The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1943-01-14


"America's war labor progr;
cess of democracy" President Green
said, adding that democratic methods
have worked and that ''the record of
the past year speaks for itself"
Warns Against Compulsory Legislation
"Since Pearl Harbor, war produc-
tion has been more than quadrupled,"
he declared "Time lost due to strikes
or lockouts has been reduced to one
tenth of 1 per cent of time worked. -.
Never before has our nation enjoyed
such period of sustained, uninter-
rupted production
Green went on to express confidence
that Americas product ion work
soldiers will more than fulfill quotas
in 1913 provided their hands are not
tied and their enthusiastic spirit
crushed by compulsory and punitive
legislation.
"Franlily," he warned, 81 anticipate
that legislation of this kind will be
introduced during this session of Con-
greSS. | need not warn the members
of Congress that such proposals are
dangerous and harmful and unneces-
sary. Their good judgment will re-
pudiate the unwisdom of forcing men
and women to do that which they are
willing to do of their own free WILL
ability TO Pay" Tax Plan Asked
The federation's program contains
10 planks. Compulsory manpower
mobilization, repeal of the 4O-hour
week standard and anti-strike legisla
tion are opposed. Support is urged for
higher social security taxes; Il war
tax program based on ability to pay;
wage stabilization; planning for post
war reconstruction; poll tax repeal
workers.
In reviewing its program the feder-
alton stated in reference to manpower
mobilization that while nationwide
compulsory job-freezing might ulti-
mately become necessary, it was not
yet convinced that such drastic ac-
ton is necessary" When it did be-
come convinced it would cooperate
fully"
Facts On ManpOWer Held Not Known
I'VE still do not know with any de-
gree of accuracy what our manpower
needs will be or whether our man
power resources will fall short. We
urge an immediate survey to deter
mine these facts. We further recon-
mend registration of women to learn
the availability of woman-pOwer for
service in par industries. Finally, we
insist that before any compulsory
work service is ordered, definite pro-
vision be made to protect the eco
nOmic and social security status of the
workers affected
Proposals to abolish the 40-hOur
work week were described as threats
to war economy and the war produc-
tion program. The 4O-hour week. the
federation contended, did not limit
working time in war factories but
merely provides standard for over
time pay and that time and half
wages ''iS no deterrent to employers,
because they pass along the costs to
the government"
Social Security Expansion Urged
The cost of overtime work was not
an excessive burden on the govern
ment because savings in overhead
made possible by longer hours of oper-
alton and increased production served
to reduce the unit cost of the product
the government bought.
Immediate expansion of the Social
Security program was held vital to
protect the nation against postwar
upheavalS. Old-age and unemployment
insurance were deemed "inadequate"
and 'many millions" of workers still
Such an expanded program will, OF
course, eventually increase Social Sc
curity COSTS" but 'for this purpose
the American people would be glad to
assume heavier taxes" The new rev.
cnue from larger Social Security taxes
"can be used now to defray the cost
of the war" and the higher Social
Security taxes can be substituted for
the unsatisfactory Victory tax"
Price Controls, KatiOning, Favored
Expecting that Congress will be
forced again this year to impose new
and heavier taxes" the federation is
preparing specific tax program.
Meantime it urges lawmakers to levy
taxes lin accordance with ability to
pay" to avoid Excessive levieS which
might cripple industry or sap the
strength of the low-income groups
and to continue the war bond pro-
gram ION voluntary basis"
Price controls are approved and IA