The voice of labor., 1940-02-15

comes for them to pay up II they
have any money. they have to
pay for all the defaulted years IN
order TO vote.
DISFRANCHISED
There isn't any politician IN
this country, there isn't any law
yer or a CONGRESSMAN or a Suciol-
ogiSt or ordinary citizen who does
not understand that these laws
and those poll taxes arc levied
against the people Of those States
in order 10 impair their conStiiu-
tional rights as native Americans
to vote in the political elections
All right,
/ think that is Just about as
cowardly a practice as any politi-
clan could ever devise 10 take
away from a free-born American
inalienablc rights granted under
the Constitution and supposed TO
be protected under the flag.
I am in favor Of the President
and the Attorney General OF the
United States instructing that
Civil Liberties Bureau. Depart
ment Of Justice. to bring in III"
Federal courts Of this country a
judicial proceeding and carry II
TO the Supreme Court OF the
United States. a judicial proceed
ing TO attack and strike down
those damnable provisions inilict.
ed upon the citizenship OF those
Southern States in these inicu!-
touS poll taxes
While we are talking about civil
liberties in this country. and the
Attorney General of the United
States talked about them to you
from this platform last night. ,c,
him exercise the wits Of those
hundreds Of lawyers that his de-
partment employs. by putting
them to work upon q judicial
procedure that is designed to re-
store 10 Americans in the South
ern States Just the right to vote
and when that is done. why then
We can take time out to see who
the people Of those states would
like TO vote for in some election.
CIO PROGRAM
The Congress Of Industrial Or
ganizations stands for a program
Of unemployment compensation
social security. public health and
housing. residential building. debt
relief, adjustment OF taxation.
against the spy bill. against build
ing up In America a great coer-
Give spy system, either in private
industry or on the part OF the
government.
The Congress OF Industrial Or
ganizationS has program which
any American can approve with
out yielding any Of his rights. pri-
vileges or prerogatives. The pro-
gram Is not designed to merely
assist the members of the union.
because the membership OF the
Congress OF Industrial Organiza-
tionS know that all Americans are
equally affected by our economic
and social Embellishments and by
the contention and travelling with
ON the political question which
sees other problems engender.
The men and women OF labor In
this country want TO make a CON
tribution not alone to themselves.
but to their families. their friends
and neighbors. their community
and their State. and in. devising
a program. they have devised a
program that any American can
support. conscious of the fact
lhat il II Is adopted. II will broad
en- the opportunities for the young
people OF this country and for the
older people Of this country.
And I want to do my part to-
ward broadening those opportu-
mites. I want the young men and
women Of America to dream Of
the day when they will have a lob
that will enable them TO live In
dGcency. comfort and security.
the day when they can educate
their own children and OF the day
when they can take an increas-
ing participation in the public az
fairs Of the State and the nation.
STUPID STATESMEN
Now. stand for more Ameri-