Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1945-01-12
What's
New?
By
Eduard Duck
On Leave
With The
Army


this action, and the action it.
self is the result of the
mayors "go to work or 60 to
JAIL edict.
Police officers and detec-
tives are securing the town
for vagrants, loiterers, and
poolroom hangers-on, advis-
ing them that they must
either go to work or go to
jail.
And that's not all Execu-
tives of local industries are
furnishing local police the
names of "habitual absen-
tees" and the policemen are
going out on house-calling
campaigns. If there is no
legitimate excuse" for their
absence, such as illness in the
family, the employee is issued
a warning, or rather an ulti-
matum.
What about it?-But don't
give an opinion on the ques-
ton until you've thought
about the problem a bit.
THE REAL BUM
First of all, a person who is
just too lazy to work is a
leech upon society. He con-
tributes nothing, except on
occasional spout of his warped
philosophy of life. He doesn't
liVe-he exists.
Before malnutrition, disease
and improper clothing and
shelter sound the call for
Father Time to pay him off,
likely as not he will have
committed far worse offenses
against society than just re-
fuSing to work.
This is the real" bum I'm
talking about-The Summit
Cherry Street variety-not an
ordinary absentee, or a guy
who likes his drinks pretty
well, and takes an occasional
day off to have himself a
time.
Look into the past life Of
the real" bum. There's
always a reason for his con-
dition. Usually, the fellow has
tried to forget some bitter dis
appointment which occurred
earlier in his life. With proper
aid he can be brought out of
his rut and transformed into
a reasonably happy, useful
citizen. He has sought relief,
but in the wrong channel. He
is shocked by a blow he can
not Withstand, or perhaps he
is just a mental weakling who
spends most of his time feel
ing sorry for himself.
SOCIAL PROBLEM
He is a sociological prob
lem, this person. But more
than one transient" has been
born of the abuses of our
twentieth century economic
system. The depression, with
its m tgage foreclosures,
bank failures and business
foldups did more to degrade
the dignity of the American
citizen than most of us can
appreciate.
But when there is work,
these guys h ou d work.
The Jacksonville industries
are rated as being essential to
the war effort Everyone is
working overtime, and the
serV c. m n aren't even
allowed TO count their hours
of employment but yet,
able bodied men are lettering
on street corners and in pool
rooms rather than accept
gainful employment.
One thing is wrong with
this picture, though. To me it
smells of fascism. If men can
be placed on forced labor at
such nd-such a rate of pay,
they can be told to work for
still less money or go to jail.
The Law is written exactly the
same now as it has been in
the past, and as il will be in
the future, SO there is the
DANCE. of accepting this pol
icy and being stuck with it
when there is not a war,
Then, too, this business of
"houSe-calling,' to chide the
absentee, doesn't sound too
good. Throughout the coun-
try men and women are
working 48 to 20 hours
week without persuasion by
policemen and detectives. 1t
seems that Jacksonville would
do we to raise its wage scale,
Then there wouldn't be such
a manpower shortage.
These are the facts in the
case. ! say, Let's not have
any Of the old Henry Ford
ism social philosophy, Pick up
the absolute vagrantS, but
don't try to make the work
man slave either to his gov
ernment (including local gov
ernments) to his machine, to
his employer, or to the politi-
clans who mhis employer con-
trolls. Any NOV. in this direc-
ton is dangerous move, in
that it destroys the natural
freedom of the individual and
that freedom is today being
held out as one of the chief
hit1oc mon ara fiul,ti,,ot foc