Montana labor news., 1944-12-14
KAISER CALLS FOR
ACTION TO PROVIDE
JOBS

INDIANAPOLIS CFP) Industrialist
Henry J. Kaiser, Americas NO. / ship
builder made an impassioned plea for
government to provide 66O million jobs in
the postwar era here Dec. /.
He spoke to 400 Hoosier industrial
lists at the annual conference of the In
diana Chamber of Commerce. And even
while he was pleading that the counny's
needs transcend every other interest, 3"
the chambers board of directors was
bringing in resolutions opposing fsocializ-
ed medicine urging amendment of the
Wagner act, the wage-hour act, the Nor
Iris-LaGuardia anti-injunction act, de-
lmanding repeal of the excess profits tax
and slaekening Of federal control over So
cial security.
But Kaiser, the biggest industrialist of
them all, was saying: To-day another
election is in order. The members Of both
parties must elect to save the nation in
what may well be one Of the greatest or
deals in its history
Labor relations are not more than
human relations Man wants to be
treated like a human being He is jealous
Of his dignity and self-respect. He
resents being either exploited or neglect
ed He wants to be heard on issues that
affect his well being.
High among human needs is employ
ment. It is a must Make no mistake
men will no longer submit to mass un-
employment They will have work one
way or another Again and again re-
.volution came as the last resort to right
the wrongs. Unless we act fearlessly and
soon, we shall not escape. Once again
plain people are speaking and their just
claims will not be denied.
In the new world that is emerged
from the war there will be no place for
special privilege. Monopoly, bureau
cracy, protection, subsidy and all forms
Of influence, I warn you, will be under
continuous attack. Men want to com
pete in even terms. Where men work
under stimulation of the creative i'm
pulse, they ask no favors and resent all
forms of bribery and pressure"
Organized labor" he pointed out, has
come into its own. It now enjoys its
greatest influence and power. BY these
very tokens it has vastly increased re-
sponsibilities first to its own member
ship and then to national welfare. Labor
leader recognize this. Perhaps the most
vivid illustration Of the growing cooper
alton between organized labor and man
agement was the overwhelming defeat
of a proposed constitutional amendment
in my own state California; on Nov. z.
Industrial, political and civic leaders
joined with labor in opposing this act
which would have set back the trade un-
ion movement so years"
Then Kaiser went on to demand inter
national cooperation. 1.-TWO world wars
. have driven home the truth that no
nation can prosper at the expense Of
other nations. We can and will compete,
but that competition must never again
destroy. America cannot prosper in
a bankrupt world. We now know that
wealth is no longer the privilege of one
nation or a few people. 1t is the right of
ALL There should be no idle resources.
We must be willing to buy as well as sell. |
It is time to carry the spirit Of human
and cooperation beyond |
our own borders.
If every responsible element in pro-
iuction today--government, labor, man.
take just one action now
IN a postwar program, the whole ecom-
my would move forward on every front.
We have planned enough. Let's do
about 60 million jobs The
ime is now and the place is here The
uture is ours, not to recapture, but to
uild. As an epoch Of human under
tanding and cooperation it can surpass
il others in peace and goodwill. May
iod give us the faith and courage not
o fall"