The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1935-01-07

Roosevelt's reserves" plans are
aimed to divert the workers from
mass struggle for real unemploy-
ment insurance by holding forth
empty promises to confuse the is
sue.
The huge packed auditorium was
decorated with banners voicing the
purpose of the delegates. Across the
top OF the stage was spread an i'm
mense banner with the slogan in
white lettersr on a blue background.
we unite in determined fight for
genuine unemployment insurance at
expense Of the government and en-
ployers." Other banners draped
around the hall bore the slogans,
NO discrimination against Negroes;
Demand Federal Unemployment
Insurance; Relief and Jobs for
young workers-not C.C.C. military
camps; Workers, professionals.
unite, ours is joint struggle;
Poor farmers are ruined by plow-
ing under-while workers in cities
starve."
Van Kleek Cheered
The great audience rose to It's
feet and cheered when Mary Van
Kleek finished her address in the
following words: This address must
close with an assurance to the work
ers of America that an increasing
number of professional workers, SCI
entists, and technicians are ready
to place at the disposal of the or
ganized labor movement not only
the technical, professional and sci
entific knowledge which is needed
for the solution of the nations prob
lens, but also the devotion and 10y
atty of group to movement which
in all history is alone the source of
progressive social change"
Miss Van Kleek's speech, delivered
in the Saturday evening session, was
an elaboration of speech she had
given over the radio earlier in the
day. Security of livelihood must
be made the leading aim and obi
cation Of the American nation. I"
Miss Van Kleek began. The gov
eminent and the economic system
must assume this responsibility as
the test and objective of all policies.
The basis for economic security for
the American people is to be found
in security of livelihood for all work
ers and their families, who consti-
tute the great ajority of the Amer
lean people, and whose collective
working efficiency is the source of
wealth.
Organized Action
"Such a movement, after five long
years of continued unemployment
and increasing pressure to lower
standards of living, has a two-fold
cornerstone. First, widespread dis
tress necessitates organized action
by the group upon whom the burden
has fallen most heavily-that is. the
workers, including farmers and those
in the professions. Second, the work
ers of America, including the tech
nicianS and scientists, are convinced
that the productive capacity of the
United States is sufficient to insure
comfortable living standard for
this country and to contribute our
share toward meeting the economic
needs of the world.
THE Workers bill puts forward
new concept of social insurance,
that continuity of average income,
with an established minimum equal
to a living standard, must be as
sured through governmental action
as first charge upon the economic
system. This contrasts sharply with
past procedures in American his
tory, which have provided no gov
ernmental insurance, but, on the
contrary, left the whole burden
upon the workers, who are paid only
during periods of production. Thus
they are forced to maintain them
selves In idleness, awaiting the time
when the industrial system will
need them for renewed production.
THE claim that workers should
control the administration Of So
cial insurance is a reinforcement of
this struggle for a voice of the
workers in economic policies and
industrial management" she de-
clared.
Answers Objections
Miss Van Kleek then took up OBJ
jections to the Workers Bill and
answered them The organization
of workers in the U. S. is growing
she declared, as the strikes of the
past year have shown, despite the
huge obstacles against it in the
company union movement The
administration OF the insurance
funds by elected commissions, she
said, would constitute the first
genuinely democratic machinery for
the economic functions of govern
ment in the United States" Re-
gerding the objection that it would
cost too much, Miss Van Kleek an
swered: THE Workers Bill would
cost exactly what is now paid by
the whole working class under mass
unemployment" The cost might
easily be more than $3.50 100000 for
the first week, she said, which is
the loss now borne by the American
working class and its families. y
This continuity of income would in
crease the weekly purchasing power
by that sum, she declared. Miss
Van Kleek added Without a
planned society there can be no
real security" She proposed fur
ther comprehensive housing plan
with profit making eliminated and
public works program with full