The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-12-03
WinterReIief and the Social
Insurance Congress

WHILE Winter relief needs continue to
" rise throughout the country, Roosevelt
and his aides drive ahead with all possible
speed their campaign to slash relief to the
bone, thrust the so-called unemployables
upon private aid and the local welfare units launch
a far-reaching forced labor drive and fabulous
homestead" projects while bearing down upon the
living standards of the employed
The "unemployables" are fast being abandoned
by Roosevelt. The minimum wage rates hitherto
established on work relief have been renounced
Every past promise for Federal system of unem-
ployment insurance has been broken. Widespread
sales taxes cutting deeply into the bread and but
ter incomes Of the masses have been or are being
instituted in all localities
Assurances of tapering off Federal relief expen-
ditures, with no added taxes on the wealthy and
the big corporations "are very wholesome" and what
AL business is waiting for" Secretary of Commerce
Roper fastened to assure Wall Street last week
after conference with Roosevelt.
The Wall Street Journal leading organ of finance
capital, wasted no words in stating the meaning
of Ropers announcement. Thus it said: Further
indication that President Roosevelt is moving to
rid himself of what is admittedly his biggest political
problem were seen yesterday in Secretary of Com
erce Ropers statement that relief should be turned
over to state and local governments as soon as
possible"
In the same paragraph it made mention of the
Board of Aldermens approval of per cent sales
tax on the masses in New York City-the bankers
demand, which LaGuardia fastened to carry out for
financial relief.
INCOMPLETE reports on the National Congress for
Unemployment and Social Insurance to be held
in Washington on Jan. ST. which are printed on
another page, show the sweep of the movement
which Is gathering behind the demand for adequate
Federal unemployment insurance as embodied in
the Workers Unemployment Insurance Bill.
The preparations for the National Congress for
Unemployment Insurance must be doubled in every
locality so as to show the widest possible repre-
sentation of the working population. Meanwhile
the Unemployment Councils and the Communist
Party must take immediate steps to bring into &C
ton the broad masses who have shown their desire
to struggle for their demands for real unemploy-
ment insurance Daily actions at the relief stations
city-wde mass meetings and symposiums must bring
the Workers Bill to the entire working population
Direct appeals must be made to the Socialist Party
locals for participation in the Congress.
Side by side with this must go the widest pos
sible populari1ation and distribution of the Con-
gress call and the magazine of the National Spon-
soring Committee The Unemployment Insurance
Review"
manded by workers everywhere The task of the
Communists remains to also clarity this demand
by setting forth to the workers everywhere the pro-
visions of the Workers Bill:
1-Insurance to all workers when unemployed;
to the aged, sick and disabled.
2-The full cost Of this protection to be made
general charge upon industry and government
without contributions by workers and farmers either
directly or indirectly. Compensation to be equal
to average wages when employed, and in no case
to fall below standard of health and decency
administration through elected representatives
Of the workers.
Benefit payments to become effective imme-
diately to meet the present need of the employed
and unemployed.
Unite in action the forces behind the demand
for genuine unemployment insurance!
Unite all workers behind the National Congress
for Unemployment and Social Insurance!