The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-04-25
A Prosperity Program

After listening to the suffering and stamnering
of so many politicians who have nothing definite to
offer in the present economic emergency, 1t is re-
freshng to read the frank speech which Senator La
Toilette made in Boston. Whether one agrees with
the Progressives or not, their honesty commands
respect.
La Toilette however, ha snore than frankness TO
offer He had program for handling unemployment
and restoring prosperity which is one Of the best
have seen It is not only his personal program, but
that Of the entire progressive group in congress.
AS that group vii hold balance Of power in both
house and senate when congress meets next De-
cember the La Toilette legislative program has much
more than academic interest.
Here it is:
Federal aid to meet the emergency Of unemploy-
men trelief
A shorter work day and shorter work week.
Sterilization of industry.
Maintenance of wage levels.
Unemployment insurance.
Rehabilitation of agriculture.
Exercise Of the power of taxation through the
graduated income and inheritance tax laws to meet
the increasing burden and responsibilities of govern
ment
Several of the panks in this platform, once
sdered radical already being accepted by business
leaders. For instance many business men are advo-
eating the shorter work day and week the quickest
and fairest way to take up permanent employment
slack, caused by machine and mass production.
The necessity for effective farm relief to restore
the farmers purchasing power is understood by in
dustralists and workers who thought they were
untouched by farm distress. The unemployment in
surance movement has grown more rapidly during
oil foa Of1n
the war.
Federal aid for unemployment relief continues to
be blocked by Hoover and the Red Cross largely be-
cause the public is not yet aware of the facts Now
that government figures show the inadequacy Of
private relief and that 70 per cent of unemployment
family relief distributed in 1880 had to be supplied
by public treasures. there may be general demand
for the federal to share the burden with
the weakened stat and city treasures.
In tn matter of maintenance of wage levels, after
almost unanimous acceptance of this principle by
business early in the depression there is drive
by bankers for wage cuts Though the administration
denies that this dangerous development has reached
serious proportions, incomplete figures available
TO indicate otherwise,
The New York state labor department, which has
been consistently more accurate that Washington
nounced Friday on the basis survey that:
Despite public statements that wages are not
being lowered, there can be no doubt that the wage
levels of women workers in New York City have de-
clined sharply"
AS this wage cut trend grows, presumably Hoover
and the wiser ndustralists will oppose it actively,
Just as the Progressives are doing
But La Toilette and the Progressives can expect
help from the administration or from big business
for their fundamental plank of tax reform. This
will be the hottest fight in the next congress.
There be doubt which side the people
interest is The workers the farmers, = pro-
fessonal classes the small business men, pay
taxes to meet the huge federal deficit and ne
cessary appropriation increases. The rich must pay
Justice requires that the rich pay. Expediency
also requires that the rich pay One of the chief
of the depression the unhealthy concentra
ton Of wealth. which dries up the consumers pur-
chasing power
Prosperity under our mass production system de-
pends on a mass market. To restore the mass mar
ket, labor must get larger share of the wealth it
creates.
Only two quick ways open to achieve that
necessary redistribution Of wealth One is through
shortening the work day or work week without wage
cuts. The other is through the income and inheri-
lance tax.
We agree with Senatord La Toilette that in this
emergency both reforms are essential.