The Butler County Press

New York State Labor Convention Approves Roosevelt-Churchill Plan of War Aims; New Magna Charta

War-Aim Program is Unanimously Endorsed at Final Session of Seventy-eighth Annual Convention--Also Pass Resolution Backing All-Out Aid to Allies.

Syracuse, N. Y. (ILNS).-The eight-point war aim program approved by President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill at their meeting in the Atlantic was unanimously endorsed by the New York State Federation of Labor at the final session of its seventy-eighth annual convention.

With only a few dissenting votes, the convention also passed a resolution backing all-out aid to Great Britain, China and Russia in the war against Germany. Some delegates opposed aid to Soviet Russia, but the convention looked upon such aid as a matter of military necessity.

To emphasize its support of the national defense program and of Britain, the convention ordered the following cable sent to Ernest Bevin, British Minister of Labor:

"A year ago delegates to the seventy-seventh annual convention of the New York State Federation of Labor sent you a message of greeting and fraternal solidarity in your heroic defense against the tyranny of nazism and fascism.

All-Out Aid Pledged

"This year we greet you as fellow-workers in the deathless struggle for the perpetuation of freedom and justice in the world.

"We pledge our whole-hearted co-operation to increase our production of all materials of war which are needed for that defense. We also pledge our support to you in helping to build a new world of democratic freedom for all men after the defeat of Hitlerism."

The resolution characterized the Roosevelt-Churchill declaration as a new Magna Charta for the world, expressed "whole-hearted" support of the eight points, and recommended to President Roosevelt that "the American labor movement be represented in any negotiation for the restoration of world peace in which the Government of the United States of America may participate and that there be included in the proposals to be submitted to any future peace conference a ninth objective for world recognition of the right of employes to organize and maintain free trade unions in all of the countries of the world for the purpose of collective bargaining."

Post-War Program Urged

The recommendation for labor participation in the future peace conference was in line with the proposal made by President Green of the American Federation of Labor.

Following its main themes of discussion, the defense of democracy and post-war reconstruction, the convention adopted a resolution calling for the immediate creation of federal and state agencies, with the participation of labor, to formulate plans for the nation's transition from the defense to a peace status.

The convention also adopted resolutions demanding prohibition of the use of armed forces in strikes, opposing any revision of the national and State Labor Relations Acts, and urging Governor Lehman to call a conference of state, employer and labor representatives to discuss ways and means of how best to co-operate in promoting the national defense program.

Racial Bias Condemned

The convention adopted a strong resolution condemning racial discrimination in private and defense employment and expressing support of President Roosevelt's recent declaration on this matter.

President Thomas J. Lyons and all other officers of the federation were re-elected for another term of one year.