The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-10-27
Improved Equipment
for War

THERE are reports from Washington
that the administration is working on
a plan which is designed to bring the OBJ
solescent equipment and broken-dOwn
plants of heavy industry up to date. Such
move would have the two-fold objective of getting
the industrial plants Of the country in shape for
any war requirements, and of putting stagnant
industry back on its feet.
Such plan If put into effect would not solve
the capitastic crisis In the present epoch Of the
general crisis Of capitalism, there is basis for
Industrial advance and development as far as the
whole capitastic system is concerned. The economy
Of capitalism must thus adjust itself to continuous
If irregular decline.
The crisis, for example, has brought on the forced
deterioration Of machinery and plants. recent
survey conducted by engineers indicated that so
per cent of the industrial equipment of the country
was either obsolescent or Semi-obsolescent. This
means that about half Of the plants and machinery
either out Of date, not UP to the most modern
standards of technique.
But capitalism cannot check this decline in tech
nique. In fact, it is interested in technique only
insofar it will increase profits is necessary for
its war plans.
Consequently any plan for the rehabilitation Of
heavy industry would fall within the scope of the
drive for super monopoly and war; that is the goal
Of the New Deal. The biggest trusts would receive
loans and subsidies They would proceed to moder-
nize their plants And with this advantage. their
attacks against their competitors would be intensi-
fed
This would lead in turn to the sharpening OF all
the inner antsgonisms of the capitalist class and
add to the acuteness of the crisis.
AS for the workers, this proposal would mean a
more intense speed-up, undermining their health
criO0linp HON aft an AUTO tic
machinery would greatly add to the number of the
unemployed and reduce many skilled workers to
the economic levels of the unskiled There would
also be general lowering of wages as the less
efficient factories tried to keep pace with the
modernized plants of the monopolies,
Such plan can not offer way out of the crisis.
It would only increase the burden OF the war plans
Of the Roosevelt regime, which the workers carry
on their backs in the form of speed-up lower wages
and reduced standard of living for their families
Such a scheme would be in line with the ag-
gressive war policy that Roosevelt has pursued
since the inception of the New Deal. 1t would gear
the industrial plants Of the country more effectively
to the machine. 1t would make possible the
more efficient production of the most horrible in
struments of destruction and death
1t can be seen that every proposal and potential
plan that emanates from Washington effectively
exposes the ruling class aims of Roosevelts election
ballyhoo. They all prove that Roosevelt is organz-
ing for war spending billions for preparations
while denying the masses relief and bread
Fight against the war plans of the administration
by casting your ballot for all Communist candidates
1t is only they who will back up the mass struggles
of the workers against war and fascism, and de-
mand that the war funds be turned over to the
unemployed, to workers housing program and to
all the other needs of the working class