The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1950-02-23
Comment On
World Events

Operation, structure and spirit
of American trade unionism "bear
witness" to the possibility of esta-
blishing a trade union movement
independent from political currents,
three Italian labor leaders pointed
out after a visit to the United
States.
The three, who studied trade
union methods and practices in this
country, are Giulio Pastore, secre-
tary of the Free General Confeder-
alton of Italian Workers (LCGIL),
Giovanni Canini, leader of Social
ist- Democratic Trade Unionists, at
that time vice-secretary of the Ital-
ian General Confederation of Labor
and now general secretary Of the
Italian Federation of Workers
(FIL) and DR.. Appio Claudio Roc
chi, secretary of the Trade Union
Current of the Italian Republic
Party, and now vice-secretary of
FIJI.
'It should be added" the dele
cation continued, that in our opin-
ion, the non-political character of
American trade unionism, far from
being a product of external circum-
stances or legislative imposition, is
outgrowth of the spiritual right
,ooee &C +bo ~ o..;oo,, xrorlyar u,h
looks upon the trade union as an
instrument of moral and material
uplifting"
The group directed attention to
the importance attached to the
testimony of American labor lead
ers by the Congress. They declared
that it sis a proof that when the
trade unions fulfill those require
ments of specialization and earnest
ness, they obtain recognition by
public opinion and government"
"Yet, 1--WE believe" the report
continued, "that the most import
ant results of an independent trade
unionism lie in the increased civic
and social consciousness of the
workers, which breeds national and
international o j d arity. 1t is
worthy of note that all workers
whom we interviewed stated their
readiness to shoulder the sacrifices
entailed by the Marshall Plan. In
fact, this magnificent experiment
of international collaboration is
viewed by the American wage earn
er as a necessary effort to win the
battle waged against destitution in
Europe ultimately and to raise the
standard of living of European
workers"
The report concludes that the
United States are in the forefront
of social progress and that "the
standard of living of American
workers is undoubtedly the highest
in the world, both morally and ma
terially."
"This conviction" said the Ital-
ian labor leaders, sis born of in
formation and details obtained from
American workers, that is to say,
from the American people"
\ i !.
Little Bulgaria's brazen demand
that the United States recall its
minister from Sophia is so obvious
ly move by Moscow that it is not
even funny. 1t may take a little.
time, but it may safely be antici-
pated that the other Soviet satel-
Iites will soon be asking Washing
ton to recall our ministers from
their capitals as personae non
grata, figuring, of course, that this
will lead to rupture of
relations.
The Kremlin obviously is inter
ested in removing as many West
ern listening posts from Eastern
Europe and the Balkans as pos
sible. Bigger and better anti-Titoist
purges are in the offing in the
satellite lands, and Moscow isn't
interested in having
,hese noose-and- bullet trials over
Dublicized. Also, the sudden rein
statement of the death penalty in
Sovietia proper for treason to the
abolished amid much
fanfare a few years ago, would
seem to indicate that Moscow is