The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1938-07-14
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National Topics Interpreted "a EM41S
by William Bruckart M7T1TT1T&
National hngon DC

return each week. That condition re-
suits from the fact WPA has had
such loose system of planning the
work to be done and to the further
fact that among the WPA labor
there has been absolutely no disci-
pine; no one who can compel a full
days work for a full days pay. It
is one of the tragedies, dark and
dangerous, of the present system of
relief that men are taught to loaf
on the job instead of working that
their families may have somewhat
more of food and clothes and things
to enjoy life.
But, as treacherous as the Hop
kins policy appears from what has
been stated, there is yet a very
much worse angle. 1t can be traced
through most easily. BY raising the
WPA pay levels in the South, Mr..
Hopkins thereby forced new levels
Of pay in the industries of the South.
I have visited many parts of the
South and I believe I can safely say
that few manufacturing establish
ments have been able to avoid
losses in their operations during the
last eight years. BY raising the
WPA levels and bringing about a
competition for the available work.
ers, Professor Hopkins saddled upon
the industries an added burden of
expense. From some parts of the
South, I hear that this added pay
roll cost will mean the closing of
some plants; others are going to
continue operation and try to get
their money back by increasing the.
prices of their products. That means
the consumers will pay the bill. It
causes me to wonder whether it will
do the workers any good to have
more money when prices of the
things they use are liked up at the
same time.
The above explanation was given
at some length as prelude to the
real effect of the
Real WPA boost and
Objective what I believe to
be the real objec-
tive of the New Deal action. If
WPA and industrial pay levels are
higher in the South, then it becomes
obvious that the exemptions and diff
ferentials which the southern sena-
tors and representatives thought
they obtained are absolutely and
completely nullifed. The New Deal
ers who have the Presidents ear
have whipped the devil around the
stump; they have accomplished by
indirection that which congress re-
jected as a direct action, and they
have tossed the southern members
of the Democratic party straight to
the wolves.
So, now we can consider the third
movement of the symphony that has
caused doubts to arise concerning
the sincerity of the program. This
chorus was sung by Aubrey Will
iams, assistant WPA administrator
Mo. 2 man for Mr.. Hopkins. He,
too, made a speech. It was adj
dressed to the Workers Alliance,
which is an organization that has
gone so far as to participate in
strikes among WPA workers to
force the United States government
to do its bidding. The Workers Al
lance bigwigs came to Washington
to fight against proposed WPA cut
in pay for artists and actors. They
said they represented something
like 100000 WPA workers, and nat
urally the WPA workers must con-
tribute something out of their pit
lance to support of the organization.
Well, Mr.. Williams advised the
WPA workers "to stick together"
He urged them to discover who are
"your friends" at election time.
We've got to stick together"
said Mr.. Williams. "We've got to
keep our friends in power. I don't
need to tell you. You know your
friends very well, or must know
them. Just judge the folks who
come and ask your support Cat cleo
tions) by the crowd they run with.
:. The same goes for painting and
writing, keeping up these things.
The men who stand for this sort of
thing are the men you are going to
send to the elections" by winning in
the primaries.
There were repercussions against
the Williams outburst, and the SEN
ate investigating committee may
call the speaker but doubt it. The
senate, you will remember, defeated
four amendments to the $4,000, 00O,-
600 borrowing-lending depending bill
that were designed to keep the dis
tributors of relief money out of poll
tics. Isn't it rather difficult to be-
lieve this money is being used solely
for relieving the destitute?