The Potters Herald, 1938-10-27

that unemployment would have reach reached - ed reached were is not for this average re reduction - duction reduction of labor hours during the ^t 10 years. In this regard we approv approvingly - ingly approvingly quote from the report of the Ex Executive - ecutive Executive Council as follows: 'To those who argue that a work workweek - week workweek below forty-four hours would curtail production we would cite rec records - ords records of the United States Department of Labor which show that in manu manufacturing - facturing manufacturing industries the hours actually actuallyworked - worked actuallyworked per week when part time is included have averaged thirty-nine or less in each year since 1931.' "Your committee in concluding this report desires to again emphasize the continued increase on a steadily as ascending - cending ascending scale of production per unit of worker through new means and methods of multiplied machine refine refinements. - ments. refinements. "This constant expansion of produc productive - tive productive efficiency is the big fact of our time. It confronts us wherever we turn. "To master the machine and ma&e it serve the public welfare is now the supreme challenge confronting. So? ciety. "Its accomplishment will make for a larger life and soften the struggle for existence of all workers to a de degree - gree degree surpassing all that has gone be before. - fore. before. To this end we should devote our best efforts. "In the light of the foregoing sur survey, - vey, survey, it appears plain to your, commit committee - tee committee that the American Federation of (Continued on Page Two),

laration submitted by the Committee on the Executive Council's Report, of which Harry C. Bates, president of the Bricklayers, Masons and Plasterers International Union of America, was chairman: "While there is encouragement to be drawn from reported increases in em ployment statistics there is no com fort to be found in those records for the remaining millions of unemployed workers ,and until every man and woman willing and able to work has been placed in employment the prob problem - lem problem of unemployment cannot be re regarded - garded regarded as solved nor our obligations fulfilled. "Unemployment is not the problem of the unemployed worker alone, it is the problem of every man regardless of his station in life. "Government spending and the pay payment - ment payment of the unemployment benefits from whatever source are but meas measures - ures measures of temporary relief. "The fact that members of trade unions were in a position of advantage as compared with employes in indus industry - try industry generally during the period of de declining - clining declining employment is no justification for us to pause even for a moment in driving forward our efforts for an ef effective - fective effective and complete solution of this serious problem.

Drawing attention to the tremend tremendous - ous tremendous army of the unemployed largely due to the increase of the output of labor resulting from the continued in installation - stallation installation of job-destroying machinery, the report said: "Unemployment still continues our most pressing problem. 'The army of the unemployed,' de declares - clares declares the Executive Council of the American Federation of Labor in its 1938 report, 'which has never since de depression - pression depression been reduced below 7,500,000 and today numbers over 11,000,000, is testimony enough to the need for shorter work hours.' "According to the National Indus Industrial - trial Industrial Conference Board, the average full time work-week in July, 1938, was 40.3 hours as against 48.3 in 1929, or a gain in leisure of eight hours. "Thus, the American Federation of Labor has rendered a notable public service in bringing about this shorten shortening - ing shortening of the work-week. "We marvel at the staggering scope

Asked to make a statement on last night's broadcast, President James M. Duffy said, "Our broad broadcast - cast broadcast of last night, without question, proved to be a most fascinating and interesting story to the radio audi audience - ence audience as to ware making. All those participating performed very well. However, I was keenly disappointed in that our collective bargaining was not featured as originally in intended - tended intended and represented to us. Nat Naturally, - urally, Naturally, I am very much displeased and dissatisfied because the Colum Columbia - bia Columbia Broadcasting System did not permit that for which we specifical specifically - ly specifically contracted." .z, L. U. 10 Harold Williams and Ruth Suilivan, L. U. 124, explained ail the phases of potting from the ability re required - quired required to work in the industry, through the technical side of making dishes from raw clay to the marketing of the finished product.

The convention adopted the report of the Resolutions Committee recom recommending - mending recommending non-concurrence with the res resolution, - olution, resolution, which, the Committee said, questions "the validity of the Non NonPartisan - Partisan NonPartisan Political Policy heretofore followed by the American Federation of Labor," adding: "On this subject your committee calls attention to the urgent necessity that our trade union movement keep itself free from partisan political com commitments - mitments commitments or alliance with any outside political body, no matter what its character may be. Your committee is of the opinion that Labor's Non-Parti Non-Partisan - san Non-Partisan League is as dual to the nonpar nonpartisan - tisan nonpartisan policy of the American Federa Federation - tion Federation of Labor as the Committee for Industrial Organization is dual to our movement."

Nominated by Delegate George At the Houston convention Mr. Mor Morrison - rison Morrison was nominated for secretary secretarytreasurer - treasurer secretarytreasurer by Delegate Leo E. George, president of the National Federation of Post Office Clerks. "I rise to nominate a man who is probably the best known man in the United States in the labor movement," Mr. George said. "The man I am going to nominate is known to practically every one in the American Federation of Labor, and nearly every one has gone to him at some time for guidance and for assistance, and has never found him wanting. "Forty-two years ago you elected him Secretary of the American Fed Federation - eration Federation of Labor. He has served ably, honestly and capably. I deem it a per personal - sonal personal honor to have the privilege of placing in nomination the name of Frank Morrison for re-election."

Workers Denied Right to Organize "Many of the so-called free govern governments - ments governments of Central and South America deny the laboring man freedom to or organize - ganize organize and better his working condi conditions. - tions. conditions. Indeed these governments can claim very little of freedom and democ democracy, - racy, democracy, and in fact are no less oppressive than military dictatorships. "It is therefore imperative and neces necessary - sary necessary that the experience in labor prob problems, - lems, problems, the principles and methods of the American Federation of Labor, be ex extended - tended extended to our less fortunate brothers below the Rio Grande, even in those countries utterly revolutionary or re reactionary. - actionary. reactionary.

The nomination of Mr. Morrison was seconded by Delegate William H. Har Harris - ris Harris of the International Typographical Union, who said: "I believe il only fitting, in view of the most profound indulgence the con convention - vention convention extended to the delegation of the International Typographical Union earlier in the sessions of the conven convention, - tion, convention, and it becomes the duty of a member of Mr. Morrison's union, to assume the duty of seconding his nom nomination. - ination. nomination. "I therefore move that nominations close and that the President cast the unanimous ballot of the convention for the election of Frank Morrison for the (Continued on Page Three)