Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1935-01-04
SPOTLIGHT
ON THE
World Crisis
BY DONALD GLEASON
1ss5-sTILL DOWNFALL
MORE WAGE CUTS
FAscIsM ADVANCES
BY DONALD GLEASON

BY this time the capitalist
press has reviewed the pro
gress" of 1884 and shouted the
glad tidings for 1885. Business
is on the upgrade they an
nounce, culling the facts to sup
port their professional optim-
ism. Is this Justified?
On the contrary, the new year
will be an intensification of the
general crisis of capitalism. In
evitably this crisis will result
in fiercer trade rivalries and
wars.
Internally each capitalist
country will be forced to lower
the living standards of the work
ers and to push more and more
of the middle class into the
ranks of the unemployed, thus
intensifying class antagonisms.
In order to suppress discomfort,
more and more force will be en-
plOyed.
Not Alarmism
That this statement is not
alarmism can be proved by the
statements of the capitalist
Spokesman. For example, Col
Onel Leonard p. Ayres, vice
president OF the Cleveland Trust
Co, considered one of the best
informed economists in the I'm
tied States, predicts that for
1885 we will see a reduction in
the volume of international
trade with tariff retaliations,
embargoes, and incteased jill
will.
We need consider only the
United States to see that this is
true. Japan gained an advan-
tage in the world market by in
flation and seizure of Manchu-
kuo. This country retaliated by
tariffs and a similar though less
drastic initiation.
AS a result our world trade
increased last year more than
any other sphere of business
activity. This advantage is only
temporary and gained at the
expense of our workers. Other
countries will retaliate.
War Maneuvers
7 Our foreign policy reflects this
trade war. Japan increased its
war appropriations to 1921, 900, :
900, AZ per cent of the entire
budget and the largest in the
history of Japan. Simultaneous
ly with this and the japanese
rejection of the naval limita-
lions ratio, comes the navy an
nouncement that the summer
maneuvers of the Pacific fleet
will be the largest ever held in
peace time.
A total of III war ships, AT
planes, and $4,000 men will set
out in two divisions-One for
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and the
other for a secret base in the
Aleutian Islands.
From these two places they
will sail for Midway Island,
about 1900 miles west of Hawaii
This maneuver is obviously aim
ed at Japan.
More Internal Depression
AS to internal affairs Colonel
Ayres predicts another year of
depression. There will be con-
tinued serious unemployment,
the production of durable goods
will be low, private building will
be small, and the physical vol
ume of production will be less
than July 1893.
In that month industrial pro-
duction was 80 per cent of the
1929 level, due to the effort of
the factories to stock up before
the codes became effective.
There is no sign that unem-
ployment will materially de-
crease. When it is realized that
in July 1888, when production
was 80 per cent, employment
was so per cent, due to labor
saving devices and speed-up and
that these factors have develop
ed still more since then, it can
be seen even Senator Blacks 30
hour week would not solve the
problem.
The reactionary National In
dustrial Conference Board es-
Inmates that the bill would add
100000 to the payrolls, while the
AFL figures of II, $4,000 unem-
ployed for November is an in
crease of 100000 over October.
Commodity prices have risen
"a per cent and wages even If
stationary during the year, are
really lower by "a per cent than
of December 20, 1888.
The result is Increasing dis
content. The capitalists are be-
ing forced to measures which
will reduce living standards still
more, and when they do, force
will be necessary to suppress
the protest.
Fascist Drive Speeded
Plans are rapidly being laid
for fascist measures. Hearsfs
daily ISLANDERS of the Commun-
lists, the red-baiting of McCor-
mack's investigating committee,