Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-10-12
New Relief Program

1t has been estimated that 20 per cent of the
current volume of retail grocery business can
be attributed to relief money.
Farmers do you realize the significance OF this
figure in relation to the new Federal Relief
Administration plan being carried out in our
state by the Washington Emergency Relief Ad-
ministration? Unemployed workers, do you real
lie the serfdomand slavery such plan eontem-
plates for you? Workers, professional men and
women, do you realize that this latest step toward
fascism means a rapid sinking of your standards
of living?
This program, as set forth in a VERA bull
letin defines the new aspects" OF relief work as
the establishment of work centers" where I'M
employed produce commodities for themselves
food production and canning, manufacture of
furniture, clothing. shoes mattresses, soap, furn-
ishing of fuel ETC.
Same as Sinclair Commonwealth Plan
This program, begun in a small way by the
Federal Surplus Relief Corporation in October,
1888, and now assuming sizeable proportions is
essentially the same that contemplated by
the Commonwealth Builders here
1t shows the utter failure of capitalism to
solve the crisis and the depths to which the rul-
ing class would force the working class inevitably
dragging with it large portion of the middle
class.
What It Means to Farmers
The w. f. r. A. plans to set up work projects
producing food for unemployed; it plans to set
up canneries so that fruit products produced in
Yakima and Wenatehee will come to Western
Washington in exchange for fish, furniture,
clothing and shoes produced there
This program is going to cut down the farmers
market and further mpOverish every farmer. 1t
is going to intensity the bankruptcy of the
entire farming population and mean the pauper-
ization of entire towns in the agricultural section
OF Washington and Oregon
What It Means to Employed Workers
All over the country hundreds of canning fac
tories are operating and many more are planned
Even laundries have been set up. All this work
is done by the unemployed for a bare living.
This activity reduced the volume of work avail
able for Industrial workers and will serve to
lower wages and throw increasing numbers out
of employment.
While business men at first hailed this self help
program enthusiastically means of reducing
taxes, they are now realizing what results it will
brinG in restricting markets and profits.
What Can Be Done About It
Here Is an issue that must be faced sQuarely.
The w. E. r. A. bulletin states that when I'M
employment insurance goes it will be
furnished only to those to whom work is not
available. The plan is to keep from paying future
unemployment insurance to workers on relief
by putting them on fake Jobs" to save money
for the capitalists.
United effort among all farmers and workers
is necessary to stop this fascist action by putting
over Workers Unemployment and Social Insur-
ance Bill, Initiative No. in Washington, which
provides for insurance for all those out of en-
ployment and on relief rolls. Farmers it is your
future livelihood you are protecting by support
ing this measure. Workers, it is your freedom
and right to live. Show your united strength!
1t is said that Harry Hopkins, Federal Relief
Administrator, got the inspiration for this plan
OF widespread starvation from his recent visit to
Hitler and Mussolini In complete accord with it
are Roosevelt, Sinclair, the Commonwealth
Builders, and the whole capitalist state APP
paratus.
Against it must be the united strength of all
workers and farmers to put over the Workers
Unemployment Insurance Bill (HR 1888 Init
iative No in Washington.