Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1945-05-18
Political
Action
BY
Clayton
Rusch
Chairman

The contemplation of it
brings to mind mixed feelings.
On one hand is a feeling OF
great relief. A major step has
been accomplished in our
struggle to rid the world of
fascism. We can and we must
now concentrate on the Pacific
struggle. Civilians must con-
tinue to be willing to make
the necessary sacrifices to
bring about a complete and
total victory.
On the other hand, we have
many misgivings about the
new problems the workers are
faced with.
Will cutbacks due to curtail-
ment of war orders result in
lid spread unemployment?
Will the nation be forced to
fight economic collapse and
the japanese war lords stimuli
taneously? Will a program to
provide employment during
the reconversion period be
forthcoming?
We are elated and delighted
that the first half of our fight
against Fascism is crowned
with success. Yet two prob
lens are uppermost in our
minds. First, we want a just
peace treaty which will lay
the foundation for a world or
gaaization to prevent future
aggression. Second, we want
and need a social program
which will provide full en-
ployment, adequate social Sc
curity and protection of civil
liberties for all the people.
WORLD ORGANIZATION
A world organization to
prevent war Is essential, but
1t will not work unless it is
backed up by full employ
ment program in each of the
respective nations.
A full employment program
must not be too vague or too
general. Cretain requirements
must be met.
An effective full employ
ment program must have the
following provisions. There
must be sufficient government
tai control of industry to
guarantee the best use of our
productive C p ci y. This
means there must be an an
nual living wage.
There must be controls to
limit hours to a point to assure
the largest number of jobs.
Even this may not assure jobs
Tor all our people.
If and when private indus
try does not provide full en-
ployment, it must be supple
mented with a public works
program, which will provide
jobs for all not employed in
private industry, These prof.
ects must be set up to provide
for socially useful work, such
as flood control, soil conserva-
tion, reforestration, housing on
a large scale, rural eelctrifica-
ton and construction of roads
and public buildings.
These jobs must pay Union
wages and the workers must
be allowed to belong to be
represented by their union as
in other industries. The whole
program must be financed by
a system of taxation based on
high incomes.
Small busin ss must be
given an opportunity to exist
also. The government must
come to the aid of the small
scale farme ers by assuring
them loans at low interest
rates to enable them to OPP
crate without loss.
The enactment Of such
program will mean that the
American people will have
eventually won the peace as
well as the war.
V. f. Day is good cause for
rejoicing, but we must now
roll up our sleeves and work
for the enactment of social
legislation which can assure
us freedom fror want as well
as war.
LEGISLATION
Since we will soon be faced
with cutbacks, our campaign
for the enactment of legisla-
tion to increase unemploy-
ment compensation is more
important than ever.
Everyone should write to
State Senators, Raymond Hill
debrand and Virgil Cramer
and State Representatives,
Opal Mundy, VIM. Donovan,
Chester Early, Fred Hunt and
Ben Reading, State House,
Columbus, Ohio, and urge sup
port for Senate bill "a and
House bill 1877 which will in
sation from a maximum of SIC
crease unemployment compen-
for ID weeks to a maximum
of $25 for 26 weeks.
Now is the time for action,
if you are not a member of
PAC, join now and actively
mart ipinntp in ON, f,rnuroY,n for