Eastern Connecticut news., 1946-08-17
Labor Advances
 By
 Ruth DembO

Does history repeat itself2 Will the depression of '29 be followed by a depression in '49? Will Washington be the scene of anoth- CT veterans march? Will World War III follow World War II? These are the questions confront ing the American people today. The way in which these questions are answered will determine the future welfare of some 40 million people.
 Our government, nurtured in the democratic tradition of Washing ton, Lincoln, Jefferson, and Roose- welt, has fought consistently to elevate the standard of living of the masses of people. Democracy is a continual process of e1minat- ing more and more poverty, di- sease, and suffering, and bringing more of the good things of life to all people. It is built on the prin- ciples of the greatest good for the greatest number and the theory that each and every individuals welfare is essential to the we'll being of democracy.
 So far we have continued to have wars and poverty, and democracy has sometimes been incomplete, especially in the South where some eight million people, whites and negroes, live in .Sub- standard conditions.
 How does democracy stand up then in the year 1946? Does the ledger of democracy add up in favor of progress in this twentieth century? In spite of wars and oth- CT setbacks we are forced with the overwhelming conclusion that democracy has worked. Things are better in the world than they were hundred years ago.
 The great strength which dem ocracy has as a force in the world is no better exemplified than in the tremendous struggle 1t waged to subdue fascism, form of econ- omic barbarism which threatened to blow out the candle of freedom for good and leave the world in darkness for generations to come.
 The fact that the forces of dem ocracy were victorious is no acci- dent in history. Democracy won because men wanted to perpetuate it, because without a free world there can be no bread, thoughts, or comfort.
 The world has, since its lncep- tion, been faced with the job of keeping democracy alive. Always there have been the people and leaders of the people to fight for it. But the degree of its success has always depended upon how strong and effective the people can be.
 Do we have to have another de- pression because we had one be- fore? Do veterans have to be sold out each time? Do we have to fight another war? The answers will depend upon no one else but the people, who as members Of a democracy will decide what the destiny of the country will be.
 If it's left to the other guy, If the answer is always "what can l, an individual do," when citizen is called upon to assume his rights and act in the interests of good government, then the solution to these problems is further away. Only as MT. Public gets out and works against depression, organizes against war, and demands oranges and milk for all the kids of Amer ica will he get these things.
 There is no inevitable historical pattern. There is no predetermined mode of life from which men can never escape. Democracy offers the flexibility of change. The good things of life are possible for all people. Some day our forerunners will laugh at the wars and inse- curity of the twentieth century in the same way we laugh in pity at our ancestors who lived in caves and whose only source of light was the sun.