Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1944-01-07

newspapers all over the count
as a body blow to Labor
Unions. 1t is proof positive of
the correctness of the state
ments made by labor leaders that
big business is more interested in
insuring high postwar profits and
absolute control of the economy Of
the nation than they are in win
ing the war.
1t is a harsh thing to say, but
from the action of the convention
of the NAM and its follow-up
propaganda campaign, it looks as
though the four freedoms are to
them just a lot of balderdash. We
can draw only one conclusion from
their statements and actions, and
that is that they feel their inter
ests would be better served under
some form of totalitarianism than
under our present system Of gov
ernment.
Time Is Here
The time for plain talk on the
part of Labor is here. Up to this
time we have depended upon the
fundamental justice of our posi-
ton to see us thru, over the prop
aganda of the employer groups.
Their propaganda has a ready out
let in the daily press, the radio,
and public periodicals. Our ave-
nues Of expression have been linn
tied.
First let us consider the question
of strikes in war time. We all
deplore the necessity and the ag-
gravation that urges workmen to
cease production on vital war
goods. Most Of the leaders Of
Labor in this country have spent
hours, days, and weeks of heart
breaking toll to keep down any
wartime stoppages. In every case
they have. had to work against
terrific odds.
On the one hand, the smart
cracking columnists and radio
commentators deprecated their
work before the public. On the
other hand, the very people they
were leading were aggravated and
goaded by the employer until they
could no longer be held in check.
1t takes two to make fight and
certainly, in all tn labor-manage-
ment fights, the workingmen have
not been a bunch of Don Quixotes
jousting windmills, or lunatics on
the loose smuggling it out with
imaginary foes,
Labor MaIigned
Labor has been the most malign-
ed, insulted, and trod upon group
in this whole affair. Three years
ago Walter Reuther, labor leader,
advanced a plan for conversion
OF American industry to war pro-
duction. Immediately a hue and
cry was raised. David Lawrence
said pure socialism, as did many
others. Pegler said something like
this; A plan advanced by a young
whippersnapper who knows moth
ing about production methods. But
we are now working according TO
the Reuther Plan. Industry sits
hack and says "see what a good
job we have done for the war ef-
fort" Many Of the people VINO
now say that, are the very people
who refused to take National De-
fense contracts because they
thought there was not enough
profit in them, and cried for war
work only when there were no
more civilian goods TO be made.
Labor made no-strike pledge
on the assumption that there
would be Equality of Sacrifice.
But no one offered TO sacrifice
except the men and women in the
armed forces and Labor. Labor's
no-strike pledge became the butt
Of the sly humor CD of the prop
aganda mills of the financial in
terests.
Connally Act Passed
The Smith-Connally Act was
passed. Statements were made in
Congress that Labor, especially
organized labor could not be trust
ed and that the no-strike pledge
amounted to nothing buat a bunch
Of flowery words, therefore the
pledge must be supplanted by d
law with teeth in il. With our
national political leaders holding
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