Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1946-04-11
Political
Action
by
Clayton
Rusch
chairman
of the
COLORFUL?
Political Action Committee

Political Action Committee
COLORFUL?
There were two interesting
items recently in the public
press. These items dealt with
two foes of progressive legi5-
lation. One was a full-page
spread in the Toledo Sunday
Times which actually repre-
sented the fascist-minded Rep
resentative Boykin OF Ala
bama as zone of the CapitoPs
most colorful Congressman"
Representative Boykin Is
the Democratic counterpart OF
Senator Taft.) 1t goes without
saying that he is opposed to
the FEPC, full employment
and the UNRRA. That the
Times knows his record is ev-
ident because his attitude is
told in the story. Maybe this
is an example of the Toledo
Times conception of a Col
orful Congressman.
Such representatives from
the deep south give full justi-
fication to the drive recently
inaugurated by the CIO to or
ganize the south.
However, such newspaper
writeupS can do some good.
They can show how necessary
it is for the people to become
active in politics and drive
such "colorful" congressman
out of Congress.
SMALL FRY
The other writeup was in
the Toledo Blade. 1t was about
a small fry with big preten-
sions, Walter Baertschi.
During the depression when
many family heads had to work
WPA, this peoples candi-
date" recommended that plush
seats be put on the shovels OF
WPA workers in order to find
more ways of spending pub
lie money" He was the local
spearhead in opposing any and
all sorts of taxes which were
used to provide employment.
There were a few misguided
people who felt that Walter
Baertschi represented, not the
interests of the banks and real
estate companies, but was the
champion OF the small home
owner.
In all his diatribes Suppos-
edly In the interest of the
small home owners, Mr.. Baert-
schi never suggested t h q I
homes valued at $4,000 or less
in which the owners live
should be tax exempt. Instead
this stooge of the real estate
companies and banks who
poses as a friend OF the small
home owners, has always agi-
tated for reduced taxes on all
real estate.
CONSISTENT
Now Mr.. Baertschi, who has
consistently opposed levies for
schools, hospitals and every
thing else to date, has come
out in active support of the
payroll tax. He says that he
doesn't understand the CIO.
Maybe he doesn't, but the
membership of CIO have no
difficulty in understanding a
small-time demogogue who
opposes all taxes except those
which place the bulk of the
burden on the working peo-
pie.
The time has come when 1t
will be increasingly difficult
for politicians of the type dis
cussed in this column to fool
people.
1t is just as important to
elect liberal people to public
office as it is to secure good
contracts with our employers
Legislation to assure world
peace, and jobs for all will
never be passed unless we
elect the right kind of people
to public office.
To succeed in this objective
we must have active function
ing ward and township clubs
in PAC. This requires a large
and active membership. Mem
berShip in PAC is only one
dollar per year,
II you are not a member see
the PAC representative at
your local or shop, or come
to the PAC office at 425 Win
throp st. and join now. Then
become active in our crusade
to obtain greater security for
the people through passage OF
social legislation.