Evening star., 1945-09-06

mate security.
Government must do its part and
assist industry and labor to get over
the line from war to peace.
That is why l have asked for un-
employment compensation legisla-
! ton.
! That is why I now ask for full
employment legislation.
The objectives for our domestic
! economy which we seek in our long
range plans were summarized by the
| late President Franklin D. Roose-
/ velt over a year and half ago in
! the form of an economic bill of
| rights Let us make the attainment
of those rights the essence of post
war American economic life.
| I repeat the statement of sPresi-
dent Roosevelt:
In our day these economic truths
have become accepted as self
evident. We have accepted, so to
speak, second bill of rights under
which a new basis of security and
prosperity can be established for
au-regardless of station, race or
| creed.
Among these are:
The right to a useful and re-
munerative job in the industries or
shops or farms or mines of the Ma
ton.
The right to earn enough to pro-
vide adequate food and clothing
and recreation.
The right of every farmer to raise
and sell his products at a return
which will give him and his family
a decent living.
The right of every businessman,
large and small to trade in an at
mosphere of freedom from unfair
competition and domination by
monopolies at home or abroad
The right of every family to a
decent home.
| The right to adequate medical
care and the opportunity to achieve
and enjoy good health.
The right to adequate protection
from the economic fears of old age
sickness, accident and unemploy-
ment
/ The right to a good education.
/ All of these rights spell security
And after this war is won we must
be prepared to move forward, in
the implementation of these rights
to new goals of human happiness
and well-being.
Americas own rightful place in
the world depends in large part
upon how fully these and similar
rights have been carried into prac-
tice for our citizens. For unless
there is security her at home there
cannot be lasting peace in the world
! shall from time to time COM
municate with the Congress on some
of the subjects included in this
enumeration of economic rights.
Most of them, in the last analysis
depend upon full production and
full employment at decent wages.
Time for Job Action.
There has been much discussion
about the necessity of continuing
full employment after the war il
we hope to continue in substantial
degree the prosperity which came
with the war years. The time has
come for action along these lines.
/ To provide jobs we must look first
and foremost to private enterprise
to industry. agriculture and labor
Government must inspire enterprise
with confidence. That confidence
must come mainly through deeds
not words.
But it is clear that confidence
will be promoted by certain assur.
ances given by the Government:
Assurance that all the facts about
full employment and opportunity
will be gathered periodically fol
the use of all.
] Assurance of stability and con-
sistency in public policy, so that
enterprise can plan better by know
ing what the Government intends
to do.
Assurance that every govern.
mental policy and program will be
pointed to promote maximum pro-
duction and employment in private
enterprise.
Assurance that priority will be
given to doing those things first
which stimulate normal employ
ment most.
A national reassertion of the right
to work for every American citizen
able and willing to work-a declara-
ton OF the ultimate duty of Gov
ernment to use its own resources
If all other methods should fail to
prevent prolonged unemployment
these will help to avert fear and
establish full employment. The
prompt and firm acceptance of this
bedrock public responsibility will
reduce the need for its exercise.
Wants Job Legislation Speeded.
1 asked that full employment
legislation to provide these vital
assurances be speedily enacted. Such
legislation should also provide ma
chinery for continuous full-em-
ployment policy-to be developed
and pursued in cooperation among
industry, agriculture, and labor, be-
tween the Congress and the Chief
Executive, between the people and
their Government.
Full employment means full op-
portunity for all under the Ameri-
can economic system-nothing more
and nothing less.
In human terms, full employment
means opportunity to get a good
peacetime job for every worker who
is ready, able, and willing to take
one. 1t does not mean made work
Or making people work.
In economic terms, full emplov-
ment means full production and the
opportunity to sell goods-all the
goods that industry and agriculture
can produce.
In Government terms, full en-
ployment means opportunity to re.
duce the ratio of public spending
to private investment without sacri.
flcing essential services.
! In worldwide terms, full employ.
ment in America means create,
| economic security and more op.
portunity for lasting peace through.
, out the world.