The Potters Herald

Thursday, October 19, 1939
The Cherry Tree
Where We Hatchet Out
The Truth
CONSTRUCTIVE
ACHIEVEMENT
HISTORY OF A. F. OF L.
WAR IMPORTANT ISSUE
DICTATORS OPPOSED
Fifty-ninth annual convention of the
American Federation of Labor is now
history.
As usual. a record of constructive
achievement was made.
The convention spoke on matters
of vital importance.
Every decision was made after full
discussion and consideration.
No dictums were handed down from
on high and ratified by "rubber stamp"
delegates.
Questions were brought out in the
open, examined from all angles and
all views given an airing.
Then the convention spoke, exemplifying democracy and democratic
procedure in its best aspects.
Perhaps most important of all subjects before the delegates--important
to every man, woman and child in the
United States--was the matter of
keeping this nation out of the European war.
Reiteration of labor's determined
stand against war was of course to be
expected.
The convention made its declaration
in the plainest kind of language.
"The only way by which we can
avoid being drawn into the present
European war is to definitely determine that we will not, that under no
circumstances will we enter into any
national policy which would include
the use of armed force, except should
our shores be attacked." the convention said.
In that it spoke for the vast body
of citizens of the United States.
The convention, however, did not
shut its eyes to the principles involved in the European conflict.
It declared that the A. F. of L. recognized that "continuance and expansion of parliamentary government
in Europe is involved in the present
war."
It made known its unswerving opposition to all forms of dictatorship
and its firm championship of democracy.
But the convention saw clearly that
by keeping out of war and by holding
itself in readiness to aid peace efforts, the United States would be
serving the cause of civilization.
"There may come a time," it said,
"when the warring countries would
welcome some great neutral nation
taking the lead in mediatorial efforts."
Unpleasant subjects were not dodged
at Cincinnati.
Labor's disappointment with the
working out of certain New Deal legislation, its suspicion of certain tendencies in government, however well
meaning, was voiced before the convention.
Seeming public hostility to organized labor, as indicated by recent legislative attempts to restrict the rights
of unions, was discussed.
The forthright Daniel J. Tobin expressed the fear that the tide of public opinion had begun to turn against
the labor movement. And he didn't
spare union officials.
"If we as labor leaders cannot see
the handwriting on the wall we are
not the kind of leaders the workers
who depend upon us need." he said.
Mr. Tobin touched on a situation
which every thoughtful union member
knows is of deep concern to the labor
movement.
The convention drove home the
truth that in organization lies the salvation of the workers. It emphasized
the message that the hope of the producing classes, both city and country,
is in economic organization, now as in
the past and future.
To this end it urged a union-forward
campaign and said:
"It is of the utmost importance to
labor that the coming year should be
one of activity in organizing workers
and in educating them in the principles of trade unionism that they may
be able to protect themselves and advance their interests socially, politically and economically."