The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1949-04-28
lam Asks Affiliution Of
Unions Of Metulworkers

Washington IPA) - Ground
work was laid in the nations cap
ital this week for uniting Americas
big metal working unions with
those of other democratic lands
under the worldwide banner of the
International Metalworkers Fed
Grafton.
Plans along that line were map
ped at a meeting of the central
committee of that Federation, held
at headquarters of the Internation-
al Association of Machinists. The
lam was host for the delegation
and participated officially in the
conference, which was the first to
be held by the Federation in this
country during its 40 years of ex-
istence. LAM Vice President A. j.
Hayes played prominent role in
the meeting.
Delegates from the metal trades
unions of II western European ma
tions came for the meeting. Among
them were trade unionists who had
fought in the undergrounds against
the Nazis, and some who, at the
risk of their lives, led dramatic
sabotage attempts against Hitler
forces occupying their lands.
Following the Washington ses-
sions, the delegates embarked on
a three week tour of inspection
that will take them through the
major metal working and machine
plants of the nation. They are MAX
ing this tour at their own expense
to learn first hand how American
industry works.
Up to now, the lam, with its
650,O00 members in the United
States and Canada, has been the
only American affiliate, but efforts
are under way to bring in the AFL
Metal Trades unions and such or
ganizations as the United Auto
Workers and the United Steelwork-
ers of America.
eve are inviting all metalwork-
ers unions of the United States to
affiliate with our federation" de-
clared Conrad Ilg, veteran Swiss
trade unionist, who is general sec
retary of the organization.
One significant statement adopt
ed by the INF leaders declared
that they will cooperate with the
Intl Mineworkers Federation to
secure trade union participation in
the inter-governmental manage
ment of the Ruhr coal and steel
combines. The entire production of
the western European coal and iron
area should be planned information
ally, they asserted-coordinating
the activities of the heavy indus
tries of France, Benelux and Ger
many.
A big event of the week was a
banquet in Washington sponsored
by the lam for the delegates and
attended by leaders of the AFL,
as well as by Secretary of Labor
Maurice j. Tobin and other public
officials.
President Harvey w. Brown of
the Machinists, presiding at the
banquet, recalled that the lam
first joined the INF back in 1926,
but had to drop out during the de-
preston for financial reasons.
"Our reaffiliation after the war
r e lie C is our determination to /
the democratic way OF
life," Brown declared. "This meet
ing will be recorded as an out
standing event in the history of /
the lam. We have resolved here
and now that no sacrifice can be
too great to prevent what the high
priests of Moscow are attempting
TO put over"
President William Green well
coined the delegates on behalf of
the AFL and then declared that
"the preservation of freedom de-
pends on the establishment of
strong, free trade unions in every
country of the world"
"We will stand together in the
defense of democracy and in OPP
position to Communism" Green
asserted.
Seer y-Treasurer James
of the AFL Metal
Trades Department offered "frater-
nal support" to the INF and said
he hoped that "in the near future
we shall all be banded together in
your organization"
Secretary of Labor Tobin, guest
speaker at the banquet, urged that
in building a new non-communist
International labor organization,