The union times., 1944-12-23
Will Make Drive
 Throughout l945

ton of Labor, has sent letters to all Connecticut unions an- nOuncing the formation of a Free Trade Union Committee by the Labor League for Hu- man Rights, relief arm of the AFL, for the purpose of rais- ing a minimum of $l,OOO,- 900 from AFL members dur ing January, l945, to aid in the re-establishment of inde- pendent democratic trade unions in Europe and South America.
 According to the statement is sued by MT. Woll, who is presi- dent of the Labor League for Human Rights and will be chair man of the newly organized committee, this move is an out growth of the American Fedora tion of Labor's conviction that without a free trade union movement, 1t will be impossible to rebuild a democratic Europe"
 WIN WAR OF IDEAS
 "A permanently crushed labor movement abrOad.o the statement declares, Twill mean that we have failed to win the war of ideas that we have been fighting against Naism and Fascism."
 Pointing out the probable effects of such a failure on American labor, American industry, and the future peace of the world, MT. Woll warned that forced and impoverished labor in Europe will lead to the flooding of world markets with cheap commodi- ties, It will be threat to American industry and will inevitably result in dangerously lowered standard of living for American workers. Beyond all this, the existence of forced and impoverished labor in Europe will set the stage for violent economic con- f1icts which cannot but lead to third world war"
 ssThe American Federation of Labor now constitutes the most powerful and vigorous democratic labor organization in the world," he continued. cit is to us that the workers of Europe are looking for the. vitally needed practical assis- tance that must be forthcoming if their trade unions are to be speed lily and demOcratically rebuilt.
 "In accepting this task, the AFL recognizes that organized workers anywhere have a moral right and ob- ligation to assist their fellow work CTS everywhere More than that, it has been made evident through the tragic events of the past decade that free trade union movements are the strongest bu1warks of peaceful and democratic nations Tn addition the restoration of Europe's free trade unions will be the most effective way to maintain existing high living standards of American workers, since it will eliminate the ruthless compe- tition resulting from oppressed, under paid, slave or forced labor abroad.
 ssFailure to stand by the demo- cratic forces within the European labor movement i'm their continu- ing fight against all forms of tOtalitarianism can mean the end of genuine democracy in Europe for a century to come," the state ment concludes.
 The entire membership of the AFL, MT. Woll said, will be mobilized for the January drive of the Free Trade Union Committee. Funds will be raised by local unions of the AFL, through the fund-raising apparatus of the Labor League for Human Rights, which includes hundreds of local Labor League committees all over the country, as well as twenty-two re- giona1 directors.
 This is the same fund-raising ap- paratus which in the past two years has helped raise almost $70,0O0O00 from AFL members for distribution to the National War Fund, Commun- ity Chests, and the American Red Cross through the United Nations Relief Committee of the League.