Editorial CHARLOTTeTaBORJOCRN TL *i)fxiE“FARM NEWS Published Weekly at Charlbtte, N. C. H A. Stalls, Editor and Publisher W. M. Witter. Associate Editor Entered as second-class mail matter September 11, 1931, at the Post Office at Charlotte. N. C„ under the Act of Congress of March 3, 1879 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: $2.00 per year, payable in advance or 5c per copy. ADVERTISING RATES for commercial advertising reasonable. Official Organ of the Charlotte Central I-abor Union and Approved by The American Federation of Labor and the North Carolina Federation of Labor Address All Communications to Post Office Boa 106i Telephone* 3-3094 and 4-5502 '•tfice of Publication: 118 East Sixth Street, Charlotte. N. C. The Labor Journal will not be responsible for opinions of corre spondents. ho' nnv erroneous reflecting upon the character, standing oi reputation of any person, firm or eo-poration which may appear in the columns of The l-abor Jourrfftl will be gladly correcte-i when caller to the s'ten* ion of toe publisher. Correspondence and Open Forun •pinions solicited. AFL UNIONS APPROVE ALL-OUT POLITICAL DRIVE DURING 1948 In an historic move, the American Federation of Labor has charted the course its political organization will follow in its efforts to oust! the foes of labor from Congress and and the state legislatures. More than 200 officials of the AFL's 105 national and international unions, at a special conference in Washington, formally organized “Labor’s Educational and Political T ea^ue” and willed upon the AFL’s nearly 8,000,000 mem bers for voluntary contributions of a minimum of $1 each to finance its undertakings. , Plans for the league call for an intensified drive to get out the labor vote in 1918 and to inform AFL members concerning the position taken by candidates for election on the Taft-Hartley law and other vital problems affecting organized labor. A report embodying these purposes and setting forth details of organization and operation of the league was submitted by the AFL Executive Council and unanimously and enthusiastically approved by the confer ence. AFL President William Green was named chairman of the league and George Mean.v, secretary-treasurer of the AFL, was elected to a corresponding position in the politi cal organization. The meeting set up u national committee composed of he AFL Executive Council and the presidents of the 105 national and international affiliated unions. This comnfittee will have general supervision over the activities w the organization. To direct its operations, the leatfie will have a 30-mem ber administrative committee consisting of the AFL Ex ecutive Council and 15 additional members. This, commit* tee was authorized to expand ..its number^ as circumstances dictate by the appointment of not mere than 5 additional members. ' ** Swinging into action immediately following the general conference, the administrative committee met and author ized Mr. Green and Mr. Meany to appoint 4ft subcommittees on finance, organization^ and the selection of mi executive director for the league. These committees are scheduled to report to the administrative committee at its next meet-j ing expected to be held before the end of the year. To carry the organization down to the “grass roots’* level additional working committees will set up by the national unions and their local affiliates, state federations, and city central bodies. Funds in the form of voluntary contributions will be raised by the national and international unions. Half of the suggested $1 minimum contribution will be turned over to the national league with the other half remaining for use in the area in which the contribution was made. The league may reallocate its funds for use in any state or congressional district where conditions warrant the use of a greater sum than that normally retained in the area. The program for the league leaves the way open for co operation with “non-Communist organizations” which see eye-to-eye with the AFL on political issues. This rules out co-operation with the CIO at the national level, AFL Presi den William Green declared. H Commenting upon the step taken by the AFL, its first venture into the political arena on a large scale, Mr. Green characterized the action as '‘historic’' and an intensification of the old Gomperg policy of “rewarding our friends and punishing our enemies.” He voiced labor’s determination to fight for the repeal of all anti-labor legislation and said the organization of the political league became necessary “because a reactionary Congress has fastened its shackles ■ on labor.’’ George Meany, secretary-treasurer of the AFL, told the, conference that establishment of the league was not a de parture from the AFL’s political policy but was meant to give effect to that policy I’in the light of modern condi tions.” He predicted success for the AFL political undertaking and declared that lalK>r's fees will find that “you cannot 'step on the people and get away with it indefinitely." Alexander Hose of the Hatters Union called the move to set up a political organization a decision of “great historical importance.” He declared that labor was now determined "to break the greatest monopoly of all, the political mon opoly.’’ Daniel J. Tobin, president of the Teamsters Union, em phasized that the conference would lay a foundation for the future and that the result of the league's activities would be of great value to the workers in the nation regard less of the result of the 1948 election campaign. MONEY FIRST SECOND & THIRD AUTO LOANS $ SC.00 Up ANY MAKE * ANY MODEL Royal Auto Finance Company j 618 S. Tryon St. Phone 3-0164 N*T SCHACHHER DAVID BEAD AND win wrru THAT «flHT X Ad* m DAO MAO IT MO MIC DAO r « «*.-?■