
American Federation of Labor for the
attainment of two ma ior postwar OBJ
iectveS These, he stated, are the
establishment of permanent world
peace and the initiation Of Il peace
time production program which will
provide jobs for demobilized soldiers
, and the millions of war workers.
He added:
".\merican workers who are eligible
to membership in the American Legion
have shown and graSped an under
standing of the potential benefits of
unity and cooperation between th
American Federation Of Labor ant
American Legion. This is evidenced by
the fact that 50 Union Labor Amer
can Legion Posts have been formed
All the members of these 81 posts are
also members OF the American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor.
Il am sure | will in no way be mis-
understood if | suggest that additional
Union Labor Legion Posts be chartered
whenever and wherever such posts car
be formed. Those members of The
American Federation of Labor who be
come members of these Union Labor
Legion Posts are inspired 10y the patri
otic and civic motives. They seek NJ
personal advantage. They are INSPIRED
by Il sincere purpose and determina
1ion to carry out policies which ar
formed in democratic fashion at con
ventions of the American Legion. They
Will devote their efforts toward tn,
promotion of a better underStandn.
between organized labor and the Amer
lean Legion"
The mere repetition of fOrmulae ant
rciteratiOn of cHtchWOrdS and phrase