Published in the 1952 Volume 1, Issue 1 of The Building Tradesman, this column outlined the newly formed paper's objectives.

The establishment of a medium of information and education for the many thousands of members of trade unions affiliated with the AFL Building and Construction Trades Department in this area; the presentation of accurate news about the great international movement of organized labor; to state clearly the policies of this movement, and to present its demands with emphasis - these are the aims of the paper whose first issue is herewith presented.

It will not confine its columns to purely local and craft issues but will attempt to acquaint its readers with the national labor and political issues that are the common concern of all organized labor.

The courageous action of the Detroit Building and Construction Trades Council in embarking upon this venture was motivated by the great demand of the rank and file members to build a press of its own, effective enough and influential enough to do justice to this great movement it presents.

Labor has, at all times, had grounds to complain of its treatment by the business-controlled press. All it asks is fair and even-handed treatment, and to let the facts speak for themselves.

It is entirely natural that the best interests of labor should also be the best interests of those of the whole community or the state in which they reside. For the working people who have the most to gain from general prosperity, stability and security; and they are too large a part of the generality to be able to have any anti-social interest from which they might profit at the expense of the general welfare.

The interests of the people are the interests of labor, and the interests of labor are the interests of the people.

The Detroit Building Tradesman, therefore, will take over the function of a paper designed to promote the general welfare of the construction industry worker.

It will champion the cause of those Americans who desire peace, true democracy, economic and political freedom.

It will press for constructive legislation on a local, state and federal level, for those things which will make the United States a better place to live.

It will vigorously support during the forthcoming election campaign those representatives of the people who have fought for labor and those who have not betrayed promises once made to labor voters.

The labor movement is now a movement that has tread into the furthest recesses of American life. The Building Trades are recognized as the foundation of the movement.

So small a paper for so large a movement. That may be the reaction of some who see the first issue.

The Detroit Building Tradesman is modest in size but not in its aims. It aims to be of service to the biggest and best significant movement in America today. And in proportion as it serves this purpose, it will grow.