Proletarec. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1906-19??, 1945-01-10
Why PIT SOLDIER AGAINST WORKER?
Employers, Fearing Unions, and Politicians
Seeking Votes Moy Precipitote Most Dangerous
Problem of New Year

We are entering a new year. 1t will not be an easy year for Amer.
cans. 1t will witness the overthrow of Hitler. Then we will find our.
selves up to our ears in the problem of establishing something like
order throughout the length and breadth of Europe. 59ast
If we achieve the right answer, we will contribute greatly to the
cause of world peace. If we don't get the right answer, we may drift
into another war, and such a conflict might snuff out Christian eivihza-
1t stoo much to hope that 1915 will see the end of the war with
Japan. Before Pearl Harbor a brilliant Senator said w e could clean up
the Japs in six weeks. That shows how little brilliant Senator's know
about war. anF
We will clean up the Japs, but we will be lucky if we finish the job
before the ends of 1916. That's the view of our military commanders
With Germany beaten, this year may see the beginning of an
attempt to get back to peacetime production. Two or three million
men, who have worn the uniform, will be looking for jobs. Employers
who do not like labor unions will be craftly endeavoring to array the
soldier against the worker who helped hold the home front while the
fighting is going on.
Strangely enough, the government is doing something like that
right now. BY Presidential order, governmental departments and
agencies are being combed to find positions which may be given to re-
turning soldiers What will become of the civilians now holding these
joosY Apparently M IN is worrying about that side OF the problem.
This situation doesn't look very serious just now, but if that policy
Of showing civilians into the breadlnes, in order that the returning
soldiers may have jobs, is adopted, we are bound to have trouble in
this country.
Organized labor takes the position that the only safe policy is to
provide jobs for all Americans, able and willing to work From the be-
the solder-the best wages, the best clothing, the best food, the best
weapons the best of everything. 1t has also advocated adequate care
for the soldiers dependents.
After the war it has contended that the soldier should be restored
to the job he left when he went to the front, plus the seniority he would
have won, had he remained home; also such training and education as
he desires.
The policy advocated by organized labor is sound. The policy
which would pit soldiers against worker is unsound. If adopted, it will
lead inevitably to Fasclsn, possibly to Communism, and certainly will
jeopardize, if not destroy, good old-fashioned American democracy.
From the letters which reach this office from soldiers LABOR is
convinced the big majority of our fighting men desire a square deal and
nothing more.
This may prove to be the nastiest problem we will have to face in
1945, 30 we should be given some thought to it. When you are writing
to your soldier friends, in camp or overseas, it. might be well to dis
cus it with them.
If the soldiers. the workers, the armers-respresenin an over
whelming percentage of the population of our country-wil work to-
gether, IN peace as they have in war, they can set this America of ours
on a mountain top-an inspiration to harrassed peoples everywhere,
and IN example of the miracles which may be wrought by men of
good will, who seek for themselves only what they are willing to con-
cede to others-Labor,