Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1950-09-01
Page Twelve
Labor Day Statement
By WALTER p. REuTHEr
uAW-CIo President

the world with the horrors of war. At the half way mark OF the
2oth Century. at a time when science and technology have lifted
mankind to a new height of material achievement, we have not
yet learned to turn our wealth and our skiIs to the creation of a
peaceful world founded on moral and human values.
Mankind has failed to match progress in the physical scien-
ces with progress in the human and social sciences. The failure to
achieve this balance has meant that new scientific discoveries
have resulted In brutality increasing mans inhumaniy to man.
Full responsibility for aggression in Korea and the threat of
war in the world rests upon the shoulders of the communist mas
ters in the Kremlin. They and their agents throughout the world
are carrying out a planned program of aggression aimed at world
conquest and domination. In their drive for world conquest, the
communists have perfected the technique of combining the slo-
gans of peace in their propaganda campaign with the weapons
of war in their campaign of aggression.
To defend freedom and defeat the communist program of
world domination, we must carry on not only defensive action on
the military front, but offensive action on the peace front
We must make every effort to create and make fullest use
for about production of the weapons to meet the threat of war.
We must remember that the fight today is essentially a fight for
mems minds, their hearts, and their Royalties.
With devastating effect, the communists have forged hunger
and human poverty into powerful weapons of aggression. Their
fective only where poverty and human desperation prevail. We
can effectively counterfeit communist propaganda only if we
wage a total peace offensive - a total war against poverty, hui
man insecurity, and injustice, which are the sources of commun-
list power. We shall win hundreds of millions of people to the
cause of freedom when we get food into hundreds of millions of
empty bellies and hope into hundreds of millions of heavy hearts.
Our propaganda must be the propaganda of the deed. Actual
democratic performance will expose the falseness of communist
propaganda. Expanded economic aid to help millions of under
privileged people to help themselves is an indispensable part of
our total fight against world communism. The propaganda of
tangible economic achievement, not pious slogans about Demo
cracy's virtues, will win allies we need in case of war and the
partners we need in peace. America has the potential strength to
meet both the threat of war and the challenge of peace.
On this Labor Day, 1850, American labor reaffirms its be-
lief in basic human and democratic values and reasserts the con-
viction that the universal enjoyment of economic and social JUS
the by people everywhere is freedoms strongest bulwark against
world communism.
/. American labor fully support the action of President
Truman and the decision of the United Nations to resist com
munist aggression in Korea. Free labor outproduced slave labor
in the fight against Nazi aggression. Free labor will outproduce
slave labor in the fight against communist aggression.
2. American labor pledges Its skill, strength and loyalty in
achieving full mobilization to meet both the threat of war and
the challenge of peace.
8 We shall do everything in our power to help in the fight
same time, we serve notice that we shall fight with equal deter
mination against profiteering on the home front.
ever sacrifices may be necessary to meet our nations security re-
quirements. We shall insist, however, that labor's basic rights and
standards be protected, and that industry make sacrifices COM
parable to those of labor.
We insist that free people cannot be fully modified, nor can
we build and maintain high national morale, if millions Of work
es and little people are asked to tighten their belts while big
5. American labor, while pledging its fullest cooperation
and support in the job of mobilization, rightfuny insists that la
Dor be given effective representation in the agencies of govern
ment charged with the job of mobilization. Labor participation on
an equal basis with industry is necessary in order to afford labor
an opportunity to make its full contribution to the mobilization
effort.
8. American labor must intensity it's organizational and
educational activities in the political field so that the maximum
citizenship responsibilities by registering and voting for candi-
dates who are committed to q program that puts human rights
above property rights.
Z. American labor must redoube It's efforts to strengthen
the bond of International labor solidarity by building the forces
of free labor throughout the world into an effectively coordinat-
ed and funcuoning free labor federation. Such a free labor move
ment must carry out on a practical dayto-day basis a militant
program to win economic, social and political justice for people
everywhere, and 1t must carry on an about fight against the
forces of communism at the grass roots level. e IL at this level that
labor can make its greatest contribution to the fight against COM
munism.
1t is not a historic accident that communism is weak and in
effectual in those countries where there are strong, free and de-
mocratic labor unions, and where a majority of the people enjoy
a measure of economic and social justice.
8 The compelling responsibilities faced by American labor
require the achievement Of labor unity at the earliest possible
date. Labor unity is possible only II 1t rests upon an honorable
basis that recognizes the organizational requirements of indus
tries and crafts and which accepts policies that reflect the broad
aspects and needs OF a modern labor movement In both the eco
nomic and political fields.
1t is no accident that the political forces In America which
have opposed eevery measure OF social and human progress and
which have advanced oppressive labor legislation are composed
OF the same people who sat snugly in their isolationist shells and
advocated a program of too little and too late both before and
after Pearl Harbor.
Today when America once again faces the threat of totali- II
tartan aggression, these same men of little faith block the road to
full economic mobilization. In November, the American people
have the opportunity of replacing these men of little faith with II
men who will inspire confidence and who will give our country
the leadership and direction it must have TO bring us through the
present crisis. II
Workers and farmers - professional and small businessmen
- housewives and retired people - all Americans of faith and
good VIII - have 1t In their power to interrupt - and perhaps
end forever - the series of economic crises and recurring wars
which have cursed every generation of Americans.
We in the UAW-CIO are confident that the people Of Amer
lea have the faith, the courage and the vision to emerge victorious
from our present crisis and to move forward with the people of
the world to an era of universal peace, plenty, and brotherhood.