The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-11-17

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employment and other causes that deprive willing work
of the opportunity to work and livelihood for
themselves and their dependents.
Of the 1915 900 workers who have been denied
the right work during the five long years of the present
widespread and deepgong crisis barely onehalf have
been given any relief at ALL Yet at this time when the
sixth crisis year is about to begin, four million families
representing nearly Onesxh of the total population of
the United States admittedly reduced to existence
the unstable public relief which averages less than five
dollars week per family In many states and counties
the relief provided amounts to little S125 week
per family
It is now established beyond doubt that millions are
doomed to remain part of great army of permanently
unemployed long the present economic system lasts
This that millions of youths continue to graduate
from school into army of destitute jobless. 1t
that those who have been declared too old to work.
not hope to be restored to sefsupportng position in
economy 1t that certain sections of the popu-
lation and especially the Negro Masses remain subject
to additional abuse and discrimination. 1t that all
workers in all industries vacations and professions face
the danger that their wageates will be reduced to the
less than subsistence levels of existence that prevail
for those dependent public relief. Thus all workers
face the of degraded living standards whether
they retain their jobs forced into the army of
employed.
The and women who dependent upon wages
and salaresthe overwhelming majority of the popula-
ton-must be safeguarded against loss of income and
livelihood because of involuntary unemployment old age
industrial accident sickness and maternity Congress
must enact system of Federal unemployment and social
insurance which provides compensation by the govern
ment and employers to all willing workers who denied
the right to work
An unemployment and social insurance system must
be designed to the against any lowering
of their living standards to increase pur-
chasing power stimulate productivity in the interest of
higher living standard and lead to necessary redstribu
ton of wealth that is withheld from circulation.
Therefore:
Compensation must be at least equal to the average
wages which workers could permitted work in
their normal occupation and localities 1t no
be permitted to fall below fixed minimum health and
decency level
Such compensation can and must be provided by and
only at the expense of the government and the employ
ers. No contribution in any form should be levied upon
workers and other lOw-ncOme groups
All workers. regardless of age, occupation color SEX
nationality, citizenship, religious political belief
be assured such compensation for all time lost because of
involuntary unemployment, old age Industrial accident
or sickness and maternity.
Representatives directly elected bv the workers
should administer the social insurance system that it
would be operated in accordance with their conditions
interests and needs.
These principles have already been endorsed by thou
sands OF organizations representing many millions of
workers farmers, professionals and others whose we'll
being depends upon comprehensive system of social in
More than 400 locals and the regular conven
lions of five international and six State bodies of the
American Federation of Labor practically every known
unemployed organizations thousands of railroad and other
independent local and central bodies, fraterna lodges
erans farmers Negro YOUTH and church groups
have expressed their readiness support these prin
cipes by endorsing the Workers Unemployment and
Social Insurance Bill which embodie these principles and
introduced the 73rd Congress of the United States
as H. R. 1898 Under pressure of constantly growing de-
mand for such system of unemployment and social in
surance, municipal and county government bodies in
seventy cities towns and counties have likewise endorsed
the Workers Bill and memoriazed Congress for its en-
actment
Reafirmng endorsement of these principles we
also declare our opposition to the many proposals and
that have been brought forward substitutes
for genuine unemployment and social insurance The
Wagner-Lewis Bill the Wisconsin Unemployment Com
pensation Act, the Townsend Plan and many similar
measures fail to make any of the necessary provisions
required of genuine social insurance system. These
measures serve only to deceive and divide those who
plre to a greater measure of social security.
AS against the forces that oppose and seek to mis-
lead confuse and divide the growing movement for
employment and social insurance, must present
the united forces of all who need and all who favor i'm
mediate enactment of sound comprehensive system that
will embody all the essential provisions for adequate social
insurance To this end, now join in calling great