The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1946-08-09

SlCVCIdIO, O.-<A4JCI OCllVCl ulS q
blistering indictment against the rec
ord of the 10th Congress, AFL Presi-
dent William Green warned that the
American Federation of Labor will in
tensify it's political efforts this Fall
to defeat labor's enemies in Congress
and elect it's friends.
In an address before the Ohio State
Federation of Labor Convention here,
Mr.. Green called upon local and State
branches to cooperate in the campaign
by getting voters to register and go
to the polls"
"One thing is certain" he said.
"The AFL will not depart from it's
non-partisan political policy. The rec
ord made by Congress demonstrates
the wisdom of this course, for we
found friends in both the Democratic
and Republican camps and enemies in
both, as well. We cannot judge candi-
dates by their political labels. 1t is
how they voted when the major tests
came that must be our standard for
endorsement or rejection.
"The ultimate responsibility for the
kind of Congress which passes the
laws for our country does not rest
upon the members of Congress them
selves but with the people of this
country who elect them. 1t is, there
fore, up to us to make democracy
work by electing honest and liberal
representatives.
"For our own welfare and the well
fare of the nation, the American Fed
Grafton of Labor calls upon every one
Of it's seven million members and their
families and friends to go to the polls
on Election Day and vote for candi-
dates with good records SO that the
80th Congress will be a big improve
ment over the 18TH"
In his attack on the outgoing Con-
gress, Mr.. Green said:
81 charge here-and / will prove it
by the record-that the present Con-
gress has failed to respond to the
needs of the American people.
81 charge that reactionary forces in
Congress have deliberately defied the
will of the American people and ig-
nored their welfare.
81 charge that members Of Congress
have succumbed to high-pressure lob
bies and surrendered to special in
terests.
II charge that this Congress has
flatly failed to make democracy
work."
Citing the shameful record" to
support his charges, Mr.. Green first
took up OPA legislation. He said:
"On this issue Of price control
which is vital to every American fam
lily, Congress disgraced itself. Log
rolling went on in the Senate openly
and shamelessly. That means, one
Senator from cattle-raising State
would 20 to Senator from an oil
producing State and say: "I1l vote tc
end price controls on gasoline. il
you will vote to end controls on
meat" That sort of trading at the
expense Of the American people is a
nefarious practice. 1t is not in the
American tradition. Its purpose is to
victimize the great majority of the
American people for the enrichment
of a few.
"The record of Congress on other
important legislation which received
less public attention than OPA, is
even worse.
"When the war ended, the President
called for legislation to supplement
inadequate unemployment insurance
benefits provided for by the several
States. This has not been enacted
The President asked amendments te
the Social Security Act to broaden the
coverage and increase the benefits
This was not done. The President
called for the retention Of the U. S
Employment Service in the fedora
government, at least, during the tran.
sition. This was refused. The Presi
dent urged the adoption of compre
hensive health and medical care pro
gram. Congress failed to enact sucl
a program. The President requested
amendments for the Fair Labor Stan
dards Act to increase substantially
the level of minimum wages. This