Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1946-11-29
BY
Clayton
Rusch
Chairman
Political Action Committee


on learning the fundamentals
of life the hard way.
The next two years will be
rough years for the American
people, but we will not have
suffered in vain if we learn
our lesson in politics.
The leaders of the Demo-
cratic Party also have much
to learn. Having come to
power under the leadership
of Franklin D. Roosevelt and
through the espousal of his
liberal policies, his successors
almost Immediately after his
death. began making bids for
the support of the conserva-
tive elements of the popula-
ton.
The record of the 79th Con-
gresS from the standpoint of
social legislation was nothing
to brag about. A dangerous
amount of anti-labor bills
were enacted into law, while
other vicious anti-labor bills
barely missed passage.
On Nov. 5th, the voters re-
jected Democratic leadership
and endorsed the more con-
servative Republicans. 1t Is
quite evident from the
speeches made by Republican
leaders since Nov. 5th that
they have interpreted their
victory at the polls as a man
date from the people to liqui-
date the last vistages of the
New Deal and to restore a
HANDS OFF of BUSINESS
policy in the National and
State Legislatures.
OF &C urse, this assumption
on the part Of the victorious
Republicans Is unjustified.
The people were weary of re-
Straints and controls, and mis-
taking the temporary squirt in
employment for permanent
prosperity, they expressed
their approval whic hpromis-
ed a free hand for business
enterprise.
misunderstood
The people as a whole do
not yet understand that in or
der to have short hours to
make possible jobs for all,
and high enough wages to in
sure a decent living standard
that industry must be regu-
lated by democratically
elected peoples government.
Although they may not be
too plain spoken in public
statements, the Republicans
will certainly interpret the
election results as a mandate
from the people to emasculate
the hard won rights of labor.
1t is certain that the National
Labor Relations Act and the
Wagner Act will be attacked
as soon as the 80th Congress
convenes.
The reaction to these moves
to set back the clock of prog
ress will demonstrate how
wrong the people were who
thought that a swing to the
conservative in government
would benefit the working
people of our nation.
Both the Democratic Party
and the PAC have much to
learn between now and the
time of the 1948 elections.
The Democrats must learn
that they can win and hold
the confidence of the people
only when they give leader
ship to the liberal elements
of society; only when they
espouSe progressive program
and only when they fight for
legislation to protect the plain
people from OPPRESSION by the
wealthy interests.
MUST LEARN
The PAC must learn that
letter writing and lobbying
mean nothing unless such
pressure Is brought to bear
upon public officers who were
elected by the support Of the
working people. The PAC
can never become an effec-
tive political instrument un-
til we develop a neighborhood
club organization which can
get out the liberal vote on
election day. The PAC must
become a grass roots organi-
zation with solid nucleui in
the Wards and Townships.
The Republican law makers
will provide the opportunity.
They will attack the rights of
labor and the living standards
of the people. 1t will then be
up to us to follow through
by getting out the liberal vote
which can drive the stooges
of the profiteers from power.
We must firmly resolve to
build a grass roots political
organization which can wrest
control of the government
from the hands of the wealthy
interests and restore Gov
ernment of, for, and
by the people"