The people's voice., 1944-01-21

the cost of living has shot skyward
| taxes are not levied on the ability to
+ pay, the voting franchise is still de
MED millions of white and black Amer
lean citizens, civil rights are threat
ened and host of other grievances
{ confront the common man. Yet labor
!. carries on. But wrathful, rising tide
is crystallizing.
: The organized toilers (AFL, CLIO,
? railroad brotherhoods and Farmers
+ Union) are asking a definite state
, ment of our national legislators as to
. their attitude on legislation and the
: war effort. They submit definite
list of legislative objectives:
: 1. Repeal of the anti-trade union
Smith Connally law.
This law legalizes strikes but cur
tails civil liberties. Trade unions
: have maintained the no-strike pledge
80 per cent despite vicious and law
less employers, a record far surpass-
ing that of industry and their history
of sit-down strikes.
2. Oppose the drafting of labor.
\ |
Trade unions resent this bill, slave
bill. When government drafts indus
try and capital together with labor
and when trade unions, Farmers I'm
ion and consumers have an effective
voice in this drastic adjustment, we
will find the common man prepared
to exceed others in sacrifice for vic
tory.
3. Oppose a national sales tax and
support taxes based on ability to
pay.
A sales tax is raid on the "wid-
ow's mite" 1t has the equity of law
that forbids tramps and millionaires
to sleep under railroad bridges War
profiteers seek to retain their exces
sive profits by undermining the health |
of the nation and rely on returned |
soldiers to pay the bulk of the war
debt. The Treasury reports that un-
distributed corporate profits, after all |
taxes and dividends have been paid, !
for the end of this year will be $12,-
300,00000O The "big money" boys
alone will have undivided profits of
$19 ,OOO, 100000
4. Support the anti-poll tax bill.
Ten million whites and blacks are
denied the elective franchise by this
compound poll tax. Democracy should
begin at home.
5. Favor the Wagner-Murray-D
gell bill.
Mankind has always struggled for
measure of security. This bill ex
tends social security to disqualification
and more liberal benefits. 1t includes
farm labor, domestic, self employers
and discharged soldiers in the broad
ened benefits of compensation, unem
ployment, old age, health and hospital
ization.
g. Roll back of prices to Septem-
Der Is, 1912, level.
We ask that government and indus
try redeem their pledge to maintain
stable prices.
Z. Grade labelling, price ceilings,
rent control and more effective OPA t
enforcement.
Juggling brands and grades of goods
permits price boosts. A congress !
bent on inflationary prices has sabo-
tagged the home front morale to fleece +
the consumer in their politics as +
usual" 7
5. Subsidies to protect working /
farmers, small business and others. I
To bring prices back to September c
1912 level working farmers, small '
business and marginal business must t
have relief to survive.
g. Re-establishing Farm Security +
agency.
The attempt to bankrupt the work ?
ing farmer as factor in rural econ {
omy and convert him into a farm s
laborer is the policy of corporation o
farm interests. To deprive working n
farmers of low interest money and s
government service is one of the
Farm Bloc" policies. They block +,
the working farmer from making a
major contribution to the war effort. .
10. Aid to dependents of soldiers. s
This is little too warm for the r.
economy block" to block. p
H. About support to the war ef- t
fort.
Action speaks louder than words :,
and the record will be the guide.
For such a definite program the u
common man will register and march m
to the polls with the same determina-
tion that conquered the frontier and i,
forged the traditions of an indepen
dent people. The American way of ..
life is not totalitarian but is one of =
self imposed restrictions under the :.
stress of an all-out war While we =
accept restrictions so necessary to q
success, we demand a measure of Sc =
,urity for ourselves and our boys and !, !.
girls in uniform.
The organized toilers have been -
aroused by the vicious attacks of con-
yress on their democratic rights and
he class legislation aimed at labor, X
he working farmer, small business
md the consumer; on the attempt of II
congress to sacrifice the war effort er
IN the altar of greed and a native I'd
1ariety of nazi culture. OF
The common man must be aroused te
o defeat these "hordes of Attila" bat u
ering at the gates of American de- br
nocracy. The franchise is a sacred NJ
a