Evening star., 1944-10-29


in America, the future of the
worker and farmer lies in the we'll
being of private enterprise; and
that the future Of private enter
prise lies in the well-being of the
worker and farmer.
The well-being of the Nation as
a whole is synonymous with the
well-being of each and every one OF
its citizens.
Now I have the possibly old
fashioned theory that when you
have problems to solve, objectives
to achieve, you cannot get very far
by just talking about them.
You have got to go out and do
something.
To assure the full realization of
the right to useful and remunera-
tive employment, an adequate pro-
gram must provide America with
close to 100000 productive jobs
Peacetime Productive Expansion.
I foresee an expansion of our
peacetime productive capacity which
will require new facilities, new
plants and new equipment-capable
Of hiring millions more men.
propose that the Government do
its part in helping private enter
prise to finance expansion of our
private industrial plant through
normal investment channels.
For example, business, large and
small, must be encouraged by the
Government to expand their plants
and to replace their obsolete or
WORKOUT equipment with new
equipment. and to that end, the
rate of depreciation on these new
plants and facilities for tax pur-
poses should be accelerated. That
means more jobs for the worker,
increased profits for the business
men and lower cost to the consumer.
In 1888, when my administration
took Office, vast numbers of our in
dustrial workers were unemployed,
our plants and businesses were idle,
our monetary and banking system
In ruins - our economic resources
were running to waste.
Must Increase Demand Abroad.
BY 1910 - before Pearl Harbor -
we had increased our employment
by 100000 workers. We had con-
verted a corporate loss of $780,
100000 in 1882. to corporate profit
(after taxes) or nearly $4,000. 900 900
in 1910.
Obviously, to increase jobs after
this war, we shall have to increase
demand for our industrial and agri-
cultural production not only here
at home, but also abroad.
I am sure that every man and
woman in this vast gathering here
tonight agree with me in my con-
viction that never again must we
in the United States attempt to
isolate ourselves from the rest of
humanity.
I am confident that, with con-
gressional approval. the foreign
trade of the United States can be
trebled after the war-providing
millions of more jobs.
Such cooperative measures pro-
vide the soundest economic founda-
ton for a lasting peace And,
after this war, we do not intend to
settle for anything less than last
ing peace.
America of Tomorrow
When we think of the America
of tomorrow, we think Of many
things.
One of them is the American
homes-in our cities, in our viii
lagos and on our farms. Millions
of our people have never had homes
worthy of American standards
well-built homes with electricity and
plumbing and air and sunlight.
The demand for homes and our
capacity to build them call for a
program of well over a million
homes a year for at least 10 years.
Private industry can build and
finance the vast majority of these
homes. Government can and will
assist and encourage private indus
try to do this, as it has for many
years. For those very low income
groups that cannot possibly afford
decent homes, the Federal Govern
ment should continue to assist local
housing authorities in meeting that
need.
In the future America we think of
new highways and parkways. We
think of thousands of new airports
to service the new commercial and
private air travel which is bound
to come after the war We think
of new airplanes, new cheap auto
mobiles with low maintenance and
operation costs. We think of new
hospitals and new health clinics.
We think of a new merchant ma
rine for our expanded world trade.
Millions of More Jobs.
Think of all these vast posi-
bilities for industrial expansion
and you will foresee opportunities
for more millions of jobs.
Our economic bill of rights-like
the sacred Bill of Rights of our
Constitution itself-must be ap-
piled to all our citizens, irrespective
of race, creed or color.
In 194l, appointed a Fair En-
ployment Practice Committee to
preevnt discrimination in war indus
try and Government employment.
The work of the committee and the
results obtained more than justify
it's creation.
I believe that the Congress should
by law make the committee per-