The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1947-11-20

THE FEDERATION PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
MORE than 700 delegates gathered in San Francisco to
participate in the slxtysxth convention OF the Amer %
considered the developments of the past and made
plans for the future Meeting during world crisis IN which
the fate of democracy at ISSUE the convention made
clear that the underlying OF labor movement is
human freedom.
The year has brought to labor the type of regulatory
Legislation which nterferes with sefgovenment and
vdes punitive devices that antunon employers and their
agents harass unions their work of promoting
labors welfare In addition the TaHarey Act deprives
unions of those procedures by which union discipline is
enforced.
land grim determination to get rid of these beginnings OF
fascism which always attacks unions first Repeal OF this
law essential to maintain form OF government and So
cey at home in order that our can help other
nations to regain democracy.
To this end the sixty sixth convention adopted changes
in the constitution of the American Federation of Labor
to increase the of the Federation and to enable
to better affiliated unions The responsibilities of the
Federation have grown with the increasing number OF ma
tona problems and undertakings which affect abors well
posa should be considered To provide labor with represen
taon the formulation of public policies well in the
overwhelming activities of the Federation requires current
and broader information to service representatives
To meet political needs, the convention directed the
establishment of Labors Educational and Political League to
raise funds IN order to acquat all voters with the economic
and political policies of the Federation and to inform the
regard the records of those seeking nomination
and election by the citizens OF this country.
Organized labor enters this campaign to get rid of
aons required of other group of citizens and to restore
segovernment trade unions, basic right which demo-
cracy to all voluntary organizations.
The right Of voluntary association lies at the heart of
freedom We seek rights citizens of democracy and
shall appeal to the sense of fairness of all voters The Am
erican Federation of Labor is American institution
Involved in demand for repeal of the Taftartey
Act is issue which increases in Importance gov
ernment wider functions Are administrative Off
similar circumstances? Congress has declared that fed
era equity court shall issue Injunction labor dispute
The purpose Of this law was to outlaw practice under which
rights guaranteed by our Constitution and legally assured
all other citizens.
rrof+ Act
appontees-to nunctons thus bridging the separa
ton of the judiciary from the executive branch of the
ernment This separation was the guarantee of judicial
freedom The consequences of political decisions of judges
have already All of these grievances with warnings
the voters in the coming elections We not asking
emption-Ony guarantee OF equal justice.
The convention deeply concerned with the problems
labor of other countries and with the foreign
policies of the United States Men representing the Amer
Federation of Labor in Europe and serving in mill
ary in occupied countries reported to the
vention The usual fratema delegates representative of
the Social Democrats of Germany and officials of the Inter
national Transport Federation presented in formation that
served to round out the world picture submitted to the dele
gates
These reports world needs supplemented to recon-
menatons of the Executive Council that efforts to aid
free trade unions other lands must be sustained and
broadened during the year.
The trade unions of occupied European countries hold
the fate of Western European civilization in their hands
Such unions have reorganzed share the desttuton of
their countries They without paper ypewrters, mime
ograph machines and other office necessities Their
bers need clothing The San Francisco convention
directed that the relief program of the American Federation
of Labor should be continued and widened.
The convention urged that adherence to the principles
Incorporated in the preamble to the charter of the United
Nations should give direction and purpose to national
foreign policy We believe aggression of kind should not
be tolerated-that small well large nations should
themselves determine their governments All nations
have the right to security freedom and opportunity for
prosperity.
We pledged support to the Marshall Plan to restore the
of Europe in the senterest of every American
worker The convention authorized participation the Lima
conference arranged by free trade unonis of Latin Amer
countries to organize labor in the Americas for patc
patton in the formulation of policies affecting the economic
and political welfare of workers throughout the Western
Hemisphere.
The convention approved the recommendations of the
Executive Council to amend the charter of the United Ma
tons to eliminate the veto which has enabled group
OF countries to block its fuconing its organization
to perform functions specified in it's charter Majority rule is
necessary to effectuate the principle of equality of the
eregn nations constituting the United Nations.
In order to make representatives in the General AS
sembly and the Economic and Social Council and its sub
ordinate agencies responsible to citizens of their countries
the Federation renewed its proposal that the major function
al groups of all countriesabor industry agricuure-be
given either direct representation official status their