Montana labor news., 1951-01-04
Forward, America!
Aim for 1851
By WILLIAM GREEN

President American Federation OF Labor
Labor is determined to &c forward with America IN l95l-l
=, peace if possible; in war. II 1t is unavoidable.
The plans of the trade union movement. like those OF every
American family. are contingent upon developments in the tense
International situation
Never before has our country been less isolated from the
rest of the world. Never before have our people been more
aleit % the seriousness Of the threat against America from Sow
let aggression.
In the emergency that oonfronts us. the achievement OF
effective national unity is of the FIRST Importance.
Labor is willing to take the inst step in that direction. We
invite American business and management TO JON with us IN
working out a mutually satisfactory program in cooperation
With The government hat will assure economic stability luring
tie defense program. We should not wait tor a III out wal
10 take suoh action.
Soviet aggression constitutes a challenge to GU free way
Of HE. We can overcome that challenge if we stand together,
a. Americans have done in past emergencies.
NJ a time when every American family is beng called
ulon to give its sons to the nation for military service, IT IS Ger
tainjv not asking too much to suggest that leaders of business,
a riculure and labor volunteer to work together in harmony tor
he Strengthening of our home front.
We all have a supreme stake in freedom. We all have
a conmo cause IN the survival OF America We III aohoi
communism.
am confident that with real teamwork America can vastly
expand its defense production and at the same time protect n
national economy from initiation We vitality need wise do
nestle policies to enable our country to fulfill It's heavy inter
national responsibilities without undermining our standard OF
living or dangerously sappine the nation s economic strength
In fact. with maximum production and full employment we
should be able to maintain the prosperity OF our nation despite
the critical world situation.
MANAGEMENT cooperation in the critical days ahead is to repeal
the Taft-Hartley Act and to substitute a new labor relations
law that will be tar to management ana LABOR anke. Wnhe pro
tecing the public interest.
The defenders of the Taft Hartley Act claim it has not
hort labor nor destroyed labor unions. They overlook the
.acs that the nation has enjoyed high employment and general
liosperiy in the last three years They ignore the tact that
the Taft-Hartley Act has brought organization of unorganized
workers to a practical standstil since its enactment. They are
oblvious to the fact that millions of unorganized American
workers are still exploited and subject to unjust conditions.
The American Federation of Labor is convinced that in
the DAYS ahead when American workers may be required to ac
cept wage sterilization, anil other emergency controls restrict
ing their freedom repeal of the Taft-Haruey Act would serve te
tighten their burden and encourage them to make necessar.
n criGces willingly. We vii ,ae4e.olo continue to press los 1t
repeal by Congress in 1851. Other legislative detectives vii
depend upon whether we have wal or peace.
am confident that the maintenance OF a strong and unitee
loreign policy by America coupled with a powerful rearma
ment program to forify ourselves and our allies, can proven
a third world war or. at least, delay it indefinitely.
We must convince Soviet Russia that America has thu
will 10 fight and the strength to fight in defense OF freedom ane
International Justice. We must make the Soviet leaders under
stand once and for all that America is willing to live and let lv'
n peacetime, but once war is forced upon us, we will accept onI
unconditional surrender.
American wage earners face the future and its Response
bait.cs & riously but with confidence. We want peace and tn
opportunity that peace affords for new progress. But II we ar
compelled by circumstances beyond our control to wage anothe
Syar. ve are determined to let nothing stand in the way OF victor
victory that will mean not only a better America, but a bet
er and more peaceful world If our time.