The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1945-02-16
AFL Launches Last Ditch
Campaign To Defeat
Forced Labor Proposals

EOICCU LdUUI I IOpOSd1S
Washington, d. C.-The American
Federation of Labor threw its entire
weight and influence into the fight to
forestall Congress from adopting COM
pulsory manpower legislation.
Legislative representatives in Wash
ington from many affiliated unions,
working in close cooperation with
Chairman William C. flushing of the
AFL Legislative Committee, were
keeping in constant contact with
friends Of labor in the Housing of Rep
resentatives where the preliminary
battle on "work or fight legislation
is being fought.
At the same time, AFL President
William Green appealed to all men,
bers of the House to defeat the May
bill providing for labor draft of all
men from 18 to 45. In an official let
ter he suggested to the Congressman
that voluntary methods of manpower
mobilization be retained and that au-
thority be given to the War Manpower
Commission to seek more effective
utilization of labor in war industries.
Rep. Barrett Of Wyoming introduc-
ed a bill as substitute to the May
bill which would put into effect the
substance Of Mr.. Green's recommended
tions.
While anti-labor groups sought to
make it appear that only organized
labor was opposing the May bill, busi-
ness organizations and farm groups
were putting on an active campaign
against it along with the trade union
movement.
Anti-labor forces attempted to
strike below-the belt blow by amend
ing the May bill to provide that a
worker assigned under the labor draft
to take job in plant operating un-
der a closed shop contract would not
have to join the union. Reactionary
Southern Congressman who loudly ac-
claimed this move were fearful, how
ever, of a conference.-the which
would prohibit discrimination because
of race or color in the administration
of the labor draft.
In his letter to Congress, Mr.. Green
called the May bill ''highly objection
able" He added:
"The manpower problem can be
dealt with in a constructive way and
solved-not through resort to COM
pulsion and force but instead,
through the better utilization of avail
able manpower. There is no short
age of manpower. 1t is question OF
the proper utilization of available
manpower. Labor stands willing and
ready to cooperate wholeheartedly and
completely in every way through con-
structive planning designed to bring
about full and complete utilization
of available manpower. American
workers have shown since Pearl Har-
Dor that free, voluntary labor can out
produce forced labor.
eff Congress believes that in view
of the critical nature of the present
war, it is necessary to make COM
prehensive investigation and reap
praisal of manpower in the United
States, it should utilize civilian agen-
cies such as the War Manpower Com
mission. The duties of Selective
Service boards should be confined to
the induction of draftees into the
armed forces and the civilian agencies
set up should be obligated to deal
with the utilization of available man.
power. The civilian agencies which
have been and are functioning so well
could deal with the problem Of labor
boarding and labor assignments to
war material production plants. They
could also deal effectively with criti-
cal areas where for various reasons
local war manpower shortages exist.
81 respectfully urge that Congress
follow this wise and constructive
course in the consideration and enact
ment of legislation relating to war
manpower and war manpower prob
lems."