The Potters Herald, 1938-08-25

Samuel Gompers, speaking in the 1919 convention of the American Fed Federation - eration Federation of Labor, emphasized that La Labor - bor Labor Day was the creation of organized labor and not of politicians. Opposing a resolution to change Labor Day from the first Monday in September to May 1, he said: "Labor Day was established in this country, not by a political party, not by politicians, but by organized trade unionists. It is the only Labor Day celebrated anywhere in the world that had its origin and has been main maintained - tained maintained by trade unionists. "I hope there is no intention on the part of those who favor the resolution to couple up trade unionism with May 1 in Europe, which, while it has al always - ways always been celebrated by workers in most European countries, has always taken on a more political character than an industrial character. "Labor Day is the only holiday cel celebrated - ebrated celebrated by labor anywhere in the world that was established by organ organized - ized organized labor working through the trade union movement. The American La Labor - bor Labor Day was inaugurated by a parade in New York City of the men of labor, before any law was put on the statute books of the United States or any of the states affecting Labor Day. "The man on whose brain that thought for Labor Day was generated was one of those who helped to found the American Federation of Labor, the founder and organizer of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Join Joiners, - ers, Joiners, a member of the Executive Coun Council - cil Council of the A. F. of L., the late P. J. McGuire. "Later the American labor move move(Continued - (Continued move(Continued on Page Two)

Washington, D. C.—The Executive Council of the American Federation of Labor issued a notification that the Fifty-eighth Annual Convention of the Federation will convene in the Ex Exposition - position Exposition and Convention Hall, Hous Houston, - ton, Houston, Texas, at 10:00 o'clock, Monday morning, October 3, 1938, and continue in session from day to day until the business of the convention shall have been completed. "In many respects the Fifty-eighth Annual Convention of the American Federation of Labor which will con convene - vene convene at Houston Texas, on October 3rd yjll be the most important ever held," the Executive Council said. "A re-examination of the basis upon which our great movement is founded will be made and an analysis of the political and economic philosophy which our great movement espoused and proclaimed will take place. "We will determine from the ex experience - perience experience through which we have pass passed - ed passed during the past year how inde indestructible - structible indestructible and sound is the basis upon which our organization and super superstructure - structure superstructure rests. (Continued on Page Two)

For the convenience of those who want such a statement, the Board has provided, at all of its field offices, postcards with the request for inform information - ation information printed on the card. All the worker needs to do is to write in his name, address, account number, and date of birth for identification pur purposes, - poses, purposes, then sign the card. He can mail the card either in a sealed envelope addressed to the Social Security Board, Chandler Building, Baltimore, Mary Maryland, - land, Maryland, where the records are kept, or he can put a 1-cent stamp on the card itself and drop it in the mail box. "The worker can make the request by letter if he does not have one of the postcards," said John J. Corson, Director of the Board's Bureau of Old OldAge - Age OldAge Insurance, "but he should be sure to give the information required to identify him. Letters, however, cannot be handled as rapidly as the cards, which can be had for the asking at any of the 318 field offices of the Board. Union officers may obtain them for the use of their members if they wish."

Board's Power Questioned "The American Federation of La Labor," - bor," Labor," the statement said, "is greatly disturbed over the extraordinary pow powers - ers powers assumed by the Board in constitu constituting - ting constituting a large geographical area, beyond the boundaries of one State and em embracing - bracing embracing thousands of workers of nu numerous - merous numerous employers and affiliated with different unions, as a single unit for the purpose of collective bargaining. "The American Federation of Labor takes the position that this is an un unwarranted - warranted unwarranted assumption of power, con contrary - trary contrary to the National Labor Relations Actr which WOftld in many instances deny to A. F. of L. employes who are in the majority in a specified local union, the right to select A. F. of L. unions as their bargaining agent. "The decree of the Board has the effect in this case of disestablishing A. F. of L. unions by denying their members the right to bargain through their unions, although in a majority."

Organized labor has resolved to fol follow - low follow through in the matter of further furthering - ing furthering the objectives sought in the "BUY AMERICAN UNION' LABEL PROD PRODUCTS" - UCTS" PRODUCTS" campaign. Much activity has been maintained throughout the nation in this program. America's Wage Earners Protective Conference, labor's tariff organization, within the Ameri American - can American Federation of Labor made plans for a national "BUY AMERICAN MONTH" for the month of Septem September - ber September in their recent Tenth Anniversary meeting, held at the Pennsylvania Ho Hotel, - tel, Hotel, New York City. Necessarily the Executive Council of the American Federation of Labor was asked to ap approve - prove approve this movement, which they have done whole-heartedly and the month of September becomes the proper time when the business of all members of organized labor should be to stimulate the purchasing of "AMERICAN UNION LABEL" products, which will result in increased employment to its members.

Padway Outlines Legal Situation The A. F. of L. statement included the following explanation by Mr. Pad Padway - way Padway of the appeal filed by him, out outlining - lining outlining the legal situation: "If the precedent established by the Board in this case is to remain the Board may deal similarly with the steel industry, the automobile industry, the lumber industry, the clothing in industry, - dustry, industry, the metal trades industry. Groups of employers and employes in a large geographical area will be des designated - ignated designated as a single unit, thus denying the right of self-organization and free choice of representatives by majorities in single plants and separate units. "It is no justification for the Board to impose such a unit upon employes and employers on the basis that the employers and employes involved have bargained along similar lines in the past. "The situation is quite different when employers and employes and (Continued on Page Two)

With regard to the secessionists in the Committee for Industrial Organ Organization, - ization, Organization, recent events in the political field where endorsement by the C. I. 0. of candidates in the primaries has been the "kiss of death" and endorse endorsement - ment endorsement by the American Federation of Labor has brought victory are definite indication of the suspicion with which the public regards the political activi activities - ties activities of John L. Lewis and his satel satellites. - lites. satellites. In the organization field, the dissension that is taking place in the C. I. O. ranks compared with the unity that animates the unions in the Amer American - ican American Federation of Labor is an added proof that the position of the A. F. of L. in its controversy with the C. 1. O. is solidly based on reason and justice.

The American Federation of Labor Executive Council's interest in this movement was decisively set forth as shown in the following action: "The Executive Council of the American Federation of Labor, May, 1938, unanimously voted that, it ex expresses - presses expresses its opposition to reciprocal trade treaties which discriminate against American workers. We are opposed to reciprocal trade treaties provisions which provide for importa importation - tion importation of goods and merchandise which, because of k»w labor costs abroad sold at lower prices than the same goods and merchandise produced bjr 4 workers in the United States where wages and conditions of labor are es established - tablished established on a higher standard than those which prevail abroad."