The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1932-02-19
Mr.. Green and Unemployment
Insurance

that faith and confidence is being restored;
and We all can look forward with renewed
hope to an early resumption Of increasing in
dustriaI activity"
There followed two months in which over
100000 workers lost their jobs, most OF whom
have since never had work; many thousands of
whom died of hunger. But when asked to ex-
press his views fthe workers future Green
wrote (Jan. 2, 1890:
The presidents conferences tout Of which
the wage cutting drives gprang) have been ef-
fective in checking this drift toward pessimism.
These conferences recognize the interdepend-
ence of all industrial and economic groups.
The necessity of maintaining wage standards
and keeping the workers employed was en-
phasized land we know how well this
phasized!) and cooperation Of industrial ex-
ecutiyes forestalled the danger of serious lay
offs. With the great back-logs' Of prosperity
assured by public service Institutions and gov
ernmentaI work we enter 1880 we can look
ahead with confidence"
Thus spoke Mr.. Green, and he was echoed by
every other labor lieutenant In the A. F. of L.
while millions of workers and their families
faced starvation; while the Communist Party
was nobilizing the workers to struggle for I'M
employment insurance for relief to come out OF
reaping heavy profits by the frightful exploita-
ton Of the American workers.
Now suddenly we have Mr.. Green singing a
different tune. Not long ago at the last conven-
ton of the A. F. of L. III Vancouver the most
prominent feature was speech made by Green
declaring the A. F. Of L. was against any form
of unemployment insurance federal relief
because 1t was undignified and not in keeping
with the morale Of the American workers.
After the February demonstrations, Mr.. Green
with 100 other Wall Street agents In the official
dom Of the A F. of L. presented petition to
Hoover calling for federal aid"
Why should these takers who were promising
the workers prosperity, who were talking about
cooperation with the bosses, who were preach
ing optimism and decrying unemployment in
surance, suddenly try to hide their two-years Of
betrayal by mass Of phrases about the hungry
millions? 1t is now to the greater interest Of capi
talism for Mr. Green and the leadership Of the
A. F. of L. to appear, like Father Cox to be lead
ing the growing movement of the unemployed
demand relief
The bosses look to Green to do for the unem-
employed what the A. F.. of L. was able to do for
the employed in the matter Of wage cuts. Mr.
Green is now trying a confidence game.
The A. F. of L. officialdom which for years was
Jellng tne hungry Workers 10 rely ON local re-
lief, said in its petition:
The local relief agencies In New York, fhil-
sdeIphia, Chicago, Cleveland and Detroit have
found the task too great. For instance In New
York 100000 families In immediate need
of relief while 100000 are receiving assistance.
In Philadelphia the number dependent on re-
lief has risen from 5000 in December 1890,
to $4,000 in December, 1881. Philadelphia estl-
mates It's need at ssooo,ooo beyond that raised,
and there is no NOR. money In dght Funds
May 1.
In Chicago relief funds will be exhausted by