The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1944-07-13
(Continued From Page One)

terry industry for your economic lib
erty-your jobs. Many of you, and
those you represent, have given years
OF your lives to learn your trade. You
have right to expect that your job
opportunities, and the job opportunities
of those you represent, as well as the
job opportunities of your members
serving in the armed forces will not
be transferred to workers in other
countries, simply because the labor
costs in foreign countries are lower.
Some officials in the government will
concede you have that right, but is
there any assurance that greedy Amer
leans, avaricious for additional and
larger profits, or, praise seeking, self
opinionated politicians and Office seek
ers, as well as office holders, for
reasons best known to themselves, will
not through administrative action, de-
prive you of your job opportunity?
Recently l visited the Republican
National Convention on a Good VIII
mission. In attendance were many
members of the United States Senate
in years past, have been most coopera
tive in helping us to secure legislation
which protected the job opportunities
of members of your Brotherhood as
well as those of other trade union or
ganizations. The traditional history of
the Republican Party, insofar as it re-
lates to tariff legislation, is well
known
The International Bankers, and, of
late years. the International Indus
trialists, aided by College Professors
and Political Economists, have always
advocated Freer Trade through low
and Inadequate tariff rates in order
that American distributors of com
petitive foreign produced products
might secure larger profits, and Amer
lean Exporters might find profitable
markets for their surplus products in
foreign markets.
The inf1unece of those who advocate
low and inadequate tariff rates has
been strong in the Democratic councils
because of the need of foreign markets
for our surplus production of cotton
and tobacco, which products are pro-
duced mainly in the Southern States.
1t was amazing to find that these
International Bankers and Industrial
ists and those who represent them or
are influenced by Them assuming that
there might be a change of Admins
tration, have now, apparently, pro-
10 fry fn fol Irn nf
the Republican Party.
That those who seek to impose low
and inadequate tariff duties on com
petitive imports had laid their plans
well was evident at the first meeting
of the important Drafting Group of
the Resolutions Committee of the Re
publican Convention. Having heard
some rumblngS of what was in the
wind, | prevailed on one of our friends
in the Drafting Group to raise the
question of pledging adequate tariff
legislation in the Party Platform. The
attitude of some influential members
was there is no need or referring to
the subject, but, if at ALL only brief
reference should be made.
Finally, there was a subcommittee
ON Foreign Trade appointed. As Chair
man of that Committee we found q
pronounced advocate of low tariff
rates in former Governor Landon. /
Immediately telephoned to President
Duffy and to Presidents of other Inter
national Unions and they responded
promptly and forcibly.
The Committee on Foreign Trade
held two public hearings. Those who
appeared represented the organized
workers and farm organizations. No
American manufacturers or any OF
their many representatives appeared.
No one appeared advocating low or in
adequate tariff rates. Yet, despite the
unanimity of opinion and the unani-
nous request of Labor and Farm or
ganizations that the Republican Party |
should specifically declare for ade-
quate tariff protection, which would at
least equalize the difference in costs of
production of competitive imports, this
ub-Committee held three Executive
sessions on Sunday and met again at
8 Monday morning before we secured
the declaration that finally was placed
in their platform. I'm the meantime,
there was plenty of work done and the
kilograms which President Duffy sent,
as well as those which other Trade
Union officials sent, had a tremendous
influence in assuring success.
Incidentally, l understand that there
are several delegates here representing |
Local Unions located in West Virginia,
especially the Wheeling area. l want |
those delegates to know, and believe it
only fair, that they report to their
fellow workers that one of the most I
dependable advocates of tariff protec-
tion, especially for the benefit of the
Pottery and Glass industries, at the
convention was Mr.. Austin Wood of
Wheeling, West Virginia. Mr.. Wood
was member of the Committee on
Foreign Trade which drafted the plank
on adequate tariff protection. He stood