The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1945-11-01
LABOR RESPONSIBILITY
AT NO TIME in our history has a he

AT NO TIME in our history has heavier re
sponsibiity rested upon American trad
unions. We are a national institution and shar
responsibility for maintaining our American wa
lof life. AS the duties and functions of our natio
lchange and BROADEN corresponding responsibllitle
rest on our trade union movement. The Who'll
world must progress toward democratic institu
Itions if we are to maintain democratic institution
and procedures for ourselves.
We have learned that lawless domination b.
Iracketeers in any one country must be the concer
OF ALL War can be so terrible that it's prevention
must bet ma jOr objective of all who desire t.
live. We as Wage-earner citizens in our demOcrac
organize trade unions to establish and MAINTAIN
for wage-earners those rights guaranteed by ou
ICOnStltutlOn-tO secure the blessings of liberty t.
ourselves and our posterity. Our Constitution set
up legal framework through which we may mak
effective use of our freedoms, and provides for
government by law. Upon our citizens rests re
sponsibility for keeping in office those who re
spect our laws and our freedoms.
Our trade unions provide established agencies
rules and procedures which constitute industria
government in the field of worker-employer re
lationships. We look for progress through col
lective negotiation to the end that higher living
standards may be incorporated in work contracts
In order to continue to fulfill our functions as
unions at home we, as unions, must now assume
our share of responsibility for making the worlc
safe for our way of life.
Trade unions need to understand both the
domestic and international problems of our natlor
and to contribute to constructive policies to ac
hieve our democratic purposes At present we face
the grave problems of formuative periods both
at home and abroad. At home we must grapple
with problems of reconversion of our economy
with full employment our objective assuring
every person seeking a job the opportunity OF
earning his living through suitable work at rates
Of pay assuring an American standard of living
The American trade union movement has respOn-
cih for balpipo tO hat Ob
our free enterprise system, which rests upon the
right of contract and assures those personal rights
which constitute individual freedom
On the international front our nation has
now the responsibility of leadership in establish
ing standards and principles of international re-
as well as political. Our Secre-
tary of State is now serving on the Committee of
Foreign Ministers of the Big Five deciding the
terms of the European peace. Our former Secre-
tary of State is serving on the Executive Com
mittee of the Preparatory Commission OF the
United Nations. Fourteen nations are represented
on the Executive Committee which is now meet
ing in London to make provisional arrangements
for the first meeting of the General Assembly
of the United Nations
Our democracy has major concern that all
procedures and all decisions of the committees
for the peace as well as world nsttu-
tions shall be based on respect for the principle
of equal rights and self-determnation of peoples.
Labor of all countries is concerned that the vlctors
in the war shall not deal with the vanquished ma
tions as spos of war; but shall try to work out
Just terms and conditions necessary for lasting
peace 1t is obvious that Continental Europe is an
economic unit of which in the past Germany has
been the industrial hub. knowledge of both eco
nomic and political institutions should guide de-
csions for the future.
Democracy which we urge for all nations, is
more than a form of government. 1t grows out
Of of responsibility for collective as well
as individual ethics 1t utiizes cooperation between
and groups and is guided by under
standing and sympathy.
AS one of the military conquerors in Europe,
our Army shares in the military occupation of
Axis countries and i'm military governments i'm
posed on them. AS security is no longer involved,
reports Of military governments should be avail
able as public accounting on establishment OF
democratic principles and to indicate need for
transition to civilian government. Similarly, we
should be kept advised on developments in Japan
and other parts of Asia recovered from the Jap
aneSe.
We know thas democracy cannot be establish
ed overnight either In any one country or IN world
institutions, for it is way of life 1t is the reverse
of power policies which prevail in many countries
and which ever seek to invade even the demo-
cracies. The key is the restoration of free trade
unions.
Our American labor movement should be on
guard to maintain democracy both in our rea-
lions at home and IN our relations with other
countries. We should be most vigilant In main
,aning democracy within our own institutions as
an earnest of faithfulness to the ideal in other
Freedom of contract and self-determnation
are the keys to human freedom whether exercised
)y individuals, groups OF nations.
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