Montana labor news., 1949-02-03
GREEN URGES UNIONS
TO AFFILIATE WITH
STATE, CITY GROUPS
BY William Green
President, A. F. of l..

The valuable service rendered by the
officers and members Of state icdcr-
atoms Of labor and city central bodies
during the 1913 political campaign was
reflected in the political victory which
labor won at the polls a. the November
2nd election.
These splendid organizations car
ried on an educational campaign which
made clear to all members Of the AFL
and their friends that the workers must,
as sovereign citizens. register and vote
at the November 2nd election. They
succeeded i'll their efforts. a large per-
centapc OF labor and labor's friends
turned out at the election and voted.
They defeated many candidates for
reelection to Congress. who voted for
the Taft-Hartley bill, and elected a
large number who pledged their sup
port to the repeal OF the Taft-lIartley
Act. The political complexion OF Con-
gress was changed. The voters OF the
nation voted in favor of the repeal OF
the ~Tait-Hartlcy Ar, That was made
possible because the repeal OF the Taft
Hartley Act was an issue in the cam
paign.
Surely such a demonstration OF sol
idarity, OF service, and Of the value
Of education, makes il clear that state
declarations Of labor and city central
bodies should be made strong, influ-
entail and effective. 1t therefore be-
hoovcs all representatives OF American
Federation OF Labor organizations tc
serve i'll every possible way in an e.
tort to bring about the utilization OF
every local union chartered by an i'll.
tcrnational organization with state led.
c~ratiors OF labor and city central
bodies in which they are eligible iol
membership.
Ii all eligible local unions are al.
iiliatcd with state declarations OF labor
and city central bodies. the voice 0
labor as spoken through these agencic.
Ndl Ut iidNN Ni4 0tlS(l anu llltlC lllllu
entail than ever.
The last election emphasized tn,
fact that labor has the votes in in
dustrial enters and industrial cities
necessary TO win elections, providin,
the votes OF labor can be placed in tn
ballot box when elections are held. |
is state declarations OF labor and cit
central bodies that we must rely upo
TO get out the votes Of labor and labor
friends in industrial sections.
Let us make these agencies stron
and influential, effective, aggrcssiv
and highly educational SO that they ca
serve labor in an even more %effectiy
way in the future than they have in Il
past.
The decision OF the Supreme Cou
! upon the constitutionality OF anti-labc
i laws. which was rendered recent
makes it clear that state federation
OF labor and city central bodies mu
redouble their efforts in order to pr
y vent the enactment OF additional ant
repeal OF the little Tait-Hartley Law
already on the statute books OF a nur
Der OF states.
This objective can be reached if sta
n declarations OF labor and city centr
! bodies are made strong this Strene
/ can be developed through the Affiliate,
l. of every local union which is eligif
6 to membership in state declarations
labor and city central bodies. No go
|, reason can be offered for the refusal
a local union eligible to membership
lie affiliate with a state federation OF lab
ID or a central body. On the other hal
the economic and legislative welfs
Sc OF the workers themselves can be sery
lie in no better way than through affil'
ton OF local unions with state fed,
~ations OF labor and city cent
bodies.