Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1946-05-31
Political
Action
by
Clayton
Rusch
AndlT man
of the

1 OtILICQl HCtIO1 SUTHIILeG
The rights which labor has
today were not just given to
us. Every one Of the rights
which labor exercises to make
or retain social gains were
won only after a long and
hard struggle. 1t is true that
great progress was made un-
der the Roosevelt Administra-
ton, but this progress was
made only over the vigorous
opposition. Of the friends and
champions OF the employer
group.
The employer group has a
lot Of money and is able to
get its spokesmen elected to
public office. In theory it is
tue that people who hold
public office are obligated to
serve the public welfare. Yet,
most everyone recognizes that
in a practical sense, public Of
ficials serve the interests of
those groups who put them in
office.
Labor is now in the midst
of struggle to bring wages in
line with the cost of living.
Viewed with a long-rsnEe per-
spective it can be seen that
high wages and low prices in
crease purchasing power, and
thus enable the manufacturers
to sell more goods.
With high wages and rea-
sonsble prices, the overall
profit is more than it would
be with low wages and high
prices. The record verifies
this, because more goods sold
at a low price means q larger
overall profit than less goods
sold at a high price. 1t must
be recognized. however, that
the employer class as q whole
is short sighted and does not
view the situation with a long
range perspective.
AGAINST LABOR
The employer group and It's
Spokesmen in the national and
state legislatures are resolved
to make it more difficult to
secure wage increases by
curbing the rights of organ
lied labor and also to abolish
or emasculate price control
legislation.
1t would seem that the peo-
pie who work for wages (who
certainly comprise the major
ity of the population) would
recognize this attack on their
welfare and put up an effec-
tive fight to save labor's rights
and preserve price control.
The fact is, however, that
the American workers as a
group have Let George do
it" attitude. George or no one
else except the workers them
selves can save the gains that
have already been made.
There is only one way Of
preserving our gains-Mr. and
Mrs. Citizen-Worker of Amer
lea must send letters and post
cards to let our legislators
know that we expect them to
oppose legislation which would
take away any of labor's
rights. We must also let them
know that we expect them to
support social legislation de-
signed to provide full employ
ment, adequate social security
safeguards and protection of
civil rights for all.
SUPPORT
We must make it clear to
the Il e C tie d representatives
that if they fail to vote in fa-
vor of legislation to improve
our welfare we do not intend
to support them for public Of
flee.
In the last analysis public
will respond to the
desires of those who elect
Them to public office. This
means that if some public Of
,icials vote against the inter
ests of the people, it is because
hey are put and kept in Of
ice by the wealthy minority.
Despite their wealth, the
class is outnumbered
oy the workers and plain peo-
ole. AS soon as we start mark
ng KS on ballots in greater
the legislative bodies
will start passing legislation
designed to serve the interests
If the people.
Getting out the progressive
,ote is the primary task of
'AC. 1t can be done, but the
ob requires an active mem
,erShin large enough IN ar