Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1945-04-20
Political
Action
By
Clayton
Rusch
Chairman
KILLED IN ACTION

PRESIDENT Roosevelt Is dead;
killed from overwork in the
service of his people.
The news of the Presidents
death was a great shock to
the American people and the
people of the world. Although
great men have died be-
fore, this man died when
nearing the end of a great
crisis. A victorius climax of
a great struggle was approach
ing-the destruction of Fas-
cism on the military front.
Still unsolved is the need
for planned reconstruction
once the war has ended. The
need for planned, a just, and
lasting peace still exists. A
full employment program is
needed to prevent economic
disaster and poverty in the
postwar.
In the critical times which
will follow the cessation of
hostilities, Franklin D. Roose-
welt could have provided the
leadership necessary to bring
about a world of peace and
plenty.
1t is the hope and convic-
ton of all of us that this can
still be accomplished although
the leadership of Roosevelt
has been removed from our
midst.
In the past when leaders
died before their tasks were
completed disciples came for
ward to carry out the program
of the departed leader. Labor
must now assume that call to
assume the fulfillment of the
Presidents social and eco
nomic program.
Roosevelt's great contribu-
ton toward the solution of
our social ills; his greatest
weapon in the fight against
war, poverty and fascism, was
his recognition, even his in
sistance, than the government
must assume the responsibility
for the economic welfare of
the whole people.
HEART OF PROGRAM
This proposition was the
heart of the Presidents whole
program. 1t means that in
dustry must be regulated and
controlled to assure jobs at
living wages for all. 1t means
that whenever private in
dustry fails to provide jobs, a
program of useful public
works designed to provide
jobs for all must take up the
slack. 1t means that money
for these projects must be
uprovided for by taxation on
the corporations and other
financial interests.
This is why big business
consistently opposed Roose-
welt. Big business intends to
prevent labor from persuad-
ing the government to ac-
cept the responsibility for full
employment and adequate So
cial security for the people, a
responsibility which big bust
ness has no intention of as.
suming itself.
President Roosevelt who
established many new govern
agencies to fight the
depression; who led the ma
ton to the very brink of Vic
tory in the war against fas-
cism; who planned for
world organization to main
tain peace and guarantee it
by full employment after the
war, is dead. The champion
of the common man, the ad-
vocate of the good neighbor
policy is gone from us in
body, but his spirit and pro-
gram shall be our guide.
PAC was determined to re-
elect Roosevelt in 1914 and
he was reelected. Now that he
is gone, we are equally de-
termined that his program
shall live.
There will be many books
written and many monuments
erected to honor the memory
IF Roosevelt, but the greatest
monument of all will be
erected by the people of the
world under the guidance of
he PAC program. Roosevelt
himself was the architect for
his great monument.
This monument is a social
order which will provide for
ull employment, permanent
'eace and adequate social
security with protection of
,ivil liberties for all people