The Omaha guide., 1945-11-17
(by Philip Murray, President, G. l. o.

The vast majority of Americans work for a liv-
ing.
These men and women and their families form
the American public we hear SO much about. These
are the people who make up the bulk Of the consum-
ing class. The dollars they earn and spend is the
keystone to prosperity. When they have sufficient
money, they can buy the food, clothing and other
essentials of life that industry produces. When
they don't have the money they can't buy-lndus-
y try stagnates and the entire nation suffers.
During the war, TINS money-high purchasing
mower the economists call twas available. The
tremendous need for war materials assured jobs for
all and overtime work added to the national income.
Of course, the high cost of iving-stlll with us
cut into this income considerably. But now the
peace is here and with it has come great cuts IN our
war-sWollen economy, cuts III this national purch-
asing power. Overtime has been practically elm
mated and millions of war workers have been
thrown out of jobs. These, and other factors, a
government study for President Truman recently
revealed. will amount to cuts of no less than 80 bll-
lion dollars in the national income. That means
80 billion dollars less spent on buying things. Can
you conceive how many articles OF clothing, food,
homes and other necessities of life 80 million dol
lars can buy? 1t means 80 billion dollars less pur-
chasing power will eliminate jobs for America. 1t
means the opening Of the depression gates.
These facts have special significance for the Ne.
f" gro people. Because of the evil bars of discrimin-
alton, the Negro industrial worker has been the
chief victim Of a notorious lOw-wage policy, a policy
which is a cancerous growth in our economy. Until
o we secure the establishment of a permanent FEPC,
we face the fact that the wages OF Negro workers
will drop even lower as the wages of non-Negro
workers go down.
Therefore, we must wage this fight on two fronts
First, we must renew our efforts to assure all Am
orleans, Negro and white, Jew and Gentle, foreign
or native born, an equal chance to job opportunities.
To this end, the creation of a permanent FEPC
has been one of the major aims of the ClO. We shall
not cease our efforts until this agency receives per-
manent status.
And second we must see to it that wage and sal
ary cuts for all workers are not made permanent.
This is why the Go is currently conducting wage
and salary campaigns in all sections Of the country.
We speak not as a selfish, narrow organization but
for all Americans. We are striving to make Amer
lea realize that prosperity is impossible unless the
ingredients of prosperity-purchasing power is
available. The alternative, as past experience has
proven, is depression. America cannot, must not,
return to the starvation, slums, sickness, bank
ruptcy. wandering families-to the chaos which de-
preston brings.
q There can be no question over the need for these
increases. Ask yourself, ask your ~neighbor, how
much take-home pay has been cut since vi Day.
Ask yourself how much more you could give your
family, your children if take-home pay was main
tanned. The answers are obvious.
And there can be no question over the ability OF
industry to meet these wage and salary increases.
Despite the laments Of large corporations that wage
rises would automatically mean corresponding rise
in prices, this is not true. President Truman, IN
his recent wage policy address, clearly outlined the
ability Of business to meet these increases out Of
war profits and geenrous refunds under the tax
laws.
The issue of immediate and substantial wage and
salary increases can be translated into the ever
present conflict between progress and reaction.
Just as a permanent FEPC and the abolition Of the
poll tax-issues on which the CLIO will never res
cind its efforts are key issues in our battle for full
1na;o layoa aro ~ ono WOO onI n1o
the cornerstone of the battle for economic democ-
racy.
Victory in both struggles means victory for the
? forces of progress, defeat for reaction. It means
another step forward in the struggle to make Am
erica a fuller and richer country for all its people.