The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1945-02-02
HOUSING

Continued from Page One)
Jsize as we'll as the complexity of this
task calls for full cooperation on the
part Of private enterprise, labor and
the government if America is to sue
ceed in meeting this great challenge of
the times. American labor, industry,
business and the general public alike
have vital stake in the production as
well as the best use of the housing so
urgently needed. 1t is in the common
interest of all groups to see to it that
the homes to be provided are we'll
designed, soundly constructed, proper
ly located, and priced to be within the
reach of the maximum number of
families. We can and should make
sure that all these conditions are met
in order to maintain housing produc-
tion at a steady flow and avoid wide
and destructive fluctuations which per-
sisted in the past. On our ability to
maintain high levels of housing pro-
duction depends our ability to keep
| full employment stable in the years
ahead.
Labor believes that this can be
achieved through comprehensive ap-
proach to the problem 1t calls for a
comprehensive, integrated program
designed to meet the accumulated
housing needs of all income groups.
Of special Importance is the assurance
that families of moderate and low in
comes have access to good, decent
homes in which to raise their chill
dren
At this time, after a period of vir-
tual cessation of construction activity,
we have before us a unique opportu-
nifty of re-opening the entire field of
residential construction. We have an
unprecedented chance to provide and
plan wisely. In every town, in every
city, and in the nation. as whole, we
have a choice to make. This choice
is between development of postwar
housing which is carefully geared to
the shifts and realignments of eco
nomic opportunity, Of employment and
of incomes of wage earners derived
from their jobs. This choice means
development of well-planned commu-
mites whose progress can go hand in
hand with their economic growth.
The other choice is to let things hap
pen as they did in the past and to ac-
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hazard neighborhoods subject to eco-
nomic instability, wide fluctuations in
population, uncontrolled real estate
speculation, a succession of initiation
and collapse in values, with recurrent
periods of widespread liquidation,
bankruptcy and destitution.
Millions of American families have
made their choice long ago. The
choice was made for them by the bit
: ter experience of foreclosure, eviction,
c loss of savings, and distress under
pressure of inexorable forces beyond
. their control. Looking to the future,
American labor demands orderly de-
y velopment of homes, neighborhoods
: and communities, each inseparable
Y from the other, under the guardian
ship, trusteeship and leadership of
the entire community. We are GER
tain that the American people well
come and are prepared to insist on the
exercise of true public responsibility
on the part of every municipality,
= every state government, and on the
part of the federal government to
: achieve this end. For it is historic
y duty for every one of us to make
America better place in which to
: live. That duty can be discharged
y only through concerted undertaking
z by the whole community of the spe-
cific tasks of planning, development
q and building of better cities, better
neighborhoods and better homes.
The handspring of such orderly de-
velopment of our productive resources
: for better living lies in the capital, the
enterprise and labor with which
America is rich. To make the develop
ment orderly it is necessary first,
that there be balanced teamwork Of
: all the participating groups and, sec
> ond, that the municipal, state and fed
: eral governments maintain the checks
y and balances essential to guard the
> public interest. Labor is ready to ac-
: cept its responsibility in this joint
task and looks forward to an opportu-
e nifty Of discharging that responsibility
s through its proportionate share in the
r councils in which plans, policies, and
J. procedures are formulated at the COM
n nunity level as well as nationally.
0 (The second article in this series will
: appear next week.
Ell Eddie: "Hello! hello! This you, Bill?
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