The Omaha guide., 1945-12-01
. SIMPLE CHOICE

(Dy BlSnOp II. Is. Wr1SnC, JG., COUNCIL OIL bishops,
A. M. En-
God always intended his people to work, and live
by "the sweat of their brows.''
He gave them a good earth to dwell in and told
them to bring out of it all that they needed for life
and health. Yet, from the beginning of time, most
people have suffered lack. But now at last we
learned the way of plenty through full production
and full employment. Today we can live III an eco
nomy Of abundance if we will use wisely the great
resources of our land and the intelligence of our
people.
Q Unfortunately, the Negro people have always
been among the most poorly paid in America. They
still are. And with living costs still at wartime
peaks the burden on their paltry earnings is addlt-
iOnally oppressive.
Must this continue? Must Negro and white
workers who have seen their income cut at least
30% since the wars end, resign themselves and their
families to being i'll fed, i'll housed, i'll clothed? The
answer is emphatically, no! That is why the Con-
gress of Industrial Organizations-the CLIO is
conducting a great drive for substantial wage in
creases now. for a 65-75 cent minimum wage for all
workers in shops and plants, for full employment
and a permanent FEPC and abolition of the poll
tax.
Some people say the Church has no right to mix
in these affairs. | cannot agree. They forget that
the Bible teaches people to take their religion into
their daily lives. Religion calls for justice and fair
play. And the Bible says: eth laborer is worthy
of his hire The Church is called upon to stand
for these things no matter how great the opposition
may be.
Therefore, [ firmly believe that the Negroes and
their churches should get behind this drive for sub
stantial wage increases now. 1t is the basic respon
sibility of the church to do what it can to ease the
burden of its people. By supporting these wage and
salary increases the church will be aiding its mem
bers to obtain some Of the primary things that its
people must haev-food, clothing, shelter. a chance
to advance. Our people will have a more abundant
hfe,' and it is our moral duty to support every hon
orable effort that will bring this about.
Let no one say American industry is unable to
pay these better wages without raising prices. They
can afford it easily for their profits during the war
have been enormous. Corporation profits more
than doubled after taxes between 1899 and 1914,
from $4.2 billion to 1919 billion and they have re
ceived additional aid from a sympathetic Congress
in the form of $50 billions in tax refunds.
Some employers have seen the light and are sup
porting labor's demands. But the most powerful
segments Of industry, the stubborn, reactionary
narrowly selfish employers who would keep us in
economic bondage by playing us off against white
workers through low wages, who would deny us the
right of advancement, are strongly opposing the
just demand of American working people. It is a
gainst this opposition that the CLIO and its allied
forces are waging this drive.
Victory in this campaign can bring vast rewards
for all Americans. Full employment at good wag-
es, security against unemployment and sickness and