The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1944-03-10
UNION MEMBERS
URGED TO REGISTER

With an announced goal of register
ing every labor union member to vote
in the 1914 elections, all branches of
Ohio organized labor are working to-
gether on a broad political front, it
was announced Tuesday by a policy
making committee representing nine
state labor organizations.
The move marks the first time all
branches of Ohio Labor have joined
together in such manner The or
CARNATIONS represented are Ohio
State Federation of Labor, Brother
hood of Locomotive Engineers, Broth
erhood of Locomotive Firemen and
Enginemen, Brotherhood of Railroad
Trainmen, Order Of Railway Conduc-
tors, Ohio CLIO. Council, Ohio Typo
graphical Conference, United Mine
Workers of Ohio, and Ohio Brewery
Workers. The latter three are not af-
filiated with the major labor organi-
zation.
Phil Hannah, Secretary, and M. j.
Lyden, President; represented the
Ohio State Federation of Labor within
the group. In statement issued Tues
day, the group declared that "the cleo
tions of 1914 are fraught with deeper
and weightier consequences than any
previous elections in our time"
''The kind of postwar world we
shall live in hangs in the balance" the
statement continues, land employ
ment, job security, living standards,
education, social security, collective
bargaining all are heavily depend
ent upon the results of this years
elections.
Therefore, it is of paramount i'm
portance that all Labor Unions bend
every effort to register all members
for voting in 1914.
workers are aware that reac-
tionary Congress and an unprogres-
sive State Legislature can sabotage
the legitimate aspirations of the COM
mon people of the nation. Workers
know that big-business-m minded gov
ernment can mean unemployment, low
wages, devasted living conditions, and
smashed Unions.
In recognition of these high stakes
involved in the coming elections, we
urge full participation in legislative
action by organized Labor in Ohio. 1t
is our firm conviction that only
through complete utilization of La
boris voting energy can we expect to
stem the rising tide of reaction in this
country.
Workers preoccupation with de-
fense production and indifference to
legislative issues in the 1912 elections
have already reaped tragic harvest.
The Smith-Connally Act, the uncurbed
spiraling of living costs, the unscrup-
ulous tax bill, the travesty on the SOL
diers' vote are but a few of the bitter
fruits of the 1912 harvest. And this is
but forestate of the calamity that
can be ours if workers permit the
1914 elections to go by default and
neglect.
Democracy can survive the rigors
of war and the strain of postwar re-
conversion only if there is vigorous
participation by the common people in
the operation of the institutions OF
democracy. The prime institute OF
democracy is the ballot. 1t is the
solemn and patriotic duty of every
American worker to register and vote
Freedom from want, freedom from
fear, freedom of press and assemb-
lage, freedom Of religion these foul
freedoms are ours if we have the will
and courage to fight, work, and vote
for them. The challenge to all workers
in Ohio in 1914 is to earn these foul
freedoms on the battlefront, on the
production front, and at the ballo
box"