The Potters Herald

Mobilize Labor In Crisis,
Green Asks Unions Ready, Willing To Cooperate, AFL Chief Says Freezing Wages, Prices, Profits.

The world situation calls for "all-out" preparedness," with mobilization of labor. AFL President William Green declared in an American Federationist editorial outlining labor's policies in the world crisis. The editorial was released in advance of publication because of its timeliness.

Decision of the United Nations on international policy "has cut through the fog of uncertainty and made our duty obvious," Green said. When President Truman took leadership in the Korean crisis, he "served notice that much as we value peace we value more the principles that underlie our way of life," the AFL head said.

"The uncertainty is ended, the choice is made, and we know what lies ahead," he continued. "We know that the leaders in the Kremlin and their agents and machinery represent the most reactionary despotism the world has ever known - men who deny the existence of God and disregard all moral principles, seize upon the power of advanced technology to serve their barbarian purposes to force free people to live in subjugation to peoples who have never known freedom."

U. S. Not Ready Militarily
Green said that the United States was not ready militarily for the duty ahead. While Russia pressed its armament program we "stopped war plans and preparedness with the peace and now find ourselves facing a situation with the implications of a third world war."

"To all-out strategy for world peace, we must add all-out preparedness for any eventuality." Green continued. "We cannot send our soldiers to the fighting front without training equipment and regular supplies. We must provide quick transportation which will increase mobility.

"Above all else we must put back of this supreme effort unity of purpose and the constructive cooperation of every group of citizens. For preparedness for front-line service and for the safety of our civilian population at home and at work, every able-bodied citizen must find his responsibility and make good. There will be no side-lines secure from bombing.

"There must be mobilization of labor. Our unions are ready and competent to cooperate in that responsibility as free citizens should."

Emphasizing the vital importance of giving the citizens the facts of present needs, the AFL chief said:

"We need the facts in order that we can best help our cause. We need to know the gravity of present need so that we can help to get action. If war is localized now we know it is only a question of time until the inevitable happens. Only adequate preparedness can safeguard us. As we move toward preparedness we urge our government to provide adequate means to get the truth to all nations and keep them constantly informed. All groups of citizens can help if given opportunity."

Should Make Stand Plain
In conclusion, Green declared:

"Above all we should make plain our preparedness is to protect freedom and provide opportunity for freedom for all peoples. We neither seek nor want more territory or responsibility for other people's government. But we do not want subject people to be deluded into thinking communism brings freedom when we know it results in complete slavery of the individual--body and soul. The flood of propaganda which has been released to misrepresent the action of the United Nations and to disguise the Kremlin as an advocate of world peace, shows how clearly the reactionaries controlling the communist empire realize the value of public opinion.

"As the President had no alternative but to stand by our commitment, so our principles of life preclude our yielding to aggression."