The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1944-02-18

Kansas City, Mo.-AFL President
William Green assailed proposals for
labor conscription as unnecessary and
unwise in an address here before the
seventeenth consolidated convention
of the International Brotherhood of
Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders and
Helpers of America.
Using the remarkable war record of
the members of this union as his text,
Mr.. Green declared that war produc-
tion is proceeding so we'll that a Ma
tional Service Act would only be likely
to harm instead of help.
The record breaking exploits of the
Boilermakers' in the nations ship
yards, their yeoman efforts in helping
to build 27 million tons of merchant
shipping and in doubling the size of
the Navy received high praise from
the AFL chief.
He also declared that the unions
compliance nationally and locally with
labors no-strike pledge "has been as
close to 100 per cent as is humanity
possible"
After pointing to the record break
ing totals of ship, plane, tank, artil-
lery and ammunition production, Mr..
Green declared:
"In the calm and deliberate judg-
ment of the American Federation of
Labor, labor conscription as contem-
plated in the proposed National Serv-
ice Act, would not add single bullet
to the nations war production totals.
"On the contrary, we firmly believe
that the substitution of involuntary
servitude for voluntary cooperation
might so confuse the production pro-
gram and so upset labor morale as to
retard production and set back h e
entire war effort.
at must be remembered that only
last November the representative
heads of American industry, agricul-
ture and labor joined in a unanimous
statement opposing labor conscription
and insisting upon voluntary cooper
alton as the real solution Of man
power problems. From long expert
ence in the practical operation of the
American way of life, they came to
the inescapable conclusion that in
creased RECOMMENDATION does not bring
about increased efficiency. On the con-
trary, one of the major factors that
will eventually help us win this war
is the incontestable superiority of
free American labor over slave Nazi
labor To deprive American workers
of their freedom through a National
Service Law would only deprive our
country of one of its main sources of
strength.
'It is argued by the proponents of
this dangerous legislation that it
would help prevent strikes. That view
is not upheld by the facts. Great
Britain has had a National Service
Law since Dunkirk. That law has not
prevented strikes in Britain. In fact,
the number of strikes in that country
during the past year has been greater
than ever before and higher proper
tionately than in America.
Because it will not increase war
production, because it will not solve
manpower problems, because it will
not prevent strikes and because it may
seriously embarrass the nations war
effort, the American Federation of La
Dor will resist with all it's power the
attempt being made to enact Ma
tional Service Act.
"We call upon all of our members
to prove by their example that such
a law is as unnecessary as it is un-
wise The national and international
unions affiliated with the American
Federation of Labor have made 1OO
percent perfect record in fulfilling oul
no-strike pledge to the Government
We now call upon our local unions to
match that perfect record. At this
moment, vast military movements are
in progress and even greater drives
are in preparation. Millions Of Amer
lean boys will be called upon to risk
their lives in action against the enc
my. Our soldiers, sailors and marines
will fight courageously, unyieldingly
and necessarily. The workers Of