Evening star., 1940-10-30
Wagner Text
ginning of 1889.
Continued FIom Page A-15)

NSOlllllluOu i lOlll I dSS n-lOJ
liSh prevailing wage standards on
Government contracts. 1t was
only the maintenance of a very
substantial Democratic majority
in Congress during Roosevelts
second administration that made
it possible to build upon these
enduring foundations. Since 1886,
Democratic Congress enacted
the wage and hour law, the Slum
Clearance and LoW-Rent Housing
Act, and the Bituminous Coal
Sterilization Act, sponsored by
the United Mine Workers of
America. 1t wrote the railroad
unemployment insurance law,
and later increased its benefits.
1t advanced by two years the time
for commencing benefits under
the Social Security Act, estab-
lished regular survivors pensions,
and increased public health Serv-
ices and maternal and child care.
And where did the party of
Mr.. Willkie stand? Each year
its opposition to most of these
measures has become bolder and
more determined. A majority of
Republicans voted against the
slum clearance program and
its extension, against the Btu
minouS Coal Act, and in favor of
the destructive amendments to
the Wage and Hour Law.
And how these Republican
Congressman are now awaiting
theiI chance-aWaiting the first
act from the electorate that
might give the nod of approval
to their reactionary views
awaiting any break or division in
the ranks Of labor or liberalism
that might swing them back to
power.
Only By Standing Together
Can Calamity Be Avoided.
And for this very reason I can
not understand how any leader of
labor who must know this record
as we'll as I do-Who over the
years has seen one Republican
administration after another
turn deaf ears to the needs of
labor-who has seen Republican
administrations, returned to
power in the States, repeal or
emasculate one labor law after
another-who has seen his own
union under a Democratic ad-
ministration thrive and prosper
as never before-I repeat, I do
not understand how any such
leader of labor could take action
to divide labor against itself a.
the crucial test of labors future
welfare approaches a decision.
I say to the working men and
women of America-stand to-
gether, stand together as you
have never stood before, for it is
only by standing together on this
great issue that you can avoid
calamity and insure the endur-
ance of your gains.
And the dreadful issue that
hangs in the balance is even
greater than the issue of your
economic security. 1t is the
issue Of peace-the issue OF
taking every possible step to in
sure that no American boy shall
enter the danger zone and risk
his life in foreign causes.
ask the mothers and fathers
of America, as we'll as the II
million young men now regis
tered for their country's defense,
whether John L. Lewis could
have realized the momentous
decision he made when he coun-
seled that the peace of America
in these troubled times be en-
trusted to Wendell Willkie-to a
man who has not had even a
fragment of experience in dealing
with international affairs, to a
man whose statements in this
campaign upon foreign matters
have been fumbling and conflict
ing, a man whose only training
has been as the defender OF
property rights against human
rights, man who applauded the
draft of men but was Mortified
when industry was called upon
to do its part?
Never will the mothers and
fathers and younger citizens of
America take the awful risk of
trusting such a novice in such a
fateful hour.
Franklin Roosevelt foresaw the
need of a strong neutrality law
and for strengthening our ma
tional defenses, at a time when
the Republican leaders were
asleep to the danger. There is no
dictator in the world who does
not regard the clear voice and
firm hand of Franklin Roosevelt
as the strongest assurance that
the resources of our great Nation
and the liberty of our citizens
shall be forever beyond the ag-
gressor'S reach.
Keep America out of war by
uniting behind Franklin Roose-
velt-who is strong enough to
keep aggression away from our
shores, experienced enough to
keep us out of foreign embroil-
ment, and humane enough to care
more for peace than for anything