The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1944-02-10

President Green has 'laid it on the
line" He has said that there is nothing
big enough to warrant a stoppage or
work in these critical war days.
If he is big enough to be president
of the American Federation of Labor
ne is wise enough to know what he is
talking about.
Months and months ago this column
said that there is nothing important
| enough to justify stoppage OF work
in anything at all related to war.
1t is to be hoped that every union
in the United States will take to heart
what Bill Green had to say on the
heels of the executive council meeting
just held
This is not the time to stop produc-
| tion. If we stand on the threshold or
| invasion as we believe we do we
must need every ounce of material that
can be poured forth by men geared to
war and the work of war.
| It isn't unions alone that cause stop.
page of production: employers do it
| just as often and maybe oftener.
But NOBODY is big enough or i'm
portant enough to stop production for
| war.
Let's stop talking about stoppage of
work; let's call it stoppage of PRO
DUCTION. That's what it is!
| No stoppage can be dolled up in
language fancy enough to make up for
the shortage of one little machine gun
bullet.
And, if you want to know it, no
stoppage can be dolled up in language
fancy enough to stand as an alibi with
the men at the front
| There just isn't any reason big
enough, no matter whether or not it
seems to be big enough.
Until this war is won there's mighty
little else that counts.
| Probably there will be some reckon
ing to do afterwards, but "afterwards''
is the right time for that reckoning.
AFTERWARDS; not now!
To keep going with work may cause
some hardships, it is true.
Employers will put the squeeze on
when they know men won't strike.
Maybe that's so. Maybe there will be
some hardshps. Always there have
been hardships for some.
| And always there have been those
willing to stand hardships for the sake
of cause
| What about the hardships in the
| in IN n
Africa, in India-over more than half
the world? What about THEM?
Are hardships only for the men in
uniform?
| Are hardShips reserved as some sort
of special privilege for those who deal
in guntire and bayOnet thrustS?
Why does this matter even need to
have to sound forth blast of warning
and of advice?
| Yes, of course, the huge majority has
kept right on working. OF course, its
only Il foozling minority that goes on
| strike or that cuts corners on the
management side
|
or greedy minority can raise plenty of
hell with the works, can cause plenty
of loss at the front, can give the enemy
plenty of help, one way or another.
Green was talking to the minority.
SO am l. But plenty!
There are ways Of getting adjust
ments today, without stoppage of pro-
duction. Maybe these ways don't al
ways work well, or quickly. But that's
a pretty tritling thing when compared
to the need to have this war go well.
That we've had few strikes has been
used as an albi for those we have
had. That's the Slimmest, sliniiest
alibi ever. 1t doesn't alibi for one tank
lost, or one jeep not produced.
There is NO alibi for anything that
gets in the way of full and constant
production for victory and if you
hear one, just don't you believe it
CMW.