Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1946-06-21
What's
New?
By
EdUdrd Dr.
Representative,
2>B
UAWCIO
A SPEECH


of Toledo's better known in
dustrial concerns recently was
called upon to make a speech
at a labor-management lee
turefest in Columbus. He re-
sponded quite graciously, of
course, and alth ugh his
words must have fallen sooth-
ingly, nay, reassuringly, upon
the ears of his fellow men OF
management, we are sorry to
report that working people
and their representatives are
unable to agree with his ideas
on Labor. Said he:
"The Case Bill is step in
the right direction. The Wag-
ner Act needs changing. There
must be a restoration of equal
ity in collective bargaining.
Labor has gone too far. Def
mite rules similar to the Mar
quis of Queensbury regula-
tions governing fistic encoun-
ters should be laid down for
the disputants in labor-man-
agement fracas, Labor's power
has become uncomfortable"
Obviously, the gentleman
yearns for return to the pre-
Lincoln era, Passage Of the
Case Bill, plus emasculation of
the Wagner Act, adds up to
industrial slavery.
When the spokesman for in
dustry refers to restoration
of equality" In collective
bargaining he is speaking of
the right of a corporation to
deal coldly with its employees
and say, There you are, my
good workers, take 1t or leave
it."
To listen to this man and
others of similar sentiments,
who incidentally are we'll or
ganized in preaching identical
theories simultaneously, one
would think that everything
was going the workingman's
way and that industry had
been terribly abused in recent
years. The brutal truth Is that
the pendulum has swung so
far to the right since the war
began that a complete new
start is needed TO recoup
Labor's actual losses and re-
its position.
FREE ELECTION
AS matters now stand the
,nly solution to the sad plight
IT the millions of middle class
workers in America lies In the
exercise of their right to vote
n free elections. Everything
hat contributes TO the present
state of affairs In our country
$ tied in with politics and
egislation.
The disheartening part of
he picture is that most fore
asters are not predicting an
Improvement, due to the fact
hat the 1946 election vote Is
expected to be rather light.
Prices, profits, wages and
axes are together determin-
ng the financial status of all
4 us. II we gain with re-
pect to one of these factors
We can still have that gain
wiped out by a loss in an
,ther.
Currently prices are out
ageous profits for indus
rial monopolies and near
nonopolies have multiplied,
wages do not approach living
osts, and the wage Garner is
with a dispropor-
ionate share of the public tax
otal.
The wage Garner has lost on
II fronts.
Although the right to strike
! fundamental and must be
reserved, il is not the answer
} the problem. Profits have
cen guaranteed the corpora
ons by the gov ernm ent,
.rikers have been guaranteed
Industry has mil
ons OF dollars with which to
ght the workers, and the
'orkers and their families
ave habit of getting hun
ry when the food is gone.
he guarantee of corporate
rofits did more to legislate
.rikes out of existance than
le Case Bill ever could.
In the long run, Labor must
ither be guaranteed a living,
1e same as business was
uaranteed its profits during
ne war, and by the provisions
{ the government, for two
ears thereafter, or we are
eading for situation so seri-
us that even the best imagi-