Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1946-03-08
Political
Action
by
Clayton
Rusch
Chairman
of the

autos, electric retrlgerators
and air-conditioned h ouse e s
sets the example for the whole
world in the high standard of
living our great and efficient
productive plants makes pos
ible. It is possible in America
for many people to enjoy a
standard of living which far
surpasses the most luxurious
comforts of the monarchs of
old.
In this nation of vast wealth
and possibilities for the COM
forth, health and welfare of
our people, there are 30 mil
lion wage earners who must of
necessity live on a level be-
low that required for health
and decency. Thirty million
wage earners and their fam
lilies are unable to purchase
the necessary commodities to
maintain a decent standard of
living. This is not caused by
rationing or restrictions on
production of goods.
These 80 million workers
would be no better off if all
the goods necessary to main
tain themselves in health and
decency at their present low
wages were available.
The living standard of most
of the rest of us is affected
adversely by this situation. If
something could be done to in
crease the wages of these peo-
pie, the increased purchasing
power would certainly help
business and create more jobs.
PRESSURE
The organized workers in
most mass production indus
tries are able to bring eco
nomic pressure to bear upon
their employers to adjust
wage rates to the shorter
hours brought about by the
end of the war. This is es-
sential If we are to bring
wages in line with prices.
There are, however, many
wage earners, 80 million of
them, who have not been able
TO use economic pressure to
obtain wages higher than Csc
per hour. Most of these wage
earners earn much less than
65c per hour.
There is something all of us
can do TO help -- right now,
this week. There is a bill COM
ing before Congress this week
or next which provides for a
minimum hourly rate of Csc.
This bill is known as the Pep
per- Hook bill.
This bill has been and will
continue to be bitterly attack
ed on all sides by those who
represent the interests of the
employers. These groups will
see to it that your representa-
tives in Congress receive
plenty of mail urging them to
vote against passage of the
Pepper-Hook bill.
OUR POWER
Our representatives In Con-
gress need our votes in order
to be elected. We have the
power to keep them in Con-
gress or take them out of it.
They know we have this
power and are therefore re-
sponsive to our wishes. Should
they not be responsive, 1t is
our responsibility to see that
they retire as Congressman by
not voting for them.
However, il we expect our
representatives in Congress TO
discharge their responsibilities
and we have every right to ex-
pect them TO, we must also
discharge ours. This means
keeping them posted on what
we want in the way of legisla-
ton.
/ am convinced that IL
were writing an appeal in this
column for volunteers on a
picket line, | would get an
a m azing response. Even
If il were a hazardous
picket line where danger was
imminent | am sure there
would be plenty of replies.
That is the way we feel about
our Union We are determined
that ii shall not be destroyed.
While this attitude is to be adj
mired, it seems odd that peo-
pie willing to make such sacri-
fices will neglect to just send
a postcard TO their represen-
tatives i'm Congress.
Let us all sit down now and
write to representatives
Homer Ramey and George
Bender and to Senators Rob
ert Taft and James Hoffman
w a h ton, d. c. Urge
them to support the Pepper