The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-08-11


spair.
You exclaim: But that is I'M
American! Well. since when is it
American that the captains eat and
drink until their bellies swell while
the crew goes hungry? What is in
the interests of the 10 or 80 per
cent of the American population
and not the money bags of the CAPT.
talists, THAT is American, we say.
TOILING America, the overwhelm-
ing majority of the population,
must demand that these gentlemen
who call themselves captains of in
duStry, who cannot give work, sup
port it at least with the necessities
of life. The introduction of unem-
ployment insurance, such as we
Communists propose, is the fight of
toiling America against begging,
against tyranny, and for the most
elementary human rights.
1t is from this standpoint that we
Communists have fought for years
for unemployment insurance. We
we're laughed at, insulted and re-
viled by the bosses, local and federal
governments, the A. F. of L. chiefs,
the Socialist leaders-by all those
who are the spiritual policemen Of
the capitalist class.
A. F. of L. Leaders Aid the Bill
The gentlemen of the American
Federation of Labor leadership ex-
claim: The Communists don't want
unemployment insurance at all.
They propagate the idea only to
make revolution. We reply: Yes, we
are for revolution. For us, the Nor
gans and Fords are no gods, the
preserving of whom is to be first
principle of a trade union move
ment. Why do not the gentlemen
of the A. F. of L. fight for unem-
ployment insurance? That is no rev.
olution. 1t means only the giving of
several billions of dollars yearly to
the workers, instead of to the bank
ers and large trusts. That would
mean few billion dollars for mil
lions of starving Americans in de-
spair, instead of billions to a hand
full of people to revel in luxury.
THE idea of unemployment insur-
1 ance has already taken hold of
broad masses. 1t begins to become
power. 1t is not SO easy any longer
to resist openly the idea of the i'm
mediate introduction of unemploy-
ment insurance as we propose. That
is why the capitalist politicians re-
sist now with promises, with shame
less demagogy. Before Roosevelt be-
came president he promised unem-
ployment insurance. He gave insur-
ance i. for the captains of indus
try, for the bankers-at the expense
of the toiling masses.
One year of Roosevelt has come
and gone, and he has not kept
his promise of unemployment in
surance. To put it somewhat i'm
politely: He fooled toiling
America.
There will be elections in the Fall
Before such elections, it is custom
airy for the ruling class politicians
to indulge in promises. The whole
practice of these politicians consist
in doing continuously just the con-
trary of their most sacred pre-elec-
ton day promises.
Roosevelt's False Promises
That the N.R.A., which has by no
means abolished unemployment, is
bankrupt. is becoming increasingly
clear. The rising pressure of the
masses demanding the passage of
the Communist proposal forced
Roosevelt at the close of the last
session of Congress again to promise
unemployment insurance for the
Winter. 1t is clear that Roosevelt
wants the representatives of his
party to be elected to Congress and
Senate, and his promises are as
cheap and as worthwhile as rotten
eggs.
But let no one be misled. The
President and the government de-
pend on the great monopolies; they
will do nothing for the masses as
long as they are not forced to do
SO. They will surrender to the de-
mands of the masses only when
they are afraid to lose more. In
order that the Communist proposal
shall become law during the COM
ing Winter, toiling America must
be rallied for struggle.
Toledo, Minneapolis, Milwaukee,
San Francisco, the West Coast and
sill the other strikes show that the
working class has to fight hard even
for the most minute demand. 1t is
clear therefore that for the passage
of unemployment insurance to i'm
prove the situation of the working
class directly and indirectly even a
little, labor must use all its per-
severance, its power, its energy for
the victory during the coming Win
ter. In this fight, the working class
has to make use of all methods to
mobilize its own ranks.
In every trade union, in every
factory and shop, in every store and
office, in every organization of I'M
employed, in every fraternal order,
in every neighborhood, in every
home, this matter must be discussed.
The great masses of the Negro peo-
pie, doubly oppressed by unemploy-
ment and the race hatred consci-
ously stirred up by the white ruling
class. should discuss the question of
unemployment insurance. The for
eign-born workers, who toll for mis-
cradle wages in Americas heavy
industries and are constantly
threatened with deportation, must
discuss unemployment insurance in
all their organizations.
Farmers, cursed by twin Gala