Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1951-04-06
AT Convention
Friday, April s, 1851


ally or economically wage policy that denies
worker a six cents an hour increase when he is
getting SO cents hour and gives C. E.. Wilson
$4,000 increase when he doesn't need it, has some
thing radically wrong with his mentality.
We want stability in industries. We know our
responsibilities And say that stability in society
OF iree men must rest foundation of economic
and social justice You have all the slogans and
all the flag waving want, but until you get JUS
tlce Tor workers you not going to achieve sta
by, because workers going to fight for justice
say to you that we are prepared to cooperate in
the mobilization of all the power that America pos
sesses and determined to fight against Com
munlst tyranny and aggression with all strength
on the battefronts. But far as we are concerned
this it two front fight We will fight the Commes
the battle fronts and will fight the profiteers
the home front at the same time
Our record needs defense. We have demon
srated high of responsibility and we are pre-
pared to make contribution But we are not pre-
pared to stand idly by and watch the proteers take
the American people through the wringer in this
period of emergency.
In the light of the scandalous profits in the light
or the fact that there is attitude Of complete dis
regard of basic responsibility in Washington and
in the councils Of industry, / think it would be
tragic dangerous, and unrealistic-t would be
disservice to the effort-if organized labor in
this period of profiteerng and runaway prices
would even remotely think of giving strike
pledge say have got to keep the right to strike
as our only weapon to fight against injustice In
America.
Now, you watch. They are going to try to pit the
farmers and the workers against each other We have
to protect the farmers right fair price and at the
time protect position as consumers and wage
earners. We going to demand representation in
the agencies of government.
They say on strike in Washington. We
not on strike. How you go strike when you
have never been employed? We never got into the
defense agencies.
charged in the Labor Policy Committee rally
in Washington a week ago that Charles Wilson, the
head Of the Mobilization Agency. was III violation
OF the Hartley Act. The Taft Hartley Act says
that it is Illegal to have closed shop Well, they
have got closed shop Of business representatives
heading the operations down there.
We are not trying to plug up and patch up a
couple of little grievances The war mobilization
effort is put together with old shoe strings, with
rusty baling WIRE and used chewing gum.
What need down there is not couple of
grievances settled. We need whole basic
tract to work under in Washington. And far
are concerned, that's what going after
We have to do job the political front. We
have brothers who make lot of noise in front of
the local unions when prices 60 up. When they
wrapped the Taft-Hartley Act around neck,
when they threatened time, they cried,
"Why doesn't the Union do something about these
things?' And yet those same guys were sitting
their hands on election day and they didn't go out
and vote.
We have to fight economically and politically to
programs. The worst political opponent Ameri-
can workers have is their own political negligence and
their own lack of political consciousness.
We have got to organize the unorganized, and we
have to unionize the organized, they know what
this is all about
We have the price control problem; we have rent
control; have to win decent tax program, hous-
ing, social security, national health bill. We need
civil rights and FEPC and yes, have to repeal the
Taft Hartley Act All these things require political
action. We need political action back home That is
where it counts.
1 believe that should take advantage of the
tremendous labor unity getting in the United
> Labor Policy Committee know that it makes your
hearts feel good to United Labor movement
getting together have said for long time that the
only thing that block labor unity few swivel
chairs, and should brush aside those swivel
hair we ear unt he a hOr V1OV nnoQnf in
powerful union. That is what need.
We making beginning in this practical day
10 1o1,c fhoh of