The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1932-05-21
THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN IN PHI ADELPFIlA

tons of democracy and destroy the already
cracked bell OF liberty ~ hanging SO pitifully
I'M Independence Hall
One OF the outstanding TASKS OF tae Commune
list Party in the coming elections, must be a
sharp struggle against this demagogy, unnlasE
these people and present them in their real
cotors before the eyes of the workers. eve shall
return to the Record s den1agogy in more detail
on another soccasion) At this time. however,
1T should be clear to the workers of. Philedel~
phia that the so-called liberal policy OF the
Record is dictated not only by the desire to OBJ
tain new readers but definite attempt to fool
and nislead the workers whose realization for
the necessity for organized struggle as the only
means for improving the workers conditions is
growing daily and with such phrases as Justice"
EQUALITY" good government" and bad govern
rlent" consciously try to divert the revolution
airy struggles Of the workers into channels Of
peaceful submission to the miserable condi-
lions in which the Philadelphia workers find
themselves today. ~
Undoubtedly these social demagogues viii try
to misconstrue the issues facing the Philadel-
phia workers and try to make us believe that
the main problems in the elections are the Blue
Law, clean and honest government, and prohi-
bition. viii the workers fall for this bunk?
Definitely NO! The workers know too well that
to speak about honest government in the domain
OF Bill Ware Is just as possible as to have an
honest government under Al Capone.
Besides, this is not the issue The issue be-
fore the workers in the coming elections are:
The constant growth of the army of unemploy-
ed and the inability and unwillingness of the
city government to provide these jobless with
work or unemployment insurance. The issue
for the Philadelphia workers is not only to
prevent the city administration from the dis
continuing Of local relief but on the contrary,
increase it, for no workers family can live on
$3.25 to 81 per week. Unemployment in Phil
adelphia has reached such step, that even the
capitalists spokesman can no longer hide the
distress existing among the jobless. Thus Karl
De SchWeinitz, executive secretary Of the Com
rt1unity Council of Philadelphia stated before
the Senate Committee, that "out of 100000 out
of work in Philadelphia (these figures are gross
ly underestin1ated as the unemployed in Phil
adelphia reach 5o0,o0o-BL) $4,000 families are
receiving relief with funds so low that the aver
age amount available for a family in need is
only $4.23 a week, of which 1898 goes for food,
and this is scarcely two-tfnrds Of the estimated
amount needed to sustain health"
Unemployment Grows
Unemployment is constantly on the upgrade
and prospects for improvement in the future are
rather slim. DR.. Joseph H. Willis, Director of
the Department Of Industrial Research Of. the
Wharton School OF Finance and Commerce of
the University Of Pennsylvania; is forced to ad-
nit that 1.-THE situation grows no better. These
figures which picture the unemployment situa-
ton as of March 49, show heavy increase III
the number of unemployed compared to the fig
ures of the preceding month. 5000 additional
workers lost their jobs between February Is and
March 49, The figures are particularly Distress
ing as this is the season Of the year which US
usually brings a good increase in employment
due to seasonal causes This year that increase
is missing. Charts and graphs made from these
figures show the unemployment line still soar
ing upward with nothing to indicate when the
peak may come"
With this forced admission of this bourgeois
spokesman it is evident that the demand Of
local relief and unemployment insurance at the
expense OF the state and employers, must be-
come the major issue in the election campaign.
The Struggle For Negro Rights
Without overlooking the Importance of Bit
ter struggle against the wave OF wage-cuts. the
next important problem for the Philadelphia
workers is the systematic campaign OF the city
administration and police department of frame
ups and discrimination against Negro workers
Fearing the unity of white and black toilers
the Philadelphia administration has undertaken
conscious and prepared campaign against the
Negro masses and for the last few weeks the
Philadelphia press are talking about Negroes
attacking white women" The discrimination
against Negro masses on the Job, in handing
out relief and barring Of Negroes from various