The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-11-14
Unemployment Relief" and
It's Sources
ITO be continued

After remembering the fact that only about
20 per cent of all the current unemployment
relief comes from these funds, let us note the
still more important fact that a large part Of
these voluntary" contributions come from the
workers who have still either full or part-tine
employment Witness in the papers the long lists
of companies that have given several thousand
dollars to a drive-that is the employees of the
company have given it because they had to, to
hold their jobs. Hundreds of scantily paid wage
earners" says a Federated Press correspondent
in St Louis, were not aware that they had
donated to last years drive until they drew their
pay and found sum arbitrarily confiscatd from
their wages, an enclosed note explaining. 'Dona-
ton to the Community Fund, $.....' Others
who declined lost their jobs" These workers re-
ceived what amounted to wage cut when they
were thus docked certain percentage of their
wages for the banker operated charity drive
The New York bankers committee admits that
approximately 1720O0 Wage-earners contributed
to the emergency employment committee last
year. And the employers expect that they will
be able to compel much larger number of
workers to come across this year They an
nounced on November 10, that II per cent CT
the contributors" so far this year were wage
earners. Scores of open shop concerns such as
the Standard Oil are on the lists Of those given
in the press as following this practice OF making
employees give as a group. They are companies
that have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars
in breaking strikes, hiring stool pigeons, and
otherwise intimidating workers when they even
talked of unionism. The employers of the anti
union Insul utilities in the Chicago district, for
example, are being forced to pledge days pay
a month for period of six months making a
total of 100000 thus cut from their wages dur
ing this period.
And these contributions, docked from the pay
envelopes of the Staggered and il-paid work.
ers literally go to help save the capitalist system
For as Al Smith puts it: How long can we (the
capitalists) expect their (the unemployed work.
ers) faith in American institutions to surYive?"
Dollars in the charity pot are intended to
build this faith! Note also Calvin Coolidges
letter to the Clifford committee on the preserva-
ton of 'our form of society and the statement
Of the printing employers section of the Emer
gency Unemployment Relief Committee, with
out work we will have anarchy" And note finally
the words Of the Secretary of the Interior, Ray
Wilbur speaking at big dinner opening the
present relief campaign in Baltimore: What
have heard and seen in the last few weeks makes
fear for the stability of our society If this
caI5rlign fails.
Contributions to all the5e charity and eIaer-
gency appeals ALTO help the employers to escape
unemployment insurance. Scores of speakers at
banquets in recent weeks have voiced the senti-
ment of Will Hays, millionaire movie dictator,
when he warned that unless this aid is volun-
tary extended by the citizens that a system
like the British dole inevitably would result"
Every dollar given to help these private chart
ties is dollar saved for the rich who should