The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-04-04
Liberal Viewpoint
BY DIR. HARRY ELMER BARNES

Editors NOte-This is he first of two articles by
Harry Elmer Barnes, Ph.D. the desrabity of
passing the Wagner-Lews Unemployment Insurance
bill
THOSE who are interested in establishing
civilization in the United States will be con-
cerned earnestly about the passage of the Wag-
ner-Lewis insurance bill.
To students of economic and social affairs
unemployment insurance constitutes a. necessary
anu elementary step in the direction of civil
Hzeo economy and rational social order. It is
sad reflection upon our civilization that this
issue has not been met squarey and solved sue
| ceSsfully many years back.
If a welI-established system of compulsory
unemployment insurance had been in operation.
we can be certain that the present depression
would have been less severe, it's misery more
easily mitigated and its termination made more
rapid and decisive.
No one has put the general case for unen1-
pIoyment insurance more forecfully than Mr.
Harrison Sayre in his concise little monograph
on Unemployment Insurance"
Against almost every known misfortune or
less, nowadays, we can protect ourselves syste-
matlcally by insurance. We can insure our Jewels
against theft our chimney against windstorms.
our eyeglasses against breakage. The county,
1alr lnsureS itself against slim attendance caused
by bad weather; the violinst can insure his fin
gers; the tobacco farmer can insure his crop
against hail storm; the golfer can buy a policy
promising payments to bystander hit by a wild
ball.
"L1RE insurance and life insurance are old
Il standbys, bought by every one Manufac-
turing concerns in almost every state now are
compelled to carry WOrkman'S compensation in
surance paying employees rather generously for
weeks and months if they are forced to lose
wages because of accidents. Is it anv wonder
Iheh' mat with unemployment causing hardship
10 millions, people are inquiring about the pos
slolhty OF unemployment insurance."
unemployment insurance frequently is as
saAed as soc!alistic proposal or as something
naSed upon partisan and sentimental sympathy
with the working class.
Nothing could be further from the facts. The
pest case for unemployment insurance TODAY is
one which emoodies nothing more than a hard
oolled and logical appeal to ordinary horse sense
on the part of the American employer
nNE may talk about such things as the gold
~ standard. initiating the dollar lowering the
CdI4n' canoeing war debts and building up our
.uielsh uaoe. But any one of these items is
the merest triviality compared to putting really
adequate and dependable purchasing power into
the hands Of those who must buv commodities
ana thereby keep our factories running and orr
stores distributing goods
purchasing power is the dynamo of business
'o4 pt4o0 u4!o0I capitalism, ana any plans for
recovery and assured future prosperity must
pulId upon this as its corner stone
ms means among other things, that able
podled and willing workers must be given steady
employment. When this is not possible. owing
to adverse business conditions they must be
assured a dependable and decent income which
VIII enable them to go on buying even though
at somewhat decreased rate
IL Is possible that rational economic planning
some day will reduce unemployment But there
is no probability that it will eliminate it entirely
Moreover the successful institution of ma
tonaI economic planning does not seem likely
TO De fully realized in our generation, while IN
employment insurance has already proved a sue
cess IN many countries and industries and could
De set up in the United States within many
countries ana industries and could be set I'D in
the United States within the next twelve months
tomorrow shall consider the objections to
unemployment insurance.