The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-01-20
Social Insurance Fight,
Demand For Security.
Is Central Issue For All
Party Must Lead the
Struggle Against
Blue Eagle
By L AGTTER

10 ULL4Ea-LELlL AlAEAAAl AAAIAAbs -
cording to government reports, the
output per worker increased more
than so per cent between 1922 and
1929. Since 1929, and especially since
the introduction OF the codes under
the MIRA, production has been still
more intensified. 100000 miners have
been eliminated from the industry; a
great majority Of the miners work
only part time; and yet production
remains at a high level
The degree Of unemployment, now
ever, must be considered in the light
Of the long cyclical crisis through
which world capitalism is passing,
coupled with the fundamental crisis
which Is shaking capitalism to It's
core. That is, the productive capacity
Of world capitalist industry has reach
ed point Of development far out
sfripDing the markets. Capitalism in
one country can secure markets only
at the expense Of another country.
Capitalism as a whole cannot expand,
but must stand still and decline.
Mass Unemployment
Since the introduction Of the codes
snd the adoption of rules against
unfair competition" the manufactur-
ers have been doing everything in
their power to introduce new methods
OF production, which will lower the
cost of labor power. This means the
steady elimination Of labor power,
Increasing speed-up, and the substi-
tuition Of more refined, complicated
mechanical processes.
Marx, and particularly Lenin,
pointed out these facts. In "Imperi-
alisn1, the Last Stage of Capitalism"
Lenin pointed out the rapid tendency
to monopoly, the naturalization pro-
cesses, and the resultant unemploy-
ment.
This faces the whole working class
with q critical question: how to Sc
cure a livelihood. Not only the IT,
1o0O, COO unemployed in the United
States are concerned. Every worker
in the shops; the older workers who
are being discharged at time when
they have acquired their highest skill;
the young workers who have not been
able to find iobs-aH face the same
problem. This cannot be solved by
relief, with its uncertainty, irregular
ity, discrimination, fayoritism, etc. 1t
can be obtained only through sys-
tenn Of unemployment and social in
surance, covering all workers and pro-
viding for all contingencies.
Eighty per cent of the building
trades workers have been unemployed
for more than two years. With the
coming Of the crisis, they were re-
duced to low level, and have been
eager to work far below the union
scale. Millions Of workers work only
part tine-in the steel, auto, mining
and needle industries. Owing to the
speed up in the factories and because
OF improper protective devices, they
suffer every kind Of industrial and
occupational disease, in addition tc
Illnesses contracted because their VI
tally is lowered by the severe speed
I'D. The older men are being fired.
What is TO be the fate Of these
workers.
A Central Issue
AS a central issue, therefore, rises
the demand Of the whole working
class, for unemployment and social
insurance as an immediate measure
Of security that the workers must
struggle to procure under capitalism
The adoption of the national recoV-
cry act was not merely to bring about
recovery. AS an economic measure
to help the masses, it has completely
failed. It has not put the millions
OF unemployed back to work; only
a fraction Of the alleged 100000 IN
employed have secured work on the
C.W.A. Jobs. In face Of the prolonged
world economic crisis and the rapidly
developing basic crisis Of capitalism
and in face Of the intense struggle
Of the masses of the toiling popula'
ton to protect themselves from tht
ravages Of the crisis, the real aim wa'
TO introduce measures that would
protect capitalism from collapse
"Capitalism or Communism" Is ad.
n1ittedly the issue. Capitalism in il
democratic" form cannot protect it.
self so readily. Therefore demo
cracy" is being thrown to the winds
and steps toward fascl5n are taking
its place.
NIilitarizing the Unemployed
IN Europe, faScisn has already beer
established in several countries. II
the United States this is one Of tn
real purposes Of the NR.A.
How urgent this is, may be seer
from the steps that government i
adopting in connection with the mil
lions Of unemployed youth and single
men. Three hundred thousand boy
have been put into the civilian con
servation camps, by the government
slIpposedly to raise their morale.
According to Assistant Secretary O.
war Woodring, tine organization o!
over 100000 men in more than 1,50t
civilian conservation camps, was thu
first real test Of the army's plans fol
war mobilization under the Nationa
Defense Act" Emphasis mine-I. A.
Woodring declares that "by next sum.
rner million young men will be Ell.
rolled in the camps" He propose:
that "the army organize the veter-
ans of the World War, the C.C.C. mer
and, through them, the administra-
ton OF the emergency relief, INTO g
gystem of economic storm troops that
could support the governments ef-
forts to smash the depression" How
much this smacks, even IN language
OF HitlerD The Geo. camps are the
s'forerunners Of the great civilian
labor armies" embracing all single
(and possibly married. unemployed.
These storm troops" are to be used