The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1950-02-23
Organize!

Of all our plans to honor the founder of the American
Federation of Labor that which probably closest to what
Samuel Gompers emphasized the authorized by
the last convention of the American Federation OF Labor
an organizing campaign to add 900 new members Such
an achievement would bring dynamic new growth lncreas
ing the effectiveness of organization MANIFOLD Follow
ing Samuel Gompers own formula we would agltate edu
cate and organize 100000 persons working for
wages We would persuade 100000 persons to accept
responsibility for promoting their own economic welfare
Wageearners do this best by Joining with fellow work
ers for mutual aid The first step in the OF life
to join the union of workers in similar occupations
In assuming the responsibilities of union membership
members obgate themselves to work with fellow workers.
to make injustice to the of all and to work to-
gether for common benefits onlon members learn at only
by caring for their neghbors interests as well as their own
they make sustained progress Union membership as
responsible individuals responsible for ones own
rights of others By exercising and maintaining these rights
the way is kept open for progress for ALL
The American Federation of Labor has been organized
sound basis that have continued to make
by applying our basic principles to new problems and amp
flying the application of principles to and de-
veopng situations The American Federation of Labor has
continued to and expand soundy To craft unions we
have added union opportunity for production workers. Fort
unatey for the technical advancement of
have made that progress without diminishing
for apprentice training to the craft sk necessary
We believe in making transitions necessary for tech
nica by conserving basic principles and adjusting
their application AS Gompers said progress in organizing
workers depends skill in organizing than work
ers' skill In production.
After workers Joined unions, his idea was that the
union should educate them that unity and unonsm in
action would follow from understanding that the opportunity
for exercising personal rights was separabe from the re-
sponsbty to that others likewise had opportunity to
exercise rights, and that every wageearner was morally
responsible to maintain his rights in order not to lessen the
opportunities of others.
Because the union promotes the basic welfare of work
the American Federation of Labor believes the union
should control direct efforts to promote workers welfare
in social and political fields in order that policies shall be
coordnated by the basic philosophy of unonsn. That pho
sophy out of recognition of the inherent dignity of
each individual which gives him the right to make decisions
about his life and to responsibility for his decisions
This philosophy has made trade unions powerful voice for
real democracy.
We hope that all our unions and all union members will
feel personal responsibility for contributing to the Comp
centenary by helping to realize the goa1000000
membersand thus add hands to the human chain
which unites A. +. of l.. members Let make this
slogan: Every Member Add One New Member.