davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Proletarec. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1906-19??, 1944-09-20

some tOp-tHght representatives of the nations leading labor organ.
lzatlons recently visited the battle lines and learned, among other
Their report on that subject is encouraging. Most soldiers think the
unions are Q. x.
However, the verdict of the veterans is not surprising. Most Of
them were workers before they became soldiers and expect to be-
when they return. A large number, if not a majority, of the
men who are now in the war were in the unions before they joined the
armed services.
However
While the report of the union leaders is to be good, the very fact
that it was made indicates that labor will become al issue of major
Importance after the war is over and the boys come home.
We use the word issue" in this connection to indicate a division
of opinion on the part of workers. What will the veterans think of labor
Unions at the end of a year or two? Will they continue to believe that
bid for and obtain the confidence of a large section of the working
class?
We think the answer to the above important question will depend
to a large extent upon what is expected of unions and upon how well
the unions measure up to expectations.
If soldiers come back home with the clear understanding that =
labor union is primarily an instrument for the general elevation of te
working class and a weapon with which to fight for better social condi
lions, then unions should be able to hold the good will of veterans.
II, however, veterans expect too much of unions in terms of per-
sonal advantage, then the prestige of unions will wane as unempoy-
ment rises.
What we are remembering now is that Germany had a strong
movement before the first World War. And that after the var
when the unions failed to provide high living standards-because they
could not-a demagogue was able to enlist many German workers into
a fascist organization.
We believe the same thing could easily happen in America after
this war. More than that, we believe the unions will have the compeh.
uon IT powerful reactionaries, some of whom will have jobs to offer
Tor the good will of returned soldiers.
How will soldiers who have become workers react to the CONNECT
ton that is almost certain around them? 1t is a serious question. Will
they stand for a principle rather than for immediate personal advant-
age, o II Will those with jobs go one way and those without jobs go
another?
The fate ST democracy itself may hinge upon how the future ms
Wers the above question. And how can they be answered on the side
of democracy unless the workers of America understand that the So
cialists of this nation and of the world have a program that will make
prosperity for all workers possible?-The Reading Labor Advocate.
Proletarec. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1906-19??, 1944-09-20
Inside WASHINGTON

State Department approval of return to European thrones of kings
and queens and reigning families is viewed in some congressional
quarters as disheartening, inasmuch as it apparently means a return
of the prewar status in Europe, with all of its inherent and dangerous
weaknesses.
First to return to their ancestral seat will be the ducal family of
Luxembourg, headed by Grand Duchess Charlotte and Prince Felix
her consort, who have spent the wa pleasantly in N imposing mansion
on embassyIined Massachusetts, ave. in Washington. With their six
children, they fled Luxembourg at the time of the invasion.
The reigning house of Luxembourg has lived well through two
wars. At the end of the last, it greeted the Illinois troops CT the 33rd
Division cordially on their arrival to occupy the northern section of
the country. The Grand Duchess of that day, elder sister of the present
ruler, was reported to have been equally gracious to the Germans when
they entered the capital.
Luxembourg can offer no defense to invasion in any war, a its
standing army consists of but $50 men.
There has been no peep from any official source about the laugh
able hero" pose of King Michael of Romania, which was played up in
a press association story like an episode out of the Graustark novels
The Kings mother, who repeatedly controls his every move, is Helen,
former Greek princess, who worked in close co-opertion with the Nazis
in their development of Romania, which gave them much Of the oil
that enabled Hitler to wage "a and vast quantities of grain besides
The impressive recital of the Queen Mothers dash out of the palace
grounds, carrying a pearl-handled pistol with which to shoot any Nazi
soldier who might attempt to stop her, has been greeted with cynical
laughter among Balkan representatives here,
Others preparing to go back, with full expectation of assuming
the same powers they had before Hitler came calling, r Queen Will
helnina of the Netherlands, who once complained the war had deprived
her of her favorite type of bath sponge, and King Leopold of Belgium
now detained in Germany, who gave the order for the fighting Belgian
Army to quit, leaving the British flank high and dry and forcing the
retreat to Dunkerque. q
Once they r. restored in their palaces and receive the cheers
of their personal supporters, observers wonder what the peace con-
ference will be able to do in insuring the Four Freedoms for all OF
Europe-Bascom N. Timmons in The Chicago Sun.
Proletarec. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1906-19??, 1944-09-20
DEBT AND WAR COST
ABOVE 200 BILLIONS

Global Conflict Entails Daily
Outlay of las Millions; Taxes
Also ZOOm
Two milestones in the nations
financial history were reached on
the 168th anniversary of our in
dependence:
The cost of fighting the global
wal passed the 200 billion mark,
and so did the national debt, the
Treasury disclosed. Since July l,
1910, the war outlay has been at
an average rate of $145, 900, 000
a day. Government expenditures
during the fiscal year were $780,
721, 600, 900, with war accounting
for more than 95 per cent of the
unprecedented total.
Uncle Sans income during the
year zoomed to $44, 149, 600, 900,
or nearly double the sum collected
in 1913.
Proletarec. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1906-19??, 1944-09-20
BLACK MARKET
IN CHILDREN"

A writer in the st. Louis Post
Dispatch"-a newspaper which is
edited with exceptional courage
and intelligence-tells us there is
a ''black market in children" On
the plea that I'VE must win the
war;" state and Federal regula-
tons have been relaxed and en-
ployers have been quick to take
advantage of the situation.
Before the war, less than a mil
lion children between IA and II
were employed. Now the number
is 2,750,000, and it is estimated
that before the year is out the total
will reach 5000, 900.
I'm many cases." the Children's
Bureau reports, "the children have
been unable to earn enough to pay
their board, lodging and other ex-
penses."
! 1t isn't a pretty picture. We can
win this war without sacrificing
our children. - Labor.
Proletarec. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1906-19??, 1944-09-20
LICENSE FOR LAND
LORD TO STEAL

Chester Bowles, chief of the O..
P. A., makes this announcement:
with the return of normal condi-
tions, rent control must be elimin-
,ated. We must leave tenants and
landlords free to make their own
arrangements"
After the war, there will be an
acute housing shortage. So, if IN
Gle Sam wipes out all rent controls,
profiteering landlords will have a
Roman holiday. Then we will
knew what initiation really means.
What will happen to the work
ers under those circumstances?
Perhaps Mr.. Bowles can answer.
And, what will happen to the
pr%ofiteers are given a free hand
Labor.
Proletarec. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1906-19??, 1944-09-20
FORGET 1T
ANONYMOUS

If you see a tall fellow ahead of a
crowd,
A leader of men marching fearless
and proud,
And you know of a tale whose
e telling aloud
Would mean that his head must in
anguish be bowed,
It's a pretty good plan to forget it.
If you know of a skeleton hidden
away
In a closet, and guarded and kept
from the day
In the dark; and whose showing,
whose sudden display,
Would cause grief and orrow and
lifelong dismay,
It's a pretty good plan to forget it.
If you know of a thing that will
darken the joy
OF a man or a woman, a girl or
a boy,
That will wipe out a smile, or the
least way annoy
A fellow, or cause any gladness to
cloy,
It's a pretty good plan to forget it..
Proletarec. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1906-19??, 1944-09-20
BIT OF STATISTIC

One soldier out of every 100 is
named Smith. One out of every
200 Smiths in the Army is named
John w. Smith, and there are too
many plain John Smiths to be
counted.
So-there are $50 John w.
Smiths, 240 John w. Johnsons, 286
James Browns, and 249 James E.
Browns. The IL most common
names in the Army account for
385,390 soldiers. For instance,
there are: Smith, 10000; johnson,
485OO; Brown, $4,000; Miller, 49,
600; Jones, 1890; Davis, $1,000;
Wilson, 29,000i Anderson, "a, 500;
Martin 24,300; Taylor, $4,000, etc.
Proletarec. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1906-19??, 1944-09-20
-Four Million Unemployed
Forecast Unless
Reconversion Storts Now

Unless a more intelligent and eff
fective program is developed to
dovetail reconversion with produc-
ton cutback America will have an
army of four million unemployed
on its hands at the end of this year,
ever if the war against Germany
and Japan is still going on.
This is the ominous prediction
of Boris Shishkin, AFL economist,
based on known factors in the
production program. He declared
the estimates we're conservative
rather than exaggerated.
Cutbacks already are being or
dered at the rate of about twenty
a week and the rate is due to climb
in the next few months. Instead of
a labor shortage, SURPRISES of man
power are bound to develop, Shish-
kin said.
Meanwhile, efforts of War Pro-
duction Board Chairman Donald
M. Nelson to authorize the start
of a reconversion program with la
Dor and materials not needed for
the var effort are being stalemated
by the War and Navy Departments.
The short-sighted policy of the mil
itary leaders appears to be. to re-
fuse permission for any prepare
tons for peace until the last shot
in the war is fired.
American Federation of Labor
leaders are throwing their full sup
port behind Mr.. Nelson's program
which now offers the only hope of
averting widespread unemploy-
ment should the war end suddenly.
Proletarec. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1906-19??, 1944-09-20

1870
What is now being announced
by the War Labor Board is that
Anybody who wants to will be
PERMITTED to go into business
under government regulation.
Those businesses that a find
markets for their products will be
regulated benevolently. Those that
can't will be permitted to die.
Big business will find it's level
and establish itself at the point
of efficient operation - with gov
eminent supervision.
Workers who can be used by
private business will not require
much management.
Workers who can't be used by
private business will again become
the wards of the nation under a
more or less glorified and better
prepared WPA set-up.
Proletarec. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1906-19??, 1944-09-20
FARM BENEFITS UP TO
SECOND H MARK

During the last fiscal year gov
eminent benefit payments to far
mers aggregated 801, $4,000, the
second highest amount distributed
in any fiscal year since the New
Deal farm program was launched
in 1888.
In announcing that figure, the
Department of Agriculture said
payments this fiscal year will to-
tai about $685., 600, 600, but added
this is exclusive of price rollback
subsidies paid on flour, meats,
butter and some other food prod
ucts, costing about 300 millions.
Proletarec. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1906-19??, 1944-09-20
FinIond Quits the War

Prior to World War ], Finland was to all intents and purposes a
part of Czarist Russia, although enjoing a certain measure of auho-
nomy. During the Russian revolution, however, Finland, with German
help, became independent-withe a boundary that was within cannon
shot of Leningrad.
Americans showed considerable sympathy for Finland-whch had
always made payments on its debt to uS-When that nation was invaded
in 1889 by Russia, then the ostensible associate of Hitler. But the Rus
sian claim of a Finnish menace did not appear so foolish a year II SO
later when Finland, as a ally of Hitler, brought the NaNs almost to
the gates of Leningrad.
During ur a against Germany we have refrained from de-
claring war against Finland, hoping all the time to persuade Finland
to give up it's alliance with Hitler. On Monday, Sept. A, Finland quit
the war.
But it comes a little lae-so late a to resemble the band-Wagon
rush that is a feature of our political convention battles For it comes
at a time when, Germany is probably quite willing to Withdraw her
troops from Finland, as they an be more usefully employed elsewhere;
in fact, at a time when Germany is withdrawing troops from other
satellite and band-Wagon nations.
Even so, the Russian peace terms appear to be generous. We can
endorse them, and urge that Finland be put O. parole-The Chicago
Daily News. te
Proletarec. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1906-19??, 1944-09-20
Prove Their Worth

Up in Waukegan, Ill, the three cooperative societies ar celebrating
their 33rd year of service to the community. To understand how i'm
portant a n economic role they play in the life Of the community it is
only necessary to know that they include among their patrons and
members 80 per cent of the families in Waukegan, North Chicago. and
the nelghboring towns. These three co-ops societies operate. among
other things, tel food stores and meat markets, a bakery and coffee
shop, super-servlce station, a sausage plant, and a dairy. During 1913
they saved for their patrons-through reduced prices, rebates in the
form of dividends, and so forth-a recorded total of $40 600. In the
worker and farmer member patrons a grand total of $500 900, or a
yearly average of $1,000.
The coop movement in this country, although making rapid prog
resS, is still behind its counterpart in England, Sweden and other pro-
.greSslVe European countries. This "a only be because American work
ers and consumers are blind to their own interests When they become
aware of the advantages to be gained by forming a coop in their own
community, Or joining the one already formed, the fine record eIab-
hshd in Waukegan will be duplicated in every city, village and town
IN the Countrywide Brewery Worker.
Proletarec. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1906-19??, 1944-09-20
HENRY FORD TO BUY
WILLOW RUN PLANT
Auto King to Use Industrial
Goliath to Produce Farm
Machinery

When Uncle Sam no longer
needs the 500, 45O, 900 Willow Run
pplant, near Detroit, for the pro-
duction of aircraft, Henry Ford in
tends to buy it and convert it into
the worlds largest farm machinery
factory.
/ Ford's representatives in Wash
ington recently disclosed he hao
made an offer for the industrial
Goliath.
Willow Run has been turning
out Liberator bombers at a 500-a-
month clip, but the War Depart
ment declares its schedule is to be
put back so per cent and by the
end of the year airplane produc-
ton will end entirely. Already
several thousand workers have
been discharged and the others
placed on reduced working time.
Proletarec. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1906-19??, 1944-09-20

What will life be like for the
American people after the war is
over?
People, big and little have been
asking that question with all con-
ceivable variations.
Despite the promises of poll
clans, most Americans remain IN
certain. Most of them feel insecure.
The best answer thus far came
recently from the War Production
Board, when the Board announced
that all controls on civilian pro-
duction, except those necessary to
defeat Japan, will be abandoned
soon after Germany surrenders.
That announcement needs a lit
tie analysis. But in it can be found
a picture of what we are going to
look like after victory, just as a
scientist who is skilled in that sort
of thing can find a single bone of
an extinct animal and reconstruct
a fairly accurate model of what
the whole animal looked like.
It's not likely that the postwar
slogan will be as silly as the last
one, when Harding was elected
president with the promise of
Back to Normally" But whatever
the program may be called, it will
amount to the same thing.
Unless the people of America,
who have always been fooled,
ruled and robbed, have a plan of
their own, this nation is going to
take up. where it left off and en-
bark upon a program Of Business
as Usual.
1t will be the same old economic
anarchism that has worked SO bad
ly in the past-the game that has
produced depressions and wars
everywhere in the world, dictator
ships in Europe and government
controls" here at home.
And the government controls
will continue. 1t is important to
keep that fact in mind if one
wants a preview of the future.
Proletarec. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1906-19??, 1944-09-20
WAR PLANT FEEDING
FACILITIES LACKING

More than 100000 workers
are being fed through industrial
plant facilities and service for
100000 more will soon be avail
able, the War Food Administration
revealed recently. That may seem
like a large number, but the w. F.
A. said that only A per cent of
the plants with food facilities are
able to serve go per cent or more
of their workers.
1t added that only 80 per cent
of employees of plants producing
war materials are obtaining mid
shift meals.
Proletarec. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1906-19??, 1944-09-20
DEATHS FROM FALLS
IN 1943 WERE 27,40O

More than a fourth of the nations
1880 accidental deaths in 1943
we're caused by falls, according to
the National Safety Council. There
were 27,400 fatalities attributed to
this cause.
The council reported an acct
dental death every 5h minutes
and an injury every three seconds
during the year. Injuries totaled
1O,1OO, 600.
Proletarec. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1906-19??, 1944-09-20
PER CAPITA DEBT AT
NEW HIGH OF S1,51O

If you're interested, your share
in the national debt is now $1.51O,
compared to $412 on November
80, 1941, according to the Treasury
Department. An increase of $54
per capita in July brought the to-
tai debt to- $208, 573, 594, 426, COM
pared with $55aaa, 819. 926 when
the Japs attacked MdMrl Harbor.
Proletarec. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1906-19??, 1944-09-20
in THE WIND
From THE NATION

Among the invitations in the
mornings mail is a post card that
reads in part as follows: IF you
are a Native Born, White, Protes-
tant, Gentle, American Citizen of
Good Character and believe in our
principles, an opportunity to join
a secret organization that stands
primarily for White Supremacy
awaits you. Our Organization
stands for: Christianity. America
First. White Supremacy. .Upholdz
ing Constitution of U.S.A. Racial
Segregation. Racial Purity. Pure
White Womanhood. American
Leadership of American Labor
Unions. Closer Relationship Be
tween American Capital and Anne
rican Labor. Opposition to Com
munism. America for Amesicans.
State Rights. Separation of Church
and State. Freedom of Speech and
Press. No Foreign immigration, Elk
cept Pure White. Law and Order"
It is at such times that one regrets
not being Of Good Character.
John B. Trevor, president of the
American Coalition of Patriotic
Societies, whose name appeared in
a list of leaders recommended
for America by a German propa-
ganda agency in 1888, is now cam
paigning against the admission of
anti-Nazi refugees to America.
Senator Robert Rice Reynolds of
North Carolina is helping him dis
tribute his literature.
Radio station WQXR, New York,
having refused to accept any more
singing commercials, has received
a flood of thanks from it's listeners.
Some imperturbable Britons r
busy with plans to preserve the re-
lies of Roman and medieval times
which robot bombs have unearth-
ed in London.
Senator Walsh of Massachusetts,,
asked by a number of constituents
to state his views on American
participation in an international
organization to enforce peace, said,
"a nation which does not pursue
peace will find soon enough
that it is involved in the of
other nations" He enclosed a
speech of his, delivered November
II, 1943, in which he expressed
the belief that. this is not our war.
The City of Louisville, KY, paid
$4,000 to Roy Wenzlick, nj of the
nations top real-estate analysts,
for a report on postwar city plan
ming. It contains the following note
on slum clearance: '"The logical
solution to the housing problem is
to build new housing units for
those who can afford to pay an
economic rent. AS these housing
units become older and less desir-
able, the original owners or rent
ers move to more modern and bet
ter located properties, leaving the
older properties to be occupied by
those who cannot pay a sufficient
rental for new buildings"
Festung Europa: AS a solution of
the fuel shortage in Holland, the
Nazi administration has issued an
order proclaiming that removal
of chips or pieces of wood left over
from the construction of German
army installations will be regard
ed as theft from the Wehrmacht
and will be punished as such"
Proletarec. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1906-19??, 1944-09-20

Riches are a blessing only to
him who makes them a blessing to
others.-Fielding.
Proletarec. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1906-19??, 1944-09-20

1t is the enemy we do not sus-
pect who is the most dangerous. -
Rojas.
Proletarec. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1906-19??, 1944-09-20
YOU BETTER DO SOMETHING, OR
ELSE =. BACK TO NORMALCY".

HOFSES, Editor, Reading Labor Advocate
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-02-16

soldiers who are held as prisoners
Of war. Germany holds 22i, aud
eight are Ss3a by Bulgaria.
Nine Michigan men informed by
Germany:
Cunningham, Cpl. Kenneth j.
Joseph T. Cunningham, father.
Glare.
Doss, Sgt. Frank E.-Mrs. Helen
Doss, wife, 1892 S0th St, Detroit,
Johnson. Pfc. Robert W.-Mrs.
Hannah Johnson, mother. 6s46
Drake. Detroit.
Molnar. 1st 1t. George-John
Molnar. father, GIG Dorothy, De-
troit.
olmstead, stan Sgt Emery c.
Mrs. Vera NJ. Olmstead, mother,
lonia.
Orrison. End 1t. Jesse E.-Mrs.
Margaret n. Orrison, wife, 402 y.
Mulberry St, Marshall.
Rosa. Cpl. Lawrence D.-John
Rosa, father. Crystal Falls.
Smith. stan Sgt. Kenneth H
Mrs. Henry L. Smith. mother, Lud.
ington.
Wenner. PTS. Harry Airs. Ell.
zabeth Wenner, mother. 709S Sen
ator Ave, Detroit.
The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-02-16
PORK BARREL
ROLLS OIL AGAIN

Speaker Sam Rayburn told the
Chicago Mayors conference the ad-
minlstration would provide public
works programmed for some far
future period when depression might
set in-but TO take UP the lag right
away at the end Of the war.
He added a new wrinkle TO the
announced plan Of Vice President
Wallace 10 build a stack Of blue
prints for future construction Of
sewers, dams. reforestation, ETC., II
needed.
Such projects are the meat upon
which politics feeds-the luscious,
fat. Juicy pork. II the war is over
before next November. Mr. Rayburn
intends that unSpecihed millions or
billions will be available In time to
do the best possible good for the
Democratic cause.
Meanwhile. he is appointing spe-
cial house postwar fact finding COM
mittee (nonpartisan, he said to null
over the feasty building projects
they are always pushing in their To-
cal districts. So the political effect
will not be lost even II the war fails
to come to an obliging conclusion.